difficult or not it is a task we must undertake. The professor was taken against her will and that is a situation that needs to be remedied. If you would like to assist in freeing her your assistianc would be appreciated.
I believe your assistance would be key to making this easier or harder for us. You have shown how you don't want to be like those savages and now more than ever is a time to stand up and prove it.
"Well, right now the main thing we have going for us is the element of surprise. Tahomen can't know at this point whether to expect Salask and her men, or us. And with Salask's comm unit, we can try to guarantee that surprise, but it could backfire on us if we make him suspicious. Rawkali, you've been around Salask, how does she normally speak to Tahomen? What can you recommend to make a call or a text seem more genuine?"
I think we should just go because I think its a bad idea to try to impersonate someone. Now we have the element of surprise, they don't know we are coming. If we message or call them and fail then our surprise is ruined.
"I dunno. I think we should at least be ready to impersonate her if we get spotted on the approach. In the meantime let's just focus on finding this site, then we can scout it out when we get there and form a plan."
Tiktik will use Elliot as a scout, sending him ahead about 2000ft ahead, and about 500ft up in the air, to hopefully avoid being detected, while trying to get a layout of the city and spot any patrols or other dangers. Meanwhile Tiktik will help Talek navigate.
if we can lure some out and take them as a smaller group it would be better than fighting all of them at once.
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Departing that morning (), the jungle quickly thins, making way for rolling foothills and meandering streams. To the north and west, striking peaks can be seen--the Singing Range.
Soon enough you enter what Zan referred to as "The Forsaken City". Castrovel's wild plant growth has reclaimed much of the settlement, but hundreds of crumbling stone pyramids, covered in ivy and stranger flora are arranged in neat, orderly rows.
Elliott doesn't spot anything moving below (except for various smaller and less dangerous examples of Castrovelian life), and the group picks their way through the dead city. It would likely take years, and a fully equipped archaeological team, to search the city thoroughly.
Standing imperiously on a promontory partway up the mountainside is a temple of elegantly sculpted stone with a single domed tower rising from its center. Expanses of the structure’s weathered exterior bear scores of tall, glass-paned windows that cause the facade to shimmer in the sunlight.
Wide stairs are carved into the rock face, winding back and forth as they ascend to the temple from the ruins below.
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"Hmm, all things considered, we should make our way to the temple. Seems a good place if anything but also keep an eye out for centuries along the way, which I'm sure most of you are thinking the same.
However, before we continue, is there a means of scanning the city from orbit? Do we have any contacts within range that could assist in such a manner? Would make our search much easier and possibly locate our targets for us, or is stealth our only option here?
In either case, we may need a base of operations or at least a fall back position should things get messy for us. I'm all for a good fight but not one where I dont have a winning chance. Besides, it's not like we can bombard the area and clear out any hostilities. Gotta be extra careful here."
Ralkawi, do you know where Tahomen holds up? Is it in the Temple?
We need to be careful of the temple then. Can Elliot look overhead to see if he sees anything close to the temple.
"Of course! Although, ever since I had to remove that reactive camouflage unit to make room for his thrusters, he's not the ninjabot he once was." Tiktik says sadly. "So there is a good chance if he spots anyone they'll spot him right back, which is why I think our best bet may be to use him as bait to lure them out." The drone seems to flinch at that last comment.
That may be the best solution. Let us see if we can find a place to set up an ambush. telepathically to elliot <we will do all we can to minimize the risk to you>
Good idea Overclock, I love the baiting idea. I can be used as bait as well if you want because if you didn't see i'm rather fast.
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The path leading to the temple is hundreds of feet long, and ambush spots are few and far between. Taking position at the bottom of the path among the pyramids seems like the best option.
Elliott flies up the mountain, and sees the temple on a flat plateau. Near the top of the stairs leading up he sees a strange, worm-like creature that appears to be devouring a dead korasha lashunta.
At the summit, outside the doors that appear to lead into the complex, he sees an elf male standing quietly. The elf seems unusually pallid, but otherwise unremarkable, except for the ornate breastplate he wears, and the flickering energy weapon he holds in his hands.
