Jammers Summary: Chapter 1, Turn 21-23, Group B

----------- = Meanwhile, elsewhere...
*********** = Later...

The Library of the Spheres(#16) is nearly across Bral, near the Arena of Frun(#34) in the nicest section of the Middle City. The view as you walked up Park Street was simply spectacular, only the palace and a few of the noble villas are better situated.

The library itself was a large rectangular building with a tower rising several stories up from its center and a few outbuildings. A set of short, broad marble steps lead into the buildings cavernous entry hall. This marble floored room was empty except for a few benches, and a desk and chair at its far side, next to the only other door to the room. A short, bespectaled gnome with wrinkled face and white hair sat at the desk scribbling madly on a series of scrolls while refering periodically to several books laid out before him. You stand silently for several seconds, unsure if you should simply go through the door or speak to the gnome.

Suddenly, he looks up and sighs. "I'll never get any work done this way. What do you want?" he raises an ink stained hand, "No, wait. Let me guess. A halfling, a minotaur, and two humans. You must be adventurers. Well, we're fresh out of treasure maps and we haven't any artifact hunts on today. Try back next week." He bends again to his work.

Deigatt bends slowly down and whispers loudly to Billy, "His this being halso a halfling like yourself, Comrade Billy? He looks hoddly different."

Billy whispers back, "No my friend, though similar in size we are quite different... You probably think all short people look alike, it's an honest mistake..."

Kain hides a smile behind his hand as he pretends to cough. Looking at the gnome, he almost smiles again, but manages to keep a serious look on his face. "Actually..ah..we're not here for any maps, nor are we, well, here to help you find anything." Looking down at the desk, Kain says, "The four of us are looking for someone, and..hmm..we were told that he'd be found here. Kain pauses long enough for one of his friends to interrupt him in case he shouldn't continue. "Estriss," he says softly, "we're looking for Estriss."

The gnome looks back up, and says "He's in one of the research rooms, I believe. I'll take you to him." He gets up and leads you through the doors, which open into a hallway. He quickly gets you loss as he makes several quick turns and moves through a series of doors, all the while mumbling something about the impossibilty of studying for his doctoral exams with all these interrupptions.

After five minutes of walking through the library's maze like interior (and passing several other folks of several species) he opens a door into a small room with a table and chair. "Estriss? These folks asked to see you." Five or ten scrolls are scattered across its surface and the humunoid creature sitting there stands and turns to face you. Its skin is purple, mottled and glistens as if moist. Roughly humanoid in shape something about the way it moves seems alien, and four short tentacles descend from where a human's mouth would be. Its eyes are large, white and pupilless, its skull pronouced and bulbous, resembling a human brain in its texture. The creature wears a long purple robe clasped at the neck by an amythest broach.

*Thank you, Wilhelmn.* the creature says, then you are startled to realize it hadn't been speech, but rather the words seemed to flow directly into your mind. The gnome turns without ado and leaves the room.

Kain tenses when the illithid's words touch his mind, and there is a curious sensation in the room, much like standing in the middle of a briar patch. Almost as suddenly as it appeared, the feeling is gone however.

*You are a curious group. How may I help you?* Estriss "says" after the gnome leaves.

Closing his jaw, his teeth clicking together, Kain starts to speak, then stops. Finding that words escape him, the young man turns to his more worldly companions, looking for their help.

"Umm... Hi... Please excuse us if we are a little bit nervous... We are not used to be so close to one of your kind..." Billy indicates Kain with his thumb, "My friend and I are looking for a... Well a teacher, I guess... You see, we can... Well, DO things... And well... I guess a little guidance would be best..."

Deigatt remains quiet, eying the alien creature and its surroundings curiously.

Raken spends several minutes closely scrutinizing the Illithid. He stands as still as a statue; the only way to tell that he is still living is the very ocassional binking of his eyes. He keeps his eyes on the illithid when Billy speaks up. "My friends," Raken begins finally, "are here for knowledge. I am here for...insurance."

*I'm afraid I don't sell insurence* the Illithid says and you can sense a chuckle in his "voice". The tentacles writhe animatedly, is the creature amused? *And your ability to do things would seem to be rather universal. Indeed, in all my studies I've discovered no sentient species which can do nothing. How may I specifically help you?*

Despite himself, Raken breaks a small smile at the Illithid's comment.

