"Well, let's approach the hiding person and see if they are willing to talk."
Dervak knows that Mara prefers diplomacy and reason. He also knows that some they encounter prefer other means of interaction, so he is ready for battle if needed.
Ci Ci calls upon her power to catch the wind. She also calls upon her power to shield her from attack.
Not having a fresh corpse on hand, and having left the skulls and thigh bones of her enemies behind, Allegra does not yet have a material component for Defending Bone. Resigned to this reality, she firms up the reins on her camel and wordlessly starts heading in the direction of the girtablilu that was spotted.
I swear I just had those gnoll's skulls here some place!
They are about 250ft away and once spotted the three girtablilu give up the pretense of stealth and flee. The party starts to give chase but you find that their knowledge of the terrain and great speed give them an edge and start out pacing you.
Unless you are able to increase your speed you won't be able catch them.
The White Rabbit nods in the affirmative at Allegra...
Ci Ci hovers out of her camel's saddle to get a clear view of the fleeing creatures.
She takes a few moments to gauge the line of their movement and points her hand several dozen yards ahead and intones:
Ci Ci persuades them to stop running and draw their bows.
Theo waves at the nice Scorpion ladies....
Mara flew forward, weapon lowered, and called out to the half-scorpion creatures in common, "Hello, we are chasing an evil man who came this way several days ago! He may be the one who killed your comrade." Then she repeated the message in Kelish.
I am not sure that Cerise's negotiation tactic is going to work...
Dervak dismounts and walks forward, speaking his own words of greeting - like Mara, first in Common and then in Kelish.
"I apologize for my friend's fire. We mean you no harm. We wish to speak."
His hands are up and he has no weapon drawn.
The trio of scorpion-warriors don't immediately shoot, but keep their bows trained on Ci Ci. One steps forward slightly and says, "You're clearly capable people. I am Ashkar of the Ulkori tribe and this is our territory. I must insist that you turn back to from whence you came. These lands are sacred and it is our duty to protect what lies within. By doing so, we protect the rest of the world."
"My apologies for getting your attention in such an abrupt manner," Ci Ci says to the creatures. "As my comrades have stated, we hunt the one who killed your compatriot. He is very dangerous. You know nothing of what he is capable, we do. Work with us to hunt him down. If not, he will unleash the horror you have sworn to protect the world against. We are not at odds on this point. There is no reason for animosity."
Theophilus approaches the Scorpion-Ladies. The gentleman smiles widely. He doffs his Hat.
Ladies of this Most Sacred of Places. We are Champions of the Asylum. Our quest has caused our intrusion into your lands, but it is of the most highest of desperations that we stop this vile murderous madman from his nefarious schemes!
He bows formally.
Allegra just sits solemnly atop her camel, trying to look just intimidating enough not to mess with, but not so intimidating that these scorpion ladies run screaming.
Mara landed and stowed her weapon and bowed, "The man we are pursuing is called Count Haserton Lowls IV. He stole a dangerous book of occult lore from the Mysterium in the Qadiran city of Katheer; the tome is an infamous volume called the Necronomicon. I fear that he is planning to conduct some unspeakable ritual that will endanger the entire world. He sought out this area, so he must be trying to retrieve or gain access to something to carry out his vile plans. Have you seen this man?"
They still train their bows on you while you speak your peace, "One of our patrols tried to stop a group such as yours, bound along the same path. The trespassers did not heed our warnings but responded with violence. I found the corpses of my kin scattered across the stones, ane we learned their story when our sandspeaker communed with their spirits. The trespassers' tracks led to the most sacred site where we are forbidden to travel. I hope they perished before they could do greater harm."
After a moments pause, "You are being sincere. Demonstrate to me that that you have the respect for the past and the forsaken site where evil dwells."
Mara explained some of places that they had visited in the Dimension of Dreams, and the insights that she had gained from the Mad Prophet.
Words? Weirdness!
Theo (once properly attired for the moment) steps forward to address the sweet-looking Scorpion-Ladies!
The White Rabbit follows along. He seems a bit nervous....
Blessings be upon you my flock. I am Theophilus Carter--ordained Priest-Minister-Abbot-Pastor Mother Superior--at your servoce!
He bows, curtsies, kneels, and even twirls a bit.
We have been given the task of eliminating this threat that has desecrated your sacred and forsaken site where evil dwells!
He then expounds upon their Journey to the Moon....
