Believing to be heading in the correct direction...

[Attilius]

Attilius unhappy with his strength debacle, sulks over to where his 2 broken leather bandoleers. "Can anyone fix one or both ov these with magiks?" He asks.

May 30, 2024 7:18:43 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

You feel shaking above, as if the earth is moving.

The giant puts his ear to the ceiling or wall (whichever is easiest) and listens...

[DM Bob]

It feels and sounds like a minor earthquake.

[Umbris (AC 2 | HP 37/37)]

Umbris, trapped in a small, dark room with it shaking, goes and hides in a corner as he tries to calm himself before he starts hyperventilating, his eyes wide. In halfling, he mutters and growls to himself, snarling and gnashing his teeth like a trapped animal at anyone that comes close.

[Attilius]

"Don't worry short stack, we got an Earth cleric AND my maul. We either turn the door into mud or I's sledge us outta 'ere..."

[DM Bob]

But for now? Quila looks slightly constipated and in deep thought.

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

May 30, 2024 7:18:43 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

Hmm. There are scorpion carvings about the face, as well as depictions of the Nine Tongued Worm. Missing are the two runes that Umbris triggered. The room smells heavily of carbon and the murals on the wall are now ruined due to the lightning blasts a few minutes ago. You feel shaking above, as if the earth is moving.

This is when Quila gets a mental nudge from Akos of Kurn.

Do you accept the inquiry?

While walking around the tomb and noting the signs, Quila muses aloud to whomever may hear: "Scorpion carvings around the face of the sarcophagus, and symbols for the nine tongue. And what is that smell? Anyone else pick up the carbon. Is that from the lightn------" Quila never finishes that sentence, entranced deeply by the mindlink from Akos the second she recognizes the distinct signature of the stern and wise Kurnan brown elf.

[DM Bob]

<"Um. I don't know how to say this, but... they took your friend, Hurk.">

Pause. But before you can answer, even mentally, he continues.

<"The flying envoy came before a man came to visit Oronis. He carried two staves and may have been the most beautiful person I've ever laid eyes upon. He spent hours with our Master and then? Your goliath friend was escorted out of his meditation, nods were made and the strangers left as soon as they had arrived. Oronis only said to us on the Tribunal that it spared us even greater sacrifices... whatever that means. Are you and your comrades well? There is concern about the ruins you're exploring, coming down from Oronis himself.">

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

"Envoys? Flying men with staves? Who cares how they look if they take people. What useless information is this, especially given our current stressful predicament. One more worry for me, one more I can do nothing about. Damn. And Hurk went willingly? He must have been charmed or geased into submission by that that that fetapah ... where did they come from again? And what was their reason to visit?"

Quila, for anyone taking a look at her, is no longer looking merely miffed at her singed clothing. Her brows are arched, a flush has come upon her cheeks, and she is grimacing.

"Good that Oronis is worried. We have the tower sized worm avatar of some ancient 14,000 year old Nine Tongued Worm cult loose here. It's a mess. We are trying to find the interred corpse of Myron, former Champion of Rajaat and later crusader for all troll-kin. He supposedly has a mask we need, together with that stupid evil book, that we need to take to the Eternal Hearth for them to burn. But we are finding the catacombs under the ancient temple here quite infested with undead and snake creatures."

[AthasianLaborer]

"She's mind talking to someone I can tell" 'Muiko says as Yvera leaps back onto his shoulder.  "I think we might be here for a minute, anyone desire extra Strength?"

[Attilius]

May 30, 2024 12:39:15 GMT -12 AthasianLaborer said:

..."I think we might be here for a minute, anyone desire extra Strength?"

"Centurion, he's talking to YOU!"
the giant looks to Coden to speak up

[Coden Rokos (Jesse H.)]

"They told HurK something that made him decide to go willingly. Otherwise they would've had to mind-crush him and carry him out," surmises Coden.

"Power me up. We're on a clock, other people are now moving in response to us."

[AthasianLaborer]

'Muiko casts Strength on Coden for 5 additional points of Strength to a max of 18(00).

