[[Sorry for the delay.]]

[[ No problem, we are rapidly approaching the point at which I run away screaming, anyway! ]]

[[ Did Koric react to the comment about "collecting...or returning" the loot? ]]

Brand nods, "I agree. It would be very unwise of him to return to the temple. We also need to be prepared for him deciding to go far and fast, and not rest tonight at all. That is probably what I would do: he knows he's likely lost the support of the Temple, and he knows the authorities will be after him by morning."

"In fact, I think I should be prepared to follow him out of the city if necessary, though I imagine he may have other bolt holes in mind, which could further complicate things. I''m not sure that waiting an hour is a goods idea -- it also gives his man time to recover."

[[ How far (minutes) is Shrine, levitating or via  run/dash/dash?]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[Sorry for the delay.]]

[[ No problem, we are rapidly approaching the point at which I run away screaming, anyway! ]]

[[ Did Koric react to the comment about "collecting...or returning" the loot? ]]

[[It doesn't seem to have concerned him, at the moment.]]

 

Brand nods, "I agree. It would be very unwise of him to return to the temple. We also need to be prepared for him deciding to go far and fast, and not rest tonight at all. That is probably what I would do: he knows he's likely lost the support of the Temple, and he knows the authorities will be after him by morning."

"In fact, I think I should be prepared to follow him out of the city if necessary, though I imagine he may have other bolt holes in mind, which could further complicate things. I''m not sure that waiting an hour is a goods idea -- it also gives his man time to recover."

[[ How far (minutes) is Shrine, levitating or via  run/dash/dash?]]

[[Brand covered the distance from the outflow channel to the family estate in about five minutes using the flying capability of his stone (i.e., 120' per combat turn using a dash as his action), which will have run out by this time. Jumping from rooftop to rooftop while levitating (i.e., 90' per combat turn using run, dash, dash) is by far the shortest route, but I still can't see him doing it in under ten minutes because of the added difficulty of pushing off the right rooftops and getting those manoeuvres right.]]

"How soon could you get back there?" asks Brand's father. "And are you willing to take on all three by yourself?"

 "How soon could you get back there?" asks Brand's father. "And are you willing to take on all three by yourself?"

"If you think I should be prepared to follow them if they leave the city, then I will need a few minutes to prepare -- get my bow, food, and some other equipment. It will take me perhaps 10 minutes to get back to the Shrine, if that is where thy are going. I think we can assume that they will engage in their own preparations, if they are lesving. Dealing with them here, as discreetly as possible, seems to be the best plan."

"Taking on all three by myself is not ideal, but one was badly wounded and supported by the others, so he should be quick to deal with. I'd prefer they helped him for a while as he will slow them down. The other two are likely the hardiest of the bunch. Two at a time ... or three ... is far from my preferred option. But it may be the best option we have. They may scatter, and they may flee."

"Battle in the streets seems like a poor option since Rawl remains a Temple Guard and would find easy allies, but battle anywhere runs the same risk. I assume Rawl is the main target?"

"Perhaps we should get back inside and see what's happening...but Madame D may need more Caf..."

[[ If Stink of Life keeps you awake he would add:]]

"...or some Stink of Life"

]]

Quote from AlaricBrand>>

[[ If Stink of Life keeps you awake he would add:]]

 

"...or some Stink of Life"

]]

 

[[It would certainly wake a person up, but not necessarily keep someone awake. Caf is what she needs.]]

 "Yes," says Koric, looking concerned. "We should get back, but don't mention what we have just talked about while Master Assam is still with us—he would not approve. I will pull him aside and tell him he is no longer needed."

The two of you walk back down the corridor to Brand's father's study, and when you enter the room, Koric is looking a lot more confident.

"Gerard," he says, smiling at the older man. "We have kept you long enough. If you'd like to come with me, I have another matter I would like to discuss with you before you head off."

Assam gets to his feet, saying, "Yes, it has been a long day, but I must admit, an exciting one. Who would have thought a respected handleader of the Temple of Donai would stoop to stealing."

