Scrying Monthos

In the mirror Deethan and those who cluster close to him make out a dark alleyway and a man dressed as a monk whom they take to be Monthos as the scrying was centered on him. He stands with a moonelf in chainmail.

And the pair are under attack. (OOC: Assume you see everything in the previous email to them up until the point that Rugadh Faoi telelports away) As the battle rolls around they lose sight of both combatants and the scrying mirror shows the dark alley only.

Deethan continues to watch the fight unfold in the dark alleyway between Monthos and the cloaked attacker. Due to the size of the mirror the entire scene is visible to the others standing close around Deethan.

Deethan doubts that this little alley ambush will take more than a couple of moments from how quickly Monthos has just dispatched his foe and feels less worried that they need to jump in and perform a rescue.

Deethan isn't happy about simply plane-shifting straight into darkened alleyway. Especially seeing that Monthos has things in hand. He doesn't want to rush into a decision. If Monthos looks like he is about to be overcome, then he wanted to be ready to rush to the rescue - but he also wanted to take the time to do some more "investigation" of his own.

So he continues to watch the battle unfold for a moment or two more then changes the focus of his scrying.

Looking around and seeing no disagreement from the others gathered near him he decides to quickly look around with his scry spell knowing that he has hours to do detailed investigation if needed.

There are other people he could scry. He spends 5-10 minutes panning the scrying view around to get an idea of where they are. Obviously an underground city of some sort and from what he guesses it is Skullport.

Scrying Derrick

Deethan will change the scry point to look for Derrick and Kyle again. He waves his hand before the mirror and with a force of will the swirling colors and sparkles of light return. A minute later and they clear up again.

Derrick is in the same dark place as before. But he appears alive but unconscious. The torturer is gone and Kyle's body is a husk. It looks to have been sucked dry of life.

Scrying Ennelda

With another gesture and a change of focus he tries looking in on Ennelda having forgotten for the moment that it is middle of the night back in Faerun and this is her wedding night. He is not however surprised when the colors refuse to stop swirling as the scrying attempt is blocked. Probably by arcane means on the other side.

Not wasting time he continue to move his scrying around picking up where he had been the day before.

Scrying Floramir

When he tries to look for Monthos' friend Floramir it is blocked as before.

Scrying Florianna

But when he shifts the focus to Monthos' other ally, Florianna, he is shocked to see that the swirling images focus and he can see her. If but just barely. Florian is in chains in a dark room. She is asleep.

Scrying Brendan

Making a mental note to look back in on her he then looks for Brendan. The young apprentice to the monk from Waterdeep. Brendan seems to be blocked like Floramir. Almost exactly the same even.

Deethan spends a few moments studying the swirling mist of colors in the mirror trying to preserve the differences between this pattern and what he had seen when trying to scry Ennelda. He does not know any spells to block scrying attempts so thoroughly but plans on looking for the similarities and differences in the future.

With a wave of his hand Deethan goes back to Floriamir for the memoment. He thought he saw something. It is definitely a dark dungeon cell from the placement and sturdiness of the stone blocks. Chains on the walls with room for two prisoners in the 10x10 room. Looking he notes a grill on the floor with dirty straw matting all over the stone floor. He imagines the reek must be horrible but at least the drain makes cleaning out the cell easier.

With a nod to himself and a mental note to return and investigate further he looks for Rook and Talin.

Scrying Rook

As the twirling mists of magic clear he sees Rook in a puffed pair of hose with tight ankle cuffs and a large sash at the waist. A rakish vest and silk shirt ensemble and of all things tiny bells on his ankle boots. He appears engrossed in conversation with a very well endowed and from the gems in her hair and on her dress. A very wealthy woman.

Scrying Talin

As he switches the viewing image to Talin he notes that the noble is dressed in a black and silver tunic and hose with both Mitchell and Baranthus wearing the same colors but more subdued than him.

Then Deethan remembers the party. Quickly looking he finds Olath, Jewelia, Dryfton, and all of the others from the meeting at the festhall are bedecked in finery and are obviously entertaining and having a great time at the gala.

