The Balance of Power

[(George) 3.5./ ZEM ( 4.0)]

Less talk, more moving to locking gate and stoping evil things that have horns. Im moving to that gate everyone double time it.

"No arguments, no talk, but movement with weapons out."

It was not time for debates, it needed to be locked, and weapons out. if it was not to late. He had a bad feeling it might be, he takes off at a run to the gate.

[sageaqua]

Ka'lion had wanted to trade with the wizard for horses but as the wizard has no horses or the ability to make the decanter. Ka'lion will need to look elsewhere. He leads Runaway to the gate.

[harknail]

Vadania calls out, "Lynette! We're leaving. Do you want to come with us or stay here with Melwyn and your sister?"

Assuming Lynette doesn't want to stay her with her sister...

Vadania joins the rest heading for the gate. Along the way she looks for any signs that the Displacer Beasts have made it though the robe secured gate. Specifically, looking for large cat footprints in the snow.

[at]

Lynette quickly rejoins the party, followed not far behind by her hastily dressed sisters and Melwyn carrying a pack and scroll case.

There is no sign of cat footprints around the portal and the group cautiously make their way through with weapons and shields at the ready. The displacer beasts are not waiting on the other side but from high up at the top of the waterfall the group are afforded a clear view down over Melwyns home.

Melwyn peers over the edge and then ducks down into cover, pulling a monocle from his pocket. The others can see what caused him the concern - at the entrance to the enclosure a group of several dozen men are gathered on foot with three more on horse. Vadania wishes that they still had the use of Altars spyglass but even at this distance her keen eyes can pick out one figure at the fore knelt down inspecting their tracks.

Squinting through his monocle Melwyn announces, "hells! they have a priest of Nerull", turning to Lynette, "what have you brought here?!" his question trails off as he turns to George and the large heavily wrapped scythe-shaped object on his back.

[sageaqua]

"Don't even think about it. The shythe is not safe to use. We already nearly died agenced one lunitic that had it. He want so crazy. He killed his own men." said Ka'lion, "And no one brought them here. My bet is they are looking for my book."

[at]

Xana points down towards the far edge of Melwyns enclosure, "the river path is still clear, if you came in up the stairs we might be able to get out that way"

Melwyn shakes his head, "no, dammit, the Ibixians didn't take this portal from and nor will these. We can barricade it from the other side and this", he takes a pouch out of his bad, "will hide the tracks to the gate. Someone needs to get down there now, throw this on the ground and lock it before that dark elf down there follows your trail back here"

He holds the pouch out expectantly but all eyes have turned back to the force below seeking this dark elf that he spoke of, hard to make out at this distance.

[sageaqua]

"Drow? I think he's here for you, not us." said Ka'lion, "Give me the pouch and tell me how to use it."

[at]

"Just sprinkle the dust on your tracks and they will vanish but do it from behind the illusion, it won't prevent you from creating new tracks."

As optimistic, falsely perhaps, that Melwyn seems about remaining hidden the group found the portal and these may as well - the decision must be made to either sneak away now or risk being trapped in the portal world for who knows how long. Though if the portal world is indeed apart from this one then perhaps it offers a sanctuary from the demons or even a source of magics against which they have no defence.

[sageaqua]

"Garrot, care for a ride?" says Ka'lion handing Geroge Runaway's rains and handing Garrot the pouch and then turning into a wolf. He'll wait long enough for Garrot to climb on to his back.

[at]

Lynette speaks up, "won't they see the horse? can you make it invisible?"

[rhinobullet]

Garrot giggles at the prospect and says "Absolutely!" forgetting for a second that he is riding towards something called a drow. He holds the pouch in his teeth and mounts the wolf.

Ride check:
Li0RyLJgp_1-20
+5=141-20

[(George) 3.5./ ZEM ( 4.0)]

We need a long bows so that we can cover u. Short bows may work ok but not great.

[at]

Melwyn takes a key out from under his robes, "this will lock the door, don't step past the illusion - just throw the dust through"

(pause for Vadania as this is the party's window to escape or hide)

[harknail]

Vadania looks from above for another way out of the garden.

If doable, what Vadania wants to do is lock the gate (we don't need the key) with us on the outside, erase the tracks, restore the bench and erase those tracks, then lay new tracks out of here. That keeps Melwyn safe and lets us continue on our way.

Does Vadania recognize anyone from this group? Are they the bandits we fought? Are they people from town?

Assuming it's doable...

Vadania says, "Keep the key, we're leaving, but we'll lock the gate and conceal the tracks on our way out. Then we'll give them new tracks to follow for a while before we break the the trail."

[at]

"There is enough dust for three uses if you measure it carefully. A few hundred feet of tracks, no more"

Melwyn reaches for the scroll box that Vadania had bought and quickly rifles through it, and then through his own scrolls before finding one he was looking for, "this will hide the horse from sight for a few minutes, but not from sound. Make sure to move away from the gate before you use the dust"

[harknail]

"Thanks, we'll try to keep your hideout safe," says Vadania. "You did leave a lot of scrolls behind, looks like we're not going to be able to retrieve them for you. Goodbye and fair thee well."

Vadania will lead the group though the passage, make sure the gate is actually locked, hide the tracks, move the bench back, hide those tracks, then will lead the group away from the searchers. If she did it right, it will look like we milled around a bit near the bench before continuing.

Did she recognize anyone following us (or looking for Melwyn)? We may need to keep moving till the next morning. At that time Vadania can change her spell for "Pass without Trace" so we can loose them.

[at]

Melwyn hands a second key to Lynette, "this will open the river gate". He then casts an invisibility spell on the horse and quickly makes his way back towards the portal. As the group starts to move Xana follows, "sorry Melwyn but i'm not getting stuck in that frozen forest for the rest of my life"

The gate below is still secure and the displacer beasts not to be seen. With the gate open George leads the invisible horse and the others down the towards the gateway where the river passes through the wall surrounding the upper area. The group pauses to allow those below to move up the hill knowing that their sight of the gate will be obscured once they reach the stone stairs.

Meanwhile Vadania removes the tracks from around the bench and turns back in time to see Xana scampering towards Melwyns house while the others standing in the river entrance watching for their time to move.


(it was hard to make out much from the distance save for general equipment, but none appeared to resemble anyone from the mill)

[harknail]

So she's heading towards the group of men? This will not end well

[at]

Jun 5, 2014 14:12:26 GMT -5 harknail said:

So she's heading towards the group of men? This will not end well

(to Melwyn's house, while the approaching men haven't yet started up the stone staircase to the large open building where Ka'lion first encountered the displacer beasts. She is getting closer to them but clearly not heading to meet them - though they would find her soon enough if she spends any time doing whatever it is she is doing)

[harknail]

Assuming she's still close enough to talk to without attracting unwanted attention...

Vadania calls out, "Where are you going? They'll be searching the house!"