Return of the Firewolves

[Bingo]

Throwing caution to the wind, I run up to Caldor, gently grab his arm and whisper, "I don't believe the guards are going to just let us walk out the gates."

Minerva protect us and don't make me look like a fool in front of this elf.[/color]

"CYRSRETTE NULLEV" (I cast dimension door with the destination being 20 feet beyond the gate where we hear the beggar.)

[DrSpice]

Job's eyes widen to see the powerful mage and he moves to shake his hand enthusiastically, "Valinore, it is such an honor for you to come here to Ravenloft. Allow me to get you some food and drink. Please sit and be comfortable. It is true that Galen is on his way here. He also contacted me some kind of paperless voiceless message. He is on his way to Barovia from Cluj, escorted by my troops, and he says that Tharizdun holds more secrets, and that the Axe is Evil and must be destroyed."

"I know not when he will arrive, but with your visit I can ask a question that has been troubling me. Where is Caldor? Have you heard anything from him? Is there any way of contacting him, assuming he is still on the Plane of Fire? Can that Sending you mentioned be used? Or any other way? It seems that I have long feared him to have perished, but I have always held out hope that he is still alive. We sure could use his help."

"Another guest? Well send him in. Send him in of course."

Job's eyes turn to the entranceway, eagerly.

[galen]

Galen is glad to be near the end of his trek, and thankful that he ran into nothing more serious than a dancing bear and some pickpockets on his journey.

"Hail and well met, Sir Bogden. Thank you for meeting me to escort me to Barovia. I appreciate the escort. Tell me, what news in Barovia these days? Its has been many months. I have had no chance to correspond with Job, but, clearly, there have been changes. How is Job? How is his rule? How are the good people of Barovia? They have suffered so much. They deserve a respite from the evil that befouls these lands. So... tell me, what news?"

[TerraDave]

Galen: You have a fascinating conversation with Sir Bogdon as you make quick time from Cluj. Sooner then you would guess, castle Ravenloft looms before you. (ooc: read the Job turn)

Job: You hardly get a word out before Galen makes his entrance, distracting the part-elf spell caster.

“I was early…Galen, as I noted to Job, I have received a sending from a great distance. The message made clear that you are both in great danger, but help is on its way.

“That was the jist of it”

He sets off to leave, seemingly ignoring everything Job has attempted to say. As he passes out of the room and is down the hall, he turns back.

"Oh yes, the priest you mentioned. Yes Caldor. I remember when he practically a novice. A very old novice.

"His help has arrived".

(ooc: feel free to have job and galen start to get caught up.)

Caldor: thanks to your willingness to follow the beggar, with Viator's touch you suddenly find yourself somewhere that is not the palace. Around you looms a great city, with soaring minarets and mighty domes. In the distance you see genies and other creatures flying about.

Viator: your spell works. Since it involved neither cold nor water, that is not too surprising, but you wonder if it would work to get into the palace.

The beggar and the guards: The beggar is about 50 feet away, on a crowded street leading out of the square that lies infront of the palace. The guards are 20 ft behind you. They are surprised to see your appearance.

Next post due Sunday, 8:00 AM EST

[Bingo]

"I suggest we move quickly and loose ourselves among the crowd toward the beggar."

I then follow my advice and hustle in the direction of the begger, doing my best to loose myself in the crowd. I also try to keep an eye on Caldor, hoping that he follows my lead.

Of course, as a human it is likely an easy task for the guards to pick me out of this crowd

[Andric]

As Viator and I step through his 'door', I matter-of-factly give a silent nod of approval to the Roman. Sometimes a silent nod speaks volumes.

But I would expect nothing less than abolute mastery of the arcane from this hu'man.

"Viator, I will lose myself in the crowd as well, but should you lose track of me, fear not, for I will not lose track of you."

I will [hide] from the guards and I will stealthily put some distance between myself and Viator in the crowd. With hunter tactics, I will watch the guards for any pursuit, and position myself at a good vantage point to close in behind them, should they pursue Viator, as quarry. I may lose track of the beggar, but I have faith that Viator will not lose track of him.

[DrSpice]

Job is overjoyed to again see Galen. His longtime companion. The Dwarf who saved Job's life countless times. The brave Priest of War who, along with the late Lars of Dusselberg, extracted a foolhardy young swashbuckler from the streets of an Imperial backwater, Valden Valden.

