Copyright ©1998 Jonathan Cardon
Amber DRPG is Copyright ©1991 Erick Wujcik

Han: Marching into the detention area is not what I had in mind.
Luke: But they're going to kill her!
Han: Better her than me...
    Luke Skywalker and Han Solo, Star Wars

Wang: "You thought they'd just let us walk in out like the wind?"
Jack: "Yeah, I thought that was your whole damn point!"
    Wang and Jack Burton, Big Trouble in Little China

Between the Pattern of Amber and the Logrus of Chaos are the lesser powers: broken patterns, the ravelled logrii, representations, designs, and wells. Realms of power. Shards.
Amber defeated Chaos in the Patternfall War, but the battle continues.

Now the Shards begin to fall. The realm of Begma is no more.
Slowly the eyes of the other Shards begin to open.
Chiare prepares for battle, but most remain blind to the danger.
In Thule Clieto is dead, the king mourns, and listens.
A small band of heroes has returned to Kashfa. They have found a fallen realm under the control of Amber, and have lost an ally. An ally that they will defy Amber to save, but at what cost?...

Krinac says "Ok Madrak is 'dead', Rex has vanished, and Allyna is present but on NPC mode."

Vance returns with Kaisarah, and goes to speak with Allyna privately.

Krinac says "Sunfall and I never summarized, but to make a long story short, Sunfall independently confirmed much of what Kaisarah has told you, and then managed to get to Kaisarah's shop without being discovered. Sunfall also confirms that Andra is alive, has received medical treatment, and was being sent to the castle."
It is now still two hours to sunset. Vance spent some time talking with Kaisarah in private. You have all had some time to clean up the blood, gore, or seawater from the fight."

Vance thanks Sunfall for the information, then talks to Allyna about getting two temporary Trumps...one of her, and one of Sean.

Krinac says "Incidentally Jeanette's wound is turning red and angry."

Jeanette frowns at it, and goes to wash it clean and bandage it properly.

Krinac notes Kashfa is a large city that hasn't discovered sewage treatment. The harbor isn't exactly the best place to swim with open wounds.

Jeanette will admit, she hadn't thought of that.

Allyna protests saying it isn't easy to draw a trump of yourself, especially with the inferior quality of materials she currently has to work with. She offers to make a trump of the room instead. Trump sketch that is.

Vance frowns. "I don't have time to argue. Make the sketch of the room, then. I need that done first, before dark. You can work on Sean's after I leave."

Jeanette retreats to a side room, if one is available, to rest while Allyna works.
Jeanette spends the next hour, if uninterrupted, working on building magical energies and casting a spell, the slow way.

Sunfall watches Jeanette carefully, in case her strength ebbs too low during casting.

Vance finishes his discussion with Sunfall, and takes the time for a short nap before dusk.

Jeanette seems to have no more problems than one would expect of someone who's been through a vigorous day and already wounded once. Which is to say, she's a touch tired, but doing fine.

Shortly before nightfall Kaisarah leaves the shop for unexplained reasons.

Vance gets up a half-hour before nightfall, and begins to check over his scimitar and a few daggers that appear out of folds of his clothing.

There is little warning of the cordon of soldiers that descends upon the block. The seal off the block so no one can leave, then begin a house to house search. You have maybe fifteen minutes before they reach Kaisarah's shop.

Krinac says "Notes that Jeanette's healing spell is done by now."

Jeanette rests, after the spell, until we get the warning of the soldiers coming.

Ariadne grabs her spear. Sean has unsheathed his sword.

Jeanette frowns a moment, and glances about the racks. Is there anything that could pass for a soldier's uniform?

Krinac says "Actually yes there is. There are a surprising number of finished garments in the shop."

Vance grabs his weaponry, quickly secures it, and says, "Through the side window, go through the alley to the third building down. Break in, and quiet the inhabitants. Allyna, if you've finished that sketch, we can use it to get back here after this place is searched."

Jeanette smiles, "Ladies and gentlemen, I think it's time for us to turn invisible." She grins and begins putting on one of the uniforms.

Sunfall quickly slips into one of the uniforms and heads to the side window.

Vance shakes his head. "Ladies are uncommon in the military, and they've probably passed around my description. Give them to Reed and Sean."

Jeanette passes a pair to those worthies, and nods, then follows Sunfall.

