Exodus - 02

Aegnor says:
The alarm shouts disturb your conversation.
Yeah.
Shadowcaller says:
Where is Cessie in all this?
Aegnor says:
I'd assume she, and Aegnor, and pretty much everyone, is with the villagers.
They all hear the alarms.
Turtle says:
wait… i need the scene set first please
second oasis, where Michicora and Hope had gone ahead and secured it?
Right?
Shadowcaller says:
I think so
Aegnor says:
yup
and then everyone else had arrived
and camped
and now it was evening
Turtle says:
Ah, okay
I missed the time skip then
Hope is on her feet running towards the alarm at once
Aegnor says:
The sentries seem to have noticed a group of people approaching. They're on camels, and wearing dusty brown cloaks

with armor underneath.
Shadowcaller says:
Cessie was sleeping I guess?
Aegnor says:
Your call.
Shadowcaller says:
I think she was
So she wakes up
Michicora is of course running towards the alarm
Cessie tries to see whats going on, in the aarm she puts up a shield
Aegnor says:
She notices some people looking around as confused while the 'recruits' appear to be heading on to one side of the

camp.
Turtle says:
(I hope they're disciplined enough to leave sentries in place around the rest of the camp…. )
Shadowcaller says:
She summons up a air elemental, just in case. Letting it protect her. Where is Aegnor?
Aegnor says:
Aegnor's somewhere else in the camp.
(And it's been stressed to the sentries that they are not to abandon their posts.)
Shadowcaller says:
Well she goes in the direction everyone else is then
Turtle says:
(I would think so. And they're veterans now.)
Aegnor says:
Everyone arrives at the edge of the camp and notice the group, twenty-four riders, approaching the oasis.
Turtle says:
Hope takes Simone and Cessie and a couple of recruits and approaches the new caravan.
Shadowcaller says:
Aegnor then? Cessie is not really used to "go with the flow"
Aegnor says:
Aegnor's also at the edge of the camp
As they approach, they notice the men have rather good equipment and move in an orderly fashion. They stop and one

of them rides a bit forward to meet your group.
Turtle says:
Simone curtseys and offers greeting in Kyouen.
Aegnor says:
He responds in the same language. "Stop! Who are you?"
Shadowcaller says:
Cessie looks around, trying to focus on thier sourroundings rather then the man
Aegnor says:
Their surroundings are, from three sides, desert. And from one side, a camp near an oasis.
Turtle says:
"My name is Simone. Our people is using oasis tonight but to be moving on tomorrow. Who are you?"
Aegnor says:
"Lieutenant Derek Heming from the Desert Guard. Who are these 'people' you're talking about and where do they come

from?"
Shadowcaller says:
(SHe mostly are trying to see if there anything else going on, outside the center of attention.)
Aegnor says:
Nothing much. Some villagers are on the edge of the camp, watching the situation.
Turtle says:
Simone translates for the others, and then responds. "Families and children from Gallion. We are being no threat

to you."
Shadowcaller says:
(Would they even know what Gallion is?)
(They just renamed it after all.)
Aegnor says:
'Gallion? Where is that?'
Turtle says:
"It very small village north (I think?) of here. Nobody there now. We all leave."
"Spirits go crazy make it unsafe there."
Shadowcaller says:
(Yes, north.)
(Well we got both wolfen and elves here so i'm not sure what they will belive…)
Aegnor says:
The man seems to be looking at your group very oddly.
'Oh right, then? And where do you think you're going?'
Shadowcaller says:
Well, Cessie have no idea what he is talking about >.>
Turtle says:
(Simone is translating)
"Away. Look for safe place. I meet you to leader of group? I just translator."
Aegnor says:
'So you have a leader, eh? Go ahead, get him here.'
Shadowcaller says:
(Common) "This can't lead to anything good…"
Turtle says:
Simone goes to find Aegnor and Gilraen
Aegnor says:
Aegnor's at the edge of the camp. Gilraen aswell, and most of the camp by now.
Turtle says:
Simone tells them what has been said, and then performs introductions.
Aegnor says:
The man sneers as he spots them. 'Should've known.' He mutters not to the group, but Simone hears it anyway.
(So I hope Gilraen does the talking instead of Aegnor or something. >.>)
Turtle says:
(Yeah, that's why I grabbed her.)
"Is there a problem, Lieutenant Heming?" Gilraen says a touch coldly, in Elvish despite the fact that she knows

