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AGELESS Campaign Episode 2 - Temple of the Cat-Goddess
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<blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 6240164" data-attributes="member: 8530"><p><strong>Chapter 71 "Trouble on the Water” (Episode Two, Chapter Thirty-one) - Saturday, September 10, 1882, 3:30 P.M.</strong></p><p></p><p>Everyone is loaded onto the ferry barge and set off from the shore. The boat continues it's trek across the river. The oarsmen/polemen are situated at the bow, stern, and the other two along the port (left) side of the boat, helping to steer it through the murky water. Abby notices something highly unusual, namely water coming up over the starboard boat rail near the bow and not in it's natural liquid state. The water itself appears to be contained within a quartet of opaque cylindrical shapes, each a foot in diameter spaced a half-foot apart from each other. These four cylinders are all rounded on the bottom and flow down from the rail towards the interior floor of the boat, not unlike the way that a snake would slither down a tree.</p><p></p><p>Abby was the first to spot these strange watery containers, which now reach nearly to the deck of the boat. Cetan unpacks the other Frenchman holding him by the feet and prepares to swing him like a sack of potatoes at one of the cylinders. As he prepares to swing he also notices another quartet of the same watery shapes coming over the starboard aft side of the boat. He notices for the first time that towards the bottom front of each cylinder is an opaque shield approximately nine-inches in diameter. He then suddenly realizes what he is looking at....each quartet are the fingers on a pair of giant hands made of water.</p><p></p><p>Cetan says," Rene, dispelling this thing would be a good gesture showing us we can trust you." "Alas, I am not sufficient in level to possess that spell," the man Rene rather sincerely replies. “I will do what I can." He throws a Magic Missile spell, which strikes one of the fingers and causes the translucent skin to break, the water pouring all over the deck of the ship. However, the other seven fingers all remain firmly intact.</p><p></p><p>Cetan asks Abby, " Do you know how to swim?” One of the shepherds calls out "I cannot swim!" "Nor can I," his companion exclaims. Cetan tells them to look for something that floats, they might just need it. He then drops the sack of potatoes and pulls out his rifle, waiting for a good target so he won't put holes in the boat if it is just an illusion of some sort. </p><p></p><p>Cetan fires into the knuckles of the hand, now visible above the top railing. The non-magical bullets do penetrate the skin but simply pass harmlessly through the water and exit on the other side. The magical skin then seals back over it, having lost a mere pittance of water with each shot. Hoping for better splashy damage, Cetan grabs an oar and whacks the massive watery hand with it. The skin parts to allow the non-magical oar to pass through it, sealing up afterwards. </p><p></p><p>"I used up about everything I have magically back at the ambush," Abby said, deceptively calm. She then cast a cantrip, freezing ray, at the watery limbs. "Little tricks will have to do." While a small segment of the finger turns icy, the overall effect is negligible. The boat starts to shake a little as those inside feel the watery thumbs and palms of the hand beneath the boat. Abby followed the spell by trying to shatter the now icy part with a blow from her sword.</p><p></p><p>The spell does cause a rupture and the water flows out but it is too little too late as the boat begins to rise up from this side. Not sure how to fight the watery hand, Abby looks around for whoever could be casting the spell causing it, tossing up a detect magic cantrip as she does so. Before she can see anybody or anything the side of the boat rises up and totally flips the craft over. The shepherds scream and the half-dozen sheep let out a loud "Baaah"</p><p></p><p>Cetan helps the shepherds get to and puts the Frenchman up on the capsized boat. He looks to see how far it is to shore, whether the water thing inflicts any more damage, if anyone is in trouble, which way are the sheep are swimming, whether the water is moving or still water, and if there are any crocs to worry about. </p><p></p><p>The Frenchman who had been tied up has somehow managed to get free of all of his restraints and chooses to swim to the furthest shore despite it being a good 400 to 500 feet away, the other shore being around a third that distance, approximately 150 feet away. Meran's companion appears to have been injured by the boat flip and she is holding him up against the capsized craft. One of the other shepherds has also managed to grab the boat, but his companion is flailing away in the water ten feet off and screaming "Can't Swim" whenever his head surfaces. Three of the sheep are attempting to swim, the current washing then downriver by the current and closer to shore. Two of the others appear to have already drown and the sixth is nowhere to be seen. This part of the river is heavily traveled, so there should be little to no threat of crocodiles.