Enemy Encampment

It is later in the day. Nearly evening really. There's a cold breeze blowing in, but otherwise so far the weather is holding. No snow. No rain. Just the promise of it hanging in the air like a whisper. You were told to meet at the city gates, or rather just a few yards outside them. The location is quiet and empty aside from those that arrived early. The guardsmen stand ready and alert, though one of them looks sleepy enough already that he's doing the long blink.

Dirk is there at the appointed time. The burly old snowbeard leans against the wall with his arms folded, a grim scowl darkening his features. His little white-faced owl Lulu perches atop the wall, nonchalantly preening her feathers. But even she can sense her master's dour mood. As a fresh gust of chilly wind furls his cloak, he pulls his scarf up a little higher. "At least the weather's holdin'," he mutters quietly, casting a hairy eyeball at the skies.

Having been given directions to meet at the gates, Ous made his way, not from inside the city itself, but from the direction of the woods. The ranger's mottled cloak doing well to break up his outline until he steps out of the trees, he nods to the others gathering at the appointed spot. Dressed in a pair of black pants tucked into soft soled, waterproofed boots, fringe lining the top to shed water, the tall, man of obvious Aesir heritage sports a thick shirt made of elk hide, the hair still on. The sleeves and collar lined with wolf pelts.

Taking in the group with dark emerald green eyes, peering out from between a thick, dark beard and an equally dark, thick mane of hair, Ous offers a hint of a smile to the group, shifting silently as he adjusts the unstrung longbow on his back, more to check for noise than anything.

As always, Telamon makes one think he can't decide on 'practical' or 'stylish' though the reality is with enough silver, you can have both. His well-worn leather trousers are tucked into tightly laced and buckled boots, with an elegant silk tunic in a deep gray, trimmed with white. Over this he wears a long leather coat, fur-lined, and a broad-brimmed hat sits on his head. Catching sight of Dirk, his expression lightens, and he approaches the old dwarf with an easy smile. "Good to see you again," he says quietly.

Dolan was one of the ones that had arrived early, and now awaits the others some yards outside the gates. He is dressed fully for battle, and for cold weather, and is himself quiet, but focused and intent. The greatsword is notable for its absence, replaced with a longsword at his left hip and a crossbow over his back. "Brightest of days," he offers to the gathered group, studying Ous most intently and with a gaze that is chocolate-brown on the left and an expressionless golden gem on the right, set into a face that is furrowed, scarred, and melted. "Let's get this over with."

The Sunguard Andelena stands at the gates, white cloak wrapped around her full suit of plate armor and the longsword Deliverance strapped to a belt on her hips. Her loose waves of red hair hang freely, and she looks around with steel-grey eyes that suggest one thing: she's ready.

She nods to Dolan's sentiment. "Thanks to everyone for coming," she says. "We're about to be in the thick of it and getting teleported, just as a fair warning. Who's doing the honors? Mourner Verna?" She looks to Telamon. "Married man?" That nickname's apparently not getting old anytime soon.

Verna exits the gates, and briskly. Likely intending to be early and yet failing that. Fortunately, that yet means she is on time. Her satchel is clasped to herself and her frown deepens as she is called upon. Not that she expected to arrive unnoticed, yet... "I can transport us as needed, unless Telamon would prefer. Before we do so, however, I have a preparation to suggest."

Dirk's sour expression brightens when he spies his friends, and he pushes off from the wall to greet them. "Tel. Dolan. Andie, Verna. So good tae see all of ye." He offers shoulder-clasps and Dwarf Hugs where appropriate. He turns to face Ous then, looking up (and up, and up). He reaches up to tip back the brim of his tricorne, letting loose a low whistle. "Beards o' me fathers. -Yer- a biggun, aren't ye?" he says. He steps up to the Aesir, offering up a meaty paw. "Dirk Stormgrip. Glad tae have ye wi' us."

Once the small group is clear of the city -- and more importantly, its wards -- Telamon turns to the others. "Alright. You two," he gestures to Ous and Jacob, "I don't think I rightly know. My advice is to listen to anything these two," he gestures to Andelena and Dolan, "say like it's the word of the gods of light themselves. This is no joke -- we're going into dangerous territory."

