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Dark Days in Sion - Act 3: Scene 1
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<blockquote data-quote="narayan" data-source="post: 6888804" data-attributes="member: 6677509"><p><strong>Alic, Bax, Ordechai, Svexyn, Wrenwil</strong></p><p></p><p><em>Ordechai's mood is darkened by the death of his friend Asusk and the need to sacrifice his former slave as he makes a pack with quick and angry movements, no more prepared to carry such loss upon his shoulders than his own equipment and supplies. Meanwhile, Bax dutifully un-hobbles the hogs and attaches leads to their nose-rings, walking them up to Ordechai who kneels before him. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Ordechai:</strong> -Speaking Goblin- <span style="color: #b22222">"You must lead these Hogs back the way we came to the main road and head north as quickly and quietly as you can."</span> </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Bax:</strong> Blinks with confusion. -Speaking goblin- <span style="color: #990000">"And where will you be, master?"</span> </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Ordechai:</strong> </em><em>-answering in goblin- </em><em><span style="color: #b22222">"We must split up to confuse the assassins that will soon be hunting us. The rest of us will take a longer path, but we will meet you in the town of Tabba."</span></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Bax:</strong> Looks unhappy.</em><em><span style="color: #990000">"I don't want to split up!"</span> He says sourly.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Ordechai:</strong> Nods understandingly.</em><em><span style="color: #b22222">"I wish it were different, but this is the best chance for all of us. You are good at sneaking Bax, I am confident you'll make it!"</span> Ordechai says with a rather obvious lack of conviction. <span style="color: #b22222">"If you sense the assassins or their jackals are close, abandon the hogs for cover and make a break for it!"</span></em></p><p><em><span style="color: #b22222"></span> </em></p><p><em><strong>Bax: </strong><span style="color: #990000">"What do I do once I get to Tabba?"</span> </em></p><p><em><strong></strong></em></p><p><em><strong>Ordechai:</strong> <span style="color: #b22222">"March into the office of the Masoud Trading Company. Take this letter and coin-purse with you..."</span> He says handing the goblin a belt pouch with several gold coins and a piece of folded parchment concealed inside. <span style="color: #b22222">"Do not lose these! Without this letter, or this coin, your life may be forfeit entering a civilized town by yourself."</span> </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Bax:</strong> Raises his chin up defiantly. <span style="color: #990000">"Bax is free! Not a slave!" </span></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Ordechai:</strong> Places his hook on Bax's shoulder. <span style="color: #b22222">"That's right, you've proven yourself more than capable as an ally. Let no one put chains on you again!"</span> </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Bax:</strong> Nods with pride. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Ordechai:</strong> Places a gemstone in the palm of the goblins hand. <span style="color: #b22222">"This is insurance to be sure you have something to fall back on. Do not permit yourself to be captured or robbed and we shall meet again!"</span> </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em></em><em><strong>Bax:</strong> <span style="color: #990000">"How long will you take?"</span></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Ordechai:</strong> Looks sad. <span style="color: #b22222">"It should not be long. Spend that coin wisely and you should have no trouble finding shelter and food. If we do not arrive in time, use that gemstone to convince someone to hire you for a job to earn yourself more coin."</span></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Bax:</strong> <span style="color: #990000">"I do not want to work for anyone else!"</span> He chides. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Ordechai:</strong> Shakes his head slowly. <span style="color: #b22222">"I know Bax, but you have skills now, and experience with people. You can work for whoever you want if you put your mind to it. But for now, concentrate on survival!"</span></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em></em><em><strong>Bax:</strong> <span style="color: #990000">"I will do as you say master! But you will not die, I know we will meet again soon!"