</p><p></p><p>Cetan attempts to save the struggling shepherd. The centaur swims rapidly across the water and is able to reach the drowning shepherd, which grabs onto his back. Rene surfaces near Meren and works to help her lift her unconscious companion onto the upturned bottom of the capsized barge-style boat. The other Frenchman continues to swim towards the opposite shore, now being at the mid-point of the river. The passenger ferry had also been crossing the river and is around 100 feet away from him, turning towards him now.</p><p></p><p>Confident in her ability to swim, Abby got herself righted, noted their fleeing prisoner, and looked again for whoever might have cast the spell. The only place that appears to have been in range is the passenger ferry, although it could have been cast by any one of the seventy-five or so people on board. After a good look she then swims after the whiny artist. She notes that for a man whose "life was destroyed" by a minor injury, he appears to have no trouble now in using it to swim. Cetan also swims after the artist.</p><p></p><p>Abby saw Cetan swimming behind her and swore. Last she looked he'd been helping Meren. She thanked whatever god, goddess or demon that had kept her from wearing anything like a skirt the last few days. "Someone has to stay with Meren!" she shouted. Glancing back, Rene and Meren's companion appear to have successfully gotten the other two shepherds on the upturned bottom of the boat. Meren apparently also thinks that things have stabilized, as she has stripped down to just her undergarments and is diving in to go after the trio of sheep paddling in a panic over 100 feet away from her and letting out "Baah" sounds when they can.</p><p></p><p>She cast a simple daze spell toward the artist hoping to slow him down, then turned to go back and help the Egyptian druid. "Catch him!" The spell works, as he ceases his forward momentum. The passenger boat has closed to around fifty feet from the man and is continuing in that direction. A white man on the passenger boat lowers his hands towards the water (and out of sight of the Egyptian passengers). He then casts a spell, with six magical missiles flying forth from his fingertips across the water. They split into two trios, with three striking Abby (for a combined 11 points of damage) and another three striking Cetan (for a combined 12 points of damage).</p><p></p><p>Another hit like that and Abby would be sucking in river water, and that was NOT what she wanted to be doing. Magically she was almost finished, but she would not let the "artiste" out of this if she could help it. Abby took a close look at the man who had cast the magic missile, trying to fix his face in her memory and note if he was one of the men who had ambushed them earlier. Then she used her last bit of magic to throw an Acid Splash toward the fleeing man.</p><p></p><p>The acid hits the man and he cries out. This however, has the effect of getting the Ferry Captain to increase the speed of his steam-powered craft and several of his crew to get ready to throw life preservers to the man who called out. The man who had cast the spell melds back into the crowd on deck. Neither Cetan or Abby are able to reach the boat before it pulls the Frenchman up onto the deck. But the boat then continues forwards to apparently rescue the two of them as well.</p><p></p><p>The low, frustrated growl that came out of her throat surprised even Abby. There was nothing more annoying to her than not knowing what to do, and this day had been too full of uncertain choices. She imagined letting the passenger ferry pick her up. It seemed sensible at first. They would have the French under their eyes. But they would be under the French's thumbs. Getting to the Palace late was better than being taken prisoner by those French. Probably under the guise of helping them, and Abby was unwilling to start a fight amongst so many innocents. Strange as it would look, Abby started swimming back toward Meren, unwilling to become the prisoner of the French on the passenger ferry.