Once the arrangements are made at the horses it is not long before Sajaa, Terri, and Lisa are on their way to scout.  There is the simple matter of Rolf casting a spell of renewal on Lisa, which seems to go awry at the outset as the mage stifles a curse, though he quickly redeems his work, sending forth a bounty of energy to the young woman.

Though Lisa admits she would like longer, neither Sajaa nor Terri seem to have any patience for it and indeed Terri is already moving back down the canyon even before the whole spell casting affair is over, with Sajaa not even a step behind.

Terri moves at a fast walk, causing Lisa to have to jog slightly to catch up, her bow strung and knocked with purpose as her head swivels this way and that on high alert.

And she talks.

It's odd at first, hearing her voice, which she so infrequently uses in company.  But once she is started it seems like she cannot stop within the easier company of the other two women.  She starts with an annoyed complaint of how stupid this whole situation in the valley is.  How this plan of waiting is playing right into Norla's hands, though she quickly moves on to her frustration at always having to stay back and protect the horses, her massive guilt for leaving her husband to fetch the guard just before he was murdered, and the narrowsightedness of the men, who seemed unable to tell the difference between when action and patience were required.

The one-sided conversation takes the women back towards the base of the canyon and up to the rim, Terri never much looking behind her but keeping her eyes determinedly ahead.  By the time the women have made it back within eyesight of Norla's cave, Terri has made her way back around to her original subject, her frustration clearly leaking through her whispered words.

"Norla demanded we leave the valley, which we have clearly not, but they do nothing but stand their guard and watch.  Why?  It is clear isn't it?  Norla never cared if we left in the first place.  They just wanted us far enough away so that we weren't privy to their movements.  They think it clear that we can simply wait to ambush them as they descend, or else somewhere along the canyon, but these brigands know this valley far better than we do!  They would know traipsing out with a trainload of stolen goods and slaves would be tantamount to suicide!  We think them fools while we simply wait for them to do whatever they wish!"

From the short distance behind, Lisa and Sajaa can almost hear the grinding of the woman's teeth as she kneels down behind the cover of a dense bit of scrub.

Thirty yards ahead, and thirty feet or so down the slope, the three men still stand guard at the outcrop just in front of the cave.  The two crossbowmen, their eyes wandering down through the valley as well as the swordsman, who lazes with his back leaned against the wall.

OOC:  It is 1625 on the 5th of January.  10 minutes of your thirty have passed simply with trekking around canyon to get up on the rim, but this is clearly the best spot to have eyes on (and to do anything to) the cave.

Lisa has regained 2 of her FP from Rolf's spell.

All three of you are hidden in a large area of scrub about 30 yards from the cave, though any forward movement would require you to go out in the open.  You could easily move back from the rim however, so that you could neither see the fighters, nor could they see you.

Everyone please make 2 rolls for me, the first roll vs. Stealth and the second vs. HT (for any fatigue burned through the 10 minutes of power walking).  Also, anyone with Empathy may make a roll vs. IQ.

Edit:  Sajaa, I forgot to mention, you had asked if Terri had a bow.  She has an expensive looking bow, not to mention two separate quivers for her arrows.  A smaller shoulder quiver, where she puts her higher quality arrows, and a hip quiver where she stuffs away her normal arrows for cannon fodder. You would also know that she is quite good with her bowwomanship.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:11, Sat 29 Oct 2022.

As she quick-marches along a few paces behind Terri, with Lisa hurrying to catch up from behind, Sajaa is experiencing that familiar sense of relief to be among women and away from men.  Where she comes from, men are her providers and protectors.  One would think it admirable that they so jealously guard their women – but it is not chivalry or love that motivates them to maintain such a tight hold on their women – it is simply a matter of economics.  In Al-Haz, women are no less chattel than sheep or braided rugs or a bushel of poppy. And men are strict and intolerant and often cruel.

It is only when removed from an air of masculinity and among her own gender does Sajaa feel truly at ease.  That Terri so sharply criticizes the well meaning, yet over-thinking men of the band – criticism Sajaa, herself was beginning to think to herself – pleases Sajaa.  Women love to trash talk their men behind their backs – Sajaa muses – whatever culture from which they come…

Though she is eager to be on the move, Sajaa finds herself growing winded by Terri’s fast pace and she nearly stumbles over a dry branch, barely catching herself from making a racket.

