Hemket keeps a watchful eye on the cat people.
The old maftet smiles at Marius.. He seems to relax, which in turn causes his men to relax abit, they do not put away their weapons however.. The old one speaks..
"My name is Erayu.. “Until recently, my people lived in the shadow of the Sightless Sphinx. Circumstances drove us from our homes, which have now fallen into the clutches of evil. I am loath to direct you to the Sphinx without knowing more about you. Not only is it a place of danger, but you could unknowingly do great harm. I regret I cannot say more until I am reassured of your abilities. Would you be willing to provide a service to us in exchange for information on the Sightless Sphinx?”
He looks to you for a response before continuing..
Logos shrugs. "Depends on the service. I'm not going to agree till I know what it is. I don't butcher babies or murder people in their sleep. I don't much mind clearing out undead or putting a hurt on thieves or tyrants..."
Calla shrugs. "Indeed it depends on the service. To be honest we find it pretty lame that, in order to be helped, people want us to help first." Looking at this point of view it indeed seems logic to refuse, but depending on the deal they will listen to it. "Anyway, we're a highly capable group of researchers, and have been responsible for stopping undead plagues and aberrations in several places of Osiron. Have in mind that we're going to the Sightless Sphinx whether we struck a deal with you or not. It would be better if you handed the information without asking for anything in exchange, for your own being. After all, when we drive away the creatures who took over the Sphinx, you may return to your home and to your duties there. But if we go without the information it's a risk for whatever you've been guarding so far, which we know what it is but I'm not gonna speak it aloud without knowing more about you."
"As my companions said we would want to hear what service you want before accepting as it, but if it would help us find out more information on the Sightless Sphinx then I'm sure we would probably help."
"As long as it's not something repugnant, I imagine we can do it. How much trouble could it be?"
from 50' above the group:
"I think as long as this 'service' you request is a fair exchange for the information you provide, sir, we will be quite accommodating. But if you ask us to slay the mightiest dragon in the land, and then say oh, I think the sphinx in that general direction somewhere... -- that would not be satisfactory!"
Without seeming offended he continues..
"“We chose to settle in these ruins because my people are most comfortable in ancient places, but also because a nearby outpost—though otherwise too new to be of interest to us— holds a shrine to Sekhmet, our patron of battle. Upon settling here, we journeyed to the outpost to make our offerings to the Lady of Slaughter, but as we approached, monstrous creatures emerged from the outpost to drive us back. Redskinned humanoids with curving horns sprouting from their brows and fire in their hearts. They attacked without warning, and we were forced to retreat before we lost even more from our pride. I dare not risk all of us in a direct assault. Perhaps you could investigate the outpost and clear a path for us to the shrine of Sekhmet? With Sekhmet’s blessing, I would feel confident in showing you the way to the Sightless Sphinx.”
"What say u?"
Calla is disappointed with his end of the bargain. "Point the way to the Sphinx? Is that all you can do? How far is this shrine, by the way?"
Hadjii descends to about 30' altitude:
"I for one will be quite happy to aid you in re-gaining access to your shrine, good sir..."
"Kill some pests at a shrine. Check. No problem. Where is the place?"
Calla gets sulky. "Common guys, you're not helping here! He said we should be careful not to disturb ancient stuff, and that he would give us valuable information, and all that drama, in exchange for a hard work which by the way killed members of his clan. Then he says he's going to point us at the right direction, and you're fine with it?"
"By point us in the right direction, I am sure the noble creature means he will personally lead us to where we need to go while his people worship at the shrine." Logos says with full gravity and a bow of respect to the lion man.
"I would suggest that you not only tell us where the Sphinx is, but also reveal anything you know about it. You did say there are somethings in there that you don't want ruined after all. In all other respects I think we can do this."
"Complete the task and you shall know everything I do about the Sphinx.. I cannot leave the tribe leaderless and show you directly, but I will send my son as a guide.. The Walled Oasis as we call it lies 3 days travel to the east of this location.. It is up where the desert turns to foothills.."
"Walled Oasis..." Calla wondered if there really was a wall around the Oasis, which would be unlikely after all this time. Probably just a sand dune around it.
as you approach the location given by the lion people you see:
"Weathered stone walls, still solid despite obvious years of wear, stand strong and tall among the desert mountain peaks. The tips of green palm fronds just show over the top of the walls, suggesting a courtyard within, and a three-story circular tower rises from one corner of the compound. An air of emptiness hangs over the outpost."
The walls are 15' high and look in decent shape. There is a watch tower 30' up.
The group starts roughly 200' away from the structure..
-Posted with Wayfinder
Hemket is pretty sure he see's a figure on top on the tower.. A lookout perhaps.. It seems to have noticed them as well despite its poor roll..
