"It seems to me," said the alien as it drew a sigil in the air with its free hand, "that you are in disbelief." The path the monster was drawing glowed in the air. The hand with the sword moved toward her, but did not point the sword at her. "Observe!" said the monster. Its hand opened, and the sword's handle was revealed.

Gross tendrils pulsed from the hilt of the blade, tendrils that had taken root deep in his hand. His fingers twitched madly with the exposure of the tentacles. Finally he closed his hand over the wriggling mass.

His other hand finished drawing the marking in the air. A voice came from the center of it. "Password accepted. Your party may enter."