Vance brings up the rear, pausing only to grab a small box from upstairs.

Sean rushes forward to the designated house, and forces his way through the door.

Krinac sketches the scene for Madrak's benefit... It is almost nightfall and the block has been sealed off while the guards conduct a house to house search. Vance has directed everyone to leave to another house until the guards search the tailor's shop.

Vance brings up the rear, ducking into the house Sean has already forced his way into.

Everyone rushes into the house. Sean has grabbed a woman and is holding his hand over her mouth, a young child is dazed as the rest of you enter, but with a shriek darts under the table.

Vance says, "Secure the child." Without further word, Vance starts moving from room to room, a blade in his hand.

Jeanette nods, and reaches under the table, "Come here, child..."

The house is small. Consisting of a main room, a kitchen, and a bedroom. A man steps forward out of the bedroom, he is large with huge bulging biceps. In his hands a blacksmith's hammer is balanced with practiced ease. The child shrieks at Jeanette and tries to back away from her.

Vance says to the blacksmith, in a quiet but menacing voice. "You will stay quiet, and no harm will come to you. Try anything, and you will lose your wife and child, at the least."

The smith eyes Vance's blade, and looks at the scene. "YOU are the ones the guards are searching for. Harm one hair on the head of my wife or son, and this hammer will crush your head like a ripe melon." The menace in his voice is clear, but he says it quietly.

Jeanette gathers up the child in her arms, covering the girl's mouth with a gauntleted hand. "Sir, we have no reason to harm any. It is those who have conquered your city that search... do you truly have so much love for them?"

The smith's gaze stays on Vance's blade. "They've never held my family hostage.

Jeanette nods, and says to Vance, "Put the blade away." To the smith, she replies, "He acts out of the same fear you feel, sir. Please, forgive him his hasty words."

Vance does not appear to have heard Jeanette. He holds up something in his free hand, a gem that shines in the light. "The need is urgent, good smith, and the stakes are high. I would appeal to your kinder nature, but time does not favor such a method. Choose."

Krinac notes the guards are now at the tailor shop, and will be approaching this house shortly thereafter.

The smith says quietly, "I choose my family, and will hold my tongue, but your time is short. The guards will be here soon."

Vance tosses the smith the gem, and sheathes the blade. "Allyna, it's time to go."

Jeanette smiles, and releases the child to her mother. "Well-faring to you all. And our apologies for the unpleasantness."

Allyna already has the sketch out. "Hurry now one at a time, take my hand, when you see our destination, step through."

Sean releases the woman. "Sorry about that," he mutters quietly.

Vance waits, apparently planning to be the last to go.

The woman gives Sean an icy stare, and comforts her child.

Sunfall steps through.

Allyna says "Quickly before it fades."

Jeanette gestures Sean ahead.

Reed and Ariadane quickly step through.
Sean follows.
Jeanette steps through after Sean.
Vance steps through quickly after Jeanette.
Allyna steps through after everyone else.

Allyna stares at the trump sketch a bit. "The virtue is gone. I must start another one. Are the guards gone?"

Krinac notes the guards do appear to be gone.

As soon as Allyna steps through, Vance says, "We're safe for the moment. How far along are you on Sean's sketch?"

Krinac says "It's done and ready."
Krinac notes that the sun is setting. It will be dark in about half an hour or so.

Vance nods, and holds his hand out for it. "I'll be back between midnight and 2 am, and I'll be bringing allies with me. We move on the castle as soon as I get back." He pauses, and looks at Jeanette. "Will you be sufficiently healed to take part?"

Krinac says "Question? Unless I'm mistaken you never asked Sean if he was willing to let Allyna keep a trump contact open with him during the attack on the castle."

Jeanette nods, "I'll be fine."

Vance * "No, I didn't. Though I've not yet decided who will take the contact."
Vance adds, "Prepare sketches of Jeanette, Sean, and Sunfall. One will have to hold a contact when we raid the castle."

Allyna asks, "How much time do I have?"

Vance says "I'll be back between midnight and 2 am, as I said. Be done and ready before then."

Krinac says "And who is going with you on the errand?"
Krinac says "Clarification, Krinace the GM asks who is going with Vance on his errand?"

Vance * hasn't asked anyone, ICly. Take that how you will.