Now she kneels beside the woman archer, peering up at the sentinels.

Norla played Sajaa well.  Convinced Sajaa to believe her lies so convincingly that Sajaa offered up her life’s fortune as a peace-offering.  The thought leaves a bitter taste in Sajaa’s mouth.  Norla must be laughing it up with her minions over the stupid Muslim girl.

She stares up the cliff, and knows a direct assault would be suicide.  But how can they slip past these guards – or neutralize them silently?  It seems too difficult a task.

”Mistress Terri.  Do you think there might be another way in?  I know not how we will be able to take those men out all at once and without raising the alarm.”

She turns to look back over her shoulder at Lisa’s quiet approach.

”Lisa.  Does your sorcery allow you to render us – or yon men silent?””

OOC: 07:30, Today: Sajaa al-Kassem rolled 14 using 3d6 with rolls of 6,2,6.  Health Check. (My Health is 13, failed by 1)  07:30, Today: Sajaa al-Kassem rolled 14 using 3d6 with rolls of 3,6,5.  Sajaa Stealth check. (my stealth is 14, just barely made it unless encumbrance foils it).
This message was last edited by the player at 19:40, Mon 31 Oct 2022.

When Sajaa asks Terri about other ways in, Terri merely shakes her head.  "I don't know these caves any better than you...  though I feel like there has to be some other way... otherwise they wouldn't be acting so casually about their situation...  Perhaps they plan to climb up to the rim?  But I don't see much of a way that they could take plunder with them, unless they had some sort of a pull rope to heave it to the top?"

She shakes her head again.  "If there is some other tunnel which leads away, I wonder if we even have time to search for its exit.  We do not have long before we agreed to meet the others."

It is when Sajaa turns to Lisa however, that Terri's eyes begin to move wildly, her rapid thoughts barely contained within her excited features.

"I have a poison...  It's a vicious little thing...  milked from a vile beast from Perdition... much of the time it simply knocks a person out on contact, though even if that doesn't happen it makes them woozy and vapid as if heavily drunk...  I have enough for three arrows... or bolts..."

Terri does not look directly at Sajaa, but her eyes dart from side to side as if reading an invisible page in front of her.

"And I have potions...  One which lets you read another's mind if you are close, the the other which lets you hear whispered words at a distance...  I don't know how those may help, but I offer anything that may aid us... I feel as if we have very little time."

OOC:  Still waiting on Lisa's rolls.

Havingnodded her thanks to Rolffor giving her some energy, Lisa turns and is somewhat put out by how far the others have strided away. Reflectiing that her lags just don't move that fast, she part-walks, part-trots to try and catch up. The darkhaired woman hears Terri whittering on and that does bring a grin, refreshing in these grim proceedings, but she has litle puff left to say anything back. Listening on, the point-girl makes a lot of sense: Norla's a devious con-artist and probably that's her best side!

Finally catching up with Sajaa and Terri, Lisa's pleased that she's managed to avoid getting more winded; no need to make anyone think she's soft (although compared to the robust women in front of her, well, she is). Letting herself be distracted by Sajaa's question, Lisa shakes her head negatively as she takes a knee, careflessly snapping a small twig. She reflects, it's all too easy to blame someone else; she must own it: her own carelessness! Damn!

When Terri's eyes turn to regards her Lisa looks briefly guilty, and again shakes her head vigorously, whispering, "Sorry, nothing like that. I can hit one with fire, or try another way to distract all three.." She glances down at her modest chest.


OOC: 15:31, Today: Lisa Rufbin rolled 13,10 using 3d6,3d6 with rolls of 5,3,5,5,1,4.  Stealth 11, HT 10
This message was last edited by the player at 17:07, Tue 01 Nov 2022.

Though none of them are entirely silent, the three are reasonably assured that the distance and cover have kept their presence here at the rim of the canyon a secret.

"If we are going to try something...  I'll need to get closer...  Right above them if we can..."  Terri murmurs expectantly, looking between Lisa and Sajaa for further ideas.

