When the group had reached the side of the lake ooposite to the High Priest, Water Hornet made several steps forward, stopping just a couple of yards from the water. He was poised to start with their plan when the snakes moved.

"It's not me," replied Hornet to Sun Fox in a shocked tone, "it's somebody else!" He started turning his head around, trying to pinpoint who had such effect on the serpents, before realizing how futile that attempt was.

"This might be our chance," the Magnakai spoke to other Kai, "I will try to discover what is driving the snakes, but we should make haste and cross the lake while the water is clear." He nodded to Frost Ferret, approached the lake and knelt on one knee. Holding his dagger in one hand, he submerged fingers of the other one into the water and invoked his powers.

He probed slightly in the minds of the moving snakes, connecting their instincts and reflexes to his own mind to understand what was driving them; here and there he would push slightly his own command back at them to see how would individual specimen react, "listening" with his psychic powers if there was any mental communication established with some other source.

The aim is to find out what is driving the snakes. I don't want to give them any specific command, yet, but just probe into their minds and see what is controlling them (while I'm not using Sixth Sense to detect a psychic communication directly, maybe it could give a bonus to the roll...?).
Rolled a 4.

The High Priest would notice if enemies were converging on his position and keep them away with plenty of brutality - the only reason he didn't do that to you, Sun Snake, is because he recognized Madayl.

Hurlon seemed perplexed by Sun Snake's comment, but then, all of a sudden, the rain tripled in intensity around the woman who was slinging blue fire across the battlefield, and she immediately switched gear, from her wide area offense with walls and flying creatures to a focused defenses with long strals of flames spiralingn around her person in a dome-like formation and massive giants trying to form around her to keep her covered. Even so, the fire had trouble forming as the water in the limited area around her got more and more condensed, to the point that she seemed to be under the relentless power of a waterfall unleashed fromo the sky directly above her.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:58, Sun 02 Feb 2014.

After a few moment Water Hornet jerked his hand out of the water as if it was boiling; literally jumping to his feet he turned to the rest of the Kai.

"The snakes are being commanded by a Kai!" poured out Honet with surprise, but then his voice changed to a more thoughtful tone, "if it's neither one of us...then it must be someone else - like Sun Snake...?" The Magnakai furrowed his brows as he was trying to recall how advanced Sun Snake's skill was in Animal Control. His mind was still a little cloudy, though, so he abandoned the futile attempt and instead focused on the lake again.

"In any case, let's hurry while the odds are in our favour," he said. In fact, Water Hornet was relieved - he imagined that wrestling control over the snakes from whoever commanded them would cost him much mental energy. Now it could be used elsewhere.

Is there near any tent that looks like it could contain a weapon? I need to re-arm Hornet, again. :)

There's pleny of tents around and pratically all of them are empty now that the Acolytes have all converged to the area where the High Priest is to joing the battle he's directing. As for wether any of those contains weapons, you won't know until you check them one by one, I'm afraid. :)

Of course, Sabre Fox has two swords on his person, and Sun Fox has three, so if you really feel you're defenseless, you might ask them to borrow one. Who know, they might even agree! ^_^

Sun Snake brought his attention back to the woman, and nodded in a detached way. "If she stays on the battlefield then perhaps she is not false, just an arrogant Cener in training. If she runs, then perhaps she has no loyalty to the Cener nor investment in the attack beyond instigating it. If so, I will run her down."

Sun Snake went back to looking around the battlefield, deliberately letting himself gaze to long to one or two places that were completely removed from where the others may be.

Swift's eyes widened as she watched the slaying of the Helghast disguised as a bishop, soon followed by the growing magical battle between the strange Cener woman and the High Priest of the Acolytes.
She looked over the High Priest, clearly examining some of the ritual items he was wearing with an expression of interest.
Then she moved her gaze back to Sun Snake again.

"Screw this" she muttered irritably.  "Someone has to save him from his own plan I suppose..."

She looked up at Dusk Rat.
"You should go join the others" she said, nodding in the general direction of where the other Kai had been indicated as being.
"I'll get Sun Snake and meet up with you all later, assuming I haven't gotten myself blasted into smouldering dust" she added with a wry smirk.

With that, she began looking for a place to land away from the High Priest's view...
This message was last edited by the player at 23:14, Sun 02 Feb 2014.

Dusk Rat gives Swift Fox a querying look.

"What use do you think I'd be down there?" she asks. "I'd prefer to stay where my abilities can be of use without attracting attention to myself."

Swift peered at Dusk for a moment then shrugged.
"Well, just make sure my Kraan doesn't fly away without me then" she replied curtly.

With that, she unhooked the Mirrored Shield from her back and slipped it onto her left arm, keeping it angled upwards towards the storm clouds overhead.
Checking to make sure Lobster was still unconscious, she began to direct the Kraan to fly lower...


OOC: Hope Lord Sour Snake appreciates this! ;)  hehe.

