Log:Ellbeth - Revelations I

Ellbeth - The Path to Revelation 2009/04/18 	 Silver Spider Dragon Guardian Imaginary Girl Ellbeth 1

Outside Past Times Coffee Shop
Ellbeth arrives in Bridgend, walking for once, coming from Ming Street, her staff tap-tapping the sidewalk with a distinct click at each step.

Silver Spider is settled above Colonial Bay's last phone booth, taking a call on her PDA. "No...no...that's not Underwear! That's Under...vore. Under v as in Vote, O as in Oregon, R as in Ralph, E as in Edgar. Yeah...that's right. Undervore." She shakes her head and puts the PDA away. "Oh, god, this is so embarrassing."

Dragon Guardian hops along rooftops, running when he can and even going so far as to glide down with the odd cape attachment to a ledge and head along that way. He does pause as he sees Silver Spider, though, flipping to a lower ledge and shaking his head, "After that book, shouldn't you be higher up to do phone calls?"

Ellbeth stops on hearing the voice in the still night air. She looks around, sees nobody and only then looks up to spot Silver Spider on her perch. "Good evening. A quiet night it seems. How are you?"

Silver Spider turns to Dragon Guardian. "Nah." she says. "I'm very good at dodging!"

"Menace!" An old woman howls. "You're an evil degenerate!" She tries to whack Silver Spider with an umbrella. Silver Spider idly moves her leg.

"Really...really good at dodging..." She adds.

Ellbeth observes the arrival of Dragon Guardian with aplomb, and nods politely to him.

Silver Spider turns to Ellbeth. "Yikes!" She says as the old woman walks off in a huff.

Dragon Guardian shrugs as he settles on the ledge, shaking his head. "Huh... so what's going on today? I haven't seen anything lately far as criminals... other than the usuals in Chinatown. I figured I'd get out of there for a bit before I get a lot more notice than I can handle."

Silver Spider nods. "It's a bit of a mess." She says. "I've been in there for years. Things have gotten confusing, lately."

Ellbeth says, "If the two of you are otherwise unoccupied for the remainder of the evening I wonder if you would consider assisting me in a small matter?"

Silver Spider's eyeslit widens a touch. "Oh?" She says. "What sort of assistance is it?"

Dragon Guardian considers, then shrugs, "Sure. Why not?" He drops down to the street, cape spreading behind him on it's own to settle on the sidewalk near Ellbeth. The cape vanishes in a quick golden glow that sinks into his armor.

Ellbeth says, "There is a ritual I desire to perform. It's somewhat 'noisy' in the magical sense. Fairly noticable to those who have awareness of such matters anywhere in the world. During the ritual I will be unable to protect myself from threats, and this will be known to those who can determine what ritual is being performed. There are, regrettably, a number of people, and also others who do not deserve that title, who would seek to take advantage of such helplessness."

Silver Spider turns to Ellbeth. "What exactly is the ritual? I'm concerned here. The first time I watched a magical ritual like this, an entire rock concert filled with people almost got killed, and the next time, a bunch of cultists worshipping a weird obelisk almost destroyed the world."

Dragon Guardian sighs and rubs his eyes, "I get it... you need guardians for this? I've done similar before for religious vigils. But... like Spider, I'd need to know what's the purpose and what doesn't need to be disturbed in this case."

Ellbeth lifts one eyebrow, and then the other. "You move in a different circle to me, Silver Spider. Nothing so ominous or significant I assure you. The ritual is called the Ritual of Dissolution. It loosens the bonds between magician and magical gifts. Both wanted and unwanted gifts. If I am to develop my skills beyond the point I am at now I must discard much of what came to me as a gift and relearn it with my own effort. That is the only way to progress beyond where I currently stand."

Silver Spider raises an eyebrow. "So someone could steal all that magical energy if they stepped in?"

Dragon Guardian says, "Sounds like it here... you sure just the two of us will be up to whatever comes after you?"

Silver Spider turns to Dragon Guardian. "Hey, she asked us. The ritual probably requires two people. One for the old...that's me...and one for the new...that's you."

Dragon Guardian quirks an eyebrow at Silver Spider, "... joy." He shrugs, "I'll wait 'til we're there before arming myself. I don't know how long some of my gear lasts once I use the cards for them."

Ellbeth nods to Silver Spider, "Yes, that is exactly the case. Was it an good guess or do you have knowledge of the Arts? In any case, you are right. During the ritual it is possible to steal power from the magician performing it. No reputable mage would do so. There are many disreputable mages however."