OOC:  Just wanted to throw in a post to let you know nothing came of the rolls as of yet.  As I see it, the group has talked about the two options of either taking out the guards or searching for an alternate exit.  Let me know which you want to attempt, or if you want to come up with a different plan all together.

Sajaa considers what the other two women have to say, nodding thoughtfully. Relying on Terri's experience, she makes a decision.

"Let us see if we can climb up, around and above them." She says quietly.  "If we can eliminate these three sentries, not only will we cut Norla's numbers down by a quarter, but perhaps we can enter quietly and catch the others when they're unaware."

Sajaa knows Gustav and Rolf - ever careful and cautious - are going to be cross with the women for going beyond their delegated task of scouting. But she believes the matter is ultimately going to be resolved through violence, and so better to get the killing over with sooner rather than later. Too, she is hopeful a successful raid by three females will send a message that she, Terri and Lisa are to be taken seriously and not necessarily of the "weaker sex".

But she is also well aware that this is a very risky move.

"Lisa. If your magic can distract those Hashishin, perhaps you can position yourself apart from Terri and I, and cast to keep them from noticing us?"

OOC: I'm not 100% clear on the lay of the land, but if it looks like there's a reasonable chance of (a) climbing the cliff around and above the guards (b) without being out in the open for them to plainly be seen; then that is what she'd like to do. If Lisa can position herself away from us yet near enough to do whatever 'distraction' spell she knows, that will be a bonus. If she cannot and if she has a reasonable chance of climbing with us, then we'll take her along. Remind me to buy Impulsive Disadvantage or Quirk when the time comes!
This message was last edited by the player at 20:26, Thu 03 Nov 2022.

Lisa replies, "Don't really have a distraction spell as such and I'm not practised enough to assail them magically; as yet it's too tiring. But, there's always the gifts of nature, modest as they may be." She clarifies, "I will be the distraction. How long will you need to be in position? I will count."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:30, Thu 03 Nov 2022.

Terri gives Lisa a quizzical look when she confidently states that 'she will be the distraction', though she does not outwardly question Lisa in her methods, instead preferring to get down to the business of taking down these villains.

Before moving, Terri produces from amongst her gear a small vial of sickly purple ichor, which she quickly smears across Sajaa's crossbow bolt.  She repeats the process with two of her own arrows, explaining only "I think I should be faster to shoot again with a bow... I only hope I'll be fast enough."

She knocks the one arrow onto her bow and holds it with her left hand, keeping the other held in her right so that she can drop it close at hand for her next shot.

The three decide on their own places...  Terri and Sajaa on the cliff directly above, the closest perch to take a shot, not to mention directly behind their foes.  Lisa's place is chosen as an outcrop a little ways away.  It's a place with scrub close at hand to keep her hidden until the last, though in plain sight both of Terri and Sajaa as well as the guard below.

The three move slowly to take their places, Terri and Sajaa on hands and knees to peer over the edge and scout their shot.  Lisa makes her way around, keeping a wide berth from the edge until she makes her way into position... though before she is set, she kicks a stone which clacks and spins, tumbling down the the cliff!  Lisa drops immediately to the ground, trying her best to stay out of sight... and after waiting several moments, it appears the error has not given up their presence just yet.

OOC:  Crude map below.  You three have relative freedom of movement above the cave.  Terri and Sajaa have checked after Lisa's fumble and it appears that the three have gone back (or never left) their general watch of the canyon floor below.

Note that you can't talk to each other (other than Sajaa and Terri who are next to each other) without alerting the guards below.

Lisa, please roll vs. IQ, or against sex appeal (an option if your intent is to flash them) to make your distraction.  If you feel you have another better skill for the situation, feel free to give it a shot.

No need to wait on the distraction for Sajaa's and Terri's action, just let me know what your plan is for shooting.  Distance to the goons is approximately seven yards horizontally and ten yards vertically (down).

After artfully mussing up her hair, Lisa takes some steps out toawrds the guards, cloak pulld round hiding one arm, the other side pulled back to accentuate the swell of her already ample hip. "Hey, boys, anyone got a drink for a thirsty girl?"

