From up close, the fortress of Gazad Helkona was even more impressive than what the Magnakai had perceived during their scan from afar. The vas basin of rock it had been buil into was completely barren, with no sign of vegetation or ridges; from the marks on the geround it was clear tha the area was cnstantly patrolled and was kept completely clean of anything which could conceivably obstruct sight or allow an enemy to sneak any closer than the small ridge of rock, barely waist-high, which surrounded the entire area, clearly marking the point where the forest ended and the fortress area began.

It was pretty obvious that the entre setup had been designed specifcally so that any attempt to approach the solid coal-black walls would require at least twelve minutes of walking across a completely open field, one dominated by the tall watchtowers situated just behind the walls. During the day, avoiding notice from such elevated watc position woud be impossible; even with the cover of the night, which the Kai currently had at their disposal it was not looking like an easy task, considering the excellent sight the kraan occasionally flying overhead sported even at night, and the quantity of moving fire and glinting metal moving along the basin in regular patterns - clearly patrols of drakkarim carrying torches.

Similar fairs could also be seen at regulars intervals near the walls, clearly indicating the places where door were situated; almost all of these were marked by only two burning fires, except for one, which was lighted by at least six different torches as well as two large braziers overhead, obviously corrensponding to Gazad Helkona's main gate. In fact, the sheer amount of light from those fires was enoguh that the group of Kai could count twelve armoured figures standing guard, with more visible atop the walls themselves, positioned as if to control the position of the braziers - clearly read to turn them over and let smoldering embers fall over any possible intruders.

And, cast into stark contrast by the red light of the fires, they could all notice one more thing: above the door, where the emblem of Darklord Chlanzor (a spider covering the sun) should have been, was instead a heavy drape of black wool, over which was marked in red a quite different symbol, of a red skull wearing a spiked helmet, with two snakes intertwined surrounding it; and, standing most striking under it all, was the mark of two crossed hammer painted in the colour of blood.

Welcome to what's most likely going to be our last thread before the Endgame, and the one where you will face your most difficult challenges so far, with death waiting behind every corner. And that starts now with getting past the walls and into the fortress proper, while avoiding the enemy patrols and their surveillance lights from overhead.

I wonder why this remind me of something?

Anyway, not much more I can say to you now; it's time to come up with your plans, and hope they work! Both Renora and Sun Fox have ideas and means to help with any attempt at distraction, but if you don't come up with some idea of your own to make it past the walls, their contributions won't be enough to make you pass - they're only here to help, they won't be doing all the work for you.

So, let your creativity run wild, be ready to give it your all to make it through, don't be afraid of taking risks, and remember: the fate of Magnamund is in your hands now! :D

OOC: Hmmmm...  Hope someone brought the chaff grenades and nikitas!  :)
Some "mood music" for anyone who wants it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gzVbTqJKZc


At the sight of the lights around the gate, Swift had quickly returned the mirrored shield to her back, to avoid giving away their position with any reflected light.
Now she crouched low at the edge of the forest, her gaze flitting quickly over the defences ahead of them and mentally marking the positions of the visible guards, watching their movements carefully.

She either didn't seem to notice the banner above the gate, or else didn't consider it relevant to her search of the fortress in front of them...

Sun Snake looked out too, though he was probably using senses other than his eyes to take a further look at the fortress.

"Colonel Vyctar clearly is in residence" Fox said noting the banner

However his own senses would then trail to focus on the task at hand

"Twisted serpents where the ring of fire is, and a red skull. Has he claimed some old Darklord's domain, some ancient Drakkar clan? Or is there a different allegiance?"

Not sure the meaning of the new banner, but it might warn us of some plot thing I'm guessing if we figured it out!

Sun Snake muttered to himself. "The gate is not our only worry. There is a barracks of a hundred men each inside. One at each of the two main gates at either side of the fortress, and four spaced equally between them, two each side."

Snake tapped his lip. "The side entrances would seem to be our best bet if we want to infiltrate, perhaps one of the ones furthest away from the rest. Of course, we could try to draw attention by walking across. Someone who can pretend to be a messenger, or even just one person to be captured who can allow others to follow the route ot the heart of the keep later?"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:21, Mon 30 Mar 2015.

At Sun Snake's words, Swift's eyes moved to the banner for what seemed like the first time.
"Twisted serpents?  Well we know of a couple, Valador for one" she remarked quietly with a smirk that showed she wasn't completely serious.
"Of course it could be a literal reference to a snake.  Maybe he admired you after your meeting?" she added, with a glance towards the image on Sun Snake's shield.

Her expression changed to a slight frown as she studied the image more intently.
"Skulls usually represent death.  A reference to the mysterious 'Deathlord' that the Nadziran spoke of perhaps?  Spiralling serpents...  The Deathstaff had a spiralling design, likely a method of channelling power from one end to another, or inwards from the outside, or the other way around."

She held up the Jade Spike, examining the spiralling patterns of dimly glowing jade on its hilt before lowering it and looking up at the banner again.
"I don't know if it's supposed to mean that though.  It could just be a personal symbol Vyctar created for his 'new existence', so to speak.  Something to intimidate his enemies."

She shrugged lightly and looked back at Sun Snake.
"Still, if you need someone capable of disguising themselves, and who can speak their language, I could volunteer."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:32, Mon 30 Mar 2015.

"No, you could not. I can smell the sun power on you from a mile away, little girl, they're sure to have someone who can do the same in there."

The words out of Renoras mouth carried a cutting tone as she adressed Swift Fox, that of one who wouldn't accet interruption; in fact, she even pushed Swift Fox bckwards by putting one of her pointed nails in the middle of her chest, before turning to Sun Snake.

"I, however, might do that and actually succeed at it."

There was haughtiness in the wytch's voice as she spoke, as well as a sense of condescension as she explained her idea.

"I can introduce myself to the guard without risk, simply by making myself up as an envoy of Sejanoz. This might allow me acess, as well as interfere with the guard's patrol routes; dependng on how good you are at going unnoticed, you might even manage to slip in when they opne the gate to let me throught."

She paused, then aded, with a cold smile:

"Of coure, that would mean that I cannot promise I will be there when you confront this Vyctar, since there's no telling how they handle visitors; once inside, you'd be on your own, without any other help I might provide."

This is naturally enough me, not Rain, making this post.

Really, I just want to remove Renora from your group because I wasn't planning on having her as an NPC around you - she's just too powerful for me to let you have that big of a trump card in hand, especially when her goals are not at all aligned with your own, aside from disposing of Vyctar. That said, if you can come up with a plan that doesn't requires her to act as a distraction, you're free to use it and keep her around; you're the players and the decision is yours. What I can say, as a GM promise, is that, as long as she goes alone, the Drakkarim will indeed accept her as an envoy of a southern dark power and let her in without a fuss - and with a considerable armed escort to follow her around once she's inside, to prevent her from sneaking away or spying.

As always, you're the players, so the decision is up to you! ^_^

This message was last edited by the GM at 18:45, Mon 30 Mar 2015.

Water Hornet watched the fortress in silence. His face showed little emotion: no fear, no worry, but merely a deep concentration. Occasionally, he raised his eyes to the skies, observing Kraan patrols.

Following witch's statement, the young Magnakai bore with his look into her. "That would be a dangerous endeavour," he said coldly, "for you. And for us." Hornet let the words sink and continued: "I will say it again: I do believe your ultimate goal might intersect with ours...but I have difficulties letting you...separate from the group. Because, just like the possibility that you might refine your plans regarding our alliance, the seizure of your person as a spy by the fortress' defenders might just as well prove fatal to our cause." Water Hornet looked again at the fortress (maybe to avoid Renora's look or maybe not), before continuing. "Although we might not have other possibility, as you might point out... The last couple of days were full of the most unbelievable cooperation, one has to admit," he added with a dark smile.

OOC: As a player, I'm undecided what would be best of the two options (keep Renora with the group / use her as the distraction); plus I agree, that keeping a game consistent (i.e. letting the PC go when the player is unable to play) might be a valid reason for a specific decision.
As a character, though, I have to point out Hornet's concerns: he didn't completely accept that Renora is trustful (although he does believe that she indeed wants to help the group - for the time being and for her own agenda), sorry. But that doesn't mean he won't accept the decision (of letting Renora act as a distraction); or realize that to be the best option: after all, he had to trust Renora so far and keeping doing that would mean have only one point of failure instead of several points where things might go wrong.

Swift flinched back slightly as Renora pushed her.
For a moment it looked as though she was about to make some sort of retort, but then she glanced down at where Renora had touched her with a surprised look.

Her face went a little paler than before as she looked back up at the fortress again.
"That... might be a problem..." she muttered quietly to herself, raising her hand to her chest.
Moving back towards Silver Raven, she bent close and whispered something to him.


OOC: Typical player-turned-NPCs and their penchant for noble sacrifices! :)  hehe.
Also, yep, I never thought of that...  (O.o)

Silver Raven seemed surprised by Swift Fox's question, but then he assmed a thoughtful expression, before whispering something back.

Sun Snake looked to Renora. "Do you have a way to project dark energy outwards? Enough to diffuse our own signatures?"


Would this be another way to effectively neutralise Renora as a character for our benefit? :p Have her mask us at the cost of her focus for weighing in, and of course actually helping at all at any point :)

Renora shook her head.

"No, that I cannot do."

She paused, then offered a menacing smirk.

"I could enchant your body with actual dark magic, though. That would give off confusing signatures aplenty. Ever fancied yourself having metal claws instead of your nails, lord Snake? Or maybe an acid spit, to better fit your moniker?"

There was a vicious note in the woman's tone, as if she would be all too happy to grant such "improvements" on the Magnakai.

"That depends. Would you like to be locked in your own mind, unable to move, only feeling the last moments of your daughter for eternity? It is something I can easily do, especially if turned to Darkness. Which is exactly what will happen if we Kai are captured, I am sure. The only hybrid Kai I have seen work was one infused with irrational hatred against me. I suspect they would do a similar thing with me, and you would seem to be a perfect target for such mental focus. So perhaps before you casually joke about such matters, and casually offer your services to infiltrate, remember what is at stake. Losing to Vyctar doesn't just allow a Darklord to rule. The Kai have beaten them before. A Darklord is a focus the Kai can rally behind. No, if we lose, we might offer Naar champions he desperately needs. That may be the real danger here if we fail. So for your own continued existence, you might want to consider very carefully if you can truly get inside that place and not reveal our presence should you be captured or tortured. There are worse things than death or the Nadziranim, I fear."

Sun Snake might still be less kind to Renora the NPC than Renora the player, especially if she's pushing buttons.

Renora didn't seemed scared by Sun Snake's words, although her lips thinned in displeasure for a moemnt after them, before veering into an amused smirk.

"I've been threatened with worse, Kai Lord, even if only an handful of times. But it is good to know that you do have fangs after all; it raises your chances of succeeding."

That said, she turned back to watch the fortress, and she added:

"As for me, and what is the limit of my powers, that's not something I'm going to disclose. But you can count on this: if I say I can do something, then I can, and if I say I can't, then I can't. I want this new Darklord disposed of as much as you do; that's the only guarantee I can give you of my trustworthiness."

Water Hornet didn't try to cover his surprise at the exchange between Sun Snake and Renora. Yet, when he spoke, his voice was firm and devoid of any signs of antipathy. "Well said," he began, although it was unclear who of the two speakers he was referring to, "and this sums up our relations quite well. Seems we have common goal - regarding the rise of a new Darklord - and we all realize that without one another we won't achieve that goal; plus failure of one part of the group will be highly detrimental to the other." Hornet looked Renora straight into the eyes. "As for what happens if we succeed... Well, I will die peacefully knowing we stopped great evil; although I will not die easily. As for you: that, Lady Nematah, is your fight; and I'm sure you already have a plan how to ensure we don't endanger your life once we're done with Vyctar. As I don't expect you would rely on Kai's honour not to stab erstwhile allies in the back." There was no trace of sarcasm in Hornet's last words.

The young Magnakai relaxed a little, before continuing: "I hope we have this clarified. I propose, thus, to focus on getting into the fortress alive and unhindered.So, you say it would be impossible to present us as your retinue, Lady Nematah? Even if we shield our minds and ensure anyone at the gates with abilities to detect our aura is unable to manifest their power...?"

OOC: I might be beating a dead horse here, but how about Mindshielding/Psi-screening our own minds and Mindblasting/Psi-surging minds of those alignement-sensitive at the gates? :)

Renora turned toward Water Hornet, considering his words, and finally answered, her tone hard:

"I can present you as my retinue, but would they believe me? I cannot promise that: I have my powers to make sure my disguise holds, but you would have to rely on your own skills to make it through. And, as you rightly said, one of us failing could well mean all of us failing."

She cast her glance over the whole group before asking:

"Is any of you so confident in your ability to disguise yourself that you would be willing to stake the entire mission on that certainty?"

"the enemy of my enemy is my friend?" fox said speaking up after being silent for quite a while.

"either way i have used my senses to scan the fortress and what i have found isnt good"

fox then took a breath before speaking.

"as expected, these soldiers are clearly the cream of thier crop. they avoid any uneccasary conversation purely to not miss the sound of intruders, which makes our infiltration more difficult. But despite the new banner, which i believe will be Vyctars symbol when he becomes a darklord, they are infact his men as we can expect. as such they are extremely skilled with thier armaments."

thats at least 20 cs and above per game mechanics

fox then took a breath before speaking.

"there are twenty five patrols on the battlements of twenty men per patrol, and despite a five hundred strong squad on the watch, that still leaves another one thousand five hundred inside. we cannot be detected, as we would be overwhelmed"

he then used his fingers to indicate his next point

"each group has three of them carrying torches, one at either end and one in the middle so they have enough light to see each other and confirm any intruders. clearly they are vary weary of intruders, as there will be no margin for error in spotting us"

he then circled his hands

"of the twenty patrols, they run opposite each other along the battlements so ten are moving clockwise and the other anti clockwise, meaning its very well protected as to be expected. the cloests they ever are to each other is fifty meters, but we shouldnt think thats a large distance. as the remaining five patrols are running in intersecting paths as a figure of eight, to cover the gaps of the others"

fox then shook his head.

"finally the torchbearers give each other signals as they pass one other on the patrols, without speaking. it seems vyctar wants complete solitude in his transformation, and with this level of security, he might just have it"

Sun Fox nodded to Sabre Fox's assessment and chimed in, her tone thoughtful:

"Indeed, the guards pattern has been built with care... but, there's at least one small blessing in it."

The Kai Lady had been occupied with frwning at the ball of smoke that levitatng over her palm, which was now as bg as her head and so dense as to be black in colour, except for the small silvery strands that swirled over its surface whenever she poked or prodded it with her finger, but nnow she turned a smile to the others and said, in an attempt to cheer everyone up_

"All the soldier who are utside are ones we won't need to worry about once we've made it past the walls!"

She paused for a moment, then asked to the group at large, sounding a bit mmore serious:

"So, does anybody has any idea how to actually do that?"

Feel free to start posting again and offer some plans, you all - I'm reall curious to see how you'll make it past this first challenge. :)

"This is by no means a plan to seriously advocate," said Sun Snake relctantly, having apparently had an idea, "but in the interest of generating ideas...

Sun Snake gestured around, then to Sabre Fox. "We have about four tasks, each one seemingly impossible and draining of our resources to even reach Vyctar. We need to get across the plains unspotted, then through the gates somehow, then remain unspotted in the keep whilst also trying ot naviagate all the traps and paths." Sun Snake signed. "We would need to either try to disguise ourselves as the soldiers, which seems difficult due to the precautions, or hide which would appear to at the very least require a distraction. Perhaps one larger than Renora alone, especially if there are those who can detect our aura approaching."

"Sabre Fox and Renora are probably the only ones who would have an excuse to appraoch the gates, perhaps stand a chance of getting through. Certainly Sabre Fox and myself stand a chance of piquing Vyctar's attention enough to get an audience, possibly. Sabre Fox and Renora could approach the the main gate with me - my apparent body. I can leave through Spirit walking well enough to seem near dead. And I am sure Renora can be flamboyant enough to draw attention to the group. With more attention at the gate, there may be more chance for the group to either use an alternative entrance or come through with us."

Sun Snake shrugged. "Sabre and I are led to Vyctar, and if I can keep a link to one of you that allows you to know the safe path there. Rneora, you can keep the Nadziran and those with other powers busy if you can, through whatever tales and bargains you need to. Wo knows, perhaps you may even locate the Sommerswerd if Vyctar has not kept it near him."


Sun Snake sighed. "As I say, it is not a good plan, but it is a plan. I will make it the first suggestion, so you know there are no foolish ideas. This is an impossibly difficult target, but we are powerful if we can figure out the correct way to concentrate our powers."

Swift frowned slightly, gesturing towards the heavily-guarded walls.
"If they're overly cautious enough to mount this much of a defence, how do you know they won't decide to stick a blade in you just to make sure you're dead?" she asked, looking towards Sun Snake.


OOC: I've got no ideas either.  Just thought I'd point out the risk there though.  Don't want Sun Snake to die before Swift gets a chance to kill him...err, I mean, got to watch out for our allies, right? :D

"I cannot feign death, just being comatose. And in that state I wouldn't react to anything, so it would be quite effective. And I hope Vyctar would be intrigued one way or any other to want to see what Sabre had done. Even if he suspected a trick, he might be inclined to see me anyway just to call the bluff."

Sun Snake looked uncomfortable. "Besides, the point is we must stop Vyctar. If we ended up pulling focus and being attacked, it would still be a large distraction - the rest of you would have a clear shot at Vyctar, even if we did not survive beyond the initial encounter."

Sun Fox frowned, and turned toward Sun Snake.

"I don't like the idea of any of us dying here. I know it is a possibility, but it's not one I'm comfortable with - I would like to bring every one of us alive out of this, if I can. That's my resolve."

She paused, then raised her hand which was holding the globe of smoke and added:

"I collected the smoke from burning the spider so we can use it if a wide scale distraction is needed, but I can only do it once - once I've spread it all over an area, it would take way to lng to collect it all again. We could use it here, or we can keep it for use inside the likely narrower corridor of the fortress... I'm not sure which is better - we won't need to keep things in reserve if we can't get inside, but getting inside without having any trick left ot use would not be an happy situation to be in, either."

That said, the Magnakai looked at the others, as if to check on their opinion on the matter.

Water Hornet wheezed silently as others recounted details of the fortress' defenses.

"Good thinking," he said to Sun Fox, "I wondered what was that you were doing back there. I think this might be a good distraction to use now. Because once we're inside, we'll still have at least once ace up our sleeves." With that, Hornet produced a plain potion from his backpack - the oily substance inside could be easily identified as Mustow. "Who would've thought I'd keep it all the way to this place," muttered Hornet to himself.

"Anyway, if we do attempt to create a distraction of any kind - and I think this is the only way to go - anyone coming openly to the guards would be likely attacked instantly. At least that's what I'd do as a guard: if anything out of ordinary happened while a stranger approached the gates, I'd hack and slash first and ask question later."

Just saying that smoke distraction is a good idea, but very dangerous if we send someone openly to the gates.

Renora snorted.

"If we were going to use me as a decoy, of course you would wait to use your own distractions until I was inside and clear from suspect - I could even say that some killers had been chasing me, to give your assault a better justification while at the same time deflecting the suspicion of you actually being Kai. The two ruses need not interfere with each other when they can enhance each other instead."

She offered a sharp smile to Hornet, as if to dismiss him; that earned her an annoyed glare from Sun Fox, ut then Dawn Sword moved forward and asked Hornet, watching the potion in his hands:

"What does that do? I've never seen the like of it."

"I used some of that stuff myself in the Darklands" remarked Swift, gesturing at the vial.  "It helped against..."
Her voice suddenly trailed off, her expression looking noticeably uncomfortable.

She glanced briefly at Sun Snake with a momentary hint of a saddened look then back at Dawn Sword, her expression rapidly returning to normal, although the emotionless matter-of-fact tone in her voice after that seemed a little too forced.
"The liquid inside instantly evaporates into a choking smoke on contact with the air, if the vial is opened or smashed.  It's probably more effective at close range, unless the smoke is manipulated with Nexus."


OOC: Yep, that's actually kind of a sore point with Swift these days.  Especially after Sun Snake's little jab back at the Maakengorge, hehe ;)

Anyways, yep.  Mustow.  Useful stuff!  Wish I had a lot more of it! :)

"So I could be the sacrificial Kai here?" Fox said raising an eyebrow. "Are we sure that would work? After all Vyctar doesn't exactly need me in his grand plan"

Sun Fox turned an annoyed glare on Sabre Fox and said, just the slightest edge in her voice:

"I just said I don't want any of us to die, weren't you listening? Why would you even say something like that? Nobody is sacrificable here!"

It was clear that Sabre Fox's words had somewhat irked the Kai Lady.