Allyna says, "I'll have plenty of time to complete the sketches, but they will not be full trumps. They will only be good for a short time."

Vance nods. "I expected as much. Make spares if you have free time."

Allyna gets started sketching.

Jeanette says "Where are you going, Vance?"

Vance moves toward the side window. "To get an ace in my sleeve, Jeanette. If I'm successful, you'll know when I get back."

Allyna says, "I'll do what I can in the time available."

Jeanette says "Should you be out alone?"

Vance smiles. "I was haunting the back alleys of Kashfa before Rinaldo and Coral were born. I'll be fine."

Jeanette says "And if you get caught, alone?"

Vance says, grimly, as he climbs through the window and shuts it behind him. "I'll make sure that they don't have a prisoner to question."

Jeanette frowns, and starts after him.

Vance closes the window, and moves into the back alleys.

Sunfall says "I think I should go with you. It doubles the chances of our succeeding once we've entered the palace." Sean scowls. "And where does that leave us, Vance, if you die?"

Krinac says "Ok Jeanette opens the window, and steops out after Vance."

Jeanette says "Vance, going alone just makes you that much easier a target."

Vance has ducked into the alleyway by this point.

Sunfall says "Anyone for a game of dice?"

Krinac says "Unless someone wants to try extreme measures, like shouting, yelling or running, Vance is gone."

Jeanette * "We ain't that dumb."

Sunfall sighs and settles for another long wait.

Sean shakes his head, and paces slowly.

Jeanette sighs, "The man's nuts. Good thing he's on our side."

Reed works with some of his equipment, cleaning and drying it thouroughly after it's bath in the ocean.

Jeanette sighs, and walks off to her side room again, to rest.

Sunfall *needs to pick someone up. Be back in about 30 minutes. In the meantime, Sunfall will do whatever seems logical, which right now means folding paper squares into various animals. Bye!

Jeanette wakens, perhaps halfway through the period, and begins chanting, setting up a few spells.

Sean stands up, and looks around
Sean then freezes standing in one place.
Sean says to the air, "Oh. So that's what that was. What is it?"
Sean holds out his hand, and brings across three strangers, Kaisarah, and Vance.

Vance turns to Dalt. "We have a few passable uniforms, that may serve you well inside the castle." He then looks to the group. "This is Dalt, Raz, and Varn. We're going now, and we have two objectives. Rescue the prisoners...and kill Caine."

Krinac dropped Grunt.
Krinac says "Krinac notes that this particular grunt is named Varn... at Vance's request."

Vance doesn't pause for an answer. "Kaisarah, you'll stay here to protect Allyna and Reed. Allyna, what have you prepared for me?"

Allyna says, I have sketches of everyone, except the new arrivals. I also have a sketch of a safe place not too far away, in case the city guard approach again.

Sean studies the new arrivals, each in turn.

Vance nods. "Hand me the one of Kaisarah. Jeanette and Sean can decide which of them wants to maintain a connection with you during the raid."

Dalt has a handgun. Raz and Varn both carry automatic rifles. Some of you can identify them as M-16s.

Sean looks at Jeanette, and shrugs. "You have more experience with this sort of thing."

Krinac notes that Jeanette is racking a spell right now and can't easily interrupt it.

Vance glances over to Jeanette. "It will take us 10 minutes to prepare. If you can't finish by then, drop it or we leave you behind."

Dalt looks at Vance, "Good. I've waited long enough. There will be blood tonight."

Vance says "And death, if we're lucky. Or even if we're not."
Vance gets uniforms for Dalt, Sean, and Varn.

Jeanette nods, and her chant twists, turning the energy-spiral in upon itself to abort the spell.

Allyna asks, "So am I to watch through your eyes Jeanette?"

Jeanette says "I would prefer not. My mind's attention will need to be free."

Allyna turns to Sean, "So I'll use your sketch then?"

Vance looks around. "Ready?"

Jeanette nods, gathering up her weapons. "Aye."
Jeanette glances to Raz. "I see you've found your roses."

Sean shakes his head. "It takes too much effort for me to deal with those cards. I can't fight while I'm distracted."

Allyna seems annoyed that no one is willing to take the other end of the trump link.

