She seethes at them for their arrogance. "Allow me to replace what you have taken from us and then we can talk. Do you agree?"
If he agrees, then she will point to those who attacked and use steal health to restore the party to full hp.
Her anger seems mollified by their sacrifice. She will turn to the others, "It seems like the best way to accomplish our mission."
"Agreed. Take us to where you need us. We shall bring order to this chaos".
Seeing that both Aldondrick and Taker have gotten all the formerly hostile guards suitably cowed, Jamaardi decides it best for both to do the talking for the time being.
That being said, the Xeph does mention to Taker in the draconic language, Draconic:"About that ability of yours to allow us to have some mindfully private communication, would that be something you could do whether we're hurt or not?", in as surreptitiously quiet a voice as he could manage without being overheard by the guards.
Aldon hears Jamaardi's comment and opens a Mind Link between the 3.
"I believe this is what you were looking for my friend?"
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They mount up and start to flank you as you three head back into the city. It's a mess groups seem to be fighting open battles across buildings. There are some no go areas where bows and cross bows are used to keep spaces clear of any one. Others seem to have make shift barricades around building and temples. It looks like there as been a lot of looting. You have only gone a few streets in when a rider comes back from up front.
"Nooroleic, the true believers of Orsiron have moved their area and blocked the pl...Arrr"
He never gets to finish as an arrows wings down and slams into his back. He falls dead from his saddle.
"COVER!!" Says number 13 aka Nooroleic.
The riders jump off there mounts and move left and right into door ways and alcoves on the main street. A few others around on foot try and dash and a rain about about 12 arrows falls into the now near empty street, to city folk are to slow and fall under the attack.
Then a voice form up the street says.
"Death to the God-Kings, gone is Nethys there is only one true way, one way to being the gods back, that is the way of convention. Come now and be blessed so your souls can ride with us in the heavens. Come now, Convert or die!!"
The voice seems almost manic and half crazed.
As she hides at the side of the street she thinks. ::"You merely need to think and you can communicate with any of use on the mental network"::
Aldon hears Jamaardi's comment and opens a Mind Link between the 3. ::"I believe this is what you were looking for my friend?"::
To all outward appearances, Jamaardi remains silent as he slowly looks back and forth between the riders and his compatriots, while Taker is seeing to his wounds.
Inside the newly established mindlink network put up by Aldondrick, Jamaardi replies ::Why yes, this will do most splendidly:: in a pleased tone of thought.
With the exchange of injuries done and over with and everybody starting to enter the city proper, the Xeph then adjusts the tone of his mindspeech to something more of a serious tone as he brings up,
::"Well, it seems like Eto has fared rather poorly throughout this past week; should we make mention of the Temple of the Mind to this prince of these guards?
While it could lend us a bit more weight to our helpful intentions, as it were, it could just as easily cause some difficulties for the Temple down the line.
We could also make mention of the Elves, but I suspect that the people of Eto would not find it to be encouraging at all and it would not be without any justification either, given the elven propensity to... leave things, as it were.
Plus I'm uncertain if they would react all that well to Taker-of-Life's words of warning given their current situation...."::
Before he can add anything further, the ambush begins, and Jamaardi likewise scrambles to find a more suitable spot away from any stray arrows.
As she hides at the side of the street she thinks. ::"You merely need to think and you can communicate with any of us on the mental network"::
::"That should come in handy"::, Jamaardi thinks back to Taker and Aldondrick, albeit a bit more hastily than usual.
,
Aldon blends into the shadows of the tall buildings, Stealth .
Perception
Ducking into a nearby unoccupied alcove, Jamaardi activates his Chameleon power, which should last him a good 50 minutes, () and does his best to remain inconspicuous while his Astral Suit starts covering up the exposed parts of his skin while leaving some openings for his eyes, nostrils, and mouth.
::"Not at the moment, but I'd imagine that they've got a fairly expansive firing lane."::, Jamaardi telepathically replys back to Aldondrick. The Xeph tries to puzzle out some of the words uttered by these so-called "True Believers of Osirion".
, .
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No13 is close his mount hit,
"Giric take the mounts back, go with Liflth, abock and Rickus, get them safe, the rest we have to get the mages to the prince, I don't want a fight here find me a way around."
4 of the troop make a dash back with the mounts, the 9 that are left start looking around the buildings then one calls out.