Silver Spider's eyebrow raises. "What?" She says. "That could be considered dangerous."

Ellbeth tells Dragon Guardian, "I do not expect anyone or anything to interfere. It would be imprudent not to take measures against the possibility however."

Silver Spider turns to Ellbeth. "Actually, I've been doing this so long I just kind of guessed."

Dragon Guardian hmms. "Actually... maybe you can help me out after this is done?" He mentions to Ellbeth. "There is some questions about my own powers that are... unsolved as of yet. You might be able to help answer them."

Ellbeth says, "I willingly confess I feel somewhat safer knowing a heroine of your experience, Silver Spider, will be there should any disturbance occur."

Silver Spider laughs. "You do have a way of making me feel better." She says. o O (Considering that my girlfriend cleaned my clock this morning because I played fair.)

Ellbeth says, "I will be glad to assit where I can, Dragon Guardian. However I regret to say it may be a little time before I am able to do so. This ritual will weaken me for a period. I'm not sure how long."

Dragon Guardian winces a bit at that, "And I thought my training was brutal... so where to, then?"

Silver Spider turns to Dragon Guardian. "Whereever she says. I'm easily impressed in that regard."

Ellbeth says, "Stonehenge, Salisbury Plain. It is one of a dozen or so nexus points which could be used and the most convenient. Perhaps you would like to partake of a coffee in Past Times while I prepare a portal spell? That will take me a few minutes.""

Silver Spider's eyebrow raises. "You want us to go to Stonehenge? From West Virginia?" She pauses for a moment. "Okay...I guess."

Dragon Guardian looks at Silver Spider. "I'm game." He looks at Ellbeth. "Stonehenge... huh... can't say I've been there before, honestly."

Ellbeth catches sight of a scrap of paper blowing along the street. Picking it up she says, "If an ant was walking across this it would have to go many times its body length to get from one edge to the other." She bends the paper so the two opposite edges are in contact. "Now it is a single step for it. I will open a portal, and then Salisbury Plain will be a single step for us."

Silver Spider nods. "Well, as long as we don't have to use the transmat." She says pleasantly. "I don't think you really want to watch me scream and roll around in pain on the ground."

Dragon Guardian nods. "No kidding... I guess I'm lucky in that regards... but let's head to the coffee shop. Some coffee and tea should do fine while she prepares her spell." He looks at Ellbeth. "Will you need anything for after the ritual? Water? Food? Lots of bandages?"

Ellbeth says, "I would not wish to see anyone scream and roll around in pain." She smiles, "Well maybe that isn't completely true. I've just had to deal with my IRS return, and I can think of one employee of that agency I might make an exception for."

Silver Spider turns to Dragon Guardian. "I have absolutely no need for Coffee. Plus, someone has to watch her while she prepares. If we leave, someone could mug her right now, and she's probably not combat capable while preparing spells.'

Dragon Guardian blinks at Spider, "You're right... you've probably got the experience. Coffee, tea, or soda?"

Ellbeth smiles to Dragon Guardian, "Well a cup of strong coffee and a couple of pasties to go would be nice. The ritual is likely to be somewhat tiring.."

Ellbeth says, "Whatever you care to have, Dragon Guardian, just have the coffee shop put it on my account." Setting her staff solidly on the ground in front of her she holds it with both hands and begins speaking, her voice deeper and slowly developing a distinctly echoey note. Wisps of light flicker up and down the length of the staff and a number of the runes carved into it start to glow.

Silver Spider stands quietly next to Ellbeth as she begins to chant and meditate. "This could be a while..." She murmurs and begins scanning the area as the woman begins to chant. "On the other hand, I've never beaten up an evil druid before."

Dragon Guardian nods, heading into the coffee shop quickly to get the drinks and pastries. Once he makes it back, he has a box of assorted pastries, two cups of coffee, and a couple bottles of water. "Huh... first time in any sort of magic ritual." He mentions to Silver Spider when he gets back. "Any ideas on what to expect?"

Imaginary Girl, flying over the city on patrol, can't help but spot a gathering of people, including a couple she knows. Doing a loop-de-loop in the air, she angles down to land nearby. "Hi, everyone!", she chirps, happily, with a big smile on her face.

