CHAPTER 14
The Jewel of the East, Gaelia

The P.A.R.T.Y. exits the strange pocket dimension that served as Ka's prison cell without incident, materializing at the top of the Temple instantly. Staff Sergeant Akkar is already there, looking down the staircase at the chaos below.

Though it feels as though the delve through the temple took weeks, the sun hasn't moved much from where it was when you began your quest -- perhaps a few hours, at most, seem to have passed.

More immediately concerning is the presence of two large, shimmering bubbles, which enclose the temple like the double-layer of glass that protects upscale snow globes.

The first bubble is maintained by a ring of Husks, who stand in a loose circle outside the shield with their backs toward the temple and are clearly focused on nothing but maintaining the shield.

The second bubble is maintained solely by Amenhotep, who stands inside his second shield but outside the first one. There is about a 10-foot perimeter between the two shields, in which the battered, bruised, and very heroic Dune Riders are have crowded themselves. The Husks maintaining the first shield stand between the two, as well.

Maeve is the first to notice that the full compliment of soldiers is not accounted for, and her gaze turns toward a half-dozen bodies strewn beyond the second shield. To their credit, they are mingled with about a score of dead and dying horses and armored cavalry riders.

Zuriel had spoke of a battle of some sort, but if there had been a siege, it seems to have lifted -- at least for now.

Beyond the shield stretches the ruined city in every direction, and even taking into consideration the fact that it had until recently been buried, it has seen better days. Smoke billows from all four quarters, and in the distance you can hear the screams of combat and the sounds of steel on steel.

It seems that, for some, the fight rages on.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:22, Thu 02 Apr 2015.

Lyriel makes her way briskly to the Dune Raiders, trained eye quickly triaging the extent of their respective injuries.

What happened out here? she asks with no small concern as she begins to heal the soldiers.

In reply to Lyriel Vesper (msg # 2):

Lyriel passes through the first shield to reach the soldiers nestled in the space between it and the second shield without incident. She does notice, however, that the barrier looks opaque behind her -- she cannot see through it, and it crackles menacingly.

The soldiers are grateful for her aid.

"You're alive," Lt. Abbabwa croaks out weakly, holding his side gingerly but refusing any healing until the others have been seen to. "When the paladin failed to return, we assumed the worst. Is the Major ok? What happened in there? And what's happening here?"

OOC: How much of your remaining magic are you using here? Are you triaging those who might die, or trying to get them into combat shape again?
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:30, Thu 02 Apr 2015.

Lyriel nods. The Major is fine. Had a close call, but it will take more than an eight armed monstrosity to send our Maeve to her maker. She grins slightly, relishing the wide eyed reaction from Lt. Ababwa. We've done what we came for. Now it's time to secure this site and keep your men alive. Let's see what can be done about these injuries.

Lyriel closes her eyes, and concentrates on touching the divine flow of magic.

[Sacred Boost: Maximized Mass Cure Light Wounds targeting the 15 most injured Dune Raiders: 33]

[Mass Cure Light Wounds targeting Lt. Ababwa and the 14 Dune Raiders closest to fighting shape but with more than superficial injuries: 30]

The Major should be along shortly. I imagine she will want to secure the civilians. Is everybody feeling better?
This message was last edited by the player at 14:54, Thu 02 Apr 2015.

"These barriers are one-way only" Zuriel warns the PARTY as they reach the base of the ziggurat. "Once we leave, the Husks will need to lower the shield before we can return."

Zuriel's ears pick up the distant sound of combat, and a feeling of dread settles into his stomach. "If the Dune Raiders are here, then there's nobody protecting the civilians!"

Summoning Shahara in a flash of light, he vaults surprisingly gracefully into her saddle. She whinnies in greeting, pawing at the street with her hoof. She lunges forward, carrying the paladin swiftly to the Dune Raiders. Seeing Lyriel actively tending their wounds, he turns to Lt. Ababwa.

"Good job holding the perimeter, Lieutenant. We couldn't have completed our work without you. And what of the civilians? What happened to Dr. Jones?"

[OOC Misread Sgt. Akkar being there, edited]
This message was last edited by the player at 17:03, Thu 02 Apr 2015.

"What do you mean?  Akkar's right there," Maeve says, pointing to where the staff sergeant is milling about.

Maeve gives a sharp whistle and Sekhmet alights nearby, seemingly no worse the wear for the exciting goings-on outside.  She and the griffon then take off to go and see to the civilians.

[I assume.  If you've hurt my griffon, I will cut you.]

In reply to Maeve Hassan (msg # 6):

Lyriel's ministrations quickly get the soldiers back on their feet, and they follow Maeve and Zuriel into the city to check on the civilians. Boreas and Keef (apparently) remain transfixed at the scene before them, and take no immediate action.

In the City
Maeve soars over the ruined city, breaking apart from the mounted Zuriel and the 22 remaining soldiers to get a better vantage point of the situation.

What she learns isn't promising.

Recall that the city's layout is that of four roughly equal quarters, with the Temple of Ká in the middle. The venture company had set up shop in the circular avenue surrounding the Temple, which allowed access to all four quarters of the city simply by walking around the loop of broken, buried cobblestone and sand.

The ramshackle tents, buildings, research stations, quarries, and dig sites seem to have been largely abandoned, and most of them have been put to the torch. Horses and camels lay slaughtered in the streets, with those still alive panicking at the stench of death and fire.

There are no actual people to be seen, however, except for armored heavy calvarymen who are decidedly NOT wearing the Sultan's colors. They patrol the streets in groups of 4, though what they are looking for is a mystery.