Episode 50

[Bynw]

 * Playing 'recap.txt' to #Teara-Adan with 1000ms delay
[19:12] <.Bynw> *** The World Changes - Session 50 *** 
[19:12] <.Bynw> *** Beginning recap of previous session *** 
[19:12] <.Bynw> *Travelling since leaving Hutton's Rest the party has
[19:12] <.Bynw> made an unnatural time and has past through 3 villages
[19:12] <.Bynw> in the amount of time it would normally take to travel
[19:12] <.Bynw> to only one village.
[19:12] <.Bynw> *At nightfall they have reached the village of
[19:12] <.Bynw> Knight's Bridge which has an ancient connection to the
[19:12] <.Bynw> Anadari.
[19:12] <.Bynw> *The party has secured a place for the night and the
[19:12] <.Bynw> two Anadari, with the help of others have made contact
[19:12] <.Bynw> with the Anadari Watchman in Polaris, Master Soltaari.
[19:12] <.Bynw> *After their brief mental communication Master
[19:12] <.Bynw> Soltaari left them with the following words of advise:
[19:12] <.Bynw> "No the Spectral Magicians do not know how to destroy
[19:12] <.Bynw> the Blood Pool either. Get some rest. Follow your 
[19:12] <.Bynw> feelings, be mindfull and keep watch on the river."
[19:12] <.Bynw> *Dawn has come to Knight's Bridge and the party
[19:12] <.Bynw> prepares to continue their journey.
[19:12] <.Bynw> *** End of Recap *** 
* Playback of 'recap.txt' complete
[19:14] <+_Nym_> ::Mounts up and prepares to leave Knight's bridge:: 
[19:14] * +Bredock does the same
[19:14] * +T_Shaw mounts up
[19:15] <.Bynw> *Nym, Shaw and Kanax can still see the swift flowing river of blood covering the road
[19:15] <+_Nym_> "I say we make haste straight to our destination, hopefully the current takes us along today as well." 
[19:15] * +James mounts as well.
[19:16] <+T_Shaw> "Agreed, Master Nym."
[19:16] <+Bredock> "Aye."
[19:16] <+James> @roll d20+6
[19:16] <@BoxCars> James: 1d20+6 = ( 16+6 ) = 22
[19:19] * +James nods and rides out the gate with the others.
[19:20] <.Bynw> *once out on the road the current does indeed take them. a sense of speed can be easily felt even by those without any esoteric training
[19:22] <+T_Shaw> "How much further to the next village?"
[19:23] <.Bynw> *Kanax* "A day's ride like all villages in Einar"
[19:23] <.Bynw> *the next village is reached in about 2 hours of riding however*
[19:24] <.Bynw> *Kanax shivers at the unnaturalness of such travelling is*
[19:24] <+Bredock> "Are we to just ride on?"
[19:24] <+James> "Kanax, you said the monestary was a week away yesterday morning?"
[19:25] <+James> "If so, I think we'll reach it by nightfall."
[19:25] <.Bynw> *Kanax* "Aye. Normally a week away. But we've travelled 4 days in the span of just over 1 so far and today has just begun"
[19:25] <+Bredock> "3 villages yesterday, and if we push it we can get 4 in today"
[19:26] <+_Nym_> "Do you think this monestary will have a portal? 
[19:26] <+James> "I don't know.  Would be nice."
[19:27] <+James> "I'd like to know if Camidus has any advice on the pool."
[19:27] <+_Nym_> "If it does we might be able to use it to jump even closer to our destination>" 
[19:28] <+_Nym_> ::Nods:: "Good idea James, but how do you plan to contact him?" 
[19:28] <+Bredock> "Do we know of where the river flows?"
[19:29] <+James> "If I can use a portal to get close, I can fly the rest of the way."
[19:30] <.Bynw> *Kanax* "It follows this road for now Bredock"
[19:31] <+Bredock> "Where does this road lead to?"
[19:31] <+T_Shaw> "Kanax makes a good point. The minute the river flows against us, we'll be slowing down and may not be able to get to a village if we don't plan ahead."
[19:32] <.Bynw> *Kanax* "The monastery that was a days ride from where we ran into the Uthani priests the last time.  And then it turns west into Halifax"
[19:32] <+_Nym_> "We can always camp in the open if needed." 
