Log:Expedition to Earth-946, Scene 1

From Champions MUSH

Advances Plot:
Expedition to Earth-946
Previous Scene:	Next Scene:
Pawns of the Ice Fox, Scene 7	Scene 2
Contains Appearances by:
Rebound, Jennifer, Jessica, Nexus, Regent, Sable, Sword Dancer, True Shot, Dr. Yolanda Simmons
Log Date:
06/25/2008

PLACE: The SGG Gate Room.

The lab is a curious mixture of messy and tidy, in use and packed in boxes. But the scientists and technicians seem to be excited by this project despite the impending threat to their jobs, and are busy performing checks on the equipment. On one side of the room is a great circular device which looks rather like a TransMat gate, though with an extraordinary number of cables attaching it to various electronic devices. It looks very much like a work in progess. Its "mouth" shows a strange static which hurts the eyes to look at directly.

Jennifer grins as she gets, finally, to enter the holy of holies, the Gate Room. She'll never admit it but it bugged her that her security clearance wasn't sufficient to get in here until now.

Sable follows Jennifer into the chamber, her gaze wandering curiously over the paraphernalia and equipment. Her lips compress slightly as she tries to stay out of the way.

Nexus enters the room, careful not to do anything that might disrupt the local spacetime handwaving, and examines the device carefully. He blinks at the portal and looks away. "Wow. Makes me dizzy. Seems t'be working, though."

Jennifer whistles as she sees the device. "Just so long as it sends us to only dimension at a time. I don't fancy ending up disassembled and scattered across a dozen or more."

Nexus looks around the room and back at Jennifer. "Um... aren't you worried about being, um... I mean, where's Jess?"

Sable nods firmly. "That wouldn't be a good result for anyone. I for one am tremendously vain about my body remaining in one piece."

Jennifer grins, "Coming. But I've.. I mean we've been on different dimensions and even times before. It's a bit odd when it happens but never done any harm yet."

Nexus nods to Jen. "Gotcha. Good to know."

Sword Dancer comes running into the room. She's dressed in her armour with a bag over her shoulder and pretty well out of breath. Clearly she was afraid of being late, though there's still plenty of time to go. She breathes a sigh of relief to see everyone there.

Jennifer smiles on seeing Kihzra, "Ah. The person we've all been waiting for. Hi. I'll give you a minute to catch your breath. Then I have a million questions for you."

Sable glances to Kihzra and then her satchel. "Will we need any sort of equipment? Tents, food, sleeping bags?"

Nexus waves. "Hey, Khiz. They have some questions for you." He goes back to watching the portal out of the corner of his eye.

Sword Dancer nods. Now her panic's calmed she's grinning like an idiot in excitement. "Is good. Cha - depends where we are. But is summer, yes? Should be waem."

Nexus squints and rubs his eyes, shrugs, grabs a seat and watches the portal more attentively. He seems inexplicably entertained by it.

Alex continues to work on the device, but seems to sense that he's being watched. He says over his shoulder to Nexus, "What does it look like to you?"

Nexus replies to Alex, "Well, it's static, really. But it kinda cycles through possible contact points in lots of dimensions. It's like channel surfing.

Sable's face screws up slightly. "I'm kind of overdressed for summer."

Nexus shrugs to Sable. "You could always take off some clothes."

Sable nods to Nexus. "Good plan."

Jennifer nods, "I hadn't thought of that. Yeah, Alex, do you have any control over where we'll arrive on Earth-946? Can we select a spot?"

Sword Dancer says, "Is good, having camping fings."

Sword Dancer says, "In winter, my rand is much corrder van here, vough. Is deep snow."

Alex smiles, "Jennifer, I'm going to send you all the way to another dimension, and you're asking me for a specific location. Sheesh, there's no pleasing some people." He adjusts a dial on the controls. "But seriously, I don't have any real control as to where you'll show up. I think it will be where the boundary between out dimensions is the thinnest -- probably close to the location where Kihzra was sent here from."

Nexus says, "I can probably peek to see where we're gonna end up, if that helps. Can't control it, though."