After Assam says polite goodbyes to Madame Damass, Koric leads him out of the room leaving Brand alone with Madame Damass and her two servants.

As Koric leaves Brand quickly follows and speak in his ear, "Father, apologies...but I suspect everyone would benefit from Caf, if that can be arranged."

Then he turns back, smiles, glances around the room, and returns to Madame Damas,. "Once again, thank you Madam. Do you mind if I observe?"

Madame Damass is concentrating on her orb and so doesn't answer, but the older woman with her motions Brand forward.

Brand moves closer to the desk and can see movement within the sphere's darkened glassy depths. He takes a seat and by looking closely he can see figures silhouetted by lantern light. As he looks, he can make out more and more features of the surroundings as the lantern is moved about. The figures appear to be in a circular chamber the sides of which are covered in a mural of some sort. In the centre of the chamber there is a flat basin with what look like a pouring lip on one side. Into the basin from somewhere above and out of sight there is flowing a smooth column of water, which has filled the basin to the brim. The water is flowing out of the basin and disappearing down a tunnel. 

Suddenly, Madame Damass speaks, her youthful tones belying the scorn in her voice. "The fools have not seen the hidden handholds yet... If they do not, then they will have to retrace their steps to the cistern. Your father will not like that."

[[ From what Brand can see, are they laden with sack of loot? And what is condition of injured member? Also, can he see what weapons they carry, and what armour?

Is his Darkvision giving him more detail? Or does the lamplight effectively nullify it for now?]]

Brand smiles in thanks to the older woman, the moves forward.

"I'm not suggesting it just yet" he says somewhat hesitantly, "But if I asked, is there a way for you to communicate with them? Or illuminate the handholds?"

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ From what Brand can see, are they laden with sack of loot? And what is condition of injured member? Also, can he see what weapons they carry, and what armour?

[[They are wearing the same armour and weapons as before: leather armour and short swords. They now also appear to be carrying heavy-looking sacks.]]

Is his Darkvision giving him more detail? Or does the lamplight effectively nullify it for now?]]

[[Interesting. The current consensus online is that the light in the room would not spoil Brand's Darkvision-given ability to see in the darkness of the chamber visible in the crystal ball. This means that his vision of the chamber will get better. However, it doesn't help the sick-making feeling of disorientation that he gets when Madame Damass unexpectedly changes her point of view (BTW, the sphere he saw while being viewed in the cistern is not in evidence looking into the crystal sphere).]]

Brand smiles in thanks to the older woman, the moves forward.

"I'm not suggesting it just yet" he says somewhat hesitantly, "But if I asked, is there a way for you to communicate with them? Or illuminate the handholds?"

"No, I am a seer only, I do not have the ability to affect them in anyway," Madame Damass says, but then she adds, "Look, look at the shortest one. I think he has found them."

Sure enough, the shortest of the three has moved across to one of the walls, which are all covered in friezes concerning the god Oannes, and is motioning the others closer.

The three then begin to secure their weapons and belongings and Brand watches on as the tallest of the three begins to climb up the sides of the chamber using a set of handholds that are partly concealed by the artwork.

[[ And what is condition of injured member? ]]

"Good." Brand nods, then watches them climb, looking for signs of injuries.

"You obviously know the shrine...do you know how long it will take them to leave, assuming they don't meet resistance?"

[[ If he can fit in another question: ]]

"From what you said earlier, you are familiar with Rawl...do you know is he has a place to stay other than the temple?"

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ And what is condition of injured member? ]]

[[He is bloodied, but seems to be holding up.]]

"Good." Brand nods, then watches them climb, looking for signs of injuries.

"You obviously know the shrine...do you know how long it will take them to leave, assuming they don't meet resistance?"

[[ If he can fit in another question: ]]

"From what you said earlier, you are familiar with Rawl...do you know is he has a place to stay other than the temple?"

"Rawl and I have had a run-in before, but I don't know his haunts," says Madame Damass before adding, "And I do not know the shrine, I am concentrating on the man himself, odious as that is."