"That was a figure of speech" Fox replied glaring at Sun Fox. "You know full well ill throw myself into the lions den but not for if its not worth it! Hence my question"

he then folded his arms.

"And anyway, your a fine one to talk! All this not sacrificing ourself didnt matter earlier did it? We both know full both well trying to stop that boulder by yourself at very best would have broken both your arms and legs in the attempt. Most likely it would have killed you! So dont know attempt to take the moral highground here! Practice what you preach comes to mind!"

It was clear by the rather unusal for him, tone in his voice, he would not back down on this one.

"I understand the sentiment," said Sun Snake quietly, but with no less steel in his voice thna Sabre fox nor sun Fox. "But Sabre Fox is correct. There must be balance in all we do. We dishonour the memories of those fallen if we do not act to make sure it does not happen in future no matter the cost to us. No one can deny the strength you are showing with this."

Sun Snake sighed. "But we equally dishonour them if we cause an equal mistake in the other direction. Some of us may not come out of this alive. We will all act as one to ensure that it will not happen lightly, or easily. We must believe that we can achieve this as one with us surviving. But I would not wish another to die or the mission to fail if I was doomed. And I must assume no matter how hard it will be to continue that others feel the same. It all comes down to honouring the wishes of those living and dead above our own. It is a difficult line to walk."

Sun Snake walked up to Sun Fox and whispered something quietly to her.

Renora's retort hadn't seemed to annoy Water Hornet; in fact, it'd looked like it had brought up an idea to the Magnakai, for Hornet had looked at the fortress with a deeply thoughtful expression. He'd merely nodded at Swift's explanation to Dawn Sword, having muttered: "Exactly what Swift says..."

"Ruses can enhance each other," he interjected into the ongoing, and rather heated, debate, repeating Renora's words. "Ideally, we'll need to combine a distraction and a way to cover our approach - thus, I'm thinking about the following sequence: let Lady Nematah approach the gate openly and tell some more or less believable story; like there's a group of wizards on her heels. The moment she is past the gate, we cover the battlements with the collected smoke around the main gate; meanwhile, using our abilities, we raise a dust storm around one of the side entrances, but not very far from the main gate, and under its cover make a run for the doors. If the storm looks natural enough, hopefully the smoke draws main attention and we can get to the side entrance unseen."

Hornet looked around. "Well, that's all I have for the first part of the plan, so far." He smiled nervously.

"Sounds good" replied Swift.  "And if Vyctar knows of Valador, he may think that 'wizards' could mean Valador and some co-conspirators have turned against him.  Though it might depend on how much he knows we're capable of.  As well as what research of his own into Kai abilities he might have done before we ever crossed paths with him, and what he has seen himself on past battlefields...  Would the possibility be likely to cross his mind that any unexpected events could be part of our own plans?"

Ignoring the heated debate between Sun Fox and Sabre Fox, she turned to look at Sun Snake.
"I don't know how much of an impression you made on him when you worked with him before, but would he definitely be expecting you to come here after him?  If so, it would be safer to assume that he knows more about our abilities than we'd expect him to, with regards to tailoring his defences specifically to defeat our attempts to reach him."

She looked up at the walls with a frown.
"I've never met him and you have, so you would know the workings of his mind better than I.  But since he hasn't encountered me and Silver Raven before either, he might not be expecting you to have access to our abilities...
As much as I hate to admit it, this is probably the first place I've encountered that I have no idea of how to infiltrate...  I certainly couldn't manage it on my own.  If you have a plan though, I'm willing to play a part.  Though, as Renora said, my own ability to go unnoticed may be slightly... compromised, in this place..."


OOC: Just putting my own lack of a clue into IC wording. :)
Also throwing out the possibility that, if I was Vyctar, and I knew Sun Snake and his merry band were coming after me, I'd immediately be suspicious of anything that looked like "tampering" with my defences...
Then again, since we know Rankhar didn't make it back here to report any info he learned about Team Swift, then you probably have a couple of cards to play that he might not recognise :)
Although now that I think about it, he might think Rain Feather is still with you too...

"The problem with the wizards comment may be that it focuses any Nadziranim presence in there. They may then be able to locate our auras if truly focused on an attack. However, a show of magical power might be a thing..."

Sun Snake sighed. "My idea in full was as follows. Remember, this was not one I was giving a high priority to in terms of success. Renora would be very flamboyant with an indication of her 'arriving', as you have pointed out we could use Nexus to make that very obvious. I would imagine the actual illusion to create would be one of an enormous zlanbeast of even some dragon looking creature. One that would hover close to the ground. One that, say, would create enough dust and shadow that the rest of you could use it to shelter from the looks above. And hopefully something obvious enough that if Water Hornet used his Animal Control and I used Psi-surge to push those Kraan getting too close away, it would be an obvious reason."

"So Renora and Sabre would walk towards the gate. Sabre would have my body across his shoulder - clearly run through with my own sword - and with a banner showing Vyctar's new banner along with the black dagger tied to it. I would hope such a sight would not be shot on sight. For one a demonstration of power, another of solidarity, may stay their hand. Once the group was close enough to the walls, Renora could make a show of dismissing the mount as a creature of magic, giving the other group the chance to get to the end of the walls and move towards one of the other doors."

"Vyctar did not truly believ Sabre Fox's ruse until I threw enough reasons for doubt to make it seem plausable, and yet Vyctar still went along with it. Then man does not mind going along with a ruse if it helps him. And whether proving a possible adversary is helpless, or getting two prisoners to walk willingly in to his presence, I would hope the man would be confident enough in his abilities to take that chance. And thus allow us to show the rest of you the way in. As you say, he only knows three of us - another fighter, a younger Kai, and a psychic. He will not suspect magic nor someone else other than myself with superior powers of stealth. If Renora can pull even a small amount of the Nadziran attention away form us, one of the sources to detect what we do, this might be enough."

"Otherwise, we discussed the possibility of double bluffs before. If we have ways of projecting magic illusion or something else to another place, we might fool those with other senses that indeed I have other Kai close, but that you are all still outside the keep on the other side. If Vyctar has figured out the magical magnet he possesses, then perhaps placing that elsewhere will make him confident he knows the location of us. A powerful magic weapon or magical presence would also pull the magnet - creating two false illusions."

Sun Fox was about to answer Sabre Fox when Sun snake interveed; his words seemed to affect er, for the Kai Lady deflated and said, her tone soft:

"You're right, both of you. I'm sorry, I just let myself get carried away."

While the situation settled, and more ideas where thrown around, Renora openly scoffed at the display of emotion from the Magnakai.

"I still think that I would do much better alone than with any of you buffoons coming after me. Then again, the lives you're risking are your own, so do whatever you want. Just don't expect me to bail you out if I would need to risk my life to do it, because I will always place my own survival above yours."

Silver Raven frowned, then spoke, his tone serious:

"That matters little, wytch - we'll make our own decision, your input isn't required."

Then he turn ed to Sun Snake and added:

"However, I'm not sure how much your plan is workable, Snake - Ferret is capable of crafting illusionary images, but I'm not. Don't get me wrong, Hornet plan of using nexus to create dust clouds in addition to using the smoke would surely be effective, and the dragon idea is good, but how would we go about putting it into practice?"

"I can only tell you what I can do, and suggest what might be needed for the ruse. Only everyone else knows how far they can push their powers."

Sun Fox nodded.

"Indeed we need to push ourselves if we are to succeed here."

She paused, before asking, to the group at large:

"So, do we have a working plan of action yet?"

"Water Hornet's idea would seem to keep us all together. I think we can best trigger the defenses as one team rather than split. If we can use our abilities with fire to flare up then extinguish the torches of the ground patrols, this may buy us some time to get in one of the side doors. The cloud of dust might be enough to mask us. If we can then push the Kraan away from it as if it were so unnatural they feared it, we might be able to dissuade the air patrols from seeing us. However, the Drakkar might suspect it a cover unless we could add something to the dust. Can we shoot lightning or something else from it? Enough to make the dust storm itself is a weapon and attack not just cover for us?"

"Perhaps easier if we can create an illusion of an enemy who appeared to be manipulating the cloud by magic, directing it towards the defenders" remarked Swift thoughtfully.
"An illusory enemy who could conveniently appear to be easily defeated by the defenders, shot down by an arrow from the guards on the walls perhaps...  Then again I don't know if we have the power to create such an illusion convincingly.  Shining Peacock could, no doubt.  But I'm not sure I'd trust him with us on this one anyway."


OOC: Just a thought that occurred to me.  We all sneak inside while the guards are distracted shooting at shadows...  I don't know if it's feasible though...  At least not without Frost Ferret's illusion magic.  Even then it would probably be too draining...
This message was last edited by the player at 12:37, Wed 15 Apr 2015.

Silver Raven seemed thoughtful, but eventually he answered:

"Well, while I can't create any such illusion, I do can provide a bit of a light show if it is necessary, by using Net and Lightning Hand."

He paused, then turned to Sun Snake and asked:

"How powerful a psychic are you, Sun Snake? Could you make them think that things are there, when they actually aren't?"

You don't have anybody with either illusion magic or mirages, Swift Fox, so what you're asking for cannot be done.

"could we simply not try and plant a suggestion in the Kraans minds that there is a threat coming in on the opposite side of the fortress? no doubt they would then respond and less eyes would be on us as we cross the grounds"

Speaking to Sabre, sun Snake said, "An idea, but I fear that anything like that the Drakkar might have been warned against. Vyctar might know our powers with animals too well. I think we might need to give a plausable explation."

sun Snake then thought of something. "Of course, going back to the ideas of bluff and double bluff, we might make this huge demonstration here, and then make some other less obvious move on the other side of the fortress. Trusting to the Drakka to pick up on it. In that case, who would notice someone barking an order in Giak that the Kraans all followed. Each Drakkar might think the others are moving deliberately, and so not comment on the eagerness of their own mounts to go look for the 'real' attack on the other side?"


sun Snake then turned back to Silver Raven. "I'm sorry, you have enoucntered how I can link to willing minds and try and share sensations and images. I don'#t think any of you were foolwed they were your own memories, let alone womething you were already seeing. I might try to push my abilities in that regard, but certainly I cannot for the moment convince many Drakkar they are seeing anything different."

Sun Snake frown and seemed to lapse inside himself, as  if already trying to work out a way in which he was wrong, or a way to move towards such abilities as Shining Peacock had showed.


Yeah, for the moment Sun Snake can't create mental illusions like that, it's a specific Psi-surge improvement and I'm not sure how easy it would be to make it wide ranging ...perhaps Mind Fort would help with it, I'm not sure... :(
This message was last edited by the player at 18:36, Wed 15 Apr 2015.

"Really?" said Water Hornet surprised, "I thought Dusk Rat mentioned that her ability to control and lead animals was quite a surprise to Drakkarim...? Anyway, I tend to lean towards the option that we create two 'disturbances' and let our enemy guess which one is a bluff and what is really our attempt to access the fortress."

He looked at Renora. "More and more I tend to agree with...Lady Nematah, that we should let her try her luck with approaching the guards directly. Then we use the release of the smoke as the distraction and the dust storm as the actual cover to let us approach one of the side entrances." He looked at Sabre Fox and then Sun Snake. "And I suggest we repulse Kraans from the smoke at the main gate to make their Drakkar riders focus on it."

"Rankhar did not realise Dusk Rat's power, but Vyctar may have. And even if he did not before, he may do now with what he is undertaking."

Sun Snake shrugged. "Either way, if we repulse them from the distraction they will either pursue it and be distracted, or not and so not be able to reveal to those on the ground it is a distraction."

Sun Fox nodded, as if agreeing with the general plan as Sun Snake and Water Hornet had detailed it, but before she could speak, Renora's voice overrode her with her usual cold, cutting tone:

"As entertaining as seeing you fumble around is, I grow bored of it. Have you decided what you're going to do, so that I can finally move?"

Basically, I need you to outline the plan in its entirety, including the exact order of every indiviual action you're going to take, and then I'll tell you what to roll to put it into motion.

"There's an enchantment built into the gates" remarked Swift.  "It seems to protect the gates from being damaged or battered down, and sends up signal lights to warn the defenders about any damage.  As far as I can tell, we should be ok as long as we don't damage the gates in any way..."

She narrowed her eyes and peered at the area leading up to the gate.
"I can't see anything else" she added.


OOC: Hoping that roll was enough so I didn't miss anything...  ;)

"The time is up," said Water Hornet quietly, but with such determination as if Kai himself had spoken to the Magnakai.

"A bad plan is better than none," said Hornet turning to Renora, "yes - we believe in such silly wisdoms in the Order, should you ask." He grew visibly more serious, though, as he went on. "Lady Nematah, I suggest...no I ask you to use your wit and confront the guards at the gates openly. Do or say anything that will convince them that there is indeed a group of magicians - or maybe just a single one - pursuing you. Please."

Hornet glanced at Sun Snake and looked considerably longer at Sun Fox, before continuing. "We, meanwhile, prepare to penetrate the fortress' defenses."

The young Magnakai pointed towards the gate. "We will try to access the fortress through one of the side entrances - either the one right by the main gate, or the one along the wall to the left." He looked to Renora again. "I will not lie that I'm doing this for your own good - although I'm sure even you will understand, and perhaps even appreciate this: I won't tell you which entrance we will choose." Hornet rested his one hand on the hilt of his named dagger, while fishing out a Gold Crown from his pouch with the other. "Simply because I do not know," he said, looked Renora in the eye and tossed a coin. "We'll let the chance decide," he said as he deftly caught the spinning coin in his closed fist.

"Now, I suggest you put some distance between us and yourself - to not reveal our position - and set off in ten minutes. We should be ready by that time. Or do you insist on hearing the plan?" Hornet's voice showed he held no hostility to the witch (at least regarding this issue), but was convinced that he was doing the right thing.

OOC: I'm not that much concerned about Renora hearing our plan, but it is in Hornet's character to try minimizing the amount of information revealed to an outsider regarding Kai abilities etc.

And more importantly, I wanted to ask Shadow the following questions :)
1) Based on the image from Msg #816 in OOC: ninth symphony thread: I assume we're at the south gate (the one in the bottom). Right?

2) Is it possible to create a dust storm wide enough to cover both side entrances marked with capital 'S' below in its area of effect?

   \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \       S                      s       / / / / / / / / /
    \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \               S G                  / / / / / / / / /
     \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \                                  / / / / / / / / /
      \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \                                / / / / / / / / /
       \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \____________________>_________/ / / / / / / / /
        \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \__________________<_____________/ / / / / / / /
         \ \ \ \ \ \ \______________________>___________/ / / / / / /
          \ \ \ \ \ \____________________<_______________/ / / / / /
           \ \ \ \ \________________________>_____________/ / / / /
            \ \ \ \______________________<_________________/ / / /
             \ \ \__________________________>_______________/ / /
              \ \________________________<___________________/ /
               \____________________________>_________________/


My ambition is for the dust storm to allow us choose which side entrance we want to approach. Since we have multiple Nexus wielders and two artefacts allowing use of Nexus, I thought it might be possible.

"Mention the Deathstaff," Sun Snake suggested to Renora. "I spoke of it to Vyctar and he did not seem to know nor care of it any more than to seek it to help us. However, the Nadziranim that aid him may well know of it. Or he may know of it more now and realise his foolishness in letting it go. If you suggest someone weilding it has come to them, that might aid us in them takign the attack seriously, and suggest why someone might be attackign them now. I would not drop Valador's name. Valador knew one of his magnets came this way. I will not rule out that Vyctar is so far gone on his path that Valador might not have been able to reach out, or was already some part of the plan. It would be foolish to simply hope they on opposite sides of all of this. Bets not to risk another shock and also create a hole in the lie."

The wytch shrugged at the show of distrust, then said, her tone aloof:

"Do as you wish, I care little. Just don't put my life in danger, for you'd regret it."

And with that, Renora nodded at Sun Snake's suggestion, turned her back to the group, and disappeared under the cover of the trees, leaving the Kai alone to plan.

You are facing the southern gate, yes. Two Nexus users applying a push will suffice to create the cloud - you need to tell me if you want a widespread cloud (which would cover five of the eight sectors in the map I gave you, and be 15 meters tall) or a more concenrated, thick one (30 m tall, but covering only two and a half sectors of the map). The walls, for reference, are 25 m tall; for any imperial measure user, 1 m = 3 ft., so those measure are 45, 90 and 75 feet, respectively. :)

"Good luck," said Water Hornet simply, watching Renora leave. He genuinely hoped she would survive. 'No,' he corrected himself, 'I just hope it won't be because of us if she dies at this dreaded place.'
Turning to his Kai brothers and sisters he said: "Here goes the plan... Don't hesitate to stop me, if you disagree with anything."

"Sun Fox, once Lady Nematah is inside - or attacked - you count to ten and envelop the gate with smoke from the beast. While you are counting, those of us who can will gradually raise a dust storm. As the smoke starts to spread over the gate, and the dust storm gains strength, I'll try to connect with the mind of Kraans nearby to allow Sun Snake send a psychic surge through the link. Next, it's your move, Sabre. Could you put off some of the torches around that side entrance?" Hornet gestured to the side entrance he was talking about - it was not the one right next to the gate, but the next one to the left. "And then we run like mad towards the side entrance, the dust hopefully giving us enough cover. Raven, if you could magically attack the gate the moment we move - that might support the impression of attacking magicians. Swift, putting an arrow through a random guard's chest would also help - if you have some arrows not made in the Monastery. Whatever other distractions you can think of, I think we should employ them - distributing evenly between the area of the main gate and that distant side entrance."

"I have no plan what to do once we're at the doors proper, though; we'll have to improvise, and think quickly. If there are no guards, we'll have to be wary of traps; if the entrance is guarded - we might try to mind trick them...or simply batter our way in..." Hornet looked at Raven, Swift, Sun Snake and the two remaining Foxes in turn. "Once we're inside, we'll have to make a last 'bang' - even if it's just setting up a fire - to allow us disappear inside the fortress."

"Oh, and I was honest with the witch - I have no idea which side entrance to choose - so, unless you object, we will indeed let the toss of a coin decide."

Sun Snake nodded. "I believe I can combine Inviisbility and Pathsmanship to aid in our dash for the gate. If Swift Fox can lend her expert eye on what I am attempting to do to help guide you all, I believe I may be able to use my instincts to not only find the safest route to the gate, but also in a way that will allow the rest of you to follow it. Providing the Nexus cloud is great enough."

Sun Snake then held up a questioning finger to Water Hornet. "What psychic surge do you need against the Kraan? Also, I am not sure if I can target more than a mind at a time, although I am willing to try to combine our powers if you think it will help."


This is more a player checking in - Psi-surge generally cannot target multiple minds at a time until you have the Lorecircle of the Spirit I believe - can the Animal Control link get around that?

"Good," commented Hornet, clearly pleased they would have a 'guide' to lead them to the fortress walls.

Answering Snake's question, the young Magnakai nodded: "Yes, I heard Psy-surge had such limitations...but I don't think we need to psychically hurt the beasts. I was thinking of creating a channel to their minds, through which you would send a feeling of unease, dread and general aversion. I'd liken it to a situation where I would light up a fire visible by Kraans and you would paint the flames green...assuming Kraans were repulsed by green fire, that is."

OOC: Eh, in fact, I haven't checked this with Shadow, yet. :)
I imagined Hornet would open up a communication channel with nearby Kraans and Snake would (psychically) "scream" something repulsive through it. :) But maybe it's not possible.
But it seemed like a cool thing to do (and more fun than just use AK to order Kraans away - which, by the way, Hornet can't do; at least not straightforwardly).
This message was last edited by the player at 16:36, Sun 19 Apr 2015.

Swift didn't seem to have anything to say regarding the plan, although she did tuck the Jade Spike back into her belt and ready her bow and one of the wooden arrows, apparently in preparation for going along with the idea of shooting down a guard...


OOC: Can I shoot a guard while invisible without giving away my position though?  Like can Invisibility conceal which direction the arrow came from, perhaps clouding its presence until it actually hits the target?  (At which point it would be hard NOT to notice it!)

Sun Fox grinned, lightly punching Hornet on the shoulder in a friendly manner.

"That's a great plan! And here I thought you were mostly working as a diplomatic liason and researcher... when did you became a master spy?"

Then she raised her hand holding the smoke globe, and went on:

"However, are you sure I should use the smoke? Once inside the fortress, it might come in handy to have an easily deployable cover fog, and unlike here, we'll not have dust at hand. I just don't think the smoke would help as much now as it could later."

As Sun Fox says, if you create a dust cloud, the smoke would not help any, and basically be wasted; if you want to use the smoke, of course, you can, but then the dust cloud becomes redundant.

I'll be putting up the rest of the answers to your questions in the OOC thread - as soon as I'm done writing them. :)

"I heard once someone say that diplomacy and espionage have a common mother...," said Hornet with a grin, obviously pleased by Sun Fox's words.

