Pausing by the winch mechanism, Gandel surreptitiuosly reaches into one of the secret pockets of his silk vest and retrieves the magical lockpicks contained therein. The halfling scholar then ducks down behind the cover provided by his companions to set to work examining the mechanism.
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In the meantime, the guards are getting rather testy; the tea has been boiled and the two old men and their boy in charge of its distribution are being awfully tardy. Where did they get to?
Halstadt has completed his count of the guards atop the pit. There are 42. This corroborates the number Donkor came up with earlier this afternoon when he used his clairvoyance ability. It is hard to say how many slaves and workers are here as they come and go. But at any given time there’s somewhere between 30-50.
What’s next for our Infiltration Team?
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Hal whispers to his companions, "I think we got everything we could expect to get here, let's go to the next location".
"Well, that should create a bit of mischief," Gandel whispers to his companions as he steps out from behind them. "I don't recommend riding this lift in the future. Now, let's get the tea served to the guards to keep up our disguises and get out of here."
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OOC:Ding! Ding! Ding! At level 7, Moonpate was only able to bring two additional Medium-sized or smaller creatures with dimension door and the dwarf and the half-orc were selected.
But I still think there must be a way to pin this on at least Thalia. . .
Perhaps Bunky is now hanging out with Binky.
Ding! Ding! Ding! At level 7, Moonpate was only able to bring two additional Medium-sized or smaller creatures with dimension door and the dwarf and the half-orc were selected.
But I still think there must be a way to pin this on at least Thalia. . .
After his contemplative moment, Karek comes to a startling realization. Bunky? He reaches around to his pack and feels around, expecting a bite for his intrusion. When no such bite comes, he starts patting the bag down, a move that surely disrupts Hurgah's flight further. Bunky, where are ye!
Bade! Hurgah! Whad hab ye done wid Bunky! We need do go back!
Just as Halstadt is preparing organize Breach and Gandle to leave, something – or rather someone – catches his eye. Coming up the top of the ramp is a lowly slave girl. She is carrying a silver tray with a collection of emptied goblets, probably for refreshments once served to the elite nobles in the pit below.
While the young slave might be unnoticeable to most other observers, Halstadt realizes he has seen her face before. It is the girl in the fiery vision he received from the forge of Angraad during his prayers several nights ago. Although she certainly looks human, if he’s right, underneath her white headscarf, he should spy pointed ears
Behind her, perhaps fifty paces lower down the curved ramp way, is an Asmodean monk. He seems to be picking his way past a number of slaves, ever so slowly closing the distance to the slave girl as they exit the pit. His pale Chelaxian skin almost glows in the moonlight.
Yeah, Hal isn't surprised to discover the Shrine of Horns monks look even creepier in the dark.
The Asmodean looks to be shadowing the slave girl. Although it is impossible to say for certain, it doesn’t look like he means to attack, rather he is trying to follow her.
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I figured you’d consider that - I'm glad someone is watching the continuity. Either I missed it then, or last time Bunky quietly found his way home.
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Sure, one for Karek and one for Bunky then. He also has the benefit of his Star Tribe jewellery with his Colossal-sized bite attack. I now feel quite sorry for the first guy to discover him.
Halstadt Sense Motive
Hal turns to his companions, "We cannot leave yet, follow my lead. Although uh I don't really know what I am doing". Hal walks over to intercept the slave girl, this may be the break the Dune Squad needs or more trouble then they can handle but Hal can't let the opportunity slip away.
Ding! Ding! Ding! At level 7, Moonpate was only able to bring two additional Medium-sized or smaller creatures with dimension door and the dwarf and the half-orc were selected.
Hal turns to his companions, "We cannot leave yet, follow my lead. Although uh I don't really know what I am doing". Hal walks over to intercept the slave girl, this may be the break the Dune Squad needs or more trouble then they can handle but Hal can't let the opportunity slip away.
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As Gandel leaves the winch, headed for the brewing tea, Hal instead heads for the mouth of the ramp, placing himself in the path of the young slave girl. The dwarven priest strides up to her, still wearing a ratty brown horse blanket to hide his cloak and chain shirt. She looks at him, a concerned look on her face, as she balances the delicate stem glasses on her polished tray.
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Yeah, Bunky counts as a “willing creature of Medium or smaller size” for a dimension door. Let’s just assume he’s capable of being willing.All creatures must be “in contact with one another” so I wouldn’t say they need to be specifically touched, but grabbing hands is a great way to make sure you’ve got it covered off. (You can chain people, if I recall correctly – not everyone needs to touch the caster).