Vance looks to Jeanette. "You take the call. We won't use magic or guns until things get bad...I want this quiet. If you do have to cast, we can always contact Kaisarah or Reed. In fact..." He looks to Allyna. "Give Jeanette Reed's sketch."
Vance then looks to Dalt. "If things go to hell, find me or Jeanette."

Raz smiles, "One can usually get what one wants if one is determined enough, and one is willing to pay the price."

Jeanette takes the sketch when Allyna offers it, and folds it into a pocket. To Raz: "Indeed. Got any more of those toys?"

Raz smiles, "Oh yes quite a few, but one may find the price is quite steep. Hmm, that bauble you wear on your neck might pay for one."

Jeanette says "Oh, yes, it is to laugh."

Vance says "Time to go. We're taking alleyways part of the way, and sewers the remaining distance. I want to spend as little time in the sewers as possible, so we'll only take them a short way, then emerge near the castle walls."

Sean rubs his nose ruefully.

Allyna asks, "And who is my contact?"

Vance says "Jeanette, as I said."

Allyna nods and selects out Jeanette's trump sketch.

Krinac pages: You feel as if Allyna were calling your name... are you going to accept the contact.

Vance leads the others out of the shop as soon as they're ready.

You paged Krinac with 'Not yet.'.

Krinac says "The journey through the alleys is uneventful, but partway through the trek through the sewers..."

Vance carries a satchel with him, that he put a quiver of bolts and a box into beforehand.

Krinac pages: Ok, Allyna keeps trying.

Vance holds a tiny hooded lantern, with just a few specks of light coming forth that allow limited vision within a few feet.

Krinac pages: You are going to have to freeze in place to block contact on a regular basis.

Long distance to Krinac: Jeanette lets the contact filter through a little, enough for conversation but nothing more.

The party observe through the dim light that Sean, Dalt, Sunfall and Vance suddenly depart moving almost silently. They disappear into the darkness of the tunnel.

Krinac pages: That's all Allyna wanted, enough to have a contact. She settles down to just watch.

The tiny flicker in Vance's hands dies out as he goes with the others. It is dark.

Long distance to Krinac: Jeanette nods.

Unseen to the party, Vance, Sunfall, Sean and Dalt creep stealthfully ahead.

There is a sudden clatter, the sound of scraping stone, and running feet.

Vance says in a quick, clipped tone, "Go!" He then mutters a few arcane phrases.

Sunfall sprints after the spy.

There is a sound like the buzzing of angry bees, and strange flashes light up the corridor followed by ricochets as Dalt fires his silenced pistol.

A single figure can be seen fleeing in the blink of the light, with Sunfall close on his heels.

Vance says a final word, and his hands are surrounded by multicolored sparkles, that change color and brightness as he gestures for the remaining members of the group to follow.
Vance then moves to follow the fleeing figure.

Jeanette hurries on with the rest...

Sean runs after the figure and Sunfall.

The flickering light fills the corridor with ghastly shadows, Sunfall can be seen down the corridor by the fleeing figure. Dalt and Sean as well, but not as far.

Sunfall is standing over the unconscious body of the spy. She's not even breathing hard.

Vance stops as soon as he sees the fallen form, and glances around quickly for other possible spies.

Krinac says "The coast is clear. The sewers as well."

Vance moves up to join Sunfall, and glances down at the spy.

Jeanette keeps Allyna informed.

Krinac says "Sunfall gave him a good knock on the head, but the spy is alive."

Sunfall says "I wasn't certain if you wanted him killed or not, so I rendered him senseless."

Vance says "We are on a tight schedule. If he can't be awakened quickly...kill him."

Dalt reloads his pistol. Raz draws a knife. "That's easily fixed."

Vance adds, "If he can, I want a few answers, first."

Krinac says "Ok who is taking part in torturing the prisoner?"

Vance will let Dalt and Raz have the honor, since he's maintaining his spell for lighting.

Sean says, "We don't have a lot of time, Vance. What do we need to know?"

Vance says "We need to know if we're going to hit any more guards before we emerge from the sewers, and how much of their force is out in the city searching for us."
Vance says to whomever volunteers for the duty, "Nothing fancy. Remove fingers or limbs if necessary."

Raz seems perfectly willing to do the honors. She draws a knife and wakes him up by slicing up his arm, "I trust I have your attention now?"
Raz says, "How much pain do you wish to experience before you die?"