Kyouen. Simone doesn't show her surprise, and dutifully translates.
Aegnor says:
He doesn't bother answering the question. 'Mind telling me where exactly you've… gotten(you can clearly hear the

left-unsaid 'stolen') such weapons?'
Turtle says:
Instead of translating, Simone draws the spirit dagger and spins it expertly. "This? I be finding this in my

shoulder."
Aegnor says:
He waves a hand once in front of his face. 'Who're you and what are you doing with /them/ anyway, girl?'
Turtle says:
"I orphan. No home any more. They take me in."
(You think he'd be asking Cessie… she looks less like she belongs here than Simone does)
Aegnor says:
(She's behind the others, so he hasn't noticed her yet)
(I'm assuming the people who're talking are in front.)
Turtle says:
(kay)
Shadowcaller says:
(Well, she dosen't like to be in the center of attention that much.)
Aegnor says:
'Oh.' He says with a much nicer tone. 'Stay out of the way and we'll take you back to the city. We'll find someone

to take you in there.'
Turtle says:
"Stay out of way of what?" Simone says, innocently.
Aegnor says:
'This group doesn't look like it'll give up as easily as most.'
Turtle says:
Since most of the villagers understand Kyouen…
Aegnor says:
They probably guess that.
Turtle says:
(um… do i have to roleplay the recruits too? SC, can you do that?)
(I figure arrows are being readied about now…)
Aegnor says:
(How many recruits are there with the advance group?)
Shadowcaller says:
(Um, not sure.)
Turtle says:
(Let's say one unit)
Shadowcaller says:
(I don't think they would say much.)
Aegnor says:
(How many was that again? )
Turtle says:
"But what you do? You not hurt them… they take good care of me after Mamma die…" *big innocent eyes*
(6-8)
Aegnor says:
'If they give up without a fight, nobody will get hurt. Tell them that, would you?'
Shadowcaller says:
(I doubt a soilder would fall for that )
*soldier
Turtle says:
(Why not? She's a little girl?)
Shadowcaller says:
(Well, often people that kill other people on regular bases aren't that soft.)
*basis
Turtle says:
Simone translates, and then translates back Gilraen's response. "Gilraen want to know what happen after they give

up."
Aegnor says:
'We'll bring them to camp, and then back to the city. If they give up peacefully the punishment probably won't be

that harsh.'
Turtle says:
(Hmm… I'm reminded of the 101st airborn)
(When the Germans demanded their surrender at the Battle of the Buldge, and the general's answer was 'Nuts!')
Shadowcaller says:
(Well, you better come up with something better )
Turtle says:
(hey… that was classic! What could be better than that?)
Shadowcaller says:
(Yeah, but its not going to lead us out of this unharmed right?^^)
Turtle says:
(Somehow I don't really see a way out of this that doesn't involve bloodshed(
Shadowcaller says:
(True, but we could try >.>)
Turtle says:
(Then Cessie had better speak up…)
"She say we never go back there." Simone translates.
Shadowcaller says:
(Common to Gilraen) "The only way I see out of this is to convince them that we are not worth the effort, to make

them call for reinforment or something…"
Aegnor says:
'Then so be it. I suggest you find somewhere to hide until this is over.'
The man turns to return to his group.
Shadowcaller says:
"Can you tell him we are protected by a wizard and spirits?"
Turtle says:
"Stop right there," Hope demands. In Common, but her tone ought to be pretty clear.
Shadowcaller says:
(She is beside Gilraen now.)
Aegnor says:
He doesn't care at the slightest.
As he rides, he motions for his men who spread out a bit.
Shadowcaller says:
"They can't just… shoot us can they?"
The air elemental moves in front of the group
Aegnor says:
As he isn't stopped, he reaches his men and turns. They all ride towards the small advance group and pull out

javelins.
Turtle says:
Gilraen to Simone: "Run back to the camp, fast as you can. Cessie, tell the officers what is happening."
(you didn't give me a chance….)
(I have three characters to play… give me time )
Shadowcaller says:
It makes the sound of trumpets (the air elemental.)
Aegnor says:
(Hey, I'm doing all kinds of things… )
Turtle says:
(Yeah, but you're /you/)
Aegnor says:
The trained camels do not flinch but the men look around a bit for the source of the noise. (Okay, react now then.

