TheMasked Gnoll, following Azure's lead, touches the door and tries to make it open.
Game: Great minds think alike (Part II)
With a soft sound, the door opens. On the other side, the group sees Ian, his hand stretched out as if touching the door that has just opened.
Outside, there is a landscape entirely filled with thick, white mist.
"Now, look there," Faathi says, "you are a Faeraan soul. Maybe one of your ancestors came from Faeraan?"
The Masked Gnoll is stunned for the briefest of moments, before throwing up his hands and gleefully yelling "The Masked Gnoll saves the day again!"
Ian drops his arms from where the door was and smiles. "Good to see you, Gnoll." But the smile quickly disappears. "But we're in danger, all of us."
"Xanarox is here. Somehow he already seems to know our plan to use the portal, and from what I overheard he plans on erasing us from time. We need a plan, and quick. We need to use anything and everything in our power to not get into a direct fight with him. Our chances of surviving such a fight a little to nothing."
"The best possible way to proceed would be to reach the tower before him, and escape. But we can't count on that now that he has a head start."
Ian looks at Azure. "You said before that you knew where the tower was. Do you know exactly where, as in you can direct us straight to it? Because I got the impression that Xanarox didn't know its exact location, which may buy us some time."
Azure looks at Ian. "Who exactly is this Xanarox you speak of? A powerful enemy?"
OOC: wait, im confused. is this from before, is Azure saying this, or, are we with him now and this is happening?
....
[OOC: @Azure: Let's just go step by step. Your character asked his question, now let the other players react to it. If what your PC hears from them satisfies your character, then you can post what he tells the group. Don't post actions that take place AFTER an action someone else has to make first.]
"He's apperantly the apprentice, ambassador, and personal assassin of Juiblex, and a time traveler. He may not look like much, but we saw him 'unmake' a drunk not too long ago with lifting a finger, and simply for being in his way."
"He also has two undead servants that appear to be liches. While dangerous, I'm more worried about the guy who wants to erase us. "
Suddenly, a loud explosion shakes the room's ground. It is obvious it came from the tower door.
The explosion's effects are so heavy that everyone in the room has trouble not to lose his balance.
[OOC: Reflex save against DC 12 for everyone not to fall on the ground.]
Reflex save: 8 + 14 = 22 (I win!)
Reflex: 14 + 9 = 23
Naruk loses his balance and falls on the ground, landing hard on his back. The sound of shattering glass can be heard as the sound of the explosion fades.
[ooc : sorry for jumping the gun. Should I edit the post?]
OOC: Reflex; 20+10=30
Saath quickly gets out of the room into the misty fields.
OOC: ok, I got it. Reflex safe.
Except of Naruk, noone loses his balance. Naruk quickly jumps up again, and rushes forward to look for the door - and suddenly stops running as the door gets into his sight.
"Guys? The door is in perfect condition."
[OOC: @Azure: Yes, please!]
Ian takes a step back. "If Xanarox heard that, we could be in trouble. We should get going."
*Blackthornes looks to the group*
"Shadowknife is right, we need to get moving, or we could be in trouble."
"Thanks for the echo, Blackthornes. Azure, you're still our guide so lead the way. Everyone else on alert, I don't want any surprises."
OOC: Did we lose Dialaxis already? I don't think he's posted in a month.
*Blackthornes draws his rapier, ready for a fight if needed*
OOC: good question, I haven't heard anything from him in quite a while either.... hope he didn't quit on us.
[OOC: I'll send him a PM. He was quite passionate about getting into the game, so I hope he's going to get back soon.]
Naruk hesitates. "Can we make one quick experiment before we move? MG could open the door although Faathi said only a Faeraan can. I think we should know if all of us can open and close the door as we like, or if that's restricted to the Masked Gnoll. Just in case we encounter other spells setting up Faeraan restrictions."
As he speaks, he looks down on a pouch on his trousers. Removing a couple of glass shards, he lets out a few curses that seem to be very out of place for him.
Ian looks at Naruk for a moment. "Good idea, everyone try opening or closing the door, but hurry."
Ian walks over to Naruk, and asks "What broke? You didn't cut yourself, did you?"
Azure (who could not open the door) positions himself to cover the door as the others have their tries. "Ian, what did you see out there?" he asks.
"Well, a surprising amount of time was spent trapped in some sort of in-between layer of the shadow plane, after an unfortunate run-in with some of the locals and an abyssal isle. Somewhere around here is a wall, and there's no mist on the other side of it. But don't go there, thats where those locals I told you about are, and I didn't leave under the best of terms with them."
"I haven't had a chance to explore here much, my first priority was returning to the group."
"Why, were you looking for something in particular?" Ian asks.
"A thick mist, with grass underfoot."
