No response comes from Karek as Hurgah seeks a landing spot. His mouth is in a tight grimace, and his expression is unreadable.
Hmmmm. Perhaps it was Bunky who just got Hal through the check-point.
Noticing the guards not letting anyone pass, "Blast! Looks like we're in a bit of a fix, Gandal. And Hal is out there withou' our help. You got a bit o' magic that can help us through this one, lad?"
"Let's keep moving. My friends will be able to see well in the dark. I have an idea of where we can rendevous. Tell me, can you fight if it comes to that?" asks Hal as he hustled ahead towards the statues of the Reaver and the Potentate.
"Blast! Looks like we're in a bit of a fix, Gandal. And Hal is out there withou' our help. You got a bit o' magic that can help us through this one, lad?"
"Give me some cover," Gandel whispers to Breach. The halfling scholar hangs back behind the dwarf and quickly intones the word to a spell, causing a faintly glowing, vaguely humanoid shape to rise from the sand dunes just beyond the guards.
"Wha-...What's THAT?!?" Gandel cries out in a high, waivering child-like voice, pointing toward the 'apparition' beyond the guards and mentally directing the figure to move about slowly. When the guards turn to look at the figure, Gandel whispers the words to another spell and surreptitiously at seven of the guards. "You have awakened the wrath of Ankana, the Radiant Pharaoh of Ahn'Selota!" a voice whispers into the guards' ears in Osiriani. "Leave this place lest you be scoured away by the elemental clans!"
"Aye." Breach does his best to cover the halfling's actions as nonchalantly as possible. As Gandel throws his lights out in the dunes in an attempt to distract them, Breach hopes it's enough to where they both can slip by them all as Hal did.
OOC: Once again we encounter the thorny issue of secretive casting. Gandel doesn’t have the Silent or Still feats and both of these spells have verbal and somatic components.
The message spell I think we can more or less hand waive. The verbal component is the message itself and surely it would be sent as a tiny whisper or the spell quickly loses its utility.
But can Gandel get off the dancing lights in a crowded space without anyone seeing or hearing him cast? Especially where he’s casting two spells consecutively for approximately 12 seconds.
Last time we resolved this with a Slight of Hand skill check opposed by Perception. Gandel is ‘untrained’, but we’ll quietly put that aside as it’s an atypical use of the skill and he wouldn't have known this was my fix for this issue. We’ll also give him a +4 bonus for Breach’s effort to shield him from view.
I will also need to hit Gandel up for a Bluff check as well. Persuading the guardsmen they have angered a dead pharaoh is a pretty tall order, but unbeknownst to Gandel the Mithral Scarab has been laying some groundwork on that for some time. Here we’ll give him a +2 circumstance bonus for getting his lore right – Ankana was indeed the Radiant Pharaoh and was exceptionally vindictive.
In terms of parity, the reason the reason the Scarab avoided this issue is her spell had a duration of hours and was cast some time ago. She’s had it running on and off for days.
There's an awful lot of eyes here Max - no pressure.
"Give me some cover,"Gandel whispers to Breach. The halfling scholar hangs back behind the dwarf and quickly intones the word to a spell, causing a faintly glowing, vaguely humanoid shape to rise from the sand dunes just beyond the guards.
"Wha-...What's THAT?!?" Gandel cries out in a high, wavering child-like voice, pointing toward the 'apparition' beyond the guards and mentally directing the figure to move about slowly. When the guards turn to look at the figure, Gandel whispers the words to another spell and surreptitiously at seven of the guards.
"You have awakened the wrath of Ankana, the Radiant Pharaoh of Ahn'Selota!" a voice whispers into the guards' ears in Osiriani. "Leave this place lest you be scoured away by the elemental clans!"
-----
Three guards flee directly into the surrounding dunes to the west, away from the glowing shape on the east side of the check-point. Two other soldiers stand back to back, their khopesh brandished in front of them, ready to defend themselves. Two more slowly take several steps back towards the dig site, seeking the protection of the crowd. Finally, the last three demonstrate their courage: they join their spears in a potent thicket and then quickly advance at the glowing apparition. Gandel can though dance the glowing form away from their attack far faster than they can move.
In the confusion, an old man and a terrified child, each wrapped in horse blankets, slip through the check-point and race down the path, presumably taking flight from the manifestation of a horrible curse lurking in the dunes.