Becoming serious again he then looked the fortress wall and the gate over. "You're right; let's not waste the smoke now, then. Hmm. And this will also allow you to participate in raising the dust, for I might have to completely focus on deterring Kraan patrols."
Hornet fell silent, considering the situation once more.

OOC: OK, keeping the smoke for later is good news.

"Well it all sounds good" Fox said with a smirk "But I think we have more than enough mastery over Nexus to use our own powers here to infiltrate our entrance"

Fox looked up at the torches.

"In regards to the torches I could do something else. Sun Fox and I could Enflame the torches fiercely to blind them on the battlements. That could actually be more helpful than simply removing them"

"A good idea," nodded Sun Snake approvingly.


So I'm on trailblazing duty to the gate, and I can psi-surge if needed (though it's an expensive use) at the gate?

Swift seemed to have been examining the run up to the gate and reassessing her chances of taking down one of the guards.
Returning the bow to her back and the arrow to her quiver, she took up the Jade Spike again and looked towards the others, waiting to see if they'd figured out the plan...


OOC: Trying to keep track of all this is giving me a headache...  Hehe.

Jut as the group was finishing their planning, Renora's cloacked figure emerged from the petrified forest, marching toward the fortress with a decise, self-assured stride.

The soldiers immediately noticed, with the fires of two patrols stopping and one Drakkar shouthing, loud and clear for all to hear:

"Stop! Who's there?"

Renora's answer was spoken too low for the group to hear, but whatever she said, it did seemed to placate the guards, for they moved closer to her cautiously but purposefully, without the urgency that would be expected of meeting an enemy.

One of the two patrols stood near the wytch, discussing whit her in low tones, until a second joined; going by Sabre Fox's reckoning, it was clear that this particular one was the one goup with a different patrol route from the others. In short order, the group departed toward the gates, escorting the woman there - and when they reached it, a new discussion was started with the group, but it wasn't long before one of the guars at the gates was waving his torch in direction of the battlements, clearly a signal for those inside.

It took a few moments, but eventually, in answer to the signal, the massive gates of Gazad Helkona started to open...

And here you go!  ^_^

For a brief moment, Water Hornet had felt doubt creep into his mind. Had they been right to trust the witch? But when the giant gates started moving, he instinctively cleared his mind of any superfluous thoughts and started counting.

'Ten...'

With trained precision Hornet checked that all equipment's straps and laces were fastened well.

'...five...'

The rapier and Turtle Shield appeared in his hands.

'...two...'

The young Magnakai glanced at Sun Fox and brought together his focus.

'...one, zero!'

Hornet invoked his powers of Nexus.

OOC: Nexus Push is -2WP, right?
Camo roll: 3. With a re-roll. Hmpf. :-P

Water Hornet found it much harder than he expected to concentrate on following Sun Snake's movement, trying to connect with the minds of flying beasts and see and breathe in the raging storm of dust.

His eyes stung and were filled with tears and he begun coughing just a couple of steps towards the walls. At least he tried to project the emotions over his ordeal over the psychic link - he urged Kraans to stay away from the storm as far as possible, lest they would met with same trouble as Hornet did; and the young Magnakai was sure to add a mental image of a falling Kraan that flew too close to the storm.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:42, Wed 22 Apr 2015.

Sun Snake closed his eyes to the mundane world, allowing himself to instead feel it through his other divine senses. His natural instincts were honed to try and find the safetst path through the whirling chaos, but his intellect had always been geared to the wlefare of others. It seemed oddly simple now to combine those two aspects, and once more find a path of safety that others could follow by.


Let's go!

OOC: Keeping with the "Metal Gear" theme, here's some more mood music...  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfZdD6ktWOw


As the gate started to open, Swift closed her eyes for a moment, appearing to concentrate on something.

Then she opened them again and slowly began to walk out of cover as the dust started to rise.
As she did, her figure started to become faded and indistinct, like the ghost in her past, the movement of the red scarf and her cloak blowing in the wind becoming lost in the swirling patterns of dust.

Only a brief glimmer of green light from the Jade Spike remained visible as she faded into the rising clouds, and soon even that was gone as she broke into a run and literally vanished in the direction of the gate...

There was a sudden flash of light as Sabre Fox made the torches flare up, and then night was plunged into a much deeper darkness as they all were estinguished all at once, leaving the dazzled soldier totally unable to see anything around themselves.

As soon as the lights were gone, the group moved, weaving through the darkness and the dust like wolves on a hunt, silent and hidden but yet moving fast, not stopping and nimbly avoiding the suddenly standing patrols, Sun Snake's steps leading them along.

Sun Fox and Silver Raven brought up the rear, standing a considerable distance behind the others and letting lose streams of blue fire and lightning toward the main gate - Raven firing one from each hand, while Sun Fox was wielding her silver scimitar and apparently commanding the magic to surge from it with each new slash of the blade.

But the focus of the Magnakai was more on the side door they'd choosen as their goal; two soldiers were standing there, moving their spears around with uncertainty, but suddenly, one of the two stumbled back, the glinting green hilt ot a dagger barely visible just under his chin, in the only place where the Drakkar's armour let an opening above the nick but under the helmet and mask.

While his companion stumbled back and slowly sunk to the ground, the other soldier waved his spear around frantcally, hoping to find the attacker who'd struck down without even revealing himself, but the spear hit only air, and then twin blades struck at the same time, one cutting the spear arm away at te elbow where it was unguarded so that the ther could be thrust with impossible power and strenght right through the secnd's Drakkar's breastplate, killing him instanly.

A few moments later, Swift Fox materialized from the shadows to recover her dagger from th man she'd killed, while Sabre Fox removed Vigilance from the second's one body; by the time Sun Fox reached the group, she found them standing over the two corpses, which cause her to let out a small chuckle.

"You were fast, weren't you?"

Then, she turned toward the side door in front of them - a small slab of metal within the rock walls, just a bit taller than Sabre Fox and devoid of any decoration, handle or keyhole - and she asked, thoughtful:

"So, how do we enter now?"

Well, Sift Fox managed one of her stealth kills, and Sabre Fox had a roll of 8 which, with a +11 CR, ends up being an instant ko, so... I think this one time you got away with putting on a really minimal effort, so no CS battle reduction - those were some awesome rolls.

Next hurdle: how do you get past a closed door?

Sun Snake blinked as the efforts of guiding the group had finished - and he'd barely taken in the scene before the two sentries were dispatched.

He moved closer to the gate. "Sabre, can you look to see how easy scaling over would be with your eyes and expertise." Sun Snake gestured to Swift Fox. "Perhaps we can try to feel out the area now we can touch it, and try to find some mechanism to disable the traps. Or a weakness around."


Yay, we got to the fortress! Maybe we should call it a win and head back?

Sun Fox eyes looked upwards and said, her tone doubtful:

"Would that be prudent? The cloud doesn't cover all the way up to above the wall - there's the risk the kraans might see Sabre Fox if he attemps to climb."

The hunting DC for climbing without falling is 7.

The camouflage DC for hiding and going unnoticed by the flying patrols while you climb is 12 (it'd have been higher, but Hornet reduced it by pushing away as many kraans as he did).

OOC: Hats off to our sentinel killers - the stealth one and the epic-style one. Every saved CS point will count ^_^
(And a personal thanks to the 'guide through the dust' ;) )

Closer to the walls it seemed the whipping of the dust was not so intensive; or maybe it was just a consequence of Water Hornet pulling his focus together back again.

He spent a moment just looking at the dead bodies. Even after all the years at the Monastery, he was surprised how effective at killing a Magnakai could be. The arrival of the rest of the group spurred him into action, though.

"Dawn Sword, search the bodies - they might have a key of some sort," he said to the girl, than glanced at Sun Snake and added, "please. And be careful."

Hornet himself approached the small door, stopping a couple of feet away. The surface of the door gave no clue how to pass to the other side. "I hope it's not trapped," he mumbled awakening his Kai skills, again.

OOC: Will use Mind-over-Matter to examine if there's a mechanical lock opening/closing the door. A roll is required, isn't it?

Swift tucked the Jade Spike and the pink-handled dagger she had drawn to attack the second guard with back into her belt and examined the door closely.

Raising her right hand, she placed it against the door and seemed to concentrate for a moment.
A crackling aura of what looked like gold-tinged lightning flickered around her hand for a moment, spreading out around the door before disappearing.

Swift slowly drew her hand away from the door and looked back at the others.  She looked a little wearied by whatever she had done, but still alert.
"It should be safe to damage it now if we have to.  At least as far as I can tell" she remarked calmly.


OOC: Is the door actually locked or just closed?
Either way, it could be safe to break it down now...  Maybe!
This message was last edited by the player at 13:23, Thu 23 Apr 2015.

The door is both closed and locked - and yes, Hornet, a roll is required to unlock it.

Dawn Sword nodded and obeyed Water Hornet's order, even if she looked a bit queasy as she did so; however, after a few moments of frisking the dead soldiers, she shook her head and stated:

"They don't seem to have any key, Master Water Hornet, the only things I found are a pouch with a few iron coins on each of them, and their weapons.

Speaking of which, if any of you wants to help themselves to any of the Drakkarim's stuff, here's a list:

2 money pouches, total of 37 kika
2 Darksteel Spear
2 Darksteel Dagger
2 Darksteel Short Swords
2 Hammer of Blood Shield (+1 CS, -1 damage received)
1 Drakkar Armour (+12 END, +2 CS, +6 fatigue)

The helms wouldn't fit on any of you, since the masks are tailord to the wearer's face and so are the helmets to the head; as for the armour, it is big and heavy, so anybody without either Huntmastery or the Weponsmastery "Armour Knowledge" improvement will only get half the stated values of END and CS boosts - but will still take the full increase on fatigue, of course. There's a reason Kai are lightly armoured, after all - you're just not trained to fight well with all that weight on yourselves! ^_^

Water Hornet wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. "There is a plain mechanical lock - it can be opened, but it will be difficult," the young Magnakai indicated the area where the door met with the stone, "the slit is impossibly thin. Plus, even when unlocked, we'll have to push the door from the inside - the door was made to withstand a serious siege and is therefore a sturdy piece of metal."

Hornet looked around, searching for anything that'd help them get inside, and noticed results of Dawn Sword's efforts. "Well done," he said, giving the girl a reassuring smile, "the iron coins are Kika, their currency; we should probably take it."

OOC: Translated into game mechanics' terminology: it is possible to use Mind-over-Matter on the lock, but DC is rather high (7). Plus, once unlocked, the door has to be pushed from inside with some force - meaning additional use of Nexus push (there are no handles on this side to pull it) - unless we come up with some other way to move the mass of the door.

EDIT:
I'm just putting up info so everyone knows what we are at. Maybe someone has an idea how to lower the given DC (or can think up of an alternative way to open the door).
If not, I'll try MoM, of course.

Also, I wasn't looking for traps (especially magic ones) - just for the record. :) (But Swift seems rather sure it's safe, doesn't she? :) )

This message was last edited by the player at 15:42, Thu 23 Apr 2015.

I ought to point out, both the MoM and the Nexus rolls can be repeated until you succeed, since there's no penalty for failing other than spending WP repeatedly on each new attempt (if the attempt requires WP, that is) and, where Nexus is concerned, the possibility that the repeated sounds of air smashing the door might attract notice from nearby soldiers (like ones above the walls).

That said, repeated attempts take time, time during which the sentinels will start searching for the attacking mages, so the more rolls you use, the more likely you'll be discovered. You luckily have a very good margin (26 rolls of total attempts at finding a way past the door) thanks to your choice of the wide-area cloud of dust, but even so, you might want to be quick about it! ^_^

Silver Raven nodded to Hornet's idea, then kneeled to recover the money and hand them to Swift Fox, before taking one of the shields on the ground for himself and strapping it to his back.

"I agree about the wall" Fox said observing it "I think I could climb it, but I highly doubt I would go undetected. It's probably best to focus on the door. I can make an attempt on that"

Yea I don't think it's even possible for Fox to beat a 12 camo roll without serious aid here!

"I didn't want to rule out any avenue, incase we saw something we missed earlier. I agree through is far better than over. However, be careful - there is a solder half asleep somewhere close to the gate. He might not be in view of the gate, but he might hear us if we are too noisy."

"That might be a problem," said Water Hornet turning to Sun Snake, "attempting to push the door open from inside with Nexus could create quite a noise..."

He then looked at Silver Raven: "Raven, I recall there was a Brotherhood spell that would create a sticky magical net. Do you think it could be used to pull the door open once we unlock it? And could you cast such a spell?"

Swift offered Raven a smile and slipped the Kika into her belt pouch before looking back at the door, narrowing her eyes and peering at the place where Hornet had indicated the lock as being.

"Does anyone know how to cast the Silence spell?" she asked in a low voice.  "If we didn't need to worry about how much noise we made, this might be easier.  And as a last resort we could just break the door down if we had to..."


OOC: You know those people who say "Violence never solves anything"?  They probably just didn't use enough of it! ;)

Can Mind over Matter attempts from more than one person be co-ordinated to increase the chance of success with the lock?  Swift can help if so.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:45, Fri 24 Apr 2015.

Silver Raven shook his head and said, apologetic:

"I'm sorry, Swift, but I dn't know how to cast that spell."

Then he turned toward hornet and added:

"As for the Net spell, that one I know, but it doesn't work the way you think it does. It encases the target with ropes of energy weave together, there's nothing sticky about it, nor any way I can see for it to help us drag the door toward ourselves. If anything, the opposite is true - it protects the one encased within from damage somewhat, and make them harder to move, since it blocks movements. Maybe you remember how I used it in the forest?"

Yeah, I don't think Net can help here, sorry. Although if you can figure a way, just let me know. Also, here's the full list of the spells Raven knows:

Lightning Hand, Summon Water, Counterspell, Net, Freeze, Mist, Sense Evil

Not sure if you can make any use of that, but I thought it might help anyway, so there they are. :)

Hmm, rather than being worried about the sentry, can we use him?

Can Sun Snake use any combination of Pathsmanship/Divination/Psi-surge to implant Sun Snake saying 'open the door' as if one of the two sentries were yelling, but only have the half-asleep sentry hear it?

The idea being we don't even really have to hide from that sentry if he does open the door, if he een starts to open it then wouldn#t that be enough for a Nexus push fro mthe outside to blast it open, knock him over, then we can probably kill him quickly too with a surprise attack?
This message was last edited by the player at 11:31, Fri 24 Apr 2015.

"Ah, right, I must've mistaken it for something else," said Water Hornet.

OOC: Interesting idea, Snake. What we'd probably have to do, as well, would be to convince the guard that we already said the password (as I expect that is the way how anyone from outside can gain access inside); but if we can "mind-kick" the guard into coming to open the door, we probably can (with an appropriate roll) convince him he heard the correct password.
o_O

Sun Snake looked to Swift Fox after Silver Raven revealed that his magic might not aid the opening of the door. "The climb up looks difficult, and would put anyone in danger of being seen. I would not rate my chances of being hidden up there even if i thought I had a hope of scaling it. However, I saw that you can make yourself indistinct even in plain sight. Do you think you could make the climb?"

Sun Snake looked uncertain at having brought up the possibility.

Swift looked up at the wall, her eyes travelling quickly over the stonework, seeking out possible hand-holds and mapping a route upwards to the top.
"Possibly" she replied, without looking down.  "Wouldn't be the first time I've scaled a wall to get into somewhere I shouldn't have been..."

She stared up at the wall for a few seconds longer then looked back at Sun Snake.
"Never with a place this heavily guarded though.  I'm not worried about the climb itself, but if I'm spotted, you'd better be prepared to run!"


OOC: Basically, Swift could probably make the climb (climbing gear would be helpful!)  But with my luck with the Dice Roller and only two rerolls left, there's a definite possibility I'll get everyone killed.  Up to you guys if you want to take that gamble, I'm ok with it either way, I've already survived much longer than I'd expected to!  :)

"If you're spotted they'll wish they had not," said Sun Snake grimly, clearly still worried.

A hint of her usual wry smirk crossed Swift's face at that.
"Well, if you lot have to retreat and leave me in there, maybe I'll try and find Vyctar on my own and see what I can do.  No promises."

She reached back, adjusting the mirrored shield on her back to make sure it wouldn't catch any reflections of light to give away her position and stepped close to the wall.
"Can borrow your climbing gear?  That would help" she asked, looking back at Sabre...


OOC: EDIT: Fixed that.  Apparently I did know about the climbing gear, but didn't know I knew :)
This message was last edited by the player at 12:11, Mon 27 Apr 2015.

Sun Snake turned to Water Hornet, pointing ot the sky and murmuring an idea to help keep some of the pressure from Swift Fox by aiding her attempts to hide on the gate.

Having stepped away from the door, Water Hornet had listened to the Swift's intention of scaling the wall with visibe worry.

He nodded to Sun Snake and quickly confirmed that he had understood.

Sun Snake nodded, then turned his attention to the sky and Swift Fox, ready to verbally translate his instincts in to actions for Water Hornet.

fox looked at the wall before sighing and reaching into his backpack

"For the record I think this is a bad idea. If your caught we are all dead" he said reluctantly handing it over

"Thanks for the vote of confidence" remarked Swift with a sarcastic grin.

Attaching the climbing gear, she looked back at Sun Snake.
"As I said, if I'm spotted, don't stick around playing the hero, just run as if Naar himself was after you.  At least the rest of you might live to fight another day then."

She gave a brief glance towards Silver Raven, offering him a smile before turning to the wall.

Reaching up, she gripped the first of the hand-holds she had mapped out in her head, allowing her movements to flow from previous memories of similar actions letting the climbing become instinctive.
Just like another building in Anskaven, with watchful guards inside...  Not that I really want to be thinking about that...

Narrowing her eyes, she concentrated intently on the colour of the wall in front of her face, imagining that anyone looking in her direction would see only that, not her.
To any onlookers, she appeared to fade into the wall, becoming little more than a moving shadow, perhaps cast by a cloud in the moonlight.  A ghost once more...


OOC: Just to be a bit of a troll, I'm keeping the rolls hidden ;)  hehe

"Open the gate no matter what!" hissed Sun Snake in a way that would only carry to Swift Fox.

To the others he said, "if she is spotted we need to get in to the fortress as quickly as possible to protect us from the Kraan above. And then we need to head for the closest trap involving undead or mass destruction and trigger it to give the soldiers inside something to do rather than engae us. We all know where Vyctar is, if we are separated we make for him. One way or another we need to stop him. At worst delay him enough for the Skyrider to return and let the order know of the danger. But I do not believe we will fail, no matter the cost of the success."

As Sun Snake spoke, Sun Fox nodded grimly, with Dawn Sword mimicking the movement a few moments later. Silver Raven, however, was clearly focused on Swift Fox instead, following her ascent with a scrutinizing glance and a worried expression on his face. Yet even so he too eventually lost sight of the girl, her form merging so well with the dark shadows cast by the clouds and the thin cracks visible along the walls that a blink of the eys was enough ofr her form to disappear completely.

For Swift Fox herself, the cimb was easy, almost an aftethought in cmparison to the effrt she was pustting into going unnoticed; her every move was as calculated to follow the movement of the shadows on the walls as it was fast, her eyes tracked the flight paths of the kraans above to inform her every gesture in keeping herself in their blind spot, her senses becoming so attuned with the world around herself that even the swish of her cloack to the wind was timed to merge into her surroundings, appearing to any observr as nothing more than a small crack in the black stoes around her.

And then, Swift Fox was on top of the bastions, and even as she landed on the walkaway above the wall, she could se that two soldiers were stationed here; neither was close enough to notice her, but if she had to recover the limbing equipment to make the descent on the other side, the risk of discovery would still be high.
Of course, neither one was watching her yet, and if she wanted, that might allow her to silence them - but she'd have to be fast, for a prolonged scuffle was boun to draw attention.

Or she could just leave the climbing equipment affixed where it was, and make a dash for the ladder she could see just a handful of feet away - if she moved fast enough, she was sure she'd be there before anybod had noticed her... although there was always the risk that a random exam of the walls would reveal the rope and grappling hook still affixed to them.

So, choiches!

Recovering the climbing equipment so you can use it to climb down would take another Invisibility roll, with DC 8, while ashing for the ladder is an Hunting check with DC 6.

If you want to go for the fight, you currently count as hidden, and you have a total of three rounds to take down both soldiers - it should be really easy for you, you just need to figure out how to go about it, remembering that you count as being hidden right now thanks to your amazing Invisibility check to climb unnoticed. :)

"Completely true," commented simply Water Hornet on Snake's words. "And a good choice of a rendezvous point should we get separated," he added gravely seriously.

The young Magnakai looked up to the night sky; he couldn't see any of Kraan patrols, but once he attuned his mind to perceive emotions flowing in the animal domain, he immediately knew the air was far from empty. The thoughts, or feelings, of flying beasts were clearly discernible - wild, lively, aggressive; and with a subtle tinge of Evil to them. For a moment, Water Hornet wondered if - were they left to evolve unaffected by Naar's influence - Kraans, Doomwolves and other spawned creatures would get rid of the Evil in their blood and completely become beasts of Nature.
The next moment, he turned his attention to Sun Snake, to help divert any danger coming close to Swift Fox.

