[The management suggests taking a trip through history and reading this log before you start in on the arc -- just in case you forgot. About the dragon. Yep.]

<JETMODE> *Kender and Whisper are having a semi-romantic evening at the Rustling Ghost. I say semi because they're regulars, and the staff ribs them at every available opportunity. They don't mind. Much.

<JETMODE> *The lamps are glowing -- except for an odd flicker once or twice -- and there's even some decent music playing.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper's enjoying herself. She usually does and all. She leans back, stretching sleepily. "Who is this singing? They're actually pretty good.

<JETMODE> <Kender> I dunno. Someone new, I guess. I'm glad the Silver Knight didn't get her first. *he polishes off his meal with gusto*

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: I just hope she stays longer than the last one. *she watches Kender with amusement. "Hungry, are we?

<JETMODE> <Kender> *stretches* Oh, a little. I had to run three unicorns through their paces today.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: Fascinating.

<JETMODE> *The music stops, and there's scattered applause. The girl's about to launch into another number, when all the lamps go out -- at once. And the doors slam. And something starts scratching from outside.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: .. The hell..?

<JETMODE> <Kender> Is it some kind of.. prank?

<JETMODE> *Just so you don't think you're safe because the doors are closed, several figures made of pale light drift up through the floor, casting an eerie glow on the pitch black room.

<JETMODE> *The scratching gets louder. Several people scream.

<JETMODE> *All at once, the doors burst open, and the lamps flare to half-light, revealing hordes of exceptionally disgusting undead just beyond the barrier, staggering into the room.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper gets to her feet, hissing curses under her breath.

<JETMODE> *Kender jumps up, reaching for his whip. "If this is someone's idea of a joke.."

<JETMODE> *Strangely enough, the undead don't seem to be attacking -- they wander the room aimlessly, looking menacing and nasty, but not actually hurting anyone.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper's probably got a dagger with her. Her preferred weapon is actually a bow, but that would look REALLY weird lugging around.

<TIAMAT> *So she's, you know, attacking and stuff. Well, at least at first. She slows down after a few moments, realizing that no one's actually gotten hurt. "What the hell is this?

<JETMODE> *Kender, who was also laying about with his whip, pauses in puzzlement. "I.. I have no idea. Maybe we should go look around --"

<TIAMAT> *Whisper's peering out into the hallways. "Look at this...

<JETMODE> <Kender> What is it?

<TIAMAT> *Well, there are undead EVERYWHERE, right? But they're not doing anything. So it's not like someone decided to pull a prank on the Rustling Ghost on Halloween because of it's name.

<JETMODE> *Yep, the hallways are crawling with the critters. They're all minor undead -- nothing tremendously powerful, but there are so many of them!

<JETMODE> <Kender> *worriedly* Maybe we should check and see if everyone's okay..

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: Yeah...back to your place?

<JETMODE> *Kender nods. "We can get Jarod to help."

<JETMODE> *Well, they get to Kender's quarters without too much incident -- a skeleton attempts to trip them and has his head knocked off for his troubles -- but the room is empty. Aside from Cinno, who slept through everything.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper, a little worried: You don't think something happened to him?

<JETMODE> <Kender> *frowns* I dunno. He said he was studying tonight, so he probably wasn't alone.. and if something had attacked in there, Cinno wouldn't be sleeping.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper sighs. "He could be anywhere...maybe we should go down to Cassie's?

<JETMODE> *Kender nods. "Maybe they've got some idea what's going on."

<TIAMAT> *Well, when they get there, they'll find the place locked up tight as a drum, though there appears to be someone home, as there's a light on through the window.

<JETMODE> *Kender glances at Whisper, shrugs, and tries knocking.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie's voice, a little shrill: Mom? Dad!?

<JETMODE> <Kender> Cassie -- it's Kender. Are you all right?

<TIAMAT> *There's a pause, then a click of a lock and the door cracks open, Cassie peering out from the otherside. When she sees Kender and Whisper and flings the door open, looking relieved. "I'm so glad you're here! Mom and Dad went out to see what was going on and help if they could, but they told me I couldn't come and that I shouldn't open the door to anyone!

<JETMODE> <Kender> Er.. well, that was probably sound advice .. *scratches head* Then I guess you don't have any idea what happened?

<TIAMAT> *Cassie shakes her head, biting her lower lip and looking worried again. "I'm worried about Mom and Dad...they said they'd come back as soon as they knew what was going on, but...

<JETMODE> <Kender> *frowns* How long have they been gone?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper is ... watching their backs, in case any of the undead decide to get nasty.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie: About 45 minutes...they left right after the skeletons started appearing. *she shudders.

<JETMODE> *Kender makes an executive decision. "Whisper, can you go with Cassie and see if you can find her parents? If they get mad, tell them it's my fault -- I'm going to go see if I can't find anything out."

<TIAMAT> *Whisper glances over her shoulder and nods, but then pauses. "Are you going to be all right?

<JETMODE> <Kender> *smiles at her* No problem. I'll catch you later.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: Well ... be careful.

<JETMODE> <Kender> You too. *he waves and trots off down the hall*

<TIAMAT> *Whisper and Cassie watch as he disappears around a corner, then glance at each other and take off in the opposite direction.