All you can tell is that its medium from this distance.
"We've been seen. Don't think we'll be surprising anyone. Of course traipsing in during the day will have that effect.
"There's some chance I can kill the guy from here before he reports, but I can't guarantee it. "
Logos shrugs. "Moving around at night puts us in the nocturnal predator's fangs, so either way we're in hot water..." He leaves it up to Hemket if he wants to shoot the watcher.
As your speaking another man appears on the tower..
Calla has her false life and the ever present Defending Bone active.
Calla watches the men on top of the structure and she tries to communicate, as always, before taking harsher action. Casting Message, she tries to convince them they are friends. "Good afternoon, gentlemen. We heard about Sekhmet's temple and we came to offer our sacrifices to the Lady."
Logos mutters under his breath. "Spider climb might be useful about now, especially a group version, so we can scale the tower and work our way down, I doubt they'll expect that, and I'm sure the defenses are designed to keep people from entering at the base, not through the top..."
The response is in common.. "This is our temple and no one else's! Now be on your way!"
Calla stop pointing at the efreet, so they won't hear the Obsidians' conversation. "They say its theirs and told us to move away. Would you like to return at night, to have the element of surprise?"
upon arrival, Hadjii will go ahead and bring Sheeba out of figurine form, then use Totem Transformation to morph into a semi-wolf, and use his at-will speak with animals(canines) to explain the situation to his four-legged friend -- in wolf-ese:
"This place has many bad creatures, Sheeba! We must kill them!"
in reply to Calla's idea of returning at night, Hadjii whispers:
"I see no reason to delay our assault! They know we are here, and I think they will be on high alert through the night..."
hearing Logos' remark, Hadjii will cast his prepared Communal Spider Climb on everybody -- it will last 10 minutes. Casting his prepared Communal Resist Energy (vs Fire) seems apropos as well, and that one will be cast with Enduring Blessing -- so we all have fire resistance for 24 hours...
"So I guess that means I start shooting. " which he will begin after Hadjii has finished casting. While the casting is going on, he will take the time to study both targets.
deadly aim, rapid for 3, megabless, studied target, 2nd range increment
The party keeps their distance, shooting arrows and analyzing the enemies in the fortress, to see what's the better way to kill them. If they don't come after us, we will spend some time going around the place to identify what's the best entrance to the place. If they are avoiding Hemket's arrows but are still up the tower, Calla will send an empowered Cold FireBall in their direction, making it explode where there would be no cover from it.
Calla comes back closer to the group.
He will shoot at the southern one.
Hemket is sure at least a couple of his arrows hits the target, but it seems to pass right though him.. The other figure disappears from sight..
I don't get to disbelieve an illusion until I interact with it.
Yes, that's what I meant. As long as I interact, I can disbelieve.
Of course with my will save I'll probably still buy it.
Hmm, maybe I need to precurse myself more often.
Deffinitely not real.. It still stands there.. Nothing else to see atm..
Actions?
"Ok, maybe we weren't seen on the way in. I'm really not sure. Maybe the other one went invisible? You magicky folk figure it out. "
Hadjii the half-wolf uses a Mythic Point to cast <Blessing of the Salamander> on the wolf, and tells her to go over the wall:
"Sic 'em, Sheeba!"
he uses his move action to run up to the wall behind her, and watches her spider-climb up...
Going to rounds with arrows being fired..
Order:
Hemket - fired arrows
Logos - action?
Baddies - done something sneaky..
Marius - action?
Sheeba - waits for spell to be cast and double moves 100'
Calla - frostball? If not action?
Hadjii - Cast lizard spell on Sheeba
So we need actions from Logos, Marius, and Calla before we start round 2..
Logos waits for spells to be cast (2 rounds I believe) and while waiting draws a chakram from his hip and flings it as hard as he can at the same person Hemket shot.
You may make a will save as your boomerang flies through the target..
Moving up at all?
So far we have party at 200', Calla at 170, Sheeba at 100 and running fast for the tower..
Hemket, fully convinced that the figures on the tower are just illusions, starts moving up to the wall.
Marius will make sure his mega bless is up and cast haste on the group before moving forward.
Sheeba moves inside the garden towards the closest threat!
Calla messages everyone in the party. "I don't think it's a good idea to go inside now, guys! Let them buff themselves up, and after it wears out we can buff ourselves and move to get them! We don't even look like a team right now!"
She does not move from her position, waiting to see what the others will do. "I know you're anxious right now, but we should strike as a team!"
The party is split, with most wanting to kick ass now and Calla wanting to wait.. Buffs have been cast and timers are ticking.. Logos you see a invisible figure on top of the tower.
"Round 2"
Hemket and Logos are up!