Re: Troubled Past PBEM 79 - The Ritual [Lan]

[Les Anderson]

[Flask]
> The scout visibly shivered at the question and more so as he remembered the
> probing presence trying to forge a link to him. "They or it or something tried.
> That's when I turned tail and run back here. I don't think they got me though.
> How can I tell though?"

[Lan]
The exotic looking human shook his head. "There is no sure way to
tell. If their touch is light enough you would not feel a thing." He
looked directly at Flask for a moment, then looked away. "That you
felt them searching for you tells us what we already knew- the
natives, more than likely the women, know there are intruders but not
who or where we are." He shrugged.

"If they found you they would likely be down there." He gestured at
the jungle floor below them. "That they are not bodes well for us."

[Flask]
> "I repeat," Flask muttered from a corner of the planar
> shelter. "It ain't our fault the Morgraves git 'emselves caught
> an' it ain't our duty tae help every stray kitten on Eberron. Like
> Commander said, ye be on a job o' our own, not happily wanderin'
> the jungle in search o' good deeds tae perform. 'sides, long as the
> natives play with their new toys we be havin' a better chance o'
> slippin' past 'em."

[Lan]
The kalashtar had listened carefully to the discussion. He wanted to
help the students and researchers. It was the decent thing to do. But
if it meant endangering his chances of finding a cure for the illness
that was plaguing his people he would pass them by without a glance.

The numbers were against them. The females of the tribe were powerful
psions. They didn't know the terrain. And they had a compelling reason
not to help the Morgraves.

"I would like to help the Morgraves, but not at the price of
endangering our mission here. If it can be done quickly and with a
good chance of success, I am for rescue." He looked at Leif and held
out his hand. "May I see the stone?"

Flask had no way to gauge the power of the females' mental might; only
he had been touched by their minds and knew what he was feeling. The
power crystal would have to be a might focus indeed to allow him to
face their strength.

He held the crystal to his forehead and closed his eyes, focusing his
mind on the stone, through the stone. His mental sight expanded as he
used his third eye to 'look' through it. Where he had been aware of
their presence before, he now felt each party member acutely, was sure
he could hear the myriad of surface thoughts that ran through each
mind as they thought over the problem. He felt stronger, more focused,
more clear headed.

A deep breath centered him, damped down the rising excitement he had
been feeling as he assessed himself enhanced by the crystal. The
healer shook his head and opened his eyes, dropping his hand back down
into his lap.

"No. Even with the crystal I do not have enough strength to face the
women for long enough to allow you to rescue the Morgraves. We all
need rest, and should head for the tomb in the morning."

[Angie Gignac]

[Lan old]

"No. Even with the crystal I do not have enough strength to face the
women for long enough to allow you to rescue the Morgraves. We all
need rest, and should head for the tomb in the morning."

 

[Bryn new]

 

Bryn looked around at the ir'Valerians and knew that they'd made up their minds. She had no support here, with the exception of Leif. And she wasn't at all keen on the idea of him running through the jungle with the bare-breasted alien women chasing behind him.

 

Daram was looking at her hopefully, but she could see that he knew where he stood. Her energy spent, Bryn no longer had enough left to pursue her arguements. She nodded her head, accepting their decision. For now. "Very well. In the morning, we find the tomb."

Daram sighed, but did not weep. It seemed he had no more tears left to shed for his fellows. Instead, he lay down, his back to his saviours. Bryn followed his example, and curled up with Swift. Depsite her unsettled emotions, she was asleep within minutes.

 

[In the morning]

 

The morning dawned bright and clear and noisy. The drums had stopped near dawn, only to be replaced by the calls of thousands of birds. The cacophany reached them even in their pocket dimension, and the company groaned themselves awake.

 

Again, Ember helped Bryn with her belongings and with Swift. The coyote didn't struggle this time; she seemed to have gotten used to the warforged's feet. Bryn took a deep breath of the morning air and smiled. It had rained just before dawn, and now the air was fresh and alive, though she knew it wouldn't take long for the humidity to build up again. Her mount joined her, nuzzling up against her happily, then hissed at Swift. The two animals disappeared into the foliage, and Bryn knew that the raptor was taking the coyote to the remains of his breakfast. Satisfied that her friends were all right, Bryn found a relatively quiet corner of the clearing, sat down, and closed her eyes.

 

When she opened them again, she felt recharged and ready for the day. Her animals had returned, and judging from the blood that flecked their muzzles, they were well fed. She, however, had to be satisfied with dried fruit and hard bread. Bryn saddled her mount as she ate, making sure that her weapons and mask were at the ready, should she need them.

 

ooc - I assume we're going to follow the path to the village and then beyond to the tomb? If so, I suggest we deke into the jungle well before we get there, and skirt the nasty natives. Bryn will cast 'pass without trace' on the other six at that point, so that we don't leave a trail. She has trackless step, and doesn't need it.

[Fabian Benavente]

> ooc - I assume we're going to follow the path to the village and then beyond
> to the tomb? If so, I suggest we deke into the jungle well before we get
> there, and skirt the nasty natives. Bryn will cast 'pass without trace' on
> the other six at that point, so that we don't leave a trail. She has
> trackless step, and doesn't need it.

Ok, decison has been made. Good.

Any other precautions when going by the village? How close will you get to it?

It's tomb finding in the morning!

Game on!

Fabian
Troubled Past - An Eberron PBEM
http://www.geocities.com/cfbenave/Eberron/Eberron-Page2.htm

[King, John]

[Lan]

"No. Even with the crystal I do not have enough strength to face the
women for long enough to allow you to rescue the Morgraves. We all
need rest, and should head for the tomb in the morning."

[Belkar-new]
"That settles it then. The University people are beyond our help for now," Belkar spoke gravely as his eyes passed around the cramped dimensional pocket. Looking at Bryn was the hardest, but the human bit back his own self-disgust, knowing that he was making the appropriate decision, given the information from the reconnoiter. "I'm sorry, Bryn. Perhaps, if we make good time, we can come back by and take another scout of the area. We may find the village in more favorable conditions." The notion didn't seem all that likely though, even as Belkar spoke it. Save for some natural disaster, or the majority of the natives miraculously abandoning the captives to go on some hunt, the Morgrave staff and students would likely be well watched, if they even lived by the next morning.

"We'll camp here for the night, rest up. But lets plan on moving out before first light. We'll cover more ground while its cooler." Belkar didn't relish the thought of treking another day in the muggy jungle, particularly not in armor. However, given the hostility of their surroundings, he'd need to wear it, at least through the morning before it became completely unbearable.

[Bryn]

Bryn looked around at the ir'Valerians and knew that they'd made up their minds. She had no support here, with the exception of Leif. And she wasn't at all keen on the idea of him running through the jungle with the bare-breasted alien women chasing behind him.

Daram was looking at her hopefully, but she could see that he knew where he stood. Her energy spent, Bryn no longer had enough left to pursue her arguements. She nodded her head, accepting their decision. For now. "Very well. In the morning, we find the tomb."

Daram sighed, but did not weep. It seemed he had no more tears left to shed for his fellows. Instead, he lay down, his back to his saviours. Bryn followed his example, and curled up with Swift. Depsite her unsettled emotions, she was asleep within minutes.

[etc.]