"If you can take a peek, Nex, it'll be great," Alex says. "There's no way to tell whether it's going to be winter or summer there."

Nexus nods to Alex. "Will do." To the room, he adds "Just for the record... me and magic don't so much get along. I should be OK as long as I don't get too badly whammied, though."

Jennifer nods, "Kihzra, my understanding of the plan is to go, take down the evil mage, and haul his butt back here so he can be charged and tried. It would help to know what we can about the other side. In general and also specifics. For instance, does he have a castle? Tower? Hut in the forest?"

Sword Dancer says, "Cha, he rives in big city wiv big tower on island in norf. Are many evirr fings vere."

Jennifer nods. "Lives on the top level of the Tower?"

Sword Dancer says, "Do not know. Have never been vere."

Nexus says, "Rapunzel! Rapunzel!"

Jennifer says, "I'll guess as a first estimate he probably does. It's traditional. In a pre-industrial society safety means the top floor. Your opponents have to fight their way up the stairs. Kihzra, a big city you say. What's the chance of finding supporters there? Or is it all his minions?"

Nexus nods to Jen. "Makes sense."

Sword Dancer says, "Is orr his - but maybe not orr *want* to be his. Sometimes he makes peopre do fings. Or he kirrs famirry, or - many ovver fings."

Sable nods to those present. "I'll be back in a few moments. She moves out of the room to return a few minutes later in a different set of clothes.

Nexus says, "Alex... you're a smart guy, so I'm sure you've already thought about this, but... um. How do we get back?"

Yolanda steps into the lab, just after Sable returns. She's wearing standard issue SG coveralls and she has a pack slung over her shoulder. She looks around at the gathered heroes and exhales audibly. "Hey."

Nexus stares curiously at the door. "You know, I've never seen you and Sable at the same time..."

Sable says, "Hey Yolanda." Her lips compress as she spots Yolanda's pack.

Sword Dancer says, "Tjasivju, a Yorranda."

Yolanda smiles to Nexus. A little humor feels good right now. She glances to Sable and explains. "Just a few things I thought I'd bring. Medical supplies. Plus a few months of my prescription... just in case."

Sword Dancer pats her bag and says, "Coffee."

Nexus nods. "Right. So, no outright rebellion, but maybe if we're lucky we can hook up with the black market or something."

Jennifer nods, "Well I guess the impulsive uprising is out. Do you know of any actual resistance to his rule, even if it's hidden and covert? Is there a fifth column in operation?"

Sable nods to Yolanda. "That's okay, I just feel under-equipped, but we're still sorting out the mission parameters." She nods to Jennifer. "She knows what she's talking about, but in a lot of societies rich people live on the ground floor because they hate walking up and down stairs."

Sword Dancer sighs. "Is hard to know. Is two years I have been here."

Yolanda says, "The archer might have an idea. He should be joining us." She checks her watch. "He's probably still on his way."

Nexus scratches his head. "Archer?"

[To Nexus] Yolanda says, "Of the team of hitmen that Ghravvruhs sent to attack Kihzra, there was an archer. It turns out that the sorceror has his family hostage. He's been a great help to us so far."

Jennifer nods. "Okay, people. Our info is dated. Too much can and probably has changed. We can try a surprise strike. I recommend against it. There's no assurance he isn't visiting someplace else and we'll lose the element of surprise to no advantage. It's looking like an infiltrate and scout mission to start. Opinions?"

Sword Dancer nods. "Is good."

Nexus shrugs. "Sounds good to me. If we can get me there, I can get a lock on his chamber or whatever and port the team in. Though he's probably got magic stuff blocking that."

Sable nods slightly. "I concur, best to hide up and obtain information before striking. We will be dependent on Kihzra since she actually speaks the language, I can't imagine the rest of us will be able to do much other than basic reconnaissance."

Jessica enters the lab with a backpack. "Food. Glass beads." she grins, "We can buy the country from him. It worked here with the colonies."

Nexus says, "Actually - hm. Khiz, is this guy the _only_ sorceror in town? Or does he have sorceror enemies and rivals and stuff?"

Nexus says, "cuz if he's mostly worried about physical attacks, he might not have blocks up for weirdness, after all?"