Spending only a moment on each he decides to spend the next 10 minutes just moving the focus of the scrying spell around to see if there is anyone else that he recognizes at the party.

Not being so familiar with the Waterdhavian nobility and wealthy merchant scene he is slightly disappointed to see only two individuals whom he knows. Durnan from the Yawning Portal. And surprisingly Ennelda.

That truly shocks him as only a few minutes before he had been blocked from seeing her. But as he is not looking for her directly maybe that is what allowed him to this time. But he is not sure. It simply feels wrong to him. From what he knows about magic it would be very hard to prepare and have active a spell to block scryings that would only work when directly scried and not when indirectly scribed.

He is also disappointed not to have seen Khelban the Blackstaff of Waterdeep. He had been impressed by his spellcasting a few days before when he saved them from the attack of the Cathezarr at Faelar's summons to an old aquaintance.

Glad to see they're enjoying themselves, Deethan has a thought. Thinking to look in on some old enemies now,

Scrying Fahad Ibn'Zane

He refocuses the scrying portal to look for Fahad Ibn'Zane and his sister Sylphia. As he does so he sees them both dressed in party attire and walking up to engage Sorg in conversation. They are at the party as well it seems.

"Hmmmm.... very interesting..." Deethan says aloud.

Scrying Ghordoon

He decides to look in on the Banite high priest Ghordhoon whom they had almost killed this morning. But he is not surprised to see that the scrying attempt is magically blocked.

Scrying Cathezarr

"Let's try the Cathezarr shall we?"

The focus of the scrying mirror changes to the little alleyway where the door to the tanner's shop. It is the same before. But only dark as it is now well after midnight.

The image changes to the large wooden tub which covered the entrance to the secret stairwell. All is as you remember it.

But for the next few minutes the scrying mirror simply does not focus as Deethan tries different locations within the Cathezarr's lair and none of them seem to be able to be scried.

Leaning back and scratching the slight stublle on his chin Deethan thinks back to whom else has been a threat to them in the last couple of days. With a snap of his fingers he readjusts the scrying mirror.

Scrying Female Magic User who had scryed him in the night

Centered in the mirror is a femal magic user from her dress. She sits in an inn seated with a large group of people. Looks to be a combination of knights, adventurers, magic users, clerics etc. A mixture of soldiers and adventurers apparently. They are currently all drinking ale and talking. You also recognize Fathesque's friend ( the one who summoned the spikey armor ) sitting there. No one but Deethan recognize these two as they were not there in that little battle in the forest glade.

Scrying Harry Fathesque and the Primarch of Saerloon

"I doubt it will work but lets try Harry Fathesque and the Primarch of Saerloon."

The scrying mirror refuses to clear for either of these two attempts confirming Deethan's suspicions that magic is blocking his attempt.

Scrying Dirk the Slaver

Only half heartedly he mentions the name Dirk the Slaver.

As he refocuses the scrying mirror and is surprised that the mirror focuses on a roguish looking man sitting at a rough hewn table. In a room sort of like a tavern but you get the feeling it is underground. He is playing cards and dicing with a bunch 20 or so men, ogres, half orcs, and one goblin covered in magical tatooes.

Scrying his apprenticies

Quickly switching the focus away but making another mental note to come back he looks on three more individuals. He is glad to see that both of his apprentices still live and are asleep in their beds.

Scrying Hendrick the Hand

But is not too surprised when Hendrick the Hand is blocked.

Stretching Deethan looks to the others.

"So is there someone we want to quickly look in on before we do some serious scrying?"

Scrying Floramir again

Deethan revisits the scene of the dungeon cell trying to ascertain where it is and how they can plan a possible rescue of Monthos’ friend. As the swirl of the mirror clears the darkened cell is again visible with the bedraggled and hapless elf hanging near naked in chains. The lighting of the cell is weak coming only from a slit at the base of the door where bowls of food or water could be slid into the cell though there are none in evidence. And don’t appear to have been any in some time from the cobwebs hanging about the slit in the door.

