Return To The Ruins (Warlords Palace)

[Rex]

Drest

Drest prefers to stick to the current plan for now. We can visit the hermit later or on the way back. But will go for the hermit if that is the groups decision.

[The_Wanderer]

Drest

"The who?"

Cyril

"He said the True Alligator or something. It sounded Esquimaux...I would prefer not to get distracted from our current path. We can visit the hermit on our return or in our next sojourn into the desert."

[silifi]

Sik sighs. "The cannibals. That is their name for themselves. They may very well be aware of your previous forays into the ruins, just as I was. We would be wise to seek out a different entrance, lest we fal prey to an ambush. Whether we seek the hermit or not."

[Monsieur Rose]

Kainaxarthos

"Do we know another entrance? If not, let's go talk to the hermit." Kain shrugs, not aware of the strength of the forces at the ruins.

"But your call, although speed would be preferred."

Kain is trying to not be as bossy as usual, so he will attempt to defer to others.

[shaidar]

Xenos

"It does sound like a visit to this hermit could be very useful, it depends on how much of a diversion it might be."

[hedgeknight]

Ceana

The Kelt waits quietly while the others argue(?) about where to go next. She is still concerned about the riders and whatever they were carrying in their saddlebags. They were trying to get somewhere in a hurry...

[Rex]

Drest

"I know the way to the ruins, not the hermit. I can attempt to back track the riders, but trails disappear quickly in the sands and it would be easy to get lost out here once we are off the route I know."

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus

"We should go to the fortress. It was our initial plan and probably the riches hiding there might be gone before the hermit does. We can visit him later."

[shaidar]

Xenos

"The fortress it is then."

[The_Wanderer]

Akhilleus

"We should go to the fortress. It was our initial plan and probably the riches hiding there might be gone before the hermit does. We can visit him later."

Cyril

"Yes, speed is the plan. Let's loot the palace and then worry about the hermit."

[silifi]

Sik hears the decision of the group, and acquieses, although wearily. He looks upon the tracks left by the desert raiders and wonders if he is missing his opportunity to strike back against the slavers - but alas, he does not want to seek them out alone, and follows his new compatriots instead, hoping that he will find another opportunity in the future.

"Let us continue then, and waste no time."

[Ahlmzhad]

Taibhse

"Yes lets go to the ruins as planned. Just be careful on entering that we don't set ourselves up for ambush."

[OGRE MAGE]

The Zakath Desert
The Ruined Warlords Palace
Afternoon

Despite the urging of their local desert expert Sik, the group trades invaluable information from the unknown raiders about a possible future source of information, for the trail familiarity of their unruly Scout.

The fellowship of nine push through the dry, windy desert, trudging over sand dunes of grey dust, following Drest, a guy none of them particularly likes. After several hours of watching Helios slowly arc across the horizon, giving off dull orange light but little heat, the party starts to wonder if they have become lost.

Fortunately, no other encounters occur along their travels, though the howling and barking of dogs can occasionally be heard on the wind. Then a few men who had been in this area before notice something they didn’t before. There is clearly a wide arc of ridges that stretch out for miles in both directions. These ridges likely direct the incessant winds that blow around, causing dunes to grow higher and wider, likely one of the main reasons the lost palace remains forgotten.

Cresting this long ridge of dunes, those who haven’t been here before suddenly catch their first glimpse of the ruined Warlords Palace in the distance. Though specific details can’t be made out without getting closer, there doesn’t appear to be anyone or anything around this area. Ceana is shocked to behold the fortress from her recent vision with her own eyes.

IMG_1888.jpeg (119.34 KiB) Viewed 2143 times

Actions?

Xenos (DS3) AC5 17/17
Drest (Sc4) AC7 22/22
Kainaxarthos (C2) AC6 11/11
Cyril (Pr2) AC8 7/7
Ceana (D2) AC5 13/13
Akhilleus (F3) AC4 32/32
Taibhse (Sh1) AC7 7/7
Belloc (M1) AC6 9/9
Sik (Ba1) AC5 12/12

[The_Wanderer]

Cyril scans the battlements and front gate for signs of anything that has changed in the last couple days.

I think it has only been about 2 or 3 days since we left...

[Rex]

Drest

"Lets get closer and see if anything or anyone is active."

Drest will try and sneak closer.

[hedgeknight]

Ceana

Standing open mouthed in awe at the sight of the palace of her visions, the Kelt druidess can barely move or speak. "Praise...Yoon'Deh," is all she manages for now. She reaches out for Kain, grabbing him by the shoulder, in case her knees give out.

[Monsieur Rose]

Kainaxarthos

Kain helps steady Ceana and remarks. "This is the place? Fascinating. You really do have the sight. What else did you see?"

"How big was this cult again? And I really think we need another way in besides the way you went last time."

He engages Sik. "You were held here? Or lived here? Are your former roommates friendly?"

[Rex]

Drest

"This aught to be good."

[silifi]

Sik shakes his head in response to Kain.

"I was never a full member of the group, and it was only recently that I came to this place. Shortly after I discovered the extent of their misdeeds, I left - around the time these fellows last visited," he gestures toward Drest, Xenos, Cyril, and Akhilleus. "As to their numbers... well," Sik hesitates and begins counting on his fingers, and appears lost in thought, muttering to himself in Esquimaux-Ixian.

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus unsheathes his sword as a cautionary measure while approaching the main entrance.

"What did you exactly see in this vision Ceana?"