Set Bonus

"What is this, Vi?" Asked Lunara with only a touch of urgency.

"The anomaly, it seems." The Wizard answered tightly. She had not taken her eyes off the nude, immobile figure since they'd discovered... it? Her?

"More than that, please." Lunara pressed.

Vi let out a breath. She knew The Soldier well enough to know the kind of more she wanted. "This was the only anomaly I could see. As to what... she is? I need more Information. The rest of us had clear icons on the map, but she must be more than an object to show up differently than, say, furniture. She's not a statue or a corpse. Or if she is, she's not decaying. Ten, what do you think?"

"Her color is good. Lifelike, anyway." The Healer replied. "But she hasn't twitched. Even when I... um, screamed. And I can't see her chest moving at all. If she is breathing, it's very shallow. I'd need a closer look to..."She took a step toward the barred cell, only to find herself blocked by a shield and a halberd. "All right, all right."

"Yeah, well," Myx put in, "Something funny is going on."

"Oh?" Lunara raised an eyebrow. "Whatever would give you that idea?"

Myx rolled her eyes. "Yeah? Watch this." The rogue stepped up next to Tenna and inhaled deeply before blowing as hard as she could at the cell. "There you go." She said, as if she'd made a point. "The hair on her head. Even if it was fake, it would still be tiny strands of something and would be affected by moving air. And nothing moved."

"Good catch, Myx." Vi sighed. "Maybe it's an illusion. Lu, can you poke her knee with the handle of your weapon? See if she's solid?"

Lunara sighed as well. "Okay. Nell, cover me. I mean, it seems like she's locked in there, but..."

"One cannot be too careful on another plane." Agreed The Paladin. She set herself into a stance. "When you are ready."

Lunara swapped her halberd around, extending the dull end through the bars. Everyone held their breath as the weapon's handle approached the frozen elf, but within a few inches... "Huh..." grunted Lunara. "I... can't make contact." She wiggled the haft around, never getting closer than a few inches. "It's like it's glancing off of... something."

"Probably more than an illusion then." mused Vi. "Curiouser and curiouser. All right, Lu. I'm going to suggest you do a sweep like you wanted. Check the other cells and rooms. 'Cause I don't know what this is. I'll go back to the pedestal. See if I can find anything else out. I don't think... she... is going anywhere."

"Sounds good." Lunara replied. "Ten, stay with Vi. Watch her back. The rest of us will sweep the cell block, and start with the room on the left."

"So, what are we thinking, Vi?" asked Tenna, as they broke away from the cell and its occupant.

"First thing that comes to mind?" replied Vi. "Is 'What the fuck?'" She glanced at Tenna as they approached the control pedestal. "She... looks real, right? Alive? It's not just me? But she's not... reacting to us at all. This place had to have been closed off for... centuries. Even a lifelike statue would have... I don't know, faded? Gotten covered in dust at least. She shouldn't look so good."

"Maybe the place is preserving... her... it... Somehow." offered Tenna.

"Maybe." agreed Vi, stepping up to the control orb and placing her hand on the activation rune. "Something else to look for." Her eyes flicked back and forth following text only she could see. "I can still hear you so feel free to offer any observations but I will be splitting my attention."

It was only a short time before the others circled back from their sweep, apparently not having found any danger. They had, however, done a quick inspection of the two side rooms, and at least one of them was impressed.

"Did you see the size of that bed?" gushed Myx. "And that bath?"

"And did you see the shackles hanging off of them?" replied Lunara. "Think I'll just pack a bedroll."

"Or you can sleep naked in jail." returned Myx. "I'll visit you."

"I'm sure." deadpanned Lunara. "Get anything, you two?" She went on, addressing Tenna and Vi as they approached.

