[satansaloser2005]

After losing both Legate and Dun, tempers had started to flare. Copper and Holby had each received their fair share of suspicion, and as Shasta stumbled from his bedroll, having just recovered from a nap, he heard the rest of the mages arguing, Holby and Copper standing in the middle of the circle with the rest of the group surrounding them.

"Nerwen is clearly at fault for everything," Holby stated flatly, crossing her arms. She could feel an uneven pulsing in her chest and pulled her arms a little tighter, wincing at the discomfort under her robes. "I don't know why some of you think I'm to blame. After all, some of you know me quite well. Am I really capable of such a thing?"

"You may not have been," Lottie offered, "but unfortunately if one or more of us is under the spirit's control, their own nature has been overtaken by another. I'm not saying it's you, but we can't rule you out either. I'm sorry."

Boro sighed, but nodded. "It could be anyone. Even you," he said, pointing at the lass who had just spoken beside him. "Even me. We can't be sure."

"All we can do," McCaber offered solemnly, "is try to purge the spirit from its host."

"Yes, because that's worked so well in the past...."

"Echo, being negative won't help anything," Nerwen said, turning a hesitant gaze to Copper. "You've been acting strangely."

"You're not wrong," Steve noted. "I thought something was wrong with you before, but....Copper, I think you're our best option."

"So you're just going to kill me? On a whim? That's a great idea. Wait. No it's not. It's a horrible idea. I don't want to die."

Steve's expression hardened, and he approached Copper, standing eye to eye with her as she stared at him with a solemn expression. He studied her face, slowly backing away once he'd apparently satisfied himself. "You are not right. I think she needs to go. It's the only way."

"I agree," Greenie chimed in. "If we don't try the ritual again, they'll band together and kill another of us in the night."

"It's the only way," Steve said again, though his voice trembled slightly, and he could no longer meet Copper's eyes.

"Steve, whatever you do, tell me first. I just want to...." Copper sighed, hanging her head. "I need to know what you're going to do. Whatever it is, just please tell me so I'm prepared for....you know. Death. Hopefully not death."

"I just don't know what's going on anymore!" Steve shouted, clutching his head in frustration. "Maybe we shouldn't do anything...."

"Of course you shouldn't do anything," Holby said calmly. "You won't do anything, because I am too powerful for you to touch."

"You know, maybe it's best if we- Excuse me?"

"I....am more powerful than all of you. My arcane might....my might cannot be contained." Holby rubbed at her chest again. The others were staring at her strangely, and she shook her head, her vision clearing as she met the gaze of Cop and then Echo. "What....what's happened?"

Lommy shook her head solemnly. "Well, that makes that decision easy enough, I guess. I'm so sorry, Holby."

"We're going to try to help you," Kath promised. "No one wants to hurt you, but you have to let us try this. We can free you."

"Freedom?" Holby shrieked. "I will have it, and you will not prevent it! You won't touch me! I won't let you!" Suddenly her eyes rolled back in her head and the others stared at her as she began to shake. Her hands pulled apart her robes to reveal a pulsing white mark, the tips of what were clearly fingers visible just above the collar of her dress. "I....will not....be denied!"

"Get down!" Steve shouted, tackling one of the other mages just in time as white bolts from Holby's body shot out in all directions.

When the wizards looked up, Holby's body was gone. All that remained of their sorcerer friend were her robes and her staff, which fell to the ground with a clatter, rolling until it came to rest at the feet of a bewildered Shasta.

"....Someone should explain what just happened."


Casting:
Shasta
Kath
Nerwen
Cop
McCobbler
Lottie
Green
Echo
Boro
Lommy
Steve

Cast aside:
Sally (moddess)
Morsul (collateral damage)
Legate (wizard)
Dun (wizard)
Holby (sorcerer)