The spy starts starts squealing begging to be allowed to live.

Vance says quietly, "I reward information. If you give us enough, we will just bind and gag you. If not..." Vance lets the statement hang.

The spy asks, "What do you want to know?"

Vance says "What patrols are between here and the sewer entrance just southeast of the castle? Are the soldiers still hunting for us, or have they been pulled into the castle?"

Krinac says "To make a long story short, the spy, despite prompting doesn't appear to know those details, he just reports to the assassian's guild anyone moving in the sewers, someone else makes that decision. He does know where the other spies are in the sewers but he doesn't know the rest. When really pushed for the details on the guards, he begins to make things up."

Vance stops the spy from blabbering. "We'll head for that entrance. Raz, keep a knife to him. If we encounter resistance, kill him."

Raz agrees.

You reach the exit to the sewers with no more resistance.

Vance continues, till they're at the entrance. "Sean, you go up first. I'll follow, then everyone else. Raz, bind and gag this one, then come up after the rest have gone through."

Sean nods, and does so.

Vance follows.

Raz says, "I'll handle it."
Raz stays behind to bind and gag the spy, and emerges from the sewer last.

Dalt says, "We're standing around in the open. Let's move."

Vance then says to the others. "We must travel very quietly. If anyone has a problem with this, they can stay behind. We can trump those who do to us once we're in."

The group sets out quietly along the path Vance directs.

Vance moves to what appears to be the ruins of an old-style Kashfan building, perhaps a hundred feet from the castle walls. He steps inside, carefully.
Vance has Dalt help him move a large stone, revealing a crawlway leading toward the castle. It's big enough for even Dalt to crawl through on hands and knees, but only a midget could stand in it.

Dalt looks at it. "After you Vance."

Vance says quietly, "Sean, you'll take the rear and move the stone back into place." Vance then leads the group through a long and winding tunnel, with rats and other minor creepy-crawly things. Eventually, he reaches another stone, with a lever beside it. He carefully puts his ear up to the stone, and listens.

Jeanette remains silent as she follows the others.

Sunfall stays alert.

Vance pulls the lever, and the stone lifts up, revealing what appears to be a small room with no door, filled with boxes and junk.
Vance climbs out carefully, taking care not to stir the clutter near his feet.

Sunfall slips out immediately after.

The rest of the party soon joins.

Vance explains quietly, once the group is out. "Our main obstacle to getting the prisoners out is the guard station there. To get to the main area where Caine is, we'll have to head to the upper levels, double back a few times, and avoid patrols the whole way. But we're in, and they don't expect attacks from this direction.

Jeanette nods, "Good."

Vance pulls out the box from his satchel as he talks, revealing a disassembled crossbow that he starts to assemble.

Sean asks, "Prisoners first, or did you plan to split up?"

Dalt says, "We'll do the prisoners first. I want to pull Nayda's ass out of here if we can."

Vance looks to Dalt. "Dealer's choice. If we can handle the guards down here quietly, we'll have a full force to take Caine down. But if the alarm sounds, you'll face the full garrison."

Jeanette nods, "I agree."

Vance nods to Dalt. "Agreed. Silent weapons only." He begins to lead the group towards the cell area, when they're ready.
Vance leaves satchel and box in the junk, strapping on a quiver and loading the now assembled crossbow.

Raz and Varn sling their M-16s on their back. Varn draws a blade. Raz makes an odd gesture with her arms, grabbing her own wrists, and seemingly draws blades out of her own arms. She now holds two dark blades comfortably.

Jeanette slips her gauntlets on, and draws her own blades.

By this time, Vance's hands no longer glow.

Sean draws his sword.

A lone guard on patrol drops almost instantly when your round a corner. It's debatable whether it was from Vance's crossbow, or Dalt's pistol.

Krinac notes, "I've already said the pistol is silenced"
Krinac says "What do you do with the corpse?"

Vance says quietly, "Hide that." He then reloads his crossbow. "A short walk ahead and around the corner is the post. We hit it all at once, at range and then closing with them."

Krinac asks, "Am I wrong or is Vance's crossbow and Dalt's gun the only ranged weapons?"

Jeanette prepares a dagger for throwing.

Sunfall says "I could throw my junaive. It's got an okay balance for that, if a little heavy."