No13 smiles,
"We can try and go through the buildings to Cibel way, that should take us past this block"
Then he dashes across the street to the trooper who found a large open door.
::"I agree. Let us follow.":: She'll move after the guard.
::"Right, then... I'll go and grab our mounts; hopefully our hidden shooters are still waiting to hear out for any confirmation to do so; worse case being they get some new adherents or mounts for their cause."::
HP: 69, PP: 15 of 18, AC: 18, TAC: 14, FFAC: 14, Init: +4
Astral Suit Mode: Skin {+10' Move, +2 Dex}, CP: 2 remaining {Harness Shard, Extra Arms: Lesser}
Mindarmor: Light Mindarmor {not channeled through Spaulders}
Shield: Not drawn yet
Psionic Powers: Elfsight, Conceal Thoughts; both 5 hour durations, Chameleon; 50 min. duration
Focus: Both Focus 1 and 2 maintained; DR 2/- from Survivor Path active
Burst (Race): 1 of 3 used
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As you move in shadow and cover a gate is found into a city house, mounts are taken in, still the odd shot coming down the street. A bunch of slaves look shocked when they see you but run away when they seen the uniforms of the palace guards.
You make it across the court yard to the other gate.
"This should take us to Olloruss Street, from there we can talk down to old town. Its was the merchant street, There has been a lot of looting so be ready."
The gate open and outside is pandemonium, a crewed is running wild carrying all manner of things, some are fighting others trying to stop looters. your looking at some 1000+ inhabitant, most look like slaves.
"This is our main problem, the slave collars stopped working now most of free. We are going there, Water way, that side street"
He points,
The guards mount up and move to get across the street but at attacked at once by the slaves. The 1st four out the gate get attacked almost at once as a call comes up about them. The rabble turns ugly fast, at street stone are thrown at the guards trying to brake past the throng.
::"Does anybody have anything impressive that will rout the crowd?":: she thinks with a deadpan voice. She is not looking forward to wading through the throng of surface-dwellers.
::"A construct will certainly be useful in distracting them, Aldondrick; perhaps if I were to throw in a Smokestick and a Kobold Dispute-Ender into their midst beforehand, all three of these things should help to keep that mob occupied while we follow the guards to Waterway"::
Jamaardi lets his secondary hands pull out both the Smokestick and Cytillesh Fungal Stun Vial from where he had them stored, while he goes up to Nooroleic and says to him, "If your men could wait for a moment, We'll arrange for a distraction to that mob."
If Nooroleic agrees to do so, Jamaardi will use his Call Weaponry power () to summon a Flask Thrower +1. The next round, he will stealthily emerge from the doorway (his Chameleon power being still active) and prepare to throw the Smokestick with the Flask Thrower into the middle of the crowd, at 40' away (or -4 to hit a random square, in addition to having the usual nonweapon proficiency penalty; ).
HP: 69, PP: 14 of 18, AC: 18, TAC: 14, FFAC: 14, Init: +4
Astral Suit Mode: Skin {+10' Move, +2 Dex}, CP: 2 remaining {Harness Shard, Extra Arms: Lesser}
Mindarmor: Light Mindarmor {not channeled through Spaulders}
Shield: Not drawn yet
Equipment used: -1 Smokestick
Psionic Powers: Elfsight, Conceal Thoughts; both 5 hour durations, Chameleon; 50 min. duration, Call Weaponry; 5 min. duration, as Flask Thrower +1.
Focus: Both Focus 1 and 2 maintained; DR 2/- from Survivor Path active
Burst (Race): 1 of 3 used
::"Excellent idea Jamaardi. I shall bring it into existence now".::
Aldon summons a more powerful version of an Astral Construct - Astral Construct II.
As Taker comes through, she tries to keep small and in the shadows of the others as they move. Violent people coming their way start feeling tired of their exertion, perhaps a little nauseous for a moment. Of course she takes the effort to conceal the effects of her manifesting so that it is not obvious what she's doing.
Aldondrick thinks back to his history lessons on Osirion, the God which instantly springs to mind is Maat, God of Justice, Law and Order. While Aldon may have sympathy for the spirit behind this mobs approach, their tactics are abhorrent to him.
Keeping the idea of Maat in his mind he summons forth from the ether an Astral Construct with the body of a man and the head of a Leopard. Emblazoned on the chest of the Construct is the holy symbol of the God, a Blue Ostrich Feather. In its hand appears a Starknife, really just protoplasm in the shape of the weapon, the true menace is in the slam attacks of this terror that Aldon has summoned.