Hal speaks to the slave girl in a gentle voice, "I was told that you were in need of assistance with these items come with me". Hal places one hand on the small of her back ushering her through the crowd and away from the monk hoping the others are behind him.
After his contemplative moment, Karek comes to a startling realization. Bunky? He reaches around to his pack and feels around, expecting a bite for his intrusion. When no such bite comes, he starts patting the bag down, a move that surely disrupts Hurgah's flight further. Bunky, where are ye!
Bade! Hurgah! Whad hab ye done wid Bunky! We need do go back!
Hurgah looks down at Karek in disbelief, a move that causes him to sway dangerously off course and almost slam into a sand bank. He pull up at the last second, flying higher to compensate for the erratic movement. He does not slow down or alter course.
"Go back? Did you injure your head when the golem toppled over, Karek?"
Hal speaks to the slave girl in a gentle voice, "I was told that you were in need of assistance with these items come with me". Hal places one hand on the small of her back ushering her through the crowd and away from the monk hoping the others are behind him.
At first she is startled. Then she seems to catch on.
"Yeah, I've been in 'need of assistance' for like eleven days!"
Gandel reaches the small circle of men sitting around the impromptu fire where the tea is brewing. The eldest begins to lecture him in Osiriani about responsibility and the dangers of keeping soldiers waiting.
Suddenly the elder is picked-up off his feet. With a single hand, a bare-chested Asmodean scoops him up by the neck and drags him four paces, dangling him over the side of the cliff of the dig site. The Build Beast crewman’s feet kick and dangle helplessly. With his free hand, the monk removes the old man’s cloak and belt of dangling tools. He then turns and dumps the worker safely back by the fire, saying nothing. The crewman is left gasping silently trying to find his voice.
The assault happens quickly and is over in seconds. Remarkably, with all the excitement in the pit below, few seem to even notice the disturbance.
Gandel and Breach watch the monk leave, following Halstadt and the woman at a distance. As the monk walks, he dons the cloak and belt, covering his conspicuous ivory skin.
That was odd. I wonder what that was all about. Breach thinks to himself as he keeps a steady pace at a distance from Halstadt and the girl.
"Well its a long story but it will have to wait as I think you are being followed. Hopefully our follower is being followed as well".
Hal is looking to blend in to the crowd of slaves to lose the monk. From there he would like to move away from the pit and the workers so he can deal with the monk without being interrupted assuming the monk stays close.
Hurgah looks down at Karek in disbelief, a move that causes him to sway dangerously off course and almost slam into a sand bank. He pull up at the last second, flying higher to compensate for the erratic movement. He does not slow down or alter course.
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He can though feel the magic in his veins slowly begin to dissipate. It has been close to five minutes now and the potion's power is nearly expended.
As if on cue, the sun finally drops completely below the horizon. Deep in the distance to the south you can hear the occasional yawn of signaling horns calling back and forth to one another - there is though, so far, no other sign of pursuit.
Hal is looking to blend in to the crowd of slaves to lose the monk.
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The area around the dig site proves to be far too small to lose your pursuer. If anything, now that the monk has local clothing, you occasionally lose sight of him. Fortunately his height enables you to pick him back up, though potentially at the cost of letting him know you are on to him.
From there he would like to move away from the pit and the workers so he can deal with the monk without being interrupted assuming the monk stays close.
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The monk has, so far, never come closer than thirty feet and is often further. Do you mean to leave the dig site? If so, where to? I.e. which of the four paths do you wish to depart by? (northwest, northeast, southwest or southeast) Perhaps refer to the map. You entered the dig site by way of the path and check-point to the southeast. Another option is to simply blitz into the dunes in any direction of your choice and not take any path, but this risks drawing attention of the many guards facing outwards.
Exiting by the path will again require you to pass through a check-point. From what little you have seen, there is less attention spent on those departing, but that is different than none at all. Hmmmmm.
I will head out the way we came as that is the direction that we wanted to head in anyway to investigate area G.
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He definitely can be. How close do you want to follow the tall monk? Anything else I should know?
"Well its a long story but it will have to wait as I think you are being followed. Hopefully our follower is being followed as well".
"Alright then," she says, seeming to take Hals' distressing announcement in stride, "Let's do it your way then. And just how is Venture Captain Shevala Iorae doing by the way?"
Somebody dook Bunky! Karek exclaims again in frustration. Durn around, we hab to sabe 'im!
Somebody dook Bunky! Karek exclaims again in frustration. Durn around, we hab to sabe 'im!
"And who would save us? Hurgah fears no enemies, but we are in no condition to fight them all - and we can't jump away again by magic. We have to get away and find a place to rest. I'm sure Bunky will be fine on his own - who is going to notice one small weasel in the middle of all that confusion?"