</p><p></p><p>Going with the current Abby soon reaches a point where she is equidistant (40 feet) to Meren and to the overturned boat. At the boat are Rene, the three shepherds and two of the four boat operators, all sitting atop it. The other two boatmen have swum to the nearest shore. Meren is swimming rather swiftly after the trio of sheep that are still 85 feet away from her. These sheep are nearly to shore, where a small group of Egyptian boys are wading out to catch the animals. Cetan waves the rescue boat / ferry boat on to the people in most need those on the capsized vessel, and swims full speed toward Meren and Abby. </p><p></p><p>Cetan swims swiftly and arrives at shore simultaneous to Abby and not long after Meren. The boys who had pulled the sheep to shore are nowhere to be seen, the animals being gone with them. However, there is a very wet trail indicating the direction they went off to, which leads to a cluster of poorly built houses and shacks. Abby says, "Meren, do you want to track down the sheep? We should be quick about it if you do. With those Frenchmen on the passenger ferry we should get to the Palace as soon as we can." She says, "We have to. Two, probably three, drown. We cannot arrive at the palace without live sheep for the King's ceremony. But neither can my imposter."</p><p></p><p>Cetan runs along the wet trail to recover some sheep, if one is left with the poor that's ok with him. If this is another attempt by the French, Cetan is going to start killing some Frenchmen. With at least one sheep he'll attempt to get the sheep, Meren, Abby, and himself to the palace as quickly as possible. As the Ferryboat rescues their comrades from the overturned boat, Meren, Abby and Cetan set off following the tracks left by the trio of sheep and their youthful captors. This leads them into the slums of this part of Egypt, where the tracks end at a busy street where a herd of goats was ushered by more recently than the travel of the sheep.</p><p></p><p>Cetan makes a couple of wide circles to try to pick up the tracks, hear a bleat, or spot a sheep. Meren says that, given the neighborhood, the sheep have probably already been butchered. She says most people in this part of town seldom if ever get to eat meat, and having three sheep fall into their midst was too much of a temptation. He suggests they go to the palace and explain what has happened to the sheep, and what we suspect the French are up to. Meren says that without the sheep the people at the palace will have nothing to do with her.</p><p></p><p>Abby looked at her, confusion plain on her face. "That makes no sense. They would just ignore you? It wouldn't occur to them that if you've arrived without the sheep that something went wrong that they may need to know about?" Meren replies, "We're shepherds, livestock herders, not the upper crust of society. When we go to the palace it is through the servant's entrance, and no further than the first wall. That is where the cooks take the sheep from. Without any animals why would they even let us in? I doubt they even know my name."</p><p></p><p>Cetan states, “We need to tell them why you have not arrived with the sheep, and trust the guards to do their job.” Returning to tributary, they arrive to find the still capsized boat tied up along the shore. They tell Meren that the passenger ferry deposited her four companions on the opposite shore. While they are talking Cetan hears a very faint "Baaa" sound emanating from beneath the capsized vessel. </p><p></p><p>The boat’s men have to gather up a dozen others to get enough strength to flip over the boat. Beneath it is one very soggy and totally exhausted sheep. Meren casts some spells onto the animal to revitalize it. They then have to locate another ferry to get the people and animal across the tributary, where the other three shepherds and Rene are waiting on the other side.</p><p></p><p>As the group heads toward the palace, Cetan asks Rene what he thinks the artist will do now? Rene replies, "I do not know. When we got onto the ferry boat he was already gone. Cetan also asks if Rene knows who would be powerful enough to create the water creature that attacked us?" He replies, "Egypt, and the whole Arabian lands for that matter, are filled with powerful wizards. It could have been any one of hundreds. Or it could have been somebody with a powerful magic item that controls water elementals." Abby says, "Or it's your group who attacked us earlier today, still trying to impersonate Meren and get into the Palace," Abby said, too frustrated to even pretend at diplomacy anymore. Rene says, "I wish that there was something more that I could do to earn your trust. I am only trying to help matters."</p><p></p><p>They soon reach the palace and head around to the rear servants entrance. The gate is shut and blocked by a quartet of armed Ogres wearing ornate tunics with leather skirts, similar to garb worn by the Romans. Their outfits include the traditional shields and swords normally associated with Roman centurions, but they also have pistols on their belts and modern rifles over their shoulders. Meren says, "Something is wrong, normally the elite guard are only stationed at the front doors." Abby replies, "Friends of ours were trying to get word to the King to warn him. Possibly they got through. Possibly it's something else. The only thing we can sure of is that the King is wary of something."