Silver Spider turns to Dragon Guardian and shrugs. "Magical Evil. I don't know a thing about magic. Some bozo will say something like "By the Wiggling Wumpus of Waggedor, and the Hairy Hordes of Homonculous, Let My Cheese Golems Combine" or something like that, and the next thing we know, there will be monsters everywhere."

Silver Spider turns to Imaginary Girl. "Hey!" she says sweetly. "Want to fight magical evil?"

Ellbeth continues speaking, her voice rising and dropping in cadence with more light now streaming from her and the staff, Hazy shapes begin to form each side of the staff, stone pillars of a light gray color, intricately carved with strange designs and glyphs. Then, after slightly over a minute, Ellbeth finishes with a shouted word that echoes from side to side of the street and a gate opens between the pillars revealing a night scene of weathered stone henges and fallen lintel stones.

Stonehenge, Salisbury Plain, England
Silver Spider turns to Dragon Guardian. "Well, Open Sesame it is." She says with a cheery tone in her voice. "Magical Evil, here I come! Whee!" She vaults through the portal without another word, leaping through in a graceful vault and tumble.

Dragon Guardian shakes his head, "I ain't commentin'... let's just get going if we're goin'." He comments to Silver Spider and Ellbeth, then looks at IG. "Hi there. Done beating up on the overgrown lug?" He comments, hopping through with the pastries, drinks, and all. Once through, he looks around before moving to set the pastries and drinks some place out of the way where it won't interfere with the ritual.

Ellbeth breaths in and wipes her brow. "Sometimes I think it would be easier if I just travelled TransMat like everyone else." She grins, "But there's an image to keep up you know. Who would respect a magician who stood in line to buy a TransMat ticket?"

Silver Spider shouts from the other side of the gate. "Me! Oh, me! I can't use the Transmat!"

"Magic bad guys? Yeah, I'll help, I guess", Imaginary Girl says... then, eyes widening, she blinks them in surprise as Silver Spider just bounces along that way. "Uhm... yeah...", she replies to Dragon Guardian. "Where's that doorway take us?", she asks of Ellbeth, gesturing at the portal.

Ellbeth says, "Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain, in England. I don't think we've been introduced? I'm Ellbeth Wyrd, author and mage. You need no introduction of course, Imaginary Girl."

Imaginary Girl smiles and 'puffs up a little'. "Well, yeah, that's who I am", she says. Glancing at the portal as if wary of it, she shrugs and floats through it after Silver Spider.

Silver Spider winks an eyeslit to Imaginary Girl and looks around for a convenient place to hide on the inside of the circle of stones so that she won't be noticed. The air whistles a little bit in the high grass, and she stays low to the ground, moving like liquid.

Dragon Guardian moves around, looking as he goes while he pulls a pair of cards from the container on his belt and slides two in. Ethereal wings appear on his back along with his gauntlets and boots gaining some new coverings. Definite new coverings if the low growl from them is anything to go by. He looks around, then shrugs as he keeps the wings lowered for the moment. "I guess we're as ready as we'll ever be?"

Ellbeth steps through the portal and it closes behind her. The group is standing in the space between the inner and outer circles of henges. Beyond the stones is the high wire fence intended to keep tourists from damaging this important historical monument. There's a moon shining down from a partly clouded sky illuminating the rolling green, albeit black in the moonlight, grass of the Salisbury plain.

As Silver Spider tries to hide, Imaginary Girl does the opposite... she flits up into the air up and over the top of the ring of stones and turns around, to see what there is to see -- making herself plain and obvious, of course.

Silver Spider is hidden behind the inner circle of henges, remaining hunkered down and out of sight. Her form is melded with the towers of stone in the early morning.

Ellbeth says, "I shall be conducting the ritual at the central point of the henge. Before I start I'll be drawing a circle around that stone. It would be bad for me if anything or anyone entered the circle after I start and before I finish."

"So... uhm... what should I do, then?", Imaginary Girl asks. "Just keep anyone from going in there to bother you?"

Dragon Guardian nods. "Got it. So keep anything and everything we can out at all costs." He smiles, making a motion of dusting his hands. "I'll stick a bit back from the circle. I don't want to interfere."

Ellbeth looks around and peeks into the night. "The ritual is not that extended, although the exact length depends on the tightness of the binding I am seeking to loosen. I would expect it will take somewhere between five to fifteen minutes once I start. Which I will do when I have gathered sufficient courage."

Silver Spider thinks. o O (Sufficient courage? We're gonna be here all week.)

Imaginary Girl nods and keeps floating up overhead, glancing around as she hovers.

