"We dinnae know what be 'appenin', 'n we still 'ave t' get close 'nuff t' 'it 'em. Daylight benefits bot' 'em 'n 's. 'o does 't benefit more?"
In elvish to Korian: "I can scout from up high or through the ground if needed. I do grow tired of this cat and mouse however."
In Elvish "Yet does not the cat who pounces too soon lose the mouse? Our fierce huntress need be patient only a little more and then she can attack her prey for all she is worth. If you will scout, by whichever means you feel best, we can slowly move more forward. But I would hear from the last two of our group before I make my final decision."
and he turns to Ixius and Refina, waiting to hear their answers to his question
".....I think we may want to scout out the dig site espesially that large pod thing and get a better look at the flag on it." Refina responds having a nasty suspicion about something but not wanting to voice it without more proof.
"I say we hit while there is still light. I can't shoot as well at night."
"A good point ye make, lad, but th' lass 'as a good point, too. Let 's be fer seein' if'n we cannae get an idee what th' flyin' thing 's. We c'n be fer attackin' 't dusk 'n 'ave th' dark t' retreat 'n if'n 'at be somethin' 'ey use t' follow 's, eh?"
"Alright. All good points, but we need to finish what we started and I fear if we delay much longer our savage huntress may loose some of her edge" the young mage says with a smile at Sykala.
"And of course, we do not our fine archer to lose his edge either. So we shall follow Ovirid's suggestion. Sykala, you scout ahead now by whichever means you feel will best keep you undetected. Try to get as much information on the craft and the dig as possible. We shall remain hidden here until just before dusk and then make our way to the camp and proceed with our plan of attack. Sykala, if you're not back within the hour, we shall come immediately and effect your rescue, if necessary."
Korian will repeat all of this in Elvish to make sure Sykala understands fully. Then, just before she is ready to leave, he will cast Message on all of the group and Protection From Evil on the Druidess from a scroll he has.
Sykala buzzes off in air elemental form to scout the areas Korian suggested.
The seedpod is tied down to two of the clay golems that are otherwise unencumbered by palanquins. These golems stand in a semi-circle with all the other golems around the dig site.
Much work has been done on the dig since you left. The bowl of sand removed from around the pyramid has grown and much more of the massive structure is now revealed.
One clay golem stands with arms outstretched. From one arm seven dead slaves hang, nooses around their necks. From the other arm two of the slave masters hang, equally dead, but they are strung up by their feet.
Dozens of slaves are still digging, but hundreds are kneeling in the sand weeping, writhing, or beating themselves with clenched fists.
The slave masters either laugh or assault them with fists or join them in crying.
While Sykala flies over, one of the slaves that digs swings with his shovel--quite suddenly and unprovoked--at another slave, killing him.
Before his body hits the sand, each and every slave intones the same word in infernal.
As Sykala scouts, you hear a word uttered in a strangely familiar but unknown and abhorrent tongue.
"What in Sheyln's name was that?" Refina blurts out to the others whilst at the same time clutching her Holy symbol for all it is worth
The abyssal tongue being familiar to him from his studies Korian wonders out loud "Thirty-eight?? What is the hells does that mean?"
Then he turns to Refina after her outburst "What is it? What happened? Are you alright?"
"Well I just heard a voice inside my head" Refina explains "The same one we all just heard." She looks over in the direction of the pyramid
Almost completely baffled by the goings on Korian growls his frustration "What the hell is going on over there! Why by Set's hoary scrotum would the Pathfinder flag be flying over that seedship! It's seems that something has got into the guards and slaves and driven them all crazy. Do we still attack? What exactly would the purpose be of attacking now? What would be our goals?" as he speaks the young mage glares at the dig site, as if willing to give up answers to his questions.
After a moment, he continues "Our main mission was to delay the dig and meet up with the Society's representative. Could that somehow be him in the ship? But then why wouldn't he have landed when he saw us? And where in the hell would the Society have got such a craft? We need to find out what exactly is going on over there. And we need to find the Mithral Scarab. So, I say we attack, cause what further disruption we can, and look for the Scarab. Plus if anyone can get inside that seedship and find out more about it, that will be a bonus. Any other ideas?"
"I know the dusk will give us some advantage, but I'm not sure if we can afford to wait that long. I say we go now." he then grins fiercly
"And I have an idea..."