</p><p></p><p>They approach. One of the Guards moves forwards and draws his sword. He rattles out a four-sentence long speech in a language that neither Abby or Cetan understand. Abby extended her arms in front of her very slowly, palms up. In Egyptian she said, "I'm sorry, I do not understand your language." A little louder she said, "Meren, can you translate?" She says, "No, I know some Ogrish languages, but the elite guard use a unique dialect." Rene says "I am somewhat familiar with it, I am a linguist by profession, and could I help?"</p><p></p><p>"You could try", Cetan says to Rene. Taking a defensive stance he points to the sheep and says to the guard in all the different languages he knows, "We brought the sheep". The Ogres clearly do not understand what Cetan is saying to them. Rene steps forward and states a sentence in their native tongue. The lead ogre responds with a single sentence reply. Rene paraphrases the translation to for the others saying "I told them we were here to deliver a sheep from the royal flock. He replied that they were not expecting us."</p><p></p><p>Cetan states, “Tell them we were ambushed and think there is a plot against the King. We would like to tell them everything we know so they can better protect the King.” Cetan whispers to Abby, "Now we will learn what side Rene is on." Rene rattles of several sentences and has a short exchange with the lead ogre. The ogre then turns and sends one of his men into the palace. Rene replies, "He says this is above his station, that he needs to get a supervisor." Cetan says, "Good work Rene", not sure what level of trust the French two leg deserves.</p><p></p><p>The ogre soon returns, accompanied by eight other uniformed ogres including one wearing several medals and officer insignia. The one with the medals also speaks in the foreign tongue and the other eleven ogres all raise the their rifles at the party. A rifle apiece is focused upon Abby, Meren and the other three shepherds while six rifles are pointed towards Cetan. None are pointed towards Rene, who steps forward to stand beside the ogre officer with a smirk on his face.</p><p></p><p>"You son of a bitch," Abby said though gritted teeth. "At least I know I can still tell a murderer when I see one." Belloq smiles and says, "Yes, too bad. You could warn them Miss Marsters, if only you spoke Nubian."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Silver Moon, post: 6240164, member: 8530"] [B]Chapter 71 "Trouble on the Water” (Episode Two, Chapter Thirty-one) - Saturday, September 10, 1882, 3:30 P.M.[/B] Everyone is loaded onto the ferry barge and set off from the shore. The boat continues it's trek across the river. The oarsmen/polemen are situated at the bow, stern, and the other two along the port (left) side of the boat, helping to steer it through the murky water. Abby notices something highly unusual, namely water coming up over the starboard boat rail near the bow and not in it's natural liquid state. The water itself appears to be contained within a quartet of opaque cylindrical shapes, each a foot in diameter spaced a half-foot apart from each other. These four cylinders are all rounded on the bottom and flow down from the rail towards the interior floor of the boat, not unlike the way that a snake would slither down a tree. Abby was the first to spot these strange watery containers, which now reach nearly to the deck of the boat. Cetan unpacks the other Frenchman holding him by the feet and prepares to swing him like a sack of potatoes at one of the cylinders. As he prepares to swing he also notices another quartet of the same watery shapes coming over the starboard aft side of the boat. He notices for the first time that towards the bottom front of each cylinder is an opaque shield approximately nine-inches in diameter. He then suddenly realizes what he is looking at....each quartet are the fingers on a pair of giant hands made of water. Cetan says," Rene, dispelling this thing would be a good gesture showing us we can trust you." "Alas, I am not sufficient in level to possess that spell," the man Rene rather sincerely replies. “I will do what I can." He throws a Magic Missile spell, which strikes one of the fingers and causes the translucent skin to break, the water pouring all over the deck of the ship. However, the other seven fingers all remain firmly intact. Cetan asks Abby, " Do you know how to swim?” One of the shepherds calls out "I cannot swim!" "Nor can I," his companion exclaims. Cetan tells them to look for something that floats, they might just need