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Professor Dexter shrugged, "I fully expect to get a bunch of crossbow bolts sticking out of the cabin. My main worry is they'll shoot the horses, but if we can put some distance between here we stand a good chance of getting away."
"A distraction would be good, or perhaps just a bunch of summoned fog to ruin their shot." added Dr Munroe.
Zendara relays Doctor Munroe's request to Ferian as well, just in case he has something that will help distraction-wise.
I don't have any spells that produce fog. I can ride with the driver and shoot back at them, which might be distracting, and even if not, it will give them a target besides the horses...
...at least until I get killed.
"I can summon fog although the more we have the better since we'll move out of the patch I can make. Can any of you create illusions?" asked Dr Munroe.
Yukarii nodded and said, "Yes Sensei, I can create silent ones, they aren't great but they have their uses."
Ferian smiles, though he knows no one will see it. He messages back, "Yes, I can provide some fog. Obscuring Mist, to be specific. If you're planning on making a break for it outside, I can also provide a Wind Wall when appropriate."
Zendara relays Ferian's words to the party.
So, do we have a plan then?
Edwin offered, "I have 2 smokesticks we can throw. I also have five alchemists' fire, if that helps.
I can ride on the outside the carriage; I have some defensive spells to protect me."
Professor Dexter grinned, "Right let's do this! Ahh I think that's the barmaid coming back, I'll get her to order us a coach."
She then has a brief conversation with the woman who nods and steps out. She comes back later and tells you the coach will be here in five minutes.
Right before they go out the door at the end of the 5 minutes, Zendara will cast Gravity Bow. If she ends up having to shoot someone, she wants it to count.
Edwin muttered an incantation, surrounding himself with protective layers of force. When it was almost time to make their move, he created a shield of force, and cast another spell which made his arms surprisingly stretchy! "I am well protected — I can handle the most exposed position," he reassured the others.
Ferian carefully makes his way back to the front, then back inside to rejoin the others for the implementation of their plan. Probably best that they all be together for this.
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With her protective spells already in place Yukarii said, "Before we get moving let me make an illusion of the Professor fleeing from the other exit, the one they are watching, in the opposite direction. That might help buy us some tie. I will need someone to help guide me as we move though since I will have to maintain my concentration."
A few minutes later the barmaid returns saying, "The stage coach is outside." Professor Dexter thanks her and ushers you all outside. Where the coachman a jolly Halfling known as Molts is waiting for you with his team of horses. Unfortunately arrayed on the roofs of various building are crossbowmen who were expecting you to come out of the back entrance!
Zendara leaves the top of the stage with the driver's spot for Edwin, but she covers the doctor and professor by readying a shot to shoot at any of the men who point their crossbow this way
Once Munroe and Dexter are safely in the stage, she gets in too.
Edwin clambered up onto the seat beside the driver, ready to dodge incoming fire!
Xindyra drinks an investigator extract of shield.
Ferian steps outside and immediately casts Wind Wall to block as many of the ambushers' arrows as possible. If they can prevent the threat in the first place, that only makes the most sense.
Realizing they needed cover more than a distraction as they began to pile into the carriage Yukarii focused her mind and began to weave and image of a heavy clothes line between the buildings with a large heavy rug hung out to dry that would block the view of those archers should they look their way.
Her spell cast Yukarii quickly moved to the carriage and boarded while maintaining the image in her mind.
Hand of GM (I actually forgot first time) Dr Munroe and Prof Dexter are a bit faster than the party.
Ferian's Wind Wall roars into existence and not a moment too soon for a shout goes up, answered by the sound of scrambling feet upon the tiled roof and the snap of crossbows. Much of the initial volley is deflected by the roaring winds but Edwin and Molts are in the western trio's line of sight. A pair of bolts thuds into the seat between them but the third embeds itself deeply into the meat of Edwin's shoulder!
<--- MISS
<--- MISS
<--- HIT
"Quick! Into the cab." cries Molts, ready to whip the horses into a gallop.
A number of the crossbow men jump between the roofs to get a better angle, but in their haste most of them misjudge the jumps and thud to the ground in a heap. Zendara who had been waiting for a target took a quick aim and shot one of the men who jumped over, causing him to grunt in pain.
<--- FAIL
<--- FAIL
<--- FAIL
From inside the pair of goons who had been observing Dr Munroe cry out in alarm at Yukarii's illusory rug, "What is this?!"
Dr Munroe mutters something and a large volume of mist suddenly surrounds the front part of the cab ruining the western trio's shots, he then steps into the cab. Professor Dexter hurries into the cab after him.
Crossbow men
Dr Munroe
Prof Dexter
Edwin <----- WE ARE HERE
Ferian
Yukarii
Xindyra
Zendara
Edwin, Ferian, Yukarii, Xindyra and Zendara are up.
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Edwin drew his scimitar, ready to strike at any enemy that came too close.
With the doctor and the professor safely inside the cab, Zendara climbs in as well, hoping for a speedy escape.