Vance looks at Dalt. "You may have the lion's share of the work, here." Vance motions for the corpse to be moved to an alcove, if a better place can't be found.

Dalt says, "If you want your answers you'll do your share soon enough. I'm here to do mine."

Vance nods. "Let's go." He moves towards the corner.

Krinac says "After the corpse is secured you rush the guardpost."

Vance fires his crossbow, dropping it at the corner as he moves forward. A motion of his wrist drops a dagger into his hand.

Krinac says "Three guards are stationed outside a door. They drop almost instantly to Vance and Dalt, then the rush is on for the door."

Vance lets Dalt take the door, knowing that he has size, momentum, and a rapid-fire ranged weapon.

The door is heavy and oaken, Dalt jars it but it doesn't open. He grabs hold of it by the iron bars set in for a window and pulls... The door pulls off it's hinges flying out toward you. Dalt is temporarily out of position... and at least twelve guards become aware something is suddenly wrong.

Krinac says "Actions??"

Jeanette slips to one side of Dalt, hurling her dagger at the same time she spits a twisted Word...

Vance slides to the right to avoid the door, and throws a dagger at the nearest surprised guard that can be targeted without hitting Dalt.

Sean ducks into the room, keeping low, and charges the guards.

Krinac says "Ok... the action unfolds..."

Sunfall *Lagged...lunges through an opening at a guard.

Krinac says "Sean rushes in first, staying low. He charges the guards directly, intentionally putting himself in their midst his sword a whirling blur. He inflicts two casualties almost immediately taking down guards who had doffed their helmets and loosened their armor. After that the guards begin to react. Raz and Sunfall enter almost at the same time. They hit the guards that Sean charged past. Sunfall's junaive puts long dents into the armor of her opponent, while Raz's blades don't appear to do much damage, yet the guard falls back as if injured. Vance, Jeanette, and Varn enter last."
Krinac says "Vance and Jeanette both throw daggers. Vance's sails across the room to catch a young rookie, who couldn't be more than sixteen in the throat. The rookie crumbles. Next to him a rope attached to an alarm bell goes unpulled."
Krinac says "Jeanette's dagger is accompanied by an arcane utterance, and her opponent reels from the impact of her small blade."
Varn enters and makes his way quickly toward the alarm bell, striving to reach it rather than engage any opponent.
Dalt disentangles himself from what was left of the door.

Vance pauses to draw sword and fighting dagger, letting the others carry the first few seconds of hand-to-hand combat. He then moves to support Varn.

Jeanette closes to support Raz, fighting with sabre and another dagger, moving swiftly and silently.

Sean continues to dance amongst the guards, he has moved so quickly that they are unable to form ranks against the rest of you. The guards are no longer surprised, and none fall.

Sunfall continues to poke at the guard whose armor she dented.
Sunfall and Raz dispatch their opponents.

Vance moves to support Varn, but too late. A man in darkened armor moves to oppose him. He is armed with a rapier, he taps to a double, and Varn beats wrong, and the rapier finds his throat. The man yells "I'll hold him, sound the alarm!"
Vance smiles, and rushes the man.

Jeanette moves toward Raz, and does seem to be distracting Raz's new opponent, but she doesn't do much damage.

Vance drops his fighting dagger as he moves forward.

Sunfall charges low and fast.

Dalt draws bead, and shoots carefully. Three guards drop. Another two are injured.

The corridor that leads to the prisioners suddenly emits a large sound... a noise like grinding rock... and a huge wall of rock rises from the ground sealing the way to the prisoners.

Krinac says "Ok... for those who want clarification someone obviously just cast a spell."

Sunfall hits the dirt.

OK round 3.

Sean continues to carve a path of destruction. This time he drops one opponent that was wounded by Dalt's gunfire.
Mostly Sean keeps about six guards off balance.
Sunfall is now facing odds of two to one, and hit the dirt?? Umm, that was a wall of rock spell. I'll assume that was humor. Sunfall is holding her own against double opponents for now.
Raz is in better shape, she faces one opponent, the other has faced off against Jeanette. Raz appears to have the edge on her opponent.

Vance's opponent watches confused as Vance approaches, and lunges for his heart when he gets in range. Vance grabs the rapier with his hands. The man in the dark armor doesn't hesitate but continues his attack releasing his weapon and elbowing Vance in the face.
Jeanette makes a few passes at her opponent, and then he begins to press her hard, swinging blow after blow that she is hard pressed to block.

