Subject: The Tale of Jethro Smile

 Wall Hall. 11:30 pm (ish) May 25th 1995.

Jethro approached the stone of the Guardians, mind firmly set on his 
cause. He clasped the Scarab in his hand, as he forged his way past the 
barrier of force which blocked access to the stone for normal mortals, 
and indeed had proven a significant barrier to the Vampires.

Speaking of whom, he could sense them behind him. It was hard, but they 
were relying on him. A part of him had recoiled when he had realised that 
he would have to work with these creatures; their existence had seemed to 
oppose his mission. Still, as he had come to know them, he had found at 
first a grudging respect, then a genuine liking for them. He had recently 
discovered that they were the result of an attempt by Caine to send 
information home. If only he had more time. The bacci were so damn close, 
and he felt so drained. 

As he trudged past the second row of hedges, he felt the weight lift off 
his shoulders. He could walk freely again. Still, he could feel the 
Guardians nearby. They knew he was there.

He approached the stone, centered in a shallow pond. Lines of force 
emanated from the stone. 

He looked at the Scarab and smiled, briefly. This was it. Do or die.

One last glance backward toward the surviving vampires, then he turned and 
entered the pond. He waded toward the stone, holding the Scarab before 
him as a talisman.

A wave of heat hit him as he reached toward the stone. Skin beginning to 
blister, he moved forward to touch the stone with the scarab. The pain 
was incredible, His borrowed skin felt as if someone held a blowtorch to 
it. His hair burned and his skin turned black. His colthes began to 
ignite. Briefly, he called on Casubon's mind, but the Mage was still 
human enough to be screaming at the torment. Jethro Smile was on his own. 
"This is going to hurt," he thought briefly as waves of pain coruscated 
across his soul.

The Scarab was white hot as he held it to the stone. HIs hair was gone, 
his clothes, skin and flesh were on fire and his skeleton was beginning to 
crumble under the heat. "Just a little longer, I can DO this." 

All that was left were blackened bones and still he held on. Barely aware 
of anything but pain, he held the glowing  hot Scarab against the stone.

Finally, he exploded in a pillar of white fire. 20 feet away, the 
Vampires flinched away from the heat. The outer surface of the stone 
melted and the water boiled away in seconds as Jethro Smile, in the body 
of Casubon, Master Mage of the Order of Hermes, was utterly consumed.