His serious expression fades a little, replaced with a reassuring smile. "On the upshot... you have plenty of help. And with that, shall we gather together? Time's a wasting. I'll handle getting us there."

Meeting Dolan's gaze as he approaches, Ous offers a polite smile. and a quiet "Evenin'" At which point Dirk approaches. Looking down at the dwarf, the Ranger's smile broadens into a grin as he reaches out and takes the Dwarf's massive paw in his own, Not nearly as meaty, but shakes firmly. "Glad tae be helpin Dirk." the accent didn't really speak of one dialect, but rather a smattering of multiple northern accents bastardized into whatever it was that Ous spoke. "Aye'm Ous." Pronounced us with a hard o. It was a simple enough name. "Was told Aye might be of some use. Hopin' it's true."

Hearing Telamon speak, Ous makes note of the people mentioned and nods once more, falling quiet as directions are given.

"Where are you going in, Tel?" Again, Dolan's words are quiet, unusually so for the usually good-humored inquisitor. He wears a steely focus tonight, though, and studies the newcomers. "We don't want them knowing we're coming. I - don't exactly know what we'll find, but I think Verna and Andie have done this before." He sucks in a breath, then lets it out, hard. "Andie, you'd better explain."

Verna nods to all: most known, some not. "Our primary intent is reconnaissance and retrieval. Stealth is paramount. To that end, I have acquired the means to render all of us invisible for several minutes. As well, to aid in communication, I can link our thoughts for communication." Shouting to one another is not terribly conducive to remaining unnoticed.

"I believe our focus should be upon the caves at the perimeter. They may be the dwellings or command posts for their leadership. I know that at least one was in use by a clergy of no small power. I urge that we arrive, remain as grouped as we are able, learn what we may, and withdraw before they are ever aware of our presence."

Andelena nods to Dolan's words, reaching out and taking his hand. "We're going to be going into a camp that's likely filled to the brim with werewolves," she explains for the benefit of the newcomers. "We believe there's figures of power in there called totems. They're kind of like little statues, and they're important."

She takes a moment to figure out her phrasing. "If we're using the entrance that I think we're using, we need to get in and out of there as quickly as possible. Bry here went through something awful in the entrance I think we're using, and I want us in there as little as _physically_ possible."

The Sunguard nods to Verna's suggestions. "I like your ideas, Mourner," she says.

"Hmm....wind's howling."

Jacob remarks with a serious look in his eyes. "Good, should help provide us cover from our tracks." Dressed in a long cloak of Serriel's priesthood with firm armor underneath of some strange metal, a shield on his back and a lance at his side, He bows his head softly to all others. "Honored to be here." He frowns. "Teleported?" Jacob makes certain to ready his guts. "Ready. Stealth is not quite my forte, but I'm willing to try all the same."

He nods softly to Telamon. "Understood."

GAME: Telamon casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 14 DC: 18
GAME: Telamon casts Overland Flight. Caster Level: 14 DC: 22

Hearing the emphasis is on stealth, Ous looks around for a moment. Steps back a bit from the group and begins to jump up and down a few times to make sure nothing would make any unwarranted noise, let alone clang or shine. Reaching into the recesses of his cloak, the ranger pulls it back from his belt, revealing a pair of bearded axes, one larger than the other. Small pockets of felted wool are slipped over the heads to ensure an extra bit of muffling and cut shine as he speaks softly to himself. "Camp full o Werewolves. Tha' will be a story tae tell th' grandkids about...Wait...maybe no..."

GAME: Telamon rolls intelligence: (12)+3: 15
GAME: Andelena rolls Intelligence: (13)+1: 14
GAME: Verna rolls intelligence: (4)+7: 11
GAME: Dirk rolls intelligence: (4)+1: 5
GAME: Verna used a Scroll of Mass Invisibility.
GAME: Verna casts Telepathic Bond. Caster Level: 19 DC: 22

Telamon murmurs a few spells, wrapping himself in magical wings and armor. "Alright then." He studies Dolan, then gestures for Andelena. "Andie, please blindfold Dolan. Make sure you can take it off quickly if we need to. Although," his lips curve in a faintly rueful expression, "I -could- just blind him outright... that might be overdoing it though." As Verna incants her spells, he makes sure everyone is standing together.

