Once more into the breach...

[AthasianLaborer]

Without leaving the protective wards, 'Muiko will keep an eye in the direction we're expecting company from while ensuring that there are multiple pieces of cover and concealment between himself and whatever is coming.

[Elven: "If he is to be speaking for us, give the youth some direction and encouragement.  Otherwise, I'm of a mind to pick a voice before combat is a certainty"]

[Attilius]

"OI! Someone watch our rear. I learned dis trick da 'ard way in one ov the Criterion's maze games. We 'eard a noiz from da left but we got attacked from da right! Junior, git outta da way, just in case..."
He says as he uses his massive tower shield like a snow plow to slowly push the teen towards the center of the group.

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

(Later post due holiday, to be placed timewise a bit back when talk about pulses was ongoing)

Quila handles Snarf, the Fang of Knowing again and this time contacts the entity within and purringly croons "Strange places huh? How's time working here, can you help me out Snarf?"

(OOC: Rolled 10 on 20 for Time Sense and 6 on 14 for Power Manipulation. Gives me eight hours of active time sensing.)

[DM Bob]

"Hmm-meow."

It thinks for a bit.

"If the time works similar to our world with work and rest, each pulse is probably around 8 hours long. But it could be as short as five or even as long as ten hours between each. Or they could vary, especially if time isn't as important here, at least to the majority of the locals."

"There is also a presence of Sun here. Which I wasn't mew-specting. If the time passing here is different than ours? It hurts my head to think on it. I say rest when you're tired."

The figures to the left do not engage, seemingly content to play voyeur and watch your equally strange party explore their backyard.

Your guide does not want to join your circle, one being the protections of evil you levied, the other being too cold for him to feel safe.

[Attilius]

Aug 10, 2024 14:16:56 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

The figures to the left do not engage, seemingly content to play voyeur and watch your equally strange party explore their backyard.

if Attilius makes eye contact with any of voyeurs, he'll salute them (as a sign of respect) as they press on.

[DM Bob]

No attempts at communication are made by the flame beings... but they keep their watch on you and keep pace.

After 80 minutes, you are aware that your guide does not have much longer. There has not been another pulse yet and Hryn seems exhausted.

The ground beneath you dips a bit, like you're walking down hill. The color flame changes to a light blue ahead of you. Much like a river or stream. The width of the colour change is probably about ten feet across and stretches to either side as far as you can see (which isn't that far, since everything looks like fire anyways.)

[AthasianLaborer]

After 15-20 minutes of being followed, 'Muiko says "So, should we hail them and parlay or just let them follow us until their numbers grow insurmountable?"

[Attilius]

Aug 12, 2024 7:31:36 GMT -12 AthasianLaborer said:

After 15-20 minutes of being followed, 'Muiko says "So, should we hail them and parlay or just let them follow us until their numbers grow insurmountable?"

"Move on. I want to get as much distance from the portal circle as possible and get dis mask destruction job done!" The gladiator grumbles

[AthasianLaborer]

"Okay" 'Muiko says with the unspoken 'This is a genius decision' conveyed by tone alone.

'Muiko casts Nondetection on himself while continuing to remain invisible and behind the cover created by the group.

[Attilius]

"Hyrn, dis blue river dangerous? We gotta jump over it or what?" the giant asks of their teen guide

[DM Bob]

He looks exhausted but replies.

"Do you not have this where you come from? Tread with your arms and body," (you hope this equates since he's half snake) "and aim for the other end. Here. Like this."

He slithers like a sea serpent in fire, "swimming" to the opposite side in a jiffy. It appears to be buoyant, like when a carru falls into a deep oasis.

"See?"

[Attilius]

"No..." the giant deadpans as storied memories of the great silt sea taking an innumerable amount of Balican sailors rush his mind.

He quickly secures his shield and any loose straps hanging from his person so his hands are free. He leans down and deftly grabs the halfling and earthy rodent under each muscled arm like a toddler and run/jumps over the 10' blue fire stream.

Once safely across, he sets them down and re-straps his tower shield on looking to the others to follow suit.
"You guys need help?" he asks as he surveys this side of the river bank for trouble.

[Niachi]

Niachi shrugs after his questions go unanswered. As his control of the youth starts to slowly diminish, he resigns to the fact that there will be no diplomacy or commerce with these Salamanders. Maybe with these others trailing them, after this task. His mind is attuned only to these last bits of time with the youngster.

Seeing Atillius hop over the blue flameriver and out of the amulet's extra layer of protection, he glances to Quila and Coden then across the shore.

"How shall we cross?"

Shouting to Hryn across the shore:

"Our time together is extinguished soon! What final words would you have with us?"

[AthasianLaborer]

'Muiko waits until Niachi is next to the blue flame before saying [Elven: "Shall we?"] followed by the sound of Yvera's voice making the noise that the party would recognize by now as that used by an elven kankherd to goad their herd along and a tiny slap of paw on flesh.

[Elven: "Oh Fuck you too"] 'Muiko says mid transit

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- "Hryn, do the Ruler of the City like dance like the sinuous movement of the flames themselves?" - bringing some potential idea to mind

[OOC: Locate Object spell (6hrs), Protection vs Fire.

AC 3, ; SPELLS 1stLvl(4/5), 2ndLvl(5/5), 3rdLvl(2/4), 4thLvl(3/3)]