"Found a few things." replied Vi. "Light and climate control. I can fill a few basins with clean and optionally hot water. Unlock the cells, which I'm not going to do. The only thing even remotely relevant to our friend over there, is the activation log. The last time the portal was opened was an hour or so ago. Us. Before that?" She took a breath. "Seven hundred and thirty-two years ago. Whatever... that is, she's been in here a long time." Vi lifted her hand free of the control panel and turned to her team. "That really narrows down what could be going on. Not many spells would last even close to that long, powerful wizard or not. I..." She sighed "want to put on my gear and cast some analytical spells on her. To verify what's going on."

"And what do you think is going on?" asked Lunara.

"A couple of theories." replied the Wizard. "But if you're going to press me? 'She' is alive in there. In some kind of stasis. That's why she only half shows up on the map. She's not dead but only partly alive."

"And if you are correct," put in Nell, "then what do we do with her. We... should not leave what is most likely a living, sentient being in such a state."

Lunara took a deep breath. "I don't... disagree." She began. "But if I can play devil's advocate for a second, this looks like a prison. She might be in here for a reason."

"Yeah, this is a sex dungeon." commented Myx. "But even if it was a prison, seven hundred years is a long time."

We're getting ahead of ourselves." said Vi. "Let me ID whatever magic is in play there. If she is a she, we can talk about what to do. I may be wrong. Besides, a powerful effect like that? We may not be able to do anything. Now, I'd like to keep the key," she waggled her newly tattooed arm, "in here for now. Will someone go grab my gear and strap me up?"

"Fair enough." agreed Lunara. "Let's learn what we can. I want to leave the door open for now. Make sure we can all get out. We'll worry about containment if it comes to that." She turned toward the entrance to retrieve Vi's magical gear. "Nell, you can do that Paladin stuff. Detecting evil, right? Let's start with that."

"Already did." replied Nell. "She does not register. But if she is under a spell, it may be interfering."

"Great." grumbled Lunara. "Hang tight. I'll be--" And her words cut off as she passed the threshold.

"Still creepy." Myx muttered. She turned to the Wizard. "So. Vi. You're going to let me sleep in there, right? I'll let you chain me up if it makes you feel better."

"We can all sleep in there, Myx." Vi sighed. "There's only enough 'sustenance' provided for two. I suspect that's an incentive for others to sleep in the cells." She blew out a breath. "This thing gives me facts, but I can still only guess at the motivations of the creator. I still don't get any sense of... malicious intent, but..."

"But secret sex dungeon." added Myx.

"And our mysterious elf." said Nell.

"Right. If we can wake her up, she might be able to give us a little history and context." Vi glanced toward the cell block. "A lot of history. No one's seen a full elf in more than a hundred years. Or Lu's right and she kills us all as soon as she's free. No questions asked."

"She's been confined for seven hundred years." said Nell. "We must allow her the benefit of doubt."

"The magic involved is beyond my expertise." said Vi."But I don't think 'she' has. If she is truly in a form of stasis, her body has been here for centuries, but she may wake up feeling only seconds have passed. That doesn't sound like punishment to me. I, however, fail to think of a good reason a good person would be locked away like this."

"Evil enemy?" suggested Tenna. "But then that calls into question the provenance of our new toys. If this is a bad guy's base, all this stuff might have been used for bad things."

"And seven centuries is plenty of time to forget lots of atrocities." replied Vi.

"A tool is only as good or evil as the one who uses it." said Nell. "We have already done good with this equipment."

"Yeah, sure, you say that," argued Myx, "but what about that staff that possessed the necro-kid? I mean, I like my new toys, but I'm just sayin'."

"She has a point." conceded Vi. "That, I think we can all agree, did feel malicious, and is exactly the kind of thing I look for with this stuff."

"You guys were talking about me, weren't you." Lunara said as she re-entered the portal. "I could see your lips moving but couldn't hear a damned thing."

"She figured us out." quipped Myx. "We're gonna stick you in Vi's mono sleeve to make your boobs bigger. Just give up now. You're outnumbered."

"You'll never take me alive." deadpanned Lunara, extending Vi's familiar leather case toward her. "Ok, Vi. Talk me through your plan while you can still talk."