(Here we go,) he murmurs mentally through the bond. Then, his voice begins to chant, the air suddenly taking on a sharp chill, a tang of ozone. "Anungal, kaskal nu siten, ula'ulla!" There's a flare of light as a shimmering sphere forms around the group, encapsulating them. And then they're rocketing down a multihued tunnel, towards the quarry they seek.

GAME: Telamon casts Greater Teleport. Caster Level: 14 DC: 24

There's a massive _twisting_ of magic, a tunnel of light and color that leaves one off-balance and struggling for footing when it comes to an immediate and abrupt end after only a few seconds. Then, you find yourselves in a cave. The cave walls are lined with chains. Some hang from the ceiling, a few mark the floor. There's a dresser at one end, and a curtain hung over the exit blocking the view out of the cave. One of the sets of chains is covered in dried blood. The scent of ash and old death lingers in the air. A pile of ash and black clothing sits in front of the curtain doorway undisturbed.

Given that Telamon's already in the process of casting the spell, Andelena only manages a, "Bry, close your eyes," before the spell goes off. Once the group arrives in the cave, the Sunguard gets to work with the suggestion. She reaches into her bag, pulling out a long strip of cloth and folding it over itself to create a thicker fabric that blocks out the light, pulling it around to tie around Dolan's head and knots it tightly, so that it doesn't accidentally slip off his head, but can be undone when they emerge from the cave.

Once that's done, she takes Bry's hand. "Ready?"

Telamon's feet hit the floor, and he shakes himself a bit. (That was a little different. It used to be rougher. Guess I'm getting the hang of it.) He deliberately doesn't look at the chains, the ash pile. But those in the party can sense something in his mind. A little mental notation -- something about 'doing something about this'.

He glances over at Andelena's voice, and mentally projects, (Use the bond. If they can't see OR hear us, they're going to have an even harder time finding us.) He reaches into his haversack, and withdraws a two-foot long carved rod of ivory, decorated with ravens. He smiles, rolling it in his hand, before nodding to where he senses the others are.

Having never undergone a teleportation before, It could be considered that Ous does fairly well. As they appear on the other end, the ranger leans forward quietly, bracing his hands on his knees. There's a couple moments where his body tenses in dry heaves, but still he makes no noise before straightening up once more and offering a grin that showed his pride in keeping his dinner down.

Noticing one of their group being blindfolded, Ous raises an eyebrow quizzically before offering a slight shrug and taking a tentative step towards the dresser.

• Fwoom!*

The teleportation spell works it's magic and Jacob's feet touch the ground and he's in a crouch, his eyes taking a quick layout of the area as he slowly rises back up to his feet. A slow breath leaving his lungs as he calms himself as he adapts to his sudden environment. A cheeky grin on his face. "Fun." The teleport. There's plenty here that's disturbing. Chains on the walls, piles of ash and death. He looks at the black clothing amidst the ash and he lowers his eyes.

Damn shame.

He looks at the others, as if awaiting a direction.

Verna takes a moment to re-orient herself following the translocation. The (unfortunately) all-too familiar location helps with that, but less so with other thoughts. Those that she shares, however, are more focused. (Attempt to remain reasonably near one another. Keep in mind we cannot view one another, so state your actions as needed to keep all aware. Should any stray too far, they will become visible. Should any take aggressive action, we shall all become visible. Should the situation deteriorate and become, I believe the vernacular is 'fornicated sideways,' collapse to Telamon or myself. We can teleport some or all back to safety. Defend yourselves, but do not engage unless absolutely necessary. I move to the curtain entrance to look without.) She then makes her way to the curtain, making a point to step around the clothes and ash, rather than other. The 'door' is moved as little as possible for her to look outside.