He runs to hug the weary traveller, "Galen. It is so good to finally see you again after all of this time. I am already starting to feel more like my old self. Well hopefully not *that* much like my old self. The cloak helps me to stay a bit sensible. But please. Sit down. Sit. We have so much to talk about. Have some refreshment."

"As you can see, Valinore was just here, briefly. He seemed surprised that you weren't here yet, and he told me he received a sending saying that evil forces were gathering and that we (or I) were in danger. However he said something about help being on the way."

"And then there is the matter of Caldor. I've been thinking about him a lot lately. I wasn't even sure if he survived, but did you just hear Valinore? Did it not sound like he said that Caldor's help has already arrived? Or did I mishear him? Are you able to contact Caldor with your sending prayer? Can we at least send him a message to see if he is alive and if he can come back and help us?"

"And what of Boson and Elena? I know that she is a wife and mother, and he is likely a devoted husband, but should we attempt to contact them as well?"

"I'm sorry. I know I'm running off at the mouth. But at least you've been given some time to catch your breath. You look great by the way. You haven't changed a single bit. Do you have The Axe with you? Are we going to destroy it? Will more lava be involved? Did you see my son, Jurgen? Don't you think he's grown a lot?"

"Oh, and Galen," Job's voice drops softer, as he looks around to make sure no one can see him. He reaches into his tunic and pulls out a chain around his neck holding the Key of Azaroth to show Galen, "I've been keeping it safe, and keeping it secret. Just like I promised." He quickly tucks it back away.

Job pauses to allow Galen a word in edgewise. (or maybe a few words)

[TerraDave]

Galen: Job clearly has not changed a bit

Job: Galen clearly has not changed a bit, letting you do the talking. And when the interuption comes, it is not him. Mircea reapears:

"M'lord, you have a visitor"

Caldor and Viator:

(OOC you got one standard action as the surprise round, limiting what you could do right away...but given the reaction of the guards, I took the liberty to continue to advance things)

You both head into the crowd while trying not to be seeing. There is no need for an ambush, as the guards seem indiferent to your appearance (if they hadn't been, you would have had little chance to lay one).

The melodious call of the beggar leads you on, but seems to be moving farther and farther. As you leave the square, the crowd thins, and the beggar seems to cross a bridge of excelent construction. It lead over some sort of burning substance.

Post at will

[DrSpice]

Job nods in acknowledgement to Mircea, and waits for his previous words to sink in to Galen.

"Now who could that be?" he wonders.

[Andric]

I reconnoiter with Viator, "We are truly fortunate, you and I. To be pursued by one of these guards is an ugly sight indeed, I have learned. Fortunately they remained at their post, so shall we follow the sounds of the beggar? He appears to be crossing over a bridge of excellent construction. What is that burning substance on the far side of the bridge?"

I will attempt knowledge checks [cosmos, arcana] on both the bridge and on the burning substance. And I will not step on the bridge until I have some information about the bridge first.

Also, now that we have discovered an interesting landmark, I will try to mentally map out the buildings, landmarks, causeways, etc. that connect the Emir's Palace gates with this bridge, in case we should need this knowledge in the future.

[Bingo]

"We are indeed fortunate. While I am quite capable of defending myself, I would suspect that even my mastery of the arcane would have been a mere annoyance to the guards."

Looking in the direction of the begger's call. "We should move quickly, this beggar seems to be getting farther from us." I start toward the bridge, paying only passing attention to the burning substance.

I also make a mental note of the area, I'm not concerned with how I got here, just making sure I am familiar with the area for more arcane purposes. (Don't want to reveal my whole spellcasting arsenal just yet).

[galen]

It has been a long time since Galen has been in Barovia. A flood of memories, some good, some tragic, rush over the grizzled dwarf. Seeing Job again, being in this place... it brings back so much. So much fear. So much death. So many trials Galen and his companions faced in this place. While not prone much to fear, Galen is momentarily overwhelmed by the thoughts and feelings of being back in this place. This place where he has faced so many demons, shed so much blood. And seeing Job again... his good friend and companion. It is good to see him. Yes, it is good.

Galen shakes himself out of his reverie.

"Job, I apologize. My thoughts had wandered. That has been happening more and more of late. It is good to see you, my good friend. I asked Sir Bogden for news of Barovia, but he had little useful to say.

Valinore's message. Now that is some bit of news. Dark omens, but hardly surprising. Leave it to the elves to state the obvious. Yes, I expect evil is gathering to us. We must be on our guard.