Silver Spider is huddling behind a stone on the inner ring of the henge, remaining hidden. o O (If anyone tries to get past invisible with a distraction, I need to be hidden in case these bozos have read my file.)

Ellbeth moves to the center of the two concentric stone circles and marks out a pattern around the lintel stone in the middle of Stonehenge. She steps inside before drawing the last line with the tip of her staff, and the pattern brightens into an eerie blue glow. Anyone watching can see Ellbeth take in a deep breath and pull her shoulders back as she psychs herself up to commence. But its only a few seconds before she does so. Her voice is strangely muted, sounding as if its being heard for a distance rather than the few dozen feet across to where she is stood.

Dragon Guardian shrugs a bit, keeping where he is as he scans the surroundings. He carefully walks around the edge of the circle, keeping a ten foot distance from it just in case and making sure to go clockwise. Hopefully not screwing anything up.

As the seconds pass... at first nothing seems to be happening. Then a tiny spark leaps from a corner of a stone into the air. There's a stillness of the air, a heavy sensation at odds with the dark swirling clounds forming and gathering above.

Silver Spider's eyeslits narrow and she bites her lip to keep herself from cursing. o O (Yeah. That's what I was afraid of)

The air above the henge is roiling and disturbed by an increasing turbulence. Sparks jump from point to point amid the thickening clouds and leap at Imaginary girl also. No malice or intent, it's just being in an developing thunderstorm.

Imaginary Girl flies off to the side a bit, to be not /right over/ the circle of stones - that's where the sparks're coming from, after all. She sticks to the air, though, keeping watch from up there.

Silver Spider presses flat against the Stone, keeping her eyes focussed in one direction, outward, allowing her special senses to cover Ellbeth and the circle while the woman chants.

Imaginary Girl rolls 3D6 with a perception of 17- getting 15 which MAKES by 2

Continuing her aerial patrol Imaginary Girl doesn't notice anything out of place at first. Not until everyone spots the decidely unstealthy fiery glow as a twelve foot high flaming demon appears at the north edge of the outer circle.

Turning from having been watching to the south, Imaginary Girl spots the flaming thing. "Oh, wow. Hey, guys!", she calls out. "I see something... big and on fire!", pointing to the north as she starts that way.

Silver Spider's eyeslits widen, but she continues to remain hidden, keeping a careful eye in Ellbeth's direction.

Silver Spider raises an eyebrow, and remains hidden, gritting her teeth and keeping her lips tight. o O (Mother told me there'd be days like this. And Grandma's diary. And Bolt. And every other hero in Colonial Bay...)

Ellbeth is deep in what seems to be a casting trance and appears quite unaware of what is happening outside the protective circle she drew.

Dragon Guardian frowns, circling around the circle to the north. He glances around to the south, east, and west just in case as he glances to see how Ellbeth is doing in the circle she drew. "Looks like it's not going to be quiet after all!"

"I'll try and slow it down!", Imaginary Girl callss down, already flying towards the flaming hellspawn.

From a distance beyond where the demon appeared, another hundred or so yards further out away from the henge, a bolt of malign mental energy sears into Imaginary Girl's mind.

Dragon Guardian switches weapons as he hurries towards the northern part of the stone circle with a leap that way, slotting in a card after flashing it to one side. He spins the beam of light overhead as he skids to a stop and whistles loudly up at the demon, "Hey! Burning ugly! Down here!" The beam solidifies into a staff that he holds.

The demon roars and lumbers over to grab at a eighteen foot high henge stone. It grunts with the effort as the stone is uprooted and held aloft. Then the demon throws it at the center of the henge. It hits the barrier of the protective circle and shatters into a dozen fragments as the blue glow of the pattern briefly expands to make a dome around Ellbeth... but the light from the pattern is undoubtedly dimmer after the impact.

Silver Spider's eyeslits widen from behind the stone. o O (Bad. This is bad. What a great distraction. A really big demon. Got to hold on for just a few seconds more...)

Silver Spider's legs shift and move, turning around the corner to keep an eye on the demon as it lumbers forward. o O (Well, at least it's big.) She shouts cheerily "Yoo-hoo! Come and get me, ugly!" and fires a greenish bolt of energy. o O (Got to keep it busy while whatever tagged IG closes the distance.)

The demon roars with evident pain as the bioenergy bolt strikes home.

The bolt slams into the Demon with a crackling sizzle. The fire spurts about it for a moment and retains it's iridescent glow.

