Someone mentions to you that a coach that's on its way back from the next region over to the East is due tomorrow.

And that on that coach will be one of the richest ladies in the city and her sister, who are sure to have some jewels and money with them.

There's bound to be a bodyguard or two... but they'll surely be no match for a shaman and a mage, right?

Sounds like it could be just the right situation for a bit of daring highway robbery.

(Incidentally, just for my future reference, who mentioned this robbery to you?
--Rasal's new colleague the potter?
--Rasal's brother Kelev, the wandering minstrel and peddler?
--Gnarl's friend Ash, the Treant firefighter?)

Kelev would have been the one to mention this.  He spends enough time on the roads to get a sense of others' travel patterns, or just overhearing when someone of importance is likely to be about.

The robbery starts with a bit of magic.  As the coach begins to cross a bridge, Rasal casts a spell to make it look as though it is collapsing.  The goal is to stop the coach dead in its tracks, in a spot where it will be quite difficult to move anywhere else.

(I'm going to be nice and accept that this is a Tier 1 and not a Tier 2 spell (though it sure is on the borderline), but you still have to roll Invoke for it...

(Let me know if you need help in rolling that))

Rasal rolled 7 using 2d6 with rolls of 2,5.  Invoke.

The bridge looks out!

The coach slows down... it stops!

...But...

Actually, you can still sort of see the middle of the bridge... it's like it's transparent, but can still kind of be seen and not seen at the same time...

The horses and the coachman don't know what to make of it... they slowly go forward...

(You're in danger of having them figure out the bridge is fine (and maybe going ahead! Also, any bodyguards are probably already suspicious! Somebody do something!)

Rasal carefully approaches the back of the coach, toward the left side, with his dagger in hand.  He motions to Gnarl to follow along on the other side.

If the coach resumes driving without anyone getting out, Rasal will try to hang onto the back of it and look for another good opportunity to attack.

The horses get near the spot where the bridge gets see-through, but refuse to keep going.

A couple of armed men get out-- one has a crossbow ready, and the other has a sword and medium shield...

Rasal checks for Gnarl-- he's not where he should be.

Rasal decides this isn't working... The highway robbery is aborted.


Gnarl didn't return to The Sandstone, although a new ally, Victor, suggests robbing a hunting lodge in the foothills of a mountain to the west which he knows of that should have some good loot...


A couple of days later, Rasal and Victor are within sight of the hunting lodge...

https://hips.hearstapps.com/hm...s-jpg-1532437467.jpg

Victor squinted through the dense forest to look at the lodge in the distance. "Seems like we've arrived", he commented as he turned to his partner. "I'm not sure how you operated in the past but I suggest we do some scouting. See what type of defenses they have around the perimeter, maybe get an idea for the number of guards. Unless you have a spell in your repertoire that can do that for us. Then we can regroup and plan our attack. Any objections Mr. Rasal?"

"By all means, some initial scouting sounds like a good way to go.  Unfortunately my magic will not assist with that, but it can certainly help with keeping us under cover once we make our way in."

With a nod Victor crouched down and approached the lodge. He stuck to the trees in an attempt to conceal himself as he circled the building. Just like he had suggested he looked for guards or other types of defenses.

OOC: 09:45, Today: Victor Blackburn rolled 6 using 2d6 with rolls of 3,3.  Scan. Not a great start.

(Victor gains 1 xp.)

Victor doesn't see any guards, nor defenses...

Roughly half an hour after he had left Victor returned back to Rasal's position. "It seems we're in luck. I didn't see any defense or guards along the perimeter." He reported to his compatriot. "So what should our plan of attack be? We hit the place quick and we hit the place hard is my recommendation. I don't have any skill with locks so we might just have to bash a window in. We could rush in, check for anyone inside, and then once the area is secure size up what spoils are kept inside." He offered after he lifted his mace over his shoulder and gathered his supplies to move.

"You know the place better than I do, so I will follow your lead.  And maybe cast a spell to cover our tracks."

Assuming that they get as far as the "break a window and climb in" part of the plan without being stopped, Rasal waves his staff over the broken glass on the floor to hide it from view.  If he manages to get enough power into the spell, he will try to keep the effect going as they work their way through the house, concealing any other visible signs of their presence as well.

GM, I wait for you to assign a level before I roll, right?

