Zuriel's amber eyes narrow in anger. "This must be stopped. Now." Shahara whinnies indignantly, apparently likewise outraged by the slaughter.

He shifts in his saddle, addressing the soldiers behind him. "Lyriel, see what you can do for the survivors. Lt. Ababawa..."

The paladin shoots a glance up at Maeve, flashing Dawn in an arc to beckon her down. "Barring countermanding orders to your men from the Major, here is what I recommend. These streets are too narrow to bring your full force to bear anywhere. We ought to split up into teams. With the Major coordinating from above, we can use the narrow streets to pincer these horsemen. Our injured can disengage and cycle back to Lyriel for healing."

Zuriel narrows his lips grimly. "We have people to protect."

Boreas clears his throat, popping back into view.

I might offer my assistance.  I'll follow some of these cavalrymen for a bit and see if I can figure out what they're up to.  He looks to Maeve.  If you think the idea prudent, that is.

With that, he fades once more.

[Casting Walk Unseen]

"A wise plan.  As always Zuriel, you have a good eye for tactics.  Keef, if you ride with me or polymorph into something that flies, we can help by raining attacks on them from above."

Boreas heads off to follow whatever group Maeve designates.

In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 11):

Boreas completes a comprehensive reconnaissance sweep before returning to the P.A.R.T.Y., and reports that to the best of his knowledge, the patrols are looking for any stragglers. From what Boreas could gather, most of the civilians have been rounded up and transported elsewhere, though he was not able to ascertain exactly where that might be. It was talked about as though it were not nearby, however.

Zuriel lets out a pent up breath at the news. "Ill tidings to be sure, but with a silver lining. There may be more survivors than it appears."

He looks to the rest of the PARTY. "Plan remains the same. We look for survivors, engaging the cavalry as necessary. But if possible, we need to take at least some of these horsemen alive to figure out where - and how - the researchers are being transported."

In reply to Zuriel Silendril (msg # 13):

The P.A.R.T.Y. stalks and isolates a four-man group, then dispatches them with relative ease.

OOC: Time-saving handwave. You weren't gonna lose. I rolled some quick dice for wide-scale results.

Two of the cavalrymen are killed in the confrontation, but you're able to arrest the other two without expending much effort. All four horses are killed, however.

It doesn't really matter what you ask the captives; their eyes are completely glazed over, and they've been as limp as ragdolls since their capture. Frisking them carefully reveals no insignia or other identifying features, though you are able to determine that their equipment is masterwork in quality.

[Private to Boreas Highwind: Obviously, they are enchanted in some way.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:11, Mon 06 Apr 2015.

Zuriel waves a hand in front of the captive's face, snapping his fingers to no avail. He sighs, rising up from where he was crouched on the cobblestone street.

He turns to Maeve. "I'm going to go out on a limb and wager we're dealing with some extremely powerful magic here. It's just a hunch, but I'm fairly certain cavalry doesn't typically rain from the sky. My bet is on Cenadora."

He looks down at the listless knights at his feet. "Let's try one thing first. Lyriel, can you dispel whatever enchantment he has on him?"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:00, Tue 07 Apr 2015.

The priestess examines their captive, pressing her lips into a thin line. I can try. The aura he has on him is very, very powerful.

She points a finger at the knight and incants her spell. [Dispel Check vs. DC 20: 19] Emerald light circles up and down the knight's body, but a deep violet hue overcomes it and it fades. The knight's eyes flutter, but he remains deeply ensorcelled.

Lyriel swears. I almost had it! Give me another moment.

[Dispel Check vs. DC 20: 21] This time, the emerald light that swirls around the knight's head takes hold.

In reply to Lyriel Vesper (msg # 16):

The knight awakens with a start and blinks rapidly before crawling backward from the armed figures in front of him.

"Who... what.... where am I? What have you done to me?"

"You were under the influence of some extremely powerful and rather inconvenient sorcery. Don't worry, we don't mean to harm you. What is the last thing you remember?"

In reply to Zuriel Silendril (msg # 18):

"I was... hmm," the knight frowns, contemplating the question. "I was on a routine patrol around the gates of Jannah when I was summoned to the command tent."

The knight speaks slowly, as though the information is difficult to coax from his mind.

"I remember being excited by the honor of meeting the Amir for the first time, but I never actually saw him. The command tent was filled with light and shadows. It was impossibly light and dark at the same time. I saw the figure of the Amir, a tangible presence I could not see, and I could tell I was being appraised."

"The Amir said that a team was being put together for a special mission, and asked whether I knew how to wield the truth. I was confused and stated as much, at which point I was given an unlit torch and ordered to light it using nothing but the power of my mind."

"I protested that I was not a mage, at which point the figure reassured me that I could still serve. I was then instructed to stare at the unlit torch, which I did."

The knight frowns.

"I remember a flash of light, and then... nothing. I find myself here, with you, in what is assuredly NOT Jannah. And so I ask you, what's going on?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:20, Tue 07 Apr 2015.

In reply to DM (msg # 19):

"Jannah's not a real place," Staff Sergeant Komis Akkar snorts, turning toward the P.A.R.T.Y. to explain. "It's a fairytale land of milk and honey that features prominently in Gaelian lore, as I'm sure the Major could tell you."

"But what the Major may not know is that it's also the name the Chainbreakers have been using for their rumored stronghold."

The sergeant narrows his eyes at the knight.

"So one might wonder how you wound up there... and whether your presence is missed elsewhere."