)
Turtle says:
Since he didn't stop at Hope's command, she tries to step in front of him, with her sword drawn.
Simone obeys Gilraen and runs.
Shadowcaller says:
Well, the air elemental can be seen by now, its like blurred air
Turtle says:
(And Aegnor?)
Shadowcaller says:
(And what officers?)
Aegnor says:
Aegnor draws his bow.
Turtle says:
(Berserker mode?)
Shadowcaller says:
(o.O)
Aegnor says:
Nah.
Hope's on foot and with her group, while the soldier is riding and closer to his own.
So nah, she doesn't reach him
Shadowcaller says:
(Why red eye? )
Aegnor says:
(I was dyed in chat)
Shadowcaller says:
(I see.)
"Let me try one thing…" Cessie closes her eyes.
The air elemental starts to take her form
(I think its a bit larger then her thought.)
(But basically.)
Aegnor says:
Okay, so timeline change, it's now when they're starting to ride towards you.
Turtle says:
Wait… what?
Shadowcaller says:
Yeah, we restart the whole conversation, or when they are coming with their javelins?
Aegnor says:
the attack
since Happy wanted to react to the man leaving
otherwise they'd have thrown by now
As the riders begin the attack, Aegnor's first arrow hits a camel and it collapses.
(Anyone else using missile weaponry?)
Shadowcaller says:
"Stop!" The airelemental shours (the words are in common but the sheer sound of it is more likely to effected them

then the words themsleves.)
*themselves
Aegnor says:
This is so different it even makes the camels shy slightly, but the soldiers who see the source force them under

control. It does disrupt the formation somewhat.
Shadowcaller says:
Well, by now they must have figured out that they aren't dealing with a normal group of slaves
Turtle says:
Well since they were too far for swords, I guess Hope had her bow as well.
Hope fires at the leader.
Aegnor says:
And the recruits, a few of whom have crossbows?
The arrow hits his armour in a bad angle and snaps. They ride closer, readying to throw.
Turtle says:
Yes, the recruits as well.
Does Cessie speak to the others, or does the air spell mean she can't do telepathy?
Aegnor says:
Some arrows fly at the men, three of them drop either due to wounded horses or hits at the men themselves
Shadowcaller says:
(Yeah, she needs to put all her concentration on the elemental right now.)
The elemental tries to protect the group from flying projectiles by throwing itself at them, cathing them midair
Turtle says:
Well Simone will get back to the camp pretty quickly, but probably not until a few rounds of combat have gone by.
Aegnor says:
The javelins are thrown as the camels divide and ride to the sides of the group. They're quite heavy and, even

though the air elemental stops the worst volley, some get through, wounding two recruits, one passes an inch from

Aegnor and one recruit gets a javelin through the chest and collapses.
The camp's soldiers are already moving towards you
Shadowcaller says:
Cessie retreats her mind from the elemental that goes back to its usually shapeless form
She moves backwards, away from the battle. The air elemental will attack the closest enemy
Turtle says:
Did the area have any cover at all? Or is it completely flat?
Aegnor says:
It's too flat to have any suitable cover, unless you lie flat on the ground. Some small mounds and such.
Turtle says:
Ah, well good if we had rifles. Not so good with the weapons we're carrying
How many enemies?
Aegnor says:
More arrows and bolts, another camel collapses. The soldiers, now on both sides of the group, see the units coming

from the camp and turn to the sides, away from the group.
24 originally
5 have dropped
but only 1 is dead
three of the dropped ones are running away from the group as their camels died.
or were too wounded
Shadowcaller says:
Well, she casts a Hole Person spell at the leader and retreats further back, as far away from the battle as

possible.
Once she is far enough, she casts invisibility on herself
Turtle says:
No, Hole Person is what the archers are doing
Shadowcaller says:
*Hold
Aegnor says:
The leader drops from the saddle, two of the others stop and help him onto one of their camels, then continue

riding after the retreating others. You can see them starting to turn towards where they came from.
Turtle says:
"We have to stop them. They'll bring reinforcements." Hope mutters to Cessie and Aegnor.
Shadowcaller says:
(I think Cessie is quite far from Hope now.)
(And she is invisible.)
Aegnor says:
Yeah. Aegnor: 'Well, I don't think we can catch them…'
Shadowcaller says:
Cessie moves closer to the battle again, instead of moving into it, she circles around it. looking for good

targets to stun
Turtle says:
"The Desert Guard… do we know anything about them?" Hope is asking Gilraen who may have local knowledge.
Aegnor says:
I dunno if he does, but they're a fairly well known unit of the Empire's army, namely the one positioned,

unsuprisingly, on this desert.
They're pretty tough, say the rumours.
The battle isn't much of a battle anymore since the enemies rode off.
They pick up the three people without a camel aswell.
Shadowcaller says:
Hm, is the dead body left?
Aegnor says:
Yup, trapped under a camel
Shadowcaller says:
Well Cessie starts searching the battle field for survivors or dead people once she belives it to be safe to do so
She casts speak to dead on the body, trying to learn anything from the dead man.
(GM decides what he says and what she learns.)
Aegnor says:
(What does the speak to dead actually do? I mean, what does the man feel/know/remember/whatever)
Shadowcaller says:
(Not much really, just fragments. It depends on how fresh the dead corpse was and since this one is quite fresh he