The scrying monitor wavers and moves through the grates of the drain in the floor but there is no light and nothing to see except what looks to be a little tunnel no more than a foot in diameter with running water tumbling along its bottom. The scene then shifts as the scrying sensor goes out into the hallway on the other side of the closed door to the cell. The hallway is dripping wet with water and made of ill fitting stones. It appears to be 40’ long with 8 closed doors to one side and a series of rusty iron scones for torch holders on the other. Two torches are in with the rest being empty but the two that are burning providing plenty of light even though the torches flutter and smoke with the moisture in the air. At both ends of the tunnel it turns at more than a right angle so if seen from above it would form a Z.
There are the sounds of screams coming from one end of the tunnel.

Choosing the opposite end and mving with the now familiar swirl as the scrying is moved, the scrying sensor shows a 10’ crudely worked stone stairwell leading up. This area is in darkness due to the turn of the passage and no more torches. But at the top of the stairs can be seen a solid sheet of rusty iron.

Deethan spends some time and announces to the others that the iron trapdoor bears moderately powerful wardings of alteration and illusion magic. The scrying sensor darts above the door for the briefest of moments before returning back to the short darkened stairwell. In that brief moment could be seen lots of legs and the wooden bases and supports for tables and a bustle of activity as people moved around as Deethan had rematerialized the sensor close to floor level.
The noise of metal banging metal and the silent curses of those in the room were quite loud especially after the silence of the cell.

Risking detection the scrying sensor appears again on the other side of the iron trapdoor up near the rafters of a large room. This time Deethan allows it to pan back and forth to get a feel for the room and its exits. Apparently this is a large kitchen of some kind. There are 3 chefs in dirty aprons and greasy smocks with 9 assistants busily bustling around. They are stoking large pots boiling and simmering over fires in wall stoves. Some are thin and gruel like others appear to be hearty meat stews. A series of shelves holds baking bread left to rise. Hanging from hooks on the walls are large cloth wrapped bundles looking to be haunches of meat preserved in salt.
Large pots and dishes hang from racks on the walls and from hooks in the ceiling. Dozens of barrels and stacks of bags lay scattered around the room. Out of the way to the cooks but close enough to be of quick use. The floor is dirty and covered in old straw and sawdust. Looking down the iron plate is easy to locate as it stands directly before one of the three large stone ovens with the smith ventilator hoods and bellows. Perhaps the room had once served as a smithy before being converted to its new usage. The other two stoves alos have large iron plates set in front of their central stoking grills for the fires used to heat the large metal sheets set as there tops.
Looking around the room can be seen three archways on wall leading to passages or tunnels. Another wall is set with dozens of rusty iron bars as there is a gap of about a foot wide between the roof and the wall.
Obviously a means of letting heat and smoke out of the room.

As the scrying sensor moves again to a few feet outside the bars you see that the building sits on the edge of an island fortress from the masts bobbing above the wall not far in the distance. The scrying sensor then shifts higher into the air so that the entire island can be seen. It is surrounded by a low wall and has dozens of fortified buildings connected with covered passages. There are a pair of small anchorages with boats tied to them and wooden piers leading to the island. Each with a half a dozen of more sailing ships with their sails furled. Torches and braziers line the island and walls giving few areas of shadow and it is quite apparent that the island is heavily occupied from the scores of armored and armed men walking the walls and crossing amongst the buildings. Even a novice at warfare would recognize that the island is a strong fortress and is apparently at a high alert from all the activity. Off in the not to far distance can be seen the lights of a city. A large bridge and dock connects the island to the city which kind of forms a large ‘U’ around the island. Dozens more ships are docked to the docks of the city and along the bridge leading to the island.
The activity loading and unloading them is brisk even in the darkness of night. There is a bustling of activity in the city which seems to be dark and sinister and it is then that the actual location is realized.

The whole is located underground in a cavern of immense proportions. It is not the darkness of night as first guessed.