[19:32] <+James> "We can still ward, can't we?"
[19:32] <+Bredock> ?? Are we still riding ??
[19:33] <.Bynw> ! noone has said they stopped so yes !
[19:33] <+James> "Or might the river interfere with warding?"
[19:33] <+T_Shaw> "Yes we can, James. It would be best to use that as a last resort, however."
[19:33] * +James nods.
[19:34] <+_Nym_> "We should be okay, but who knows what the night's in Einar will bring." 
[19:35] <+T_Shaw> "Aye, Master Nym. Especially considering we're marked men."
[19:35] <.Bynw> *as the party rides onward and the morning becomes midday another village is passed and the elevation of the road works its way up into the mountains as does the "river" that is carrying them*
[19:39] <+James> "Well, when we reach the next village, we can decide whether or not to press on."
[19:39] <+Bredock> "Could the river lead to the pool?"
[19:40] <.Bynw> *Kanax* "It could indeed"
[19:41] <+_Nym_> "Thanks partially to Lady Atrina, I know the exact location now of the Temple we are searching for." 
[19:41] <+T_Shaw> "That is good news, Master Nym."
[19:41] <+Bredock> "Wonderful news."
[19:42] <+T_Shaw> "How far away is it?"
[19:42] <+James> "Yes, it is."
[19:43] <+_Nym_> "I'm not sure at this pace Master Shaw. Who knows how long this will last." 
[19:44] <+T_Shaw> "Then perhaps we should devise a gameplan while we ride to give us as much of an advantage as we can."
[19:46] <.Bynw> *by mid afternoon another village is reached ... with many more hours of daylight still to come*
[19:46] * Zombus has quit IRC (User has been mind-ripped)
[19:46] <+James> "Is there another village, or is the monestary next?"
[19:47] <.Bynw> *Kanax* "There is another village and then the next slop would be the monastery. In that direction" *he points*
[19:47] <.Bynw> !! spot check all
[19:47] <+James> @roll d20+6
[19:47] <@BoxCars> James: 1d20+6 = ( 2+6 ) = 8
[19:48] <+Bredock> @d20+9
[19:48] <+Bredock> @roll d20+9
[19:48] <@BoxCars> Bredock: 1d20+9 = ( 14+9 ) = 23
[19:48] <+T_Shaw> @roll 1d20+2
[19:48] <@BoxCars> T_Shaw: 1d20+2 = ( 20+2 ) = 22
[19:49] <+Bredock> (( nice roll T_Shaw ))
[19:49] <+_Nym_> "After the monestary we will have to turn off this road and make our way through the woods to the Temple." 
[19:50] <.Bynw> (( Nym you need to roll too ))
[19:51] <+_Nym_> @roll d20+9 
[19:51] <@BoxCars> _Nym_: 1d20+9 = ( 7+9 ) = 16
[19:53] <+Bredock> "Anyone else see that?" :: points towards the area Knax said the monastary would be located ::
[19:53] <.Bynw> @roll d20+5
[19:53] <@BoxCars> Bynw: 1d20+5 = ( 19+5 ) = 24
[19:53] <+James> "No, what did you see?"
[19:53] <.Bynw> *Kanax* "Aye .. smoke..."
[19:53] <+Bredock> "Some smoke rising. Not a lot, but it is there"
[19:53] <+_Nym_> ::Raises an eyebrow:: 
[19:53] <+T_Shaw> "That can suggest one of two things. Either the monestary is inhabited, or it's been or being destroyed."
[19:54] <.Bynw> *Kanax* "Its color is not right for a hearth or campsite"
[19:54] <+_Nym_> "I believe we can turn from the road now and still make our way to the Temple. That maybe the Priests though I doubt they would be so obvious." 
[19:55] <+James> "Do we want to stay in this village for the night, or turn off now and camp outdoors?"
[19:55] <+Bredock> "Well won't we lose our speed if we get off the road?"
[19:55] <+_Nym_> ::To Kanax:: "Think we can make the monestary by night fall?" 
[19:55] <+T_Shaw> "The smoke concerns me. We should investigate it."
[19:56] <.Bynw> *Kanax* "If this pace keeps up we might"
[19:58] <+T_Shaw> "And if it doesn't?"
