Blood on the Sands - IC

Lokee adjusts to the change of sensory input. He now had an acute smell that was running rampant with old blood and sand.

Beyond that, he smelled nothing, nor did his metamorphed ears hear anything besides howling wind.
Whatever fight happened here, the attacker simply seemed to leave no trace.......

Lokee sniffs around for a bit but doesnt seem to pick up anything new.

He looks at the others and shakes his reptilian head.

EDITED

Makuuri leans down at each of the corpses, occasionally getting closer and eyeing a wound or a weapon, remembering back to what Vesa had mentioned.

Like a shadow that set upon them at dusk... Incredibly nimble... couldn't seem to find purchase with a blade...

He unceremoniously scrapes the axe Igto gave him along some of the blood on the ground. Turning back to the huge man, he holds it out callously. "Debt paid, right? I'd do more if I could, but I don't know if we're going to find anything that bleeds here."

He casts a glance at the corpses, then settles on Apollon. "Got any good ghost stories?"

"Debt paid," the half giant replies in his deep, booming voice.

"I do hope you are wrong. My axe wants to taste more."

He heads towards the ruins after Lokee, making sure the little one didn't get too far.

"Yeah I got one. A merchant caravan finds an ancient town that was once buried beneath the dunes, camp was made in it for the night, the caravan master gets too curious, wanders off and goes missing, eight warriors go looking, seven die to the hands of some specter. Probably an inhabitant of the ancient town that couldn't go to the gods as they long abandoned Athas. One survivor returns and four new fools set out to find the caravan master. Sound spooky enough to you?"

Apollon tightened his grip on his swords. He already hated this place.

Picking up on the cryptic words from the elf. "So you're saying that whatever did this can't be harmed and is most likely a ghost? Wonderful."

Makuuri smiles. "Your tale gave me chills. Five bits says our man is dead or crazy, and its this ghost's fault."

Makuuri cast a glance at the man's white knuckles. "Can't be harmed with those, at least; maybe the pupling has some useful skills. Hopefully we won't have to worry about it until nightfall, Vesa said it attacked them as the sun was setting... so we're on the dial. No time like the present." He dusts off his hands and gestures for them to continue walking.

You move on, deeper into the abandoned town. The only enemy here was the harsh wind that brought fourth the stinging sands.

A large house on the right side looks mostly intact. Peking through, you can see that the sand had preserved much of the interior. Though the fabric had rotted away, the wooden furniture still remains.

Piecing this together, you should see the remains of the people who once called this ancient city home, but there was no desiccated remains to be seen anywhere. That could only mean that the city was abandoned when the sands took her.

You hear a smack, like a rocks bouncing across the sandstone buildings down the street. Looking, you find nothing.

Moving further into the ancient village, Makuuri has a realization.

It dawns on him that the village is the fabled city of Atreides. It was said to rise from the sand once every 100 years, but had not been seen in at least 300 years. While it was not a massive city, it was said to have the most elegant temple dedicated to the earth caste. Practitioners of the elemental earth domain, much like Thrud.
The stories were so old and unconfirmed that it was more like ghost stories told to gullible and drunk bar patrons.

The ruins were in good shape for being so old. No battles ended this town, though the stories said that the god-king Nibenay was jealous of Atreides' popularity and proximity and violently ended the town. That meant that there was possibly-

As Makuuri thinks on this, something catches his eye. A building with an open door beckons you in.
Peeking in, there was nothing alarming about the building. It was a sandstone house made for middle class wealth. The floor was made of broken patterned tile. It was so old that only traces of blue streaks were seen on the gloss yellow. What does stick it is that only one tile out of the whole floor was undamaged.

They moved further into the village trying to pick up the trail of Hakaar. Still no luck.

Apollon was already getting the feeling that the caravan master was dead. All that they were doing now was just looking for the caravan documents. If they couldn't find those... well they could just be lost to this place for all eternity for all he cared. That would be suitable but he doubted that would satisfy the guard captain.

Then they stopped as the elf looked into a building.

Apollon signaled for the others to take up defensive positions as the elf poked around.

"What caught your eye?" Apollon asked the elf as he scanned the area around them.

Igto continues on with the others, doing his best to pick out anything the others might have missed. He could see from a bit higher up than them, but he wasn't the best at perceiving much.

He watched as the elf stopped once more.

"Why'd be stop?"