Dalt reloads.

Sunfall is maneuvering her opponents into a position where they interfere with each other.

Jeanette starts maneuvering her opponent around to where Dalt has a clear shot.

One of the guards facing Sean says, "To hell with this, turns his blade hilt first and backs out of the combat."

Sean is facing a shortage of opponents now... and presses the ones he has left... as does Raz and Sunfall. Sunfall maneuvers hers so that they interfere with each other.

Vance engages in some tricky HTH and backs out of hand combat range, leaving him holding a scimitar to his opponents dagger.

Jeanette's opponent begins to beat her blade unmercifully and knocks it completely out of line.

His stab would probably have killed Jeanette... but Dalt finished reloading.

Vance smiles at his opponent. "You're good, but I have the advantage, and my friend has a bullet with your name on it. Surrender." Vance has taken a defensive posture, as he stands by Varn's fallen form.

Jeanette jumps back as her blade is knocked away, and *blammo*. "A pal with a gun beats superior bladework every time. Thanks."

Dalt's first shot takes Jeanettes opponent.
One of Sunfall's opponents gets wounded next...
Vance's opponent surrenders.

Vance motions for his foe to turn around, then kneels and takes Varn's rifle with his free hand.

The people facing Sean seeing that one of their compatriots was allowed to surrender, and seeing the others fall also surrender.

Vance says "Sean, Raz...secure our prisoners."

Sunfall's wounded opponent dies before he gets a chance to make up his mind. Her junaive immediately takes him out when he is wounded. The other one facing Sunfall alone, surrenders.
Sunfall lowers her weapon.

Jeanette recovers her own.

Sean starts disarming them, first of all.

Vance glances to Jeanette. "Can you remove the wall?"

Jeanette says "I can try. Give me a few minutes."

Vance nods. "Hurry."

Jeanette walks over to examine the wall and the spell.

Dalt frowns when he glances at Vance appropriating the M-16... but he makes no issue of it now.

Vance secures the rifle over his shoulder, pockets a few clips, and then gazes at the wall...

Jeanette frowns... "It's not actively enspelled... just solid rock. Anyone bring any explosives?"

Sean finds some rope, and ties the guards up

Sunfall says "Are there any seams or chinks?"

Vance frowns. "I can call the Dark Well, but the risk is significant. Dalt, we need to go and hit Caine now. The others can work on the wall...fiction aside, no one puts an escape route into a dungeon. Unless they have Trumps, the rest will have time to break through."

Dalt says, "Nothing that will help."

Vance says "We didn't ring the bell, but the sounds of fighting may have been noticed."

Jeanette nods, "It will take me time to get through this, but I can do it."

Sean asks, "Who cast the spell?"

Vance looks to the others. "Dalt, Raz, and I will go after Caine. The rest of you deal with the wall and the wayward spellcaster. Trump back to Allyna when you're done."

Dalt says, "The wizard on the other side that's waiting for us to take down his wall so he can fry our ass."

Jeanette nods, and pulls out the sketch of Reed. "Take this, then, you'll need it more than we."

Vance says "They can handle him, Dalt. You won't get a better shot at Caine."
Vance looks to Jeanette. "I have one of Kaisarah. And I know the secret ways of this place."

Jeanette nods, "Go, then."

Vance says "Nothing fancy. Take the wizard down, and get the prisoners out."

Dalt says, "Let's do it, but I want him." Dalt points at Sean. "With us. He won't help against the wizard anyway, but he can help us."

Jeanette nods.

Vance nods. "Okay, Sean, you're with us."

Dalt says, "Lead the way."

Sean shakes his head. "I might have a surprise for the wizard, Vance, and I came for the prisoners, not Caine."

Vance looks at Sean. "I don't have time to argue. If you can help stop the wizard, stay. We'll handle Caine."

Krinac says "Ok... ok... I'm tired too... that's a fairly good break since I know there will be combat on both the other threads."

Vance heads back down the corridor, and recovers his crossbow, commenting, "A better weapon until they find where we are."

Sean looks at Vance, then shrugs, and turns away. "Jeanette, let me know when you're ready to take the wall down. Reed, watch at the door."

Jeanette nods to Sean...

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