</span> He says with all the conviction he can muster. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Ordechai: </strong><span style="color: #b22222">"I am sure we will."</span> He says with the placating tone of a parent to a child. <span style="color: #b22222">"Oh! There is one more thing, a very special gift to help you!"</span> he says removing a hidden cord-necklace beneath his tunic with a small vial on it, placing it around the goblins neck. <span style="color: #b22222">"This is a special potion to make you invisible! If you sense the assassins or the jackals near upon you, drink this and they won't be able to see you! But you have to wait till the last moment, it doesn't last long!"</span> Ordechai says falsely. (Bluff Check: =22) </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Bax:</strong> Stares at the vial with awe. <span style="color: #990000">"Thank you master! But why is this potion so small? Usually they are bigger?"</span> He asks confused. (Sense Motive: =9) yet obviously lacking the wisdom to comprehend the obvious falsehood. </em><em></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Ordechai:</strong> <span style="color: #b22222">"Small creatures don't need full size potions. You can get the same benefit from only a third of the usual amount. Now go quickly! Do not stop till you reach Tabba!"</span> </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Bax:</strong> Steels himself for his new mission and quickly darts away from the camp back east, tugging on the leads for the hogs who reluctantly follow in their usual docile fashion. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>After a few minutes watching the bait move away from camp Ordechai turns to the rest of you with cold eyes. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Ordechai: </strong>-speaking common- <span style="color: #b22222">"Those hogs will be quickly tracked by those Jackals, of that I have no doubt. When they draw close Bax will unwittingly poison himself so there's no chance he'll be captured."</span> He says matter of factly. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Alic:</strong> Clears his throat uncomfortably. <span style="color: #a9a9a9">"I never thought I'd hear myself say this, but that goblin doesn't deserve to die like that!"</span> </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Ordechai:</strong> <span style="color: #b22222">"It's a kinder death than the jaws of those beasts or the slow torture offered by the assassins. It's the least I could do for him... but enough talk, we have miles to move and no time to waste!"</span> He says pointing in a vaguely southerly direction. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Alic takes the gist and moves on ahead, hefting his masterwork heavy crossbow with a bolt already loaded (Svexyn and Wrenwil you may choose to follow in any order you wish). Ordechai trails behind for the first few miles, occasionally changing direction and dusting the earth behind you with something (Dust of tracelessness) that he promises will help conceal your tracks. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Of course those measures won't mean much if anyone was audacious enough to carry torches (Sorry Wrenwil, no light sources for you!). After some time, something restless in Alic's mind finally has to be asked...</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em></em><em><strong>Alic:</strong> <span style="color: #a9a9a9">"What was the letter you gave to Bax?"</span> </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Ordechai:</strong> <span style="color: #b22222">"A Gallian recipe for turtle-soup, my favorite."</span> Ordechai answers dryly.</em><em></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Eventually, after winding your way over and around dunes and dry dusty hills headed down into the Aluja Expanse, you start to believe you have successfully evaded any hunters... until the snarls and hungry howls of the jackals start to gain as they finally catch your scent!</em></p><p><em></em></p><p> <em>Ordechai curses helplessly, long ago having exhausted his supply of magical dust and encourages you to move faster, until you are almost at a run, but then suddenly he shouts...</em></p><p><em><strong></strong></em></p><p><em><strong>Ordechai:</strong> <span style="color: #b22222">"Wait! Don't take another step!"</span> He shouts as Alic rushes towards a few gnarled dead trees surrounding a few lonely, looming and foreboding, rocky hills.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Alic:</strong> Pauses, panting. <span style="color: #a9a9a9">"Why not? Those hills should offer some cover?"