The older woman then speaks. "Madame Damass is seeing far more than we can and needs to concentrate, so fewer questions please."

As this is being said, Brand sees what he thinks is a tiny rope being lowered down from above to where the miniature Rawl and the shorter man are waiting.

He then watches on while Rawl secures it to the injured man who then starts climbing the wall with the rope being kept taut to prevent him from falling.

"What is happening, Alaric?" asks Brand's father as he re-enters the room.

Brand nods to the older woman, and tries to keep his eyes on the orb, while speaking in hushed tones to his father, "It looks like they are climbing out of some sort of cistern. One man has climbed to the top and lowered a rope, the injured man is being assisted up, and Rawl is at the bottom. Does the location sound familiar? There are hidden handholds in the wall."

[[ Wait for response then continue]]

He glances at his father, then continues. "It just occurred to me that things may be more complicated than we thought: if we can get back in the way they are going, and if the trapper is still alive, but unconscious, then we may yet be able to save him."

Brand frowns at the orb. "The answer depends on your priorities and Rawl's bravado: if Rawl flees the city, then we can let him go and try for the trapper, or we can follow and hope the trapper survives. If Rawl stays in the city, we could attempt to get to the trapper, and possibly have another ally dealing with Rawl. Though that might require even more caf." he says, smiling at his father.

Turning back to the Orb he says, "Unfortunately, now would have been the perfect time to deal with them, but I did not know Rawl had betrayed you, so I came back here. It would take, perhaps, 10 minutes to get there now, by which time I fear that they would be gone."

"...and we have another problem...what do we do if Rawl is not the mastermind, and is now heading back to one who planned this?"

[[ Are any of the men the cat person? ]

For later, if cat-man alive: "Do you see value in keeping any of the lackeys alive? The man with the cat seemed to at least appreciate Rawl's...inadequacies"

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

Brand nods to the older woman, and tries to keep his eyes on the orb, while speaking in hushed tones to his father, "It looks like they are climbing out of some sort of cistern. One man has climbed to the top and lowered a rope, the injured man is being assisted up, and Rawl is at the bottom. Does the location sound familiar? There are hidden handholds in the wall."

[[ Wait for response then continue]]

He glances at his father, then continues. "It just occurred to me that things may be more complicated than we thought: if we can get back in the way they are going, and if the trapper is still alive, but unconscious, then we may yet be able to save him."

Brand frowns at the orb. "The answer depends on your priorities and Rawl's bravado: if Rawl flees the city, then we can let him go and try for the trapper, or we can follow and hope the trapper survives. If Rawl stays in the city, we could attempt to get to the trapper, and possibly have another ally dealing with Rawl. Though that might require even more caf." he says, smiling at his father.

Turning back to the Orb he says, "Unfortunately, now would have been the perfect time to deal with them, but I did not know Rawl had betrayed you, so I came back here. It would take, perhaps, 10 minutes to get there now, by which time I fear that they would be gone."

"...and we have another problem...what do we do if Rawl is not the mastermind, and is now heading back to one who planned this?"

[[ Are any of the men the cat person? ]

[[No.]]

---

For later, if cat-man alive: "Do you see value in keeping any of the lackeys alive? The man with the cat seemed to at least appreciate Rawl's...inadequacies"

Koric peers into the orb and then says, "It must be under the Shrine of Oannes. It's the only place it could be."

Then, in answer to Brand's suggestion. "Madame Damass can track Rawl and the others, and find out if Rawl is working for someone else. Are you able to go back and see if the trap finder survived?"

Brand nods, "Of course, but tell me of the design, what you know of it. Safe entrances, exits...whatever you know. Is Fazal back, does he know? .... and is the caf on the way?"

[[Brand continues to watch the 70s TV, trying to note routes in and out ]]

"I'm afraid I don't know," says Koric. "I have visited the publicly accessible part of the shrine, but not gone behind the scenes. All I know is that they magically draw up water from the river and it comes out of the shrine pure. Frankly, I'm surprised there's a way up into the shrine."