Just as the two rebels are within 20 feet of the window they've chosen, an older woman (in her 60s, maybe, give or take a couple of years?) opens a door and emerges with a load of wet laundry to hang up somewhere.

She sees the two rebels, and inhales a deep breath--

Victor's eyes widened when he saw the door open. Some damn servant exiting the building. "Hello madam." He called out hastily. "I'm escorting a courier", he gestured to Rasal, "here to deliver a message to the owner of the lodge. Could you fetch him for us? Or could we come inside?" He tried to put on a genuine smile as he spun his quick lie. "Just go with it." he muttered under his breath to his partner.

OOC: 10:39, Today: Victor Blackburn rolled 2 using 1d6 with rolls of 2.  Trick.

GM I would like to 'resist' the consequences. Should I do that in this post when I failed or wait until you explain the consequence?
This message was last edited by the player at 19:38, Mon 06 July 2020.

The false explanation keeps her from screaming right away, but it's a short delay. "The master's not here, and there ain't no reason why anyone should think he was here, and I don't think you two sneaky-lads are here to deliver no message ay-tall, 'er else y' wouldn'na been headin' fer a window instead of the front door. Abram! Abram! Come quick!"

(Yes, you may now tell how you might try to resist.)

Victor pulled out his old guard insignia to try and salvage the situation. "See this insignia? I'm a member of the guard." He held the insignia out towards the woman so she could clearly see it. "Now please calm down madam. Obviously there has been a misunderstanding."

OOC: Attempting to evoke my Guard Inisignia from my gear to defend against her suspicions.

20:31, Today: Victor Blackburn rolled 10 using 3d6 with rolls of 2,2,6.  Command.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:32, Tue 14 July 2020.

(6!)

An older fellow hurries (well, as fast as he can) from the house. "What's all this...?"

But the two old people totally buy Victor's lie, and calm down, though they are befuddled. "Well... what... what is this about...? The master's not here..."

Rasal replies "I appreciate you letting me know.  However, I am charged with delivering this letter, and I must see to it that it is left in a place of import.  If you could perhaps show me to the master's study, I could leave it there and be on my way."

"A... place of import...? I... that's your orders...? You're not going to give it to one of us...?"

The old woman nudges the man. "Hush, Abram. Mebbe th' letter's got a spell on it er somethin'. It's not fer th' likes o' you ner me t'touch it..."

The old woman leads you into the house, with Abram taking up the rear...

It's about like you expect inside... large rooms, fur rugs, animal heads and antlers mounted on the walls, fine furniture, either wooden or leather...

After Rasal started talking Victor shut himself up. The last thing he wanted was to screw things up. He silently followed along as they were led into the house. As they moved through the building Victor looked for signs that there were more people currently here.


14:01, Today: Victor Blackburn rolled 4 using 2d6 with rolls of 3,1.  Scan.

Rasal, meanwhile, looks around for any signs of where something (like, say, a lockbox full of valuables) might be hidden...

Rasal rolled 8 using 2d6 with rolls of 3,5.  Scan.

(Victor's highest result: 3. Failure.

Rasal's highest roll: 5. Mixed.)

Victor has no idea if anyone else is around.

Rasal sees an expensive-looking desk with locks built into all the drawers, and also a cabinet that's locked-- might be some good stuff in there.

The rebel's hosts apparently note all this activity, and their suspicion grows once again. "Say, what're you two looking for? You both sure are acting anxious!" says the old woman.

Rasal replies "Please forgive our curiosity.  Your master had a reputation as a collector of... unusual goods, as I'm sure you are aware.  We merely thought to see if we would notice anything worth noticing.  But I suppose anything truly exotic is kept where only those he trusts most will see it, eh?"

(Rasal, roll either SCAN or BANTER, please)

Rasal rolled 2d6 with rolls of 5,6.  Scan.

The old woman says nothing.

BUT Rasal notices her look down at the floor for a moment when he speaks. Something under the floorboards? Or-- a wine cellar? Or something even better...?

"Well, here we are..." says the old man. "Place your letter or message or whatever it is where you will... we will not touch it." He seems both irritable and sincere about the part about not touching a message that might be magicked or cursed or what-have-you.

When the old man stated they had reached the end of the line Victor assumed the deception had run it's course. Rasal probably didn't have an envelope conveniently have a letter on him, and they had already been walked into the establishment. The fighter drew his mace and pointed it at Abram. "Here we are indeed. Unfortunately I am going to have to ask you to not move while my friend relieves you of any weapons you might have."

