(ooc: Right, sorry Koshima, but you brought this on yourself. I REPEATEDLY asked you to e-mail me an outline of what you would like to happen so that if I'm forced to God-mod your character I don't stuff up your plot... yet you never sent one. Also, you seem to have failed to realise that the story here is something everyone is involved with, and your constant refusal to listen to me when I ask you to post more often or at least let me know when you can't post makes it impossible to move the story ahead and basically makes everyone get stuck. I'm now just making something up, and if it isn't what you had in mind, then sorry, but it's your fault. I now excercise my right as battle host to God-mod Koshima's character in order to move the story forward.)

Koshima seems somewhat startled by Soul Reaver's sudden appearance, but quickly regains her composture.

"Yes. I think that you might be able to help me in some way..."

Soul Reaver's expression darkens.

"How strange you should ask for my help after you let the guards throw me and my friends into your dungeon. The attack on your queen was not our doing, and you know it. The other guards here may be dim-witted, but you are not. You were right there when the queen was attacked, and I would be surprised if you didn't know that it wasn't us that attacked the queen."

Koshima lowers her eyes for a moment, betraying the truth behind Soul Reaver's words. She looks back up at his unemotional face.

"I'm sorry... but I couldn't possibly have just let your friends go after what happened. I'm already in a... difficult position here at the court, and by publicly supporting you I would only have made things worse."

Soul Reaver doesn't seem moved. Meanwhile, his telepathic link with the others is ensuring that they hear his entire conversation.

"I demand my friends be released immediately. We have done you and your queen no harm. All we want is to ask a few questions and be gone from here. You will then never see us again."

Koshima shakes her head.

"I cannot do that without creating a very big stir... but maybe if you were to prove your goodwill...?"

Soul Reaver scowls.

"I see. So what do you want from me?"

Koshima points towards the queen's chambers.

"Help her. She's been poisoned, and our druid has never seen that type of venom before. I know you're not from around here - that's obvious. And I have a feeling you can help her."

As Soul Reaver is about to reply, the door bursts open and Zalvok the guard bursts in. He has his sword out, and his brow is drenched in sweat. He is breathing heavily.

"Stand back... prisoner... I shall not let you... harm her..."

Soul Reaver looks at Zalvok with a bemused expression as Koshima irritably waves her hand at him.

"No Zalvok... we're talking. Please leave us."

Zalvok sort of looks taken aback, then gives a nervous salute and backs out of the room. Koshima sighs, before turning back to Soul Reaver.

"So... will you help?"

Soul Reaver nods.

"I will... if it will convince you of our good intentions."

Koshima nods in reply, and then takes Soul Reaver into the adjoining chamber. The druid, Senol, sits at the side of the queen's extravagant bed, carefully inspecting her wound. As Koshima and Soul Reaver enters, he grows very angry indeed.

"Koshima! Are you mad? Why do you bring a potential assassin here?!"

Koshima quickly replies.

"He might be the only one who can save her, Senol. Step back, please... and don't worry, I'll keep an eye on him."

Senol frowns, but steps away from the bed. Soul Reaver takes up his position instead. Armour clanking, he bends over to inspect the wound on the queen's arm.

The wound, though not deep, is edged with a black ichor that seem to bubble and hiss occassionally. Cleaning it away seems to make no difference, as more seems to well up from the wounded flesh to replace the poison that is removed. The queen, meanwhile, lies unconcious, occasionally tossing her head from one side to the other, and moaning quietly like a wounded animal.

Soul Reaver rises again to face Koshima.

"I have seen the poison before. Herbal remedies and such will do little good - usually the only cure is to physically slice out the infected flesh. Fortunately, it is possible to cure it by use of magic. I can cast the spell, but you'll have to trust me. Besides, I know that you yourself are a magic-user. You can keep an eye on my incantation to ensure I am not doing anything... foolish."

Koshima nods slowly. Soul Reaver turns back to the queen and begins carefully and gracefully moving his hands over the wound. He doesn't touch the skin, but allows his gauntlet to hover just above it. As he does so, he begins whispering a spell. A white glow slowly suffuses his hand and flows onto the wound. It eventually settles into the black venom, with begins to hiss. Eventually the glow fades. The black venom is gone, replaced by a clear liquid that flows gently from the wound. The small cut, though still there, is now untainted and should be able to heal normally.

Soul Reaver turns back to Koshima as Senol runs to the queen's side, inspecting the healed wound with amazement.

"There, she is healed. Now release my companions."

Koshima agrees, and sends guards down to the dungeons to release Soul Reaver's companions.

Soon later, the cells are opened, and the companions are told they should go up to meet Soul Reaver in the upper chambers. The guards, though reluctant, are prepared to escort them there. Impatiently, they wait for the companions to get moving.

(ooc: Uh... Thisias, what are you talking about? The queen will live. She's had the poison removed - the rest of the wound is just a cut on her arm. )

Soul Reaver answers Thisias.

I'm certain the resident Druid can handle the rest. He seems capable enough, and with the poison neutralised the queen should recover soon.

He then turns towards Asaki, giving a thin smile.

"I am glad that I succeeded in releasing you all as well. For a while, I thought that perhaps Khora's efforts had completely eliminated any chance of us winning their trust. But you are right... the search, I'm afraid, is only beginning."

Soul Reaver then addresses Koshima.

"Thank you for allowing the release of my companions. I have only one more request... I hope to get some information regarding a certain man who passed this way. I believe he was a visitor in you castle. His name is Stavarus Revenard. I have not seen him in several years, but I suspect that he will have made his presence felt while he was here. Do you know the man of which I speak?"