Slave Of The Lamp No Longer
The Never Ending Quest - Episode 14885
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Splitgrave's intact eye gleaming in the torchlight. His expression, as
ever, was unreadable. "You see, whatever has gained a purchase on my life
somehow knew that it was the true source of my magic. Without it, I am
afraid that my powers are not what they once were. The orb...was not simply
the life force thatch sustained me, but the repository for my power,
collected and stored over the centuries. Someone that could tap that
power... Allow me to reiterate, D'Honaire, Astra, that it is in your best
interest to see me dead." He gave a dry chuckle. "In any case, I am now
forced to rely on the old rituals, rather than my force of will alone. No
longer am I in possession of the power to recreate the potion, to restore
you to your human self, Astra. "However, there is one method of which I am aware, that could possibly release you from your obligation...but no more. You would still be a djinn, but not forced to serve a master. Your powers would be reduced, but you could conceivably retain some magical talent. I am not of any particular familiarity with djinns. If we are to do this, it ought to be soon. I am not certain of the extent my powers will diminish, or if I will remain capable of this feat for long." Fred frowned at the lich and turned to Astra. "What do you want to do?" he asked her earnestly. "Yet again, master, I think we have been left with no other option." "Very well. Necromancer," said Fred, "we are willing to try this 'feat' of yours." Splitgrave nodded curtly, with a smug. "How predictable. I thought as much," he said, and pushed the books from his intricately fashioned wood table to the floor, "and took the liberty of making some preparations in advance." A rough pentagram had been etched into surface. Fred's eyes were drawn to the lich's bony claws. Splitgrave took no notice, thumbing through one of his grimoires. "It has been some time since I have performed this ritual and I did not have the requisite tools, so you'll pardon the crudity of the diagram. You needn't bother to stand back, since if this goes wrong you will remain unharmed, Astra, and you'd be torn to shreds by a bloodthirsty fiend regardless of your position, D'Honaire." There came the lich's dry chuckle again. Sir Fred's patience, though wearing perilously thin, had not yet reached its breaking point. He remained silent. The lich barked several guttural syllables, and the room filled with an unhealthy miasma. The stench of brimstone billowed up around the pentagram. "Ah. Haven't lost the old touch," smiled the lich as the smoke dispersed. Fred and Astra could now see a struggling creature confine in the glowing pentagram. Barbed horns crowned its small head and torn batwings hung from its back above its lasthing ratlike tail. Wide, reptilian eyes darted about. It shrieked incomprehensibly, baring its teeth and raking its claws against the invisible barrier. "An imp, from the infernal realms," explained Splitgrave. "Now to get it over with. The lamp," he held out his hand to them. "Why?" asked Fred suspiciously. "You'll see. Give it to me," responded Splitgrave. Astra passed her lamp to Fred, who reluctantly placed it in Splitgrave's hand. Splitgrave uttered another harsh phrase, and the imp winced as though in pain. The lich placed the lamp down slightly inside the pentagram, and repeated the same phrase. At first nothing seemed to happen. Then the imp began to dissipate, turning to smoke. Finally, the demonic creature was dragged shrieking into the lamp. Splitgrave turned to them, possibly smiling although it was no easier to say. "Now, you will find, Astra has been released. I have transferred her responsiblity to the demon. Astra is still a djinn, but no longer slave of the lamp, which I will now dispose of forthwith. So I have aided her, as I promised I would. I can do no more. So now it falls to you two..."
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The Inquisitor
1/3/2001 7:10:40 PM
Extending Enabled
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