Dirk grunts softly as his boots touch down. He's getting used to jumping about like flitting motes of light. A particularly heavy, dense mote of light. He taps one of the loops on his bandolier, setting the softly twinkling gems studded on each loop to glowing a soft silvery white. ( Right. I'm ready for 'em, ) he thinks out loud in his head. For a moment, he freezes when he spies those chains, and that ash pile. He shoots a panicked look to Dolan, but Andie already has things well in hand. ( So... we're lookin' fer one o' the totems, then? ) he thinks. ( We got any notion where tae start lookin'? )

A laughing response comes across the mindlink in the moment before the group teleports, in Dolan's voice. (I can't, baby.) And then, the world twists, and they are _there_. Andelena is swift, but she is too late, for across the mindlink comes an image. It's the same room - from what appears to be the perspective of one of the walls. A black-clad figure with green eyes and black hair, and oversized incisors, is close. Too close, right in the center of the image, a leather brace of something ring-tipped in his hands.

It lasts only a moment, and Dolan gasps and shuts it down, _hard_, but when Andelena finishes blindfolding him and takes her hand, he turns towards her and grabs for it, clasping _hard_ to steady himself.

The dresser is largely empty. Nothing inside but black clothes of fairly fine make. Verna opens the door a little and to her is revealed a largely downhill location leading to a huge encampment at the other side of which is a wolf. This wolf is visible due to its immense size being larger itself than the foothills that you are currently standing in. It is asleep currently.

Suddenly whatever horrid images are being dredged up by the memories are being stamped out. Telamon's had a fair amount of experience with telepathic bonding, it seems, though his choice of 'whitewash' seems peculiar: a meadow, grasses waving gently in a warm breeze, with the stars coming out after the sunset. After a few moments, his voice comes through the bond. (Are you fit, Dolan?) He's not being cruel or mocking. Simply asking if the man is all right.

Drifting over to the barely open-door, Telamon peers out. (Oh hells. That big bastard's out there. You know, I bet he's sleeping on the stupid totems, too.)

The mental link itself, plus the image sent down the link, slows Andelena's movements, and there's the feeling and emotions that come with viewing it. Andelena's distress. Andelena's empathy and compassion, reaching out like arms. But then her voice comes crystal clear. (No, we did it, baby. He's gone. We _made_ him go away.)

She squeezes Dolan's hand and exhales audibly outside of the bond. (Okay. This whole... Thinking to everyone shit's weird. Like Verna said, there's some caves we can go check out that had some of their leadership. I think that's a good place to start. Just... find a way around big, bad, and fuckin' ugly out there that Telamon's talking about?)

Turning back from the dresser, Ous begins following the others. Apparently much more used to a mind link than teleportation, the ranger even manages thought discipline so as not to inundate everyone with every random thought that comes to mind. He freezes for a moment as the images flash across his mind from the rest of the party, hand straying to an axe reflexively before they are gone and people are dealing with it.

Peering past Telamon as he mentions the big bastard, Ous' voice rolls across the mind link (Jes' try not tae act, or smell, like raw meat.) After a moment, he adds. (Aye'm approaching th' door, am Aye going tae run intae anyone?)

Verna tenses, both at the sight of the same (or another?!) lupine of absurdly immense dimensions and of the images that are shared. (He cannot harm you, Dolan, nor anyone else.) Her offering is kept brief, though the thought carries far more concern and emotion than any inflection her spoken words carry in most instances. (The other caves are along this cliff. I suggest we move along it to our left and check each in turn. This keeps the camp distant and the wolf moreso. I move towards the nearest. If we can avoid entering the camp altogether, all the better.) She slips through the curtain and moves, unhurriedly, towards the next cave.

Dirk grips his thunderbelcher, his face paling as he once again beholds the massive wolf on the other side of the camp. ( O Blessed Lady, keep an' defend me, ) he can't help but think inwardly. He reaches into the ornately tooled satchel he wears at his hip, and draws out a finely carved figure of a rugged, athletic looking man. ( Let me know if ye need me tae uncork this, ) he thinks to his comrades. ( In the meanwhile... let's get tae searchin'. ) He starts padding after Verna, moving as quietly as he can. Considering his thickset build, he's -usually- pretty good at moving quietly. Although he's usually in his woods when he's trying to be stealthy.

Eyes look around, but he nods at the instruction. Jacob says nothing. Best not to interrupt the telepathic chain going on. ( May Serriel guide us. ) is the only thing he offers to the others. He stands ready, trying to stay low and as out of sight as possible. Though it is difficult for him. Two left feet he always joked. But all the same, he nods once to Verna, following along.

