*** ON GWETH BEFORE I ARRIVED ***

[General][Valenal] "Hello.  It is winter and approaching sunrise.  Isn't that good news?"
[General][Rejind] "Sunrise means we can dry herbs soon."
[General][Valenal] "Yes!  Drying herbs is a way to preserve them and enhance their properties for certain preparations!"
[General][Sofina] "What news do you bring to us this time Valenal?"
[General][Valenal] "News?  New information?"
[General][Sofina] "Yes, sorry. Any new infomation?"
[General][Valenal] "I do not know."
[General][Sofina] "I personal approve of your stance to use more sorcery."
[General][Valenal] "I do not know what information you already possess.  If you tell me, I could compare and tell you what is new.  Oh!  That is excellent!"
[General][Valenal] "Yes, please do the sorcery!"



	*** LOOK / POW ***

You see Avatar of Summoning Valenal, Elemental Conduit of Elanthia, a Human.
Valenal has a round face, savant milky white eyes and a small nose.  He has cropped snow-white-streaked red-gold hair, with weathered skin and an athletic build.
He is average height for a Human.
He appears to be young.
He has a thin sparse mustache on his upper lip and a thin patchy beard.
He is in good shape.

He is wearing a deeply-hooded burlap cloak, a heavily scarred arcanist's belt, some rugged black leather boots weathered with scorch-marks, some conjured armor of raw segmented metal plates and some faded pants.

>pow vale
You perceive Elemental magic clinging to Valenal.
There are no spells on Valenal.
Valenal has no spell prepared.
Roundtime: 3 sec.



	*** XIONARA FLIRTS ***

Xionara whistles a few low, warbling notes to Valenal.
You wave to Valenal.
Xionara flirts with Valenal.
Valenal takes a few steps away from the crowd and turns to mutter to himself.  He seems to be in the midst of a spirited argument.
Kerennya says to Valenal, "It is okay to be something else."
You say to Valenal, "Hello fellow Human friend, long time no see."
Xionara softly says, "Very good shape for age. Sir."
Xionara praises Valenal.
Xionara softly asks Valenal, "Work out, yes?"
Xionara gazes at Valenal.

Valenal turns back toward the crowd and he seems more focused.  As he steps forward he gives Golameth a level look and a nod of respect, before turning to acknowledge Avrenka

>l gola
You see Mage Slayer Golameth War'Child, Blood Berserker of Trothfang, an Elven Barbarian.

Xionara angles her ears forward, gazing curiously at Valenal.
Xionara glances at Golameth.
Xionara glances at you.
Xionara softly asks, "Only like men?"
Xionara frowns at Valenal.

>l xion
You see Black Fox Xionara Swiftstrike, Western Wrath of Elanthia, a Prydaen Warrior Mage.

Xionara softly says to you, "Tried flattery... not sure was very good at it."



	*** VALENAL'S STORY ***

Valenal calmly says, "That is rather a long story."
Valenal nods to Natarian.
Golameth says to Valenal, "I am all ears right now."
Kerennya says to Valenal, "Well, we would like to know you better."
Valenal calmly says, "But I suppose we have time, and it may help."

Valenal blinks placidly.  He folds his hands at his belt and seems to sway on his feet as though buoyed on an invisible tide.  As the group speaks, he seems to focus on no one in particular.

Valenal calmly says, "Let us sit and talk, then.  I will tell you my story and then we can see where we go."
Valenal ponders.
Valenal slowly empties his lungs.
Valenal calmly says, "My name was Valenal, as I have told you.  I am, was, a researcher."
Valenal calmly says, "My particular area of expertise was in inter-planar communication and travel."

Golameth asks Valenal, "Where do you come from?"
Valenal speaks slowly and calmly, his words coming with the rythym of an ocean wave lapping at a beach.  He takes a deep breath as he considers Golameth's question.
Golameth offers Valenal a hefty bowl of firm noodles piled high with roasted peccary and green onions.
Valenal calmly says to Golameth, "In a sense, I am from the Crossing.  This is where I was born, and...oh, thank you."
Valenal accepts Golameth's firm noodles.
Valenal accepts the offered noodles but seems to forget them immediately, holding them casually in his hand.
Kethrai asks Valenal, "You said your name was Valenal, and you were a researcher. Why past tense?"
Golameth asks Valenal, "Where do you come from now?"
Valenal calmly says, "These are the complicated bits."