"Let's get to that temple then" Fox says "if its not Snake it could be Rat. Either way I owe someone a dinner"

but he quickly motices Hornet looking at the tents.

"Something in there?" He asks.

To avoid fruitless time wasting searches, can Foxsense any magical weapons with Battle Magic that are near? If not he has the Drakkar dagger to give away

"Rat?" asked Water Hornet, addressing no-one in particular, but Sabre Fox's question drew his attention away for that moment, "no...I just wondered if I could arm myself."

With that, Hornet pointed at the empty scabbard at his belt: "Fighting a White Tiger costed me a short sword - but better lose a weapon than a head, I guess." Water Hornet gave a weak smile at that. "Venom here is a good weapon," he continued raising his dagger, "but I'd prefer having one more. Never mind, will have to find something in the temple - crossing the lake while the luck is with us is far more important."

If Fox could find some other weapon, that'd be great, but Hornet is not completely unarmed so we probably better not waste time now.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:58, Mon 03 Feb 2014.

You have your power wrong, Sabre Fox - it allows you to tell when an item you're examining has Old Kingdom Magic into it, not to tell if there's source of Old Kingdom Magic laying about.

As for your plan, Swift Fox, the camouflage DC for passing yourself off as an Helghast is 8. Feel free to post yourself as you approach the High Priest, and good luck! ^_^

OOC: Actually I was planning on landing somewhere nearby for now, trying to avoid being noticed by the High Priest and Hurlon but close enough for Sun Snake's Divination to detect my presence.
Getting the feeling that if I just walk up there wearing a Kai Cloak, I'll end up with a lightning bolt in the face before I can do much acting!

I take it Sun Snake an detect her? Also Fall Lobster aswell?

You could detect Swift Fox all the way to where she was hiding with Dusk Rat, Sun Snake, so you'd not just know that she's close, you would know her exact distance to you - and of course, you don't need me explaining how your Pathmanship would fill in the blanks of her spatial position so that you can follow all her movements.

In fact, you actually know everybody's location and a close approximation of what they're doing, if you care to check for it with your powers; as always, you're the one person who has the highest amount of information on what's going on, from a spatial standpoint if nothing else.

Also, Swift Fox, you can't hide from the High Priest in the cave - as soon as the rain hits you, he'll knew you're there, so really, the best you can do is try not to do anything suspicious to catch attention... unless you think you can sell me a way in which Invisibility would allow you to avoid the rain? If you can come up with it, I'll gladly allow you to sneak up on them, but otherwise it's not happening. :)

OOC: Ahh ok.  Didn't know he could sense me through the rain like that...
I'll land nearby, but in an open area, so it's obvious I'm not trying to hide then...
Rolled 4, using Invisibility for a +6 :)


Swift peered up at the storm clouds overhead as she descended.
Pausing to return the Mirrored Shield to her back, she then drew the obsidian stone from her backpack and tucked it under her arm.
Dropping down lower, she felt the cold aura of the rain envelop her.

Focusing on her advanced camouflage skills, she tried to add a slight 'roughness' to her form, as if her skin was considerably paler than would be considered healthy, and her eyes were much darker than normal.
She fixed a sense of "detachment" from her body in her mind, as if believing her physical form was a mere favoured disguise that could be shrugged off at will.

One hand slipped into her pocket and closed around the green marble Silver Raven had given her as the Kraan landed.
With one more quick glance up at the clouds, she raised her other hand as if signalling in Sun Snake's direction...


OOC: Assuming I at least managed to reach the ground.  If I actually get attacked in mid-air, let me know and I'll edit the landing out.

The rain intensified slightly around Swift Fox, and when she took her first step forward in the direction of Sun Snake and the others, she felt it immediately redouble in power - clearly, the power of the rain would grow stronger and stronger as she got closer to the High Priest, and considering the literal waterfalls he was pouring on the Cener woman, it was clear the man could eventually make the rain powerful enough to flatten her to the ground if she got too close without his authorization.

Meanwhile, the High Priest snapped his finger to catch Hurlon's attention, and pointed out to him Swift Fox's presence with a gesture of his head, making the bishop blink for a moment before he turned to Sun Snake.

"Uh. It seems, fell creature, that there's another of your kin here. Is it one more of those spies and traitors you spoke of?"

And as he said that, his hands hovered meaningfully next to the handles of the four short swords at his belt, clearly only waiting for the supposed Helghast's confirmation to strike.

Oooh, the High Priest is scarily powerful. Sure you wanted to join in the scariness here Swift?

I thought Sun Snake could sense the whole lot, just wanted to double check before I made assumptions.

The question about Fall Lobster was more a case of 'where is he, did Swift Fox take him with her or is he with Dusk Rat?'



Sun Snake had looked away as Swift Fox came close in the air, pretended to sense something, then spot movement in the corner of his eye in thr sky, then bring his focus to the distance as Swift Fox landed.