From her perch in the thickets directly over the cave entrance where lounge the three sentries, Sajaa has to stifle a gasp of astonishment when she hears Lisa’s flirtatious voice call out to the men, and sees her emerge from her hiding place, swaying her hips and pouting her lips seductively.

What a transformation!  It never occurred to Sajaa that the distraction Lisa had proposed was to use her womanly assets to draw the men’s attention away from Terri and Sajaa’s ambush.  But there she stands, down in the gorge, acting like a sinful, alluring harlot presenting herself wantonly to the Hashishin.

But then Sajaa gives a little shake of her helmed head, and returns her attention to the grim job at hand…  She has the stock of the crossbow pressed firmly into her right shoulder, her left elbow braced against a slab of rock, to keep her as steady as possible.

”I shall take the one on the far left.  Fire immediately after I do. We must take them quickly and silently…” She whispers.

And then she takes long, patient aim. She holds her breath, and then ever so slowly releases it.  The range is short and with the height advantage she has, even a novice archer like Sajaa should hopefully be able to hit an unwitting, stationary target…

~~Guide my Bolt, O Lord!~~
This message was last edited by the player at 02:27, Sat 05 Nov 2022.

The plan in place, the women each move to assume their parts.  Lisa works herself into position, both Terri and Sajaa holding on the ridge, their weapons aimed down at the soldiers below as they do their best to slow their own breathing.

Lisa waits until she is sure her compatriots are ready, then saunters out into plain view in her position high above the guards, her hip thrust out in a way she hopes to be most seductive and distracting.

The tactic doesn't have quite the effect she is hoping for however.  For while she gathers the men's attention immediately, they seem to be much more focused on their scouting roll than they are on Lisa's form.

"They are up on the ridge!"  One of the men shouts at the top of his voice.

Twang!  Zip

Almost in unison, Sajaa's crossbow and Terri's bow sing out, the twin projectiles sailing directly towards their marks.  Sajaa's bolt buries itself into the small of the back of the crossbowman on the left, Terri's through the back ribs of the man on the far right.

"AAAAggggghhh!"

One of the men screams, though the sound dies on his lips...  and each of them go limp like a rag doll, pitching forward and down, falling from the edge of the embankment without so much as putting out a hand to slow themselves.

Without pausing to think, Sajaa drops her crossbow to the side, reaching for her shield which she shoves on to her left arm hurriedly.

Meanwhile, Terri grabs at her second arrow, drawing the shaft back to her ear and loosing it without even taking the moment to aim.

"The hell?"  The man in the middle steps out, drawing his sword and turning his head in confusion, though when he catches the other two women in his sight, everything all at once seems to become clear.

"Shit!"  He screeches, turning to run back towards the cave.  But the man is just too late, and the arrow lands with a meaty thunk! into the back of his arm.

"Damnit!"  The man staggers down towards the cave, dropping to a knee as the sword drops out of his hand...

OOC:  So far that's a total of about four seconds.  I stopped here to give Lisa some options as to what she wants to do.  Lisa is still standing on the edge of the canyon with two empty hands.  Sajaa has strapped her shield onto her left arm and is kneeling.  Terri is standing with an empty bow.  Let's do something like 10 seconds.  Sajaa is still on vacation, but has given me more than enough material to cover the next post.

Two of the fighters fallen from the plinth and another down on a knee, Lisa is so flabbergasted by their luck, that she stands, hip jaunted out and lips inflated to their full pout, unable to think of anything else to do.

Sajaa shows no hesitation however.  She knows there is still one man alive and up, however potent Terri's poison has been.  Once her shield is fixed fast to her arm, she pulls her saber from its sheath and kicks her legs forward and down, her feet sliding down the cliff side in a well controlled skid, balancing herself with her shield arm as she sends stones and dirt spraying off to the sides.

Terri does not hesitate much behind her, but is not nearly so graceful in her efforts.  She holds her bow in her left hand and reaches out with her right, stepping down, though her speed increases too quickly and she falls to a hip as she continues to skid downwards towards the landing.

In the meantime, however, the swordsman has not seemed to react well to the poison.  He body hangs stiff on hands and knees for a few moments, rigid in a half motion of taking a crawling step with his hand.  As Sajaa hits the bottom however, he suddenly buckles, pitching forward limply as his face strikes the cave floor, his body sprawled half-in and half-out of the entryway.