Silver Spider's eyeslits widen. "I guess this is going to be a little more complicated than I thought..." She hops to another henge stone on the inner ring, blocking the path of the Demon. "I am your problem now, Mr. Ugly, Flaming...Oh, god, I just can't say that...it's so politically incorrect." The second bolt of energy follows the first, crackling and corkscrewing, green and twisting against the orange flame...

The demon roars again as Silver Spider's energy bolt slams into him, it, whatever.

Dragon Guardian runs up to the demon while it's being peppered. Yes, runs up. He grins up at the demon, "Just like sparring a giant." He says out loud, then spins and the staff itself extends outwards as he shoots it out for a massive legsweep on the demon itself.

Dragon Guardian grunts as he swings the staff around, surprisingly nailing the thing and sending it falling with the shot to it's legs. He leaps back a bit as the staff retracts itself and he gives the weapon a spin. "Dragon's Tail Brushes the Ground. I love that trick."

Silver Spider thinks. o O (Dragon's Tail Brushes the Ground, huh? Well, someone might want to tell him that it can still reach him lying down...)

The cause still isn't obvious but Imaginary Girl gives a dry of distress as another foul invasion is made of her mind, and then she tumbles limply to the ground while still trying to close the distance to the Demon.

The brutish demon claws its way back onto its feet ripping shards from a henge stone in the process. Looking down at the small human in front of it the demon swings a massive sharp taloned hand at Dragon Guardian.

The swinging taloned hand nearly drives Dragon Guardian to his knees as he manages to block it.

Dragon Guardian brings his staff up suddenly and winces. "... crap. LITTLE HELP HERE!" He calls out.

Silver Spider leaps to behind another pillar in the central henge, keeping most of her body blocked from the combat as she takes another sniper shot at the enormous demon. o O (Have to stay inside the ring. Can't let invisible sneaky wizard lad get inside the circle. Have to make him think I'm focussed on the big ugly guy.)

The demon snarls with utter surprise as the bioenergy bolt catches it off balance and knocks it back into a standing stone.

Silver Spider mutters "Oops." Under her breath. o O (I'm so glad I'm not an English citizen. Silver Spider Destroys Stonehenge! An Exclusive From Knox Pooley!)

Out where he is still unseen an evil mage moves cautiously closer trying to see the other defenders of the ritual.

The big brutish demon pulls away from the standing stone and grabs at it. Uprooting the massive slab of granite the demon lifts it high in readiness to smash down at Dragon Guardian.

Silver Spider sighs. "That looks highly unpleasant. Scuse me..." She lifts her hand as the demon raises the hunk of rock high above his head, and fires her energy bolt right into his massive midsection, shifting back the way she came and hiding amongst the central henge.

The demon wobbles a little after Silver Spider's latest bolt of bioenergy hits home but it's still going.

The demon is dropped like a stone as Dragon Guardian sweeps the clawed feet out from under it. Then the henge standing stone drops, well, like a stone, on top of the demon. The beast goes limp under the henge. A moment later a crack opens beneath it emitting a sulphery stink of saltpeter and smokey heat, and the beast is drawn downwards as the crack closes up again.

A shout of frustrated rage and fury comes from the blackness to the north of the stone circles.

Dragon Guardian frowns as he looks towards the north, calling, "Show yourself!" The staff shrinks again as he puts a hand near the card holder at his waist.

Silver Spider slips between the henges acrobatically as she hears the howl, hoping to get closer to it since no one can see it, and hides, trying to spot the source of the noise.

Dragon Guardian leaps again, this time to the north of Ellbeth's circle as he slots in another card. This time the staff disappears as it swirls and reforms into a shield on his arm. He keeps his eyes open, eyes narrowing as he tries to figure out where the demon summoner is.

Both Silver Spider and Dragon Master feel a probing at their minds. It clings to them for a moment, and then focuses on the less willed mind bringing the feel of evil and mind twisting horror.

Silver Spider keeps low, scuttling through the high grass around the henge as she tries to close distance. There's nothing to swing from out here, and the low grass is her only cover. o O (I have to find this guy before Dragon Guardian becomes Tofu Guardian)

Dragon Guardian frowns. "Spider, heads up, that way!" He points towards the mage while he pulls a card. o O (Hopefully he can't keep track of me at an insane range... Dragon Helm and Sonic Wing.) Pulling the pair of cards, he flicks it to the side, "Get moving. I'm coing to try something." He puts the two cards in then takes off.