[19:59] <.Bynw> *Kanax* "Then we cross that bridge when we come to it" *he sets his spurs to his horse*
[19:59] <+James> "Let's investigate the smoke and then return to this village off the road and spend the night here."
[19:59] <+_Nym_> "No choice Master Shaw, let's pick up the pace." ::Follows Kanax's example:: 
[19:59] * +T_Shaw spurs his horse to quicken.
[19:59] * +James shrugs and picks up the pace.
[20:00] * +Bredock catches up
[20:06] <+_Nym_> ::Keeping his pace as fast as possible:: "Can anyone see great distances?" 
[20:07] <.Bynw> *by late afternoon the adventures gallop past the last village that Kanax stated would be located before the monestary on the next rise.
[20:08] <+Bredock> "Not I."
[20:08] <+James> "Sometimes mentally, but not with the eyes, no."
[20:10] <+T_Shaw> "Master Nym, I do not, but I might have something that will help once we get closer."
[20:10] <+_Nym_> ::To James, passing the village without slowing:: "Can you see to the Monestary James?" 
[20:11] <+_Nym_> "I'd like to know what awaiits us." 
[20:12] <.Bynw> *the smoke rising from the area ahead can now be seen by all - a think black smoke ...
[20:12] <+James> "It's hard to do while riding fast, but I will try."
[20:17] <+James> @roll d20+8
[20:17] <@BoxCars> James: 1d20+8 = ( 7+8 ) = 15
[20:18] * +James attempts to concentrate while riding.
[20:20] <+James> @roll d20+5
[20:20] <@BoxCars> James: 1d20+5 = ( 8+5 ) = 13
[20:22] <+James> "There's smoke at the monestary . . . and Uthani!"
[20:22] * +T_Shaw tenses at the news
[20:23] <+Bredock> "Do you have any notion of why they are there?"
[20:24] <+James> "No, I could only See for a few seconds."
[20:24] <+_Nym_> ::Spurs his horse to top speed possible to close the distance:: "Look for the High Priest Take him first." 
[20:24] <+James> "But there are some Red Robes and some uniformed Uthani."
[20:24] * +Bredock catches up with Nym "What does he look like?" he then yells
[20:25] <+T_Shaw> "Kanax, what color robes would the Cultists be wearing?"
[20:25] <.Bynw> *Kanax* "Red the last time we saw them"
[20:25] <+T_Shaw> "Then we could be riding into trouble."
[20:26] <+T_Shaw> "But, once more into the breach." 
[20:26] * +T_Shaw spurring horse to go faster
[20:28] <.Bynw> *the sky turns dark as the night falls but the movement of the road seems still faster than it was just hours before as the party sweeps in through the gates of the monastery*
[20:33] * +Bredock slows down his horse
[20:34] <+Bredock> "Are we to go and take out these priests?"
[20:35] <.Bynw> *within the monastery walls, there is death all around - human and dwarf lie dead. the buildings are all burning, the thatch roofs producing a black think choking smoke
[20:36] <+_Nym_> ::Stops his horse an dismounts:: 
[20:36] <+James> ::stops behind Nym::
[20:37] * +T_Shaw stops horse when near the others and dismounts
[20:37] <.Bynw> *among the dead are Uthani warriors as well as monks, and non monks
[20:37] * +Bredock dismounts
[20:37] <.Bynw> *and in the middle of the courtyard where the party has come to a stop are 6 men crucified upside down with their throats slit open
[20:38] <+_Nym_> ::Bends over one of the Corpses of the priests and places his hands on it:: 
[20:38] <+_Nym_> ((object read)) 
[20:38] <.Bynw> ? which priest ?
[20:38] <+_Nym_> ((doesn't matter, an important looking one)) 
[20:39] <.Bynw> ?? a god fearing priest or a uthani priest ... both bodies can be found 
[20:40] * +T_Shaw turns to James. "Can you see any survivors?"
[20:40] <+_Nym_> ((uthani)) 
[20:40] <.Bynw> !! k
[20:40] * +James dismounts and begins checking the bodies for life.
[20:43] <.Bynw> *every body that james checks is dead
[20:44] <+James> "Not out here.  Maybe hiding indoors."