The scrying sensor then returns back underground and then begins to go thru the closed cells one at a time.
6 of the 8 are occupied each fairly similar in layout. Each is barely high enough for a man to stand in with manacles and chains on at least 2 and sometimes 3 of the walls. One of the occupied cells is occupied by a dead man with his legs bit off at mid thigh and a large section of his abdomen bitten out.
From the dripping of the blood and entrails he could not have been dead too long and no rats have come to chew on the scraps of flesh lying on the floor. None of the other occupants are familiar to anyone and even the cell where you started would not have held someone that you would know at first sight.

Deethan reports that there are no magical radiances in the cells but that he knows a few alchemical tricks that could have been used to prevent teleportation so he is not sure that you can simply teleport in and grab the prisoners.

Deciding to check around the corner where the screams had been coming from. But the attempt is quickly aborted as a large floating round orb with multiple eyestalks is glimpsed as well as a several others in a moderately sized room. Not having gotten a good look at the room and again risking detection Deethan decides to move the sensor again.

And before the sensor winks out sees the great balefull central eye and directed eyestalks of an Eye Tyrant. Realizing that the scrying is still operable and was only suppressed by the anti-magic ray of the beholder he moves the scrying sensor again into the air over the island.

Deethan glances around from his concentration on the mirror's image, looking at his companions, all gathered behind him and also watching intently.

"From what I've seen, that place," he jerks a thumb at the image of the huge dark cavern with the island fortress, "is probably Skullport." He grimaces. "Not a pleasant place - and one in which Monthos is currently
seeking his wife." He shrugs. "I'm going to continue to look around
for a bit, look for a possible route into this fortress, since I imagine teleporting directly into it might be a tad tricky." He looks briefly at each of his companions. Garrett, Leathynos, Pavlov, Kaitryn and Tobias. "If any of you wish to look in on someone, think about it - since sooner or later, we're going to have to stop scrying, and actually go somewhere and do something..."

Turning back to the mirror, Deethan moves the point of view back towards the kitchens, passing rapidly through the kitchens towards the other exits. The first is a large dining hall, large enough to house a hundred or more people. As there are 20 or so people already in there, Deethan makes the viewpoint jump back, and the viewpoint races instead to another exit. This turns out to be a large pantry of some sorts. He hesitates, studying the contents for a moment. Pointing to several large sacks of flour on a shelf, he comments over his shoulder. "A large cloud of flour in the air might make for a good non-magical smoke-screen when we combat that beholder that disrupted my viewing a few minutes back."

Moving the point of view again, it goes to the third door off the kitchen. This is another smaller dining hall. Again, Deethan makes the point of view duck back again, as there are a few people in the room.
Digesting what he saw, he realises there was another door on the far side of the room, and the image swirls for a minute, as he concentrates to move the point of view to directly in front of that door. It pauses for another few moments, as Deethan focuses his attention on magical emanations instead.

For the next 20 minutes or so, Deethan continues to move the point of view around the area, looking for points of access and possible defences.

Scrying Jewelia

"I'm very aware of time passing" he mutters, glancing around to the others for a moment. "Jewelia had said that the Cabal was going to strike openly tonight - and we need to get some more information on that I think..."

Rubbing his hands together in anticipation after a long and very successful magical probe of Skull Island in Skullport. Deethan decides that it is time to check in on Jewelia and the others.

Before he does so he reminds the others of the party who have been watching the scryings for the last hour or two that there is still plenty of time in the spell left if there is something or someone that they would like to look in on.

With the now familiar wave of the hand and the swirl of the blue fog in the mirror an image of Jewelia appears. She is beautiful as always. She wears a floor length silken dress of the deepest blue with a deep cut down the front showing an impressive feminine cleavage. Her hair has been lifted and twisted into intricate braids and tied into a bun on the back of her hair. Tiny gems stud her dress in intricate patterns of the night time stars. Patterns of familiar constellations are easy to pick out. As always Jewelia wears numerous bangles, bracelets, necklaces, and rings. Even her belt is studded in costly gems.

She stands with a pair of handsome young men undoubtedly nobles of the city of Waterdeep with all three sipping wine from delicate glasses of the finest crystal. As the scrying focuses on her Jewelia delicately reaches up and touches one of her large sapphire earings with a long and delicate finger.

