A Venture into the Dark

[Sarrus]

The hammer embeds itself into the side of Riley's head with a loud splatter sound, where it hits his face deforms with the same black substance. Like tar, the hammer gets stuck and the little cat giggles. "Silly doggy, that tickled!"

"Thats enough Riley!" Sarrus yells angrily and steps up to the cat.

"Enough is it?" he asks. Holding out a hand it deforms and sharpens into a point which he holds to Angder's neck.

"Fine!" Sarrus continues to yell "Have it your way" The dragon quickly says an incantation, the strange words sounding unearthly and musical, then he punches the cat in the chest, embedding his right fist into the black substance that forms around it. Riley looks down at the fist in surprise as the substance seems to solidify as if frozen around it and taking on an appearance like obsidian. Riley draws his spiked appendage back as if to delve it into the dragon but is not quick enough and it hardens.

"Its too bad you got yourself kicked out of my class! Your shadowform is good but you haven't quite perfected it yet have you? Far too material. You cant freeze a true shadow. I think my friends here will find you quite brittle now..."

Just as his face hardens with the rest of him, Riley gives the dragon an enigmatic grin.

Sarrus turns to the group and nods. "do it."

[Angder]

"bloody idiot" Angder smirks "If he had just got on with it we wouldn't have stood a chance"

Angder relaxes as Riley solidifies, and then he Kicks him with his free leg, aiming for his stomach.

[Sarrus]

The kick leaves a large crack in the substance and is enough to knock Karthus' front legs loose, freeing him.

[Oedipus Rex]

Karthus spreads his forelegs apart and grunts, crumbling the cat at his waist. He steps back one step and looks down at the crumbled remains of Riley. He spits down on him. "Disgusting..."

[Sarrus]

Besides the shards on the floor, the only part of Riley that still remains is attached to Thaese' hammer, the enigmatic grin still on the face of his now severed head.

[Niphi]

Thaese steps back, looking down in disgust at the cats head, lodged on the end of his hammer. He stares at the smug grin on his face for a moment before swinging it over his head and smashing it onto the floor.

[Sarrus]

Sarrus looks down at the shattered remains of the Cat, now covering the floor and lets out a long sigh.

"I would say that is problem solved wouldn't you? Now, a deal is a deal." The dragon twirls his fingers around a spiralling set of runes that form before dispelling them, as he does all of the collars embedded into the group members dispel, the runes flying off in different directions.

"I told you I would join you all for a drink when you return as free men. There is a tavern in Torus called the Dancing Dragon, I will be waiting there to see who shows up!" He grins and starts walking away down the path back to the underground city, his reptilian tail swaying behind him.

--

A few hours later, Sarrus is sitting in the tavern by the fire, taking a sip of his wine as he watches the door to see who comes in.

[Angder]

Angder walks into the tavern, he admits he is not quite sure why, Guess I need some closure to the whole incident. He smiles at Sarrus as he enters, and approaches the dragon.

"You said something about a free drink, may I sit down?"

Not waiting for a response, Angder sits opposite Sarrus.

[Sarrus]

"So you came back?" The dragon chuckles "I assume you are full of questions, but first lets see who else turns up..."

[Oedipus Rex]

Karthus steps inside the pub, looking around he spots the two and slanders over and nods at the two. "Decided I would stop by before splitting town, I have some things that need closure." He nods at Sarrus. "Thank you, again. You've given me my Freedom when nobody else would, and I am eternally grateful. If you ever require yourself in need of some muscle, I would be honored to help."

[Sarrus]

"Thank You" Sarrus says "I appreciate that, now we have just one more to wait for..."

[Niphi]

Eventually Thaese steps into the bar and looks around, one of his eyes is swollen shut and blood is dripping from his lips.
He spots the party, pads over and slumps into a chair, "Sorry, I'm late. I had a run in with some of my old co-workers in the watch," he sways slightly in his seat and struggles to focus on Sarrus, "Where's that drink you owe me?"

[Sarrus]

Sarrus smiles at Thaese. "How about a napkin first" He passes the wolf one from the table then gets up to fetch a round of drinks, returning a few minuets later with a tray of glasses and sets them down.

"First off, let me thank you all for coming with me. Where this a brighter city you would be thanked officially as well. The people of Torus sleep safe tonight because of you. I understand that you must have some questions for me so please do ask ahead."

The dragon sits down in his chair with a smile.

[Oedipus Rex]

Karthus looks down at the round glass container and squints.  He carefully picks it up with his forelegs and brings it up to his mouth, downing the whole drink in a couple large gulps. He carefully goes to set the glass down on the table, but watches in horror as it slips from his grasp at the last moment. It tumbles in the air before crashing to the floor. He droops his antennae, "Dammit..."

[Niphi]

Thay takes his drink from the tray, takes a swig and presses the cool glass against his swollen eye before throwing the napkin to the mantis to mop up his mess.
He turns to the dragon and yawns, "So... can you explain what that cat was?"