Imbued with the ability to fly, the creature is commanded by Aldon to strafe the crowd with flyby's, not to attack but to startle and alarm the mob.
Aldon will throw his voice using ventriloquism (Bluff) to speak for the construct.
"YOU HAVE DEFIED THE JUSTICE OF THE OLD GODS DISPERSE OR I SHALL BRING YOU TO THE DU'AT TO BE JUDGED BEFORE THE PANTHEON OF THE GODS!"
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What happens next is insanity the throng go nuts, screaming, crying, some fall to their feet praying other just stand and look. Most just run, run as fast as their legs will take them.
No one is paying any heed to you.
But Ref saves as the throng heads your way. DC16 or be knocked off your mount. if your own one or over and trampled.
Once made you can move across the street, down a short street to a water way. That leads to the heart of the city.
Reflex Save
Throwing the Stun Vial after the Smokestick, same range at 40' away:
:
Reflex Save:
Aldon turns to 13, "Are we close to our destination?"
Aldon focuses on the Captain of the ship. He will keep the manifestations of his powers both unseen and unheard as he attempts to gain control of the barge.
Aldon smiles well pleased and turns to 13 and his comrades, "Shall we board?"
She will get on.
Somewhat dissatisfied with how the Smokestick ended up tossed into the crowd, Jamaardi finds the tossing of the Stun Vial (taking care to time his throwing so that Aldondrick's Astral Construct is not caught in the resulting blast) to be far more satisfactory- undoubtedly helped by his more steadier aiming of the Flask Thrower as he gets more used to it's idiosyncracies.
Between the sudden swoopings and imperious commands of the flying Construct, the sudden rash of tiredness or sickened feelings within the crowd, or just the smoky clouds billowing among some of the people and yet others either falling down or standing just dumbstruck after the flash of the vial going off, the mob has little need or incentive to continue their harassment of the guards. Jamaardi lets the flask thrower dissipate and spends the rest of this time to help the others with their mounts towards the Waterways.
::"No reason why we shouldn't get onboard then."::
Glancing to and fro between the hastily receding shapes of those twenty souls that abruptly exited from the barge and the mass throngs of panic and flight back among the formerly assembled mobs, Jamaardi will help to assist the others (including our escorting guardsmen) and their mounts aboard the barge... if there is enough room to hold them all and if any crewmembers aboard the barge are at all amenable to picking up new passengers.
Jamaardi will also take a minute to adding some swimming capabilities to his Astral Suit as a precaution; the Xeph will feign "examining" the barge's present condition, as he does so. All in all, it has been a fairly lively and eventful way to getting about within Eto's outskirts towards the direction of the Palace.
HP: 69, PP: 14 of 18, AC: 18, TAC: 14, FFAC: 14, Init: +4
Astral Suit Mode: Skin {+10' Move, +2 Dex}, CP: 1 remaining {Harness Shard, Extra Arms: Lesser, Swim}
Mindarmor: Light Mindarmor {not channeled through Spaulders}
Shield: Not drawn yet
Equipment used: -1 Smokestick, -1 Cytillesh/Fungal Stun Vial
Psionic Powers: Elfsight, Conceal Thoughts; both 5 hour durations, Chameleon; 50 min. duration, Call Weaponry; 5 min. duration, as Flask Thrower +1, now gone.
Focus: Both Focus 1 and 2 maintained; DR 2/- from Survivor Path active
Burst (Race): 1 of 3 used
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You all get on with mounts, the Guards shove a load of passages over the sides of the ships to make room then order the Captain to the "Great Temple" looking worried he sets off that way.
Soon you moving deep into the city, you can see the turmoil, soon you come to a large temple around which is a gathering, then army troops
13 calls out to the troops who make way to a small dock, the baot docks and soon you find yourself inside the temple. There is a court in place Priests and other clerical types are trying to cast spells. Mages stand around tables all seeking to wave magic. There in the center of this is the Ruler of the city the pharaohon patriarch. A Priest is talking to him.
13 comes and bows deep before him.
"Great patriarch I have outsiders her who can do magic sire."
The patriarch stops and a hush comes to the room, every one stops an looks at your group. The patriarch says
"Its what this Guard says true can you do magic when no other can?"