Walking down the streets of this unearthed town, Makuuri would occasionally stop and peek into a house. If only for a moment, the whipping of sand through an empty doorway or crack of falling stone kept Mak on edge. Every time he heard motion or looked, there was nothing, which only made him more tense. He moved ahead, quickly scanning through the streets and buildings, then doubling back to move with his band. Eventually, his mind began to wander, curious about this mysterious city and where it came from.

He remembered stories his parents used to tell of cities lost to the sands, an ever present danger in the lifeless dunes of Athas. He desperately tried to remember the geography and these stories as he moved deeper in to the ghost city.

Finally, he flinched at another gust of sand moving through a blown out window, his eyes rested on a glinting tile, and it all came back to him. A city coming out of the sands, a grand temple, their location. He realized he'd been standing still for a moment and waved off his companions. "Well... Looks like the city slept in a little late this time. We're in Atreides. But beyonf that, there's something odd about this building."

He slipped into the window with an almost practiced grace, checking the edges of the room for any movement before pushing on to the tile that caught his eye. He reached down and felt it, digging a bit with his fingers, then began looking nearby for something to pry it up with.

Lokee had been scuttling along with them, taking note of the buildings until the group stopped.

He looked around at the bigs.

"Stop? What find?"

Makuuri lifts the tile to find it was supported by an object, which explained why it wasn't cracked as the others.

The object was a small wooden box, it was heavy, heavier than it should have been. Lifting the fitted lid, Makuuri finds a small ingot of.....a dark metal.....

Lokee peers over...

"What is it??"

Igto towers over Makuuri and looks into the box.

"What's in the box?"

He hoped that someone knew what it was. The big man hated to be left confused.

Makuuri stares at the metal in disbelief for a moment. He couldn't tell a bunch of random travelers what he'd come across, but he sure as hell didn't expect a worked bar of metal. He hears the others approach, then quickly pockets the dark metal into a fold in his clothes before the others can get a good look. He runs his fingers along the inside of the box, acting like he's looking for a false face when the others arrive.

"Its... Nothing. Not a damn thing. Obviously, it held something at one point, but these ruins have been abandoned since Athas was green. I guess I should've expected this place to be picked pretty clean by now. Let's get moving."

He tosses the box to the halfling without a second thought. Walking back out of the building as he spoke back to Lokee "That one's free. Next one is gonna cost ya."

Rolls:

Apollon frowned. The Elf got side tracked for nothing and now they were just wasting time.

"Well let's keep pressing. We don't have all the daylight in Athas to burn."

With no one able to detect Makuuri's deception, you move on.

There were no other legends to guide you where to go. The scout party had not made it this far, and the only notable thing the legends tell of was a temple to the primordial earth domain.

It would possibly have a vast repository of treasure, if it was still intact, and it also would be a good target for the caravan master would head off to, eager to increase his riches.


You stumble around for what feels like hours, the time now was late afternoon, and the city was like a maze, but eventually you make sense of the ancient streets, alleys and marketplaces.

You find the massive temple entrance standing before you, its heavy, sandstone doors closed.

Igto looked up at the temple, taking in his surroundings. He scratched his head and turned it to the side.

"Should we knock?"

He begins to walk up to the sandstone doors.

Lokee sniffs around the doors. Knocking on them. pushing them. At one stage, someone thinks they see him lick it...

Spoiler:

Makuuri looks around the entrance. With the hopes that Hakaar was inside, there was supposedly a method of opening these doors. He stood back a safe distance, inspecting the front face carefully to find some hint as to their function.

Spoiler:

Apollon took in the massive temple before him. It was old alright but it had stood the test of time.

He smirked. Of course the caravan master would of been attracted to the biggest place with the most possible treasure. Predictable.

"Hakaar, you in there?" Apollon yelled out not really expecting a response. "That or you're dead in there and please don't answer if you are! I'm really not in the mood to deal with undead or spirits today."

There must of been a way in. Some hole to get through or some lever to pull to open the doors.

Spoiler:

The door, such as it was, had no visible defects. Nothing in the way on hinges, or pulleys, or levers to indicate how such massive doors would be lifted, nor were there any scuff marks on the ground to indicate which way they even open. It was simply 2, very large and very heavy pieces of sandstone.

Igto knocks on the door, and unsurprisingly gets no response.