</span> He suggests. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Ordechai:</strong> Moves up beside the dwarf. <span style="color: #b22222">"No Alic, those hills belong to something far more dangerous than the jackals on our heels. They belong to Kumbakarna!"</span> He says in between gasps for breath. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Alic:</strong> Huffs. <span style="color: #a9a9a9">"And who is that?!"</span> </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Ordechai:</strong> <span style="color: #b22222">"A sometimes-friend of smugglers, wanderers, strangers and wayward travelers, so long as he's in the mood for company."</span> He says by way of a non-answer. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Alic:</strong> Glances back into the darkness worryingly. <span style="color: #a9a9a9">"What are we supposed to do, wait to be invited?!"</span></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Ordechai:</strong> <span style="color: #b22222">"Exactly. The expected way to announce our presence after dark is to carry a torch."</span> The half-dwarf says pulling one out of his pack and sparking a flint. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Alic:</strong> Stutters. <span style="color: #a9a9a9">"But, the light!"</span> </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Ordechai:</strong> <span style="color: #b22222">"It's ok, were safe for now... from the jackals at least."</span> He says igniting the oiled cloth. </em><em></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Almost immediately, there are howls as the jackals spot the light... but none of them come closer, and suddenly you understand why. The flaring light of the flame illuminates thousands of bone fragments littering the sand and dusty earth around your feet! Jawbones, femurs, scapulas and crushed bits of skulls of all types of humanoid and animal alike... all bleached white by the sun. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>More bones can be seen now hanging from the dead trees in a rather macabre display, and leading away from the trees are two path's clearly marked with different painted stones. One path has red-stones... the other, white-stones. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Alic:</strong> Stares... <span style="color: #a9a9a9">"What is this?!"</span> </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Ordechai:</strong> Snorts. <span style="color: #b22222">"This is not good, there's a new path."</span> </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Alic:</strong> <span style="color: #a9a9a9">"Which one?"</span> </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Ordechai: </strong><span style="color: #b22222">"The path-of-the-red-stones is the path of blood, to be used only by those seeking to join the family of </span></em><em><span style="color: #b22222">Kumbakarna. The-path-of-the-white-stones is the path of bones, to be used only by those seeking to see their dead reincarnated..."</span></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Alic: </strong>Mouth falls agape. <span style="color: #a9a9a9">"SAY WHAT?!"</span> He exclaims. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Ordechai:</strong> Raises his hand for quiet. <span style="color: #b22222">"Keep your voice down! Obviously we'll avoid that path..."</span></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Alic:</strong> <span style="color: #a9a9a9">"Which is the new path?"</span> </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Ordechai:</strong> Points to a third path a short distance from the trees angling towards a low cave in the hills marked by black-painted stones. <span style="color: #b22222">"That one..."</span> </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Alic:</strong> <span style="color: #a9a9a9">"What does that one mean?"</span></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Ordechai:</strong></em><em> <span style="color: #b22222">"That is the path of doom. It is only added when the cave is occupied by some fearsome monster."</span> </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Alic:</strong> <span style="color: #a9a9a9">"Any why by-Moradins-blessed-beard would we ever go down <u>that</u> path?!"</span> </em><em></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Ordechai:</strong> <span style="color: #b22222">"Because the alternative is to head back and face the jackals. Kumbakarna doesn't take kindly too trespassers... the moment my torch burns out the undead buried all around us will rise and kill us."