Once they are outside the cave, Dolan pulls the blindfold off without hesitation with his free hand, and stuffs it into a pouch at his side. He'll give it back to Andelena later. For now, focus settles in on his features, and he does not respond to any questions or comments sent his way over the link. Instead, he blinks at the fading light, and his lips set into a tight, thin line when he catches sight of the giant wolf. (Yeah. Let's see if Seraquoix or Zinskas are here, and who the cleric is.)

As you make your way across the foothills slowly and surely. The next cave in the line of caves is covered with a bear pelt. The scent of strange incense wafting from it.

GAME: Andelena rolls Will: (3)+10: 13
GAME: Andelena rolls Will: (20)+10: 30 (CRITICAL SUCCESS)
GAME: Jacob rolls Will: (1)+6: 7 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Jacob rolls Will: (13)+6: 19
GAME: Verna rolls will+2: (6)+24+2: 32

The strange scent that comes from the cave makes Andelena slow in her tracks as she follows the group. (That. We... smelled that before. Incense--I think it's the cleric, possibly?)

She sniffs a little more. (Who wants to have a little peek at what's inside?)

Telamon pauses at the bear-pelted entrance. (Hold it. Picking up magic, too. Strong magic. Not sure what kind yet... I'd hate to set off some kind of trap.) He bares his teeth in an invisible expression that only bears a vague resemblance to a smile. (Incense, eh? Be a shame if they lost their priest, but I'll settle for robbing him blind.)

Verna comes to a halt near the bear-skinned cave, though her ceased steps are not any more apparent than the rest of her. She may await others, but does not offer any confirmation nor rebuttal concerning the incense. Whatever opinions or observations she has at present are kept to herself.

Dirk can't see his friends, but their telepathic bond gives him a sense of where they are. So fortunately he doesn't go blundering into everyone when they stop. Wouldn't -that- be shocking? Funny, maybe, but shocking. He leans in closer, squinting at that bear pelt. He draws a deep breath through his nose. ( Incense. Ugh. Smells like a highbrow whorehouse, ) he grumbles inwardly. ( But aye. If we go in there guns blazin', we're goin' tae wake up Fido over yonder. Don't think any one of us is wantin' -that-. So let's see what we can nick off this sheepfucker an' move on, yeah? )

The group pauses and Jacob comes to a halt himself, his hand hovering near his weapon. He slowly takes a breath. (Incense?) He looks ahead. (If everything goes to shit, we can target him on our way out. I recommend we keep the wool over their eyes.) He nods to Dirk. It's a mix of strong gravy if they try and go guns blazing now. (Anybody have eyes on anything?)

GAME: Ous rolls survival+1: (1)+7+1: 9 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Dolan rolls perception: (16)+16: 32

Moving along the wall with the rest of the group, Ous listens to the group speaking through the mind link. Rolling his neck, the ranger speaks up in the link again. (Aye can take a peek.) Looking around, then down, Ous frowns as he kneels down, peering at the ground they've been walking on. (I dinnae want tae alarm anyone, but there is a literal Dragon's-crap ton of wolves in this area. An' that' is quite a lot.)

Dolan does not respond immediately, although he stops with the others, the warmth of proximity and subtle sounds giving him an idea of where the others are, even if he cannot see them. He seems to have taken a step back, but when the others mention the cave, there's a moment's silence. (There is strong evil inside that cave,) he warns shortly over the link. (That may be your cleric. Check for spells.)

"Yes." Verna says, in response to something, but what is anyone's guess. Also, she says it out loud; in monotone.

GAME: Andelena rolls Spellcraft: (12)+12: 24
GAME: Andelena rolls Heal: (19)+12: 31

There's a few seconds after Verna says her bit out loud, and then Andelena remarks in the link: (That incense isn't just for smelling nice. It's the component for a communing with a deity. Normally it'd affect just the communer who casts the spell, but this incense is, uh--it's fucking _strong_.)

There's a beat before she says, (And I'm pretty sure it's got Verna, judging by her tone of voice. Mourner!)

