Karissa followed.

> e
You glide east, leading your group.

It's pitch dark and you can't see a thing!
> get ston in sp pou

You get a small glowing black stone with deep gold veins running through it from inside a sturdy spider pouch which is in your leather backpack.
> rub stone
You run your hand along the length of the glowing stone, checking for any imperfections in its craftsmanship.  Satisfied that it isn't going to snap, you give it a gentle pat, sending small sparks arcing out.
> loo
It's pitch dark and you can't see a thing!
>
Fitful sparks brighten and dim deep within Karissa's forehead, swirling in a restless dance around its intaglio muted yellow creamcup.
> rub my stone
You run your hand along the length of the glowing stone, checking for any imperfections in its craftsmanship.  Satisfied that it isn't going to snap, you give it a gentle pat, sending small sparks arcing out.
> study my stone
You think that you could use TAP to activate the light effect, and PAT to turn it off again.
You also think you could use SHAKE, WAVE, RUB, SCRATCH, CLEAN, HUG, SMOOCH, and KISS.
> tap my stone
A fierce white light flares out from the glowing stone's surface as you gently tap it, bathing the area in its light.
Roundtime: 3 seconds.
R> loo
The light from your glowing stone allows you to see...

[The Frozen Heavens, Unfathomable Grotto]
The obsidian walls of the cave are absolutely smooth, and form a mathematically perfect arc above.  Tiny flecks of ice float in from the mouth of the cave, gracefully swirling about in an otherworldly dance.
Also here: Absolutely Fabulous Karissa surrounded underfoot by glittering blue hyacinth blossoms.
Obvious exits: east, west.
R>
You observe closely as Karissa shows you how to effectively employ the Stealth skill.
>
A blast of chill wind heralds a baleful nimbus as it pops into existence.
A tiny globe of light splutters into existence.  Seconds later it explodes leaving behind a malicious nimbus.
Light bursts forth as an infinitesimal crack in reality forms.  Four clawed arms reach through the breach, forcing it open further to allow passage for a malicious nimbus.  It examines its new surroundings as the planar rip mends itself.
A blast of chill wind heralds a baleful nimbus as it pops into existence.
A blast of chill wind heralds a vindictive nimbus as it pops into existence.

>
The vindictive nimbus begins to advance on you!
The vindictive nimbus advances from nearby and is closing steadily.
>
The baleful nimbus begins to advance on you!
The baleful nimbus advances from nearby and is closing steadily.
>
The malicious nimbus begins to advance on you!
The malicious nimbus advances from nearby and is closing steadily.
>
The malicious nimbus begins to advance on you!
The malicious nimbus advances from nearby and is closing steadily.
>
The baleful nimbus begins to advance on Karissa.
> study obelis
You are a bit too distracted to be studying anything.
>
The baleful nimbus closes to melee range on Karissa.
>
The malicious nimbus closes to melee range on you!
>
The malicious nimbus closes to melee range on you!
>
The baleful nimbus closes to melee range on you!
>
The vindictive nimbus closes to melee range on you!
> ret
You retreat back to pole range.
> ret
You retreat from combat.
> ret
You are already as far away as you can get!
>
The vindictive nimbus begins to advance on you!
The vindictive nimbus is still a distance away from you and is closing steadily.
>
The baleful nimbus begins to advance on you!
The baleful nimbus is still a distance away from you and is closing steadily.
>
The malicious nimbus begins to advance on you!
The malicious nimbus is still a distance away from you and is closing steadily.
>
The malicious nimbus begins to advance on you!
The malicious nimbus is still a distance away from you and is closing steadily.
>
The wispy tendrils of light surrounding the baleful nimbus grow still.

The baleful nimbus explodes in a blinding flash of light!  However Karissa manages to shield her eyes in time.
> study obelis
You should try that where you can see the sky.
> loo
The light from your glowing stone allows you to see...