Kain looks a little pale, but makes his introduction. "Ah, my name is Kain. We were..ah..told that you might be able to help us with a few question we had. Billy and I can, well, do things that seem magical, but they aren't. Neither of us are magi or priests, and by asking around..we found that this seems similar to some tales told about the illithids. Since we were also told you were.. ah.. err ..different than other illithids, we thought to see if it might be true. The.. ah..comparison between what we can do and what illithids are capable of, that is."

Billy adds, "I've heard of many names for what we do... the Way, Paths of the Mind, the Talent, Psionics, the Second Sight, the Third Eye... Other than fanciful names we don't know much else... Other than we could DO stuff."

Raken notes this but remains quite and in the back, allowing Kain and Billy to have their time with the Illithid.

Estriss wriggles his tantacles about in a fashion you can't dicipher, is it hunger, amusement, fear? *Two budding minds, I see.* he returns to the table and motions with a three fingered hand towards the other chairs.

*The powers you describe do differ from magic, whether priestly or wizardly in origin. All magic comes from power sources external to the wielder, where as the power you describe, the Talent, comes directly from the mind.* He pauses to let that sink in. *Perhaps you could demonstrate what sort of powers you are capable of?*

Kain takes the offered chair with a nod, then says, "Ah.. a lot of what I can do makes changes to my body. Some have no visible effect, so I won't bother with those, just describe them if you want me to."

Placing both hands upon the table, Kain slowly fades from sight. After a few breaths, he is back, still seated. "I can blend in with my surroundings," he explains. "Next, I can become much smaller than I am now." Standing and concentrating again, Kain begins to shrink. The effect is visible at first by the baggy look his clothes begin to take, but then the change is dramatic. When he stops shrinking, Kain is only about two feet tall, his clothing in a pile about his feet. Hanging his shirt and vest about his shoulders as best they will, Kain takes his normal form, adjusting his braies and swordbelt.

Going back to his seat, Kain rolls up his sleeve, drawing a dagger from his boot. Drawing a line down his forearm with the blade, Kain sheaths the knife and covers the wound with his free hand. The effect takes longer than the first two, but when he removes his hand, the cut is completely gone. "Healing wounds, I can also accomplish. Though I'd only focused upon myself, I belive I can heal *others* also."

"As my friends could also tell you, I can adopt the characteristics of the falcon. Wings, beak, eyes, and the like." Looking about the small chamber, he says, "I wouldn't want to disturb the books by bringing my wings into being here, though." Unused to speaking so much, Kain pauses and clears his throat before he picks up again.

"Should I become seriously wounded, I can place myself into a trance-like state for a day, and heal all my wounds." Looking to Raken, Kain shrugs and states, "That's why I tried declining your offer of healing onboard the _Flowfish_." Ticking off on his fingers, Kain continues. "For the abilities without visible physical change, I can make myself stronger, hardier, and more nimble." Another finger comes up, "My body can become a part of any ..ah..place. It's hard to explain, but I can breathe water using that ability, or make myself used to cold or heat." A third finger is counted. "I make myself lighter. So I can walk on water, or slow a fall." Kain says, "Also, I can sense other people's minds." He shrugs, looks slightly confused, then adds, "I can't actually do anything but the sensing, but it's something I can do."

Billy looks on in amazement as Kain demonstrates his various talents. When he is done, Billy turns to the illithid and admits, "I seem to have fewer talents than my friend, here. I can only do a few things... I can change my appearance. I can induce sleep in others, I can heal myself and others and I can transform myself into anything of my approximate size and weight... I'm sorry if I don't demonstrate, but I do feel a little tired and exercising my abilities takes alot out of me."

With his brown eyes open widely, Deigatt watches Kain's demonstration of his powers and, after Billy has spoken, asks, "What kinds of magic are these?"

*It is not magic, the power comes from within their minds. Sentient brains hold a great deal of power, more perhaps then we can imagine.* The illithid had observed Kain's display calmly, *For one unsure of what his powers are, you have already learned much. Most never get beyond a devotion or two. I can tell you that the skills you listed are called 'psychometabalism' by those who follow this path. There are other sorts of skills, telepathy for instance, which allows you to read, probe or even harm another's mind. Each group of skills is collectively called a discipline. It would seem both of you follow the discipline of psychometabalism.* The illithid pauses for a moment. *Do I understand that you wish me to take you on as a students?* he finally asks.

Billy looks over to Kain before saying, "If you have the time and desire, I would indeed appreciate it if you could teach me more..."

Kain nods in agreement, then echoes Billy's statement. "Though I have some abilities, I haven't really learned anything. If we have the time, and your assent, I would gladly take any knowledge you wish to give."

