Sypher takes point, keeping close to buildings for cover.  He is silent in his movement  Having never been here before, he chooses a direction based on the nearness and nature of the cover.  The two closes buildings are his choice so he goes to the right.  The bushes provide better visual cover than the artillery pieces, though he has a nagging feeling that might be where the vehicle is parked.

He darts over to the building, his back to the wall, the bushes in front.

[Move - y13]
This message was last edited by the player at 00:44, Sat 20 May 2017.

"Master Grintome, you have to have been here before.  Do they not have an actual fueling station?"  She strides after Sypher less darty, confident in her spell.  Anything powerful enough to get through it one shot and they were dead coming here anyway.

Soon she is by Sypher, the barrels of her guns pointed up with the guns pulled in tight to her shoulders.  She keeps watch behind those still out in the open, looking for danger they cannot see.

"Several times, but it's been well over five years. We'd routinely patrol from Langdon to here, stay the night, and patrol back. Part of that patrol was bringing supplies to this garrison, and fuel being one of those supplies. If there is any fuel to be found, it will be around the car". He stretches one of his legs out behind him, balancing on his cane. "I don't detect any living or unliving beings in the immediate area. I'm going to remain her for now and stretch, if no one minds. I'll only slow down the search anyway. Don't worry though, I'm more than capable of defending myself".

He speaks a word of command and his long flowing cloak flutters out, lifting him off the ground. He rises 30 feet in the air, and peers around. He calls down "I don't see any movement, but it looks like there may be a spent summoning circle to the north east, tucked in between the buildings. Tread with caution, the PCA aren't above leaving behind traps".

His cloak carries him backwards a bit, until he settles in a sitting position atop the 10 foot outer wall of the garrison. "Whew. Using this thing really takes it out of you" he says, referring to his cloak. "I'll be here if anyone needs me".

Shiaran looks up at the top of the wall to the aging wizard.  Her voice is a shouted whisper across the twenty five feet.  "Do you know where they usually park the...car?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:35, Sat 20 May 2017.

"If I'm remembering correctly, it would be over behind the admin building. South western area of the garrison" he points. "The building your outside of now, should be the armory. Probably ransacked. The building just east of us is a mess hall. I saw the dead grass of what I think might have been a summoning portal between the armory and mess hall. A little north of the armory should be a gear issue and maintenance facility. West of there would be a blacksmith, and behind it the sleeping quarters. All that should be correct, provided they didn't decide to change anything".

Darius points towards the N-12 range of squares denoting the admin building

At the mention of a burned out summoning circle, R.E.B.O.R.T. moves down the garrison wall to the east. He stops about halfway down, just before the circle would be in the line of sight.

He looks over to Beloc and gives him the all clear sign.

Moves to D18

With the go-ahead signal given, Beloc moves past Sypher and Shiaran to the next blind spot, stopping at the corner of the building. He sheathes his blade and draws the trench gun before peering around the corner.

Moves to E12

Sypher follows Rebort intending to defend him in close while the golem addresses things farther away.

"But the gas is the other way..."  Shiaran rolls her eyes and follows Beloc.

He glances back at Shiaran. "Secure the area first. We can't afford to be caught off guard", he says in a hushed voice.

Tucked between the buildings is the same burnt out circle of grass that you all have noticed on the trip here. The air around it is thick, and carries the taint of foul magic. Nothing around the circle stirs save for three vultures looking in vain for food, and not even a breeze blows through in between the buildings.

Off in the direction of the main path, several song birds chirp and twitter in the trees.

The faint smell of death lingers in the air, but not nearly as strong as when the lacedons and ghouls were near back at the navy yard.

Detect Evil and Detect Undead still do not register any presences.

Shiaran nods and waits for the others to move to the next building while she covers them.

Beloc's head darts around the corner for a second the back. He looks over to R.E.B.O.R.T. "Clear."

The warforged moves over to the building opposite Beloc and does a quick scan. "No hostiles detected. The circle, however, is questionable." He waves the others over, moves in and gives it a quick examination while Beloc covers his flank.

"They were here recently. This circle was used only two days ago to summon a large number of units for their undead army. This was likely used to disrupt communication between Langdon and Argonette, as well as their staging point from the attack last night."

He looks over to the other three. "The removal of this circle is highly recommended."

Rebort to J13, then to I9. Beloc to E6

"Grintome will know how."

"I'll get him."  Shiaran leaves the circle and trots toward the wall.  Once below it, she calls up.  "Know a way to destroy a summoning circle?  Is it as easy as messing with the lines as in the stories?"

R.E.B.O.R.T. chimes in when the question is asked. "Given the amount of dark energy used to create it, we would likely need an appropriate amount of positive energy to counteract it."

"Yes and no. They have to be disturbed,  but they also need to overpowered by positive energy, as Rebort mentioned. Bringing the dead back to life destroys the natural order of things, so it has to be brought back in line. Only way to do that is to impose some serious positive energy on the area. Bring the law down on it so to speak".
This message was last edited by the player at 16:51, Sat 20 May 2017.

"The magic I can provide is neither positive or negative. It comes from nature, which is inherently neutral." Beloc shrugs. "I'll help if I can."

"A blessing or something that could hallow the ground might help. My abilities do not allow me to cast anything like that, but there is a possibility that I can simulate it through an object."

Sypher studies the circle, listening to the others talk.  He finds a junction of the lines in the center of the circle, a corrupt form of the chay charts he studied at the monastery.  Golden-white fire quietly flows from hilt to blade while he thinks, igniting the blade in holy flame.

"HIIIIIAAAAAAYAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!"  With a downward two-handed stab, Sypher buries his sword to the hilt in the dirt at the juncture.

R.E.B.O.R.T's head calmly swivels back towards the circle. "Or that..."

The lines on the ground quake and shudder. The portion of the circle where Sypher plunged deep his blade unravels, the design taking on a solid form, and pops like twine under too much tension.

The strike makes progress at ridding the earth of the foul mark, but two-thirds of the circle remain unharmed. Tendrils of purple and black creep forth from the portions undamaged, and grasp at the blade. The searing white light of the sword burns and singes the tendrils, and they retreat as quickly as they came.


Will save to maintain focus

In the midst of the spiritual assault, Sypher remains calm.  In his mind he focuses not on the empty words coming at him, but those already written in his heart:


The words bolster him against the attacks, but neither does he make any headway against the magic of the circle.

Though Sypher shows no sign of breaking, Beloc can see the stalemate between the tendrils lashing out and his sword pushing back.

He walks up and places a hand on Sypher's shoulder and a pulse of light passes from Beloc to Sypher, hoping the extra resistance will allow him to focus on overcoming the darkness.

Beloc casts Resistance on Sypher. +1 to all saves for 1 minute.

R.E.B.O.R.T. walks over to Beloc. "Hold out your blade", he asks.

A little unsure of what's happening, Beloc hesitates briefly, but acquiesces. Quickly, he begins tracing symbols along the blade. "The enhancement may prove useful against the circle. Go, help your friend."

Beloc moves over to a part of the circle still infested with darkness and plunges his weapon into the earth.

Using Rapid Infusion, R.E.B.O.R.T. infuses the falchion with the Blessed enhancement. The blade becomes good aligned.