[20:45] <+Maverick_Darklighter> You hear the clinking of bootspurs before you see him; Maverick Darklighter, a gunslinger. The twin pistols holstered securely at his sides tells the tail. The paired revolvers whisper "death" into your eyes with ebony handles and cold silver chasing. The man himself is much more imposing: Gunmetal eyes stare out from a shadow created by a wide-brimmed flat-top hat. A mithril chain-shirt vestiture holds the upper half of the man as he exposes his chest from th
[20:45] <+_Nym_> @roll d20 +13 
[20:45] <@BoxCars> _Nym_: 1d20+13 = ( 10+13 ) = 23
[20:46] <+Maverick_Darklighter> "Greetings, strangers.. its a pity you we'rnt here a few hours ago."
[20:47] <+Maverick_Darklighter> A mithril chain-shirt vestiture holds the upper half of the man as he exposes his chest from the folds of his faded dark grey poncho and black heavy duster over-coat. Maverick's six-foot tall frame is supported by legs covered by black leather breeches; his feet shod in high black military boots, and there are those glistening spurs that you heard but a moment ago...
[20:47] <+Bredock> "Greetings stranger"
[20:47] * +Bredock bows
[20:47] <+T_Shaw> "Greetings, stranger." 
[20:48] * +T_Shaw watching the new one closely
[20:48] * +James stands.
[20:48] <+Maverick_Darklighter> "If you want to catch them, they are headed east.. into Einar." :: Mav says without emotion. ::
[20:49] <+James> "Not much chance of that with nightfall."
[20:49] * +Maverick_Darklighter looks around.
[20:50] <+T_Shaw> "Thank you, good sir. To whom do we have the pleasure of thanking for this information?"
[20:50] <+Maverick_Darklighter> "Your right on that count."
[20:50] * Zombus has joined #Teara-Adan
[20:50] <+Maverick_Darklighter> "You can call me Maverick."
[20:50] <+T_Shaw> "Greetings, Maverick. I am Master Theodore Shaw."
[20:51] * +Maverick_Darklighter nods to Shaw. "Well met, sir."
[20:51] <+Bredock> "Nice to meet you Maverick. You can call me Bredock"
[20:51] <+Maverick_Darklighter> "Aye, Breddock."
[20:51] <+James> "I am James of the Paradise Druids."
[20:52] <+Maverick_Darklighter> "What brought you here, James, of the Paradise Druids?"
[20:52] <+James> "I travel with these others."
[20:52] <.Bynw> *Kanax is inspecting some of the dwarven bodies* "This man was a Bloodguard" *he says holding up the red sash now dark with the man's own blood
[20:53] <+Maverick_Darklighter> "I take it your after the Uthani killers that made this massacre of the ihabitants of the monestary."
[20:53] <+James> "We saw the smoke, and hurried here to try to help."
[20:53] <+T_Shaw> "Alas, we were too late."
[20:54] <+Maverick_Darklighter> "I dont think you could have helped.. if so, it would have been a hell of a fight. They were Deryni, and riflemen along with swordsmen as well. More than I could count."
[20:54] <.Bynw> *Kanax also picks up some shiny pieces of metal* "They had guns too ... expensive ones at that."
[20:54] <+James> "What would a Bloodguard be doing here?"
[20:54] * +Maverick_Darklighter nods at Kanax. "Aye, brass casings, sir."
[20:56] <.Bynw> *Kanax* "These were my brother's men"
[20:56] <.Bynw> *he drops the casing to the ground*
[20:56] * +James bows head "I'm sorry, Kanax."
[20:56] <+Maverick_Darklighter> "Listen, many of the people from the Free City of Dawson were killed here, in an attempt to stop the Uthani. I should get back to town and inform the authorities of what has happened. There is something that troubles me about this."
[20:57] <+James> "You and any other sane person."
[20:57] <+T_Shaw> "Aye, Maverick."
[20:57] <+_Nym_> ::Raises from the dead Uthani Priest:: 
[20:58] <+_Nym_> ::Eyes Mavrick from head to toe:: 
[20:58] <+Maverick_Darklighter> "They didnt take anything.. they just came and killed them all.. it makes no sense."
[20:58] <+_Nym_> "It is just as it appears, a slaughter." 