22:57, Today: Victor Blackburn rolled 5 using 3d6 with rolls of 1,2,2.  Command.
I swear the dice are out to get me.

"I knew it!" screeches the old woman.

Both old people run from the room, shouting for help... They move fast, for their age (although not as fast as you can run)...

Victor sighed when the two elderly caretakers ran. He did not want to harm them if it could be helped. He dashed after them and attempted to tackle Abram to the ground. "Can you handle the old woman Mr Courier?" he shouted to his partner.


22:52, Today: Victor Blackburn rolled 7 using 3d6 with rolls of 2,4,1.  Smash.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:55, Tue 28 July 2020.

Victor stops the man from running, but he still struggles to get free. "Digory! Digory!" the old man started shouting. (?)

Victor would have to be careful, or the old man might get lucky soon and land a foot or an elbow on Victor's nose. (But... "Digory...?")

Rasal likewise has no desire to hurt the two house keepers.  He waves his staff toward the doorway of the room they are in, attempting to create the illusion of thorny vines growing across the passage.  That should dissuade anyone from going in or out, at least as long as he can hold the spell.

Rasal rolled 2d6 with rolls of 3,5.  Invoke

(5: Mixed success)

The old woman stops short, seeing the not-solid brambles, and she screams.

"Mum?! Mum?! Izzat you--?!" This is an adult-but-young voice, maybe someone in his early twenties, that calls now from some other part of the house.

"Digory?!" shouts the old woman. "Run, lad! Get help! Hurry!"

Victor wrestled with the old man on the ground. He heard the shouting but determined to deal with the current issue first. He threw a couple of punches at Abram, hopefully enough to stun the caretaker. Then he would flip the man around and shackle his hands behind him.

18:17, Today: Victor Blackburn rolled 14 using 3d6 with rolls of 4,4,6.  Smash.

Pulling "Manacles" from my equipment.

Rasal walks toward the doorway and stops there.  He listens for any sounds of movement.  His plan is to wait until Digory is out of the house, then bar the door to buy them some extra time before they must escape.  But he doesn't want to leave the room until the coast is clear.

The old man is no longer a threat, neither for injury nor for escape.




(SCAN roll, please...)

Rasal rolled 2d6 with rolls of 6,3.  Scan.

Thank you, dice roller, for your mercy and beneficence...

Rasal hears someone run from the house... and run AROUND the house.

Rasal hears a large door open outside... and hears a horse whinny.

Must be a stable out back somewhere... Sounds like someone's getting ready to ride away...

It's go time then.  Rasal motions to Victor to follow him as he leaves the room, passing right through the illusory thorns (he's not too concerned with maintaining the spell at this point).  Once they are out of the room he says "Let's bar all the doors first, then hit the cellar.  We must move quickly, before the lad returns with whatever help he summons."

(Hmmmmm... one of you do a new Scan, please)

Victor stood once the old man was pacified. He nodded at Rasal's plan and followed him out of the room. "If we're lucky it will take him a while. This is a hunting lodge. It should be somewhat isolated. We should also see if they have more horses. Might be a faster escape method for us, especially if they have some sort of cart to carry our spoils." Victor began to bar the doors as instructed.


And I'm back.

10:46, Today: Victor Blackburn rolled 5 using 2d6 with rolls of 4,1.  Scan.

The old woman, seeing that the thorns are apparently an illusion, tests them with her hand, and then goes running to another part of the house.

Victor notices this in time to attempt to catch her before she gets to wherever she's headed...

Victor watched as the woman attempted to flee. He didn't pursue her, convinced the woman was mostly harmless. However the guard preferred to keep her where he could see her.  "Miss I would advise against running or doing anything besides sitting next to old Abram here. If you don't stay next to him I'm afraid he will have to be punished." He shouted as he hefted his mace up and above the prisoner. It was an empty threat but he hoped the old woman would believe him.

21:35, Today: Victor Blackburn rolled 14 using 3d6 with rolls of 4,6,4.  Command.

The old woman stops in her tracks based on the steel she hears in Victor's voice. Trembling, she slowly walks over and sits next to her husband.

Rasal is not concerned about the old couple at this point.  Once the doors are secured he heads to the cellar that had previously been indicated.  If he can get the hatch open without difficulty he will go straight down.  If needed he will cast a spell for light.