Speaking of elves, I had not thought to send a message to Caldor. Now that you mention it, his aid may be helpful. I wonder what Valinore meant by "his help has arrived." Leave it to the elves to be cryptic as well. So be it. I will send to Caldor and ask him to come. I do not doubt he will."

"But first, I need food, and drink if you have it. It was a long trip from my Hold. Very long. I....

Galen's thoughts are interrupted by the entrance of Mircea and an unknown visitor.

[TerraDave]

Job and Galen: you continue talking, but eventually here the guest coming towards the room (Randy, the interruption I alluded to in the previous post…the guest comes at the mention of desire for food and ale, the rest of your turn after that does not happen, and you can edit accordingly)

Mircea ushers one of the towns notable Saxon dwarves, Ardon, who Galen vaguely remembers and Job has had subsequent dealings with, you have no reason to mistrust him, and he gives none in his speech (sense motive):

“My Lord Job, and Galen, Priest of War and Master of Ravenloft”, he bows.

“This is the work of the Fate itself, for I have been sent to invite Lord Job to a banquet for other honored guests who have also traveled far from the west. And now with Galen, you must come”

He will continue insistently as needed. He notes the guests are Knights of great renown. All the notable Saxons will be there. Job knows the Saxon community is important…

(you can also use this turn to continue to get caught up, remember you haven’t seen each other, and know nothing of the other except what has been said in character).

Caldor: If magic was used to build this bridge, you cannot say, but it seems quite sturdy. Your main observation is that Viator begins crossing with little difficulty, and this gives you the confidence to cross. From your knowledge, including knowledge nature, you ascertain that what flows below it is an oil like rare naphtha or lamp oil, but a veritable river of it, alight.

The scene on the bridge: The bridge is 40’ wide and 160’ long (large by Terra standards, typical for the City of Brass). On each end there is an open area of about 40 by 40 feet, from which various streets lead. The river of oil is about 120 feet below. You each think you can find your back, though Caldor certainly has a better chance.

Lets say the side you came in on is “south”, the other end “north”, the left “west” and the right “east”.

Viator, you are close to the center on both dimensions. Caldor was more cautious and is towards the back, 15’ north (from the south edge) and 10’ east (from the west edge).

Then the three new comers appear out of thin air (Viator: teleport is a likely cause).

On each edge of the bridge (center) appears a salamander, a great firey man-snake which you both recognize from your time here. Some horrible thing flies 10’ above the north end of the bridge. A horrid bony thing with spiked tail, which Viator immediately recognizes as bone devil, a middle ranking fiend.

It declares in Ignan: “Taking a walk?”. It doesn’t seem friendly.

describe your action (we are now going round by round) and while you are at it your appearance—yes, what the character looks like—since it has been pointed out that you have not done so

[Bingo]

Uncertain of Caldor's capabilities and recognizing the bone devil's fiendish, non-fire plane nature, I begin casting a spell.

NACTOUN (I cast dismissal at the bone devil. He will get his spell resistance. If I penetrate that, his saving throw DC is 33 - his HD.)

I then move toward Caldor.


Description
Viator is an altogether average looking human male. He is tall for a Roman and obviously well fed. He has taken meticulous care to maintain a shaved head and a neatly trimmed goatee. He wears the traditional garb of a Roman citizen, a tunic with two dark green stripes (ooc: indicates he is a member of an order of arcane casters) and sandals, however he breaks with tradition by also wearing a cloak. Upon is brow is a leather headband of quality craftsmanship, as is the amulet he wears around his neck.

[Andric]

Would that I had the grimy neck of that filthy beggar within my grasp...to lead us into this trap...where is that cowardly churl anyway?

Confident in the ability of my colleague to protect himself, I cast a spell:

ONDO PARMA (stoneskin)

As my skin hardens to ashen slate, I recall my first training with this element. On a lonely steppe, behind an inn, I buried myself neck-deep in soil, to expose every inch of my body to the cold earth. Job, fearing for my safety from rats, coiled a rope around my head and neck for protection. Little did he know how intimate was my communion with the earth, for today I command the rock itself to protect me!

In addition, I will use spellcraft to try to identify Viator's spell as he casts it.

Description
Caldor is average-looking for a high elf, although other races find him charming. And at 6'5", Caldor is the highest high elf you will ever meet. Fiery red hair, steely grey eyes, Caldor is middle-aged, donning an elegant mithril chain shirt, equipped with sword, shield and staff. Over his armor, caldor is wearing a tawny cloak, which hides a wolf medallion next to his chest.