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Post by Daos on Feb 20, 2022 14:37:18 GMT -8
With the zombies dispatched and the skeletons non-active, Daos takes a moment to catch his breath. "Anyone have any rope?" he asks, moving toward the fallen necromancer.
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Post by GravityEmblem on Feb 21, 2022 5:52:46 GMT -8
"Oh, yes, I have some," Val says, reaching into her pack. Simpson spits out some blood as she ties him up.
"You're breaking your oath to kill me?" he sneers. "How ignoble of you!"
("Don't tempt us," Meine mutters as she inexpertly bandages her wounds.)
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Post by Daos on Feb 21, 2022 14:58:55 GMT -8
"First things first," Daos says to him. He casts a spell to open the man's mind to Daos, then begins his interrogation. "Where is Sombra Moonshadow now?" he demands.
============
Daos casts Detect Thoughts on Simpson.
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Post by GravityEmblem on Feb 21, 2022 16:57:20 GMT -8
"Hoping to track her down?" Simpson says, spitting blood in Daos' direction. "Well, I'm afraid she's long gone."
His thoughts betray him: a path tracing north, an image of Sombra among a crowd of Elves. He knows she was heading to the Elven Lands.
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Post by Daos on Feb 21, 2022 17:08:14 GMT -8
"The Elven lands?" Daos asks. "Why would she go there? And why would she want me dead? I thought she still wanted to use my blood."
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Post by GravityEmblem on Feb 22, 2022 6:31:58 GMT -8
"Your blood? Oh, no. How could she hope to use that when you so cruelly destroyed her life's work!?" he says with revulsion, his mind flashing with images of Daos destroying the ritual. It paints him quite plainly as the villain, with his mother as the helpless victim. "Just a few drops of blood, and Mortals could have become Divine. Yet, you crushed her dreams out of spite!"
(Valerie, unfamiliar with Daos' history, listens intently)
He shakes his head. "...that's why you had to die. A gift for my darling Sombra--to return to me with the secret of immortality in her grasp, and find that her hated offspring has been revenged upon!" The scene plays out his mind, then shifts to more...immodest ones involving him and Sombra...then to blood. Elvish blood, spilt on the ground, on a pair of grinning lips.
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Post by Daos on Feb 22, 2022 14:46:47 GMT -8
"Then...she didn't send you? Does she even know you're here?" Daos asks. He actually laughs, more in relief than anything else; if that is the case, then he may still be under her radar. "You're just another of her witless pawns. You think murdering her son will earn you her love? She's not even capable of love, fool. I'd wager she won't even remember your name in a week's time. And if she thinks she'll find any kind of warm welcome among the elves, she's just as stupid as you." Shaking his head, he asks, "How did you even find me? I haven't seen her in decades."
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Post by GravityEmblem on Feb 22, 2022 15:05:34 GMT -8
Simpson's mind flashes with anger as he hears Daos' rebuke. "I had her description of you," he answers. "I simply checked each person matching it that passed by." Daos sees memories of earlier encounters with other blonde, Half-Elven mages. Several end...poorly.
"Then this was just chance?" Meine remarks. "You really are a witless pawn."
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Post by Daos on Feb 22, 2022 15:14:39 GMT -8
"What? But how did you know even where to look? How did you know I was in Foccu at all?" Daos asks. "How did you know I'd be coming this way?"
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Post by GravityEmblem on Feb 22, 2022 16:33:36 GMT -8
"Rumors, of course--that a mage named Daos Soulstaff was working in Deppsburg for the king. It would stand to reason that you would return back to the king to report, wouldn't it?"
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Post by Daos on Feb 22, 2022 18:45:35 GMT -8
Daos grimaced. It was true then. All this recent hobnobbing with dukes and kings and princesses was making him more famous. It was probably inevitable then, that she would eventually track him down. Sooner or later, he'd have to deal with her. Assuming the elves didn't take care of her for him.
"I think we're done here. I just have one final question for you," Daos says. He holds out his hand, fingers outstretched toward Simpson's chest, so that his fingertips are just barely hovering over his clothing. Purple energy begins swirling around his finger tips as he concentrates, chanting one final spell. Once the energy reaches its apex, causing his hand to shake from all the built up energy, Daos uses his other hand to steady his arm by grabbing it, then leans in closer and asks, "If a mage of her power could not kill me...what possible chance did you think you had?" Then he unleashes one final volley of magic missiles into him at point-blank range.
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Post by GravityEmblem on Feb 23, 2022 6:47:28 GMT -8
Simpson starts to scream as Daos casts his spell, but the screams abruptly turn into a pained squeal as the missiles hit him. He falls to the ground, dead.
Lenkinshire whimpers. Meine says, "Sheesh, you can be scary when you want to."
Valerie, still processing everything that's just occurred, gestures to the zombies, fractured skeletons, and the necromancer himself. "So, um, what should we do about the bodies?"
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Post by Daos on Feb 23, 2022 15:14:22 GMT -8
Daos takes a moment to catch his breath. His body slackens as the tension drains away. "I'm...sorry you all had to see that," he says after a moment. "Qurrak, smash those skeletons. They shouldn't be a problem now that their master is gone, but better safe than sorry. As for the bodies, leave them. This area is compromised. Let's push on a bit, say another hour, and make camp again there." He searches Simpson's body and the zombies for anything of note or use. He'll also untie Simpson and return the rope to Valerie, thanking her.
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Post by GravityEmblem on Feb 23, 2022 15:54:32 GMT -8
"You're welcome," Valerie replies. "And, um, I'm sorry I ended up learning this way. About...you, and your mother."
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Post by Daos on Feb 23, 2022 17:45:52 GMT -8
"I...owe you all a more thorough explanation, once we return to the capitol and deal with our rogue nobles," Daos admits while searching the bodies. "Especially if he isn't the last fool she sends our way, intentionally or not."
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