Valenal calmly says, "I engaged in a line of cutting-edge research that promised to open incredible new avenues of exploration to our guildsmen."
Valenal says, "I see several Warrior Mages in the audience.  If you know your planar theory, you can imagine the sorts of things I might mean."
Valenal says, "My research was groundbreaking, but also dangeorus and unsanctioned."
Tirost asks Valenal, "You were researching elemental planes, or something else?"
Valenal says to Tirost, "Communication between the planes.  Information exchange."
Valenal calmly says, "Which in theory is impossible, but in practice is...well...not the best idea, as it turned out."
Valenal calmly says, "When the time came to test my theories, I could not ask my guild for support.  And nor could I expose the mind of a mere intern to the translation matrix I had developed."
Kethrai asks, "Translation as in language, or translation as in moving in space...?"
Valenal says to Kethrai, "That is an astute question, and it turns out the difference is hard to split."
Valenal says, "As I found out."
Valenal calmly says, "The interface offered me a glimpse into the varied elemental planes, and it offered the denizens of the varied planes a glimpse into me, as well."
Valenal calmly says, "A poet whose name I can no longer remember abjured us against staring too long into the abyss, lest the abyss stare back into you."
Golameth asks Valenal, "What are his poems?"
Valenal says, "I know only the one quote.  There are a great many things missing, now."
Valenal sighs.

Golameth says to Valenal, "You were hungry don't forget to eat up."
Valenal glances at the plate of noodles.  Looking at Golameth, he takes a modest mouthful and chews contemplatively.
Valenal takes a bite of the noodles.
Valenal coughs.
Valenal quietly says to himself, "This really is easier when you let me do it.  I told you."
Golameth says, "Ya let him do it."
Golameth pats Valenal on the back.

Valenal says, "There are things dwelling in the Planes.  Not life, as you would recognize it, but intelligence, after a fashion."
Valenal quietly says to himself, "Yeah, some more intelligent than other."
Valenal says to himself, "Would you knock it off, please?  We are doing very well."
Valenal coughs.
Valenal quietly says, "Anyhow..."
Golameth says to Valenal, "If you like i will happily punch them in the teeth if they keep it up."
Valenal resignedly says, "It wouldn't help."
Valenal resignedly says, "They would probably find it novel."

Tirost asks Valenal, "YOu communicated with an entity in another plane. Can you tell us what you learned?"
Valenal says to Tirost, "I learned, young Warrior Mage, that exposing your naked mind to intelligences with no prior experience and absolutely no sense of personal space is a bad idea."

Valenal ponders.
Valenal says, "Alright.  Summarizing and simplifying a bit."
Valenal says, "All Warrior Mages are connected, in a sense, to the Elemental Planes through their alignment.  We are, in a sense, a tiny bit elemental."
Valenal says, "That enables us to do certain things that I don't need to recap.  But with the right protocol, it allows a certain amount of translation."
Valenal says, "And the elementals can use that protocol to...hitch a ride."
Valenal exclaims, "Yeah, we run the human suit!"
Valenal mutters to himself.
Valenal says to himself, "Would you be serious for five.  Minutes."
Natarian gestures.
A myriad of disjointed sounds seem to linger aimlessly in the air for a few moments before they blend together into phrases you quickly recognize.
You feel your mind sharpen further under the power of Natarian's spell.
Natarian says, "No more need for translation."
Valenal says to Natarian, "Thank you.  That helps."