In reply to DM (msg # 20):

The knight's eyes widen as he recognizes the livery of the Sultan's military forces on Komis and Maeve. His hands fall to his empty sheath as he looks frantically for his sword. Failing to find it, he adopts a defiant tone instead.

"I am a free man," he says, emphasizing every word. "Jannah knows no slaves."
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:26, Tue 07 Apr 2015.

Zuriel's shuts his eyes, letting out a sigh. "Catching escaped slaves is the least of our worries right now," he says firmly, holding up a hand, "but the fact that the Chainbreakers would be interested in the Temple to Ka - hells, that they even knew how to find it, much less had the kind of magics to transport an army here - is deeply concerning. That means these Chainbreakers are much, much more than a simple slave rebellion."

He turns to look to Maeve. "In the interest of the many lives at stake, I would strongly advise you to make an agreement with this man for information in exchange for not asking too closely who else may be looking for him," he said meaningfully.

I hate to interrupt storytime, Lyriel says, fidgeting with her signet ring, but we are still in the middle of a warzone. Can we focus on clearing these streets and finding survivors so we can move on? You will have plenty of time to chat when we aren't under attack.

In reply to Lyriel Vesper (msg # 23):

As if on cue, another patrol of four cavalrymen comes into view at the far end of the street. They don't seem to see the P.A.R.T.Y. just yet.

Lyriel hisses in irritation, making a gesture akin to brushing off a fly.

[Casting Empowered Flame Strike]

A nova of blinding emerald energy detonates in the center of the cavalry, forcing those watching to shield their eyes. When the flash dissipates, all that is left is ash curling in wind.

She turns to their captive. Cooperate, and no harm will come to you. I would strongly recommend against attempting to run.

With that, Lyriel alights gracefully in Stony's saddle. Come on, let's get this over with.

In reply to Lyriel Vesper (msg # 25):

The P.A.R.T.Y. systematically hunts down and eradicates the woefully inadequate patrols. When the dust settles, all hostiles have been driven from the ruined city and P.A.R.T.Y. has a total of two captives: the disenchanted one you spoke to earlier, and the still-enchanted one you captured during that same encounter.

The disenchanted knight hasn't said much since Lyriel disintegrated four horsemen with a gesture, and looks rather sullen about the whole thing.

The group reconvenes near the shielded temple, frustrated at its inability to make headway on the issue of the civilians. Over the course of the next hour's worth of arguing and debating next steps, about a dozen members of the venture company come out of their various hiding places and make their way toward you.

"It was horrible," one of them says, wringing her hands. "Those soldiers rounded up anyone they could find and took them through their yawning portals. We scattered into whatever buildings we could, and hid in the various nooks and crannies."

"They got most of us on the first pass, and ran down those who scattered shortly afterward. We were actually in the dig site at the time, which is how we escaped," another says. "I think we're the only ones."

Much of the day has now passed, and the sun is mercifully beginning its descent -- though the shields around the temple are bright enough that the setting sun doesn't actually remove much light from your surroundings.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:09, Tue 07 Apr 2015.

Zuriel greets the survivors, tending wounds as best as his depleted energies allow. So few...

"If the raiders took the time to round up survivors, then they're probably meant to be kept alive. So there's hope." He turns to Maeve and her command staff. "Our situation here just got much, much more complicated. We need to figure out how and why the Chainbreakers are involved, and how in the Nine Hells they have access to such potent magic. We have a large number of people in need of rescue...and we have an abandoned temple of immense historical value in the middle of the desert."

"Keef and Amonhotep, the Sultan will likely claim dominion over this site. If there is anything of value to Ka, I'd recommend seeing to it."

He glances over to the remaining archaeologists. "I'm afraid your research will likely need to be postponed, given the circumstances. Let's take an inventory of the supplies and equipment we have left."

"I think we need to return to the General, Maeve."

With that, Zuriel hops into Shahara's saddle and wearily begins an extensive search of the city, calling out to potential survivors in hiding.

"Yes.  There's nothing more to be done here."

Maeve helps with the preparations to depart but remains quiet and withdrawn distressed over the death of so many soldiers under her control.

In reply to Maeve Hassan (msg # 28):

Keef nods, turns on his heel, and marches back into the temple to begin the process of "looting in the name of Ka"

Lyriel nods. Let's get a move on then. There's much to be done.

At her side, the sealed scroll burns with a heat Lyriel could almost feel. It took all her self control to keep from ripping it open in the streets of Ka's city.

Boreas appears momentarily to discuss strategy.

I'll sweep the perimeter and gather any intelligence I can.  If I can find a portal especially, I'll come back and let you know.

He fades once more and sets off.

[Casting Walk Unseen]

In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 31):

Boreas completes his careful circuit, but is unable to find any portals. He does, however, see traces of portal-related magics pretty much everywhere.

It takes Keef several hours to haul the treasure of Ká out of the temple, but it's easily $100,000 worth of treasure -- perhaps millions, if properly categorized and auctioned to the proper audience.

Maeve takes some solace in knowing she still had 22 men under her command. Losing 33% of your forces isn't great, but things could have gone worse.

Lyriel storms about in a foul mood until bedtime, when her ruminations are shrouded by her tent.

The survivors pack up whatever it makes sense to pack up and get the remaining animals ready to go. The sum total is a depressingly small caravan compared to the initial foray into the unknown, but strictly speaking, the expedition was a resounding success.

OOC: If you want to do anything between now and returning to the General, please let me know. Also, what are you doing with your prisoners?
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:13, Tue 07 Apr 2015.