CH 2: Lost City of the Ancients

[Talyn]

Raistlin ducks to stay under his brother's swing and then he touches the head of the Staff of Magius. "Shirak!" he says, hoping the staff's light will be enough to overcome the darkness that had descended upon them.

If that works and he is able to see the draconian, he swings the staff at the creature, hoping to inflict at least a little bit of harm.

Raistlin Attacks:
1d20+2=3

(( Annnnnd Raistlin fails miserably! Go go natural 1 on the dice roll! ))

[Jenara]

(OOC: DOH!)

[Breila]

In response to Laurana's plea, Goldmoon stops and turns around. She cannot maintain her face set. Tears are running down her cheeks. "Laurana, I'm sorry" she says, her voice breaking. "But my Goddess has sent me a message. If I'm not in time, the world as we know it will die. I cannot wait, I have to reach Xak Tsaroth before midnight."

Goldmoon turns away from Laurana and follows Riverwind, walking as quickly as possible.

[JadedDM]

At the wizard's command word, the crystal orb that capped Raistlin's staff burst into light, driving away the magical darkness. This revealed that the two draconians had high-tailed it while the party was distracted by the darkness. The wily creatures had escaped, and more than that, Tanis and Flint were now missing.

To add to their already compounded troubles, Goldmoon and Riverwind were pushing forward, leaving the others behind and willing to accept Tanis' and Flint's kidnappings as unfortunate casualties.

"Poor Tanis! Poor Flint! What do we do now?" Tas exclaims, used to either the half-elf or the dwarf giving orders. They were gone now, so who would lead them?

======================

Combat ends.

[Jerrard]

Sturm sheaves Brightblade, "Well, we need to go and get Tanis, rescue them, everbody." He shouts grabbing Caramon by the arm.

[Jenara]

"No." Laurana says quite firmly, "If going to this place is so Important, then you should all go with them, they will die if they go alone." She looks to where the departing Creatures went, her face screwed up in concentration. "Tas, will you come with me? We will go and rescue them." She raises her self up, pulling herself to her full height. Did she really think she could do this? That would show them.

(Ooc: Yes I am aware I would be the only Player....)

[JadedDM]

"Right! Rescue!" Tas says, his eyes shining with eagerness. But then he stops suddenly and thinks to himself, before saying, "But, uh, how will we track them in this swamp?"

[Talyn]

Raistlin looks at the others. "Our companions may survive the night without our aid. But if we do not reach the city, we will all die." he says in the cold tones of cruel logic. "I will accompany the chosen of this goddess to the city."

With that said, Raistlin moves after Riverwind and Goldmoon. His stride determined and without hesitation.

[Jenara]

"Caramon, go with him, and you Sturm." Laurana, ushers them away, she turns to Tas. "They are an army, they saw an army, so they can't really keep themselves hidden, besides its a path, where else could they be?"

[JadedDM]

Whether Sturm and Caramon listen to Laurana and go with the others or not, Goldmoon, Riverwind and Raistlin continue forward on their own. They don't get too far before Riverwind leads them to a triple fork in the path.

To the east and northwest are vine bridges similar to the first bridge they encountered. To the northeast, however, amid the drooping vines and mosses, is a wooden bridge. Its ornate latticework, carved to resemble vines, is broken in many places.

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(OOC: The vine bridges will function just like the first one. A DEX check is needed to cross them. No such check is needed for the wooden bridge. Also, I managed to find a map online. It's below. The red dot represents Goldmoon, Riverwind, and Raistlin. The blue dot is where Laurana and Tasslehoff are. The white hexes are dry land and blue hexes are swamp water.)

[Breila]

"I think it will be the wooden bridge that leads into the city, what do you think, Riverwind? Do you know where to go?" Goldmoon looks at the bridge, checking the state of the planks and the support beams where she can see them. "Do you think the bridge is safe?" she asks the men.

[Jerrard]

(Quick flashback here, damn this Goldmoon is stubborn!!)

Sturm raises his hands at the Stubborn Elf, what did she hope to achieve? Yet looking into her eyes he realises there is no way he can change her mind. "You are resigned to this course of action?" When she nods he shrugs, "I will try to get them to wait for you, my Honor does not allow me to leave a Lady behind, and yet I am drawn to help our two Plainsfolk." He stands indecisive, seeing Rastlin go and Caramon follow (come on we all know he will) he gives Laurana a bow and kisses her hand.

"I will wait for you, perhaps you were misjudged." He says with a smile, following the departing members of the group.

[Jenara]

Laurana grabs Tas's hand quickly, watching the others leave, she then heads in the direction she last saw the creatures escape with Tanis and Flint. "Thank you Tas, we have to rescuce Flint." Smiling her blonde hair falling about her head she ties it back as they move. Then she puts her hand on her sword, and checks her pockets, she was wise enough not to fully trust a Kender.

"We move quietly, keep moving, and try not to be noticed."

(Ooc: Laurana is an elf, in Elven Chain, thus I believe she can move quietly, and Tas has Move Silently / Hide in Shadows.. She plans to follow where they might have gone, it should be obvious which they they went because the vines would probably need to be moved to let them pass.. Thats her plan)

[JadedDM]

"This bridge appears to be safe," Riverwind says, testing it with his foot. "Safer than the vine bridges, at any rate. I will go first," he says, keeping his sword and knife drawn. He looks up and over Goldmoon's shoulder and frowns at the sight of the mage, his brother, and the knight following after them. And here he thought he had rid himself of them.

Meanwhile, Laurana and Tasslehoff went the opposite direction in an attempt to find their captured friends. Neither are proficient trackers, but luckily the draconians had made no effort to conceal their trail as they fled. Even a drunken gully dwarf could have followed this trail.

Unfortunately, the trail led them right toward the swamp water. It's impossible to tell how deep the water is as it's so murky, but about thirty feet across is dry land. It's clear the draconians must have traversed it somehow.

[Breila]

When Goldmoon sees Riverwind's frown, she turns around. Here eyes widen in surprise as she sees the others arriving. She had expected them to go rescue their friends, not to follow her. But she doesn't wait for them, but, staff in hand, follows Riverwind across the bridge.