Diving low behind one of the dunes, Hurgah's enhanced vision searches for a good place to land.
"The flying magic is almost spent - I'm going to land in a few seconds. Don't do anything foolish when I do, dwarf!
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Then that's the way it is. Still to be resolved though is how close Gandel and Breach wish to follow the monk.
"Who the heck is that? I met with a Venture Captain Krenshar and he is no doubt having a canary at the moment as our assistance is behind schedule. As I said my lady it is something we should discuss in private", Hal whispers. He remains calm and glances back only occassionally disguising his peeks as attempts to help the slave girl whose name he is still not 100% sure of!
"Alright then," she says, seeming to take Hals' distressing announcement in stride, "Let's do it your way then. And just how is Venture Captain Shevala Iorae doing by the way?"
"Who the heck is that? I met with a Venture Captain Krenshar and he is no doubt having a canary at the moment as our assistance is behind schedule. As I said my lady it is something we should discuss in private", Hal whispers. He remains calm and glances back only occasionally disguising his peeks as attempts to help the slave girl whose name he is still not 100% sure of!
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She smiles – evidently satisfied by Hal’s answer. “He’d better be upset – this is his fault as well. There’s a lot more going on here than the old man knows.”Then she asks, “You have a plan to bypass those guards?” She appears to be reaching for something inside the fold of her cloth wrap.
Sold! I'm assuming you don't wish to be noticed by him and I'll note your Stealth scores.
"We are winging it, I am hoping they challenge us on the way in but let things go on the way out. I have a few friends behind me watching our backs. If it all goes wrong there are only a handful of them so it should not be too hard to handle them". Hal winks at her despite the fact that he is not kidding, he really is winging it...
"We are winging it, I am hoping they challenge us on the way in but let things go on the way out. I have a few friends behind me watching our backs. If it all goes wrong there are only a handful of them so it should not be too hard to handle them". Hal winks at her despite the fact that he is not kidding, he really is winging it...
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“Then permit me to join in the improvisation,” she says appreciating his show of confidence, “I have some active mana which has helped to keep me out of captivity for the past few days.” She draws her hand back out of the fold and flexes it, ever so slightly, as though her fingers were forming a shadow puppet.
Suddenly Hal spies a disturbance in the dunes just beyond the shadows of the torchlight beyond the check-point. Whatever manner of creature it is, it is kicking up dust and making noise. The guards spot it too.
“I don’t relish the thought of winding up on a Chelish rack.”
The Scarab has an unseen servant spell running. She has directed it to create the disturbance in the sand. The effect has significant limitations though and is not likely to confound the guards for very long, if at all.
Hal tries to pick up on the magic used by this "slave girl".
Spellcraft
Recognizing the tight window of opportunity Hal picks up the pace to move past the guards position and down the road. Let's see what this Chelixian bastard does now, thinks Hal as he prays to Angradd silently for strength against his hellish foe.
Recognizing the tight window of opportunity Hal picks up the pace to move past the guards position and down the road. Let's see what this Chelixian bastard does now, thinks Hal as he prays to Angradd silently for strength against his hellish foe.
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Angradd is indeed with the dwarf; more than half of the guards rush out to investigate the threat in the flickering shadows. Hal and the Scarab find themselves able to scoot through the check-point. Weapons at the ready, the rest of the soldiers seem little concerned with exiting slaves. As Hal passes, he overhears one guard whisper to another, recalling a rumour of a visiting wizard from Sothis in recent days, warning of the Exemplar of the immanent return of the elemental clans. The other speaks of ill-luck and dark things on the rise ever since Ahn’Sehlota was uncovered.
Moments later, Hal and his newest companion are quickly walking back along a beaten-path towards the stable tents, soon to come upon the life-sized statues of the Reaver and the Potentate.
Meanwhile, the guardsmen at the checkpoint quickly return to the safety of the torchlight, having found nothing in the dune beyond. Whatever it was, it is for the moment, gone. Still concerned with whatever may be out there, the soldiers close up their ranks. Several seconds later, the Asmodean reaches the threshold, but he finds a wall of khopesh barring his exit. With an animal-like growl he’s forced to open his cloak and flash the blood red pentagram hanging from his muscled ivory chest. It has the desired effect. The guards make way, and permit him to advance. He steps forward into the darkness beyond.
Advancing beyond the check-point, the Scarab turns to Halstadt as they walk.
"My eyes are. . .," she pauses searching the right word, "adaptable. Similar to yours in some ways. You do not need to slow for me."
"I have found the Chelaxians much less effective at night. If only the moon was in further wane. It grows larger every night."