When Brand asks about Fazal, Koric says, "I haven't been informed that he's returned, but he wouldn't be able to help. He's already told me that he doesn't know anything about the tunnel from the shrine. That's why we had to come in through the river tunnel."

"Tell me what you can, I don't believe I've ever been there." [[ I think you said that ]]

Brand glances at the others in the room, "Do any of you know anything about the interior?"

"It's supposed to be a demonstration of Oannes' power," say the older-looking woman. "But it's all done with magic, I believe."

With everyone looking at her, the woman describes what she has seen. "Water is drawn up from the river magically through a large bronze pipe and the dirty stuff spills out of the end of the pipe and flows into a pair of huge, silver-inlaid, bronze hands that are shaped like someone cupping their hands. Crystal clear water seeps out through the bottom of the fingers and falls into a stone basin with a hole in the bottom. I suppose, that must be how it gets down into the channel that feeds the cistern.",

Then, after a moment's thought, she continues, saying, "That's about all I know, except that there is a definite aura of magic around the cupped hands, and that the whole things works without any intervention from the priests."

When Brand prompts her about the interior, of the shrine she says, "No. The shrine itself is open to the elements. There's a roof on it, but there are no walls... Oh, and there were a couple of priests in attendance when I visited the shrine, but I have no idea if they would be there now... Probably not, considering the nasty weather."

[[ Brand keeps watching and listening intently, in case there is some command used to activate any magic, until it becomes clear that they are out into the night and have a clear route to freedom ]]

"Thank you my lady, do you have any inkling of where they are now?"

"I assume they must be under the shrine," she says in reply. "It has been built up to overlook the river."

By this time, Rawl is climbing the rope and the scene changes to a much smaller chamber where Brand can see the tallest man trying to bash his way through a half-sized door with his shoulder. Then, faintly, Brand hears a voice say: "What's taking you so long?"

The man at the door turns in reaction to the question and says something in reply, but Brand can't hear his reply and so leans in closer to hear better.

"Get out of my way," snarls the tiny figure of Rawl who pulls the taller man aside roughly and then puts his own shoulder to the door—with no better result.

"Ha, ha," says Madame Damass. "It would seem the villains have reached a dead end."

"Three desperate and angry men, and a wooden door, or return to face a Seeker...I know where my money is."

"Does anyone recognise the door?"

Suddenly Madame Damass says, "Wait! Listen?"

Distantly, Brand hears Rawl's tiny voice say, "... out there."

Looking closely, Brand sees Rawl gesture for the others to be quiet and then hears him say, "I am Handleader Rawl from the Temple of Donai. Let us out, we are on temple business."

"I don't like this..." says Madame Damass as the small door is opened and torchlight spills into the small chamber from outside.

Rawl peers out through the door and then steps through it taking Madame Damass's point of view with him.

A larger chamber containing numerous barrels and boxes along with the spartan trappings of someone's private quarters is revealed, along with an older man in the sea-green robes of a priest of Oannes.

"Thank you," says the tiny Rawl, looking about. "Is there anyone else about, I have a man here who needs help?"

Apparently, the answer is no, but the man seems eager to help himself, moving towards the smaller door.

He never makes it, as Rawl steps in behind him, pulls his chin up and draws his short sword across his throat.

There is a sudden gasp of surprise from Madame Damass's female chaperone, but Brand keeps his eyes on the betrayal that is playing out in front of his eyes in miniature.

Blood spills down the front of the man's robes, but the injury does not seem to be immediately lethal. 

Instead, he breaks free of Rawl's grip—who seems to be surprised at his failing at an instant kill—and staggers away to put his back to the nearest wall.

"You're tougher than you look, old man," says Rawl moving in for the kill.

The man suddenly lashes out at Rawl. But his blow does nothing but leave his own blood on the armour of Rawl's chest.

Rawl's answer is to stab his shortsword into the man's stomach.

The elderly priest doubles over and sinks to the floor.

"The bastard will pay for that," says Brand's father harshly. "The man was an innocent, and a priest."