The swift reaction of the High Priest surprised him, and of course made him concerned for Swift Fox's wellbeing. Bishop Hurlon's quick actions were also off putting.

"Give the High Priest my apologies, his reactions are quicker than mine," said Sun Snake, for once giving no tone of condescension in his voice, merely plain respect. "It is indeed one of the faithful I summoned. Though whether it comes to us with the abomination or not, I cannot tell. The shadow of the Kraan in the air it rode in upon is a positive sign."

Sun Snake gave a curt nod to Swift Fox and barely paid her attention, holding up a hand dismissively to pause her motioned. He looked to the High Priest rather than Hurlon for confirmation his fellow Kai could continue forwards.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:42, Mon 03 Feb 2014.

At Sun Snake's wave, Swift slowly released her grip on the green marble in her pocket and turned back to the Kraan, heaving Fall Lobster's bound form off the back of the creature.

Moving slowly, she began to approach Sun Snake's location, dragging Lobster behind her, glancing back at him every so often to check he was still out of it.

When she was close enough she called out to Sun Snake, giving her voice a rather curt monotonous quality, devoid of her usual Anskaven accent.
"I caught the abomination" she said.  "The one who fired the arrow evaded me, but another of our kin is on her trail."

She paused in place and peered at the High Priest and then the bishop, cocking her head to one side in an affectation of some feral curiosity and studying the bishop for a moment before looking back at Sun Snake and holding up the obsidian crystal.
"The abomination carried this.  To communicate with his masters I believe..."


OOC: I knew that thing would come in handy if I held onto it long enough :)
Now I just need to find a use for that pile of keys I'm carrying around...

Also don't worry about the scary.  There's only one creature in Magnamund that Swift truly fears.  And it ain't the High Priest! ;)
This message was last edited by the player at 00:19, Tue 04 Feb 2014.

Ferret noted Water Hornet's nod, quickly looked about to check that the group were concealed from all enemies, then dropped the illusion. His shoulders slumped. He couldn't help but take a few moments to recover from the exertions of magic use. But he knew that he had more to do, so was soon kneeling by the edge of the lake reaching a hand out to touch the water. As his fingers broke the surface he closed his eyes.

Around Ferret's fingertips the water stopped moving. The effect rapidly spread several feet out from his hand and it became more difficult to see into the lake as a slab of ice several inches thick formed.

"Get into the water." Ferret motioned sharply with his free hand. "Stick a dagger or something into the ice and hold on."

OOC: The piece of ice isn't big enough for us to ride, but if everyone gets around it in the water and can hold on - preferably with something sharp - then FF can push it quickly across.

Sun Snake took the obsidian crystal from Swift Fox, looking to it and Fall Lobster more than the woman. His face held an unpleasant smile and he looked to the fallen Kai.

"Is the abomination awake? Did it see you?"

Sun Snake's eyes flicked imperceptibly hopefully to anyone who did not share a knack for Invisibility to communicate that Lobster seeing her would be a good thing.

"It saw me.  Though it believed I was the one whose form I took.  It chose to try to flee rather than fight, but it didn't get far.  I imagine it will wake up sooner or later."

She chuckled morbidly at that, although it seemed rather artificial as if it was merely a rather poor imitation of an emotion, making it a little creepy to watch.

Her gaze shifted to the battle raging across the cavern with a rather disinterested look...
This message was last edited by the player at 01:33, Tue 04 Feb 2014.

"Then take this" Fox said offering Hornet the Drakkar dagger. "I will need it back though to prove my loyalty to then still" he winked before looking at Ferret

"You did this on purpose" he pouted. "Ferrets like water while none of us do" he smirked getting ready to use the raft

"Thank you," said Hornet gratefully, although he wasn't able to completely hide the hesitation when accepting a Drakkarim weapon, "when you need it back, just say."

Water Hornet spent a moment looking at the acquired weapon and then attached the dagger to his belt.

"Not quite true," interjected Hornet and now it was his turn to wink at Sabre Fox, "and under this circumstances I guess you will prefer getting wet to meeting Vashnites' High Priest, as well."

Is there anything special about the Drakkarim dagger? Even if it was just an uncommon design.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:47, Tue 04 Feb 2014.

"I wasn't aware that Hornets liked water. Then again your name is a contradiction" fox winked

No properties. Just a regular dagget

"Good," said Sun Snake with an unpleasant sneer to Swift Fox when she mentioned she had been seen. "Then you are as trapped as I am. The creature is insane to the brink of paranoia. Unless it is a practised form, do not change yourself if you plan on being seen by the creature again in that form again. He still thinks this dead shell is masterminding a plan against itself."

Sun Snake moved to Fall Lobster. "Being its prisoner did not work. Lets see if it becomes more defiant and lucid when it is back where it belongs - on the losing end of things."

Sun Snake jostled its leg, making the kick seem for more unpleasant than it was.