Tirost asks Golameth, "I think he is something like a familiar... but to what? For what purpose?"
Valenal says, "Our relationship is complicated.  Sometimes I am myself.  Sometimes I am accompanied by something else...or somethings... some of those things are more irritating than others."
Golameth says, "I think he has been hijacked by a jerk who needs a rear end rearranging."
Valenal quietly says to himself, "This is booooring."
Valenal rubs his head.
Golameth asks Valenal, "Would more food be less boring?"
Valenal exclaims, "Yes!!"
Valenal resignedly says, "Fine.  Whatever it takes."
Golameth gets a giant wooden spork carved in the shape of goblin arm from inside his hex bag.
Valenal loudly shovels noodles and a chunk of peccary loin into his mouth.
Golameth twists the wooden spork through a complicated series of gestures.  A rum-infused cupcake topped with sugar-coated tentacles hugging a marzipan ship appears in his left hand!
Valenal takes a bite of the noodles.
Valenal takes a bite of the noodles.
Valenal takes a bite of the noodles.
Golameth moves a giant wooden spork carved in the shape of goblin arm to his left hand.
Golameth moves a rum-infused cupcake topped with sugar-coated tentacles hugging a marzipan ship to his right hand.
Golameth offers Valenal a rum-infused cupcake topped with sugar-coated tentacles hugging a marzipan ship.
Valenal accepts Golameth's rum-infused cupcake.
Valenal nods to Golameth.
Valenal takes a bite of the cupcake.
Golameth says, "This will blow your taste buds."
Valenal blinks.
Valenal blanches.
Golameth says, "But those elementals have never tasted that."
Valenal nods at Golameth, obviously agreeing with his views.
Valenal says to Golameth, "They want to experience absolutely EVERYTHIGN."
Valenal sighs.
Golameth asks Valenal, "Would they like to expierence death?"
Valenal dryly says to Golameth, "A lot more than I would."
Golameth rolls his eyes.
Valenal tiredly says, "If it makes you happy, go nuts.  They will put me back together again."

Tirost says to Valenal, "I think I am beginning to understand, but I need you - the you who grew up in the Crossing - to share with us why you have come now, of all times, when wild magic runs rampant, and our friends taken."
Valenal nods to Tirost.
Valenal says to Tirost, "To business, then."
Valenal slowly empties his lungs.
Valenal says, "Alright, to business.  The elementals are very concerned."
Valenal calmly says, "Their actual understanding of what goes on in the Plane of Abiding is...very limited."
Tirost softly says to Valenal, "You are their eyes and ears here."
Valenal thoughtfully says, "And their...translator, for lack of a better term."
Kethrai asks, "And their translator, so to speak, I guess. Making the rules of existence here perceptible to them?"
Valenal nods at Kethrai, obviously agreeing with his views.
Valenal says to Kethrai, "Yes, that is the thrust of it."

Leilanie asks Valenal, "When you gwethed right now for everyone to use sorcery, was that you or?"
Valenal says to Leilanie, "That is also a complicated question.  But for a short answer, yes."



	*** ELEMENTALS' PERSPECTIVE ***

Illiya asks Valenal, "What are the elementals concerned about?"
Valenal says, "From their perspective, the energetic relationship between their planes and the Plane of Abiding has changed."

Malorna says, "I  am interested in knowin what else they want to experience."
Valenal says to Malorna, "Oh gods, please never say that around them.."
Valenal is hugging himself.

Golameth asks Valenal, "How many other conduits do you know of?"
Valenal says to Golameth, "There are others.  More than one, less than infinity?  THEY know the conduits exist but not who or where... there is no mapping of points in their Planes with points of Abiding in any way  ican describe it."

Illiya asks Valenal, "In what way has the energetic relationship between their planes and ours changed?"
Valenal says to Illiya, "To use a simplified analogy, it is as though a drain has been stopped up."

Natarian says, "This entire conversation confuses me.  It's trivial to connect with other planes and communicate with some that reside there."
Tirost says to Valenal, "That is an analogy we've heard before in slightly different form."
You ask Valenal, "But last time you gave an analogy of a leaky bucket ... now it's a stopped up drain?"
Valenal pulls at his hair for a moment, a look of frustration on his face.  You can hear him muttering to himself.
Valenal quietly says, "Please, slowly, this is very hard."
Valenal quietly says, "I am translating what is essentially a...feeling, and a set of perceptions, that is totally alien.  And that varies from entity to entity."
Valenal quietly says, "They don't all perceive the same way, and there's no...mapping is the best term I can use...of concepts.  Just what I can try to make sense of."