The Wizard took the proffered case. "I'll have to rearrange some spells, but once I'm tied up, first will be telepathy. I expect we're going to want to discuss this." Vi began. "Then Detect Magic on the elf, probably followed by an Identify. Finally, I'll have a Dispel prepared, if we decide to go that way. Even geared up, I question whether it will be enough for me to break whatever spell she might be under."

"Okay." Lunara replied. "I don't like this, but Nell is right. We can't just abandon someone who might need help." She took a breath. "I want this place closed up when we start messing around. How hard is that going to be?"

"Should be easy." said Vi. "I have the key, so I can handle the main portal without the console. I think. I can kind of feel it. The only question is whether it will work once my arms are covered. These things don't play well together."

Lunara facepalmed. "Right. Cross that bridge when we get there. Bottom line is she might be a victim, she might be a super villain." She looked to the paladin. "I'd like to ask before we loose her in the world."

"Fair." replied Nell. "I will examine her aura once the spell is broken."

"Then I'll get started." said Vi, undoing the laces on the front of her tunic. "Ugh, remember when I could do magic with my clothes on?"

"Not really." smirked Tenna.

"I do," added Myx, "and it was much less fun."

"Oh, yes. Fun." Vi rolled her eyes as she peeled off her tunic and undershirt. "Until I have to cast outside the keep."

"Hey, I'm in as bad a shape as you." countered Myx.

"Oh, yes." agreed Vi, unwinding her chest wrap before pulling off one boot. "But it's your job *not to be seen. If you get embarrassed, you're doing it wrong."

"I'll just add that it's Nell's job to draw attention to herself once she gets naked." put in Tenna with a smirk.

"Point." conceded Vi, shedding her trousers and underclothes. The now naked Mage offered the leather case to Tenna. "Help me get this on please. Once I'm in, I'll swap my spells and begin casting. If we decide to proceed, I want to try and close the portal tied up, but I'm betting you'll have to let me out."

"Great." muttered Lunara. "So we'll be locked in with her if she gets squirrelly."

"I..." Nell began. "I can appreciate your concern. And I thank you for considering the right thing."

"Of course." sighed the Soldier. "Here's to hoping I'm worried for nothing.

"Meanwhile, Tenna was pulling items out of Vi's case. "Where do you want to start?"

"Might as well get the arms done." replied Vi, clasping her hands behind her back.

"Oo, yeah!" agreed Myx. "Hold her arms so I can help." She snatched something from the case with a grin.

"What? Oh." said Vi, seeing what she had. "Just wait. We'll put that on-- Mumphlgurp!"She was cut off as the Thief slapped the gag over her lips and began fastening it in place.

"Well, it's all going on anyway." smirked Tenna, who had the single sleeve halfway up Vi's arms.

The Wizard's only answer was an irritated eye roll.

It did not take long to fully engage Vi in her restrictive gear. Once the last piece was fixed in place, her eyes flashed and her metal hardware briefly luminesced. (Nice, Myx.) She projected telepathically. (Makes me think how quiet it is when you turn into a ghost. Now pull my spellbook out of my bag and hold it in front of me so I can rearrange a few spells.) She lit up again as she cast another spell.

"Can't you do it yourself, Miss Magic Fingers?" Myx griped as she obeyed.

(Mage Hand.) corrected Vi. (And yes, probably. But it will be easier to turn pages with a book stand. Little to the left. Perfect.) The large tome opened seemingly by itself and Vi's eyes began tracking back and forth across the page.

"You know I'm gonna stare at your boobs the whole time you're doing that." quipped Myx.

"Mrr." growled Vi. Voyeurism aside, it did not take the Wizard long to rearrange her magic. (There we go. Now, I want to try and close the portal. Anyone want to step out in case it works?)

No one moved. "Looks like we're with you, Vi." Lunara said aloud.