-----
"Let's keep moving. My friends will be able to see well in the dark. I have an idea of where we can rendevous. Tell me, can you fight if it comes to that?" asks Hal as he hustled ahead towards the statues of the Reaver and the Potentate.
-----
The slave girl shakes her head, a response that Hal takes to be a bad sign. She gestures to the statues as you pass, and begins to put two and two together. “It was your people that tried to assassinate the Exemplar in her camp, wasn’t it?”But before Hal can even answer another problem has arisen. Looking back over his shoulder, he no longer sees the outline of the cloaked Asmodean on the path. He’s gone – at least for the moment. Hal can’t help but feel that the Scarab’s boast of superior eye sight has jinxed them both. Hopefully Breach and Gandel have kept him marked.
Catching Hal's look, the Scarab turns as well and scans the dunes, seeing nothing, other than some kind of ruckus back at the check-point. She instinctively picks up the pace. “Where are we going?”
Diving low behind one of the dunes, Hurgah's enhanced vision searches for a good place to land.
-----
As the last of the potion's power fades from his core, Hurgah sets down in a low laying valley of sand.
Hal grimaces at the sight or lack thereof of the cloaked monk. "Do you have any stealth related magic? I presume this monk is still on our tail".
Hal pushes himself as fast as possible towards area G where the companions had agreed to go next. He looks over at his new companion, "We did not attack the Exemplar, like I said it is a long story and we don't have time for it now".
As they are able to make their escape, "Well done, lad! But watch your language. I'll be havin' none o' that."
"Now let's be quick. Hopefully that fella hasn't caught up with Hal yet."
After Gandel and Breach escape the check-point, they continue down the snaking path towards the stable tents.
They do not however, see the Asmodean. For that matter, Gandel can see very little. Except for a small amount of light from the moon, it is pitch black out here. There’s a million foot prints on the well-worn path, including your own, from when you came this way only a few minutes earlier.
The last you saw Hal and his new young friend they were headed south along this path, though they must be too far ahead in the dark for you to see them now.
Hold it a second! Breach has picked up the Asmodean with his dark vision. He’s gone right off the path and is now picking his way through the dunes. He’s ahead of you, off to your right hand side (west of your present position as you face south).
-----
Standard, I'm afraid.
Hal grimaces at the sight or lack thereof of the cloaked monk. "Do you have any stealth related magic? I presume this monk is still on our tail".
"I might have a few tricks. It's not my thing, but I've had a week and a half to become a quick study."
Hal looks over at his new companion, "We did not attack the Exemplar, like I said it is a long story and we don't have time for it now".
The Scarab bites her tongue and follows the dwarf.
"Now would be a good time employ such magic as is at your disposal my lady", whispers Hal as he hurries down the path. "Otherwise I think we should get off of this path immediately".
For his part, Karek is silent and suggestible. He stands gazing back in the direction of the dig site. This serves the dual purpose of looking for any potential pursuers and looking appropriately melodramatic.
Breach grabs Gandel's arm, stopping him in his tracks. "Over there. To the west o' us. The Asmodean's making his way through the dunes. So now I wonder if we should be followin' him, or continue south as that's the direction we last saw Halstadt move with the young lass? I'm thinkin' we follow him. If he's attemptin' a shortcut to get to our buddy, then we'll be ready. What do you be thinkin', lad?" He asks the halfling.
"Now would be a good time employ such magic as is at your disposal my lady", whispers Hal as he hurries down the path. "Otherwise I think we should get off of this path immediately".
-----
"I think that's a good move regardless," she says still unsure where the dwarf is going.
"Mmmmmm. How do you feel about taking off your boots?"
"Not really something I am fond of doing and after what I have been through your nose may object but if I must I will. Let's just hurry and get whatever it is you are going to do done", Hal says pulling off his boots.
Breach grabs Gandel's arm, stopping him in his tracks. "Over there. To the west o' us. The Asmodean's making his way through the dunes. So now I wonder if we should be followin' him, or continue south as that's the direction we last saw Halstadt move with the young lass? I'm thinkin' we follow him. If he's attemptin' a shortcut to get to our buddy, then we'll be ready. What do you be thinkin', lad?" He asks the halfling.