Deethan immediately feels a scrying centered on him. Apparently Jewelia followed his scrying back with some magic of her own.

Pointing his finger towards her in the mirror, and pulling out a small piece of wire, which he deftly bends into a loop with his other hand, Deethan whispers a spell. "Jewelia," he whispers. "This is Deethan speaking. The message you sent me earlier - you indicated that the Cabal would be striking openly tonight - can you give me more details?" he asks.

"If you gentlemen would excuse me I need to refresh myself with a bit of air." says Jewelia.

First one and then the other gallantly kisses her gloved and proferred hand.

She begins to whisper as she walks around the party.

"Why Deethan. How small you have gotten. Like a fly on the wall so to speak. Will you be coming to the party."

Deethan also whispers his answer which she seems to hear equally as well. All those near Deethan can hear her answers if they lean close to him.

"I'm afraid not Jewelia. We are currently rather a long way from there"

"I assume you are scrying me as I can feel someone scrying. Guess this gives you a chance to whisper sweet nothings into my ear unseen as it were. A shame really. It is such a lovely party. My mother is even here."

"It certainly does look like an impressive party. Even some old friends from the Yawning Portal from less than 24 hours ago I see..."

"Yes. We seem to have all come thru more or less unscathed from today. It it was a close call and there are those here that I owe with my life.
I presume you and your friends recovered from your wounds?"

"Yes thank you... I'm hope that my disjunctions helped in some way - I was rather disappointed not to be there at the end..."

"We could have used the support. The Cathezarr surprised us there in the end. We discovered that he had sent away his allies and went back when he was vulnerable. But we never knew until it was too late that he had somehow expanded his magical defences.
Three of us were caught in his teleport trap and were nearly destroyed. We only survived because Dryfton came and nullified the magics attacking us. Left the others alone and the Cathezarr is a powerful opponent with blades in hand. Talin and Sorg nearly died.

"They both look well recovered now as well... So how did you manage to 'capture' him, and how did you manage to get him to tell you what the Cabal was doing... you mentioned they were 'coming out'
tonight."

She giggles. "That was easy. He fell in love with me.
With a little help of course... Would do or tell me anything it seems"

"Let me guess, you gave him a dagger?"

"Ohh no. Ohhh no. Just a little empowered spell or three."

"A powerful charm I sense...Or perhaps just your winning smile..."

"A little of both I believe...."

She giggles again. "The others disapprove you know"

"I can imagine..."

"My ally almost had a heart attack And Dryfton nearly left us on the spot."

"So where is the Cathezarr now?"

"Ohh he is well watched and warded..."

"Hmmmm"

"He knows to the core of his being that I am protecting him from his foes. The wards are to keep them out and him safe of course. And in truth. He does have some powerful foes. Exceedingly so..."

"So, Jewelia - what exactly DID the Cathezarr tell you about the Cabal - these demonic assassins you mentioned... when are they supposed to be attacking? I take it you feel safe enough at this party then?"

"Ohhh you know dearie that I can not share with you anything that we have shared ... the dagger and the chalice remember"

"Ah, the old lack of trust barrier - we can trust each other in combat - but not with simple pieces of information. .. So what CAN you tell me... your first sending, or whoever you got to send that message to me
- said the Cabal was striking openly - demonic assassins in Waterdeep, Skullport, Neverwinter and near Arabel... and in your second sending, you mentioned yourself, Ollie and Talin specifically as targets... can you name any of the other targets?"

"Ohhhh so full of questions naughty little boy..."

"And you have none?"

"...and not even social enough to share a wine with me here" She laughs again.

"Or are you happy with the answers you already have?"

"But ... I can play along... Ask me a question and I will answer as I can. Lets say for every right question you get you owe me a drink sometime. I will call you one day and you have to come to me with my drinks."

She booo booos as only a pouting woman can. She is seen as she does this and turns it to her advantage by flashing a pouting smile to a passing nobleman and waves with the unspoken promise that she will return to him soon. She continues her slow tour of the party.