would remember quite much. But he might refuse to speak thought.)
(He *might* know that he is dead.)
Aegnor says:
'What… who…'
Shadowcaller says:
/Shhh… just tell me who you are./
Aegnor says:
(Is this a form of speech without a language barrier?)
Shadowcaller says:
(It is.)
Aegnor says:
/I… I was shot…/
Shadowcaller says:
/It dosen't matter anymore dose it? You are fading fast, just try to make me remember you. Who are you?/
Aegnor says:
/Rav… that was my name. No… it wasn't my name… it was how they called me. I can't remember my name!/ He

sounds a bit paniced.
Shadowcaller says:
/Rav… don't panic, its completly normal for this situation, your memory is fading and so are you. I can rememer

for you if you wish./
Aegnor says:
/Who are you?/
Shadowcaller says:
/I'm a WIzard, can you feel my presence? I just didn't want you to fade away without anyone to remember you./
Aegnor says:
/I… remember… they'll remember me. Won't they? Derek… and the others?/
Shadowcaller says:
/I didn't see them, I don't know them. I only know you./
/Who are you?/
Aegnor says:
/Rav. Of the Desert Guard./
Shadowcaller says:
/What were you doing here? Where could the others have gone?/
Aegnor says:
/Here… I was told we were scouting another group./
Shadowcaller says:
/Another group?/
Aegnor says:
/Of people. Some patrol had spotted someone setting up camp here./
Shadowcaller says:
/Where might I.. leave your remains? Where was your base?/
Aegnor says:
He sounds a bit calmer and starts to get suspicious. /The enemy had a wizard…/
Shadowcaller says:
/What enemy?/
Aegnor says:
/The slaves. They shot at us. They had… air…/
Shadowcaller says:
/Air?/
Aegnor says:
/…/ He seems to have lost his train of thought.
Shadowcaller says:
/DO I sound like one of the slaves Rav? Please tell me before its lost. I must know where to turn in your body./
Aegnor says:
/The outpost./
Shadowcaller says:
/Where is the outpost?/
Aegnor says:
/At the… Spittle./
Shadowcaller says:
/Spittle?/
Aegnor says:
/The oasis. Big one./
Shadowcaller says:
(Hm, no useful information…)
/IS there anything else you can tell me? Something you want me to remember?/
Aegnor says:
/I…/ He sounds sad. /Never got to see the after, then…/
Shadowcaller says:
/The after?/
Aegnor says:
/After the army. Family… some land…/
Turtle says:

Shadowcaller says:
/…Its sad that you died Rav… is there anything you wish of me? Is there anything I can do before you fade

away?/
Aegnor says:
/I… never wanted much. But I'm afraid… what happens when I let go?/
Shadowcaller says:
/I don't know that, what you belive I think./
/Where do you like me to bury you?/
/Or do you wish to be cremated?/
Turtle says:
(Hope would have told her about Ai…)
Shadowcaller says:
(Yeah, but thats were servants go.)
Aegnor says:
/Does that really matter?/ He sounds genuinely curious.
Shadowcaller says:
/You decide, I just want to fullfill any last wishes you might have./
Aegnor says:
/How little my life was… I have nothing to ask. Not anymore./
Shadowcaller says:
/As you wish, I will burn your body then Rav, its not easy to bury it in this desert I'm afraid./
/I'm sorry that you died./
Aegnor says:
He doesn't respond. You do hear something, but too quiet to make out, just a faint whisper.
(rosebud… )
Shadowcaller says:
(hehe.)
She breaks the connection.
She sigh and casts fireball on the body.
Aegnor says:
It, and the camel on it, burns.
Turtle says:
Hope to Aegnor: "Should we move out tonight?"
"But then, we'll be easy enough to track.
Aegnor says:
'Either that or prepare for their return. But they're mounted, they'll easily follow us…'
Shadowcaller says:
Cessie returns to the group
Turtle says:
"Then we should dig in here."
"Make a perimeter around the women and children and call Windwalker."
Shadowcaller says:
"No.. staying would be a misstake. <they could easily get reinforcments."
Turtle says:
"They'll do that regardless."
Aegnor says:
(What's with the sudden change of font?)
Turtle says:
"And we'd rather face them prepared than have them ambush us on the road."
Shadowcaller says:
(changed computer.)
Aegnor says:
'Hmm. We need cover, or they can just pelt us from camelback without us having much chance to retaliate.'
Shadowcaller says:
"We can't face a amred platoon of Hyrillian soldiers Hope."
*armed
Turtle says:
"I guess they aren't too busy with the change of government to have an elf-hunt," Gilraen says bitterly.
"Do we know where we can find cover?"
Aegnor says:
'Not really. There isn't enough vegetation for much… the carts…'
Shadowcaller says:
"I don't like this, can't we slowly move away people from here with Windwalkers help while we keep them busy? We

