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Xenos

"We left through the main doors, but the dunes provide access to the rear."

Ceana

Feeling her mouth suddenly go dry, she takes a pull off her waterskin and closes her eyes. Her heart is pounding in her ears, but, by all that's holy, this is the place!
She realizes someone is talking to her and turns to look at Akhilleus.

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

She blinks a few times and says, "Snakes, dozens of 'em. Leading me to this exact place." She points at the ruins on the plateau. "I followed the snakes to the entrance and found a half-man, half-snake...thing, laying on the ground." She shudders at the vivid picture of the vision. "And while I'm looking at him, the snakes go into the ruins and it suddenly implodes and sinks into the sand. But not before a white light shows from below, like a...like a beacon."
She sniffs and wipes her eyes, somewhat embarrassed that's she so emotional when recalling the vision. "Such is the revelation from Yoon'Deh."

Drest

"Snakes a plenty for you here. Other nastiness too."

Akhilleus

"If your vision is to be trusted and, judging from what we've seen so far, I don't have any reasons not to trust it, this place has way more to it than we think.

Should we just get in the way we go out, through the main entrance? I can go first. Maybe with you." He nods at Sik. "You seem to know how to handle yourself in the front line and you speak their language. Shall we go together?"

Kainaxarthos

"Interesting. I like the sound of that beacon, especially from a vision. I do recall Yoon'Deh has a thing for sacrifices, though. Which may be why the cult is focused here, something important could be below."

He pauses a moment. "But let's not be in there when it collapses." Kain winks at Ceana.

Kain raises a brow at the frontal assault. "Just like that?" He looks impressed at Akhileus and Sik. "You two are tougher than you look, which is already pretty tough."

Cyril

"I also seem to remember a pit on the other side of that front door. Do keep your eyes open when we enter."

Sik purses his lips at Akhilleus' idea of a frontal assault.

"I do not know how much of their forces remain, but a subtler approach may be helpful - we do not want to be caught off guard - my former allies were masters of ambush," he pauses for a moment to look over his allies, his gaze finally landing on Kain. "Kain, you look the weakest, the sort of victim we would target. Perhaps I should approach with you pretending to be my prisoner for sacrifice, and the others can ambush any remaining cannibals."

Drest

"There is a side door. We never opened it but saw it from the inside. We know roughly where it is if we want to try going in that way."

OGRE MAGE wrote: ↑Tue Sep 05, 2023 10:51 am Did we officially lose Belloc here, or is he just being shy?

I will update for the rest of you today either way.

still here, sorry about the pace, just been swamped with regular stuff, i'll try to get better organized

The Zakath Desert
The Ruined Warlords Palace
Afternoon

Cyril mentions the scorpion pit trap just inside the front doors.

Drest remembers the secret side entrance they found last time, though never investigated. Sik makes a valid suggestion about how to prevent the most bloodshed, if there are droves of slaves inside. Kain doesn’t look convinced.

Sneaking up for a closer look at the main entrance, you see the front double doors have been left slightly ajar. There is no sign of the wild dogs you left behind, and you find no tracks whatsoever, of man nor beast.

By the looks of the grey dunes which have enveloped the entire rear portion of the building, this place may have been recently uncovered by the shifting desert winds. The front portion of the once opulent palace looks mostly intact, but there is obvious degradation in the construction. There are holes knocked in the sandstone outer walls and the once tall marble towers that flanked the building have long since given in to the centuries of abuse from the mighty Zakath.

You can see a once ornate blue glass dome has caved in over the many years, with other destruction visible in many areas. The bloated mass of Helios makes an impending backdrop to the entire scene. Other than the constant howling of the indomitable winds, you hear no sound coming from beyond the remaining standing walls.

The place seems truly deserted.

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

Initial entry map:

Taibhse

"Is the front door the only option? Are they even still here? Let us think about our approach carefully."

What time of day is it?

OGRE MAGE wrote: ↑Tue Sep 05, 2023 6:59 pm The Zakath Desert
The Ruined Warlords Palace
Afternoon

Drest remembers the secret side entrance they found last time, though never investigated.

Drest

Afternoon.

"As I said a moment ago there was a secret side entrance we left undisturbed. Could try and find that, but we best hurry before the sun sets."

Ahkilleus

"We left from the front door last time we were here and we left everything... empty, in the ground floor. Except for that room with the gargoyle.

I don't see any problem in entering the same way we came out, to be honest.

But, at the same time. I'm also curious to see what's on this side door. Let me take a quick look through the main door and then let's go check to other entrance." He enters carefully with weapon drawn and shield high through the main door before anyone answers. After seeing if/that there's nothing new there, he will come back to his companions.

Kainaxarthos

He can't help but laugh a moment at Sik's comment. "Ok, ok. Good to know. So how much experience did you have with sacrificing those smaller than you?" He retorts with a smile.

Kain thumbs at Ahkileus. "I need to do more of that, then? Boldly striding into danger." Kain waits, weapon out, for the screams to start.

Sik sighs at the lack of caution, but decides to follow closely behind Akhilleus, weapon drawn.

Xenos draws his scimitar and stands ready to move to assist Ahkilleus and Sik if needed.

Monsieur Rose wrote: ↑Wed Sep 06, 2023 11:47 am Kainaxarthos
Kain thumbs at Ahkileus. "I need to do more of that, then? Boldly striding into danger." Kain waits, weapon out, for the screams to start.

Cyril stays back as the warrior types proceed. "Not really, Kain. That will get you killed. I'm happy to let Akhileus lead the way. It worked quite well for me last time I was here."

Drest

Drest will back up Xenos as he checks the front door.

Ceana

Wiping her eyes again, the Kelt druidess keeps her hand on her bow with an arrow ready and approaches the door to peer inside...