By opening every door he sees, Rasal is able to find the door that must lead to the cellar pretty quickly, especially since it's in the part of the house that the old woman was headed to...

But it's locked.

Victor paced through the house. He routinely checked on the couple while he also checked through the windows to make sure no one else had arrived. He saw Rasal struggled with a locked door. "I bet one of the old folks has the keys. I'll go pat down the old man if you want to check the woman for the key, I don't think she'll cause any trouble," he suggested. He returned back to the couple and checked the pockets of the handcuffed old man for any key.

The old man doesn't have any keys.

The old woman trembles, admits that she has it, and hands it over.

Once Victor delivers the key, Rasal heads down to the basement as previously planned.  He moves as quickly as he can manage without feeling too reckless, given that he has now lost what he assumes is a very finite amount of time.

There is flint and steel near the inside of the cellar door, and a lantern filled with oil and some tapers.

At first glance, it's clear that the cellar contains many fine and aged wines...

An elderly call comes from upstairs: "Don't move the port! The port mustn't be jostled!"

(For more than expensive wines, you'll have to do a Scan roll (though I'm fine if you each do one...))

Rasal lights the lantern and starts searching around the cellar.  Some wine might be nice to celebrate a successful raid, but they'd better find something better first if they're going to call it successful.  He moves quickly more than cautiously, and doesn't take the time to consider whether or not he'll regret this.

Rasal rolled 7 using 2d6 with rolls of 2,5.  Scan.

"Quiet down," he scolded the old woman when she cried out. His curiosity peaked he descended into the cellar. He took a quick look around to see if anything was of value. He saw nothing of value so he trudged back up to keep an eye on the old couple.

18:25, Today: Victor Blackburn rolled 5 using 2d6 with rolls of 2,3.  Scan.

(Rasal: 5. Mixed result.

Victor: 3. Fail result. You get 1 xp.)

Marks on the floor in front of one wine rack lead Rasal to look behind it.

Behind the wine rack, Rasal finds a sort of cubbyhole in the wall. In the formerly-hidden space is a large chest that one may slide out into the open (which, in the past, is what made the marks found on the floor).

As he's heading back up the stairs, Victor has an overwhelming moment of deja vu. He realizes that the cellar and especially the steps remind him of a very dark moment in his life... (Describe that moment and how it filled Victor with rage, fear, or both.)

As Victor slowly climbed the stairs his thoughts drifted back to an experience years ago when he had been a new recruit in the guard. Back then he took pride in his job, thoughts of justice filled his head. He had been tasked with collecting a man who was behind on his taxes. It happened occasionally, usually he would scold them or occasionally throw them in a cell for a day. Just enough to scare them into being more responsible with their coin. However on this occasion when he escorted the man back to the prison they instructed him to be taken to an address.

Victor had been confused at the time but he followed orders. The man had grown more anxious as they traveled and stopped at some noble's manor. He had knocked and a servant had led them into a dark basement. There were several men and a variety of blades, restraints, and other tools of torture. Victor had been shocked but the man he was escorting had been terrified. He asked those in the room what the reasoning was. Apparently this was something done from time to time. "To remind the populace to fear betraying their king," they said. Given to some noble to fill their fancy for violence. Victor still stunned by the display had simply nodded and slowly climbed the stairs out. The man who had simply missed a payment on his taxes begged with Victor as he climbed, he had pleaded to Victor until he was out of earshot, and as Victor climbed the stairs in some noble's lodge years later he still heard the screams.

Rasal tried to pull the box out from its hiding place, but had some trouble with it.  Oblivious to what was happening with Victor, he called to his companion for some help.

Victor had been lost in thought but his partner's call for assistance brought him back to reality. He turned around inspected the cubbyhole. He ducked in, grabbed the chest, and heaved as he tried to pull it out.

13:11, Today: Victor Blackburn rolled 11 using 3d6 with rolls of 3,2,6.  Smash.

The chest slides out comparatively easily. (Comparative to Rasal's previous efforts, that is.)

The chest is just over a foot across, and has a handle on each side.

It seems heavy, probably mostly due to the contents.

Rasal tries to open the chest and see what is inside before they put in the effort to lug it upstairs.

The chest is not locked.

It is, however, trapped, and a fine dust shoots out into the faces of both Rasal and Victor.

