"I can probably do that.  I can be the trap if we had some bait.", Gurth replied.

"Whatever the plan is, we should first get closer to the entrance to see what they are doing. Maybe all of them went underground already. If not, we could do the same as the last time and bait some of them away."

They hobbled their mounts again and snuck back to the underground entrance. When they arrived, the seven that had pursued them were already out of sight. A group of four worshippers/bandits were making their way toward the entrance, but they were still some ten yards away. They could see the lights from another group in the distance approaching them.

In reply to Dragondog (msg # 907):

Was the other group approaching from the same direction as the four?

[OOC: They are not coming from the same direction.]

In reply to Dragondog (msg # 909):

So if we head out to the four, the other group may not notice what is happening?

[OOC: You may certainly try. You don't know what the other group will or won't see, but they don't seem to have noticed you yet.]

It was another small group of four worshippers and they were about 75 yards away.

[So at normal walking pace, that would take them about 30 seconds, which is 30 turns in combat, to get to you.]

In reply to Dragondog (msg # 912):

Is that the first or second group?

As they looked around, they discovered that there were additional groups, all of them further away than the first two.

In reply to Dragondog (msg # 914):

How much further? And directions?

The group changed tactics and instead of pursuing the group that had followed them further or getting closer to the entrance, they approached another group that was further away. As they came closer, they discovered that the group they had chosen had three members. All dressed like the previous worshipers they had encountered. And each holding a lit torch as they walked through the sand.

[What do you do?]

[OOC: It's a good thing we're using group rolls for Stealth, otherwise one member of the group had failed their roll.]

In reply to Dragondog (msg # 916):

Aladin will lead the group to approach them and demand to know what they were doing there, once they get very close. No torch, just shield and weapon.

Aladin revealed himself to the worshippers and demanded information from them. "We are visiting the temple," a female voice said. "Who are you and why do you want to know?"

In reply to Dragondog (msg # 918):

"Because others demanded we leave. Tell us about this god here, and the temple..."

"You probably should," the female said. "We don't really have the time to teach you about Bahal right now."

In reply to Dragondog (msg # 920):

"Why not? What is the hurry? Your friends have already threatened us with violence when we tried to be amicable..."

"You should have listened," the female said and they started walking around the group. "A proper response to your questions would take hours. We don't have hours."

In reply to Dragondog (msg # 922):

"Why should we have listened? We are here to find missing persons, so when we are confronted with violent threats, why should we doubt we have found the problem?"

He looks at others, to suggest they move to block them.

She stopped momentarily and turned to look at Aladin. "I said that because we're in a hurry," the female said. "I haven't seen anyone who isn't here because they want to be. And I haven't seen any dead bodies." She then turned back towards the entrance and started walking again. Soon catching up with the other two.

In reply to Dragondog (msg # 924):

"Then why would you object to us seeing what is happening?"

He stayed with them as they attempted to walk past him...

"Our temple is a sacred place," she said. "And those that haven't prepared themselves to enter are not welcome." They continued to walk.

In reply to Dragondog (msg # 926):

Aladdin looked at the others as he kept up to get advice..

As the worshippers continued moving ahead, Aladin and the others let them leave. They hobbled their camels and then started sneaking after the worshippers. The worshipers went down the underground entrance and there were no guards there.

[What do you do?]
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:39, Sat 16 Sept 2023.

In reply to Dragondog (msg # 928):

Look to sneak away from where the worshippers are... looking for a more secure place for the camels to be brought down to.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:45, Sun 17 Sept 2023.