"As much as I hate to go near one of those monks, I think we're going to have to follow him. I can't imagine that Hal and the girl would stay on the path knowing they were being followed by one of the Asmodeans. Unfortunately that means we have no real idea as to where they're headed now, so following the monk may be our best bet," Gandel whispers to Breach.
"Just so you know - I'm out of all but my most minor spells until we rest. I do have a few tricks in my pack, though."
Breach nods, "Good. Hold on to 'em, lad. We may be needin' 'em. C'mon, let's see where this fella is headin'."
The Scarab has to suppress an immature giggle when she sees Hal’s splayed dwarven toes, perhaps betraying her elvish ancestry, but her face soon hardens.
She picks up his boots, and for a moment Hal wonders if she will race off with them into the desert leaving him barefoot and alone in the dark. However, she then slides out from her sandals as well, which gives the bearded priest some comfort that there might be a reason for the sacrifice of his boots.
Once again the Scarab pockets her hand inside her garb and withdraws it, her fingers again carefully arrayed to form an arcane symbol. When she does so, the four pieces of footwear begin to walk off further down the path on their own. After approximately twenty feet, she Scarab makes a motion with that same hand and the boots and sandals suddenly gallop off to the right. The footwear then circles back to Hal and the Scarab, only this time, the shoes fly above ground, leaving no tracks.
“Now we go left,” she says slipping back into her sandals preparing to jump,“and hide—quickly.”
-----
He appears to be weaving through dune cover, taking a route parallel to the path you were just on. Let's see if we can pin down your choice of distance:
A) Due to the dune cover, if you never want to lose sight of him, you will need to close within at least 30 feet. This entails a greater risk of discovery (i.e. a penalty to your Stealth check)
B) If you hang back at 100 feet you have more confidence you cannot be spotted, but he will come in and out of view. There's a risk you could loose him (i.e. a penalty to your Perception check)
Pick a distance, or if you prefer, let me know where you would prefer your penalty and how much. Presumably, his modifiers will then be the same.
Now hooked-up to the great crane overlooking the pit, the Build Beast slowly advances. With the crack of a whip, the powerful creature picks up speed in earnest, hauling the thick ropes as it strides away. The resulting force is controlled and directed around a pair of carefully lubricated metal wheels, causing the winch platform at the bottom of the pit to rise in a graceful fluid motion. At precisely the mid-point of its elevation – exactly at the point were the platform is level with the very tip of the mysterious sand-covered pyramid. . .
The central cord flies completely free from the master pulley. The winch gives way to nothingness and the platform is in total free-fall. It crashes towards the bottom of the pit, screaming towards terminal velocity.
-----
The Exemplar Khymrasa screams in horror, that is until the magic that protects her suddenly kicks in. She then begins to slowly descend, as though levitating softly. She is not calm, however; her eyes seethe with anger. Her head lashes from side to side as well as up and down as she scans the pit for someone to direct her rage upon.
Whatever her magic is, it does not extend to the two well-oiled bodyguards who travelled with her.
Their bodies crumple as they hit, their internal skeletons unable to absorb that much force without shattering like glass.
:
The loudest scream belongs to Anyo the Testementarian. It’s cut short as he too hits the ground with a sickening squelch.
There are also four soldiers and two more administrators left airborne with outstanding appointments with the ground.
Finally, when the platform lands, it crushes an unlucky torchbearers who froze in horror at the sight of the accident.
And what of the sharply attired druidess, Thalia. . .? Please do not all express your concerns at the same time.
"Fools! They shall pay for this with the anger of a thousand suns!"
Hal would like to try to keep an eye out for Breach and Gandel on the path though as hiding is less important then finding them I think. If we do not see them then we will move off once the coast seems clear to area G even if we do not find them there I can at least discover what is there.
-----
The Scarab moves approximately 40 feet away from the path, off to the side, choosing one of the dozens of low laying valleys. Shea then lies down on her belly, pressing herself into the sand, making no noise.
If I have it right, Hal stays close, in the same depression, but more elevated, trying to keep his head up so he can keep an eye on the path. So far, he does not see the monk or his allies.
He waits. . . his beating heart the only sound he hears.
Until suddenly he hears a great explosion, followed by many screams. It comes from the dig site he left only minutes ago.