it. He then drops the sack of potatoes and pulls out his rifle, waiting for a good target so he won't put holes in the boat if it is just an illusion of some sort. Cetan fires into the knuckles of the hand, now visible above the top railing. The non-magical bullets do penetrate the skin but simply pass harmlessly through the water and exit on the other side. The magical skin then seals back over it, having lost a mere pittance of water with each shot. Hoping for better splashy damage, Cetan grabs an oar and whacks the massive watery hand with it. The skin parts to allow the non-magical oar to pass through it, sealing up afterwards. "I used up about everything I have magically back at the ambush," Abby said, deceptively calm. She then cast a cantrip, freezing ray, at the watery limbs. "Little tricks will have to do." While a small segment of the finger turns icy, the overall effect is negligible. The boat starts to shake a little as those inside feel the watery thumbs and palms of the hand beneath the boat. Abby followed the spell by trying to shatter the now icy part with a blow from her sword. The spell does cause a rupture and the water flows out but it is too little too late as the boat begins to rise up from this side. Not sure how to fight the watery hand, Abby looks around for whoever could be casting the spell causing it, tossing up a detect magic cantrip as she does so. Before she can see anybody or anything the side of the boat rises up and totally flips the craft over. The shepherds scream and the half-dozen sheep let out a loud "Baaah" Cetan helps the shepherds get to and puts the Frenchman up on the capsized boat. He looks to see how far it is to shore, whether the water thing inflicts any more damage, if anyone is in trouble, which way are the sheep are swimming, whether the water is moving or still water, and if there are any crocs to worry about. The Frenchman who had been tied up has somehow managed to get free of all of his restraints and chooses to swim to the furthest shore despite it being a good 400 to 500 feet away, the other shore being around a third that distance, approximately 150 feet away. Meran's companion appears to have been injured by the boat flip and she is holding him up against the capsized craft. One of the other shepherds has also managed to grab the boat, but his companion is flailing away in the water ten feet off and screaming "Can't Swim" whenever his head surfaces. Three of the sheep are attempting to swim, the current washing then downriver by the current and closer to shore. Two of the others appear to have already drown and the sixth is nowhere to be seen. This part of the river is heavily traveled, so there should be little to no threat of crocodiles. Cetan attempts to save the struggling shepherd. The centaur swims rapidly across the water and is able to reach the drowning shepherd, which grabs onto his back. Rene surfaces near Meren and works to help her lift her unconscious companion onto the upturned bottom of the capsized barge-style boat. The other Frenchman continues to swim towards the opposite shore, now being at the mid-point of the river. The passenger ferry had also been crossing the river and is around 100 feet away from him, turning towards him now. Confident in her ability to swim, Abby got herself righted, noted their fleeing prisoner, and looked again for whoever might have cast the spell. The only place that appears to have been in range is the passenger ferry, although it could have been cast by any one of the seventy-five or so people on board. After a good look she then swims after the whiny artist. She notes that for a man whose "life was destroyed" by a minor injury, he appears to have no trouble now in using it to swim. Cetan also swims after the artist. Abby saw Cetan swimming behind her and swore. Last she looked he'd been helping Meren. She thanked whatever god, goddess or demon that had kept her from wearing anything like a skirt the last few days. "Someone has to stay with Meren!" she shouted. Glancing back, Rene and Meren's companion appear to have successfully gotten the other two shepherds on the upturned bottom of the boat. Meren apparently also thinks that things have stabilized, as she has stripped down to just her undergarments and is diving in to go after the trio of sheep paddling in a panic over 100 feet away from her and letting out "Baah" sounds when they can. She cast a simple daze spell toward the artist hoping to slow him down, then turned to go back and help the Egyptian druid. "Catch him!" The spell works, as he ceases his forward momentum. The passenger boat has closed to around fifty feet from the man and is continuing in that direction. A white man on the passenger boat lowers his hands towards the water (and out of sight of the Egyptian passengers). He then casts a