Natarian says to Valenal, "I do believe you missed your mark.  You speak of research and translation and communicating with those from other planes.  You really should have just sauntered over to the bard guild and asked for directions. We have those questions answered already."
Valenal chuckles at Natarian.
Valenal wryly says, "In some ways Bards get it better than we do, perhaps."
Valenal says, "In any case, let me try to address some of your questions."
Valenal says, "First, to reassure you if I can.  I do not believe any group of elementals has taken your friends.  Apart from having no motive, they..."
Valenal ponders.
Valenal says, "They don't really understand the concept of "people" as discrete things."
Valenal says, "They are not really conscious in any way that would make sense to you."
Valenal says, "So such a thing would almost certainly not even occur to them to do."
Kethrai asks, "Or separateness or togetherness as distinct concepts?"
Valenal says to Kethrai, "Yes.  I...believe they have some individuality, in a sense, in their home planes.  But translating here or back changes everything.  What appears here is not what left its home."
Valenal says, "And the reverse is true as well."
Valenal says, "All of which I find very disturbing, but it doesn't seem to bother them."
Valenal looks at Kethrai and shrugs.

Valenal calmly says, "I am going to translate what they believe as best I can, in the hope that it helps you all."
Valenal calmly says, "They believe that a master entity or entities has been stealing energy from the planar system (these are concepts I am mapping onto what I get from them).  They do not know precisely who the entities are, because the concept of "entities" is a little rarified for them."
Valenal says, "But their sense of usage is "something that can tweak the parameters of the universe", or similar to that."
Valenal calmly says, "I believe them to be referring to the Heralds."

Golameth asks, "Do they know why they need to steal energy?"
You ask, "How do they know it's the Heralds?"
Valenal says, "One question at a time, please.  This is a...an internal jumble you wouldn't believe."
Valenal frowns.
Valenal says, "And they're fighting me."

Valenal calmly says, "There is a certain metaphysical order that applies to everything in the planar system.  A set of rules, if you like.  There exist many powerful entities within the system.  Immortals, things from the Void... the remnant of maelshyve...and so on."
Valenal says, "These things are very strong...they could do the equivalent of throw a wagon accross a field, for example."
Valenal says, "But the wagon would still fly in accord with gravity and air resistance, and land in a predictable arc."
Valenal asks, "Does that make sense?"
Xionara softly says, "Easily."
Valenal nods.
Valenal calmly says, "Alright."
Valenal says, "Whatever is doing this, taking energy, is violating the rules.  It's making the Wagon fall UP, to extend the analogy."
Valenal says, "And the list of entities that can do that, at least to my knowledge, is very small."
Valenal says, "It has to be the Heralds.  Or a Herald."
Dasheek says, "Hence your thinking it is the Heralds."
Valenal nods to Dasheek.
Illiya asks Valenal, "There's no other possibility of an entity that could do that, other than the Heralds?"
Valenal says to Illiya, "If that is the case, that scares the hell out of me."

Kethrai asks Valenal, "So, would you say that the Heralds don't use magic at all? That beings using magic would be operating... by the rules, and they simply rewrite reality to achieve their aims?"
Valenal says to Kethrai, "Yes.  That, again, is the thrust of it."

Natarian asks, "But why is sorcery the remedy?"
Valenal gives Natarian a worried look, and shakes his head.  "I know what they FEEL, and I can speculate about the mechanism."
Valenal says, "Sorcery does two things that the Elementals seem to like.  First, it breaks down the planar boundary and makes it more porus.  That permits more interaction between the planes."
Valenal says, "More translation between the energetic realm they inhabit and the material plane.  More chances for them to...be what they are, I suppose is the best way to describe it."
Golameth says, "So they, the elementals want more sorcery to come play in our field of wonderful new things."

Eleandra gestures.
A swirling vortex of brilliant light spins across the area.
Raw energies rupture near Valenal, leaving him looking pale and drained.
Xionara concentrates for several moments, a greedy expression on her face.
A weak mana surge is abruptly erased from existence!