Well, people always wondered how Dragon Guardian gets around town so quick. Now Silver Spider, Ellbeth, the evil mage, and IG know. The resounding sonic boom makes the stones lean drunkenly and one even goes *THUD* not far from Silver Spider. The last thing anyone saw of him was a set of solid wings appear and a helmet appear on his head.

Silver Spider winces as the sonic boom goes off. o O (It wasn't me, Knox. I swear. Someone tell me why he came here again?)

Silver Spider thinks. o O (On the bright side, the RAF will be here soon.)

The mage stands looking upwards in amazement forgetting to stay concealed in his surprise. Now he can be seen it's obvious he's one of the dark ones. If the hooded robe, black of course, and mask covering the upper face, doesn't give his alignment away, the horned ram's head skull emblazoned on the front of the robe will do. His hands are pressed firmly over his ears and the look of pain on his face gives proof of the unbearable volume of the sonic shock that's just errupted.

Silver Spider leaps forward towards the surprised mage, scuttling through the grass as she does so, and opens fire on him as she vaults, tumbling into a firing position. "Hyy...hlmt boyyy...Nght a bgzppper fr...yy...uu..." She manages since she's momentarily deafened.

There's a flare as the bolt of bioenergy strikes a previously invisible force field. The field holds for an instant, wavers, and goes down under the intensity of the blast. The mages's robes smoke and smoulder but resist the remaining energy sufficiently that no injury is taken. Even so the mage is hurled backwards into the grass behind him.

Lifting his head the mage stares at Silver Spider for the merest instant, or a hate filled eternity, depending on viewpoint. Then he grabs a black orb from a pocket of his robes, and all that remains a fraction of a second later is an afterimage...

Silver Spider's eyeslits narrow. "Darnit!" She mutters. "Another enemy. This guy's never gonna leave me alone, either. Stupid cultists in hoods."

It's exactly five minutes since Ellbeth started the ritual, twelve seconds since the mage and demon arrived. From the clouds above lightning bolts strike down to each and every remaining standing stone. Kaboom!!! The protective pattern flares and blows outwards as immense magical forces surge across the area inside the circle. Then all is quiet again. Incredible there's no sign there's been a fight. The stones are as good as new. Maybe even a little better.

Ellbeth slumps down onto one knee looking exhausted.

Silver Spider facepalms. "And here I thought that renovation of stuff like this wasn't possible. I really hope we didn't summon someone else's Stonehenge. That could be a problem."

Ellbeth says, mostly to herself as she kneels within the stone circles. "It's done. Hope I haven't made a mistake."

Silver Spider turns to Ellbeth. "Well, mistake is relative." She says with a sprightly grin. "There was an evil bozo in a helmet, but he's gone now."

Dragon Guardian returns. Eventually. He's grumbling a bit as he drops down to a landing and blinks a few times as his wings and helmet fade. "Okay... never do that again... I had to buy a map to figure out where the hell I was..."

Ellbeth stands, looking a bit wobbly, "Then I thank you for being here. All of you. I owe you, each or you, a significant debt. You have but to ask and if it is withing my power to do so I shall answer."

Silver Spider turns to Dragon Guardian. "What you did, quite frankly, was something that if you ever do in an urban area, I'll beat the snot out of you." She says. "You were lucky you pulled that stunt in an area without people."

Silver Spider turns to Ellbeth. "Listen, I really don't do the debt or favors thing." She says. "Beating up the demon and making sure Helmet boy didn't destroy your ritual? That's enough for me."

Ellbeth smiles and nods, "That a debt is not called upon does not mean it doesn't exist. Again, thank you."

Silver Spider laughs a little bit. "You're welcome." She says. "Can I take the transmat home now?"

Ellbeth says, "There's no need." She pulls a roll of parchment out of an inner robe pocket. "I knew I would be weakened after the ritual, so I wrote out a portal scroll before setting forth. You can return by TransMat if you wish, but I can open a portal in a few minutes."

Silver Spider nods a little bit. "Oh, good. I was hoping not to writhe in pain on the way home." She says sweetly. "Let's go..."

Dragon Guardian shrugs as he looks at Silver Spider, "It was either that, or end up fighting you possibly... in any case... I think I'll build a GPS device just for later."

Ellbeth nods, drinks a cup of the coffee that was bought along and then casts the portal spell from the scroll, opening up a gateway back to the sidewalk in front of Past Times.