</span></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Alic:</strong> Regards Ordechai aghast, clutching at his holy symbol with trembling fingers. <span style="color: #a9a9a9">"What madness is this?! Moradins-might save me!"</span></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Ordechai: </strong>ignores Alic's outburst. <span style="color: #b22222">"</span></em><em><span style="color: #B22222">If visitors are permitted to approach tonight, a lookout will light a torch on the hillside and we can move forward. </span></em><em><span style="color: #b22222">Smugglers like myself always enter through the cave in any case... though normally that path is marked by grey stones."</span> </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Alic:</strong> <span style="color: #a9a9a9">"The path-of-<strong>death</strong> perhaps?"</span> He snaps. </em></p><p><em><strong></strong></em></p><p><em><strong>Ordechai:</strong> <span style="color: #b22222">"The path-of-promises. It's what all smugglers do when they come to barter with </span></em><em><span style="color: #b22222">Kumbakarna; they promise to bring something worthwhile. Sometimes they chose wisely, sometimes not..."</span> </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Alic:</strong> <span style="color: #a9a9a9">"Have <strong>we</strong> brought something worthwhile?"</span> </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Ordechai:</strong> <span style="color: #b22222">"<strong>I</strong> have sure... I don't know about the rest of you?"</span> He says sighing with obvious fatigue. <span style="color: #b22222">"In any case, assuming we see a torch, </span></em><span style="color: #b22222"><em>we have to battle whatever is in the cave before we need to worry about that</em><em>. </em></span><em><span style="color: #b22222">It amuses Kumbakarna to watch newcomers fight against dangerous beasts he occasionally captures. It's nice at least that he bothered with the black-stones. Sometimes he forgets."</span> </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em></em><em><strong>[Svexyn, Wrenwil:</strong> What do you do?<strong>]</strong></em></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="narayan, post: 6888804, member: 6677509"] [b]Alic, Bax, Ordechai, Svexyn, Wrenwil[/b] [I]Ordechai's mood is darkened by the death of his friend Asusk and the need to sacrifice his former slave as he makes a pack with quick and angry movements, no more prepared to carry such loss upon his shoulders than his own equipment and supplies. Meanwhile, Bax dutifully un-hobbles the hogs and attaches leads to their nose-rings, walking them up to Ordechai who kneels before him. [B]Ordechai:[/B] -Speaking Goblin- [COLOR=#b22222]"You must lead these Hogs back the way we came to the main road and head north as quickly and quietly as you can."[/COLOR] [B]Bax:[/B] Blinks with confusion. -Speaking goblin- [COLOR=#990000]"And where will you be, master?"[/COLOR] [B]Ordechai:[/B] [/I][I]-answering in goblin- [/I][I][COLOR=#b22222]"We must split up to confuse the assassins that will soon be hunting us. The rest of us will take a longer path, but we will meet you in the town of Tabba."[/COLOR] [B]Bax:[/B] Looks unhappy.[/I][I][COLOR=#990000]"I don't want to split up!"[/COLOR] He says sourly. [B]Ordechai:[/B] Nods understandingly.[/I][I][COLOR=#b22222]"I wish it were different, but this is the best chance for all of us. You are good at sneaking Bax, I am confident you'll make it!"[/COLOR] Ordechai says with a rather obvious lack of conviction. [COLOR=#b22222]"If you sense the assassins or their jackals are close, abandon the hogs for cover and make a break for it!" [/COLOR] [B]Bax: [/B][COLOR=#990000]"What do I do once I get to Tabba?"[/COLOR] [B] Ordechai:[/B] [COLOR=#b22222]"March into the office of the Masoud Trading Company. Take this letter and coin-purse with you..."[/COLOR] He says handing the goblin a belt pouch with several gold coins and a piece of folded parchment concealed inside. [COLOR=#b22222]"Do not lose these! Without this letter, or this coin, your life may be forfeit entering a civilized town by yourself."[/COLOR] [B]Bax:[/B] Raises his chin up defiantly. [COLOR=#990000]"Bax is free! Not a slave!" [/COLOR] [B]Ordechai:[/B] Places his hook on Bax's shoulder. [COLOR=#b22222]"That's right, you've proven yourself more than capable as an ally. Let no one put chains on you again!"[/COLOR] [B]Bax:[/B] Nods with pride. [B]Ordechai:[/B] Places a gemstone in the palm of the goblins hand. [COLOR=#b22222]"This is insurance to be sure you have something to fall back on. Do not permit yourself to be captured or robbed and we shall meet again!"