Valenal says to Golameth, "That is one sense of it, yes.  That process is a natural one, of course...oof, that was a bad one."
Valenal says, "It happens all the time."
Valenal says, "When you light a fire."
Valenal says, "When water flows down a gradient."
Valenal says, "When stone erodes or is created through pressure.."
Valenal says, "Those things create opportunities for interactions between the Planes."
Valenal says, "So Sorcery is not doing something inherently bad or evil, just enabling those and other processes."
Valenal says, "The second thing Sorcery does is inject energy into the system that the Heralds - if it is them - do not seem to be able to harness."

You ask, "When you say sorcery, you mean regular cross-realm casting, not Necromancy and Teleologic Sorcery I assume?"
Valenal says to you, "In theory, any Sorcery has the effects I described.  Though several types may have OTHER effects and I am far from an expert."

Kethrai asks Valenal, "You said 'that was a bad one'... You meant, the mana surge? The interference with casting? Are those related to the... discrete quanta of energy being lost from the planar system that you talked about last time?"
Valenal nods to Kethrai.
Valenal says to Kethrai, "Yes.  And they are."
Valenal ponders.

Golameth says to Valenal, "What if we stopped sorcery how would that effect us."
Valenal says to Golameth, "I will speculate, based on research and my sense of what the elementals are trying to impart."
Valenal says to Golameth, "If sorcery were to stop, the movement of energy between the planes would decrease as whoever-it-is exerted more control.  The overall energetic balance of the system would decrease, and the Plane of Abiding would become metaphyisically stagnant."
Valenal says, "Eventually, the Plane might collapse under its own weight.  Assuming whoever it is continues to remove energy."

Valenal says to himself, "Booooriiiiiing.  Do something fun."
Valenal sighs.
Valenal takes a bite of the cupcake.
Valenal takes a bite of the cupcake.

You ask Valenal, "Is there a way we can figure out who is doing this "stealing"? Can we examine a mana surge? Or is there a place where we can see this energy being transferred?"
Valenal ponders.
Dasheek asks, "Maybe the planar observatory?"
Natarian asks, "What about the Zengmodaleth?"
Valenal says to you, "I do not know.  I believe there must be a... conflict...going on.  Something that has caused the Heralds to act clumbsily."
Valenal nods to Natarian.
Valenal says, "That is not a bad idea."
Valenal says, "It may be easier to observe the process from outside the Plane of Abiding."

Kethrai says to Valenal, "And is there any hope that we could add more energy fast enough to make up for what's being taken anyway? That feels like less of a solution and more of a delay of the inevitable, without dealing with what's being taken."
Valenal says to Kethrai, "I do not know.  Ultimately, we need to stop whoever is stealing.  If it's the Heralds...I am not sure how to do that."

Golameth asks Valenal, "Is there a better idea from your stance?"
You ask Valenal, "What makes you think that?"
The veins in Valenal's neck begin to stand out and his face begins to flush as he makes an obvious attempt to control his anger.
Valenal firmly says to himself, "Be silent awhlie longer."

Illiya asks Valenal, "What do you think is the Heralds', or whoever it is, motive is for doing this?"
Valenal slowly empties his lungs.
Valenal takes a seat.
Valenal says, "That is beyond me.  But if I had to speculate?  Perhaps they are fighting something and they need the extra juice."
Valenal says, "It would make sense if they perceived themselves to be in danger, and long-term thinking no longer ruled their actions."
Valenal says, "I have no idea what could threaten them, so."
Valenal says, "But perhaps if you can identify that entity or entities, you will find an ally that you can leverage."

You say, "We need to catch them in the act."
You say, "The Planar Observatory."
Kethrai says, "Or Zengmodaleth, it sounds like. Just, outside the Plane."



	*** VALENAL LOSES CONTROL ***

Valenal quietly says to himself, "Booooooooring.  So many words!  Not a lot of state changes."
Valenal gestures.
Valenal looks steadier.

Valenal clutches at his head, rocking back and forth.
Valenal gestures.

Xionara softly says, "Can make it rain."
Xionara concentrates intently on Valenal.
With the barest whisper of a breeze, a tiny black cloud coalesces above Valenal's head.
Xionara softly asks, "See?"

Valenal exclaims, "It's so...hard...to make sense of any of it!"