"They're here!  To arms!"  A voice calls from somewhere within the cave.

OOC:  We're in a weird - semi combat state.  The two crossbowmen have tumbled to the bottom of the gorge, almost certainly dead.  The swordsman has passed out, likely due to Terri's poison since he was hit in the arm.  There aren't any other visible enemies at the moment, but they appear to be not far off.

Sajaa has made it to the bottom, Terri is in the middle of sliding down the slope.  Lisa, if you wish to follow the others down, make a roll vs. Climbing or DX-5.  Or feel free to try any other avenue you can think of.

Though it may seem unfair, I opted to have Lisa make a do nothing maneuver for her turns, as pretty much the whole game is waiting on this thread and I have very limited time before deployment.  I know I said this week was busy, but I just can't afford to not post when I actually have the time.

Again, let's do something like 10 seconds.

Lisa climbs down surprisingly well considering she only has the minimal history of having done such things.

The dark-haired girl moves across to the other pair and whispers, "Good shooting!" as, time permitting, she tries to drag the guard that fell last out of diret line of sight of the cave. If sufficient time permits, she draws her sword and seeks an ambush place.

Sajaa scrabbles down the rock face, splaying dirt wide to both sides as her boots glide effortlessly down the cliff face.  She hits the small outcrop outside of the cave with a graceful landing, pushing herself away from the edge with a short push of her shield arm.

Ahead, the swordsman collapses down to his face, his hand now empty and his sword lying useless some foot and a half away... but the difference is little to Sajaa.  The man is a menace whether he is conscious or not.  To her it is simply all the better to end his resistance while he is unable to defend himself.  With a glance to her side where she sees Terri hit the ground beside her (though much more forcefully) Sajaa darts forward to the entrance of the cave, taking but a moment to line up her killing blow before she slashes her sword at the exposed flesh of the man's neck.

Hot, frothy blood spews out of the wound, splattering at the stone at Sajaa's feet.  The man groans his last exhale as he bleeds out with the force of a waterfall...

"Tishpak!"

The woman's scream comes from within the cave and Sajaa has barely looked up before she sees three new threats approaching from close range.

Twang!  Thunk!

Sajaa's arm flinches as an arrow shaft sprouts from her shield.  The arrow is shot, no doubt, from the woman that screamed.  She stands no farther than about four yards away though she is behind the relative cover of two men ahead of her.  Each of the men hold a sturdy shield, with the one on the right clad in chain armor and holding a mace aloft in a ready grip.  The other man is in all leathers, holding a sword in his fighting hand.

It seems odd to Sajaa, that although there does not appear to be any light source in the cave...  The whole area nevertheless seems lighted with a dim and eerie red glow.

Just behind her, Sajaa hears the sound of Lisa skidding down to the step on her other side, as well as Terri scrambling up to her feet on her left.

OOC:  Map below.  Man on the north side is mace and chainmail.  South is sword and leather.  Both have medium shields.  The woman in back is also clad in leathers and has a very large bow that she is shooting from behind the other two.

Sajaa is equipped with sword and shield, Lisa has drawn her sword as she hit the bottom, and Terri still has her bow in her left hand.

Let's do three seconds worth of action this time.

Sajaa's shield-arm feels the impact of the arrow as it slams into the planks, even as she plunges into the cave entrance and charges the bandit trio.

Swiftly, she chooses her opponent, the more dangerous-looking of the two fighting men -- a chain-clad brute bearing shield, mace and a murderous scowl on his hairy face. Quickly, she interposes herself between Lisa and this man...

All occurs so suddenly, she does not have time to be afraid. But she is well aware that Rolf and Gustav are not here to lend their support; is not yet certain of Terri's combat prowess in a toe-to-toe fight; and is equally uncertain as to the extent of Lisa's offensive magic...

But there is simply no time to think much about her predicament.

Now is the time to KILL!

Through her visor, she glares at the big brute and, with a hiss, lunges for him!
This message was last edited by the player at 03:30, Tue 15 Nov 2022.

Lisa concentrates and actually succeeds in generating a small ball of fire which hovers just above her hand.

This thread rejoins the main story:  Return to the Caves of Chaos