[/COLOR] [/I][I][B]Bax:[/B] [COLOR=#990000]"How long will you take?"[/COLOR] [B]Ordechai:[/B] Looks sad. [COLOR=#b22222]"It should not be long. Spend that coin wisely and you should have no trouble finding shelter and food. If we do not arrive in time, use that gemstone to convince someone to hire you for a job to earn yourself more coin."[/COLOR] [B]Bax:[/B] [COLOR=#990000]"I do not want to work for anyone else!"[/COLOR] He chides. [B]Ordechai:[/B] Shakes his head slowly. [COLOR=#b22222]"I know Bax, but you have skills now, and experience with people. You can work for whoever you want if you put your mind to it. But for now, concentrate on survival!"[/COLOR] [/I][I][B]Bax:[/B] [COLOR=#990000]"I will do as you say master! But you will not die, I know we will meet again soon!"[/COLOR] He says with all the conviction he can muster. [B]Ordechai: [/B][COLOR=#b22222]"I am sure we will."[/COLOR] He says with the placating tone of a parent to a child. [COLOR=#b22222]"Oh! There is one more thing, a very special gift to help you!"[/COLOR] he says removing a hidden cord-necklace beneath his tunic with a small vial on it, placing it around the goblins neck. [COLOR=#b22222]"This is a special potion to make you invisible! If you sense the assassins or the jackals near upon you, drink this and they won't be able to see you! But you have to wait till the last moment, it doesn't last long!"[/COLOR] Ordechai says falsely. (Bluff Check: =22) [B]Bax:[/B] Stares at the vial with awe. [COLOR=#990000]"Thank you master! But why is this potion so small? Usually they are bigger?"[/COLOR] He asks confused. (Sense Motive: =9) yet obviously lacking the wisdom to comprehend the obvious falsehood. [/I][I] [B]Ordechai:[/B] [COLOR=#b22222]"Small creatures don't need full size potions. You can get the same benefit from only a third of the usual amount. Now go quickly! Do not stop till you reach Tabba!"[/COLOR] [B]Bax:[/B] Steels himself for his new mission and quickly darts away from the camp back east, tugging on the leads for the hogs who reluctantly follow in their usual docile fashion. After a few minutes watching the bait move away from camp Ordechai turns to the rest of you with cold eyes. [B]Ordechai: [/B]-speaking common- [COLOR=#b22222]"Those hogs will be quickly tracked by those Jackals, of that I have no doubt. When they draw close Bax will unwittingly poison himself so there's no chance he'll be captured."[/COLOR] He says matter of factly. [B]Alic:[/B] Clears his throat uncomfortably. [COLOR=#a9a9a9]"I never thought I'd hear myself say this, but that goblin doesn't deserve to die like that!"[/COLOR] [B]Ordechai:[/B] [COLOR=#b22222]"It's a kinder death than the jaws of those beasts or the slow torture offered by the assassins. It's the least I could do for him... but enough talk, we have miles to move and no time to waste!"[/COLOR] He says pointing in a vaguely southerly direction. Alic takes the gist and moves on ahead, hefting his masterwork heavy crossbow with a bolt already loaded (Svexyn and Wrenwil you may choose to follow in any order you wish). Ordechai trails behind for the first few miles, occasionally changing direction and dusting the earth behind you with something (Dust of tracelessness) that he promises will help conceal your tracks. Of course those measures won't mean much if anyone was audacious enough to carry torches (Sorry Wrenwil, no light sources for you!). After some time, something restless in Alic's mind finally has to be asked... [/I][I][B]Alic:[/B] [COLOR=#a9a9a9]"What was the letter you gave to Bax?"[/COLOR] [B]Ordechai:[/B] [COLOR=#b22222]"A Gallian recipe for turtle-soup, my favorite."[/COLOR] Ordechai answers dryly.[/I][I] Eventually, after winding your way over and around dunes and dry dusty hills headed down into the Aluja Expanse, you start to believe you have successfully evaded any hunters... until the snarls and hungry howls of the jackals start to gain as they finally catch your scent! Ordechai curses helplessly, long ago having exhausted his supply of magical dust and encourages you to move faster, until you are almost at a run, but then suddenly he shouts... [B] Ordechai:[/B] [COLOR=#b22222]"Wait! Don't take another step!"[/COLOR] He shouts as Alic rushes towards a few gnarled dead trees surrounding a few lonely, looming and foreboding, rocky hills. [B]Alic:[/B] Pauses, panting. [COLOR=#a9a9a9]"Why not? Those hills should offer some cover?"[/COLOR] He suggests. [B]Ordechai:[/B] Moves up beside the dwarf. [COLOR=#b22222]"No Alic, those hills belong to something far more dangerous than the jackals on our heels. They belong to Kumbakarna!"