Valenal gestures.
A network of thin lines form around him, then quickly fade away.

Valenal traces a hasty sigil in the air.
You decipher the signs of an Elemental augmentation spell.

Valenal hits himself in the temple with the heel of his hand, repeatedly.

Valenal gestures.
Valenal seems to move more easily.

Valenal exclaims to himself, "We want to try getting set on fire again!"
Valenal exclaims to himself, "No!  It's horribl....y intense!"
Valenal nods.
Valenal exclaims, "Yeah!!"
Valenal bounces around happily.

Valenal traces a hasty sigil in the air.
You decipher the signs of an Elemental augmentation spell.

Valenal exclaims, "You all look like you appreciate a good fire!"
Valenal beams!

Valenal gestures.
A wild fervor flashes in Valenal's eyes.

>pow vale
You perceive Elemental magic clinging to Valenal.
The following magic is on Valenal:
  Swirling Winds (which should last for a while)
Concentrating on the whispered phrases of "Aura of Tongues", you grow confident in your ability to understand the Haakish, Ilithic, Olvi, Toggish, Gerenshuge, S'Kra Mur, Gamgweth, Gorbesh, Prydaen, and Rakash languages, in addition to any others you already speak.  This effect will last for about twenty-six roisaen.
  Y'ntrel Sechra (which should last for a while)
  Rage of the Clans (which should last for a while)
  Sure Footing (which should last for a while)
  Substratum (which should last for a while)
Valenal has no spell prepared.
Roundtime: 3 sec.

Valenal softly says, "Oh, no...go, please go..."
Valenal begins chanting in a low tone, the words indistinct and little above a whisper.  Slowly, he raises his voice, and as he does so you can feel the faint stirrings of warm winds caress your body.
You decipher the signs of an Elemental targeted spell!
Valenal softly says, "I CAN'T."
Valenal traces a hasty sigil in the air.
You decipher the signs of an Elemental targeted spell!

>pow val
Valenal is preparing Fire Rain.
Roundtime: 3 sec.

The air between Natarian and Valenal distorts as if being viewed in a curved mirror.  A disgruntled lesser war naga lurches into visibility, tatters of pastel colors wrapped around its serpentine length like a second skin.  A sublime, sibilant melody fills the area.
Kethrai gestures.
The air around a disgruntled lesser war naga reverberates oddly.
Valenal's gloves ignite, sending a violet globe of lightning towards a disgruntled lesser war naga!
Valenal's globe of lightning lands a twitching hit to a disgruntled lesser war naga's neck!

Valenal hurriedly says, "Please go~~."

Valenal's gloves flash, sending a violet globe of lightning towards a disgruntled lesser war naga!
Valenal's globe of lightning lands a twitching hit to a disgruntled lesser war naga's lower body!

Valenal gestures.
Swirls of ash, dust and vapor begin to erupt from the ground as the temperature quickly increases.
A sudden shout of "The man's dangerous!" heralds a nearby citizen to run for the guards.

A column of deep grey ash suddenly explodes skyward with an ominous rumble, darkening the immediate area!
The air around a disgruntled lesser war naga reverberates oddly.

Valenal's gloves flash, sending a violet globe of lightning towards a disgruntled lesser war naga!
Valenal's globe of lightning lands a twitching hit to a disgruntled lesser war naga's upper body!

Valenal traces a hasty sigil in the air.
You decipher the signs of an Elemental debilitation spell!
The ground shudders slightly as a dark column-like cloud spreads out, mushrooming in all directions from its center.  Swirling cinders begin to drift lazily downward from this pyroclastic cloud as it swells in size.

Valenal assesses his combat situation.

Valenal's  wreath ignites, sending a violet globe of lightning towards a disgruntled lesser war naga!
Valenal's globe of lightning lands a twitching hit to a disgruntled lesser war naga's belly!