[20:58] * +Maverick_Darklighter looks at Nym evenly.
[20:59] <+Maverick_Darklighter> "I had thought they were after something.."
[20:59] <+James> "No tactical reason?"
[21:00] <+Maverick_Darklighter> "This is a simple monestary. It holds nothing of importance, that I know of.. only the lives of the people killed here."
[21:00] <+_Nym_> "They are headed straight for IT. They know the location and are  ahead of us." 
[21:00] <+Maverick_Darklighter> "What sir, is IT?"
[21:01] <+Bredock> "Do you know how many?"
[21:01] <+_Nym_> "A large force." 
[21:01] <+_Nym_> "Over fifteen I'd guess." 
[21:02] <+Bredock> "Very strong?"
[21:03] <+Maverick_Darklighter> "They were a large force, with wagons.. yes, very strong.. I'd say at least 50 or more men."
[21:03] <+James> "Wagons will slow them dow.  That could be our advantage."
[21:03] <+Bredock> "How far ahead of us are they?"
[21:04] <+_Nym_> "Not far, less then a day." 
[21:04] <+Maverick_Darklighter> "About half an hour ahead, Bredock"
[21:04] <+_Nym_> "Mr. Mavrick, can you use those guns or are they just for show?" 
[21:05] <+Maverick_Darklighter> "They departed down the eastern slope"
[21:05] * +Maverick_Darklighter grins at Nym.
[21:05] <+Bredock> "Nym, do you think we could sneak up on them and take them out in the middle of the night?"
[21:05] <+Maverick_Darklighter> "They are not just for show, sir."
[21:06] <+James> "I was thinking of passing them and getting to IT first."
[21:06] <+Maverick_Darklighter> "Some of their wagons may hold ammunition.. which would make a nice explosion.. but thats a long shot."
[21:06] <+_Nym_> "Folds out a piece of paper declaring all in the party lordship:: "By order of Einar you are conscripted. Think you can handle a fight aginst superiour odds Marvrick?" 
[21:07] <+Bredock> "We still don't know how to destroy IT, right?"
[21:07] <+Maverick_Darklighter> "Its better that I take justice to the priest than go back to town now. If it pleases you all, I will go with you to stop these murderers."
[21:07] <+James> "That's a point, Bredock."
[21:08] <+Maverick_Darklighter> "Whats this 'IT' you all keep speaking of? Do you know why the Utha attacked here?"
[21:08] <+Bredock> "If we get them out of the way, we will have gained more time."
[21:08] <+Bredock> "And time is ever valuable."
[21:09] * +James nods "Okay, we can do it that way."
[21:09] <+Bredock> "Master Nym, Master Shaw, Kanax you agree?"
[21:10] <.Bynw> *Kanax* "Aye.
[21:10] * +Maverick_Darklighter notes Bredock giving the names of the persons he hasnt met yet.
[21:10] <+T_Shaw> "Aye"
[21:10] <+James> "I'm going to try and scout them out from the air, then."
[21:11] <+_Nym_> "No, fifty men are too many to take in the open and Uthani Companies always have deryni officers" 
[21:11] <+_Nym_> "Maany times they are Anadari as well." 
[21:12] <+Maverick_Darklighter> "They are Deryni, for certain."
[21:12] <+_Nym_> "And they have the priests to add to the mix. We willl be slaughtered in the open even with surprise." 
[21:12] <+T_Shaw> "Master Nym, could we raise a force of equal or surpassing power or number?"
[21:12] <+James> "How do you know that, Maverick?"
[21:12] <+Maverick_Darklighter> "I watched them kill these people, James. I saw how they did it."
[21:13] * +Maverick_Darklighter adorns his head with blue handfire.. it sparkles around my head like a halo.
[21:13] <+James> "Ahhhh . . . I see."
[21:13] <+_Nym_> "Not fast enough Master Shaw, we have no time to wait. From here we will be traveling in wild country. No more villages and no more roads." 
[21:14] * +Maverick_Darklighter lets the handfire dissipate, and gives a wink to James.
[21:15] <+_Nym_> "the question is, how do we get ahead of them and to the Temple first." 
[21:15] <.Bynw> (( that will have to be a question for another time ... as i've got things to do before its too late tonight .. end of session ))