Lokee tastes nothing unusual, nor does he smell anything - the whole town smelled old and rotten to begin with and the temple was no different.
His tongue does find itself redder from the texture.

Makuuri looks at where the door where it butted up against the massive frame, but he was at a loss for any useful ideas.

The only answer Apollon got was silence. It was a long shot anything besides heavy hammering would be heard from this door.
The thought of hammering struck an idea with him:

The temple was clearly homage to the earthen domain of primal magics, the kind that didn't destroy the life around it. This peculiar set of power could only be channeled by those who have great affinity for the elemental force being applied.

Was it possible that an earthen cleric could somehow open this seemingly untenable door? It would take time but it was something that Apollon couoldnt dismiss from the realm of reality.

Before he could voice his thoughts, a deep sense of foreboding came upon him. He felt as if he was being watched by unseen eyes. He looks around the foyer, but sees nothing unusual.....

A cold shiver runs down Apollon's spine and his paranoia spikes to a new level. He grips onto the hilt of one his swords and slowly observes the foyer. There was something out there... he knew it.

"This looks to be an earth temple." He said as he tried to locate whatever was out there. "I don't know if we can open it but I do know someone that might be able to to. Throd would be the right Mul for the job." His eyes didn't see anything but he was still on edge.

"Elf, I can't help shake the feeling that we're being watched. I don't see anything but damn if there isn't something looking at us. That or it's my paranoia. I really hope it's my paranoia. I really do."

Makuuri stood with him arms folded, eyeing the doors. No matter how hard he thought, nothing came to mind.

The human's voice pulled him from his thoughts. He glances over to the minstrel casually. "Not surprising. We already know we're not alone. Be on your guard, if the spirit that waltzed through our guard regiment is turning an eye to us, there may be very little we can do about it, even less it if finds us unawares."

He turns on his heel and heads out from the foyer of the temple. "Looks like we're going to need our friend's help. We'll pull him out on a stretcher if we have to."

There was nothing left to be said, it was time to go back to the caravan and force Throd to help.

You backtrack through the ruins of the town under the slowly setting of the rad sun. Shadows were now cast upon the same alleys and streets. The houses were darkened with a new malice.

Whereas before, when the city was quiet, empty and disconcerting, now it seemed as if every shadow and crevasse held a malign tormentor waiting for you to drop your guard.
Down one particular street, you hear a high pitched scream, It came from everywhere and no where at once.

Your attention is drawn ahead, as you see the black shapes coalesce from the shadows. They were opaque black. They had no feet and floated in the air. The shapes had a ragged outline, like capes in need of mending. Only yellow eyes stood out from the blackness of the beings....

Igto's face lit up as he took out his favorite weapon, the maul. He got it ready in his hands as the creatures seemed to form out of nowhere.

"Looks like we got lucky. Time for some fun everyone."

Apollon's worst fears were realized. He froze as he spotted the specters. He didn't know what to do. He could face down assassins, trade barons, or gladiators with no problem. The other worldly where your weapons had no effect and they could render you dead with a single touch was a different story.

He tried to speak but all that came out of his mouth was a babbling whisper.

From both sides come groups of shadows, disembodied souls of long dead people. They move through wall and debris without any hindrance, as if it wasn't there. The unearthly wails they emit was eerie enough, but add to it the amorphous black masses in front of you, with only eyes to set them apart from shadows.....That is a terrifying event indeed.

You never fought anything like this in the arena before.....

Lokee who had seemed to be drifting in and out, not really focusing and just following the group suddenly looked up at the parties comments.
Looking around he saw the ghosts.
"Kehua!"
The others heard the unfamiliar word, but could probably guess at the meaning.
He reached into his pocket, pulling 3 stones out and muttered a few words causing a green glow to wash over them.
With that, he grabbed one of the stones and lobbed it at the nearest ghost, the stone flying straighter and faster than a stone should towards the ghost.
The imbued rock hits, drawing a flash of light from within the shadow. This action causes an ear splitting screech.

Igto relished the chance to get into combat, despite the fact that these things didn't seem like they would bleed enough for him. He takes out one of his hand axes, sizing it up as they approached. He takes aim and goes to throw it, but at the last moment, something catches his eye. He watches as the ax sails past the group of three, striking none of them. He curses under his breath.
The axe passes through the black mass as if it wasn't even there.


