Message Received (Date 1/12/8)

Euwyn wasted no time getting to work. Immediately upon his return to his tower, he set to unraveling the mystery of the tower ghosts. He didn’t bother to check in with the council. He didn’t stop to see Relania. He didn’t discover that the city had completed the grand road and officially founded the city of Giuseppe’s Ferry. Edgar had to come tell him that the magic fan he had been tasked with examining was missing feathers from a rare breed of black swan. Euwyn was all business! Of course, that didn’t help when inspiration was lacking.

Giada’s suggestion of trying to lure out the “pervy” ghost by tarting up Ilyana and lying in wait, was nixed immediately by the druid. In fact, it was theorized that they would likely need a newcomer, someone who hadn’t been exposed to the ghost before, to guarantee its appearance. They sought out Mjelde and decided to have a slumber party. The priestess was game.

Drinking wine and listening to music in the grand ballroom, the party talked the night away. They teased Edgar about his feelings for Lumi. They discussed the prince’s feeling for Relania, Gaston and Kenny. Mjelde gave back rubs. Ilyana wandered off and confronted the Shield Archon on the steps. For some reason, it didn’t attack her and its aura failed to panic her. They shared several long, silent moments. She named him Steve. She asked him about the ghost, but Steve simply knew it as an intruder, an intruder in a “state” he could not attain.

Eureka! Angels didn’t sleep! Every visitation began when the subject was awaking from sleep. Doubting it could be that easy, Euwyn called forth his most powerful sleep enchantment and targeted himself.

Suddenly the others disappeared, and Narlock was seated with Euwyn relating a tired litany of facts in a bored, distracted manner. Euwyn stopped him and told him he was there and aware this time. Narlock was astounded and spoke quickly. He had been trying to contact Euwyn for some time. They had met many times before, but upon waking Euwyn and the others always forgot the meeting, having not been in the proper mindset. He hoped this time would be different. The message was this: “Escape! Malwan was trapped. There was no land beyond the mountains, the chasm, the elven fort, the badlands. He had to use his magics, the power of Strom, his friends and allies, and whatever else he could find, and lead the people of Malwan (ALL the people of Malwan) to freedom.”

Suddenly the dream faded into a horrible reality. An unimaginable terror of tentacles and teeth tore into the party. Frozen in fear, they were powerless to stop it. Even when Steve joined the fray, he was almost no match for it. Ilyana wanted to help, but feared her powers would be useless. Knowing she couldn’t hurt the creature, she instead leaped between its blows and Steve, taking the damage that would’ve killed the angel. Emboldened Steve landed the killing blow and vanished back to his perch.