Sword Dancer says, "Are ovver sorcerers, yes, but Ghravvruhs is most powerefurr. Even has ovver sorcerers who work for him."

Nexus nods, scowling. "Oh well, so much for that idea. He'll be defended against double-crossing, then." He shrugs. "So we do this the hard way.

[To Sword Dancer] Nexus says, "You have any local friends we could contact to get some current intel?"

Sable says, "It occurs that we can't let Kihzra do too much of the intelligence gathering since she is known and wanted by the local authorities which puts us in a bind."

Nexus nods to Sable. "Yeah, I think we're gonna have to recon by eye, mostly."

Jennifer grins. She gets out a small vest like garment, makes an adjustment and offers it to Kihzra. "I have that covered."

Sword Dancer says, "What is?"

Jennifer says, "Holographic cloak. Makes you look different."

Sword Dancer says, "Qhah."

Sword Dancer takes the device a little hesitantly.

Jennifer expands the explanation, "A disguise."

Sword Dancer says, "Tribe was mosty kirred. But in Zhge Jhorbaghof yes, stirr have friends."

Nexus nods. "OK. I say we start out by finding Khiz's friends, get some local info. If this Archer fellow is helping us, we can get some of it from him too. Then physical recon, like Jess suggested, and we take it from there."

Someone comes to the door to check if you're ready for the prisoner yet.

Nexus laughs. "Nah, we've got about two weeks of planning left to do. But we ain't gonna do it, so you may as well bring 'im in."

"We could hold him elsewhere till you're ready."

Yolanda nods, agreeing. "Bring him in. He'll be useful while we're planning."

Sword Dancer looks to see if what the device has done, if anything.

"Yes ma'am." He goes to fetch the archer.

When Kihzra slips the loose fitting vest on her appearance changes to be identical to Sable. Jennifer says, "I can fine tune the hologram once we see what the latest fashions are.

Sable smiles. "In this case she's definitely dressing down."

Sword Dancer blinks.

Soon the archer is escorted in by several guards.

Sword Dancer says, "Is strange..."

"Thanks," Yolanda says to the guards. "You can uncuff him and leave him with us." She nods and offers a welcoming smile to the Archer. She reaches out to him with her mind, to begin translating.

The archer smiles when he sees Yolanda.

Nexus says, "So. We're waiting for what, then?"

Sword Dancer eyes the archer warily.

Sable waves a hand at the archer. "Th up-to-date info laughing boy can give us about the bad guy, his personnel, and security."

Jennifer smiles, "For you to tell us whether it's warm and sunny or six foot of snow for one, Nexus."

Regent jogs in hoping everyone hasn't left yet when he sees the group and the twins...He taps Jess on the shoulder...and whispers, "Did I miss much?"

Nexus turns to Alex. "You're gonna have to actually set up the portal 'fore I can do that."

Nexus says, "Also -- how do we get back?"

Jennifer grins and hugs Matt. "Nope. So chatting. We don't know enough to make any concrete plans. So we'll be scouting and sneaking to start."

The archer starts changing into the clothes that Yolanda brought for him.

Sable points to the archer. "So he's coming too?"

Regent nods.."You know I'm not much for sneaking.."

Sword Dancer says, "Is near where I came from, yes? Portarr?"

Alex says, "Almost set. Nexus come here a sec, there's something I want to run over with you."

Nexus says, "oo! Is it a puppy?" Nexus walks over to Alex.

Regent whispers to Jen, "But if its daylight I can do a the scouting if you need an airscout."

Alex mutters to Nexus, "You have... anything... over... Stealth and... you... on all... by..."

[To Sable] Yolanda says, "That's right. If we can manage, I'd like to help him free his family."

Sable nods firmly. "I see."

The archer says something incomprehensible.

Yolanda asks the Archer, "Do you know where they are being held?" He shrugs. "Ezhgbo Vruhsof."

Yolanda says, "Ezhgbo Vruhsof... 'Castle of the Wolf' Is that where Ghravvruhs is?"