"I already did"

"Ask another. That does not count"

"Why not simply let us ask each other questions... you ask me one, and I'll answer, and ask you one in return..."

"My game my rules sweetie"

In the mirror Deethan see she is highly amused and enjoying herself.

"Ok Jewelia, have it your way. Here is a question. 'Do you know the overall goal of the Cabal?'"

"Any... many ... Miny .... No... SO the answer is No.
But I have a guess... heeee heeee."

"And that guess is?"

"Hmmmm. Well I have a couple really. I have shared some with the others so I can not tell you them. But I have others. They are assembling artifacts. There is a rod that was broken into seven parts and scattered across the planes is one of my ideas. Another is of the fabled Nether scrolls. But I also fear they are trying to overthrow Mystra that is one drink. Shall we play again?"

"Hmmmm. what to ask...." Deethan pauses for a few moments as he thinks..."How come Fahad and his sister are at the party then? Who invited them?"

"Ohh that is easy. Sorg did."

"HE would."

"He is trying to unruffle their feathers when his lieutenant was forced to kill a couple when he....Well when he was trying to help you survive this morning...From what I hear he even paid to have their dead men from the Yawning Portal raised.
Platinum bars which he was spending like water. A man of unforeseen wealth he is.... But from what I saw he is trying to sway them into teaming up with him in the future. Turns out that they are mostly bounty hunters specializing in bringing in mages.
Work for the highest bidder. No moral scruples those two. Seems Sorg likes them though. That makes 2 drinks. Hick. Still playing?"

Deethan laughs as well. "That certainly does sound exactly like Sorg...And I know where he got those platinum bars from too..."

"Ohhh really... Do tell."

"Ah, Jewelia, you mean I actually know something you don't?" Deethan chuckles again.

"Undoubtedly dearie. We have led vastly different lives have we not. Like I would never begin to presume to know what you had for breakfast.
Things of importance like that I will leave to you alone." She tinkles with laughter again.

"You couldn't imagine how different Do you know where Fahad's previous employer currently is?"

"Any... many... miny ..... YES... But I can not tell you...." She sticks her tongue out almost directly at where the scrying sensor would be. Then smiles.

"Shame, I was hoping you wouldn't know... I was just looking for things which I knew and you didn't again..."

She laughs again.

"Got another thought - you mentioned certain targets and certain locations - can you confirm that the Neverwinter one is yourself?"

"Well maybe so and maybe not. But I am not there so how could it be."

"Just thinking about homes rather than current locations... I'm guessing Talin would be the Near Arabel, Ollie for Waterdeep... hmmmm who would Skullport be?"

"Well Talin is here."

"Yes, but he comes from Arabel"

"You sure you aren't coming? Ollie of course won't be displeased as I think you and he got off on the wrong foot."

"I have no idea why"

"A toad he can be. But well connected and an essential ally in this. But ahhh we are still playing. I have to say. GO fish. As I don't understand the question." She laughs lightly and you know she did.

"Another question - do you have any more specific timing for these assassination attempts? More specific that 'tonight' that is?"

"Now now now.... That would be telling wouldn't it. I guess no drink for me for that question now."

"Here's an easy question for you - how long is your party due to go on for? Who knows, maybe we'll make it there later if all goes well with our current plans..."

"Well it is not my party per say but Ollie's and I guess it goes on till well after dawn or until the last drunk noble passes out. DO you really think you will come?"

"Hell, if I can make it, I will... though I do have a prior engagement first I'm afraid...."

"Well enjoy your engagement wherever it may be."

"I will - give my regards to Fahad and his sister... "

"OK. Will do. But are you are sure that is wise?" She laughs out loud to the surprise of those nearby. Well you know best I am sure."

"Why would it be unwise"

"Ahhhh. You do know that Fahad is quite put out with you. You attacked his sister. She is trying to keep him in check though. But he seems the type to hold a grudge."

"Ah, well if he can't stand the heat..."

"With all the enemies turned new allies at that party - I'm amazed if anyone would be drinking alcohol at all - the level of paranoia there must be pretty high I'd have thought!"