OOC: Shadow, is driving off nearby Kraan still beneficial for Swift? (I guess it is, but just want to check - especially if I should make the previously discussed roll...?)

Swift instinctively froze as she noticed the guards.
While the rest of her body remained unmoving, shrouded in the shadows cast by the wall at the edge of the walkway, her eyes darted around, hesitating briefly on the ladder leading down, then on the grapple of the climbing gear and then back to the guards.

Her hand drifted slowly towards the hilt of the Jade Spike...

It would be so easy to take them down now.  It's what you do best, isn't it?
What if one of them raises the alarm?  You could easily hide out in this place and pick them off one by one...

Her hand closed around the dagger's hilt...

Then she released it and slowly turned to unhook the grapple from the wall, quickly and silently pulling up the rope behind it.
As she completed the recovery of the rope she turned to move across the walkway, and accidentally brushed the tip of the grappling hook against the wall, producing a faint metallic clink noise.

Swift froze in place as one of the guards turned to look in her direction, his eyes peering intently through the mask of his helm.
For what felt like a long wait, she remained there, crouching unmoving in the shadows, focusing every thought in her mind towards fading into the darkness, invisible to everyone but herself.
Eventually, to her immense relief, the guard turned away again, looking out over the landscape beyond.

Shifting her position she moved silently across the walkway and hooked the grapple onto the other side, beginning the descent...
This message was last edited by the player at 15:57, Tue 28 Apr 2015.

No need to roll it seems, Hornet - Swift Fox rolled high enought to make it herself, it seems. I guess that means Sun Snake can keep his WP as well. :)

Despite her brush with discovery, Swift Fox managed to make it past the wall unnoticed; from there, it was a simple matter to just return herself to the state of mind she'd been but seconds earlier, and soon enough she was following the same flow of actions as she descended, reaching the grond as unnoticed as shed been since she'd left it.

Once Swift Fox was on the ground, hidden behind a large, low building that looked like a stable, she only needed  moment to find the door they were looking for; it was closed, and standing in front of it was a drakkar soldier, but one that wasn't particularly high - just about the same height as the Kai Lady herself - and, she noticed, one who was not carrying the shield with the crossed hammers, and while she was no expet of armours, she could have sworn his was somehow less well kept than those of the soldier she'd killed outside.

The guard was standing with his back to the wall, and it almost gave the impression that the long spear in his hands was what was holding him upright, instead of the other way around. The head was masked, but even like that, Swift could see what Snake had meant when he'd named the man half-asleep - his head was occasionally tilting forward, only for him to hen suddenly bring it up, and keep it there for a few moment, before starting to let it fall again, in something akin to a cicle.

Despite the sentinel's clear lack of competence though, Swift could not just ignore the man - he was standing just to the left of the door, a foot in front of it, and she wasn't going to be able to open it without the man noticing.

So, what now?

Swift froze again on spotting the guard Sun Snake had mentioned before.
Indeed he did look half-asleep.  This one would be an easy target...

Slipping the Jade Spike from her belt, she flipped it around in her hand into a throwing position.
A faint green luminescence shimmered across the jade spirals on the hilt, as if the weapon was waking up and preparing to strike from the shadows as it had become accustomed to...

Then the glow flickered oddly and went out as Swift lowered the blade again, a suddenly uncertain look on her face.
She studied the guard a moment longer, her gaze taking in the state of his armour and his whole demeanour, the lack of the Hammerlands crest...

This is crazy...  We have to kill him now, it's the only way to be sure of success...

Swift shook her head and turned the dagger around again so her hand was gripping the hilt tightly.
Focusing on the shadows around her, she moved around the building, keeping to the darkness cast by the wall.  The shadows appeared to flow with her like a second cloak as she moved.
Approaching the sentry, she paused only a moment before darting forward and grabbing him, the blade of the dagger finding the gap where his helm met his armour and waiting there, poised to sink into his throat with one quick movement...

"Call out and you die!" hissed Swift quietly.  "I don't think you really want to die here, do you?"


OOC: Ok, gamble taken...
Sorry if this doesn't work out everyone!
This message was last edited by the player at 22:31, Tue 28 Apr 2015.

The man's spear clattered to the ground as he let og of it, startled by the sudden menace to his life, and then he answered, fear palpable in his vocie.

"Please, please don't kill me!"

Swift Fox was surprised by how young the voice sounded - if she had to guess from how it sounded alone, the Dakkar was at least two or three years younger than herself.

The sound of the Drakkar's voice made Swift pause for a moment, but then her uncertain look hardened.
When she spoke again, her voice held only a quiet icy menace, although slightly less harsh than when she had initially spoken.

"I won't kill you if you keep quiet.  All I want is a way to open this door...  Do you have the key?"


OOC: Could be this game's version of Otacon? :)
This message was last edited by the player at 12:40, Wed 29 Apr 2015.

Things are more complicated than that, I'm afrad. :)

With a very careful, heitant movement, the man's hand reached for a pouch at his belt, and after searching inside it for a moment - producing the disntinve sounds of someone moving coins around - the Drakkar's hand fished out a small key, apparently made of Darkland steel, handing it to Swift Fox; her Mind over Matter easily tol her that the key was a perfect fit for the lock behind her back, so she was able to use it to open the door without even looking, not moving even an inch as she opened the door behind her back and dragged both her and the man inside.

Meanwhile, on the other side, even as the cloud of dust kept vorticating around Gazad Helkona, Sun Fox's expression, from one of cautious control, hardened into one of slight worry as she said, in a whisper:

"They're lighting up their torches again... should we make another go at putting them out, or woud that be too revealing a move?"

And even as she said that, the group could see acouple of lights flickering on, here and there admist the very limited visibility in the area, a clear sign that the Drakkarim were re-organzing themselves.

Swift Fox, in case it wasn't clear, you are inside a small tunnel that runs inside the wall, about eight meters or so in lenght (that'd be 24 ft). You opened the door on the insisde of the walls and entered he tunnel to hid better, while the others are waiting for you on the outside, at the opposite end of the tunnel behind the second closed door.

Swift glanced back along the tunnel then looked back at her prisoner.
"This way" she said, tugging him slightly in the direction of the door at the opposite end.
"So what are you doing here?  Are you one of Vyctar's group?  Something seems different about you..."


OOC: Moving towards the door, assuming he doesn't resist, if he does, she might have to get a bit rougher with him.  Also trying to find out a little more about this guy.  I definitely get the feeling he doesn't fit in here...
This message was last edited by the player at 14:16, Wed 29 Apr 2015.

The man aswered, fear clear on his voice:

"I'm just doing my job, nothing more!"

Then he seemed to gleam some meaning from what she'd said, and added:

"Wait, you've been sent to murder Colonel Vyctar? I-I'm not one of his men, I'm part of the troops the Baron dispatched to assist! I don't know which general you're working for, but I don't care for who's in command of the operation, I just want to live!"

The man seemed halway between elated, for having divined the plot of his captor, while at the same time terrified that now he woul be silenced for knowing too much.

Swift Fox, unless you open the door and beckon the others inside, it will stay closed. You're free to do it without difficulty, so you can post yourself doing it in any of your upcoming posts, if you want to.

Until you do, the others will wait outside, and meanwhile the Drakkarim there are starting to recover...

Swift thought it over for a second, she knew letting him live was probably risky, but...

"Ok.  I'm letting go, but don't run off.  As I said, I won't kill you unless you try to escape or alert the others, you have my word on that."
With that, she slowly lifted the dagger away from his throat and released her grip on him, moving back towards the door and holding the dagger ready to strike as she moved to unlock the door and push it open.


OOC: Okies, taking a risk here, and unlocking and opening the door.  That's her priority right now.  If he does run off, she'll chase after him as soon as the door is open (hoping it doesn't take long).

It takes nothing, you can literally do it without looking - you already have for the other door. Also, you're in a tunnel, and if he runs he'd be giving you his back - that'd allow you a perfect kill without any real hassle.

That said, he's not going to try and run... for now. :)

The moment Swift Fox let go of the soldier, he fell to his knees, letting out long, pained breaths as he tried to recover from the shock of having had a near-death experience.

"I'm not with any general" replied Swift, on seeing that the man wasn't about to run.  "Vyctar just has a couple of things that belong to us and we're here to get them back.  We'll only kill those who try to stop us."

She reached back and thrust the key into the door, twisting it and and opening the door.
"In fact, we're more likely to show mercy than Vyctar's men would to someone who let intruders enter the fort without a fight because they were half-asleep on duty, right?  I could have killed you before you even knew I was there, but I chose not to.  If you can figure out why, maybe you'll prove I made the right decision" she added.


OOC: Hoping that little remark about what Vyctar's men might do to him as a punishment will further discourage him from dashing off to the nearest guard as soon as possible :)

Fox looked up to the direction of the torches and raised an eyebrow

"Should they be able to detect us I will douse them at will" fox said narrowing his eyes "as long as we undetectable I see no reason to alert them to this side of the fortress"

"Agreed," said Sun Snake. "Besides, I believe Swift Fox has been successful - we should be ready to move inside."

He looked to the dead around. "And unless we gave some way to bind the bodies upright and make them look alive to the most cursory of glances, we should proabably move them inside so the exact nature of their death is not known. The patrols may still presume magic, after all, if they see no sword wounds."

Lol, unless Silver Raven wants to net them and prop them against the wall :D

That wouldn't work, the nets the spell creates are made of glowing energy, so they'd make the bodies just easier to find. :)

Sun Fox nodded to Sun Snake's suggestion.

"Good idea."

She kneeled, taking one of the dead bodies and hefting the large armoured form over her shoulder as if it weighted nothing, then took the door that Swift had pushed ajar and dragged it further open, so that she coul move inside.

As the Kai filed in, the soldier, who had seemed at first not to react to Swift fox's words, starte to speak, muttering to himself but loudly enough that the whole group could hear:

"You... you aren't with any general? Another Colonel? But none of them would have the pull to replace Vyctar..."

He then turned, and suddenly, as he focused on certain clear details of the approaching figures, stark terror formed upon his face, even as he half-crawled backward, his eyes widening in disbelief:

"May Zantaz's sword smite me, you're no Drakkar, you're a Kai! I let enemies throught!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:11, Wed 29 Apr 2015.

Fox's eyes widened immediately at the declaration of the Drakkar......

Swift glanced back briefly as Sun Fox entered, then back to the guard as he spoke up.
She moved back from the door to give the others room to enter, the movement also serving to position her between the guard and the door leading back to the interior of the fortress.
The key she left in the door she had just opened.

"We are.  But as I said, we only came here to take back what Vyctar stole from us.  We're not the monsters you've probably heard others call us.  We have no reason to harm you if you don't try to stop us."
She peered intently at the guard, glancing up at the others for a moment then back at him.
"You say you aren't one of Vyctar's men.  Do you really know what he plans to do here?"

Sun Snake turned towards the soldier the moment the door began to open, as if he could already sense the man's presence. He drew his sword, but the let the point fall to the floor as seemed to be his custom.

"We are Kai," said Sun Snake, addressing the Drakkar directly. "How interesting that you'll happily betray the Colonel and your duty when you think another Drakkar was making a move, but look like you're ready to join Zantaz just to stain our blades just now."

Sun Snake looked closely to the Drakkar. "What happened. Did the white haired Kai murder your father in the war? Did the Baron tell you Vyctar was dangerous and to not get too attached? What would persuade a Drakkar soldier to give up their honour or their common sense so easily I wonder..."

Sun Snake pointed to the man's chest. "You feel that building up in your chest? You think that's courage?" Sun Snake shook his head and smiled humorlessly. "It's adrenaline. Perhaps more than you've ever felt before, even in battle? You might find if you were to call out your throat would stop from it. You might find if you leap to act your heart would burst from it. You might suspect it's not that natural given how you felt just a moment before."

Sun Snake shrugged. "It might be smarter to bide your time, find out what we're doing, remain calm. And if you're that smart, it's useful to us to take that risk. If you're an idiot...well..." Sun Snake looked to the man's heart again, and then moved directly in to his face. "I can still rip whatever thoughts you have from your mind while you fall limply to the ground," he hissed, "without a mark on you. What a noble death that would be when you were found."


Edit: Sorry, there's method in Snake's madness, honest. I'll try to adjust the words maybe to be softer in light of Swift Fox's comments if I can.

I'm wondering what Sabre Fox spotted.

Edit 2: Might be easier to leave it so as not to mess up anyone else. I guess it kind of works together, Sun Snake is bad cop to Swift Fox's good cop :) Sun Snake can be a little more reassuring if the man calms down and Sabre hasn't discovered the man is a Helghast or something.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:51, Wed 29 Apr 2015.

The soldier seemed struck by Sun Snake's words far more than he should have; he went to speak, but seemed unabe to, before lowering his head in a clear sense of defeat and saying in a whisper:

"I... I never had any chance... did I? Am I really that... that worthless...?"

Sun Snake seemed relieved that the fight had left the soldier, but otherwise his expression did not seem to be in any way as victorious nor vicious as it had been a moment ago. He seemed oddly ill at ease with the turn of events.

"You survived longer than the others unfortunate enough to be guarding this entrance, and only you out of the entire patrols around here have even seen us. You can judge your worth based on that, if you like. But you do owe your life and your future choices to the woman with the knife to your throat. As my comrade said, we are here to recover things lost to Vyctar. Things he took through a lie of omission, that I do not believe he thought we would give up. I promised him I would come for them, and that he would know I was coming. And I keep my promises. Just as I kept my promises when we were allied in a common cause not long ago."

Sun Snake then taped the sword on the ground. "Still, times seem to be changing. You did not answer my question nor my companion's. Do you know what Vyctar's plans are? And why would you not see a Drakkar interruption of them as great a betrayal as allowing us in here?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:06, Wed 29 Apr 2015.

The soldier looked up, and while his face was not any less masked than it had been before, there was a clear trace of curiosity in the man's eyes, even if his voice only betrayed disdain.

"I am not the only one who knows, everybody here is aware that the Colonel has promised the Baron he will conquer the Darklands to the glory of the Hammerlands, in exchange for the military command of the region. He is a war hero and celebrated among the greatest of our fighters, and rumor has it that he presented his access to traitors and spies he could control among the locals as reasons for why he would succeed, hence why the Baron accepted to let him try, and assigned a force of infantry to him to help with it, in addition to the Hammers, of course."

He let out a long breat, and continued, now sounding annoyed:

"Many did not like that such an important duty be bestowed upon him; the Hammerlands five armies each have a general to command them, and while Vyctar's unit is by far the most prestigious, and he's only not a general himself because the force he fields is too small a number for that command, they still resented him - especially since, politically speaking, his closeness with the Baron made him more important than them in the political arena. Why wouldn't they want to prove him the wrong choice for the job, if they could achieve it? And such a fight among the upper echelons of the army doesn't concenr me - I'm only a soldier, and just out of my training at that. It is not my privilege to argue with them over who's right or wrong, I am just to serve the winner, and I care little over who that is."

That said, he focused on Sun Snake, and asked, his tone demanding, almost as if expecting that having revealed so much entintled him to receive a similar amount of information:

"And why would the Colonel own anything that would matter for a Kai? Aren't you supposed to be out in your land to pray for the sun to keep raising in the morning and to revel in the peace and weakness you love so much?"

Water Hornet had followed Sun Fox's example; although, he had had far more difficult time lifting the body of a dead Drakkar. Eventually, though, he relocated the corpse inside the tunnel and breathed out loudly as the body was hidden in the darkness of the passage through fortress walls.

The young Magnakai looked intently at the Drakkarim guard in front of them, but remained silent all the time.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:46, Wed 29 Apr 2015.

Aww, I stopped Sabre Fox stabbing people and everyone else is shutting up, You don't want Sun Snake to create walls of text here!

Also, I'm not saying we're in for a GM gotcha, just pointing out the only person who has told us Vyctar wants to be a Darklord is Renora, the one person who has now returned to the fortress. Maybe it's all a trap...


"Peace is something hard fought for and not to be taken for granted. We don't pray to Kai for peace and await his hand to move things, we are that answer, we are that hand. Besides, who says a Drakkar ruled Darklands isn't what we would want? Naar is the plague. Having men with the ability to make choices rule this area and decide its fate rather than Naar's puppets is something to fight for. However, it seems that isn't quite Vyctar's plans. He has stolen objects of Kai not to appease the Nadziranim and create political power. Instead, it seems he will use them, and beg for Naar's aid too, to become a new Darklord of this place. The man decried Magnaarn rightly as a fool yet seems to want to follow in his footsteps rather than find a truer way to power."

Sun Snake looked to the Drakkar with a raised eyebrow. "Vyctar came back to this place changed. The man I met in the field was one worthy of respect. The man that left would have happily allowed me to 'trick' him in to manoeuvering half his men or more to their deaths if it meant he could walk away with his prize. Does this sound like the hero you have heard about? To throw away anything so carelessly for his chance at personal power?"

Sun Snake looked around. "We should probably not stay here," he said to the others.

He moved closer to Sabre Fox, whispering so quietly that only the man's sharp ears - and perhaps Sun Fox - would be able to hear him.

The young soldier watched Sun Snake with total confusion showing in his posture, before finally saying:

"What, in the name of Naar, are you talking about?"

It was pretty clear that he was completely and thorughly confused by Snake's question.

Told you not to leave Sun Snake to do the talking :p

Sun Snake sighed. "Perhaps if you do not fully know who your enemies are, and who your heroes are, then you should spend some time to find out. Great things and terrible things do not always hinge on armies and strength of arms. Usually they only hinge on the strength of the choices of a few people in the right place at the right time."

Checking that the last of the team had entered, Swift moved back around the group and closed the door again, locking it and removing the key.
"That should hold them off for as long as it takes them to realise that no-one is opening this door and to go find another route.  But we should probably hurry."

She turned to face the guard, looking at him and then at Sun Snake, as if waiting to see what decision would be made on his fate.
There was a noticeably uncertain look on her face as she stared at the older Kai...


OOC: Well, Swift isn't much of a talker.  Not to mention she finds Sun Snake's plans hard to follow (although that could just be because her player is a bit thick, but anyway...)

Anyways, assuming I can lock the door again, if not, feel free to edit the post.
If I can lock the door, I'll take the key with me so it can't be opened without breaking it down, will also lock the inside door and take the key from that when we leave here to make it harder for the bodies in the passage to be found (don't know if that passage runs all the way through the wall or not, meaning they could reach this part of it from another door though).

Will also recover the climbing gear if I can (forgot about that with having to deal with the guard!)

Is it possible to restore the "alarm lights" charm on the door, or did I completely destroy that earlier?
Would make a nice distraction if one of the Drakkarim outside tried to break through the door later and set it off.  :)
This message was last edited by the player at 12:00, Thu 30 Apr 2015.

Note down the Iron Key in your list of special items if you're keeping it, Swif; as for the climbing gear, I already assumed you'd recovered it, so we're fair on that point.

And yeah, you destroyed the warding spell on the door, so to put it back there again you'd have to craft it in from scratch - including engraving the proper symbols in the doorframe and such. Not really something that can be done on the fly.

The soldier let out a shrug, before slowly getting to his feet as he said:

"I guess this means that you're only letting me live if I help you with accomplishing whatever your goal is, isn't it?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:24, Thu 30 Apr 2015.

"Yes, at the moment we're letting you live. It's up to you if you keep your eyes and ears open long enough to decide if ours goals might also be your people's goals. I can count about three potential threats to your people that Vyctar has helped neutralise when he acted with us rather than against us. And unlike one your your generals we're not necessarily here to murder Vyctar if there is another way."

Sun Snake seemed dour at that prospect, as by Renora's words this option seemed a slim hope.

Oddly, Sun Snake's usual attempts to engage did not seem to have the same enthusiasm and drive to them. As if he felt the words, while necessary, were somehow wasted.


You might suspect that Sun Snake's Wall of Text power is not what is keeping our dear soldier friend here from doing us harm...