Jennifer stands on a chair. "Okay, team Vengeance, listen up. We have a vital mission to accomplish. One that will take all our efforts and determination. I want you to work together like the finely machined parts of a watch. I want you to keep the tactical requirments of the mission at the forefront of your mind and not deviate from our plan. Split second precision and timing are critical so stay focused. That's want I want." She grins. "I'm not going to get it. But that's never stopped us coming out on top before. It won't this time either. They've messed with our world. It's time to show them that's a bad idea."

Nexus cheers! "So, let's _do_ this already."

Regent grins at Jen's speech..she's so right, then he realizes..he doesn't know what the plan is..

Jennifer stage whispers aside to Matt. "In OCS they empathised morale boosting talks to the troops before going into action. How did I do?"

Sword Dancer says, "Admyntu!"

Sable smiles broadly before giving her head a firm nod at the end of jennifer's inspirational address.

Nexus turns to Regent. "We go in. We find Kizhra's friends if we can, find out if her info is up to date about where the sorceror is, and stuff. Then scout the tower, or whatever. Then go in and smack the hell out of the guy and bring him back here."

Alex finishes tuning in the portal to proper dimension.

Sword Dancer nods. "Is his city on his isrand."

Regent nods to Nexus.."sounds like our normal plan.."

Sword Dancer grins. "Is good pran."

Nexus looks at Alex. "So. We ready?"

Alex says, "Yup. Happy hunting guys."

Regent walks over to Alex and extends a hand, "Hold the fort buddy."

Sword Dancer says, "Is ready for go?"

Sable nods. "Ready when you are."

Nexus looks to Alex. "Just waiting for the portal to open."

Sword Dancer looks expectantly at Alex.

Alex says, "Yeah. I'll guard the heck out of the base." He shakes Regent's hand, then presses a big red button on his console. "Portal is go."

Nexus "dimension-peeks" through to see where the portal opens.

Jennifer grins at Matt, "What do you think? Now I'm not SGG should I change costume?

Regent blushes then says to Jenn, "Its not whats on the outside that matters love, wear whatever you want. I've been thinking about getting a real costume too.."

Nexus says, "The portal seems to open directly over a large river. No snow, but if it's summer it's a bad one - the farmland I can see in the distance doesn't look very prosperous"

Jennifer giggles quietly into Matt's ear. "I know. I suggested red, white, and blue. Candy striped. You'll like good enough to eat."

Nexus says, "I can carry a couple of folks."

Jennifer says, "I can't. My jetpacks can be heard a mile away."

Regent blushes again..."talk for later sweetie.." he grins and pipes in, "I'll take the twins."

Sword Dancer grins at Jennifer. "Are fings that might eat you if you rook good to eat. Remember big worrf?"

Jessica says, "I can swim though. Any nasty monsters in the rivers?"

Sword Dancer says, "Can swim, but bag wirr get wet."

Sable says, "I can swim pretty well."

Sword Dancer says, "Should not be monster in river."

Nexus says, "Jen, you got an inflatable raft in that bag of yours?"

Jennifer says, "No. I have scuba gear but you still get wet."

The archer adds, translated by Yolanda "Unless the sorcerer has put them there."

Yolanda says, "Maybe we can grab an inflatable raft from SG, they should have one, right?"

Nexus sighs, getting impatient.

Sword Dancer says, "Is good, get raft - but hurry! Want to go home!"

Nexus says, "I'll go in, secure us a landing spot. Follow when you can."

Jennifer nods. "They should have. I'll ask Horatio." She picks up an internal phone and makes the request. Requisitioning a raft is no problem after getting permission to use the portal.

Nexus dives into the portal.

Regent says, "Who needs to be carried? I think we've got 6 of us covered. Nexus you're strong enough to have Sword dancer hold onto you while you fly?"

Jessica points to the portal, "He's gone ahead."

Sable says, "Flying is not amongst my many talents"

Yolanda sends for a SG trooper to fetch a raft, in case it's necessary.

Regent sighs.."organized chaos..Lets go."

Sable says, "So I will need to be carried or need to swim."

The archer favours the raft- his bow getting wet is a bad idea.

Sable's shoulders lift in a small shrug. "I don't mind getting wet.