After listening to the Mad Hatter and the Speaker for the Past for a time the girtablilu become convinced, “I shall tell my people that you are permitted, but not welcome, to travel our lands. Beware the cursed city that lies several days from here. Within it slumbers a terrible evil that we have watched for ages, and it stirs once more. It is best that none wake it entirely, lest it cast its shadow across other lands. Should you emerge from the shattered streets showing signs of its influence, know that I shall personally destroy you so that you do not spread its curse.”
Unless engaged further they depart.
Mara reassured the watchers that they would be careful, and warned them in return of Lowl's treachery. After the girtablilu departed, she looked for signs of the Count's tracks, hoping to pick up his trail. "I fear that he has a good lead on us. I only hope that we can stop him from releasing the evil in the cursed city."
Dervak breathes a sigh of relief.
Thank the gods they were smart enough to understand what Theophilus was talking about... I think I got bits of it.
Dervak will ask one question before they leave.
"How many trespassers do you think there were?"
While Mara is also looking at the tracks, the tracks would have been fresher when the Girtabilu first found them.
This cursed city that lies several days from here. Within it slumbers a terrible evil that we have watched for ages, and it stirs once more. definitely sounds like the place to be! Got directions?
"Over a dozen."
Ashkar gives Theo a wink but not an answer.
On the fifth day of travel you come to a pass bordered on either side by a series of broad mesas. The steep slopes of the reddish mesas have few handholds and are 80ft in height. Ahead is some brush, piled in a heap.
Theophilus politely awaits for Ashkar to answer....
After an hour (or whenever someone prods him), the Mad Hatter shrugs his shoulders. He then winces in pain at the stiffness of his joints.
Need some oil, I think.
The White Rabbit seems to have been waiting patiently; knitting a sweater.
In Order Dervak, Mara, Ci Ci, Allegra, Theo: 5d20 ⇒ (8, 1, 4, 12, 5) = 30
Theo will Pearl of Power 1st his Lucky Number.
Theo then Hexes his friends also.
Major Ameliorating (Su):
Theophilus travels along with his friends, enjoying the barren countryside...err...desert side. He happily plays Eye Spy, sings 101 Flagons of Ale on the Wall, and he even convinces The White Rabbit to perform a bit of Hat magic!
It is a long 5 days....
A pair of pustule and tumor covered giants are waiting in ambush. One behind a rock outcropping on top of the mesa, another waiting within the ravine.
Mara easily spotted the Giants and concentrated, speeding up the flow of time for her allies. Then she guided her camel forwards, spreading out just in case the giants were spellcasters.
The giants let out a bout of deep belly laughs as one of their rocks smash into her head.
When the camels realize the danger they're in the begin to rear up. Kaklatath cannot control her mount and they both trot away. She sends you a telepathic message, "I will be fine!" Looking back you see that her mount has gone rigid not movig, mid stride.
Mara let out a grunt as the rock hit her, "Argh, you'll regret that!" She almost fell off her camel.
Ci Ci intones, launching a fireball to detonate right between the two
Allegra will dismount as a move action in the surprise round and spend a fervor and a swift action to swift cast air walk.
She growls out, "Watch out for the brush, there's a hidden pit trap in it."
Theophilus activities his Flight Hex.
Dervak (now with a full round of actions) will cast Fly; I think with Haste his movement is 90'. So he will move 45' towards the upper giant and also ascend 45' (pretty sure that is the correct calculation, as per the FAQ here).
As a free action, he will Rage, going Dex-rage, and as part of Greater Bloodrage he will cast Mirror Image.
AC is 31 (His base of 22, with +5 Luck, +3 increased Dex, +1 Haste; no Barkskin)
Mara abandoned her unruly camel and flew forward, gaining elevation. She concentrated, causing her form to waver (making her a little more difficult to hit with rocks).
The giant in the pass with you cheers as his partner is lit on fire by Ci Ci,
They return fire! One rock strikes an illusion of Dervak. Mara splits her timelines but can only choose from ones where she's struck in her right shoulder dislocating it and one striking her in the solar plexus, leaving her grasping for breath and bleeding internally.
More of the camels retreat but Kaklatath is busy paralyzing them as they come, making it easier to retrieve your mounts later.
"Your turn," Ci Ci says, pointing at the giant on the ground.
Round 1
Theophilus yells at Dervak!
Wait for meeee!
He flies 30' toward him and 15' upwards.
I can D-door this time; I promise!
Mara was getting annoyed by the rocks hitting her. She recited a protective prayer to thicken her skin and continued to fly forward.
The giant in the pass is burned significantly less as he manages to cover his face and ball up, in the nick of time. This time he's on the receiving end of laughter from his ally.