With the dull roar of unnatural thunder, a pyroclastic ash cloud begins to release a moaning shower of blistering balls of fire!
Eleandra is dealt a vicious stun!
 * Eleandra is slain before your eyes!
Rejind is lightly stunned!
Kethrai's skin gleams with an adamantine sheen!
Kethrai does not seem to feel the wound, despite the injury.
Kethrai's skin gleams with an adamantine sheen!
Kethrai does not seem to feel the wound, despite the injury.
Kethrai's skin gleams with an adamantine sheen!
Kethrai does not seem to feel the wound, despite the injury.
Sofina is revealed!
The air around Xionara solidifies into a blinding yellow luminescence and intercepts the attack with a shower of coruscating light.
The air around Xionara solidifies into a blinding yellow luminescence and throws off bright waves of light as it resists the attack.
The air around Xionara solidifies into a blinding yellow luminescence and throws off shimmering light in the wake of the attack.

Valenal exclaims, "State change!!"

Valenal's  wreath flares, sending a violet globe of lightning towards a disgruntled lesser war naga!
Valenal's globe of lightning lands a tingling strike to a disgruntled lesser war naga's belly!

Valenal assesses his combat situation.

The earth beneath your feet begins to shake violently!
Xionara is thrown to the ground by the heaving of the earth!
Illiya manages to stay upright, but looks a bit wobbly!
Kerennya is thrown to the ground by the heaving of the earth!
Shavay is thrown to the ground by the heaving of the earth!
Kentara is thrown to the ground by the heaving of the earth!
Rejind is thrown to the ground by the heaving of the earth!
A sudden shout of "The man's dangerous!" heralds a nearby citizen to run for the guards.

Golameth begins sprinting forward, eyes closed, like a wind spirit too fleet to be bound to earth.  He whips through the air, vaulting over Valenal and hurtling behind him with a double kick!
Valenal ducks under an armored right foot!
Valenal blocks an armored left foot with his aetheric  shield!

Valenal's gloves ignite, sending a violet globe of lightning towards a disgruntled lesser war naga!
Valenal's globe of lightning lands a twitching hit to a disgruntled lesser war naga's lower body!

>l elea
You see Eleandra, an Elven Moon Mage.
She has a ghastly bloated head with bleeding from the ears compounded by a crushed skull with horrendous wounds, severely swollen and bruised chest area compounded by deep cuts across the chest area.

The sudden oscillation in the ground beneath you leaves your teeth chattering.
Illiya manages to stay upright, but looks a bit wobbly!
Utbrach manages to stay upright, but looks a bit wobbly!
Rejind shakes with the movement of the ground.
Qij is thrown to the ground by the heaving of the earth!
Xionara shakes with the movement of the ground.
Bilberry shakes with the movement of the ground.

Valenal traces a hasty sigil in the air.
You decipher the signs of an Elemental debilitation spell!

Golameth grabs hold of Valenal in a tight grip.

Valenal's  wreath flares, sending a violet globe of lightning towards a disgruntled lesser war naga!
Valenal's globe of lightning lands a twitching hit to a disgruntled lesser war naga's belly!

You go south.
[The Crossing, Champions' Square]
Statues of famous barbarians and arena champions form an arcade leading to the arched steel-clad door of the Barbarians' Guild.  You also see a sturdy stone structure.
Obvious paths: north, south, west.
A shower of blazing fire continues to fall from the sky to the north!
A shower of blazing fire continues to fall from the sky to the north!
A shower of blazing fire continues to fall from the sky to the north!

>peer n
You peer north and see ...

[The Crossing, Magen Road]
Also here: Ice Cold Natarian, the body of Eleandra (prone), Haalik Showldh Utbrach, Black Fox Xionara, the body of Bilberry (prone), Danger Wizard Dasheek, Strawberry Nurse Illiya, Mage Slayer Golameth and Avatar of Summoning Valenal.
Obvious paths: east, south, west.

A shower of blazing fire continues to fall from the sky to the north!

You go north.
You grab Bilberry's body and drag it south with you . . .

You see Bilberry, a Halfling.
He has a badly bruised and swollen head compounded by some deep slashes and cuts about the head, a severely swollen and deeply bruised left leg compounded by deep slashes across the left leg.

A shower of blazing fire continues to fall from the sky to the north!