MAP OF GAZAD HELKONA

                 ______________________________________________
                / s___________________G_________s_____________ \
               / / /\          ____      /\      ______  /\   \s\
              / /  \/         I    I     \/     I______I \/    \ \
             / /              I    I                            \ \
            / /          o    I  1 I                   o         \ \
           / /         o      I____I                     o      /\\ \
          / //\      o                                     o    \/ \s\
         / / \/    o                                         o   __ \ \
        /s/ __                                                  /  \ \ \
       / / /  \                       8                         \   \ \ \
      / / /   /                                                  \   \ \ \
     / / /   /                                                    \ 1 \ \s\
    / / /  1/                                                      \__/  \ \
   / /  \__/       ________                       ________                \ \
  / //\           I        I   /\  _______  /\   I        I   <> <> <>     \ \
 / / \/     o     I        I   \/ /       \ \/   I        I  <> <> <> <> /\ \s\
 I I       o o     \  4a  /      /         \      \  4b  /               \/ I I
 IsI        o       \____/      /           \      \____/                   I I
 I I   _     _______     _     I             I   /\         I I I I I I     IsI
 I I  I_I   /       \   I_I    I      C      I  / /         I I I5I I I     I I
 I I       I     7   I         I             I / /    /\    I_I_I_I_I_I     I I
 I I       I         I          \           / /6/    / /                    IsI
 IsI /\     \_______/       o    \         / / /    / /   ____              I I
 I I \/           ____     o o    \_______/ / /    / /   I    I          /\ I I
 \ \    __       I    I                    / /    /6/    I  2aI       __ \/ /s/
  \ \  /  \      I 2a I            __      \/    / /     I____I      /  \  / /
   \ \ \   \     I____I           /  \          / /                 /   / / /
    \ \ \ 1 \                    /    \         \/                 / 1 / / /
     \ \ \   \     o            /      \         ____      o      /   / /s/
      \ \ \__/           ____   \   3  /        I    I            \__/ / /
       \ \      _       I    I   \    /         I  2aI                / /
        \s\    I=I      I  2bI    \__/          I____I               / /
         \ \   I=I      I____I                            /\     /\ / /
          \ \                             ____            \/     \// /
           \ \  /\           o           I    I  o          /_/_/ / /
            \ \ \/                       I    I            /_/_/ /s/
             \ \   _____           /\    I  1 I       /\  /_/_/ / /
              \s\ I_____I          \/    I____I       \/ /_/_/ / /
               \ \____________________________________________/ /
                \_______k______________G_____________s_________/


G = main gate
s = side door
k = side door infiltrated by the Kai team
C = inner citadel (the sSommerswerd is deep underground at the center of this building)
/\
\/ = Guard tower
 _
I_I = ?
 _
I=I
I=I = ?
/_/ = ?
 ______
I______I = ?
o = ?
<> = ?
1 = ?
2 = ?
3 = ?
4 = ?
5 = ?
6 = ?
7 = ?
8 = training area / parade plaza


You might want to copy the map in your scratch pad if you want to keep it handy; currently, you've not really given a good look at the stucture of the buildings inside the fortess, so you can't tell what they are by observation, but since your amount of information will be changing once you start exploring the place (not to mention the powers you can bring to bear on the matter), you might want to have a more up to date version of this map, since I won't be updating this one.

Please, be careful - if you make a mistake in your interpretation, I'm not going to correct you on it unless it is really something that your character would find self-evident, so any wrong step made here could really turn up lethal.

You hae this week of Hornets absence to think over what the map might mean and to use it to start planning your approach; I'll not be pushing you forward in these next seven ays, but once Honrnet is back, every real-time day you spend planning instead of acting will slowly reduce the time you have before the patrols outside discover the missing guards, and soon enough you'll be discovered if you haven't moved by then.

So, start thinking, and if you believe your disciplines could apply to let you gain more intel on the situation, do not be afraid to ask me via PM if you can use them that way. You're also free to chat in characer about your discovery, although I'd suggest each of you not to discuss your plans and instead to use the week to come up with one of your own - that way, when you're all back together, you can each offer your idea and then use a quick brainstorming session to combine them all in a (hopefully!) perfectly working strategy.

Start thinking, and good luck! ^_^

This message was last edited by the GM at 20:28, Thu 30 Apr 2015.

Sun Snake looked around idly, though his eyes seemed to be unfocused.

It feels as if there are around a thousand or more sleeping human minds in the fortress, five hundred patrolling soldiers, and another hundred on the walls. About Fifteen hundred giaks either inside the citadel or moving around as if on errands. And there feels like a hundred and fifty darkspawn - from Gourgaz to Xaghash, and some even stranger."

Sun Snake started pointing through the wall in various directions. "There's a Drakkar barraks over in that direction, mostly asleep. More in that direction, along with some giak, and all giak in that direction."

Sun Snake's nose wrinkled for a second. "It's hard to feel more form the citadel, because the walls have been treated to protect it at least partially form scanning. That and there are some shielded minds in there too."

Sun Snake then looked left and right at the ground. "There are also many minds underground. Not the citadel dungeons though. Some fleeful, but most in pain..."

Sun Snake looked to the Drakkar soldier. "What is going on underneath us?"


Actual breakdown:

A total of around 3600 living sapients (ie, not animals), of which:
> 150 Darkspawns or thereabouts (Gourgaz, Xaghash, and others, more exotic evil creatures)
> 1600 Giaks, mostly standing inside the area of the citadel but with a good number scuttering around, most probably acting as servants and such
> 1850 Humans, likely Drakkarim; interestingly, outside of the 500 outside patrolling and the about one hundred more standing atop the walls or in other small guard detais, the majority are sleeping

1 is a Drakkarim's barraks, most asleep.
6 has giaks sleeping.
Mixed human/giak minds at 3
This message was last edited by the player at 13:32, Mon 04 May 2015.

The soldier grimaced.

"The Nadziran's laboratories are there; not the advanced ones, those are in the citadel - the external ones are those it ues to craft new monsters for the forest."

He let out a shudder, clearly disgusted at the memories of what had left those places, and after a moment he added, in a more defeated tone:

"Also, there are the holding cells, those for the not-important prisoners; the important ones are kept in the citadel's proper dungeons, but people captured from raids southward and surviving prisoners from the wars are kept in there."
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:49, Mon 04 May 2015.

"Are either of the underground structures connected to the Nadziran laboratories  inside the citadel?"

Sun Snake seemed to be asking the group as much as the soldier.

The soldier shook his head.

"No, they are not. The ones inside the citadel are kept separated becuse they house the most dangerous or imporant stuff - there'd be no point to that if the underground levels were connected."

Tucking the Jade Spike back into her belt, Swift moved towards the inner door.
Focusing on blurring into the shadows cast by the wall, she opened the door slightly, peering out at the surrounding buildings.

Her eyes narrowed, examining the structure of each in turn, trying to figure out their purpose...


OOC: May as well use my "stealthy peek outside" roll now :)

Presumeably that might allow sharp eyed other Foxes to peek through as well?

Considering the DC for the camouflage attempt is a 3, I'll have to insist that anyboy who want a look roll for themseles. After all, who's to say that a big, lumbering fox carring a load of swords and spears mightn't accidentally make them hit the door or doorframe, causing a big ruckus, whereas a smallest, swifter one would have moved with care enough to avoid making any revealing sounds? :)

This message was last edited by the GM at 19:27, Fri 08 May 2015.

Swift pulled back behind the door again, closing it softly.
Hurrying back down the passage, she paused and glanced towards the captive guard for a moment before looking around at the others.

"I can see the citadel from here and it won't be easy to get in there.  Every single brick of the building has had some sort of spell woven into it.  Some are psychic wards, which explains why you have difficulty sensing anything inside.  Others are traps designed to injure anyone trying to climb the wall or to trigger light or sound alarms, like the one that was on that door.  It's not impossible to climb the wall, and there are Kraan tunnels at the top which would provide a way in.  It won't be easy though.
Also there is a domed roof with something glowing red on top.  I can't tell what it is or what it is for, but it's the strongest source of magic in the fortress, not counting the..."
She hesitated, her eyes glancing back briefly at the guard before adding: "What we came here for."

She continued, pointing beyond the door she had peered through a moment ago.
"The low flat building out there looks like a stable, but I can't tell for sure without looking inside."
(OOC: This would be the one that looks like this:)
 ____
I____I

"There are a number of small thinner towers dotted around which look like Kraan roosts or lookout points.  We'll have to be careful not to be spotted by any guards or Kraan in those."
(OOC: The "o" symbols)

"One of the buildings, the one with the large windows, (1) does look like a barracks of some sort.  While another two I can see (2a/b) have no windows, and look like they have been reinforced with metal beams.  I can't see the door of the nearest one (2b), but one of the others (2a) has a metal door with Drakkar guards.  They seem relaxed though, talking and not really paying attention to their surroundings.
Another building I can see (3) is large and circular in shape.  The windows are small and shaped like arrow slits, and there are fires burning inside.  It also doesn't appear to have a roof, since I can see smoke from the fires coming out the top."

She indicated a direction off to the left of the door leading into the fortress interior.
"In that direction, there is a stairway leading down into the ground.  Possibly the way down to those monster crafting underground structures."
(OOC: Pointing in the direction of the bit on the map that looks like this:)
 _
I=I
I=I

She hesitated a moment, before fixing her gaze on Sun Snake and then Silver Raven.
"If you need a clearer look, you may be able to access my memory of what I just saw."


OOC: So yep, that's what Swift could see of the structures within sight of the door.
Will lower her Psi-Screen temporarily and focus on the memory of her view through the door in an attempt to let anyone with Divination take a peek.  (Not sure if that'll work or not).

Sun Snake looked to the soldier. "What is behind the metal doors?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. "And who are the prisoners underground. Drakkar? INtruders from the forest? Other enemies of the Drakkar?"

The man shrugged.

"I have't gone down there to stand guard yet - the Nadziran has his own subordinates watch the place. I know there's prisoners from the as, some have been there even over ten years, if the rumors are true. Not all of them are human, either, although most are; and I don't know the prisners nationality either. Really, they're just holding cells for any prisoner the nadziran found boring, there's nothing else I know about them."
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:03, Fri 08 May 2015.

Water Hornet had seemed to be somewhat detached, but eventually joined the discussion.

"You're right," he reacted to Swift Fox, "I can sense Kraans out there. And there's also a lot more of the beasts in the citadel itself."
The "o" towers house Kraan at their tops. As does the citadel (circa 50).

"And that building you mention should indeed be a stable - there are horses definitely inside."
  ____
I____I

"And Doomwolves are present in the fortress; a lot of them - two hundred perhaps.  Plus this kind seems to be far more aggressive than anything I have encountered."
Nr. (5)
I  I  I
I_I_I

"Yet, that's not all - there are more animals, both inside the citadel and underground, but I'm not familiar with those. At least not without having a peak at them." It looked like Hornet had to suppress a shiver.
With that, Hornet turned to the Drakkar: "What are those beasts you keep at the fortress wall, east of the gate?"
I know there are some animals there, but not sure of the kind.
 /_/
/_/

The warrior answered, quickly:

"Those would be the open air cages. They're mostly used to keep beast which the Nadziran want to release in the forest, to make them starve a bit so they're more aggressive and to test their resistance to the sunlight, although sometimes they're also used when the Nadziran want t check on the creatures that are in the forest already - those need to be hunted down and caught while still alive, and the cages are what we use to transport them back and forth."

The young man shuddered at the thought of having to hunt such monsters in the forest without the ability to kill them, before adding in a lower tone:

"And the Doomwlves kennels here are only ever entered by the Gourgaz - the breed they've here has been trained to be much more ferocious then normal, and they attack as soon as they catch the smell of anything that isn't a Gourgaz or one of their own."

Water Hornet nodded, trying to look like the Drakkar had just confirmed his own speculations. It took him another moment to speak up, again, his tone cold: "Well, I think it's time to move." He looked to the others, before proceeding.

"Listen up, Drakkar... I don't know your name..." at this point Hornet paused, then curtly nodded. "As for myself, I'm Jorn. So, as others have said and you sure noticed: we do not hesitate to kill when necessary and we avoid spilling blood when possible." Hornet accompanied his words pointing at the dead bodies of the guards and then at the Drakkar himself. "You've said yourself that your actions will be easily viewed as a betrayal...or fatal negligence, at least. But, you can save yourself; both from us, but - more importantly - from the retribution of your own kin. And the most important thing: you will get a chance to preserve your honour."

Water Hornet let his words sink, using the moment to give a visible sideway glance to Sun Fox. "The only thing I'd ask of you is to raise an alarm that intruders have broken into the fortress. But when we are not at this place anymore."

"Consider, you will be telling absolute truth and when dead guards are found at the entrance you were supposed to guard from the inside of the fortress, your words will be confirmed. As far as your honour is concerned...well, there are other intruders coming, and those are not just hear to steal from you, they are here to kill. Doesn't that sound like a bigger threat?"

Water Hornet made a step backwards as if allowing the Drakkar to think over his words. Meanwhile. He looked nervously at Sun Fox, again, and then at the door behind them.
"Make no mistake, Drakkar, if we meet out in the open afterwards, you will be an enemy to us who needs to be removed as any other dweller of this fortress. Just like we will be an enemy to you, I'm sure."

"And time to think is up; what's your decision?"

"I do not think he gets it yet," said Sun Snake, looking to the Drakkar. "Perhaps we should tell him the full story."

Sun Snake gestured outside. "As much as I hate to disabuse you of the impression of our powers, we did not manage some superhuman feat of skill against your impenetrable defenses. Did you really think so little of yourself that your half-awake state when we met you seemed natural? We have managed to bypass scores of Drakkar who seemed to be barely functional anymore. We avoided the forest to come here because it felt dead - and we assumed that was a trap. Only now to we realise there is a trap, but not intended for us. The forest is empty. A pity we did not realise sooner, for it is too late to go back that way if we survive. However, every creature you have sought in there and every creature the Nadziran experimented upon would appear to be in here now. With the Drakkar. We managed to move after a few days of cover hoping to take advantage of a storm we assumed to be natural to this area. That was until it went right up to the gate south of here and started smashing upon it."

Sun Snake getsured around. "I think I understand it. The Ndaziran are clearly influenceing Vyctar, you need to trust me on the change in the man. And he can control his men, or at the very least the Nadziranim have had longer to make their influences on the rest of his command. However, more Drakkar under the command of the baron being here? This becomes an occupying force with no levers. And this is the day that Vyctar does whatever his plan is. And so the Nadziran are clearly moving to take you all unawares."

Sun Snake shrugged. "So you can run to the nearest higher ranked officer and tell them we are here. Or you can tell them that there are intruders coming to attack the fortress and at least put then on alert. Tell them we are here and you fled and I am sure you will be summarily executed on the spot. Even if you only told them there was one of us. After all, we are the powerful Kai who can waltz in to this fortress with all its defenses. How would you have escaped unless we let you, or you simply turned tail in fear? And then of course Drakkar and Kai would fight, humans all wiping each other out while the Darkspawn stand aside and laugh as we do their job for them. Or you can tell your superiors to be alert."

Sun Snake gestured directly at the Drakkar. "To mention the Nadziranim plot would be suicide. I presume thy would be listening for anything of the sort  and kill you on the spot. As much as I'd love the Nadziranim to be forced to start their attack on you in haste, I do not think the Drakkar here would be able to rally at all past whatever feeble mindedness affects them. Which is why I hope you would choose the attacker story of Jorn's."

Agian, as Sun Snake spoke there seemed to be no real heat to his words, even the occasional jump of logic. He seemed to be far more focused on speaking to the Drakkar than making a full argument, it seemed.

Swift had been looking towards the door the others had entered the fortress by, apparently listening for any sound outside it.
When Sun Snake spoke up though, she looked towards him, arranging her features into a surprised look.

With a suspicious glance towards the Drakkar she approached Sun Snake and spoke up in a low voice, though still loud enough for the Drakkar to overhear her.
"Are you sure we should have told him that?  Shouldn't we exploit the chaos of the Nadziran attack to get what we came for?"


OOC: Swift picking the Bad Cop role again.  Playing along with the ruse in the hope that a little apparent disagreement about leaving the Drakkarim to their fates makes it look more convincing ;)

With his face masked, it was hard to tell if Sun Snake's words had persuaded the soldier - except for the outrage that was rolling off him in waves so thick, the Kai's Sixth Sense could pick it up almost at once. The same outrage which seeped into his words as he said, his voice almost an hiss:

"Those creatures... how dare they..."

He raised his eyes toward the group, and nodded with clear purpose.

"I will do as you ask of me - not for you, but to protect my comrades from this betrayal."

Sun Snake nodded, then turned to Swift Fox and spoke with an equally botched whisper. "Perhaps...but these spawn of Naar have spent too long playing with human lives in their plots and experiments. Kai will guide us without us having to allow their dishonourable plans to be fulfilled. If the Drakkar take this place while we recover what was stolen, it would not be the worst thing to happen."

"So, we'll be sort of working together to take down a common enemy? I can accept that."

"You stop their betrayal, while we remove their reason for betraying you. A blow that will strike the Nadziranim and might allow Vyctar to move forwards with his original plans without Darklands interference."


Sun Snake gestured for the Drakkar to move. "No offense, but it may be best we do not know where the other goes."

Sun Snake then turned to the rest when the Drakkar departed, apparently confident that the man would. Something eased in Sun Snake as the man left. "Swift Fox and I should aid the group in moving steathily and as quickly as possible free those creatures. Sun Fox, Sabre Fox, your powers of Huntsmastery should be focused on our surroundings, the moment someone even twitches in our direction you should direct Nexus and battle magics on them. Water Hornet, if you can try to push away the minds of the Kraan from spotting us, I will not be able to navigate their attentions as well as I can human minds. Silver Raven, keep your Divination senses in tune as well, for I may have to concentrate on keeping the group hidden along with Swift Fox more than shouting warnings. And use whatever magics - Net or otherwise - if you also sense something going wrong. If we can power through to the creatures, we can unleash a hell that will disrupt anyone who has seen us. And if Swift Fox and I an keep us indistinct then the Nadziranim story may well still hold water."

Sun Fox looked to Dawn Sword last. "Use your senses as Silver Raven does. I am confident you have Sixth Sense. You just need to trust your senses. And allow you past to guide them. You above the rest of us have lives and worked with Kraan. You have lived in a community like this, focused on one task. Even the Drakkar way is a part of you somewhere. Use it all and perhaps see with fresh eyes something we miss."

Sun Snake nodded to the group. "Are we ready?"


Does this seem like the right strategy? An aggressive sneak to the critters that can turn in to a mad dash with anything spotting us quickly silenced/distracted so we can get there before the general alarm is raised?
This message was last edited by the player at 15:07, Sun 17 May 2015.

Swift nodded, and turned towards the door leading into the interior of the fortress.
"I'll see what I can do."
She readied the Jade Spike again, then nodded in the direction the Drakkar had gone.
"Interesting plan" she remarked with a hint of a smirk.


OOC: Ready to go!  To Death or Glory! :D

"I'll do my best," nodded Water Hornet curtly, already preparing for the task ahead.

"Just remember: the doomwolves mustn't pick up our scent," he looked at Swift Fox. "If it is within your powers to suppress it, Swift, that would be the best; if not, we'll have to open the cages from distance."

"And regarding the beasts intended to be let out into the forest: the Evil surely left a deep mark on them - we should minimize our contact with them too. I doubt my powers will be enough to keep them from attacking us if we present ourselves as the closest target." Hornet looked each of his companion in turn and quickly added: "Don't take that as a sign of surrender...let's just try saving our energy for later."

"I have bypassed Gourgaz before, I believe I can stop them scenting me if Swift Fox can keep the rest of you hidden while I do."

"That sounds fine to me. If someone so much as looks at us the wrong way they will be sorry" Fox said with a wink.

He would then look to a Hornet

"If you think the wolves will pick us up, I'll try and use Nexus to push our scent away"

OOC: If I'm not mistaken, Shadow's next post will mean we're down to zero (actually, even below 0) regarding time countdown. Let's make it explicit, we're moving along, then. :)

Water Hornet nodded and stepped forward to the door leading to the inner yard of the fortress. He hesitated for a moment and then turned towards Swift Fox.

"You said there's a stable nearby, right? I can feel horses are close. I think I should be able to calm the animals not give away our presence. Plus, if we let them to run free, it might agitate the Doomwolves even more - they love horse meat. In any case, let's move there and plan our next advance from that position." He looked back at other Kai Lords and Ladies and then at the door leading outside. "I'm worried we've lingered here for too long," he said absentmindedly, an unease growing in his mind. 'You might misinterpret your Sixth Sense's warnings but they are never wrong,' he recalled an old lesson.

"Anyone care to take the lead?" he asked, resting his look on Swift Fox, again.

OOC: If no-one volunteers, Hornet will go first (although reluctantly).
And I couldn't pass the bit about doomwolves' dietary preferences - since it goes all the way back to Flight from the Dark ;)
This message was last edited by the player at 15:33, Mon 18 May 2015.

Sun Snake moved off, although his angle of movement seemed overly cautious, as if just to get away from the door behind them.


Stables sound fine, is that the closest?

Even as the group started to move, Sun Fox raised her free hand above her heads, clling winds to aise around her form and then swept across the entirety of Gazad helkona's inner courtroom, raising a much fiercest sandstorm than she'd done outseide - mostly due to the dirt ricocheting from a building to the other at the high speed the winds pushed them throught. One thing was for certain: it woul not be easy for the guards, or even the kraans outside, to notice the group of figures that darted from a side entrance along the wall to the shadows of a small building next to it...

