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The Scarab

Khulmbanos mentally divides 10,000 gold by the number of people in the expedition. He then performs the same calculation, substituting in the number of likely survivors.

Arknath said:

The tiny halfling turned to stare up into the githzerai's eyes, "Govna'," he started, "uh don' suppose there be any bodies guardin' the place, now would there? Tha' is t' say, are we t' be expectin' trouble?"

"Oh....I hope so" mutters the dwarf.
 

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"He," Ashan nods at Hremelan, "has a point — you want us to glom the dingus, but you haven't given us any idea what's what out there. I'm not a bunny — Lady Asarath didn't raise any bunnies. Do me a favor, bo, and get square with us." He looks perfectly comfortable in the rain, giving the impression that he'd rather be wet and look foolish than go running off onto a prime after a toy and song.
 

Casandra did not speak through the presentation. Now she asks. "Will this portal take us through time? To when this boy was alive? Or will he have been dead for hundreds of years? If so, do you know what is there now? Do you have any idea where this scarab might be? Must we use the same portal to return? Do we need to know any command worlds or tricks to get it to open for us?"
 

Ram-tet turns back to your group and comes back inside the chapel.

"trouble? Well, the usual minor necromantic vermin you can expect around such places. The only confirmed sighting we have of anything overtly dangerous are those little scaly folk.. what are they again?"

The battle-nun putting away the parasol says the only words she's spoken since you came in.

"Kobolds, sir." She snaps the parasol shut and places it into a beaten wooden stand by the door.

"Ah yes."

Ram-tet smiles again, exposing his sharp githzerai teeth, and makes a dismissive flourish with both hands.

"Kobolds. Now, My usual team is away on another assignment, so this is a golden opportunity for a group such as yours."

To Casandra "No, no time-travel in this case. I considered it, but the safest and most convenient juncture possible is right here and right now. We have a vessel ready to take you and your group tomorrow morning--it will handle allof the portal travel. No needs for any special keys. I've taken care of all of that."

"Are there any other questions or anything I've left unanswered?"
 
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"Will this "vessel" get us 'cross the desert, or will we haveta walk?" Khulmbanos is obviously less than enthusiastic about crossing the sands on foot, or at all for that matter.
 

Ashan grins, "What's the matter, bo? Tough guy like you worried about a little sand?" To Ram-Tet, "Maybe he's right about the sand, but I'm more concerned about this vessel — what's the iron like?"

OOC: "Iron" usually means "car" — I'm using it more generically to mean any sort of vessel for transportation. This hardboiled slang doesn't always fit quite right, but I like it and I'm having fun writing it.
 

" 's just a bi' o' walkin', lad," Hremelan says to Khulmbanos, "i' migh' do ya a bi' o' good, eh?" he smiles as he pokes the dwarf in the belly, which is probably about chest high on him.

"Kobolds, eh?" Hremelan turns to Ram-tet. "Been a long time since I seen onea them. Nasty things, really, no' good fuh much else than skinnin' and makin a set o' shoes out o'." (If anyone looks at him incredulously, he'll go on to talk about the merits of making kobold loafers and the high demand for them in the upper echelons of society.)
 

"I'll be able to fit us with some water if we run short." Osric chips in. "And I should be able put the frighteners on any dead that show. The kobolds might be more of a problem. Like the little guy says, they can be tough buggers."
 
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Casandra

"Kobolts shouldn't be much trouble, if we're cautious. But can you give us more specific information on where the scarab is located? Any landmarks or hints on how we'll find it?"
 

Ram-tet leafs through his scrolls until he finds one marked with a blotchy inkstain. He spreads it out on the desk and invites the group to come closer.

"Well, here's the map I picked up this morning. "

hautama.png


"Your arrival portal is here, near the village of Kezz. The natives will likely be quite alarmed by the appearance of our vessel, so it will remain hidden near the portal at first. You can visit the village and gather any extra supplies or information you may need, including a native guide. Now- this map may not be entirely accurate- but I place the Hautama Capitol ruins here. "

(Ram-Tet draws a line on the map with his finger from Kezz to the Hautama Ruins. You all note that the markings for the Hautama ruins have been penciled in freshly this morning, witha few navigational notations including an angle to a pair of stars. This isn't shown on the map, but it's worth noting).


To Khulmbanos: "Our vessel should be able to bring you directly to the ruins once you make-portal. You won't have to walk. Still, you'll probably have to search for the ruins once you get across the desert.. The ruins are described as being located high up, and there was an earthquake recorded in the area less than a century ago. Searching from the air will make this much easier."

To Ashan: "And the vessel? The sisters have graciously allowed the borrowing of their last airworthy Planejack. You'll be going with Sister Ermion tomorrow to pick it up."

Ram-Tet tugs one last sheet out from the pile.

"This is your ship, the Diana."

diana.png


To Casandra:

"According to our information, the Scarab should be located in the throne room of the palace, hidden in a false panel in the throne. If it's not there, you may have to search about for it, but I am quite positive that it has remained hidden for all of these years."
 
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Into the Woods

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