Deigatt leans toward Raken and asks, "Do hall demihumans possess these mind-powers, Comrade Raken? Do you? I must confess I've not seen the like hof them hon Geb, not even hamong the humans." The minotaur tugs at the earring hanging from his left ear.

Raken, somewhat uncomfortable with so many telepaths, looks up at the towering minotaur. "Fortunately, powers such as these are rare among humans. I do not possess them." His voice drops to an even lower whisper. "Between you and me, they give me the shivers. Such power should be for the gods, not played with by mortals..."

The illithid nods to Billy and Kain, *I would be happy to help you stretch your powers. You will find no better guide then yourselves for the disciplines you currently follow, You must consistently meditate and experiement with your powers to expand them. What I can help you to learn is the other disciplines, telepathy or clairsentience, for example.* The writhing of the tentacles seems almost apolegetic this point, *We can discuss the matter of my payment at a later date. I sense your friends are uncomfortable with this discussion, perhaps we can arrange to meet at another time? I expect to remain here doing my research for at least another month.*

"That would be fine with me," Kain agrees. "Ah..is there any location in.. ah.. particular that you'd like to meet? Here at the library again?" Kain looks to his companions. "When d'you think that Billy and I would have the chance to come again? Would tomorrow be too soon?" He asks this last question to all, the excitement he feels visible in the way he sits forward in his chair and the way his words fall quickly one after the other.

"Hit would be prudent to check first with hour comrades," Deigatt suggests. "Perhaps they have hobtained some service for the Silent Star."

"I don't know if I will be able to be present tomorrow," Billy says. He clenches his fists. "Still have some debts I have to repay to one person in particular. I hope you didn't forget..."

"Oh, no, Billy I hadn't forgotten. I'm sorry if it seemed as if I had." Kain shrugs, "I was just hoping to get started on both tomorrow."

*Tommorrow would be too soon for me, at any rate* Estriss says, *My research beckons and the training you request will take some time. Is there a place I can leave a message for you?*

"House Moune," Kain says after a look to his companions. "If you leave a message there, we'll be sure to receive it."

To the illithid, Deigatt says, "I, too, would present myself hin need hof training hand hof knowledge, Lord Hestriss." He glances briefly down at his comrades before continuing: "I have left my homeworld hin disgrace, hand I must strengthen myself before I return there, strengthen myself by learning that which I do not know. From you, Lord Hestriss, I hask hinstruction hin the ways hof magic. My mentor, Parthan, taught me much, but his tutelage was brief, hand my knowledge hincomplete. Pending my commitments to the Company hof the Silent Star, I hoffer myself hin service hin hexchange for what tuition you might provide me." Deigatt raises his closed right fist to his chin and bows his head quickly until his fist touches his chest.

*I seem to be attracting students right and left. You must understand that I am a researcher, a historian if you will, rather then a professional tutor. Your service will do me little aid, at the moment, friend minotaur. I will, however, consider your off.* the illithid replies.

"History contains himportant lessons," Deigatt replies, looking up again. "Hand consideration his hall I request, Lord Hestriss. We har residing hat the Broken Tankard hat present. Hour ship his the Silent Star, hand we can halso be contacted through House Moune."

*Please feel free to contact me here. We can begin your lessons after you've finished this other affair you have spoken of.* Estriss says, *Perhaps I could employ you as research assistents in exchange? At any rate, good day.*

Saying their goodbyes the four depart.

Standing outside the Library of Spheres, Deigatt looks down at Billy. "Har we to return now to the Broken Tankard?" he asks. "Hor does the heat of vengeance still burn your heart, Comrade Billy?"

"I think it would be best if we went back to the 'Tankard", Billy says looking up to his tall companion. "Once we get all the necessary intelligence, we can start having fun." Billy rubs his hands in anticipation.

Deigatt shakes his head quietly following Billy's comments.

Raken lets out a quite groan. "Billy, have you ever been in a street war? They can get very ugly very quickly. Let us hope that we can slay this bastard quickly and quietly, without rousing the attention of the thieves guild. I don't want to be around if things go bad..."

"Your caution his wise, Comrade Raken," the minotaur says as the four begin walking down Park Street. "The best war his won without fighting. Let hus head back to the hinn hand meet hour comrades. Perhaps Comrade Hitalapate has bought himself a brightly-colored wig."

Date/time: 11:30 am 17th day of the 4th Month, 5049 OC