Jennifer says, "Matt first with the raft. It will need to be inflated on the other side. Then we follow."

Anastrophe nods.

Jessica says, "Take care, my love. If you get eaten by a monster I'll be really put out at you."

Regent nods.."Lets hurry, we've got one of us over there alone.."

The raft is quickly brought.

Sword Dancer waits for the raft to be set up.

Sable looks ready to step through the portal as soon as the word is given.

Regent frowns.. "Lets go..its self inflating? I'll take it in, and drop it while it inflates." he looks at Jes, "you're not coming?"

Jennifer and Jessica are waiting and ready to go.

Jennifer nods. "Works for me, Matt." The twins grab hold of him.

The archer and Kihzra get in line to go once the raft is ready.

Regent flies through the portal with the raft.

Nexus is scouting the area on the nearest bank of a very wide (50" or more) river. Nexus waves. "Took you long enough!"

Yolanda waits for the raft to be inflated as well.

Regent drops the raft...on the other side of the portal and holds it there hovering.

Jennifer gets out binocs to examine the area around their entry point.

The raft inflates as it should.

Sable steps through the portal and into the raft, stuttering her step slightly just in case she needs to adjust her balance at the last moment. She emerges through the portal and tumbles into the raft, doing her best to do so gracefully and with minimum injury to the dinghy

Nexus tells everyone "I'm gonna get a port-lock at this spot, so I can bring you guys back here quickly. If we get separated, we reconvene here."

Regent nods to Nexus, "Good idea man."

The landscape looks like it ought to be a fertile valley of a meandering river, but it's not looking all that fertile now. The height of the sun suggest summer, but the vegetation - especially the field crops - don't seem to be doing well.

Jennifer nods. She checks her PDA. "Guess what. No GPS. Just because he's an evil mage that no excuse not to put a few nav satellites into orbit."

Nexus grins and points. "North is that way. We're here. Anything else you wanted to know?"

Downstream a walled town can be seen in a bend of the river. With binoculars, a ruined bridge can be seen in over a tributory beyond it.

Regent nods, "He's right. I wish we had a point of reference though..."

The archer follows into the raft.

Yolanda climbs into the raft as well.

Sword Dancer steps through the portal - and suddenly there a flash like lightning, and she's hurled back through the gate. The disc of the portal wavers then blinks out of existence.

Nexus blinks.

Regent says, "What the hell just happened?..."

Nexus attempts to peek through to the other side.

Jessica says, "At a guess. Evil mage doesn't want Kihzra here. Cast powerful spell to keep her off this dimension"

Sable blinks at the spot occupied by the now-vanished portal. "If I had to guess I'd say the sorceror had either banished Kihzra from re-entering or there is something intrinsic about her that caused that and the sorceror wants to exploit."

Regent rubs his eyes.."Some kind of magik just blocked her from returning home..probably the same magic that forced her from here."

Regent sighs.."That leaves us with our local guide..lets move folks.."

Nexus nods. "Yeah. Theory number two is that she and Alex were both turned into talking bunny rabbits. I go with theory number one." He sighs. "Which means, no local friends."

Nexus turns to Yolanda. "Yeah, OK. Can Talky McTalkypants over here tell us where his Boss lives, from here?"

Yolanda sighs. "Already, something unexpected has happened." She looks to the archer and asks him, "Which way is Ghravvruhs from here?"

Regent says to everyone, "about 3 miles from here, east, the town is damaged..looks to be battle damage, but it must have been a little while ago because they are already repairing some of it.."

Jessica asks Yolanda, "How sure are you of the archer's switching sides? With Kihzra gone he's our only local guide and the only one who can talk the lingo."

Nexus says, "All right. Who wants in on the sneak parade? With a little luck, I can go in and snapshot a spot, come back here, and bring the rest of you over before you can say "never split the party.""

Regent nods, "I should either do sky cover or hang here, my glowing kills the stealth bit.."

Jennifer nods. "Go, Nexus. Can you take one of me with you?"

The archer points to the town and says (as translated by Yolanda), "That's New Town, where we were sent to your world from. Arctic Fox lives in his tower far to the north.