[/COLOR] He says in between gasps for breath. [B]Alic:[/B] Huffs. [COLOR=#a9a9a9]"And who is that?!"[/COLOR] [B]Ordechai:[/B] [COLOR=#b22222]"A sometimes-friend of smugglers, wanderers, strangers and wayward travelers, so long as he's in the mood for company."[/COLOR] He says by way of a non-answer. [B]Alic:[/B] Glances back into the darkness worryingly. [COLOR=#a9a9a9]"What are we supposed to do, wait to be invited?!"[/COLOR] [B]Ordechai:[/B] [COLOR=#b22222]"Exactly. The expected way to announce our presence after dark is to carry a torch."[/COLOR] The half-dwarf says pulling one out of his pack and sparking a flint. [B]Alic:[/B] Stutters. [COLOR=#a9a9a9]"But, the light!"[/COLOR] [B]Ordechai:[/B] [COLOR=#b22222]"It's ok, were safe for now... from the jackals at least."[/COLOR] He says igniting the oiled cloth. [/I][I] Almost immediately, there are howls as the jackals spot the light... but none of them come closer, and suddenly you understand why. The flaring light of the flame illuminates thousands of bone fragments littering the sand and dusty earth around your feet! Jawbones, femurs, scapulas and crushed bits of skulls of all types of humanoid and animal alike... all bleached white by the sun. More bones can be seen now hanging from the dead trees in a rather macabre display, and leading away from the trees are two path's clearly marked with different painted stones. One path has red-stones... the other, white-stones. [B]Alic:[/B] Stares... [COLOR=#a9a9a9]"What is this?!"[/COLOR] [B]Ordechai:[/B] Snorts. [COLOR=#b22222]"This is not good, there's a new path."[/COLOR] [B]Alic:[/B] [COLOR=#a9a9a9]"Which one?"[/COLOR] [B]Ordechai: [/B][COLOR=#b22222]"The path-of-the-red-stones is the path of blood, to be used only by those seeking to join the family of [/COLOR][/I][I][COLOR=#b22222]Kumbakarna. The-path-of-the-white-stones is the path of bones, to be used only by those seeking to see their dead reincarnated..."[/COLOR] [B]Alic: [/B]Mouth falls agape. [COLOR=#a9a9a9]"SAY WHAT?!"[/COLOR] He exclaims. [B]Ordechai:[/B] Raises his hand for quiet. [COLOR=#b22222]"Keep your voice down! Obviously we'll avoid that path..."[/COLOR] [B]Alic:[/B] [COLOR=#a9a9a9]"Which is the new path?"[/COLOR] [B]Ordechai:[/B] Points to a third path a short distance from the trees angling towards a low cave in the hills marked by black-painted stones. [COLOR=#b22222]"That one..."[/COLOR] [B]Alic:[/B] [COLOR=#a9a9a9]"What does that one mean?"[/COLOR] [B]Ordechai:[/B][/I][I] [COLOR=#b22222]"That is the path of doom. It is only added when the cave is occupied by some fearsome monster."[/COLOR] [B]Alic:[/B] [COLOR=#a9a9a9]"Any why by-Moradins-blessed-beard would we ever go down [U]that[/U] path?!"[/COLOR] [/I][I] [B]Ordechai:[/B] [COLOR=#b22222]"Because the alternative is to head back and face the jackals. Kumbakarna doesn't take kindly too trespassers... the moment my torch burns out the undead buried all around us will rise and kill us."[/COLOR] [B]Alic:[/B] Regards Ordechai aghast, clutching at his holy symbol with trembling fingers. [COLOR=#a9a9a9]"What madness is this?! Moradins-might save me!"[/COLOR] [B]Ordechai: [/B]ignores Alic's outburst. [COLOR=#b22222]"[/COLOR][/I][I][COLOR=#B22222]If visitors are permitted to approach tonight, a lookout will light a torch on the hillside and we can move forward. [/COLOR][/I][I][COLOR=#b22222]Smugglers like myself always enter through the cave in any case... though normally that path is marked by grey stones."[/COLOR] [B]Alic:[/B] [COLOR=#a9a9a9]"The path-of-[B]death[/B] perhaps?"[/COLOR] He snaps. [B] Ordechai:[/B] [COLOR=#b22222]"The path-of-promises. It's what all smugglers do when they come to barter with [/COLOR][/I][I][COLOR=#b22222]Kumbakarna; they promise to bring something worthwhile. Sometimes they chose wisely, sometimes not..."[/COLOR] [B]Alic:[/B] [COLOR=#a9a9a9]"Have [B]we[/B] brought something worthwhile?"[/COLOR] [B]Ordechai:[/B] [COLOR=#b22222]"[B]I[/B] have sure... I don't know about the rest of you?"[/COLOR] He says sighing with obvious fatigue. [COLOR=#b22222]"In any case, assuming we see a torch, [/COLOR][/I][COLOR=#b22222][I]we have to battle whatever is in the cave before we need to worry about that[/I][I]. [/I][/COLOR][I][COLOR=#b22222]It amuses Kumbakarna to watch newcomers fight against dangerous beasts he occasionally captures. It's nice at least that he bothered with the black-stones. Sometimes he forgets."[/COLOR] [/I][I][B][Svexyn, Wrenwil:[/B] What do you do?[B]][/B][/I] [/QUOTE]
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Dark Days in Sion - Act 3: Scene 1
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