Verna does not respond to the call of her name, and remains invisible so determining her location is... impossible at the moment. It seems likely however that she remains in the location that you last heard her voice come from.

Telamon's mental voice is resigned. (Oh for... Mourner! Verna! I don't know what the hell this bastard's filling your head with but you have things to do! For starters, we have to meet with Auranar's family, remember?) He's continuing to focus on the magic he can detect, trying to pry into it and determine its nature. (I knew we should've put down a protective ward,) he comments sourly.

GAME: Dolan rolls 1d100: (13): 13
GAME: Ous rolls 1d100: (95): 95
GAME: Dolan rolls 1d100: (29): 29

Rising from the ground once more, Ous cants his head slightly. Having heard Verna, the ranger moves silently towards where he heard he last. moving until he can nearly feel the warmth off of her, he reaches out then pauses. (Out of curiosity. If'n Aye were to say....grab the Lady mourner...tae keep her from speakin' out again, what are the chances tha' we all becomes visible an' ends up getting chewed on by hungry beasts?)

Dirk sucks in a deep breath as he realizes that Verna's been compromised. ( Oh, piss up my arse! Verna! VERNA! ) It's hard to be 'loud' when you're thinking to yourself, but he puts his all into thinking as hard as he can. He's a dwarf, he can be plenty boisterous when he needs to be. But this is something else entirely. ( -Fuck-! What do we do, Tel? Ye want I should slip in there an' give whoever's in there a crack wi' me thunderbelcher's stock? )

(Damn.) Jacob curses as Verna seems to slip into the grasp of the darkness in this room. (Does anyone know how to dispel magic?) Jacob suggests. (Or banish away curses?) He turns to look at Dirk. (I'm uncertain that's a wise idea, Dirk.)

"No." Replies Verna soundly, again in monotone. Still in the same location clearly, and non-responsive to their concerns at large. "Yes. Yes."

(Cover her nose and mouth with something strong-smelling. Maybe it will break the spell.) Dolan, too, starts in the direction of the Mourner, but Ous is close, and even his trained ears are leading him astray in the noise of the camp, and he stops, not wanting to stay too far from Andelena. (Andie, have you anything in your pack from the Guild job you just went on?)

There's a sound from inside the cave. Movement. Someone is coming towards the entrance. "Yes." Replies Verna. In her steady monotone.

The bear pelt moves aside and a tall stormguardian man stands there with green eyes and a stern look on his face. "Is there anyone out here?"

"Yes." Replies Verna.

Below you, the massive wolf stirs to wakefulness.

Listening to Dolan, Ous remembers one of the first bits of advice given at the pre mission briefing at the gates. 'Do what this man and this woman say as if your life depended on it.' Reaching into a pouch on his belt, Ous brings up a small capsule. a small glass vial wrapped in gauze. Crushing it between finger and thumb, the ranger holds it under Verna's nose. The unmistakable ammonia scent of smelling salts filling her sinuses. His own eyes were watering from proximity. (Something strong smelling. Aye can do ...Damned tha' is a big man!)

GAME: Verna rolls will+2: (12)+24+2: 38

The man comes out, and that gets all of the hair standing up on Andelena in all of the places it exists. Dolan's question to her is forgotten. (Daeus in all of his mighty splendor, we are _fucked_,) Andelena cusses mentally in the link--

And then there's Ous coming out with the smelling salts. Andelena stays very, very still, but she internally cringes at the smell. (Make like a statue and stand _still_. Also, that shit _stinks_. Good job.)

Telamon realizes this could go very haywire, very quickly. Options are running thin. His fingers tighten on the metamagical rod in his hand, and as Zinskas stalks out, he raises it to point at the man. Not moving yet, but reviewing possibilities. (If he starts to raise an alarm, I'm going to kill him. We daren't let him start casting.)

Dirk knows the name. And that shock of recognition from the others turns him white as milk. Thank goodness nobody can -see- him at the moment. He sucks a deep breath and goes still as a statue. Desperately trying to avoid the tingling that tells him his bladder is suddenly in -dire- need of emptying. He strains to make himself as placid as a smooth, still lake. ( Just say the word, Tel, an' I'll put a bullet right betwixt 'is beady wee little eyes, ) he thinks towards his friend. Hoping that the thunderous roar of his pulse in his ears isn't transmitting over the link.