Ferian climbs in after Zendara, hoping to be finished with his whole affair sooner than later.
Once inside, he casts another spell, obscuring the back half of the cart.
Saber in hand, Edwin stand ready while the others pile into the cab hoping for a quick getaway! Ferian's spell obscures the rest of the cart resulting in a barrage of cursing from the crossbowmen.
With her spell in place Yukarii quickly boarded the carriage while maintaining her illusion.
Xindyra gets into the cab.
Xindrya wisely piles into the cab and Molts urges the mounts into action. The frightened horses whinny and rear up before turning a sharp right and surging away knocking most of you off your feet. A barrage of crossbow bolts thud into the back of the wagon followed by loud cursing. One of the men from inside slashes at the illusory carpet and finds his sword slashing through thin air. He snarls, "It's a trick!" and bursts through and is swallowed up by the clouds of mist.
The cab clatters down the street and takes a sharp left before heading up the hill towards the university. A few tense moments pass before it becomes obvious they were not able to catch up and you where away.
Later once you where safely at the university, a frowning Molts examines the damage to his cab. It has a dozen or more quarrels sticking into it, " Five to the University they said, easy life. I reckon I got a bit more than I bargained for... Still f*** them! Glad nobody got hurt."
"We where lucky in need." replied Dr Munroe as he counted out a large number of coins from his purse. "For the repairs." he explained which made Molts perk right up.
To you all he said, "I fear we won't be safe in town. They want me but nw you've been seen... I think we should head for Chelmsford in the morning, would you be able to take us Molts?"
The halfling nodded.
Professor Dexter nodded, "You're right that lot won't give up easily. But Xavier what is it they want? That kind of operation is no small thing to pull off, once the navy hears about this they'll go nuts..."
Edwin nodded, "I can be ready to go in the morning. We should stay close overnight, and keep watch."
He inspected his cloak, and found that, to his relief, his shield of force had deflected the crossbow bolts, and the garment was undamaged.
Dr Munroe considers professor Dexter for a moment before replying, "Same thing the other lot wanted, my father's notebook. He was obsessed by the periodic upwellings, the prospect of finding new islands and uncovering pre-sundering artefacts. My grandfather was the same, you could say it runs in the family. Anyway our family used to be wealthy, but father spent every last penny chasing a dream: Xinroth the fabled lost city of gold."
"Bah! If that even exists, it'll be no where near the Xunlai archipelago!" retorted Dexter.
"Quite." replied Dr Munroe with a roguish grin, "But there's a gate... All the big cities of old had them linking the world. Father found description of these gates, a pair of massive octagonal menhirs inscribed with runes about ten yards apart and ten yards high. All the gates where guarded of course, often inside complexes. Dad found references describing a fort complex in one of the Xunlai islands. Not sure which but I know what the fort looks like. Even if it's in ruins it should be instantly recognisable, it was shaped liked a five pointed star. Dad's note may have been stolen but I've read them so many times... It's all up here." He taps his head to emphasise the point.
Zendara tries to suppress her excitement at the prospect of the voyage which it seems they were automatically invited to, and the idea of a lost city of gold? Well, even if that wasn't the reason for going, it was certainly a nice side benefit. And yet, they had just been shot at, and she didn't want her new friends to think she was distracted from that fact.
I'm basically already packed. Just have to grab my stuff. ... Do we need to know any more about who is after you? We were going to try to talk to Sheldon, but if you don't think it is needed...
Relieved they had gotten away from the ambush safely Yukarii considered what was discussed carefully. "We do have the problem of the airship to deal with, unless we are finding alternate transportation." She paused as she thought a bit more and then continued,"Should we all deal with this inspection issue together or split up?"
Ferian nods at Dr. Munroe's suggestion that they head for Chelmsford. But then Yukarii brings up a good point about the airship.
The sylph says, "Given the ambush we just escaped, I think it would be unwise to split our resources. If we must use that airship, then we should certainly see about resolving its issues as soon as possible."
Are they real issues, or just an excuse to delay us?
"Braenar Cloudchaser says no and I trust him, mostly" drawled Dr Munroe, "Although all things considered I wouldn't say no to a second opinion. Zendara you have an engineering background right? Maybe you could take a look-see..."
"I'm going with a delaying tactic. If the officials want to be first to the expedition's destination, they'd use any means at their disposal, wouldn't they?"
Happy to take a look. In this company though, I might not be the best person for the job.
"No need to sell yourself short. Where's that confidence you showed on the Weatherlight?"
Zendara smiles.
Oh, I'm not worried that I won't do well. I'm just more of a jack-of-all trades aboard an airship rather than being an expert at any one thing. In any case, if someone is better at something than you are, you don't risk everyone's lives by pretending that isn't true. Would you like to join me in checking over the ship? I'm sure we'll notice more working together.
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"I'll join you as well," Ferian says. "Engineering isn't one of my specialties, but I'm quite familiar with the general workings of an airship, so I may be able to tell if something's been sabotaged."