(I figured, but one should never assume. Then here we go.) Vi's face tightened in concentration for a moment before clenching tighter. (Gods damn it! I knew it! I can feel the damn thing, but I can't do anything with it like this. If we decide to close the door, you're going it have to free me, then probably strap me right up again.)

"Then that is what we will do." said Nell. "I suspect our rogue will be happy to help."

"She will!" agreed Myx.

(Right.) Vi managed a psychic approximation of a sigh. The Wizard spun slightly and began moving as she dragged herself toward the occupied cell. (This will just take a minute." She flashed, and her eyes took on a bluish glow. (Shit! That's even brighter than I thought. She's got magic on her, all right. Lots of little strands running to the walls and door too. Just let me identify, and we'll see what we got.) The wizard lit up again, before hovering motionless in place, staring at her subject.

The others in the area watched silently, having seen her do this enough of late to know the process, and not to interrupt her concentration. And it was only a minute before she blinked, shook her head, and forced a breath out of her nose.

"Well?" put in Tenna. "Don't keep us in suspense?"

(She is frozen in time.) announced Vi. (The spell is called Temporal Stasis. And it had been arranged to break. When the cell door opens.)

"I am not okay with that." stated Lunara.

"But we must do something." argued Nell.

(The good news...) interrupted Vi, rather forcefully, (is that because the spell is designed to break, I can * probably trip it with Dispel.) She rolled her eyes. (I'll likely need the boost from the gear. Always nice meeting new people with your tits out.)

"You sound like the voice of experience." quipped Myx.

(Not yet.) replied Vi. (But maybe *we should get used to the idea. Lu? What's the word.)

"Better than nothing." The Soldier replied. "Okay. Ten, Myx, Strip Vi so we can try and close the door. Then tie her up again. Nell, you and me are between them and the cell. Maybe she is a victim, but we're going to investigate before letting her out. Check out her 'aura' or whatever. The rest of us will try and get her vibe. For all we know, a seven-hundred-year-old elf might not even know the common language. Any questions?"

"Should I perhaps don my gear as well?" asked Nell.

"That... Is a good thought." replied Lunara. "I'm gonna say no. We'll try this diplomatically first, but it's your prerogative. I'm hoping one gimp will be enough."

"Mmph." grunted Vi, already halfway through being divested of her gear.

"Agreed." said Nell. "At any rate sincerely hope that the two of us are a match for a single naked elf. Whatever her motivations might be."

Vi stopped hovering and landed on her feet, tilting her head toward Tenna for gag removal. "Everyone staying in then?" she asked aloud once it was peeled free. Receiving no reply, she cast her eye to the portal which immediately irised closed. "Gods, it was that easy." she moaned. "All I had to do was not be tied up for a second."

"And a second is all you get, I'm afraid." grinned Tenna, holding up the gag and sleeve.

"This is the best job I've ever had." said Myx, stepping back in.

Soon Vi was bundled back up again and facing the cell, flanked by Tenna and Myx, and just behind Nell and Lunara. She took a deep breath. (On your signal, Lu.) She projected.

Lunara swept her eyes over the team. "Go."

Vi's only reply was the magical illumination that indicated spell casting. It was usually a flash, but with magic that required more concentration, it lasted longer. And not only did the Wizard light up, but patterns formed in the cell as well, streaking along invisible lines and glowing softly around the prisoner. Colors shifted, dancing in the air around the elf.

"Mmph..." Vi grunted aloud, before, (Not... easy, but... almost... got it...). The light around the Wizard intensified with a final push. Then her glow winked out, accompanied by an ethereal shattering sound.

All eyes shifted to the cell, as the contained elf suddenly took a deep breath. Her eyes opened slowly before snapping wide at the sight beyond the bars. Her arms came down to rest by he sides as her green eyes flicked from person to person observing her. She, understandably paused the longest on Vi, whose attire (or lack of) was eye-catching to say the least. Finally, her lips parted. Her voice was clear and smooth. She spoke the common language with an oddly melodic accent. "Where is Fallack?"

The party exchanged glances, but it was Myx that answered. "Who?"