spell, with six magical missiles flying forth from his fingertips across the water. They split into two trios, with three striking Abby (for a combined 11 points of damage) and another three striking Cetan (for a combined 12 points of damage). Another hit like that and Abby would be sucking in river water, and that was NOT what she wanted to be doing. Magically she was almost finished, but she would not let the "artiste" out of this if she could help it. Abby took a close look at the man who had cast the magic missile, trying to fix his face in her memory and note if he was one of the men who had ambushed them earlier. Then she used her last bit of magic to throw an Acid Splash toward the fleeing man. The acid hits the man and he cries out. This however, has the effect of getting the Ferry Captain to increase the speed of his steam-powered craft and several of his crew to get ready to throw life preservers to the man who called out. The man who had cast the spell melds back into the crowd on deck. Neither Cetan or Abby are able to reach the boat before it pulls the Frenchman up onto the deck. But the boat then continues forwards to apparently rescue the two of them as well. The low, frustrated growl that came out of her throat surprised even Abby. There was nothing more annoying to her than not knowing what to do, and this day had been too full of uncertain choices. She imagined letting the passenger ferry pick her up. It seemed sensible at first. They would have the French under their eyes. But they would be under the French's thumbs. Getting to the Palace late was better than being taken prisoner by those French. Probably under the guise of helping them, and Abby was unwilling to start a fight amongst so many innocents. Strange as it would look, Abby started swimming back toward Meren, unwilling to become the prisoner of the French on the passenger ferry. Going with the current Abby soon reaches a point where she is equidistant (40 feet) to Meren and to the overturned boat. At the boat are Rene, the three shepherds and two of the four boat operators, all sitting atop it. The other two boatmen have swum to the nearest shore. Meren is swimming rather swiftly after the trio of sheep that are still 85 feet away from her. These sheep are nearly to shore, where a small group of Egyptian boys are wading out to catch the animals. Cetan waves the rescue boat / ferry boat on to the people in most need those on the capsized vessel, and swims full speed toward Meren and Abby. Cetan swims swiftly and arrives at shore simultaneous to Abby and not long after Meren. The boys who had pulled the sheep to shore are nowhere to be seen, the animals being gone with them. However, there is a very wet trail indicating the direction they went off to, which leads to a cluster of poorly built houses and shacks. Abby says, "Meren, do you want to track down the sheep? We should be quick about it if you do. With those Frenchmen on the passenger ferry we should get to the Palace as soon as we can." She says, "We have to. Two, probably three, drown. We cannot arrive at the palace without live sheep for the King's ceremony. But neither can my imposter." Cetan runs along the wet trail to recover some sheep, if one is left with the poor that's ok with him. If this is another attempt by the French, Cetan is going to start killing some Frenchmen. With at least one sheep he'll attempt to get the sheep, Meren, Abby, and himself to the palace as quickly as possible. As the Ferryboat rescues their comrades from the overturned boat, Meren, Abby and Cetan set off following the tracks left by the trio of sheep and their youthful captors. This leads them into the slums of this part of Egypt, where the tracks end at a busy street where a herd of goats was ushered by more recently than the travel of the sheep. Cetan makes a couple of wide circles to try to pick up the tracks, hear a bleat, or spot a sheep. Meren says that, given the neighborhood, the sheep have probably already been butchered. She says most people in this part of town seldom if ever get to eat meat, and having three sheep fall into their midst was too much of a temptation. He suggests they go to the palace and explain what has happened to the sheep, and what we suspect the French are up to. Meren says that without the sheep the people at the palace will have nothing to do with her. Abby looked at her, confusion plain on her face. "That makes no sense. They would just ignore you? It wouldn't occur to them that if you've arrived without the sheep that something went wrong that they may need to know about?" Meren replies, "We're shepherds, livestock herders, not the upper crust of society. When we go to the palace it is through the servant's entrance, and no further than the first wall. That is where the cooks take the sheep from. Without