The Summit Road Campaign Thread

At the sound of River's distress Taran immediately rushes over, a dagger materializing in his grip as he looks for threats.

"R-River, wh-what's wr-wrong?" He asks as he places his off-hand on her shoulder, ready to pull her back out of the way of some hidden attack, "I-I d-don't s-see anything. Wh-where is it?"

Druhdaar nods and enters the Keep in silence, following the others. He looks intently at River and his body seems to be ready to spring into action, but he remains calm outwardly.

** He will submit to the probe even though he feels a little uneasy with the situation with the Kenku. His surface thoughts were described in last spoiler and remain basically the same: he is observing his surroundings and the people present, waiting to see what comes next... He is very intent on River and her next moves, but refrains from judgement sofar: Kenkus are a weird bunch, as far as he knows... **

When River flips out, Luunkashtai is also at her side in a flash, eyes serious and the mark on her forehead glowing faintly. "She is reacting badly to the mental scanning," the kalashtar explains seriously. "Something in her mind is lashing out in response, causing this reaction." The mark on her forehead flares with a stronger glow, as do her eyes, swirling with blue light.

River:

The other guards close ranks quickly, Farshana and Rentiir at the back and the other two at the front (one remained on the bridge). They watch Luunkashtai carefully, eyes serious.

River's arms stop flailing around after a moment and she begins to shake like a leaf, occasionally letting out a weak squawk as she lays curled up on the floor.

River:

River:

River:

 In the real world, River's body finally relaxes, the bird curling into a ball on the floor.

Luunkashtai's mark and eyes cease to glow, and she stands, although the frown remains on her face. "Tend to your friend," she says simply to the group as she turns and moves back to the front. "We will continue when you are ready. You have all been mentally cleared," she adds. "The deception as to the location of the mind readers was necessary, as it often throws off those planning to assemble their mental defenses on the way up. Once we reach the inner Keep, you six," she points at River, Vishal, Druhdaar, Taran, Arthem and Caelius, "may go to the dormitories to drop off your things and relax until a trailblazer arrives tonight or tomorrow morning to receive your debrief. You four," she points at Likashtai, Tiem, Roiin and Liira, "will be fully debriefed immediately by a Council member, and you two," she finally shifts her finger to Ryder and Riikana, "will be taken to our acclimatization wing. Potentially under guard."

Vishal moves and picks up River, holding her close into his chest, "Thank you. I think we all need some rest. Sorry for any inconvenience." Holding her close Vishal moves to take her down to a room to lay down. 

"crr Sorry..."

 Taran finally relaxes, having been on edge as Lady Luunkashtai tended to River, he bows deeply, "Th-Thank y-y-you for h-helping m-my fr-fr-fr-fr-friend, M-Madam H-Hand, ma'am."

A few moments later, he turns and sits down next to Esteemed Vishal and River, "D-Don't a-a-apoligize R-R-River, a-at l-least y-you d-d-didn't fr-freak out o-on m-mission," Taran gives a weak smile, "U-Um, i-is th-there s-s-something I c-c-can g-g-ive you? I-I d-d-don't h-have much on me..."

Caelius looks to River and gestures widely so Taran can see it,

He turns to Arthem and gives him a reassuring smile and stands where he is.

"M-M-Mister C-Caelius a-agrees, y-you have n-nothing to a-a-apologize f-f-for." Taran translates.

River nods once more, burying her face into Vishal's chest in embarrassment and shame.

Druhdaar towers over the small bird and the rest of the team observing the scene for a moment, his brow wrinkling in one of his trademark frowns. He then walks purposefully towards Luunkashtai.

" All due respect, Hand: we'll tend to our friend a whole lot better if you could tell us what's the matter, here. Anything we should know ? "

As if he realizes who he's actually talking to, he seems to cough with unease as he finishes:

" Unless that's... erm... state secret. Or something. "

Luunkashtai seems unoffended by Druhdaar's blunt tone. "I have told you all I am sure of," she says evenly, meeting Druhdaar's eyes calmly. "Something in her mind - an entity - reacted to the thought reading by lashing out, heedless of the fact that it was slicing through River's own thoughts, which caused her physical reaction. I was able to give her sufficient respite to calm down. Anything more, including the nature of the entity is not only not my secret to tell, but something I will have to consult further with the Speaker about."

Now that River is calmish, Luunkashtai continues leading you through the tunnel for another several minutes. When you exit the mouth, it is into the interior courtyard of Kasshta Keep.

The main inner courtyard of Kasshta Keep is technically open to the air, by dint of being set deep in the mountain, the walls slowly sloping in until they end at a hole at the top, as if you were in the center of a volcano. Spires are just visible through the ceiling hole, lightning crackling in between them, and the walls of the courtyard are broken by a second opening, accessible by stairs, that lets light in through much of the courtyard and opens onto a pool outside where ships are docked. At one end of the pool is a waterfall that falls into the Kasshta River, while at the other end is a fall that streams down the wall of the courtyard itself.

The courtyard itself is tiered, with openings all along the walls leading deeper into the Keep. You can see kalashtar and humans spread throughout the courtyard, chatting, sparring, practicing magic, taking lessons, or otherwise engaging themselves in similar activities. Arrayed in front of the tunnel mouth are a dozen guards led by a bald man with a long beard wielding an extraordinarily strange weapon composed of a staff of wood with a metal cylinder on each end, both cylinders glowing with a faint blue light.

Luunkashtai gives the man a nod. "They have been cleared, Alysdair. Please send one of your men with these four for psychic debriefing and care," she says, indicating the four guides you found/rescued. The bald man, presumably Alysdair nods and gives a signal to his soldiers, who relax as Luunkashtai points to Ryder and Riikana. "And have four of them take these two to the acclimatization wing. The cuffs are not to come off of Riikana until she is in her temporary quarters. Oh, and have a message sent to Murephan. Tell him I would like to speak with him if he can stop getting chased by Thousand Eyes agents, or Edgewalkers, or whatever newest problem he has and can get his apprentice to be quiet long enough for him to have a psychic conversation. And where's Novaa? I want to talk to her too..." Luunkashtai and Alysdair move off, talking quickly, their words rapidly becoming too quiet to hear. Four guards begin to lead Ryder and Riikana towards a tunnel to the side, and another man shows Tiem, Liira, Roiin and Likashtai towards a second opening. The bridge guards turn and move back into the tunnel, leaving the five of you alone.

"U-Um, d-d-do y-you w-want t-to talk, u-um, in pr-private, Miss River?" Taran says, nervously looking around the massive keep. "I-I sh-shouldn't n-n-need t-to re-report in f-f-for a b-bit, and I-I'm w-w-worried about you. A-A-Are y-y-you in-in danger? C-C-Can w-w-we help?"