Adventure #67 - To reach the other side (the Bonds...continuation)

[DM B]

Kaleiman has entered the water: "There is no need. The stairs protect us - from magic and current alike. Just follow them and we'll meet on the other side."

Shortly thereafter you are all walking up the very same stairs you are descending...it makes no sense, but here you are, in the Shadow World, dripping wet in the moonlight, but otherwise unharmed. Rashid, Elamien, Gaerred and Kaleiman have crossed thus far...

[X-Elinie/RiD (Niels)]

Rashid crouches and looks around. Identifying the High Hierophant, he indicates for him to also remain quiet as can be.

He then tries to look in the direction of the battlefield and catacombs, to see if there are any trace of enemies.

[X-LPA/Gaerred Khaiarén (Gray)]

Gaerred carefully looks around the cave mouth, looking for signs of the passage in the cave mouth, or some sign that long-ago the Paladins of Avani passed this way.  Failing that he looks for the valleys central building and focal point.

[X-Bellam & BC/TB (Bobby)]

"Stay down, all of you,"  Baron Bellamie's voice murmurs from the dripping heroes' left.  "Landen's men travel to the other side.  Once they have gone, we can make haste to find our path again."  Crouched and quiet, he slides around a rock on the stream's bank to come alongside them.  "My search party waits in the catacombs, if none of our soldiers yet follow you.  But our time may be short should Landen's men return, whether in victory or fleeing defeat; we shall need to find our path quickly.  How goes the battle on the other side?"

[X-LPA/Gaerred Khaiarén (Gray)]

"Very poorly," he says.

"They are likely under the influence of magic. I know of no man who would willing follow the Ogre," he says.

[DM B]

Elamien is also here.

[DM B]

Ten minutes later the Pontiff of All Anuire, his sidhe and the old man the HA sent appear as well.

[X-Elinie/RiD (Niels)]

"Our supporting units are doing their job. Some of our comrades are stuck in the melee, the Ogre has arrived."

"I suspected the catacomb would allow passage by now. I am glad you are here Tristan. Did Rashida make it through to you? - I sent her to find you, half hoping she'd end up here."

"There are no full units coming down the stairs. Perhaps when... " Rashid pauses as more people come up the stream, seeing the Pontiff and his men. "... the Pontiff comes, more men will follow?" He changes pitch to a question and looks to the Pontiff.

He then repeats the question as the Pontiff gets his bearings, offering a hand to lead them up the last steps of the stairs. "Your Holiness, have the enemy been defeated, are units on their way?"

Assuming the reply is "No, orogs came from the catacombs and we know not if we will win, but the main column has been alerted and is on their way."

The team then take in the valley, wait for the last of the enemy to vanish into the daylight world or for another path to sneak out of here and on to where ever the tomb may be located.

[X-IHH/Wallac Isilviere (Kasper)]

"No, orogs came from the catacombs and we know not if we will win, but the main column has been alerted and is on their way." [ ]

[X-Points East]

IC:

At some point, Elamien slips quietly off into the darkness, not straying too far, but searching for some clue, which might lead them to their ultimate destination.

[DM B]

Elamien discerns the road forward - but to reach the Tomb you must first get past the Osoerdan army...and they just stopped crossing over to the other side. There are perhaps five hundred men still here...way too many.

[X-Elinie/RiD (Niels)]

"Unless someone feels like making a distraction, that can move all 500 men, I suggest that we begin making our way carefully around their position by means of stealth."

Unless there are any objections, the plan is set into motion. Elamien is likely the best at this discipline, barring the elf of course, and Rashid knows the value of stealthy approach too.

[X-IHH/Wallac Isilviere (Kasper)]

"The Shadow World is like no where else. Here things interact with us in a mystereous and not alltogether reasuring way. By forming a thought the strong willed can sometimes impose their will on the enviroment. Give me but a moment and we will find out"

[Wallac has seen the SM do this in the SW under Ilien and been explained the theory]


Wallac sets his mind to change the fabric of the ground where we walk slightly. To make the sound of our steps absorbed and if it works very well and seems not too difficult he might create something to make us harder to spot for the soldiers

[X-Points East]

IC:

As the Pontiff concentrates, Elamien speaks, "I agree that this is perhaps the most prudent strategy available to us; but I would recommend that the Marshal remain with the men in yon catacomb.  They should not be left abandoned or leaderless; and I believe that he will be a comfort to them, in this place.

"I will lead the way along the bank of the stream; and I would ask Lannelah to take the middle place and Tristan to bring up the rear.  For we ought to proceed in single line, with each of you following in the footsteps of your predecessor, as perfectly as you might."

And she looks at the Pontiff, only waiting for a sign, in indication of his readiness, before setting forth.

[X-LPA/Gaerred Khaiarén (Gray)]

Gaerred goes along but is not the least bit sneaky.