any animals why would they even let us in? I doubt they even know my name." Cetan states, “We need to tell them why you have not arrived with the sheep, and trust the guards to do their job.” Returning to tributary, they arrive to find the still capsized boat tied up along the shore. They tell Meren that the passenger ferry deposited her four companions on the opposite shore. While they are talking Cetan hears a very faint "Baaa" sound emanating from beneath the capsized vessel. The boat’s men have to gather up a dozen others to get enough strength to flip over the boat. Beneath it is one very soggy and totally exhausted sheep. Meren casts some spells onto the animal to revitalize it. They then have to locate another ferry to get the people and animal across the tributary, where the other three shepherds and Rene are waiting on the other side. As the group heads toward the palace, Cetan asks Rene what he thinks the artist will do now? Rene replies, "I do not know. When we got onto the ferry boat he was already gone. Cetan also asks if Rene knows who would be powerful enough to create the water creature that attacked us?" He replies, "Egypt, and the whole Arabian lands for that matter, are filled with powerful wizards. It could have been any one of hundreds. Or it could have been somebody with a powerful magic item that controls water elementals." Abby says, "Or it's your group who attacked us earlier today, still trying to impersonate Meren and get into the Palace," Abby said, too frustrated to even pretend at diplomacy anymore. Rene says, "I wish that there was something more that I could do to earn your trust. I am only trying to help matters." They soon reach the palace and head around to the rear servants entrance. The gate is shut and blocked by a quartet of armed Ogres wearing ornate tunics with leather skirts, similar to garb worn by the Romans. Their outfits include the traditional shields and swords normally associated with Roman centurions, but they also have pistols on their belts and modern rifles over their shoulders. Meren says, "Something is wrong, normally the elite guard are only stationed at the front doors." Abby replies, "Friends of ours were trying to get word to the King to warn him. Possibly they got through. Possibly it's something else. The only thing we can sure of is that the King is wary of something." They approach. One of the Guards moves forwards and draws his sword. He rattles out a four-sentence long speech in a language that neither Abby or Cetan understand. Abby extended her arms in front of her very slowly, palms up. In Egyptian she said, "I'm sorry, I do not understand your language." A little louder she said, "Meren, can you translate?" She says, "No, I know some Ogrish languages, but the elite guard use a unique dialect." Rene says "I am somewhat familiar with it, I am a linguist by profession, and could I help?" "You could try", Cetan says to Rene. Taking a defensive stance he points to the sheep and says to the guard in all the different languages he knows, "We brought the sheep". The Ogres clearly do not understand what Cetan is saying to them. Rene steps forward and states a sentence in their native tongue. The lead ogre responds with a single sentence reply. Rene paraphrases the translation to for the others saying "I told them we were here to deliver a sheep from the royal flock. He replied that they were not expecting us." Cetan states, “Tell them we were ambushed and think there is a plot against the King. We would like to tell them everything we know so they can better protect the King.” Cetan whispers to Abby, "Now we will learn what side Rene is on." Rene rattles of several sentences and has a short exchange with the lead ogre. The ogre then turns and sends one of his men into the palace. Rene replies, "He says this is above his station, that he needs to get a supervisor." Cetan says, "Good work Rene", not sure what level of trust the French two leg deserves. The ogre soon returns, accompanied by eight other uniformed ogres including one wearing several medals and officer insignia. The one with the medals also speaks in the foreign tongue and the other eleven ogres all raise the their rifles at the party. A rifle apiece is focused upon Abby, Meren and the other three shepherds while six rifles are pointed towards Cetan. None are pointed towards Rene, who steps forward to stand beside the ogre officer with a smirk on his face. "You son of a bitch," Abby said though gritted teeth. "At least I know I can still tell a murderer when I see one." Belloq smiles and says, "Yes, too bad. You could warn them Miss Marsters, if only you spoke Nubian." [/QUOTE]
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AGELESS Campaign Episode 2 - Temple of the Cat-Goddess
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