and the recruits take the carts…"
Hope says:
"That would only work if we knew the destination, and that it was safe."
Aegnor says:
Naib, who has arrived here with the soldiers from the camp: 'They won't have as many soldiers as a regular army,

at least capable of attacking us.'
Hope says:
(Eladrin might have some insider knowledge of the desert guard.)
Aegnor says:
(Well, it's an unit of the army, specialized in it's task of holding the desert and more experienced than most due

to the constant fighting with raiders and even wolfen.)
(Heh. Mecca is now the Christian holy city)
Shadowcaller says:
"How long can we afford to stay here anyway?"
Hope says:
(I like it when it's the Jewish holy city)
Aegnor says:
(Afford to stay here?)
Shadowcaller says:
(At the oasis, I can't imagine we could stay here forever.)
Hope says:
"The longer we stay the more likely we'll run into other groups that might make trouble."
Aegnor says:
(Well, they can stay for a while. It's got some edible plants and, obviously, water.)
Shadowcaller says:
(Yeah, but the villagers would like to move on.)
Hope says:
(getting sleepy…)
Aegnor says:
(Well, of course. They're not going to stay here if they don't have to.)
Shadowcaller says:
/Her point was that the soliders could hold them down there until reinfocment arrived.)
*soldiers
Hope says:
"We could send a scouting group after them to see what they do, while the main group moves on. Cessie could keep

us in touch."
Shadowcaller says:
"How would they track them? or keep up with them?"
Aegnor says:
'They could track them, but if they get spotted, they have no way to escape on the desert from mounted opponents.'
Shadowcaller says:
"And few places to hide."
"We could use windwalker as a scout."
"Or invisibility."
Aegnor says:
'Windwalker would probably be the best bet. Fast enough.'
Hope says:
"We'd need longer than a spell would last."
Shadowcaller says:
"The second suggestion was more of a throw-off… but what will Windwalker do once they are approaching the

group?"
Hope says:
Gilraen: "If he can tell us what he sees and what they plan, then perhaps… stir up a sandstorm to delay them?

Or kill their mounts?"
Aegnor says:
(Hmm. If he carries people, are they invisible aswell?)
Hope says:
(Can he even do that in the mortal realm?)
Shadowcaller says:
(Hm, not sure. Let the GM decide. He can't carry non-living material thought, like carts or… clothes.)
Aegnor says:
(Then it doesn't even matter.)
Hope says:
(that's just silly….)
Shadowcaller says:
(Hey, I figured if we could just take everything on him… >,> Lets just say he can't.)
Hope says:
(Well he only carried three people in the spirit world. So not really more than a small cart.)
Shadowcaller says:
(four people actually.)
(Hm, would Suroshian really follow us to the desert?)
Hope says:
(Why not? He wouldn't know anyone in Kyou.)
Shadowcaller says:
(Well, he still belives that he only been gone for a few days or a week. He would want to return back to his home,

wherever that was.)
Aegnor says:
(Does he really still think that?)
(After, you know, seeing all the area around Kyou…)
Shadowcaller says:
(Well, we haven't seen him gasping it at least )
Hope says:
(And you know, a different emperor and different military units and such.)
(That's because we have more characters than people to play them…)
Shadowcaller says:
(Okay.)
"I guess that might work… we would need a reserve plant thought, if that dosen't work."
*if it dosen't
Hope says:
"We fought a tougher group than this one, but from ambush and with heavy casualties."
Aegnor says:
(The Desert Guard men would be insulted to hear the City Guard troops being called tougher. )
Hope says:
(they had a warmage )
Aegnor says:
(Point. )
Shadowcaller says:
(We had a necromancer thought >.>)
Hope says:
So… after much discussion, Gilraen and Hope decide that they need to send their guiding mind to bed.
Aegnor says:
Yeah.
Shadowcaller says:
"So we should stand and fight? We must wipe them all out in that case."
Aegnor says:
Sleep well.
Shadowcaller says:
See you tomorrow
Hope says:
(don't forget the logs)
Aegnor says:
'We need to make sure we get away from them without them attacking us again.'
(We're missing that one log, right?)
Shadowcaller says:
"Yeah."

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