[The Frozen Heavens, Unfathomable Grotto]
The obsidian walls of the cave are absolutely smooth, and form a mathematically perfect arc above.  Tiny flecks of ice float in from the mouth of the cave, gracefully swirling about in an otherworldly dance.
You also see a baleful nimbus that is radiating a glowing aura, a malicious nimbus that is radiating a glowing aura, a malicious nimbus that is radiating a glowing aura, a baleful nimbus that is radiating a glowing aura and a vindictive nimbus that is radiating a glowing aura.
Also here: Absolutely Fabulous Karissa surrounded underfoot by glittering blue hyacinth blossoms.
Obvious exits: east, west.
>
One of the reflective stars orbiting your left wrist suddenly halts, causing those behind it to slam into it!  The impact jumpstarts the first back into motion, thankfully.
>
The malicious nimbus closes to pole weapon range on you!
>
The malicious nimbus closes to pole weapon range on you!
>
The baleful nimbus closes to pole weapon range on you!
>
The vindictive nimbus closes to pole weapon range on you!
>
The vindictive nimbus's wisps drift outwards in an increasingly large orbit before collapsing to their initial radius.
>
The baleful nimbus glares menacingly about.
> obs sky
You are a bit too distracted to be observing something.
>
The malicious nimbus closes to melee range on you!
>
The malicious nimbus closes to melee range on you!
>
The baleful nimbus closes to melee range on you!
>
The vindictive nimbus closes to melee range on you!
> study obelisk
You are a bit too distracted to be studying anything.
>
* Moving with amazing force and guile, a vindictive nimbus rakes its frigid claws at you.  You badly fail to parry with a simple steel parry stick.
The claws lands a good strike (3/23) to your left eye.
[You're bruised, solidly balanced with opponent in strong position.]
>
* Driving in with exacting precision, a baleful nimbus rakes its frigid claws at you.  You fail to block with a simple steel parry stick.
The claws lands a heavy strike (7/23) to your left arm.
[You're hurt, solidly balanced with opponent in strong position.]
>
* Moving with dominating grace, a malicious nimbus rakes its frigid claws at you.  You fail to block with a simple steel parry stick.
The claws lands a heavy strike (7/23) to your chest.
[You're beat up, solidly balanced with opponent in strong position.]
>
* Moving with indomitable grace, a malicious nimbus rakes its frigid claws at you.  You attempt to dodge, only slightly avoiding the blow.
The claws lands a heavy strike (7/23) to your left leg.
[You're very beat up, solidly balanced with opponent in strong position.]
>
* Driving in like a master combatant, a vindictive nimbus slices wide at you.  You fail to dodge, only slightly avoiding the blow.
The claws lands a very heavy hit (8/23) that deeply chills the entire left bicep.
[You're very beat up, solidly balanced with opponent in strong position.]
!>
* Driving in with an overwhelming assault, a baleful nimbus rakes its frigid claws at you.  You fail to parry with a simple steel parry stick.
The claws lands a heavy strike (7/23) that imprints your sternum with frostbite in the shape of the frigid claws, stunning you.
[You're very badly hurt, somewhat off balance with opponent dominating.]

!S>
* With the precision and elegance of a plunging goshawk, a malicious nimbus rakes its frigid claws at you.  You fail to parry with a simple steel parry stick.
The claws lands a very heavy hit (8/23) that shatters your chest into a hail of ice shards as frigid claws trails blood-soaked hoarfrost in the wake.
The malicious nimbus hovers silently about, stoically seeking something, your existence already forgotten.
You stop listening to Karissa.

You manage to clutch onto a small glowing black stone with deep gold veins running through it as you gasp your last!
Your color vision returns to normal, causing the auras you see to dim and vanish.
The world around you returns to its mundane appearance.
You no longer feel as strong a connection to the web of fate.
You feel less aware of your environment.
You feel the knowledge of the Gauge Flow spell slip from your mind.
avoid all
Your death cry echoes in your brain as it quickly dawns on you that you have just died!  Already, you feel the tug of eternity upon your soul and you struggle to remain tied to this world.

A chill takes the seat of your soul as your remaining spiritual strength bleeds away steadily.  However, you are comforted that you have curried the favor of your god, which will greatly improve the course of your resurrection or reincarnation.

Your body will decay beyond its ability to hold your soul in 80 minutes.
[You're very badly balanced]

DEAD>
All AVOID options cleared.
DEAD>
A malicious nimbus drifts silently into view.

DEAD>
The vindictive nimbus begins to advance on Karissa.
DEAD>
The baleful nimbus begins to advance on Karissa.
DEAD>
The malicious nimbus begins to advance on Karissa.
DEAD>
The malicious nimbus closes to melee range on Karissa.
DEAD>
The baleful nimbus closes to melee range on Karissa.
DEAD>
The vindictive nimbus closes to melee range on Karissa.
DEAD>