A reunion

None of you sleep well that night. In the early morning, with the sunrise still to come, you hitch the cart to the horses and contine the trek to Veranna. In turn each of you eats some breakfast mechanically. As the town draws into sight each of you prepares in one way or another. You can hear Xallia going over spells. You, Glenda and Yulia inspect your blades. Your elven wife seems rather handy with the short sword that formerly belonged to Hollarth. Anya practices swinging her new mace, another gift from Lewruck.

By mid-morning you pull up in front of a mage's tower. Xallia is disguised under another illusion and is muttering to herself, her mood plainly tilted more toward fury than sorrow at the moment. All of you feel it. Pausing only to throw the reins over a convenient post the five of you hop down from the wagon and march to the doors of the tower. You are dressed as noblewomen but you stride like hunters, ready to flush out and end their quarry.

A few pulls on the rope and someone calls out "Coming."

"It's him" says Xallia, her teeth grinding.

When he opens the door Havian looks a little confused. He's middle aged, hair beginning to gray, growing a little pudgy around the middle. He's got a staff in one hand and his robes are rather fine. Xallia speaks a word that resonates through your bones and there's a flash of light in front of his face.

He stumbles back, but manages to get the staff up.

"Get him, he's protected!" she shouts.

You jump through the door, feeling a strange, cool sensation as you cross the threshold. Whatever the spell was it doesn't slow you down. Havian runs for a large stone staircase that runs counterclockwise up the outer wall of the tower. You give chase, the sword of St. Magdalena almost knocking the staff from his hand. He turns as he reaches the first landing, diving through the door and trying to close it behind him.

He holds it momentarily, but then Anya comes up behind you and puts her shoulder to the door. You begin to force the door open but then both of you are thrown back by a thunderclap and a blue flash of magic. From your new position on the floor you watch, dazed as Havian runs out of the room and up the stairs. Both Glenda and Yulia hot on his heels.

Almost the same thing happens at the next landing. You arrive in time to see both Glenda and Yulia coughing and gasping as some nasty yellow vapors encircle them. When Havian tries to bolt the door again you and Anya take a deep breath and charge him. This time you bowl him over and he crashes into a desk, losing the staff. He grabs a wand from his belt but you swat it out of his hands, launching it across the room. He looks around wildly, but you point the sword at him. Anya has her mace held high, ready to swing if he tries anything.

Suddenly you feel something whack you in the shoulder.

"Carina - no!" says Havian as he tries to grab your sword arm.

You feel a weakness in your knees, but manage to stay upright. At the same time Anya drops to the carpet, moaning and mumbling "Cock!"

"Aw hell, they're sisters!" says some woman you don't recognize. Only a moment later the same voice says "Yeow!" and you feel some strength return to you.

There's another strike, this time not to your shoulder, but your wrist. A wooden toy sword. It may not be sharp, but swung hard enough it stings and makes your fingers twitch and lose their grip on the sword. Beside you a little purple skinned succubus girl is fighting back tears. "Leave him alone!" she screams.

"Everybody fucking stop!" says Xallia. She runs up beside you and grabs the little girl, who's still fighting back. "You're okay, you're okay" she just keeps saying as the girl screams and punches.

"Xallia?" asks Havian.

"Xallia?" asks the woman who's voice you don't recognize.

"Mmmm, Xallia" says Anya, who is clearly under the effects of some kind of lust spell.

"How about we start over..." says Havian, looking at you.