[IMG]http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u79/SharpshooterJack/markerGerald_zps253683a8.png[/IMG]
[h3]Duchy of Pelgaid, secluded pond[/h3]
“That would be ideal, wouldn’t it?” Gerald commented on the possibility of Hazzergash possessing him, shrugging at the notion of it being an issue. “I will need to draw Hazzergash into myself before I can put him in the crystal anyway, so him trying to possess me would just skip a step and make imprisoning him that much easier.”
“Not necessarily,” Renold pointed out, raising a cautioning talon. “The reason people recovered from the Withering near the Anaxim Forest, you might recall, was due to the Withering being choked and extinguished by Hazzergash’s taint that saturated the area.” He thoughtfully scratched the scales on his chest with a noise like blades on a grindstone, his gaze growing distant for a moment. “The trees around there were so ugly... corrupted...”
“Focus, please,” the warlock grumbled at the dragon, who seemed surprised to be reminded where he was and what he was doing.
“Right! Well, it stands to reason that if Hazzergash’s taint alone can quell the Withering, then Hazzergash himself might do the same.”
Gerald pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling suddenly very tired. “So you’re saying that Hazzergash’s possessing me might cure the Withering? [I]That[/I] is what you’re afraid of?”
“It is a valid concern,” Crone agreed with her reptilian companion. “Lacking the plague will remove your ability to manipulate others’ energy and possibly prevent you from incarcerating our adversary. If that occurs, victory will be much more difficult to accomplish.”
“But I’d be cured,” Gerald hissed, glaring at the ancient dragon and sorceress with murderous intensity.
“And subsequently slaughtered when Hazzergash regained his full power,” the Green reminded him. “Please, we know that you are desperate, but there is much more at stake here.”

“Fine,” the necromancer sullenly agreed, averting his eyes from the dragon in disgust. He paused for a second, then sighed. “Hazzergash will know exactly where the crystal is, but he will need to physically touch it to undo the seal, yes? And he will be able to sense all of us, as well?”
“Presumably, yes,” Renold confirmed, hanging his head sadly.
“Then it’s simple: we will put the crystal in the middle of the binding circle so that it isn’t in my possession, but I can still get to it quickly; that way he won’t target me because I’m the one with the crystal.” He sighed again. “Without the crystal, he will merely perceive me as the weakest and most fragile of us, and thus as the least suitable host. That way the odds of him trying to possess me would be... pretty low. How does that sound?”