And what of the sharply attired druidess, Thalia. . .? Please do not all express your concerns at the same time.
And what of the sharply attired druidess, Thalia. . .?
-----
-----
As fast as lightning, the monk known as Kohl-Dachon begins to run up the dirt wall of the great pit. He pushes off and leaps into the air. Impossibly, he catches the falling druid and cradles her gently as he arrests her free-fall. The pair then descends safely to the ground. Thalia rewards her rescuer with the flash of one of her brilliant smiles.
Nevermind then. . .
-----
It's not nice to frame the primal forces of nature.But getting back on track here, I could use an update on what everybody is doing or trying to accomplish.
The loudest scream belongs to Anyo the Testementarian. It’s cut short as he too hits the ground with a sickening squelch.
And what of the sharply attired druidess, Thalia. . .?-----
As fast as lightning, the monk known as Kohl-Dachon begins to run up the dirt wall of the great pit. He pushes off and leaps into the air. Impossibly, he catches the falling druid and cradles her gently as he arrests her free-fall. The pair then descends safely to the ground. Thalia rewards her rescuer with the flash of one of her brilliant smiles.Nevermind then. . .
Beetle, can we get some details about our current location?
You are now in the faceless desert waste - waves and waves of dunes composed of tiny grains of sand in a sea of wind-swept patterns. It is dark. The moon is unusually large. It is gradually getting cooler. All is quiet, though the quiet has done little to calm the temperament of the dwarf.
How far from the site of the battle are we?
Hurgah would estimate probably 15-20 minutes away by foot at most. He can no longer see the dig site, but suspects it will be visible in the distance come dawn.
Would it be possible to camp here and get decent rest?
Yes, assuming you are undisturbed. Your current dune valley is as lousy as the next. You can also choose to travel further away, though travel at night carries the risk of getting lost. Moonpate is almost rock out of spells and rest holds out the promise of a measure of healing. You would expect though that someone could come looking for you, you did create quite a stir.
How far are we from more secure/sheltered places to set up camp?[/ooc]
-----
Unfortunately, you have no idea. You know there is a gorgeous oasis about a full day’s ride to the north and east – one with the charred remains of a great hydra and the preserved corpse of a former comrade - and having been there recently you should still be able to find it, but you can’t be too confident.The only one of your companions who had a map or studied the area was Gandel. He’s no longer with you. (And to make it worse, you may recall his Knowledge check was unfortunately flubbed – you guys almost missed the dig site on the way in, were it not for Pharasma’s vision and the camel train of traders you followed in, the Dune Squad might still have been wandering the desert).
For the immediate area, you have the choice of “hill” or “valley”. A hill offers a much better view of anyone coming, but makes it much more likely to be spotted.
-----
You continue to follow the cloaked monk. He does not seem to notice you.
Suddenly there is a huge explosion coming from at the dig site. There is a cacophony of screams and confusion.
It also causes the monk to suddenly turn around. Gandel and Breach duck down behind a dune just in time. Gandel is fairly confident the explosion is consistent with his recent handiwork.
The monk pauses. He seems to consider turning around and returning to the dig site. He climbs atop a higher dune and peers back towards the dig site. But if so, he apparently decides against it and resumes his parallel path in pursuit of Halstadt and the woman from his vision.
The cloaked monk then pauses a second time, he seems to be studying the path. He then swiftly cuts across it, heading into the dunes on the other side of the path. Gandel and Breach can’t help but admire the monk’s ability to travel in near perfect silence. They realize if they lose sight of him, they will not be able to find him by sound. He is though leaving tracks and they show up quite well in the fresh sand.
Gandel and Breach continue to follow, threading through the dunes. In the distance, back at the dig site, there are still sounds of great activity and confusion. Here though, it is just the still night air.
Admiring the cat-like silence of the monk, "This one's good, lad. Hope we're not for losin' 'im, else, we'll be lost."
Hurgah scans the desert night for signs of pursuing enemies.
"We should put more distance between us and the camp. They will come looking."
He looks over the wounded and exhausted wizard.
"No need to go too far, though. The night is better for Karek and I than the devil-worshiping monks and the human soldiers. If they come looking for us, we will see them. We will share the watch while Moonpate sleeps and regains his magic."