"Lets not be hasty" Refina responds "If the slaves have been driven crazy they may be just as likely to go for us as the guards. Also although I can attempt to ward the minds of 3 of us I cant guarantee that it will prevent whatever is happening to them and if it does work the wards will only last 7 or so minutes."
The young mage looks at the cleric, weighing her words carefully before he speaks again "You are right, we have no guarantee that our magics will protect us, but when do we ever have a guarantee? Our only other option is simply to just walk away, and I for one am not willing to do that. From all I have heard, it seems that something, likely something infernal, has taken over their minds. I have devoted my young life to the study of magic and I feel quite sure that the protective spell will shield our minds from being influenced or taken over by another force. If move in and move out quickly, I think that we can accomplish much in the time we have. After all, Sykala has already been in and out and the magic seemed to serve its purpose in protecting her."
Looking towards the camp again the young mage nods to himself, the line of his jaw set and determined. As he turns back to look at his companions his eyes are hard obsidian "But I will not force any of you. I am going. Are you with me or are you not? I shall not judge you, whatever your decision may be."
The dwarf sighs and shakes his head. "Lad, Ah dinnae follo' ye int' yer gods-fersaken desert t' turn 'round 'n walk back t' civilization alone. Where ye go, Ah go. Ah 'm jus' not fer sure why."
Korian smiles and claps the dwarf on the shoulder while answering "I'm not sure either anymore old friend...but I aim to find out." the intense young man then looks to his other companions for their answers.
"I'm with you." Refina responds "Although if I may make a suggestion? As much as I hate to admit this the slaves right now are to dangerous to approach till we can figure out what is causing them to act this way so I would suggest avoiding as much of the dig site as possible and focus on the floating thing and the entrance if that has been uncoverd.
"Day night is still nature wrath is stronger," Sykala says.
"I didn't come all this way either just to leave when things are getting interesting. Let's go in."
The strangeness continues around the pyramid. Ankhegs and a smaller number slaves dig furiously while the majority of slaves are clearly useless.
Even the guards seem out of sorts.
"D'ye think whatever be makin' 'em dig 'as more impact 'n th' dumb ones? 's 'at why the ankhegs be diggin' s' 'ard but th' people no' s' much?"
"Excellent! Your bravery and loyalty shall not be forgotten my friends."
Then, as the dwarf speaks, Korian thinks for a moment and replies "It could be, but it seems that the ones who are not digging are the ones worse off. No, I think it's more that the ankhegs are mindless, so are unaffected by whatever mind effect is happening. And the more I think about it, the more it seems to me that the source is coming from inside the pyramid. But then that still doesn't really explain the ship." Shaking his head, still clearly unsure and even more clearly unhappy with that fact, Korian continues to glare at the dig site.
"Ok, here's my plan. I turn invisible and sprint to the edge of the dig site, to that point right there." and he points out a suitable location where he can be easily hidden but still see most of the camp site.
"From there I begin summoning my 'freinds' to come and cause some trouble. As far as we know, our mission is still to delay the dig, so I'll see if I can get rid of the Ankegs and disrupt the guards even more. While the camp is thus distracted, the rest of you can make your way over. Refina, you can join me over there and back me up and participate how best you feel able. Perhaps you can even get hold of one of the slaves and find out what's wrong with them. But be sure to be careful if you try that. Ovirid, your main mission is to sneak around and try and locate the mithral scarab. Hopefully she's still here and is still alright. Sykala, Ixius, since you'll both be airborne, your main job is to try and get inside that ship and find out what the hell it is and what it's doing here. Unless you'd rather I do that Ixius, and you can hand that scroll back to me and you can help keep everyone off our back. I leave it up to you."
Looking around at his brave companions he pauses to make sure his next words are hears and understood by all "No matter what though, everyone keep a very close eye on the time. This will be a quick hit. Five minutes, in and out. Refina, since your protective magics will last a little longer, perhaps you could instead cast them on Ovirid, yourself and me, and then I'll cast mine on the flyers just before I leave. Either way though, I want all of us out of there before the mind protection spells wear off. Understood? Questions? Changes? Or are we ready to go kick some ass!"
The palanquins are facing the dig. If there is any action, it may be on the other side. You get the feeling from the way that the slave masters and monks are keeping an eye on one of the palanquins, that there may be someone watching from one of them, but you can't see who it is. They've really let security go to hell at this point but, well, things are pretty screwy for them right now and they sense they are getting close to the entrance.