Makuuri took the situation in quickly, looking at the streets the shadows were assaulting them from. He looked at his allies quickly, ducking at an axe thrown past him. He didn't want to tip his hand so early in the relationship, but he had no other options but to show them his abilities. He widens his stance, and with a deep breath, shimmers in the moonlight appear in his grip, like glass that continually craks and reforms. "I should've kept that axe... Hey big guy, you wanted some fun? Please, this looks like your center stage." He steps to the side to allow the half giant to pass by, waving him forward with a blade. As he steps closer to Apollon, he leans in closely and whispers, "In the face of the unknown, our truest selves are shown." He then prepares himself to catch the nearest shadow, standing between the group of three and Apollon.

"Indeed." Is the only word Apollon responded to the elf with.
His head bounced left and right. The shadows were on both sides. They had them surrounded.
As the elf showed off his powers something deep within Apollon's mind reminded him of his own innate powers.
He focused on one of the shadows to his left and concentrated. He felt the psionic energy build up behind his eyes before it was hurdled towards his target. He didn't stop to watch and see if it hit. Instead he scrambled off towards a nearby ally and looked to blend in with the darkness there. His only hope was that the shadows there wouldn't come alive as well.



Initiative:
Shadow 1 - 5 damage
Shadow 2
Shadow 3
Shadow 4 - 1 damage
Shadow 5
Lokee
Igto
Makurri
Apollon - Stealth

The black shapes move in and try to swamp you in numbers. Makurri was ready for this, and his counter attack strikes the shadow in the center mass. The soulknife connects and Makurri senses a feeling of sadness and rage. The shadow then extends gangly arms from its center mass that wrap around you. Damage was minimal, but it felt as if you were weakened by the attack. The arms then retreat into the shapeless black.

Another form on the west moves up and through some of the detritus next to Makurri to attack Igto. As it passes by Makurri swings a second psy-blade at the shadow, but he does not hit it.More gangly "Arms"  move out from the shape and wrap around the half giant's leg. Right away the goliath felt the sting of pain, but it also felt as if his calf had atrophied in the split second the arms had hold of him.

The third form follows Apollon into the alley. It didnt seem to have any trouble spotting the bard in the alley, and it attacks. The black tentacle slithers along Apollon's shoulder and he felt as if a sand sharks skin was rubbing on his arm, very roughly.

One of the shapes hangs back, not quite as eager as its cohorts to kill the living.
The last one on the east side moves in, towards the diminutive halfling. Its arms stretch out towards Lokee's head.
With a shriek, Lokee ducks, bringing his frame even closer to the ground. If the ghost had ever been alive, or possibly it was simply the residue of the dead souls of the city, it seemed to underestimate the size difference of the savage halfling.

Lokee sees the shadow in front of him and his nose wrinkles up
“You bad!”
He quickly scampers back towards Igto, throws another one of his magic rocks at the shadow.
(Clarification)

Igto could feel the specter drain his strength and wanted to get back at it as fast as possible. He felt weaker, more sluggish. So it was time. Time to call on the forces within him. The inner anger swelled inside of him to a boiling rage. He roared out, bellowing his anger into existence. Each time he felt this way, it was ecstasy. He let the rage flood his body and power his attack.
He reached for his maul and in one quick motion hacked down hard on the specter in front of him. He needed to end it quickly, for if he lost any more of his strength, the rage might not be able to counteract it.
The swing of the rock-maul passes through the shadow, but the shadow absorbs some of the blow. To Igto it felt like punching water, the hit was diminished, but not ineffective....

Makuuri only had a split second to watch as the bard ran before he catches the hit from the shadow. He recoils from the blow. He felt weaker and wanted to run, but knew he didn't have a safe exit. He resolved to stay, knowing he didn't need physical strength to fight. He swung high with a slow, heavy blow, then stabs center mass with a quick jab of the cracking blade. The jab does the trick and hits the mass as it's moving, severing some of the shadow from the mass.

Apollon instinctively gripped his shoulder. It burned and felt weaker from the touch of the shadow. His hand then went for his sword but remembered the words from the elf that they wouldn't have much effect. He quickly pulled out the torch strapped to the side of his pack and the flint from his belt pouch. He sparked it and shoved it forward at the shadow. Maybe they hated the light? They only came out during darkness after all.
He used the inertia of the movement to bolt past the spirit and hook left out of the alley.
The Shadow seemed unafraid of the torchlight as its eyes narrow at Apollon.