Aldon summons a basic construct shaping it to look like the Patriarch.
Astral Construct 1 with flight.
"I trust this demonstration is sufficient? Tell us of your troubles and perhaps we can aid you. What is more we would hear your insights into the genesis of this disastrous happening".
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There is shocked looks, talking and point some of the looks are not kind.
The patriarch comes and places his hands shoulders and Grins
"Who are you, powerful mage, how come you have magic when others have none. My so call wise men know nothing, all magic gone all gods lost, my city in chaos"
He lets go and looks around at the prists. One comes over,
"Can you talk to the gods"
He asked
You all get on with mounts, the Guards shove a load of passages over the sides of the ships to make room then order the Captain to the "Great Temple" looking worried he sets off that way.
Soon you moving deep into the city, you can see the turmoil, soon you come to a large temple around which is a gathering, then army troops
During the lull provided by the boat ride to the Great Temple, Jamaardi takes the opportunity to change back into his normal default appearance from his temporary full-bodied covered Astral Skin form .
The Xeph also takes time to fish out a plain looking Tabard from his Gecko mount's saddlebag and uses it to cover his Light Mindarmor, which he still keeps materialized as a form of precautionary measure.
There in the center of this is the Ruler of the city the pharaohon patriarch. A Priest is talking to him. 13 comes and bows deep before him.
"Great patriarch I have outsiders her who can do magic sire."
The patriarch stops and a hush comes to the room, every one stops an looks at your group. The patriarch says
"Its what this Guard says true can you do magic when no other can?"
Aldon summons a basic construct shaping it to look like the Patriarch.
"I trust this demonstration is sufficient? Tell us of your troubles and perhaps we can aid you. What is more we would hear your insights into the genesis of this disastrous happening".
There is shocked looks, talking and point some of the looks are not kind.
The patriarch comes and places his hands shoulders and Grins
"Who are you, powerful mage, how come you have magic when others have none. My so call wise men know nothing, all magic gone all gods lost, my city in chaos"
He lets go and looks around at the prists. One comes over,
"Can you talk to the gods"
He asked
Watching over the proceedings with Aldondrick and the Patriarch, Jamaardi pipes in, first with a telepathic missive to both Aldon and Taker with ::"It's just as well that we're not some rag-tag band of unscrupulous Con-Artists trying to take advantage of all this chaos by proclaiming something utterly false but grandiose, such as laying claim to imminent 'godhood'. Seems the Temple and the Grand Mind-Mage have chosen us well..."::, followed by a spoken answer to the Priest's query, "I'm afraid that the gods, wherever they may be, are still silent- as it has been as of late". The Xeph gives a slight apologetic shrug to both the Priest and the Patriarch.
Glancing over towards all of the various observing Mages assembled at their respective desks, The Xeph pauses thoughtfully for a moment before announcing in a loud but clear tone of voice, "As for the State of all things magical, this we can confirm..."
Giving a slight, almost Showman-like flourish, Jamaardi takes out his Dull-Gray Ioun Stone from one of his bandoleer pocket with his left hand and raises it dramatically up high for all to see, ignoring any possible weapons being drawn by the guards (). "If everyone will carefully observe... a burnt out Ioun Stone; under normal circumstances, they would retain their ability to float around, even under such a condition."
Putting his empty right hand out to below where the Ioun-Stone is being upraised, the Xeph then makes a show of letting the Ioun Stone drop from his left hand, which it invariably does, into his waiting right palm. Closing his right hand, he then adds, "Obviously, Magic, as we have known it in the past, still remains lost- as it has been for the past week or so."
Turning to both Taker and Aldon, Jamaardi gives them a wink and a grin, as he mentally adds in, ::"Figured that there'd be little harm in confirming something that they would already know."::, while he places his Ioun Stone back into his bandoleer pocket.
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" Magi steps up, my lord these men are not men of magic but mind mages, they use a craft called Psioincs, the powers of the mind, I arch Mage Zirosna of the 25th level swear this. I have seen its like"
He holds up a book.
"It is odd that while magic is lost here they show up, saying the gods as well are lost, I recommend you put them to the rack and find out just what they know of the loss of magic!! This could be a move by our Enermys"
::"I suppose there's one less person that we would have to explain anything to"::
Turning towards Zirosna, Jamaardi replies to the Arch Mage's declaration with "If I may make a minor correction to your accusation, I had stated that the Gods have remained silent, not lost; unless you've come across some special knowledge that the rest of us here aren't privy to."