(Fuck.) Jacob remarks as Verna keeps saying the word 'yes', a word that is drawing attention and stirring sleeping foes. He reaches for his lance. (We're not fucked yet. But we must act swiftly if we are to have any hope of attaining some kind of information.)

Like the others, Dolan goes still as a statue, his pulse pounding in his ears. (We should withdraw, and quickly. We are no match for this camp when roused.)

The man sniffs the air and grins. "Is that smelling salts I smell?"

"Yes." Replies Verna, entirely unhelpfully as the man's eyes land approximately where she's standing.

"Is that a cleric communing?" He asks, clearly far more clever than he looks. Unfair really that he be that big and also smart.

"Yes." Verna replies, the smelling salts seem not to be helping.

"Lets see... Who could it be... Is it that cleric Verna?" His eyes are intent now, and he steps forward a step, allowing the bear pelt to fall behind him.

Suddenly, an idea. Flashing to the others. (Ous, grab Verna. Everyone, -move- -- go into the cave! Trust me!) Telamon's mind forms a rather amusing picture: of himself creating a glowing wall at the cave door, with Zinskas outside and the rest of the party inside. (We steal whatever's not nailed down, and get OUT of here.)

Telamon doesn't have to wait long. (Got it,) Andelena replies as she slips into the cave that the man's just vacated. (It's our best fucking chance anyway, let's go! Move!)

Dolan does not waste time arguing - seems like a reasonable idea. Quickly and as silently as he can manage, he reaches for Andelena's hand and moves in the direction of the cave, hoping against hope that this wasn't going to make matters worse.

Dirk doesn't hesitate. He trusts his friends. At Telamon's urging, he motivates his hefty ass, tiptoing quietly as he can into the cave. He holds his thunderbelcher at the ready as he starts looking around for goodies to stuff into his haversack.

Listening to the group in his head, Ous also makes note of the very large wolf starting to wake up behind them. (Aye ~would~ make like a statue, but a statue cannae shit itself, an Aye might… Also, Tha' wolf is starting tae wake up. Not Tae be that guy, but Aye thought it pert'nent tae the conversation.)

Hearing Telamon, Ous grins an unseen manic grin. (You got it Mister! Miss Mourner, if ye can still hear me, Aye'll ask ye tae forgive me my tresspasses here. If I grabs yer lady bits it is purely because I cannae see them.) with that the ranger grabs the Mourner.

GAME: Ous rolls weapon0: (3)+6: 9
GAME: Ous rolls weapon0: (18)+6: 24

(Following you.) Jacob says immediately to Telamon as that flash goes through his eyes. He immediatley starts to move, heading towards where the others have gone, though he pauses /just/ to make sure that Ousa has Verna, prepared to help him should there be a need. (Quickly!)

Picking up Verna, Ous frowns as she slips out of his hands like a handful of strawberry Jelly. (Dropped her. The Mourner is really slippery.)

"Yes." Replies the Mourner to the question.

"Fantastic." The man states, moving away from the door as everyone slides inside. His eyes are intent on where Verna is. "Are you alone?"

"No." Verna states, her voice undaunted by Ous' efforts. Thankfully his grasping of her doesn't undo the invisibility, but that's about as far as their luck is stretching.

Inside the cave is a large room filled with many objects to grab up. Incense, various bits of brick-a-brack. It seems like there's even a large alter inside beside the bed.

GAME: Dolan rolls spellcraft: (5)+11: 16
GAME: Jacob rolls Spellcraft: (3)+5: 8
GAME: Andelena rolls Spellcraft: (13)+12: 25
GAME: Telamon rolls spellcraft: (4)+16: 20

Telamon feels a frisson of panic as Ous can't get Verna moving. (Alright. Ous, try to keep Verna away from Zinskas.) He doesn't cast his spell yet, eyes on the priest. (Dolan, Andie, start grabbing everything you can. I'm going to stay out here. If Zinskas gets too close to Verna, well... I may have to switch to plan B.)