You peer north and see ...
Also here: the body of Fury's Touch Rejind (prone), Heart Tender Kethrai, Pilgrim Nawain, Sensitive Suviana, Henzl, Lifeguard Lushk (sleeping), the body of Eleandra (prone), Danger Wizard Dasheek, Strawberry Nurse Illiya, Mage Slayer Golameth and a stunned Avatar of Summoning Valenal (prone).
Obvious paths: east, south, west.

You go north.

Dasheek gestures at Valenal.
A bolt of bluish lightning blazes out of the sky toward Valenal!
The lightning bolt tears into his chest like a blast from Firulf's staff.
A panicked scream pierces the air.  "Murderer!"  You notice the nearby citizenry staring at Dasheek briefly, before most quickly run off in fear.
 * Valenal is slain before your eyes!
The ghostly hands binding Valenal slip away and vanish.

You see Avatar of Summoning Valenal, Elemental Conduit of Elanthia, a Human.
He appears to be dead!  Other than that...
He has a severely swollen and deeply bruised right leg with bones protruding out from the skin compounded by a shattered right leg with gaping wounds, a severely swollen chest area with a shattered rib cage compounded by a completely destroyed chest area with nearly all flesh and bone torn away revealing a gaping hole, a severely bloated and discolored abdomen with strange round lumps under the skin compounded by an abdomen deeply gouged with gaping wounds, a severely swollen and bruised right eye compounded by a bruised and swollen right eye.

You hear the ghostly voice of Valenal exclaim, "Wow!  That was great!!"
You hear the ghostly voice of Valenal say, "We don't get to do that much AT ALL."
You hear the ghostly voice of Valenal say to himself, "Why... just stoooop.."
You hear the ghostly voice of Valenal ask, "Huh?  You guys don't just reinstantiate?"
You hear the ghostly voice of Valenal say, "That's so weird."

 * Lushk is slain before your eyes!

You see Lifeguard Lushk Claidheamha, War Witch of Zoluren, a Human Empath.
She appears to be dead!  Other than that...
She has a severely swollen and deeply bruised right arm compounded by deep cuts across the right arm, deep cuts across the left arm, a severely swollen and deeply bruised left leg compounded by deep cuts across the left leg, a severely swollen and deeply bruised right hand compounded by deep slashes across the right hand, faint scuffing to the left hand, severely swollen and bruised chest area compounded by deep cuts across the chest area, faint scuffing to the abdomen, tiny scratches to the back, tiny scratches to the left eye.

You hear the ghostly voice of Valenal say, "Ok guys, see you again soon!  That was FUN."
The substance of Valenal's body shimmers, as if covered by a veil of crystal tears.  A moment later he fades away, leaving nothing but empty air where his body had once lain.

Nawain says, "Goodness. He had quite a few favors."

You gesture.
[Temple Grounds, Cobblestone Path]
The grand temple lies to the north, atop a massive stairway.  Three towers flank the sides of the structure, walkways stretching between them and the temple's top levels.  You also see an iron-bound oak door next to the base of the stairway.
Also here: Avatar of Summoning Valenal.
Obvious paths: east, south, west.

	*** POST GWETHS ***

[General][Valenal] "I...I am so sorry.  They really don't mean ill."
[General][Illiya] "Well at least they got to experience a new state change"
[General][Valenal] "They don't understand...so much.  Like how much that hurts."
[General][Kethrai] "I appreciate you trying to warn us, and apologize the death was necessary to keep the city safe."
[General][Valenal] "I hope we can continue to work together.  Please don't try to follow me... I must get them away from anyone who they might hurt while they are like this."
[General] You hear your mental voice echo, "For what it's worth, thank you for your efforts Valenal"
[General][Illiya] "Thank you Valenal and let us know if you find out more information"
[General][Natarian] "Valenal, your lesson was very interesting. Please do not come back"
[General][Kethrai] "Or at the very least, allow us to meet you outside the city, yeah?"
[General][Kethrai] "We will bring lots of shiny and distracting toys next time."
[General][Valenal] "Just wanted a sausage roll... can't let you go ANYWHERE... we have a job.  A job....."
[General][Mhikal] "Mmmm... sausage rolls..."
[General][Rejind] "What's your job?"
[General][Mhikal] "I hope it's to bake sausage rolls

END