As Korian relays the plan, a cry of triumph goes up from both slaves and slave masters alike. Their digging has revealed the top of the entrance. The slave masters start shouting up to the palanquins to draw the attention of their masters to this development.
And a Happy New Year to you, as well. I hope everyone on the thread has a great year in store!
Refina looks over at the source of the yelling "sounds like we may have even less time than we thought although on the plus side there even less likely to be looking this way." she begins to cast protection from evil on herself Ovrid and Korian while at the same time trying to follow Korian.
Ixius casts mage armor and fly from the scroll an heads towards the airship.
At this point, everyone's attention is on the entrance, but the leaders coming out of the palanquins to see what the commotion about have a good chance of getting a look at Ixius. Maybe make an initiative if you are trying to get there before their eyes adjust to the desert sun or a stealth check if you are doing this stealthily. I think everything is going to be good either way.
So, Korian and Refina are heading closer but trying to keep out of sight? Korian is invisible, right?
Sykala is following Ixius? But, she's no longer an air elemental, right?
Finally, Ovirid is trying to sneak around and get a look at the Mithral Scarab and get to her. I'll need a Perception check to pick her out of the crowd and an Stealth check to get to her or signal her without being spotted.
I think I've got everything right.
Stealth
Perception
Korian can get to a place where he can see the encampment fairly well, and get a look at the palanquins from the front. Being invisible, there isn't much chance of him being spotted, especially since attention is on the entrance.
Khymrasa steps out from the curtains hiding her palanquin. An older gentleman with light blond hair but robes of Vudran style steps out beside her. Khymrasa beckons some of the slave masters.
The Sand Sage throws down a rope ladder from his palanquin and begins to descend without waiting for it to be secured.
From a third palanquin, a bare-chested man steps into view. From this distance he appears to be covered in scales. It's hard to see what is wrong with him but he does not appear normal.
Sykala takes the form of an air elemental again and swirls up sand and dust around the dig site trying to mask her trail as well as hide Ixius. You cannot tell yet whether she was successful, but no one stops you at this point. Ixius reaches the seedpod and finds the hatch in the top is now open, the flag raised from a wooden pole sticking out through the open hatch.
Ovirid spots the Mithral Scarab. She is sitting cross-legged on the sand rocking back and forth muttering. He manages to slip into the crowd of confused slaves unnoticed. However, he is the only one other than the slave masters, the monks, or their masters carrying weapons so he won't stay unnoticed for long.
Perception:
The young mage tries to spot Ovirid in the camp, but with the press of people is having difficulty. Or maybe the old dwarf is just good at his craft.
Then, watching the goings on and quickly identifying who is likely their most dangerous foe, Korian summons a large crocodile to attack the sand sage the moment he touches the ground. Next he summons a minor demon from the pits of hell to also right by the sand sage to aid in the attack or attack those which seek to interfere.
Celestial Crcodile surprise bite attack: Damage: (+3 if Sand sage is evil)
Plus free Grab/Grapple:
If successful auto death-roll damage: (+3 if evil) and Sand Sage gains Grappled & Prone condition
Plus Tail slap attack (vs Prone?): Damage: (+3 if evil)
Korian Initiative:
The crocodile locks its jaws on the Sand Sage and thrashes him about, dragging him to the ground and rolling around with him there. And, then, the Sand Sage is no longer there.
A scowl crosses Khymrasa's face as she sees what has happened. She turns to the man behind her and shouts loudly, "More games! These Pathfinders of yours are a @&*$ nuisance, Professor."
Ovirid works his way over the the Mithral Scarab. The commotion caused by the crocodile has drawn everyone's attention away from the dig site so the guards are now scanning for intruders. Ovirid has not been seen yet, but he doesn't feel as safe as he did moments before.
The Mithral Scarab has definitely seen him. She shoots him a wink and continues rocking back and forth muttering a naughty poem about Andoran pirates and charming sea hags.
Sense Motive:
Round 2 Croc 8/9, Dretch 9/9
It's prey denied it, the crocodile charges the nearest slave guard and performs the exact same routine.
Meanwhile Korian changes targets and causes the Abyssal Dretch to appear right beside Khymrasa where it promptly summons a huge cloud of disgusting green vapour centred right on her.
Stinking Cloud Fort DC13 or Nauseated for as long in the cloud and rounds after. (Dretch is immune)