Looking around, Ous sighs inwardly. Letting a hand drift to one of the axes as he thinks, the ranger looks over towards the wolf. (Ye bunch. Ye really like this mourner, yeah? Give me a minute, then come get yer friend. Let me know when ye 'ave her...cause when ye do aye'm going tae have tae run like the ninie hells is chasin me.) there was actually a bit of amusement in the last thought mixed into the connection

Backing down the trail, a little ways, the ranger begins to quietly whistle a jaunty tune to get Zinskas' attention.

GAME: Dirk rolls spellcraft: (3)+7: 10
GAME: Jacob rolls Perception: (4)+4: 8
GAME: Dirk rolls perception+2: (1)+16+2: 19 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Dirk rolls perception+2: (4)+16+2: 22

Andelena gives a sweep of the place and realizes something. (The incense burning in here--I'm getting rid of that, it'll keep her from being under the effect of the spell again. The way the magic works, she has to keep answering questions and will snap out of it once she's answered enough and the incense's out--which I'll do _right now_--)

Andelena lets go of Dolan and draws her sword, cutting through the incense and destroying it.

(We can't let that man have Verna. She's got a totem and it'll be really fucking bad if he gets it! If we ask questions out loud at her, she'll snap out of it faster, but then that fuckhead will know we're in here!) Andelena explains.

Jacob frowns. This is all going to hell very quickly. But while others get to digging, he takes a quick look but finds...well, not much. So, Jacob moves up beside Telamon. (Figure we all need a friend when push comes to shove.)

And his lance is drawn, eyes ahead.

GAME: Dolan rolls perception: (2)+16: 18

( Then I'll do it, ) Dirk thinks as he looks over his shoulder. ( I'm invisible. We're in mountain country. Not me favorite o' favorites, but I -am- a dwarf. I can pop out there, rattle 'er wi' questions, an' get 'er to safety easy as blinkin'. )

GAME: Dolan rolls perception: (14)+16: 30

Meanwhile, Dolan still isn't saying much, but sets about searching the altar and its area for a particular thing, not especially worried about random bric-a-brac. He seems to be in search of a specific item, but after a while turns to the mouth of the cave, staring outside. (Damn. The pouch on the man's belt has what we want. Ask the questions, get it only if you think you can, but we need to get out of here. Fast.)

Dace looks after the whistling. "Is that one of your allies trying to draw me off away from you?"

"Yes." States Verna, entirely unhelpfully.

Dace laughs and steps after the sound of whistling. "You'll have to make yourself a more tempting target than that! I'd rather have her!" He laughs some more, but doesn't follow the sound of whistling.

GAME: Ous rolls weapon0: (17)+6: 23
GAME: Telamon rolls spaceBS: aliased to Bluff+3: (18)+23+3: 44

"Zinskas..."

The voice is Telamon's, of course. "After all, she's not here alone, are you Verna?" His tone is icy cold, colder than the passing winter. "You'll never be able to hide from me now. Space is a singular pattern to me and it's easy to follow you." The source for his voice has moved upwards somewhat, though he's still nearby. "The stars are always in their paths, and they see you, see your every move."

GAME: Ous rolls fortitude: (18)+5: 23
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d6: (4): 4

Andelena's put out the incense. Now, she knows what she's doing, and it's the only thing she can think of. Get all of the questions out of Verna before dark, tall, and priestly decides he wants a bite of that.

"Hey! Verna, am I holding up any fingers? Do wolves like to eat meat? Is Vardama the best goddess? Are you having fun? _Does Dace Zinskas look like a bitch?_" She's just trying to blow all of Verna's questions as quickly as she can, and she has a pretty good guess as to how Verna's going to respond: no, yes, yes, no... yes?

Frowning as the ruse isn’t working, Ous moves forward once more. Less stealthy now, the ranger moves up to the guy on quiet feet, reaches out and yanks the pouch free of his belt. Turning to run, the big ranger's feet falter slightly, though he doesn't fall. what can be seen of his face going white as he calls out on a voice that sounds like the bearer is about to puke. "But is she more important than this ye big bastard?!"

GAME: Dolan rolls melee: (6)+10: 16

-TBC