It not only makes you cough, it feels somewhat poisonous!

(Victor and Rasal each take 1 HEAVY stress.)

There's the glint of what looks like precious metals or gems in the chest now that it's open, but it's hard to see right this second, your eyes are watering so...

Victor hacked as he stumbled back from the chest, his arm . He felt his eyes water as the air had suddenly been filled with the mysterious substance. "Damn," he muttered out loud, "let's hope whatever that was it doesn't end us. Let the blasted chest air out before we attempt to move it." His voice was somewhat muffled as he covered his face with an arm, a vain attempt to prevent himself from further poison.

Rasal mumbles something about agreeing, and maybe also propping the door open in case there are any more traps for them to deal with here while they wait.

No other traps go off, but time is ticking away... That'll get stressful in its own right, sooner or later, but for now, the area around the chest airs out, and nothing else bad happens yet...

Once the air is a little clearer, Rasal quickly starts grabbing handfuls of the gems (or whatever is in there) and shoving them into the bag that he brought for this purpose.

There do indeed seem to be no more traps involved with the chest (good thing for Rasal, who keeps not checking). And it is also true that there are in fact quite a lot of gold coins and gemstones in there... this will in fact make for a very good start of The Sandstone's hoard...

Once the chest is emptied:

--is it time to get out of here?

--or is it time to look around some more?

--or something else?

--(Also, is that bag going to be big enough and sturdy enough to carry all this heavy treasure?)

Victor looked at their spoils. "That should be a decent start for us, I recommend we throw in some wine bottles and call it a success. Might look and see if you can find a more sturdy container up there. I'm sure they have a trunk you could easily empty if need be. I'm going to go look for the stable. A few horses will make our escape easier."

He climbed the stairs and peaked out the various windows. They had heard the boy exit the stables so Victor reasoned they should be fairly easy to spot.

(Finding the stable is easy, and it's been left unlocked. There are a number of fine horses there, although it will take a little longer to saddle two of them.

Finding a better container than the sack will take a new Scan roll... Victor can also Scan the stable for suitable containers...)

Rasal carries the sack to the stable (with Victor's help if needed) and searches for saddlebags so they can split the haul and get it home more easily.

Rasal rolled 9 using 2d6 with rolls of 3,6.  Scan.

Saddlebags are found that will be perfect for taking the loot away.

(Time to go? Or not yet?)

"I think we made a decent haul for our first attempt. I'd like to go retrieve my manacles and get out of here before backup arrives", Victor suggested. Unless Rasal objected Victor went in and unlocked the old man, collected his equipment, and then rejoined his partner so they could ride off.

Just as Victor is leaving the house for the second time, riders can be heard coming...

His equipment and the loot secured Victor attempted to jump into the saddle. "We could use a distraction to cover our escape," he suggested to Rasal before he started to steer his new horse away from the lodge.

"Right, on it," Rasal replies.  He focuses on the ground a short distance ahead, in the direction from which the riders are coming, and tries to summon up the image of fire and thick smoke to block their path.

Rasal rolled 7 using 2d6 with rolls of 4,3.  Invoke.
Rasal rolled 3 using 1d6 with rolls of 3.  oops, wasn't rolling enough dice... (but I guess that didn't help anyway)

The fire and smoke scares the heck out of the horses of the coming riders, but the riders themselves are not fooled-- there's no sound of flames.

The coming riders urge their horses forward with great urgency, and eventually get through or past/around the image of the flames...

So on one hand, Rasal and Victor get much more of a head start than they would have otherwise.

On the other hand,

1. since their pursuers came via the road, they're going over countryside now, and there are occasionally fences or little streams to jump. (On the third hand, at least their pursuers have to deal with these things as well.)

2. They don't have such a head start as to be out of sight of their pursuers, though they would be very soon if they could go faster... but their horses are already going as fast as is safely possible.

3. Their pursuers are surely locals who know this part of the world better than do Rasal and Victor.

So, what now?

--Try to evade pursuit via another magical distraction?
--Try to evade pursuit via just riding and fast?
--Try to evade pursuit by taking advantage of some sort of topological quirk of the terrain up ahead?

--And whatever you do... You're currently headed sort of south-by-southeast, but where are you going?
----South, to the desert, and eventually The Sandstone?
----Southeast, toward the city (eventually?)
----East, toward the vineyards?