Initiative:
Shadow 1 - 5 damage
Shadow 2 - 10 damage
Shadow 3 - 7 damage
Shadow 4 - 1 damage
Shadow 5
Lokee - 10 damage
Igto - 3 damage, 4 str damage
Makurri - 9 damage, 3 str damage
Apollon - Stealth, 5 damage, 2 str damage

Round 3

Apollon's shadows was tenacious, ignoring the fire and moving towards him. It swings its black arms again but fails to hit. Perhaps it was the torchlight? Perhaps not.
The black mass attacking Lokee follows him, into Igto's attack range (AoO?). He still finds a way to hit the scrawny halfling, drawing a yelp of pain and forcing the guy to the floor.
The lone shadow holds his ground. Its unclear if this is smoe sort of stratergery or maybe it was simply waiting its turn....
In any case, the other 2 have no such reservations, Igto has another shadow arm wrap his leg like fine linen, when his muscles felt weak. Makurri was able to avoid any such attack.

You guys?

Initiative:
Shadow 1 -
Shadow 2 - 10 damage
Shadow 3 - 7 damage
Shadow 4 - 1 damage
Shadow 5 - 9 damage
Lokee - 18 damage
Igto - 3 damage, 4 str damage
Makurri - 9 damage, 3 str damage
Apollon - 5 damage, 2 str damage

The fire Apollon had started spreads to rotten wooden beams on the nearest building. Though it was sandstone, it had a wooden skeleton inside. The dry, ancient wood was no match for flame, and niether was the debris he had initially set of fire.

This causes the flame to grow, and leap from building to building rather quickly. The alleyway was now bathed in the firelight glow of destruction. The shadows scream as the sudden change in fortunes.

Igto paid them little heed and did what he did best. He smashed the nearest shadow with his maul. The black shape was tossed by the force into the wall, which caves in with the impact.

Makkuri takes to opportunity to leap to Lokee's defense. The halfling was out cold, and if he was alive, that was another target that might take an attack in Makkuri's place. He sliced at the hivering menace with his psy-blade. The psionic blade slices the shadow, who seems to loose a part of itself as it was cut to ribbons.

They knew that the tide had turned, and that they could no longer win the fight.

The shapes bleed back into the night, leaving you wounded, but alive.

It was a good thing too as the fuel for the fire was dying quickly. The fire would not last much longer.

Lokkee stirs and Igto helps him to his feet. He was hurt, but he would recover. For now, all that needed to be done was make it back to the convoy.

Apollon had a grin that spread from ear to ear as he watched the flames expand and race their way through the ancient wood. The screams from the shadows warmed his heart and watching the elf cut through them and Igto smash them down steeled his nerves.  

"Igto, grab Lokee! Knife ear lead the way back to the caravan." Apollon barked out as the fire along with the light it produced died down behind him.

The bard couldn't help himself and muttered a little tune as they got moving.

Let There Be Light
For The Brave Explorers
To Beat Back The Shadows That Have Taken On Life
All Thee Light Is Something To See
As Bright as Athas' Blazing Sun
All Set Ablaze By One Cunning Bard
Let There Be Light
For The Brave Explorers
To Beat Back The Shadows That Have Taken On Life
To Weaken The Vile Things
Letting The Elf And Half-Giant Strike Them Down
And Rescue Their Fellow Explorer In Need Of Aid
Let There Be Light
For The Brave Explorers
To Beat Back The Shadows That Have Taken On Life

Makuuri stared at the bard just a half second longer than necessary. He would've loved to sprint back, to watch him try to keep up with an elf, for using a tone like that with him. He helped the halfling to his feet and made sure he was capable of moving, with the giant's help or not.

"Those that can't run are left behind. Keep up. And Apollon, you will address me by my names, titles, or not at all. Let's get moving."

Without another word, Makuuri began to make his way back through the city, retracing his steps as best he could in the darkness.

Makuuri kept a quick pace as they headed back, but frowned at Apollon's words, seeming genuinely hurt. "Boy, you, and child, mostly. But everyone else calls me Makuuri, of the clan Steeljaw. Tordos or Gram didn't give us any introductions? Truly shameful."

"I can't blame them. Probably thought we were all going to die." Apollon chuckled. "Anyways, nice to meet you Makuuri."