She chuckles. "So you have not been to many of these affairs I see. Daggers and death is the meat and drink of young bored nobles. And the blade does not have to be steel but cuts just as deeply...We can all but try to fulfil our callings in life."

"I tend not to be as much of a socialite as you I fear"

"Ah well, been pleasent chatting with you Jewelia, but I guess I should go now... Don't worry about passing on my regards to Fahad - I'll do that myself..."

She says nothing only smiles as she rejoins the party

Scrying Fahad

The point of view moves to find Fahad. Fahad stands with his sister Sylphia and with Sorg and Talin.

They all appear to be laughing at some joke or anouther.

Deethan points at him, and then continues to whisper.

"Fahad, I was going to get Jewelia to pass on my regards once I spotted you at this party - but then thought I'd do so myself.... I'm glad to see your sister has recovered from her 'cold'."

"Insect!" Fahad begins the obvious gestures of a spell casting. The other three with him are shocked by Fahad's unexpected casting of a spell.

"Catch you another time!" Deethan responds, and then breaks the connection.

The mirror fogs and swirls and blue swirls fill its surface filled with tiny flickerings of light as Deethan starts to refocuses the mirrors energies.

"Looks like Fahad was about to cast something... keep an eye out just in case he decides to suddenly turn up or send us a present," Deethan says aloud.

Deethan suddenly gasps and then goes quiet. The mirror, which had been swirling clears with a snap, to show a featureless grey plain, lit by ambient light. Far in the distance, a black spot appears, zooming closer with alarming rapidity to resolve itself into an image of Deethan himself. There is something about the image which seems wrong however, Deethan's hair is longer, his eyes more bright, his face twisted into an evil looking expression. The figure appears to be casting some form of spell, his lips moving silently and his fingers wiggling before reaching out as if towards the mirror. The real Deethan, with unfocused eyes, not even looking directly towards the mirror, jerks somewhat, and falls to his knees. A trickle of blood appears at the corner of his mouth.

His mouth seems to move slightly, and his arms start to move in a parody of spell casting of his own. In the mirror the other figure freezes, already in mid-cast of his own again. The viewpoint remains frozen for a few moments, then changes suddenly to looking at the back of the other figure. Again, it remains frozen for several seconds, before suddenly the figure springs back into motion again. Whatever spell it had been casting finishes, and it too disappears. The viewpoint immediately swings around and up, spotting the evil looking Deethan flying some 30 feet above and behind.

The figure seems to freeze again, and this time, there is a flash of disjoining magic around the frozen figure. The real Deethan continues to mumble and wave his hands vaguely, in a semblance of spell casting, and then waits. As time restarts, there is a sudden flash in the mirror, as a lightning bolt stretches away towards the Deethan figure, striking it and causing the figure to fly away backwards. The Deethan in the mirror is thrown back several yards, his body arching with the electrical current. Rolling to his feet, a sceptre appears in his hand, and a similar lightning bolt flies towards the mirror, but is reflected back, striking the other Deethan again. Again, the other Deethan stumbles to his feet, this time casting another spell, but the real Deethan was ready, and the spell is countered before it can form.

Deethan seems to cast some other spell, and suddenly the mirror goes dark, before returning to just being a plain mirror.

Deethan slumps forward, catching himself with his hand on the ground. "Nasty spell that Fahad has..." he grunts. He looks up and sees that his Scry spell had finished. "Bastard" he mutters, casting properly this time.

Scrying Fahad AGAIN

Again, the mirror goes cloudy, and after a minute, the image of the party re-appears. Deethan focuses in on Fahad again, and points his finger at the other mage, casting message. "Now that just wasn't very nice was it..." he whispers in Fahad's virtual ear. "Trust me, this insect is going to come back and sting you for that..." He then waves his hand and clears the mirror, focusing on Monthos.

"Let's get this show on the road" he says aloud whilst the mirror takes time to re-focus. "We need to find Monthos again and figure out how we can best help him."

He shakes his head as the mirror goes blank and then curses silently.

"Damn that man. Either he or his sister had a second of those spells."

The mirror is blank its magics gone.