As Saath tries to open and close the door he says: "You said Xanarox made a bubber disappear... was that before or after we met? 'Cuz I don't remember that. The only impressive thing about him I noticed was that he was very very... average."
Ian looks around, then replies to Azure. "Well, we're in the mist. And there was a grassy hill where I first landed."
Ian turns to turns to Saath, and shoot him a slightly confused look. "Really? You honestly don't remember him unmaking that drunk?." Ian pauses for a moment. "Come to think of it, he did unmake him using time magic, so I guess the unusual part isn't that you don't remember the man that no longer existed, but that I do. Lomax did say that he wanted us to see his power, so I guess that was the reason."
Naruk, answering Ian's question, says, "No cuts... but I lost a glass of Arbutrax wine, which has light visionary powers. Only one left now. But worse is that my glass vehicle broke... an invention of mine. It should protect the glass against any smashes. Obviously, it doesn't work as planned."
As Saath tries to close the door, Faathi speaks again. "Sorry, you are no Faeraan."
Naruk listens to Ian, giving him a surprised look. "Lomax?"
"You might know him by another name. Have you been telepathically contacted by anyone today? Because I have, and I know Blackthornes has too. It started in Akin's shop, and he's been with us since. I don't know exactly what it is he wants in the long term, but so far the information he has provided has been crucial. But I think we can trust him, if for no other reason that he has already saved my life twice today, that I know of."
"I'll tell you more later, when we have more time." Ian finishes. Ian then turns to Azure again.
"Azure, I need to know honestly. Do you think you can get us to the tower before Xanarox? Ere on the side of caution. Because if you can't, we need to formulate a plan of attack that assumes Xanarox is already there and waiting for us."
Naruk's eyes go wide as Ian speaks.
"Goa'un..."
It's the only thing he says, without further explanation.
Ian raises an eyebrow. "Pardon?"
Naruk shakes his head, as if trying to wipe it clear.
"Later, too. I think my Goa'un and your Lomax have a lot in common."
*Blackthornes looks at Naruk, then Ian*
"Lomax, eh? the voice never gave me a name, just, small information. Maybe it is the same person."
*Blackthornes goes to try the door*
"Maybe I have it....doubtfully."
"Honestly?" Azure replies to Ian. "I don't honestly know if we can get to the tower before this Xanarox. I have only seen the tower, not entered it. However if outside is the misty hill of grass, we are close. Very close."
Blackthornes touches the door, but once more, Faathi says: "You, too, are no Faeraan. Sorry, my friend."
Naruk turns to Blackthornes as he speaks. "You, too? We need to find out what's going on here. And I'd say, before we meet Xanarox."
Saath suddenly feels something stirring up inside him... like a heartbeat in the depths of his mind. A moment later, he hears a voice, echoing through his mind. The strange, cat-like voice says only a few words.
I... am awake.
Ian nods slowly as Azure speaks, and then as Naruk replies to Blackthornes.
"Faathi? Is the outer door as protected as the on that leads to the tunnel?"
"The outer door leads to the palace," Faathi replies, "so of course it is protected even better."
Ian nods. "Good. If we can't beat Xanarox with haste, than we might succeed with preparation."
"I say we go in, close the door behind us, rest and plan. Some of us have been in several battles today, and theres no sense in going up against Xanarox tired. Not to mention, it would seem there are a few explanations in order. So, any objections?"
"I'm all for it," Naruk says. "Would give me the chance to try learn some spells again."
Saath jerks up, like he was stung by a bee, and looks around, shifty-eyed, oblivous to Ian's question.
Ian rasies an eyebrow at Saath. "You okay?"
*Blackthornes looks at Ian*
"Yeah, that sounds like a plan to me."
*Seeing Saath's reaction.*
"What's the matter Saath?"
[OOC: @Blackthornes: Your character doesn't know that Saath has heard a "cat-like voice". So a comment like "cat got your tongue" doesn't make sense in-game. Please edit your post...]
"I'm okay. I just... thought I heard something. So, we set up kip in the safehouse then." Saath quickly changes the subject and walks back into the room.
OOC: This calls for a bluff check, I think. Bluff: 7+0=7 Saath's a lousy liar
OOC: Sense Motive: 4 + 7 = 11
There is a pause. "Yes, lets."
Ian heads into the room as well.
OOC: that's just a figure of speech, im sorry. little humor. not using out of character knowledge or anything.......I'll edit it though, dont worry. Oh, check to catch Saath's bluff.
Faathi makes a moping sound. "I am magic, and I work just fine since I was created, which is at least a hundred thousand years - that's when I stopped caring for time. I won't be confused or twisted to something evil just because someone stronger comes around. Strength isn't everything."