Neither the worm-creature nor the elf pay any notice to the drone's flight.
The windows of the complex are nearly opaque with grit and grim and cant' be see through clearly.
Tiktik relays the info that Elliot gathers then asks, "What do you guys think? There's worm thingy halfway up that looks to be eating another of Tahomen's men, so that should bring him down to 6... although plus 1 guess for the worm... Anyway, at the top is a weird pale elf--undead maybe? Either way both just ignored him. But if he fired a few shots with his laser I bet that would change! So let's set up an ambush down here. It is a long stairway up, so we could probably fire off shots as they make their way down."
I think we can make that work. let us set up.
Sounds good let's do it. I will stand at the bottom more obvious to bring them down here.
Will move up until I can reach the spot I put myself on the map. However long that’ll take. Pulling my pistol out and keeping it ready once I hear the pew pewing start.
moving up the stairs with laser rifle readied.
Continuing my plan, Elliot will shoot and the fly 30’ towards the party. Then Tiktik will move 30’ up the stairs.
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The creature is a mountain eel--normally a neutral huge animal, although this one is a juvenile and is just young. It has a paralyzing gaze attack (DC 14, 60' range) and has the trample special attack.
The elf doesn't follow Elliot as it retreats.
Bold can act!
Bepo
B-Bop
Tiktik
Elliot (-16)
??? (-23)
Jax
Volter
Talek
L
Running to catch up with bepo and b-bop
Bepo is going to run up the stairs to the other side of the Eel.
Bepo goes to the top of the stairs and takes a look around.
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A series of weathered pillars arcs around the entrance of the temple, marking a curving border around a small plaza.
An elf, wearing elaborate and ancient armor, stands at the ready, holding a glowing spear. He steps forward, and motions for you to halt.
He speaks again, in a different language.
<Speaking in Common> I am sorry friend I do not understand what you are trying to tell me. We are just looking for someone? What is your name? Mine is Bepo.
Is there anything different with the stone pillars?
Tiktik and Elliot will approach slowly, careful not to point their weapons at the elf, until the talky bits are over. He will however size up the elf to see if he can glean anything about him.
Picking his way up the path, L listens to the comms.
”It’s a warning. Wanting Bepo to stay back. Unless there is another talking bear up there. I’m on my way, let’s see if we can’t talk to this person”
Continuing to jog up the path trying to catch up to the rest of the group.
Approaching the armed elf cautiously, and giving them a wide berth.
In elven ”Hello there. We are seeking a person that we suspect came this way. Not likely of their own volition. Have you seen anyone like this?”
Describing the professor to the elf as best as possible and trying to pick up on what this place is or any info from what I see.
Tiktik excited chirps into the comms, "Oo! Oo! I wanna talk to the zombie man! Tell him: 'Star-Eater? That's a cool name for the Devourer. Yeah, that's them. What did the alien look like? Two-legged humanoid like us? Or something big 'n scary? Or do you mean that worm thing they left guarding the stairs? So are you like an ancient guardian of this temple? That's neat. How old are you? What kind of cool stuff is inside? If we promise to treat the temple with respect--I'll wipe my paws and everything!--would you let us inside? Those guys inside captured a friend of a friend, and tried to kill us, so we'd like very much to make them dead instead.'"
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"The being had four arms, and an elongated skull." He seems to be describing a Kasatha. The appearance of the Kasatha in the Pact Worlds system is fairly recent, so its not surprising that this individual wouldn't recognize them.
As the missing professor was Kasatha, so he is likely describing her.
"Behind me is the Temple of the Twelve, the last repository of my people's lore in this system. Before me lies the Veil, beyond which terrestrial ignorance melts beneath the weight of cosmic enlightenment. This is a sacred space."
"The Lashunta entered the temple and studied the secrets within. Some of them later ascended the mountain to commune with the heavens with the portable shrine they carried. The others remain inside."
"The speaker for the Star-Eater does not wish to allow you to enter, and by his will I must insist. You are not welcome here."