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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lylandra" data-source="post: 8193979" data-attributes="member: 6816692">A roaring welcome           We continue to scout the city in search for the other missing Porteurs du Mort, but only find the occasional pool where what seems to be images of Eladrin are added in the reflection of the sunlight. They seem oddly real though and as we get closer they appear to notice us, too. So we guess that these people might be real Eladrin in Sentosa and that these reflections might be echoes that appear due to the fact that the veil between Dreaming and Waking grow thin near the water.Shortly after, we spot a column of smoke outside the city, so we decide to look for its source. But as we know the the Porteurs are no idiots, but rather professionals in the ways of deception and recon, we guess that this might just be a trap. Even if that would mean that these guys would most likely underestimate us. So we sneak to the general direction of the smoke while staying away from the main road. We spot another Porteur scout and manage to go unnoticed due to the help of an invisibility spell.After a few minutes, we get close enough to see a camp inhabited by a group of Porteurs. It doesn't take much effort to see that this is a well-made illusion and only the group's wizard and warrior appear to be real. So we sneak around this camp in a wide circle and look out for the rest of the group. Hidden well inside the forest, we finally find two danoran artillerists next to a mortar station warded by a silence spell. We use the element of surprise to knock both of them out. To play a bit with the rest of them, Auryn then conjures an illusion of both her and Carlyle who openly walk up to the camp and greet the surprised Porteurs.As we guessed, the group is very much irritated by that move for a second, but then gives a signal and the warrior draws his weapon.“Whoa, whoa, we've come to talk and this is how you repay the favor? And here we thought that Danorans had manners” the illusory Carlyle says in a disappointed voice.It takes another few seconds for the Porteurs to realize that the artillery strike won't come as planned. We use this further distraction to sneak up behind the two and try to knock them out as well. Unfortunately, one of them is able to send yet another signal before he goes down, which in turn causes a whole group of Porteurs to appear from a Bleak Gate pocket.“That doesn't make any difference. There is still two of us.” Auryn says, tumbles right into the group and unleashes her single, perfect note that seems to freeze all of them in time. Which in turn leaves Carlyle's job of knocking them out one by one via kukri an easy one.(I must admit that this is quite unfair as this combo is only possible due to Carlyle's unreasonably high wisdom save, so he isn't effected by Auryn's perfect note paralysis. We also had a lot of fun trolling the Porteurs with our illusion. Fight fire with fire <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" /> )Somehow, one of the Danorans manages to break free from Auryn's spell, but he seems utterly terrified by what he just saw. So he runs away screaming in the general direction of the city gate. Only to collide with an invisible wall and fall down. We raise an eyebrow as this wall hasn't been there before, but then the wall turns into a portal from which a ten-headed lion guardian emerges.Of course, the Danoran runs screaming into yet another direction while the lion doesn't seem to understand the concept of friend and foe. Carlyle signals Auryn that he's going to catch the Danoran so he won't summon more of them while she is making herself ready to defend herself against the guardian.Just behind the large creature, she can make out the familiar figure of Asrabey who is arguing with an unknown Eladrin sentinel. As Auryn doesn't wish to destroy what appears to be a guardian of Sentosa, she uses a calming spell on the lion's body who turns inert for a moment. But that doesn't seem to have any effect on the rest of its heads. They all charge at her at once, but she manages to evade its barrage of attacks. She continues to parry while trying to find a strategy on how to pacify the other lion heads.Seeing her fight the guardian appears to enrage Asrabey even further and he now screams and gestures wildly at the sentinel. It doesn't take too long and Carlyle returns, carrying an unconscious Danoran over his shoulder. He teleports beside Auryn and encases them both in a sphere of ice. And it seems as if the lion doesn't know what to do in this new situation as gnawing at the ice doesn't do much damage.(Carlyle's player loves wall spells. He's quite creative when it comes to using them and simplified a lot of fights by using the right wall. Notable examples from WotBS are the final battle in Castle Korstull, a certain Monk, and the Generals in adventure 12. There will be more in Zeitgeist as well.)This is when Asrabey has finally seen enough. He jumps right through the portal and draws his flaming sword.“Call him off or I will slice him in two!”This causes the other Eladrin to step outside as well and order the ten-headed lion to withdraw. As soon as Carlyle sees the creature move away and cease its attacks, he releases the barrier spell, melting the ice in the heat of the jungle.“Small flower, are you unhurt?” Asrabey asks while also completely ignoring the presence of Carlyle.“I'm fine, thanks. Good to see you, Asrabey. We had a bit of a squabble with a group of Danorans.” she replies with an earnest joy of seeing the Dreadnought once again.(Carlyle on the other hand? Yeah, he doesn't really care for Asrabey although he acknowledges that he is quite the capable warrior. So this goes both ways. Stuff that happens when CN meets LG. I've always been fond of the duo's dynamic with Asrabey with his almost over the top care for what must be "little Kas" in his eyes and his respect but "not care at all" for Carlyle. More on the specifics in this adventure a bit later, but I can say that the development in the later adventures was heart-wrenching)The Eladrin sentinel then joins our group as well and introduces herself as Faedhraven, guardian of Sentosa. Auryn is a bit surprised by the fact that this city actually utilizes women guards, but she doesn't really mind as this is the Matriarch's business. As soon as Faedhraven understands who we are, she greets us with all honors as descendant of Matriarch Galadin and her Sahomi Gabriel Carlyle. We tell her that we came to find High Matriarch Kasvarina and help her with her lost memories. Also, we have a warning for Asrabey and High Matriarch Athryalla as Nicodemus and the Obscurati are after Kasvarina and will most likely try to infiltrate the city. To this, Faedhraven laughs lightly and assures us that no one can enter this city at will.She also appears to be no friend of Asrabey as she continues to make snide remarks at the Dreadnaught, but he either fails to understand sarcasm or simply doesn't care. Faedhraven then escorts us to a small home where Kasvarina is currently residing. On our way there we get a glimpse of Sentosa, an unusually large city with an equally large population. We're also astounded by the fact that this city seems to have a really high population of women and children.Once we arrive at the small manor, Faedhraven leaves us. Inside, we find a very frustrated Kasvarina who is currently trying to memorize events of Elfaivar's past. She also has a half-elven scholar named Kieran Sentacore as tutor. As soon as Kasvarina sees Asabey return with us, she is more than glad to leave her studies behind and greet her new guests. After the reunion we learn that Kasvarina is not allowed to leave her house at the order of High Matriarch Athryalla, which sounds very odd to us. Sentacore cannot really explain this either, but we choose to accept it as a fact for now.Before we go more into detail with Kas, another Eladrin knocks at the door and introduces himself as Desok, an honored Rajput of Athryalla's guard. He explains that he was sent by the High Matriarch to ensure a safe journey through Sentosa and also act as our guide. We thank him for his service, but also let him know that we assume we don't have anything to fear in this fair city. Also, we will need some time to warm up with Kasvarina and her situation, so he can safely return to his regular duty for now.</blockquote>

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