Turn 45

    The skullbird seizes a haunch of bear in its talons and retreats to its nest. Hiro shifts his position in an attempt to draw attention from the others to give them a chance to get clear or to fire upon the thing without risking friendly fire himself. The Saint of Steel bites back the flush of pain to his body and pride. He has resolved to have a friendly discussion with his fellow native of Kara-Tur.
    Emmett stands, still holding the insectoid body, having spent the last few seconds carefully timing the motion of the creature's tail. Once he has the pattern in mind, he steps in and throws the body, aiming for the tail and its deadly spikes. With luck, the alien's corpse will be the perfect tool for covering the spikes, hindering the creature and removing one of its prime weapons.
    Once the corpse is thrown he snatches Val's sword back from his belt to defend the people behind him. The disappearance of Alais and ibn Fadil makes the organized retreat seem pointless, but this is his best point to be able to dart in and aid Hiro should he need it.
    Emmett succeeds in hitting the creature with the wizard's body; although the tail is not incapacitated as he had hoped, the impact does serve to distract the yitsan as it writhes free and lashes out in response to the perceived attack. Chitin crunches as it tramples the body under all four sets of claws.
    In a sudden streak of silk and steel Hiro leaps in the air and rolls across the creature's back. As he rolls off the carapace he drives a thrust into the exposed flesh. As Hiro springs free Emmett lunges in with Val's sword.
    The yitsan is bleeding from several wounds now, but is far from dead, and it leaps off the wizard's corpse toward them as if determined to settle accounts.
    Meanwhile, several levels up, Val is frantically trying each key, trying not to panic. "Note to self; if I *ever* decide to make a citadel, use one key for everything..." he mutters to nobody in particular.
    Ibn Fadil keeps moving away from the monster (more or less towards Emmett's group) and trying to look in all directions at once, until he finally figures out that their own mage is nowhere in sight. "Zheremin!" he shouts.
    Val hears ibn Fadil's call and takes a moment to look around for the wizard, who isn't in sight. Val continues to look for the right key, casting an occasional glance over his shoulder to see if Alais shows up. Where...? Finally, "Find the key," Val growls at Gorn as he turns to look more carefully for the missing wizard. The fact that ibn Fadil is dashing toward it makes the concealed opening easier to spot.
    Looking more carefully toward where the mage last was, ibn Fadil sees the disarranged tapestry and immediately makes for it, scowling.
    "Behind the tapestry!" Val shouts to ibn Fadil. "Looks like an opening behind it!"
    Val's unnecessary advice hardly distracts him from his newfound irritation with Alais. He peers into the tunnel, then starts down it, staying close to the left-hand wall and gradually speeding up until he is almost running.
    After Val is certain the Zakharan heard him, he turns to check Gorn's progress with the keys. "What's behind there anyway?" he asks the dwarf.
    "Th-this is the inhabited s-section," he stutters, trying keys frantically, his extra hands almost blurring as he sorts them. "If we can get through, we're out."
    Finally, one turns in the lock, beginning the familiar hum.
    "It's opening!" the dwarf yells, pushing his stocky frame against the slowly widening gap as if to force it faster. "I just hope they d-don't try to kill us," he adds under his breath.

* * *

    When ibn Fadil reaches the end of the tunnel he sees Alais disappearing into the ship. "Master Zheremin!" the half-elf shouts. "The rest of us are leaving!" And I thought *Valarin* had no sense, he adds to himself. Do I have to put a leash on both of them?
    Within, the compact vessel appears stocked for any journeys the mage might have wanted to make on his collecting trips.
    Heedless of his companion's presence outside the ship or the drama unfolding in the main chamber, Alais begins to investigate the ship's contents. The walls are shrouded in more of the hangings Blade seemed fond of. Among the barrels of water and crates of food and a couple cages full of the winged rats (they sing rather nicely) are smaller containers tucked securely into crannies. Some hold what is probably loot from other ships that have fallen afoul of the wizard's citadel, including some beautiful porcelain and a jade statue that even Alais can tell is quite valuable. Others are dwarf-made, including armor and weapons taken from the citadel itself.
    Moving forward, the helm is of an unusual sort, more a bench shape, suited to the xixchil's body type. Bolted to the floor within easy reach of the helm is a small, locked chest.

* * *

    "I think we've stalled as long as we can," Lotta reports. "They want to speak to one of the crew."
    Gerik sighs. "Man the starboard bow catapult. We'll see if a warning shot gets rid of them." If it doesn't, the citadel's heavy weapons will make short work of the tradesman. They had tried surreptiously signaling for help once, and paid dearly.
    Another of the heavily robed dwarves appears in the doorway. "The door is opening." No need to say which door. There is a note of nervous surprise in his voice; usually the wizard takes more time with his subjects.
    "Belay that," Gerik told Lotta. "Prepare the catapult, but don't fire. He may not be interested in this at all, but we'll see if he gives us any hints."

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