Glancing briefly to Aldondrick, Taker, the Priest, and 13, the Xeph then turns towards the direction of the Patriarch and adds, "What I've already mentioned is certainly no deep dark secret to be kept hidden; the loss of Magic would be quite obvious, even to yourself, your men, your guards, your former slaves, and to us."
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A priest come and stand by the Pharonic Lord.
"My lord you have always trusted the Priesthood and we always knew the will of the gods, No our world has fallen around us and out gods locked away. Even the great undead have fallen to dust."
She points to a vampire symbol where no ones stands.
"From shaman to mage no magic will work, but if that the high mage says is true they we should ask these visitors, why they are here and what they know, before we go on."
He waves his hand and a group of monks come forwould to stand behind him
"Even by force"
Seeing the monks file in behind the Patriarch, Jamaardi looks over towards 13, Aldon, and Taker and asks "Want me to answer that?" while giving a slight shrug of his shoulders.
The Xeph slips in with a mental ::"I suppose I can field their main question, the one about why we are here, finding more about the loss of magic, and what we already know, which isn't a whole lot more other than supposition; any thoughts as to how to address any of their other questions?"::.
She snorts at the advisor's actions and addresses the Lord directly. "Why does a powerful lord like yourself allow advisers that are acting this stupidly? I'm a damn ornery b%~!* and even I know not to start out by threatening people you need help from. You have more than enough problems without letting those fools anger us. We want to find out how this happened as much as you do. If you follow their paranoid fears and subdue us, you will end up with casualties and no more information than you started with. What's more, you anger our lodge, which is the greatest collection of magic still available on this world."
"By aiding us, then when we find out how magic failed, your agents will know this before other nations. You will have great advantage over your neighbors."
Aldon replies to Jamaardi::"I will reply and elaborate as you see fit".
"Patriarch, we have come here to discover what, if any, knowledge that your wise men have uncovered related to this catastrophe. We have journeyed here first as this is one of the oldest kingdoms of knowledge in all of the lands.
It seems that your Priesthood and your Magi fear our powers. Those who could likely a few weeks ago move mountains are now not even able to lift a spoon with their might, or lack thereof.
I have demonstrated my powers and stand ready to assist you restore order.
I, and my companions no doubt, find these threats of force by them disconcerting to say the least. Certainly we are not your enemies and have no wish to be. We have no more secret knowledge of these happening than you do. Combining our powers with your ancient knowledge may lead to discovery of what happened and what to do next.
Violence though will be met with violence..."
With a slightly theatrical flourish of his arms, coupled with as graceful of a courtly bow that he could manage, Jamaardi evinces a smile towards the Patriarch and his Advisors after both Taker and Aldon say their piece and adds in with a "See how simple and easy that was? There really wasn't any need for those threats of force or time on the rack."
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Jamaardi:
This city has undead groups who help run it, they have interest the highest being vampire clans, there seems to be no representatives or vampires let alone undead to be seen.
The Patriarch stops
"Grand council meeting"
He points at 13
"You come with our visitors."
About 18 nobles and wise men, follow into a great closed room, there are no windows and the doors are locked behind the group.
The 18 nobles and wise men take seats at a great table, the Patriarch at the head. more then a few seats are empty.
The Patriarch looks down the table,
"Now we can talk, your words are wise visitors I am sorry, the loss... the loss of magics and the gods has place my rule under stress. We will have your names and from whence you came. You say you wish to aid us, then tell us, who do you represent and what can you offer in the way of aid, because right now I will take any suggestions."
"I am Aldondrick Volharan, I shall let my comrades speak for themselves. We represent a Temple of Mind Mages in the northlands. We represent only the desire to restore order to the lands. It will be difficult to ascertain the cause of this catastrophe with the citizens running amok.
Therefore, I present the following solution to you. I shall summon a figure to come forth and speak with the mouth of your Gods. That shall show the people that their Gods have not abandoned them completely.
Once order is restored, we can pool our collective wisdom together with neighboring Kingdoms to determine what, if any, information they may have uncovered about this time of troubles. This idea may seem anathema to your wise men but this is an unprecedented event and hoarding knowledge will not aid you.
Even if there is no solution to this dilemma, civilization must not crumble into chaos!" Aldon slams his fist down on the table for emphasis.