I imagine that the 10 minute casting time is largely spent massaging muscle groups like biceps, calves, lats, pecs and quads.  

Maybe erector spinae too.

[DM Bob]

<"Envoys? Flying men with staves? Who cares how they look if they take people. What useless information is this, especially given our current stressful predicament. One more worry for me, one more I can do nothing about. Damn. And Hurk went willingly? He must have been charmed or geased into submission by that that that fetapah ... where did they come from again? And what was their reason to visit?"> Quila states telepathically.

Akos mentally snaps a response.

<"We have had these visitors before, right after Kalak perished and before his grave return, of course. Oronis seemed familiar with them and said they came from a place far to the east named Ebe. The man with the two staves? He was honored as if another Sorcerer Monarch were visiting. This was no normal raider or known threat - at least to me. After Kalak had passed, it was a similar envoy, sans the double staved man. The Ebeons ride giant rocs and wear strange lacquered armor and masks. *This* is the group that took your friend, and if it weren't for him leaving a message to contact you and Coden, I'd be busy trying to put together out forces to meet with you at the ruins.

But until earlier today? I haven't had a minute where we weren't on high alert. I might be able to muster the Black Lances once we've been given the all clear by Oronis or the other Tribunal members. Your friend Hurk left stressed, and said something about hoping that this wasn't some ruse by Nibenay, the Shadow King himself.

This being said, I want you to know why you have been put on the slow fire. You deserve an explanation, correct? So please do not get short with me. Oronis will know of this threat you have stumbled upon... assuming he doesn't already know.">

[Niachi]

Niachi tries to inspire calm to Umbris as things tremor.

"Eyes on me and ride it out. Your knees are strong for this. Some ride crodlu. We are Stoneriders!"

Eyes everywhere for structural damage and falling debris. He picks up and packs his sword (not one drop of blood on it) and keeps his magiked +1 club ready. A metallic haze of Divinations and other magic fills the chamber.

Raises his eyebrow at Quila and Coden in expectation.

Dex 22  AC -2   HP: 28/40
Cat's Grace 7+ hours
Detect Invisible: 15-+ rounds
Detect Magic: 10-12 rounds
Enchant Weapon: 22-25 rounds

available: L1: 1  L2: 0 L3: 2  L4: 0

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

May 31, 2024 10:53:32 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

Akos mentally snaps a response.

<"We have had these visitors before, right after Kalak perished and before his grave return, of course. Oronis seemed familiar with them and said they came from a place far to the east named Ebe. The man with the two staves? He was honored as if another Sorcerer Monarch were visiting. This was no normal raider or known threat - at least to me. After Kalak had passed, it was a similar envoy, sans the double staved man. The Ebeons ride giant rocs and wear strange lacquered armor and masks. *This* is the group that took your friend, and if it weren't for him leaving a message to contact you and Coden, I'd be busy trying to put together out forces to meet with you at the ruins.

But until earlier today? I haven't had a minute where we weren't on high alert. I might be able to muster the Black Lances once we've been given the all clear by Oronis or the other Tribunal members. Your friend Hurk left stressed, and said something about hoping that this wasn't some ruse by Nibenay, the Shadow King himself.

This being said, I want you to know why you have been put on the slow fire. You deserve an explanation, correct? So please do not get short with me. Oronis will know of this threat you have stumbled upon... assuming he doesn't already know.">

<"I remember you mentioning them the other day we were in touch. The only thing I can think of that would be as portentous as Kalak's demise for them to pay a visit would have to do with either the Messenger, the alien fungal bloom, or that dragon from the south we ran into. Or maybe the presence of the worm avatar. Then again, why would they fly back east instead of get here and help out?">

Quila pauses, then resumes

<"If Oronis does know about the threat, if things are going the way they are, he must have enough faith in our capabilities to handle it. But any help would be appreciated. Aside from giving this explanation as to why we did not see any lancers turn up, was there anything else you needed to tell or ask Akos?">