Victor looked over his shoulder after they had ridden away from the mansion. In the distance he saw the forms of pursuers. 'So the chase is on,' he thought to himself. "Head west. We'll lose them in the mountains," he shouted to Rasal before he steered his horse in the correct direction. He took point as he navigated his new horse through the wilderness in an attempt to lose the reinforcements.

11:32, Today: Victor Blackburn rolled 6 using 2d6 with rolls of 3,3.  Finesse.

Rasal followed closely behind.  He wasn't the most experienced rider, but he was doing his best to keep up as they moved into gradually more difficult terrain.

Victor and Rasal get well ahead of their pursuers, and are soon completely out of sight of them.

Furthermore, Victor spots something ideal-- what is it, Victor?

(Is it the perfect spot for an ambush? Or is it more of the ideal hiding place for two men on horses, to try to get the pursuers to pass by? Or is it something else?)

The two rode through the mountain area. Victor navigated his way up and down various ridges. After a time he spotted something they could use. A shallow cave entrance he spotted deeper in the mountains. He directed his horse to the cave in hopes of hiding from their pursuers.

(Each of you roll Sneak, please)

21:16, Today: Victor Blackburn rolled 2 using 1d6 with rolls of 2.  Sneak.

(Oops... well, let's see how Rasal's roll is...)

Rasal rolled 6 using 2d6 with rolls of 2,4.  Sneak.

Well that's a little better I suppose

The pursuers, wary, clip-clop up the trail slowly, on the alert.

When they're just about to pass, the horses that both Rasal and Victor are on get restless and sort of snort and stamp a hoof-- Rasal's not too bad, but Victor's more loudly.

Those on the trail stop. "--There! Listen! Did you hear that?!"


(Try to stay still? Rush past them and back down (they're somewhat in the way, but maybe you could strike at them on the way)? Or just fight now? Or magic?)
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:42, Thu 17 Sept 2020.

Rasal holds his staff firmly, takes a deep, slow breath, and then forms the image of two shadowy riders some distance further ahead, hoping to lure their pursuers away.

Rasal rolled 12 using 3d6 with rolls of 5,6,1.  Invoke.

"There they are!!" shouts a man, and their group gallops ahead.

(Rasal takes 1 point of light stress.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:14, Tue 22 Sept 2020.

Victor calmed his horse as they waited in the cave. He waited several moments for the sound of hoofsteps to fade. "Nice job Rasal. Now let's double back and get out of here." He urged his horse back down the mountains.

(Each of you roll either Finesse for speed, or Sneak for stealth, but

1. You both have to roll the same stat, BUT

2. You may roll one extra time more than you normally would get to roll)

12:30, Today: Victor Blackburn rolled 4 using 2d6 with rolls of 3,1.  Sneak.

Since neither stat is great for us I just picked one.

Rasal rolled 8 using 3d6 with rolls of 1,1,6.  Sneak.

Oh man, that extra die really saved me

(Victor gets 1 xp, but takes 1 new light stress (if there's no more room for light stress, take 1 medium, and so on.)


You might have just about gotten away with the escape completely, if it weren't for Victor's horse whinnying at one point.

Still, by the time their pursuers can be seen again, Victor and Rasal are far ahead-- the farthest they've been yet.

(Pick a direction to ride (but not East nor NorthEast), and then both of you roll Finesse, please. (Rasal, you get 1 extra die to roll again, because I said so))

As they pick up speed, hoping to lose their pursuers for good, Rasal says urgently "We should go southwest, closer toward home but not leading them straight there!"

Rasal rolled 6 using 2d6 with rolls of 5,1.  Finesse (with extra die).

Victor cursed as his horse exposed their position. He attempted to calm the horse as he followed his partner in crime.


21:39, Today: Victor Blackburn rolled 6 using 2d6 with rolls of 5,1.  Finesse.

The two men head for the edge of the desert (without making a beeline for The Sandstone nor anything like that).

Soon their pursuers are barely specks on the horizon.

The trouble is, the horses are getting pretty tired...

(Choice time: you can:
--try to put on extra burst of speed and lose them completely (risk: horses get too tired)
--try more hiding/cleverness to lose them amongst the dunes and chaparral (risk: doesn't work, they catch up and catch sight of you again)
--try magic to fool them again (risk: failure, not being fooled)
--something else I haven't thought of)