The Summit Road Campaign Thread

Working together, you all manage to slip past the guards, through the halls of the Kintam, and past even the large meeting hall.

However, as you're still several halls from your exit, you hear the clanking of boots that indicate a large guard patrol. What do you do?

OOC: I will wait for everyone to give their action before giving the NPCs' reactions, unless you specifically tell an NPC to do something or otherwise interact with them.

Hearing the guards, he palms another smokestick, but without anything obvious to worry about he decides to trust in their disguises for now.

Druhdaar comes close to Taran and whispers in his ear:

" What if they get nosy about the kid ? "

"We say as little as needed" the monotone response comes, "few lies, few suspicions"

“We’re a big group. Some of us let’s hide. Probably those of us who are more suspicious like the kids. Tiem if you can help with your magic.” Vishal says ducking into an empty room and hoping others follow like he suggests. 

Stealth: 13

Caelius turns to Arthem and gestures for him to follow Vishal, signing "I love you" as he does so.

Ilaan goes into the room with Vishal, as do Arthem, Likashtai and Tiem. Tiem casts pass without trace (add 10 to all Stealth checks).

Arthem Stealth: 30
Ilaan Stealth: 28
Likashtai Stealth: 25
Tiem Stealth: 31

As the rest of you prepare to just act natural, the patrol rounds a corner. It's a mix of fire and stone soldiers, marching in formation. At the group's head is a man with angled features and the golden eyes of a Chosen. Ryder promptly snaps to attention and shoots the rest of you a look that tells you to do the same.

From the other side of the door, Vishal feels a deep malevolence practically radiating from the hallway. Likashtai stiffens. "Quori," she breathes to Vishal and Tiem. "A powerful one too, and it isn't bothering to disguise its presence. Probably for intimidation purposes, for anyone psychically sensitive enough to feel it." Her face is pale, and Vishal, you begin to feel a little nauseous.

He also snaps to attention by the side of the hall, hoping the man who is likely Lord Sulatesh just passes them by.

River snaps to attention, trying her best to look professional.

Caelius straightens his back and does his best to mimic Ryder's posture.

Vishal does his best to hold his cookies and not vomit all over everyone. 

Vishal successfully avoid actually vomiting, as the nausea seems minimal and more of a warning than a full on "go hurl your cookies" kind of thing. Likashtai, while deathly pale, remains relatively composed as well.

The Chosen's eyes sweep briefly past you all, giving you no more than a cursory glance, although they do seem to pause briefly on River before he shakes his head, obviously dismissing the concern as less important than his current preoccupation. As he walks past you, he barks out a quick order. "Be on the lookout. We think that there may be a breach at the prisons."

"Yes, my lord," Ryder says quickly.

The Inspired sweeps past you all with his patrol, the guards all in perfect order and marching in unison. As they round a corner, Ryder gives a brief exhale of relief, and behind the door, Vishal begins to feel his nausea lessen. Likashtai swallows. "It's moving away," she breathes softly. "I don't think it felt us."

Once he is sure the threat has moved on, he continues forward, leading the group out of the keep before they go on high alert.

Caelius follows closely behind, turning back every few seconds to see if Arthem is still with them.

Vishal makes sure that all those hiding are quick to follow once he is sure that the coast is clear. 

Ryder slumps in relief as the soldiers vanish. "Well, that was terrifying," he mutters.

Likashtai slips out behind Vishal, Ilaan and Arthem following. The kids resume their prior position in the spot. You all notice Likashtai looks quite pale, and Vishal looks a touch nauseous. As you start moving, Likashtai murmurs softly to Vishal, "You all right after that?"

“I’m fine for right now. I’ll be a lot better once we’re out of here and safe though.” Vishal responds 

Likashtai nods. "Agreed," she say softly, matching the pace without any support now.

After a harrowing few more minutes, you all make it out of the Kintam and onto the plains around the fortress. The danger isn't over yet though, as you still have to outpace the patrols doubtlessly looking for you. Time to head back to camp and collect your things to go.

OOC: If there's nothing you want to do on the way back to camp, please let me know in the thread. If there is something, post it. But I need a response from everyone on whether or not they want to do something either here on the plains or on the way back. I don't want to step on this roleplaying moment, but I also don't want to sit totally stagnant for a day while I try to guess if people have something they want to do.

Once they are on the plains, he starts shaking, thoughts crowding in on him before he violently shakes his head to banish them.

"False trails, I will set them." he says before disappearing into the grasses. Alone in the wilderness, not seeing the phantom that should be following them. It will help. He will be useful and he will forget, bury it deep until it stops hurting. It will work, it has to or he will go crazy. 

Survival to set false trails for the patrols to waste time with: 26