the Manhole

Bravo, players.. I can finally see we're actually getting into some quality
role-playing and problem-solving here! Keep up the good work..

While Carideth attempts to empathically communicate with the animal,
Aardvarkin dissolves a few chunks of his lye in two of the water-filled flasks
he is carrying. He is rather pleased when the mixture turns out just the way
he expected. Eagerly corking the flasks, he tucks them away beneath the folds
of his cloak and comes up to observe Carideth's endeavor. Unfortunately, the
ranger doesn't seem to be having quite as much luck. "I've never encountered
anything like this before," he explains. "The cat is either not a real cat, or
it's not responding... but they ALWAYS respond!" While he puzzles over this
predicament, Aardvarkin acts on Carideth's suggestion and tries to offer the
small black feline a morsel of dried meat. The cat seems oblivious to it, and
its eyes do not even track it as the thief waves it back and forth in front of
the cat's face. Shrugging, he hands the food to Carideth, who attempts the
same trick. This time, however, the cat intently watches the dangling scrap,
purring and moving around its confines.

"This is odd.." someone mutters.

"Let me try to touch this cat," offers Aardvarkin. Reaching his arms down to
the bottom of the chest, his fingers brush right next to the cat - and it
disappears! The thief, of course, not being able to see, continues to wave his
hands around the chest, swearing and saying, "Is this your idea of a joke,
Carideth? There's no cat in here."

"An illusion, perhaps?" inquires Borack. The elven mage strides over to the
chest and looks down to where Aardvarkin is prodding the inside of the chest.
"Remove your hands from the chest, Aard," he asks. Reluctantly, the thief
withdraws them, and much to Carideth's and Borack's surprise, the furry feline
reappears just as it was before Aardvarkin tried to touch it. This time,
however, it meows angrily, and hisses (at no one in particular, though).

Cautiously, Carideth tries showing it the meat. The cat's reaction instantly
changes from angry to pacified. It contentedly watches the food grasped
between the ranger's thumb and forefinger, and even makes a move to swat at it
with its paw. Carideth lowers it a bit more, and the cat is finally able to
reach it. Sitting up on its haunches, the cat takes a swipe at the meat,
knocking it out of Carideth's grasp and bringing it to the bottom of the
chest, where it sniffs at it for a few seconds and then returns its attention
to Carideth. Dumbfounded, the ranger carefully and very slowly lowers his
hands as far down as he dares, and the cat jumps up and places both tiny paws
on the half-elf's hand. To Carideth, the sensation seems absolutely real - he
can feel the warmth from the soft, furry legs, and even the rythmic hum of its
purr as he reaches down with his other hand to rub the cat's stomach. The cat
seems harmless enough. Gathering it up in his hands, the ranger lifts the cat
out of the chest holds it in his arms, an inquisitive expression on his face.

As for Greenbolt and Malcolm, they have met with little success in attempting
to cure Malcolm. The ring is slipped on Malcolm's finger, the same one on the
same hand as the slave leader, but the priest is not fully conscious, and
slips between catatonic and delrious every few minutes. A few times, his eyes
open and he appears to be listening to the mage's frantic urge to get him to
say "Kai", but he just slumps back down, exhausted. However, his condition
DOES seem to be improving, so he may be in fit enough condition soon.. or, of
course, this could just be another effect of the poison..

Aardvarkin walks over to Carideth and begins reciting magic words to the cat,
but it does not seem to take an interest in what he has to say - indeed, the
cat acts as if Aardvarkin were not even there.

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Sage's Desk AD&D