Roll for camouflage for everybody, DC 3 - remember that Camouflage can be enhanced by WP spending, and quite a lot if somebody has Invisibility. Sun Snake, Swift Fox, you two also need to give me a roll for, respectively, Dawn Sword and Silver Raven - Snake, Dawn Sword won't get the Camouflage bonus, since she's not learned that discipline yet.

Rolled a 7.

With the sandstorm raised to obscure sight, Sun Snake devoted himself to going across the ground himself, ready to lead the group later when the conditions were better for the group to see him.

Water Hornet didn't hesitate. Concentrating his Kai skills on going unnoticed - 'There is nothing to look at,' he inwardly referred to himself moving across the open ground - the Magnakai hurried forward.

OOC: Rolled a 4.

Keeping his blades firmly in hand, Fox ducked as low as possible to run to make a smaller target to see as possible

"We're nearly there" he thought "nearly on the road home...... And redemption"

Blending in with the handfuls of dirt that where being thrown all over by Sun Fox's winds, the group had little trouble reaching the lng, low buildings that had helped Swift Fox's descet from the walls; as they crouched behind the wooden structure, they could see the sound of hooves digging in the ground and the dampened sounds of what were clearly horse being kept inside it.

From their new position, the whole group could see the faint outlines of the buildings Swift Fox had spoken about - the one with larger windows, the reinforced ones with their doors guarded, the tall yet thin spyres, and the big, circular one with slitted window and which was letting out smoke from its top.

They could also grasp - if only just barely, due to the sandstorm - the form of a small stairway heading underground, and further ahead, now that the stables no longer hid them from view, they could see another of the barracks with windows, a very large building with several chimneys, and most important of all, closer than all of them and just between them and the other barrack, it was the very tall form of one of the watchtowers - they could even see the door slighty ajar, and hear the sounds of voices from within...

Just to make it clear, the very huge building you're seeing is 7, barrack with windows means 1, reinforced building is 2, and the circular building letting smoke out from the top is 3. Also, I'm conferming the meanings of these two icons, which Swift Fox already stated:

 ____
I____I = horses stables
 _
I=I
I=I = stairs leading underground

Don't dally, or you risk the people inside the watchtower coming out of it and smacking right into you as they open the door.

Where are you heading for next?

This message was last edited by the GM at 07:58, Wed 20 May 2015.

"Snake," hissed Water Hornet, "is anybody inside the stable? I mean apart from horses?"

He gave the watchtower a look and then focused on the reinforced building ahead. "If we release several horses, it might draw the attention of Drakkarim in the watchtower and the guards in front of the building," he said pointing in corresponding direction, "and then we could slip past."

OOC: Snake, if detecting human minds is WP-free for you, knowing if anyone is in the stable would be nice.

Anyway, I'd try sneaking in the direction of '2b' and then '2a'. The structures are guarded, but have no windows, if I understand it correctly. Right, Shadow?

You understand correctly, Hornet. ALso, since Divination is free of charge, I think for once we can speed up things by not having to rely on Snake. Let's him rest a bit, yeah? ;)

While the question had been adressed to SUn Snake, it was Silver Raven who answered, his tone the usual deadpan one:

"There's nothing sentient inside, no. You're sure you can direct the horses to cause enough chaos?

That's require a DC 4 AK roll, Hornet - not ordering, just a suggestion will suffice. Of ocurse, if you just want to let them run at random, that'd be acceptable too.

Happy to do the 2b / 2a, see what the DCs are and if we can maybe jump right to 2b?

"Almost," said Water Hornet peering into darkness, seemingly unfazed by the fact that the answer came from a different Magnakai, "in any case they will have to catch and bring the horses back here. And we won't be here by that time."

Water Hornet moved closer to the door leading into the stable. "We'll have to move swiftly," he looked at others over his shoulder, "ready?"

OOC: OK, guys, I should be able to direct horses to doomwolves kennels. Whether I succeed or not, in any case we'll have to move fast. Anyone wants to add anything or we can roll (pun intended ;-))?

EDIT:

A few seconds later, the young Magnakai slipped inside the building as stealthily as he was able, putting trust into his Kai skill of Camouflage. Nevertheless, he had taken the Turtle Rapier into his right hand.

OOC: OK, going in. Turtle Rapier equipped (but not the shield - so Hornet has his off hand free for whatever task is needed).
This message was last edited by the player at 14:45, Sat 23 May 2015.

As Hornet entered, he found that the stables were casting in darkness, no clear source of illumination present. However,he could nevertheless see about two dozens of horses inside, the majority of whom was asleep. Each horse was within it's own wooden paddock, so that they were all kept separate by each other; owever, the door to each paddock was blocked by a heavy iron bar lowered across it. and each one was blocked to the one by a lock, for a total of 25 locks in total.

With a silent curse on his lips, Water Hornet came closer to the nearest paddock. Logic told him that it would be surprising if the horses were kept in place in any less secure way, considering the fortress' defenses the group had seen so far. But it was annoying, nonetheless.

Feeling every second pass by painfully fast, Hornet's mind raced to find a solution to the problem of releasing as many horses in the shortest time possible.

EDIT:

The Magnakai sheathed the short sword and weighed the Starfield Warhammer in his hand, but eventually put the weapon away, as well. He then stepped closer to one of the paddocks where an awake horse stood. First of all, Hornet sent a calming emotion to the animal; without further hesitation he knelt to examine the lock. Quickly repeating the procedure with two more paddocks, the Magnakai finally reached a conclusion.

Hornet just hoped no Drakkar would suddenly decide to check on horses, as he reached towards the locks with his Kai powers.

OOC: OK, will use Mind-over-Matter to open three locks simultaneously. DC 4, right?
Rolled a 5.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:42, Sun 24 May 2015.

With the locks removed, it was relatively easy to lift the heavy metal bars blocking the doors to free the animals; the one closer to Water Hornet let out a low himning sound as it smelled a stranger coming closer, but the other two seemed happier to keep sleeping.

"Shhh," Water Hornet tried to placate the animal, relying on common human practice rather than his Kai abilities. "Wait here," he added. 'Like there are many places for the horse to go, right now,' the Magnakai assessed critically his previous statement to the animal.

A moment later, a dark silhouette appeared in the entrance to the stable. "I was able to free three animals," whispered Hornet to others hastily, "don't have time for more. Ready to move on? Once the horses are released, someone will surely come explore the stable, rather sooner than later."

OOC: Anything to add, anyone?

Sun Snake merely nodded and concentrated on their next target.

Waiting a moment longer - and having looked around to be sure nothing had changed - Water Hornet disappeared back in the stable, whispering: "I'm releasing the horses, we should follow right on their hooves."

Back inside, the Magnakai approached one of the sleeping horses and woke it up with a soft psychic nudge, standing a few feet away not to startle the animal. Only once it was awake, he came closer and led it out of its paddock. Repeating the procedure, not a two minutes later he had all three horses standing in front of the stable's entrance.

Hornet felt the unease of the animals - after all, the mounts were trained by and for Drakkarim, on a battlefield they were expected to help the rider by an occasional kick or even a bite of the enemy. And one could hardly imagine a 'better' enemy for a Drakkar than a Kai Lord.

OOC: I took some liberty in describing the situation (please tell if it wouldn't be that easy :)).
Now, Hornet will send the horses running in the northwards direction - i.e. between 2b and 2a, and around 4a towards the northern gate.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:53, Tue 26 May 2015.

Fox grimaced at what he was about to say

"I'll use Nexus to push the scent of the horses towards the Doomwolf kennels" he said wincing "it should hopefully drive them into a frenzy to break few and go after the horses"

He would then sigh

"Had it been any other time I would never want to do this, but sadly we must"

Sun Snake gave a sad nod, then looked to the destination. He felt for the minds around him, but also paid attention to the feel and shape of the landscape.

There was a mental and physical confluence around him, almost like lines of probability. Time seemed to be navigable, the awareness of it like music. It was easy to hear when the notes started to get sour, to feel the tempo around him. The land influenced the people around, and the people the land - there were blind spots where peple did not think to look, and areas where the land and light dipped.

Sun Snake had grown to know his group well enough that it was easy to include them in his awareness, if anything they were more important than his own safety and so knowing the path to tread with the group as a whole was not a leap in difficulty.

And for one with training in Invisibility, perhaps the greatest gift was not hiding ones intentions, but being able to perfectly use gestures and body language to convey your real meanings succinctly.


With a simply gesture for the others to follow him and keep low - indicating Swift Fox to keep to the rear to keep her skilled eyes on the group's movements too -  Sun Snake closed his eyes and walked with certainty across the enemy territory.

Even as the Group ran inside Sun Fox's dust storm, the horses Hornet had freed disappearing in front of them, they got small glimpses of the things they were rushing past - a stairway descending underground, a stocky reinforced building with two drakkarim guarding its door, a tall spiraling building, another barrack sranding just near the fortress' outer walls - until they found themselves standing in the shadows of another reinforced buildings, hiding behind one of the steel pillars that supported the wall and protected it from assaults to catch their breath.

From their new position, the Kai took in their surroundings. To their right, huge and imposing, was the dark structure of Gazad Helkona's citadel; only a small cluster of the tall spirals stood along the way, but the citadel itself seemed completely devoid of accees to its interior - no door or window was visible along the black walls.

Outside from their closeness to the citadel itself, the group had now a much better view of several other things. First of all was the large, circular building Swift Fox ha sighted earlier (3), which they could now see had an entrance large enough to let in up to five people walking side by side, and was secured by what looked like an heavy fur drape, rather than an actual door. Additionally, they could see the extremities of two long, low buildings which looked very similar to the barracks at their back (6), on the opposite side of the citadel dfrom where they where. There was also a very small construction, what looked like a square hut made with four contiguous, heavy stone slab put together, leaving only the northern side free to access. the building itself, though, looked barely large enough to contain a single room, and not a large one at that.

Just behnd the small stone hut, the group could see a building (4a) very similar in contruction to the one they where hiding next to (2a), with stone wall lacking any opening and heavy rebars of steel and iron reinforcing the structure. But the most noticeable structure was the large one, standing just next to their hiding place, a large bbuilding made of bricks rather than stone, and with a  set of chimneys covering all of one corner of the building, which would not be very useful for a normal fireplace. A sight that caused Silver Raven to frown and move next to Swift Fox to whisper her something.

Water Hornet observed their surroundings. "Nadziranim laboratories...?" he said nodding towards the building with chimneys and looked at Silver Raven who likely had a guess regarding the building.

"The horses will circle around the citadel," continued Hornet, "we need to move fast to the next cover."

Hornet glanced around once more.

OOC: If (7) is indeed a Nadziranim lab, we might find something useful in there that'd help us enter the citadel. Be it an item that helps get past citadel guards or an item that helps get past citadel walls. :)

I also think there will be an entrance to the citadel on its northern side (the one facing (8)).

Shadow, can Hornet tell what animal the fur drape (entrance to (3)) is made from?

Sun Snake pointed across the courtyard, where in the distance the doomwolf pens were supposed to be.

"We had best stay on this side of the citadel from the doomwolves. Now we are better placed, I can sneak around and free them. Let them create chaos to the right, whilst you make a move to the left."


Using his lack of scent ability can Sun Snake make a dignified 'dash' from here to free the wolves?

Swift glanced towards Silver Raven as he whispered something and then looked back at the building with the chimneys.
Nodding in response to what he had said, she looked towards Hornet and spoke up in a low whisper, pointing towards the building.
"We think that might be a smithy, the chimneys let out smoke from the furnaces used to melt metal.  Seems about right for the size of them."

She looked up at the building, with a hint of an expression that suggested she wouldn't have minded raiding it for materials or equipment, then shook her head slightly and turned to examine the other buildings around them...

Even as the group studied their surroundings, they could hear the doomwolves starting to howl and growl quite loudly - obviously, the horses Hornet had freed had reached their position.

You can do that, Sun Snake, and the lack of scent will make you undetectable by the doomwolves - but making the run all the way there is still a DC 9 Invisibility check. Coming back might be easier if you actually do free the doomwolves, since that will cause a bit of a distraction. :)

"We could head to the smithy" Fox said looking up "we could intensify the flames there to create some form of fire for further distraction"

Sun Snake turned his gaze briefly to the smithy. "Empty," he said quietly, giving a rare flash of a smile to Sabre Fox.


Double Fox explosion technique?

"well in that case" fox said giving a smirk, "lets get over there" he said looking towards the smithy

"Should be fun" remarked Swift, moving after Sabre with a look back at Silver Raven to see if he intended to follow them too.


OOC: Not trying to hint that Raven should follow them here.  She just thinks he might want to.  Up to him :)

Raven merely nodded to Swift Fox, joining her and Sabre in moving toward the building; SUn Fox followed as well, although she was moving much slower than the rest, her focus clearly on keeping the sandstorm tht was hiding them all going..

Raven is definitely coming along, since having two craftmasters will make things go much faster regarding the sabotage of the forge. Sun Fox will as well, in case you need extra arms strenght or some more Fire Dominon. Hornet can surely decide on his own, and Dawn Sword will do whtever Sun Snake orders her to.

Also, sneaking into the forge unnoticed by a back door is a DC 1 camouflage check from your current position.

Sun Snake is going to free the Doomwolves alone, Sabre Fox, so it makes sense for him to just do it while you lot are inside the building, especially since sabotaging the furnaces properly will not be a thing of a few moments, but if you think you need him along, and he wants to join in, ten he's free to - that's realyl up to him.

OOC: Rolled 4 for Camouflage :)

Sun Snake patted Water Hornet on the shoulder. "I will go free the doomwolves, and be back to help before you know it. If you feel them coming close to here, push them away from here and the citadel - we don't want our path onwards blocked after we saboutage the smithy."

Sun Snake gave what he hoped was a reassuring nod to his student and gestured for her to look to what the others were doing.

"Good luck," he whispered over his shoulder, and then with a few steps he disappeared in to the darkness.

"I'll try my best," said Water Hornet clearly worried by the thought, "and good luck to you, too; you'll perhaps need it more than us."

As soon as Snake blended into shadows, Hornet turned around not to draw undue attention to the Magnakai and the whole group and hurried after the others into the building with chimneys.

OOC: Rolled a 4, too. :)

Rolled 2 :)

And that's everybody passing their rolls.

Sabre Fox leading, the group dashed to the furnace quickly, heading for a clearly visible back door, which turned out not to be locked. Once inside, the group found themselves in a large room which was clearly the main workstation of the fortress blacksmiths.

To the right walls the Kai could see a set of anvils, twenty in total, along the lenght of the wall, with a collection of crafting tools - mostly hammers, pincers and scalpels in various sizes - disposed in orderly manner on a wooden desk to the side.

To the opposite side of the room was a deep basin, the top covered by a coarse drape of leather which looked easy enough to remove. Atop the basin itelf, nailed to the ceilings, were a number of thick rings of dakrned, burnt steel, as well as hooks of the same material and in similar condition; to the side of it, instead, was a series of barrels, all of which were nailed shut.

There were also three doors leading away from the room - two right to their front, while the other one was to their left and, quite likely, would lead to the furnace area, going by the disposition of the chimneys as they'd seen it from outside the building.
____________________________________________________________________

Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the fortress, Sun Snake, moving with craftiness of a ghost, quickly walked past the circular building - hearing a clear amount of sond from the well lit building, even if none of the over fifty person between giaks and humans he could sense inside had left it yet - and then kept walking unnoticed among the shadowsin the small corridor between the citadel and one of the small, low and dirty builing, which he could now perceive were filled with sleeping giaks, which his hearing confirmed thanks to the number of grunting sounds the creature were making.

Eventually, he found himself just behind the kneels, where he could heal the doomwolves snarling aggressively; it was a small wooden building, and while circling next to it, he could see that the cages inside were organized in parallel rows, with each caged having its own locked barrier, all of whom made of darksteel bars which sometimes looked even bent, as if the beast's ferocity had pushed them to try and smash the metal cagin them with pure brute force.

He could also see a small Group of drakkarim guards - four or five - trying to calm down the three escaped horses further North f the kennels; however, one of these had moved between what looked like a collection of small stone huts to the North, rasing several of the giaks leader sleeping inside and resulting in the giaks attempting to attack the warhorse, who was answering in kind and clearly going in a Greater frenzy as the smaller creatues tried to crner and kill it, ignoring the shouting warnings against that from the nearest Drakkar - and Sun Snake could see that none of th human here was sporting the crossed hammers of Vyctar's personal strike force.

Actions, everybody?

Also Sun Snake, each of the Doomwolves cages is secured with an imbedded lock - unlike the horses, these are proper (if very small) gates, not secured with an external locket but instead with the lock being part of the structure, as is normal for doors. DC for Mind over Matter opening any of these is 3, but since the locks all require the same key, the DC will fall to 2 for any lock you decide to open after having successfully opened the first.

Of course, like Hornet did, you can open multiple locks at once (which might be important since, unlike Hornet, you need to pay 1 WP for each lockpicking attempt you make) by increasing the DC by 1 for each additional lock.

There's a total of 55 cages, each one containing between one and five doomwolves, for a total of precisely 238 beasts. Feel free to get as creative as you want, keep in mind the dustorm reducing visibility for everybody, and good luck! ^_^

This message was last edited by the GM at 22:15, Fri 05 June 2015.

looking at the scene around them, fox nodded immediately before looking at the group

"hornet, your with me. lets secure those doors to the right to see if there is anything both interesting and to enable us to speed this up"

he would then look to the others.

"you all go head to that furnace and get it going. i dont need to tell you that we need to make this thing blow up when we are safely away from it do i?" he smirked

Without hesitation, the young Magnakai drew his weapon and hurried to the position indicated by Sabre Fox. "Blow up?" he said as he readied himself beside the door, "we'll need something extremely flamable, then, right? Makes me wonder what's in those barrels. But we better be careful."

OOC: Sabre, there are two doors in front of us and one on the left - you probably meant that one (you said "door at the right")...?

"Most likely metal scraps and also chains to suspend objects from those rings in the ceiling" Swift replied to Water Hornet's question about the barrels.

She closed her eyes briefly, picturing the layout of the building based on the features she had seen of it on the outside, then turned towards the left door.
"I'll see what we can do" she replied to Sabre with a playful wink towards Raven.  "If you two find anything that looks useful, be sure to grab it on the way out.  Particularly if you find anything made of Korlinium, like this.  It might be helpful to us later."
She indicated the gloves and doublet she was wearing at the last part.


OOC: Heading for the left door :)

And speakng of the two doors in font of you - they're not close to each other, they're near opposite corners of the far wall from where you entered. Basically, you entered from the South door, the West door is the one that leads to the furnace room, the Norther door 1 (near the left corner) and finally the North door 2 (near the right corner).

So if you're moving though a door, Sabre Fox, I need to know which door you're chosing.

Sun Fox merely nodded to Sabre Fox's comment, and spoke back:

"Myself and Dawn Sword will wait for Sun Snake near this door here - just try not to get yourself killed when I'm not watching, yes?"

The blonde Maganakai grinned even as she laend with her back to the sothen wall, next to the door, clearly feeling moe relaxe now that she was insie a building, even as her other hand kept playing with the globe of smoke she was holding in it.

Meanwhile, Silver Raven merely shrugged and followed Swift Fox past the door on the left side of the room.

OOC: Nothing to see here...  Move along ;)

Indeed!

OOC: *tries to look innocent* :)

Ok, so I think as a basic first choice I'd go for trying to open three cages with maybe 2 - 3 wolves each. Probably easiest to open ajoining cages, right? So that would be DC 5 for 1WP, and I could try to reroll if I failed.

The only alternative I can think of is asking if there is much of a change in effort or size of effect if sun Snake only opens the doors part of the way? So rather than opening them enough for the doomwolves to get out, open them enough for the first to try and push its way through. Then let the gate go again. This might trap the animals for a while, but either the lead animal might wiggle through, of the others could make use of this weakness to renew attacks on the door and perhaps manage to get out. It might reduce the number of actual wolves that come out, unless its balanced by getting more out, but it might also buy a little time to get away before they go hunting?

Sun Snake, you don't need to physically "open the doors" - once you "unlock" them, the doomwolves (who, remember, are in something of a frenzy) will be more than strong enough to push the doors open on their own.

This message was last edited by the GM at 17:48, Fri 05 June 2015.

Ah, ok. Well went ahead rolled and got an 8! So I guess that's three doors opened :)

OOC: Yay, Sabre can play with the cute doggies now! :D  Hehe

The very moment their cages had been opened, the Doomwolves Sun Snake had free - eight in total, with the two who had been sharing a cage on their own being at least half as big as the rest - darted out of them immediately; the drakkarim turned in surprise at that, letting go on one of their horses, but they were too slow as the pack closed in on the one nearest to the kennels, their fangs - which seemed to glint in the dark despite the duststorm still raging on - biting through the dakrland steel of the man's armour with astonishing ease, tearing him apart in a matter of seconds.

Then, even as two of the smaller ones stopped to eat their prey, the rest closed in on the escaped horse and fell it in a single charge, while the nearby giaks stopped attacking their own warhorse - how had left two on the ground dead alreay, despite being severly wounded - to start running away in complete confusion and lack of iscipline.

And if that wasn't enough, the smell of blood in the air seemed to renew the ferocty of what beasts where still caged, as their howl, growls an snarl suddenly ddoubled in intensity, their sturdy cages rattling from the abuse they were putting them under in an effort to escape and join the undergoing feast.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 19:04, Fri 05 June 2015.

Yeah, near fatal playdates with doggies!

Sun Snake made a disgusted face at the loss of life, both the Drakkar and the horses that fell. For some reason his mind flashed for a moment on Dusk Rat, wondering what her reaction would have been at the actions taken. Sun Snake allowed himself only a moment longer to wonder of the progress of Shining Peacock and Dusk Rat in their own task, and the cast the thoughts aside. They were, after all, getting closer to their own goal now.

Sun Snake moved himself as quickly and as quietly as possible away, realising that he needed to move now to take advantage of the Dommwolves' distraction. Soon more guards would be coming out, and the wolves would start roaming further afield looking for food. Their eyes were still sharp even if he was temporarily evading their noses, after all.


Can Sun Snake use Mind Over Matter whilst sploly moving? Might be worth trying one final MoM on another cage door or two - at DC 1 or 2 - just to add to the confusion.

OOC: Aww, poor horse :(  (Don't mind people getting killed, as long as animals don't get hurt!)  :(

You can make another roll as you run away if you want, Sun Snake; the Camouflage DC for returning to the furnace is a 6 due to the confusion the doomwolves have caused, but if you lose some focus to open more locks, it'll go up to 7.

About the cages, I somehow put down the wrong numbers for the doomwolves - it should have been 55 cages with up to 5 beasts each, instead of 15 with up to 3. That means there's still 52 cages who haven't been opened; of these, 39 contain five doomwolves, 10 contain three bigger doomwolves (you opened two of these the first time around), 3 contain two doomwolves who are a bit bigger still (you opened one of those in your first round, as well), and there's a cage which ocntains a single lone doomwolf - the pack's leader, as these things go, and the one who's making the most ruckus of the Whole lot.

Just in case you wanted to focus your efforts and making a choce between quality and quantity. ^_^

Ok, so will try to open the alpha doomwolf cage and one other for a DC of 2, and a camouflage DC of 7.

And wow, got a 9 and an 8, which really weren't the rolls I expected! :D

Sun Snake could not sense the doomwolf minds the same as he could human minds, but the aggression of the pack leader in other ways - the howling and damage to the door - was unmistakeable. Sun Snake took an extra moment as he slipped away to focus on releasing it, and also one of the other cages to the side.

The task a success, albeit a draining on, Sun Snake allowed himself to drift back in to the shadows and home in on his companions again, dancing through around the awareness of those around him as if their attentions were pure sunlight highlighting the safe shadows he could step in.

OOC: Nice rolling there :)  Also, Alpha Doggy! :D

Some subconscious impulse made Hornet shiver involuntarily - he spare a worried glanced towards the way they had come from, but then looked at Sabre and awaited for the Magnakai to indicate they should proceed.

OOC: Indeed - nicely done, Snake! :) Although Hornet wouldn't also be happy about having consciously sent the animals to their death. :/

Sabre, Hornet would follow Sabre's orders, so it's up to you to decide which door you want to go through.

Considering you rolled a 9, Sun Snake, for once I'll be generous and say that you got to open the full eight cages that would allow - I think it would be much funnier that way, and such a roll sort of deserves it. :)

Even as Sun Snake sspirited himself away, he coul see the howling growing in intensity as dozensof doomwolves were let free of their iprisonement  as he turned, he could even see the pack leader emerging, a beast almost matching the same size as an horse, bounding forward, with the gaggle of smaller ones following along...

Then he was on the other side of the fortress, and a moment later Sun Fox let him in, closing the door behind him very quickly. Then the blonde girl turned an amused smile toward him and aske, as he chilling howls and scream of dying men echoed through the walls:

"I guess you were successful?"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:09, Sat 06 June 2015.

Sun Snake seemed momentarily lost for words, wiping his eyes as if tired and composing himself before answering. "Perhaps too successful," he said quietly. "I managed to free a few of the wolves and the packleader too, so they should be a well organised and motivated distraction. However we need to make sure they don't get in our way too. How are you all doing here?"

Sun Snake looked around, especially for Water Hornet.


Thanks for the boost!

OOC: Yay, lots of doggies! :D
This message was last edited by the player at 17:27, Sat 06 June 2015.

fox would look to the two doors before gripping his swords

"ill take the top left, you take the top right. i trust snake in saying this place is empty, but if something can slip by him, we should be on guard, so be careful"

sorry, hetic weekend to make my choice lol

No problem, Sabre Fox - waiting for a bit is something that can be done occasionally without trouble. So long as it doesn't becomes an habit! ;D

You might want to notice that Sun Snake just entered the room though - in case you wanted to react to his presence; on the other hand, if you want to have you two checking the doors before Sun Snake can arrive, I'm fine with that as well - I'll just have Sun Fox say that you'e checking the building over instead of her curent remark. :)

Sun Fox chuckled at the her fellow warrior's words.

"Hear that, Sun Snake? You've gained Sabre Fox's trust - we should celebrate!"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:39, Mon 08 June 2015.

"Seems a decent precaution," Sun snake said, but with a faint smile himself, "I hope I could sense the prescence of low level shielding, but perhaps not a Nadziranim. And who knows the brainless servants that may be around here."

Catching Snake's look, Water Hornet nodded - both in appreciation of Snake's actions and as an acknowledgment of the possible danger of roaming Doomwolves.

The young Magnakai looked at Sabre and raised three fingers. Under other circumstances he would have lowered each finger in turn as a countdown to synchronize the actions of two men. But when working with a fellow Kai Master that was unnecessary - Hornet grabbed his short sword and shield tightly and three heartbeats later he stormed into the room beyond 'his' door.

OOC: Awww, Sun Snake and Sabre Fox are friends again :)
Now just to see if he can make friends with Swift again too!

Sabre Fox, I'm assuming that you did entered the left door despite not having made a post to that effect, so that we can move the plot forward.

While the rest of the group went exploring and Sun Fox sad down upon ne of the room's anvils with an amuse smile, Dawn Sword moved next to her MAster nd asekd him, sounding worried:

"Are you alright, Master? Youlook quite tired."

Water Hornet reemerged in the door through which he had went through just minutes ago. Despite the fact that he had left with sword and shield ready, presently he was unarmed.

"Polearms and figurines," the Magnakai said simply nodding over his back, "and also some paint. Perhaps it could be used to set this building on fire...?" The question was addressed to no-one in particular; Hornet meanwhile approached instruments on the desk besides the row of anvils. "There are some some boxes, too, maybe peeking inside could provide a piece of useful information", he said, clearly looking for something that would help him open the boxes he'd just mentioned.

Grabbing a hammer and a tool resembling a chisel he looked at Swift Fox and Silver Raven. "I doubt there are any traps...but if you want to join me, I'd be glad about that; after all, your expertise will be greatly helpful, I am sure."

OOC: Will try to open the boxes.
Anyone wants to watch the fireworks from the front row? ;)
This message was last edited by the player at 20:22, Wed 10 June 2015.

Sun Snake nodded with distraction. "Mental exertions can be as tiring as physical ones. I just need a moment's rest." Sun Snake sighed, and said softly. "The Drakkar from earlier. I was controlling his emotions. Not something I have ever tried before. However, he was very ready to cry out no matter the cost to himself, as I believe Sabre Fox spotted." Sun Snake shook his head. "It is the most dispiriting thing to feel that your words would have no effect, and the most hollow victory to be able to change their minds, albeit temporarily. Shining Peacock said we should push ourselves, and whilst he may be right, there are some ways we should not go."

Sun Snake seemed uncomfortable, as if recalling the situation in which the two had first met, surrounded by mind controlled villagers.

Edit: Didn't realise Sabre and I were at odds! Swift Fox will never be happy, I am sure :p

And weee, shiny boxed! WH can open them then we can move all his smoking bits aside and get the shinies inside. Hey, Hornet, don't get any of your insides on my new shinies when the box blows up! :p
This message was last edited by the player at 18:37, Wed 10 June 2015.

Dawn Sword grimaced at the comment Sun Snake made, guilt clear on her face, whil Sun Fox just nodded and said, somberly:

"I guess that's true... it is so tempting to push past our limits to achieve the impossible, but it's not always the best idea."

"As always, there should be balance in all that we do. The real trick is to see the limits we impose upon ourselves for fear of failure, as opposed to the liits we impose because of the healthy fear of forgetting who we should be."

From the other room a sound of wooden stashes being forcefully open could be heard.

My shinies! Be careful with my shinies! No blood not organs on them, please! :(

Sorry, I meant our shinies...

But, Sun Snake, don't you know that historical relics a Worth moe if they're carrying DNA traces of famous people? Surely that'd be Worth some extra blood? ;D

OOC: Don't worry, neither anything gets broken nor blood gets spilled. For now. ;)


Water Hornet eventually came out of the room, carrying two daggers. which he promptly showed to the others. Both weapons looked to be of good quality, yet the one bearing a red engraving of crossed warhammers on its hilt was clearly even better than the other one.

"Weapon supply. There's a lot more back there," said Hornet simply. After a second of thinking, he continued: "I wonder if it would be useful to keep them - one of these daggers found embedded in the back of a suitable officer could sow a seed of distrust between different faction present in the fortress, hm...?"

OOC: Dagger lacking any marking - made from Darksteel, good quality.
The dagger with the hammers symbol - Hammer of Blood Darksteel Dagger: only breaks on a roll of 1.

For a moment Fox look dumbfounded at what he saw and did a double take.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:51, Fri 12 June 2015.

OOC: Looting everything that ain't nailed down.  Don't have Nexus for nail-prying unfortunately ;)
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:52, Fri 12 June 2015.

"We might need to sew discord amongst the Drakkar, but we might want to make sure it is not too obvious. Stabbing someone in the back with their own company's dagger might be so obviously a mis-direction it would bring suspicion on the other side."

List of items? And nexus/strength to open/carry them?
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:54, Fri 12 June 2015.

"There's still the 'Nadziranim side'," replied Water Hornet, "but I agree that it'd need to be done shrewdly." He looked at the marked dagger in his hand. "Does anyone want to take it?"

OOC: I'd take the dagger, but I don't have free weapon slots - the ones on the belt are taken and it's not possible to carry short weapons on the back. Probably not that important, though.

I wonder what Sabre found...

Backpack? Sun Snake has backpack space, etc if needed

OOC: Ah, I also have one backpack slot free. I will put it there, then (if no-one claims the dagger).

Sun Fox shook her head at Hornet's comment.

"I'm as armed as I need to be."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 17:23, Mon 15 June 2015.

Are we still waiting for a list of items, or was it just the daggers so far?

...I gave Sabre Fox the list, as well as Swift Fox - you're not in the same room as the two of them, so anyhting they do doesn't influence you at all. I even properly hid their messages so only the two of them can se them - you and Hornet should be focusing on your own happenings with Sun Fox and Dawn Sword in the anvil room.

Where is the list? I can't see anything lol. That's actually what I was waiting on

fox would look at the things around him being sighing.

]
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:15, Mon 15 June 2015.

Silver Raven emerged from the door Sabre Fox had entered in, unsheating his sword as he entered the room and waving it in a salute to the others as he asked:

"So, who of you is the one who is closer to reaching their limits, psychically speaking?"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:23, Mon 15 June 2015.

Sun Snake looked to the others first, even though he was still pale from his previous exertions.


We went ahead and used Sun Fox's power against your warning, didn't we? Also not sure how low Water Hornet it. So Sun Snake will probably actually for once put his hand up, providing neither of the others are also low.

Water Hornet was just putting the marked dagger into his pack, when Silver Raven spoke. The question took him by surprise; he looked at the others and then shook his head: "I haven't used much of my mental reserves. Quite the contrary, actually." After a thought, Hornet didn't close his backpack and rummaged through the contents. "I can provide some restoratives in that regard, too, if necessary."

OOC: Snake, go ahead - I'm quite good WP-wise (very good, I'd even say).

Sun Fox shrugged, playng with her smoke orb as shee aswered:

"I'm abouyt dhalfway - so long as I don't need to make some huge push all at once, I think I'll hold for a bit."

Silver raven nodded, then moved to Sun Snake and flipped his sword, offering the handle to the older Magnakai as he said:

"Then you might be the one to have more use out of this, SUn Snake, I'll let you borrow a bit of my sowrd's power. It let's your mind regain focus by draining dthe energies of the rest of your body - but don't worry, I have some Laumspur you can make use of to recover that.


Drgon's Song description: the blade was made of polished bronin with a silvery sheen, carvings that occasinally sparkled of white light picturing vortex and spirals running all over the lenght of the blade, with a golden tail wrapped around the hilt, the crossguard shaped out of gilded jadin into bat-like wing, more jadin, shaped into a dragong's head, helding the pommel (a ruby that seemed to contain living, golden flames) and the handle dwrapped with white velvet.

Dragon's Song effect: pay 2 END to recover 5 WP.

OOC: Yay, more WP! :)

No need to rub it in :p

And lol, WH hasn't used much of his mental reserves, quite the contrary? Were all his tactical plans just him reading out random passages form the Chronicales of Lone Wolf and hoping to sound smart? :D I mean it worked, but now I'm worried...

"I fear I taxed myself more than I meant to with the Doomwolves, so soon after trying to deal with the Drakkar before that. Now may not be the best time to have sluggish wits. If you have found any restoratives, I should perhaps not stand on pride."


Fill this man with WP! Fill this man with WP!

Edit: Oh, double posted, it still works anyway, so that's cool.


Sun Snake reached out to take the sword, nodding solemnly, knowing how much the blade meant to the Kai. In return, he unsheathed Patience and offered it to Silver Raven. "My own blade is shaped to my mind, and allowed me to channel my thoughts and amplify them. I have found I am able to do more complex things effortlessly and swiftly when I use it as a focus. It may not have quite the same effect for you, but with you unique mix of skills you might find some way to use it to practise with your own abilities for a few moments. Perhaps unlock something that was just at the edges of your reach? We need all the tricks and power we can get for what is to come."

I haven't already done this, have I? I forget.... maybe it was Silver Raven who told me about the history of the blade! I'll get rid of this part if so.

Sun Snake held the blade aloft, for a moment tracing the design of it and admiring it from a functional point of view. When he looked to the base of the sword his eyes widened. Suddenly, the symbols engraved on the blade shone with bright light, which then animated themselves into three shining dragons. They were made of energy and moved in a spiraling path from the sword and on to Sun Snake's arm. The shone for a moment and then dissipating.

Sun Snake sagged as if the loss of their ethereal weight had left him weak, but he certain seemed to be more alert.

Curiously, he looked to the engravings again. This time, when the dragons came, they were far more humble, their wings folded tightly to their body. Their spirals were far more snake-like. When they finally left the blade and were fully on his arm, they then seemed to recall themselves, and were dragons once more, and each snapped at his arm violently and seemed to leap up in to the air to dissipate.

Staggered a little in surprise, Sun Snake looked to the blade as if to ask a question once more. This time the dragons were more snake than dragon, and practically slithered up his arm. Once they detached from the blade, their travels carried on up his arm towards his shoulder. It was hard to tell when they faced away, they simply twisted in to the shadows of his clothes one after the other, and aside from half imagined ripples disappeared.

Sun Snake staggered for a moment, and hastily gave the blade back to Silver Raven.

"I have no idea what that means," he said to Silver Raven, handing back the man's blade with another gracious nod of the head. Sun Snake looked quite pale, but he stood taller and more alert afterwards.

OOC: LOL :D

Water Hornet rested his hand on the hilt of his named dagger as he watched the two Magnakai. Silver Raven's sword was an astonishing piece of blacksmithing work and it almost made Hornet forget about everything else, as he watched Sun Snake draw energy from the weapon.

Silver Raven chuckled, even as he took back his weapon.

"I think that was just a result of the sword drawing from your own power to heal yourself - it synchronized itself with your energy, and that should account for the manifestation's particular shape."

He then paused, and offered his sword to Sun Fox while adding:

"You might want to recover as well - we might as well have eveybody in top form if we can, and since I needed to remove a couple of Laumspur potions from my backpack to make space for what i recovered from here, the energy you spend recharging yourselves is not going to stay lost for very long."

Sun Fox seemed perplexed, but she merely nodded, grasping the sword's handle and closing her eyes for a moment, which caused six energy dragons to erupt from the blade and fly inside the arm holding it, before she returned the item to its owner.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:51, Tue 16 June 2015.

Again, Water Hornet merely watched in silence the effect with which Raven's sword allowed Sun Fox to recover her mental energies.

Something different piqued Hornet's interest and made him ask: "Raven, you said you recovered some items from this place. What can you say about this place? Does it look like any other forge one could encounter in a Darkland's or Drakkarim fortress...or is it special in any way? Should we be wary of something in particular in this foul place...?"

Silver Raven shook his head, and answered, even as he sheated his sword:

"Not particularly. It is an industrial furnace, one meant to create weapons by the hundred every day; it is also exceptionally well furnished with material - well, it was, at least, it's a bit less so now that I and Swift have raided it - so I guess the Drakkar colonel, Vyctar, was planning to use it to re-equip a substantial number of troops, like he was preparing his army for a prolonged campign of conquest or some such."

He paused for amoment, then added, looking thoughtful:

"Also, the local crafters had researched something pretty impressive - I and Swift have stolen the data, so hopefully they won't be able to put it to use, but I wouldn't be surprised if their latest batch of swords were of higher quality than normal. In fact, they'd likely be, if they tested the dprocess out, but it's unlikely there'll be many, since Swift's expertise suggests that they completed their research only in the last two days or so."

He shrugged, as if uncertain wether that particular information was of any use to the group.

fox then emerged from his room carrying several bottles before smiling and speaking

"who wants some presents?" he said extending the bottles.

he did notice however that sun fox had passed back ravens sword and raised an eyebrow

"is this pass around your sword again raven? do we all get a try?"

we have  3 +6 END lampspur and one +8 so once we all had a go on ravens energy giving shiny blade we can chug them down. the rest ill try and hoard for us :)

Silver Raven turned toward Sabre Fox with a lsightly puzzled expression.

"Didn't you said that you were fine when I asked earlier, Sabre Fox'"

Then, his eyes narrowed as he added, even as he offered his weapon's handle to the other Mangakai:

"And I'm not passing around the Dragon's Song - I'm giving you a chance to let it's music bring peace to your mind. You should be grateful of having the chance to listen to it, instead of making japes."

Eh, Silver Raven is a bit protective about one of the most important things in his whole life. Who knew? ^_^

Swift finished stuffing the boxes into her pack then tugged it onto her shoulders again.
Pausing to slip the Jade Spike into her tunic sleeve, she moved out into the room where the others were...


OOC: Looks like someone just found Raven's berserk button... ;)

Sun Snake has his own +4EP supplies he can drink, but has backpack space if needed.

"Sabre, Swift, did you find anything that we could at least start a fire with?" asked Water Hornet after declining vials from Sabre with a polite shake of his head.

"There are plenty of furnaces in a room back there" replied Swift.  "We'll need some help, but by overloading them with fuel, we could create enough heat and pressure in there that someone with control over fire could create quite a sizeable explosion.  Should be enough to get everyone's attention."

She thought for a moment and looked back at the door they had come through.
"From the size of those furnaces and the equipment in there, this place seems designed for rapid mass production of weapons and armour.  Destroying it may also cause their armies some supply problems in the long term, depending on how long it takes them to rebuild it."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:51, Fri 19 June 2015.

"That is good," Hornet lighted somewhat up, "although our main goal is stopping Vyctar, if we can sabotage war progress of Drakkarim, that will be good."

"And once we manage to manipulate the heat of the furnace so the explosion is inevitable...what do we do next?" Hornet looked at the gathered people, "Do we head for the main entrance to the citadel and demand being let in? It will be dangerous, but we are running out of time, don't we?"

"Are there trap inside that can be triggered if we can tough the wall?" Sun Snake looking more to Swift Fox, but was aware that several people in the group had connections to some of the traps around. "Perhaps if we trigger the right trap inside, we can get people to leave the citadel opening the door and also removing those who might see us entering?"

Sun Fox's brow furrowed, as she commented:

"Well, if the soldiers down here prove incapable of dealing with the chaos created by freeing the doomwolves, they might send for somebody from isnide the fortress - maybe that will allow us a chance to slip in during the chaos. And that becomes even more true if they need to call for somebody to deal with the destroyed furnaces. Wasn't that the point of this whole distraction in the first place?"

She looked around to the rest of the group, as if trying to gauge their opinion on the matter.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:26, Fri 19 June 2015.

"Seems reasonable. With the chaos outside, once the furnace explodes, if a few of us yell for help from the citadel in Drakkar from the shadow,s we might elicit a response and be able to sneak inside?"

Water Hornet rubbed his cheeks and chin. 'I need to shave,' sprung to his mind; a thought completely inappropriate for the seriousness of the situation.

"Well, actually I thought the happenings in the courtyard might push the guards not to be so strict in following the respective procedures of letting outsiders inside the citadel... But what you're saying makes even more sense." The last sentence was addressed to both Sun Fox and Sun Snake.

"Some of the traps seem designed to trigger a signal if touched, while some will trigger a deadly magical attack" replied Swift.
"Every individual brick of the building seems to have been enchanted separately, so while it might just be possible to climb the wall without being seen, disabling every trap on the way would weaken me far too quickly.  It takes a lot of mental effort simply to erase one hostile enchantment without triggering it, let alone a whole buildings' worth."


OOC: So while Swift can neutralise enchantments from things, it burns too much WP to use it often...

"I didn't want to feel left out" Fox said pouting to Raven "but if it's on offer I will gladly take it, after all, I'll have to use my mental energies to fuel the fire for our explosion" he winked

He would then look to the others

"I think it's safe to say with the various chaos we have sown here by now, Vyctar may send one of his better soldiers out to deal with whatever he thinks is going on. It's fair to say his personal guard will be with him in the citadel. Hence our chance to enter"

Silver Raven waited patiently for Sabre Fox to let the energy dragons rise from the blade and enter his body, before sheating his blade; he then noticed that Sun Sake, instead of taking the potions Sabre was offering, had drunk his own, to which the platinum haired Kai shrugged and commented, his tone matter of fact:

"If you don't use all the potions, Sabre Fox, give the remaining ones to Sun Snake to carry."

Then, he motioned for the group to follow him along - in passing, Sun Fox snatched one of the four Laumspur from Sabre - and led them all to the room that was filled with the furnaces.

He gestured at the imposing structures, then at one of three doors on the northern wall - the one further to the left - and said:

"That place is filled with wood, coal and other fuels for the furnaces. I need you folks with Nexus to push it all into this room; even with your powers, it's gonna take at least a good half an hour to move it all here. While you do that, I and Swift will open up two furnaces and start feeding them - if we do it all well enough, we should have them melting off by the time you lot have filled the room. At that point, it'll just be a matter of spreading the fire to all the fuel at once, and then using your powers to keep it growing until it's compressed enough to fill the room entirely. That's when you let it go explosively."

He looked around to the group, as if to ensure everybody had followed his explanation, and then asekd:

"Ready?"

I need a few rolls now, to see how fast you can do this. Swift, you give me two craftsmanship roll - one is yours, one is ravens's. To do this in less than half an hour, you need to beat a DC 6.

Sabre, Hornet, you two have Nexus, so you need to give me a roll; Sun Snake, you'll roll for Sun Fox. To fill the room in less than half an hour, your combined rolls need to add up to at least a 12 when combined together (ie, a 4+9+0 is a sure pass).

Sun Snake, you also get to roll for yourself and Alyne - these are help rolls, you can assign them to either Swift, Raven, or Nexus, but each help roll will only add half it's own value (rounded down) to wherever you assign it.

Of course, even if failing at those rolls means that you lot take more than half an hour to make the place explode, you are still free to do something other than help, if you want to...

OOC: Got a 9 for Raven.  Had to FP reroll my own and just managed to scrape it with a 6.
Climb over the wall took a lot out of Swift I'm guessing...

Managed to roll an 8 for Snake, and a 5 for Dawn Sword. Can assign Dawn Sword to Swift Fox to speed thigns up passed the basic DC6 unless someone else needs the help more. Will wait for more rolls to come in.

Sun Snake looked through the walls of the smithy for a moment. "A Xaghash and three Gourgaz have gone over to the area of the Doomwolf pens. They will most likely be able to subjugate the pack. We must hurry."
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:23, Sat 20 June 2015.

Once the Raven had explained what was needed of him, Water Hornet immediately moved to carry in the plan. When Snake mentioned there was a Xaghash outside, Hornet hissed and re-doubled his effort to move the coal and wood into the room.

OOC: Rolled a 2. :/
Snake, you'll be rolling for Sun Fox, too, right? Hope you and Sabre are more fortunate.

Rolled a 6 for sun Fox.

Rolled 6 for nexus. Drinking one of the 6enf potions too. We have two left, one at 6end gain and one at 8end
This message was last edited by the player at 09:09, Sun 21 June 2015.

So, those rolls seems to imply a success to me. :)

Things proceded relatively fast once Silver Raven had assigned the group their roles - he himself seemed to know what he was doing with extreme precision, and Swift Fox had an easy time of it as well, especially once Dawn Sword started to help her with feeding as much combustible into the furnaces as they possibly could.

Meanwhile, Sun Snake moved to help the three Nexus users in filling the furnaces room with coal and wood, helping in the positioning with pathsmanship, and the dfour made a really fast time of it, having the room filled and glowing with fire in less than the half an hour they'd expected.

Once the furnaces had starte to melt, Silver Raven pushed the group into the room with the anvils, opening the door they'd entered from, and once everybody was outside - where the dust storm, while slowly abating, was still present - he motioned to Sabre Fox and said to him, the shadow of a grin forming on his lips:

"Sabre Fox, if you would do the honors?"

"oh absolutely kind sir" fox said with a wicked grin.

Looking towards the building, he began to see past its walls with his minds eye. He had memorised the location of everything they had set up in the room in order to maximise his concentration. He could see the furnaces, even now beginning to melt from their surroundings. As the stones that once protected flame slowly started to melt as if into molten lava, the sparks of the flame began to spew out as Fox intensified the flame in his mind, turning it almost into a raging flaming cyclone.

The fire had no where to spread except directly to what had purposely been left in its circle. The coal and the wood that had been placed there to spur the flame on. Catching fire quickly, the coal instantly became fuel for the flame while the wood also was consumed by the raging fire.

Despite the effort that fox had given, he couldn't take all the credit. the various weapons that had been perfectly positioned behind the fuel was helping the effort. The metals of the weapons acting as a heat mirror, reflecting the flames back towards the centre intensifying the heat even further creating an even more raging inferno.

With the fire inside the room now in full swing, and unable to be contained by anything, the flame then lashed out even further to engulf the weapons around the room that were acting as a mirror as the flames licked and lashed at anything it touched. the temperature in the room quickly became like that of a volcano as quickly the various anvils and ingots were quickly consumed as within a further few seconds, the entire room was covered in a righteous fire.

Opening his eyes once more, Fox grinned to the rest of the group before holding his hand in the air, and after a agonising few seconds, he snapped his fingers........

Immediately after the furnace room exploded into the night sky in a massive fire cyclone! Rising into the air, the cyclone quickly spread outwards to consume the rest of the adjacent room to the forge and cause a chain reaction that caused multiple explosions, throwing rocks and debris that had been left from what was left of the forge into the insides of the castle, causing multitude of small flames all around them.

Taking a deep breath, Fox rubbed a hand across his brow.

"well i think we all survived that with our eyebrows in tact" he smirked

Sun Fox lowered her head as the flames exploded above, her Nexus making sure that nobody was struck by the debris their work had created, before chuckling and adding:

"Well, that's a distraction alright. Better leave, yes?"

Silver Raven nodded, looking distincly worried as he said:

"Yeah, I believe so - we've got guests incoming."

Impressive! Nice writing, Sabre.

sun Snake shielded his eyes from the light and heat of the blast, averting his gaze, closing his eyes and even putting a warding hand up against the reduced impact.

Still, he kept them closed as he concentrated on the chaos around them.


"The three Gourgaz have started rounding up the Dommwolves. The doomwolves killed several hundred soldiers and about two thirds of the giaks. And it roused a new set of Drakkar, some of Vyctar's Hammers of Blood. But I fear these Drakkar are far superior soldiers, for they dealt with the Dommwolves as much as the Gourgaz have. We haven't much time - those Drakkar - about two dozen - are moving to investigate the explosion along with the Xagash. Must must take a path to avoid that group, and also avoid the Gourgaz corralling the Doomwolves."


Run!
This message was last edited by the player at 19:31, Sun 21 June 2015.

Swift closed her eyes and turned her head to one side, the reduced blast wave from the exploding building causing her hair to stream out along with the red scarf and her Kai cloak.

At Sun Snake's warning, she made a deft movement with her right hand, causing the Jade Spike to drop out of her tunic sleeve into her hand.
The glow from the fire glittered blood red along the blade as she glanced around.
"Which way are they coming from?" she asked in a low voice.


OOC: Kaboom! :)

It was Silver Raven who answered, hurriedly:

"They're circling around the southern sde of the Citadel. If the door of it is truly to the northern side, ten maybe we could make a run for it before they make it here - but we don't know if it'll be open..."

He trailed off, uncertain that his suggestion was the best one available.


If you can't think of anything else, running to the Citadel's door before the Xagash and co. makes it to where you are will equire a DC 7 Hunting check for running.

As usual, Swift Fox can roll for Silven Raven and Sun Snake can roll for Dawn Sword.

Water Hornet raised his hand to shielded his face, although the gesture was mostly unnecessary. Too late he realized he watched the explosion and the flash of light blinded him for a moment, before his eyes grew accustomed to the darkness once again.

"Indeed," he echoed Swift's words, "we should hurry away." He then raised his head as if trying to catch a smell of something.

OOC: Once we decide on the route of retreat, maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to beckon doomwolves to this place...?
I know they are engaged in a fight with Gourgaz and elite Drakkarim, but I just imagined handling the fire would be more difficult if the 'fire fighters' have a pack of doomwolves running around.
Shadow, would it be difficult to mentally beckon the beasts over the distance?

 They've been put back into their kennels - you'd need somebody to go there and open those up again, only this time there's two Gourgaz standing guard - their smell (the one that sends giaks in a frenzy) is the only things that makes this breed of doomwolves docile, meaning they'd be harder to push into attacking anybody.

"The only mind I can feel on the citadel door is a single, terrified giak," said Sun Snake. "The only mind I can sense. It seems to easy... why just one?"

Swift frowned and looked over at Sun Snake.
"Just one question" she said, "how much did Vyctar learn of what you're capable of?"

She gestured towards the citadel with the Jade Spike.
"Judging by that place, it's clear that the Nadziranim can place psychic warding easily enough, and if Vyctar has guessed we're here, he might be setting a trap, making us believe the entrance is only lightly guarded..."


OOC: Just a thought...

"He knows or can guess that I can detect many things with my mind. So he may well place such a ward."


Sneaky if so :(

OOC: Oh, OK. I thought at least some doomwolves were still free and being rounded up by Gourgaz & co.

Water Hornet had a thoughtful and worried expression on his face. "I propose we get closer to the entrance and observe it from the vicinity. Maybe Vyctar doesn't really expect us to walk into this trap. And we can still kill the Giak, create an impression we're walking in through the main entrance, but choose another way inside the citadel."

"In any case, let's change our position quickly," he added.

OOC: It might be a trap, but let's take a closer look, shall we?

"Either way" Fox said sniffing the air "those gourgaz are getting closer, where's the best place to go next Snake? They won't qwell this fire for a good while and they will concentrate on preventing it's spread. Let's plan somewhere where we won't be overwhelmed"

"Then let's move," interjected Water Hornet worriedly and set out at a sharp pace northwards. He only made a few steps, though, before stopping. His attention was clearly drawn to the small building between the blazing forge and the citadel itself. (OOC: I_I)

"I don't like it," the young Magnakai said, turning towards the others again. "Let's avoid this structure. Circle around, but in the opposite direction. I can feel animal minds - Kraans - in that direction, but I can deal with them. Maybe even use their presence to create a distraction." For a moment, Hornet, pondered over the options.

"If I beckon one of the flying beasts, could you attack it mentally?" Hornet suddenly asked Sun Fox, at the same time gesturing with his hand to urge the group change their position.

So we're going with 4a, yes?

"We head for the giak and see what flavour the trap is," said Sun Snake, agreeing with the direction Water Hornet had indicated. "I like that way better than the other. I an try to guide you all through the shadows, at least, better than us trying to run and trust to luck."

So saying, and making sure Sun Fox and Water Hornet had co-ordinated themselves first, Sun Snake slipped out in to the world reaching for the first piece of cover.

Rolled an 8, which I assume means a pass?

Rolling for Dawn Sword, got a 6.

Swift flicked the Jade Spike around in her hand, keeping the blade angled away from the fire to avoid reflections giving away her position.
Glancing back, she signalled to Silver Raven, pointing out the moving shadows cast by the flickering flames and indicating him to follow her movements through them...

Alright, you all managed to avoid detection. As such...

Even as the furnace kept exploding behind them, the Magnakai moved forward, disappearing into the cloud of dust that hid them from most peering eyes, stalking silently like ghosts. With just a gesture, Sun Snake took point and directe the movement of the others, his path choosen such that a gust of sudden wind would strengthen to their left just as they moved past a drakkar barrack, their passage n front of a guarded building timed just so that the guards had turned toward the plumes of smoke and flames rising behind the building, and in but a moment, the group was standing in front of the citadel.

A single giak had clearly been standing in front of the sligtly ajar door, but the lone sentinel was currently unconscious on the ground, and thus unable to notice the Magnakai slipping through.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:25, Fri 26 June 2015.

The idea was to stun the giak way before being in view, in order to see if there was a reaction from the door. Or did I need to be in line of sight?

But yes, stun the giak.

Oh, ok. I can fix that easily - just edited the last post, in fact, and it's done.

Are you dragging the giak along, or just leaving it there?

"All those guards on the outside, but only one watching an unlocked door on the inside?" muttered Swift quietly.  "Either this Vyctar is a naive fool, or this is definitely a trap!"

She reached back and took up the shield with the mirrored face, slipping it onto her left arm and positioning herself in front of Silver Raven, warily glancing around suspiciously at every shadow in sight...

Water Hornet followed Swift's actions arming himself, but instead of the short sword, he took the Venom into his right hand. "Let's try it the old Kai way," he whispered to the others and made one step forward. He concentrated his mind on the space behind the door - besides less natural aspects of Sixth Sense, the skill also involved the ability to pick up and analyze little details, assembling the bigger picture.

OOC: Shadow, we're not inside, yet, are we? I would not walk through the entrance until we are comfortable about the situation - which seems we are not. Yet. :)

In any case, Hornet will focus his Sixth Sense on the entrance to search for any kind of danger (at the cost of 1WP as per the rules).

Also, if Hornet can't sense any threat, would Psy-screen help identify if there's any shielding in place, so the Sixth is 'working correctly' (I know that literally every brick of the citadel has been infused with anti-psychic wards, but this is a slightly different situation, if I understand it correctly; I'm bjust trying understand if a "no danger" from Sixth Sense would mean "no danger present" OR "can't detect any danger" ^_^).

You can keep your WP, Hornet. I thought I'd told this already when you entered the petrified forest, but in case I didn't, using Sixth Sense here in the Darklands is pointless: everything is a danger to you here. The whole area is saturated with dark energy, being exposed to the vulcanic ash in the air for any long period of time is enough to cause lifelong respiratory problems, the place is filled to the brim with creatures of black magic, possibly including a Darklord, everything (or close enough) would kill you on sight, the building you're entering is a lair of high-powered darkspawns and pratically covered in deadly trap, and so on.

There's just too much danger around for your Sixth Sense to pick up anything - it's been buzzing that you are in deadly danger since the beginning of your infiltration in the forest, and will keep doing so until you get back to the Skyrider. Divination is refined enough to pick up more detailed readings, but Sixt sense is just overwhelmed here.

Now, since you did asked, I'll just assume you asked Sun Snake and give him the results of the reading - then you can decide if you want to enter the place where your target is, or just stay there outside the door and wait for said target to come to you on its own. :)

Sun Snake sighed a little. "It's not a trap. We've managed to get the powerful creatures that would usually be on the other side with the key to leave. The giak is used to being nor more than a sentry of a closed, secure door that only powerful creatures can open. He isn't usualy left standing at the open door, guarding against things that could cause powerful creatures to rush outside."

Sun Snake pointed ahead. "My senses do not warn me that there is anything more dangerous beyond than we will find in any other room of the citadel. Of course, that could simply mean every inch of the citadel is trapped."

Sun Snake motioned ot the door. "The giak's mind was not psychically trapped, so if there is a psychic trap, it would be walking through the door. I believe I can manage to shield myself and the rest of you from an attempt, and perhaps even hide from the probe. But it might be taxing, I will need you all to watch out around us."

Sun Snake gripped his sword without unsheathing it, and made to walk forwards.


Let Sun Snake trigger a psychic trap if there is one?

There is none. :)

After a moment of bated breath after Sun Snake had entered the room, Sun Fox called back, her voice low with worry:

"Is it safe?"

She paused, then added, her foot pushing the unconscious giak:

"And what about this guy? Are we to just leave him here?"

"Nothing." Sun Snake breathed a sign of relief and looked to the giak. "Pull it inside." He then motioned to the door. "We should close this, if we think we can have it locking without the key opening it again. I would rather have a harder time leaving than have that Xagash and Gorugaz on our tail."

"I saw Kraan tunnels at the top of the citadel earlier" remarked Swift.  "If they're occupied, it might be an easier escape route than having to pick our way through the defences again."


OOC: Just a thought :)

A good thought. :)

Silver Raven nodded.

"Indeed. Once we're inside, i think the chalice will work again, and I can use it and my magic to freeze the lock solid - that way, even a key would not work to open the door, and they'd have to batter it down."

he then paused, taking a moment to study the insriptions on the oor, before paling and adding, in a whisper.

"Which... will not be easy, considering there's a magic trap on it set to disintegrate anything made of flesh that tuches the metal. Do be careful entering, yes?"

And with that, he moved inside, taking extra care not to touch his hands or face to any part of the citadel's door.

OOC: Shadow, you probably did (explain the matter with Sixth Sense), I've just forgotten. Thanks for reminding.

"Make the sturdiness of the building work against themselves, huh?" Water Hornet even smiled slightly at the thought, "good idea."

Putting away the shield and dagger, he grabbed the Giak by its ankles and nodded at Sun Fox, so they could carry the creature as per Snake's instruction. Once inside, Hornet quickly produced the Water Summoning Chalice and handed it to Silver Raven.

OOC: I have a rope to tie the Giak (although that'd probably be a waste of the item...?); and I also have a torch and a tinderbox (although the inside of the citadel is likely illuminated somehow...?).

Once all members of the group had moved inside, Sun Fox dropped the giak to the ground quite carelessly, then made a single gesture to have her Nexus slam the Citadel's door shut, before finally sagging to the ground, letting out a slow, long, relieved breath.

"If you don't mind, I'm going to stop substaining the sandstorm - it really is annoying having to constantly focus on so many things at once."

Meanwhile, the group had the time to observe the room they were in. It was a small, semicircular antechamber, with barely twenty feet of radius, and carved completely in black stone. They all could feel the ominous air making their sking shudder slightly, and the mood wasn't made easier by the lighting, a red glow coming from a sinlge gemstone that was affixed at the top of the wall in front of them.

Aside from the gem, there weren't any notable features to the room except for four pillars; atop each stood a statue of what looked like thin creatures with sharp talons in place of their hands, wickedly curve beaks, and large bat wings folded around their body.

Other than the sculptures, which loomed menacingly on the Magnakai, the room had three exits. To both their left and their right, they cold see stairways that climbed upwards and disappeared into darkness, while in front of them, exactly under the red gemstone and with two of the pillars at either side, was a single double door. While carved of black stone, just like the rest of the room, the door was noticeable for being covered with a multitude of thin silver lines, which crisscrossed all its surface in a strangely decorative yet ultimately meaningless pattern.

The door was also notably lacking any kind of handle or keyhole of any sort.

"The statues and the door feel dangerous, and magical - be wary of them."

"They are" remarked Swift quietly.  "Another magical gemstone opens the door, something to do with the colour of the light emitted from them.  Smashing that red one on the wall will open the door, but will also awaken the statues.  Trying to force open the door will trigger an enchantment that animates those silver lines, causing them to try to crush intruders while also bombarding them with a powerful psychic assault."

She eyed the stairs for a moment.
"As far as I can tell, there aren't any visible traps on the stairs.  Although I can't see the top from here.  And that's where I'd put traps if I was setting any here."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:21, Fri 26 June 2015.

"Maybe my eyes and senses can help you there Swift"

The staircases does indee wind upwards in addition to being shoruded in darkness - you can't see the top from where you are. hwever, you'll likely be able to see the top if you climb to the halfway point - provided the stairways don't take some more turns, which you can't tell if they do from your current position.