Nexus nods. "Just one, though."

Nexus blinks. "Um... wait up. _How_ far to the North?"

Yolanda nods to Jessica. "He helped us find Dancing Voice back in Colonial Bay. I'm convinced that he's on our side."

Jennifer says, "One is what's needed. I can keep both groups in contact silently."

Sable nods smoothly in agreement with Jennifer's statement. "We should aim the raft for shore and get out of sight."

Nexus clarifies his question. "I mean, if we're talking a week's travel or something, then I say we just avoid this town altogether and start moving. Or maybe we wait 'till Alex reopens the portal and try to recalibrate our entry point."

Regent starts to hover, "Let me get a better lay of the land.." he shoots up keeping the sun at his back so his golden glow is somewhat masked..

Yolanda asks Prohzhevrehehs, "How far is it to Ghravvruhs's tower? Is there a way to sneak inside?"

The archer contributes, "New Town was conquered by Arctic Fox two years ago."

It's hard to get a common sense of a unit of distance, but in the range of a hundred miles seems likely.

Nexus nods. "OK. I can port that distance one at at time, but without better coordinates I dunno how well that's gonna work. Anybody got a better plan?"

Yolanda says, "The only other way would be to get some kind of transportation at New Town."

Nexus nods to Yolanda. "Yeah. Can't hurt to ask our boy here what the local options are, I guess."

Jennifer grins, "What kind of transportation? A flying carpet?

Sable leans over to whisper to jennifer, what is his code name?

Nexus says, "Also, if we're still planning on rescuing his family, where are they?"

Jennifer whispers back to Sable, "Which he? The prisoner? Call him Archer. He can't understand you in any case."

Yolanda says, "I think his name translates to True Shot, or something along those lines."

Yolanda asks the archer, "Ezhgbo Vruhsof... is that where the Ghravvruhs is?"

Jessica muses, "A besieged city. One side or the other might want some new friends. We could get all the up to date local news."

Sable says, "And a local ally"

Jennifer mutters, "Magic. I /hate/ magic/"

The archer points to the town and says something.

Nexus chuckles. "That's my line, Jen." He shrugs his shoulders. "Look, international interdimensional politics is way outta my line. If y'all think we should get involved in saving that town, I'm in.

Sable says, "Saving innocents is always worth the time and effort."

Nexus shrugs. "Beats me who's innocent here. But that sounds like the consensus. Okeydoke."

Jessica nods, "Can't argue with that."

Yolanda says, "The archer says that we've been spotted."

Sable raises a finger. "Assuming of course that either side counts as innocent in the first place."

Nexus looks around for someone who might have spotted us.

Yolanda tries to pick out the same.

Jennifer and Jessica join the others in trying to spot the spotter(s).

Sable says, "If we can see the town, the town can see us."

There's a hiss of air from the boat.

Yolanda asks Prohzhevrehehs, "Who is it, a civilian or a soldier...?" She spins and looks at the deflating boat. "That's not good."

Sable's head rolls back. "Can anyone not swim?"

Prohzhevrehehs answers, "A soldier, I think. He has a helmet."

Regent doesn't see the boat as he's looking at the town in the distance.

Sable says, "Which way do we strike for?"

Jennifer looks for the hole, and if she can will plug it with whatever comes in handy.

The boat doesn't actually seem to have been hit by anything visible - rather the valve seems to be leaking.

Yolanda says, "It's not the water, it's what's in the water. Maybe we can row to the shore before we lose the raft."

Regent begins to fly back down letting gravity aid him in his decent...he's moving very fast, but will slow as he approaches..

Nexus concentrates and teleports everyone to shore.

There's an old road here. Probably a good one once upon a time, though more a track now.

Regent gets close then the boat ports..."Okay..crap.." on the blood channel

Matt's voice calls out, "Tell me that was Nexus..please."

Nexus says, "We're fine."

Nexus says, "How far away is that city you saw to the west?"

Nexus turns to Jess. "OK. I can get us to seige-town one at a time. Gimme a sec to lock a spot there. Anybody thinks that's a dumb idea, sing out fast. Jess, you wanna come with?"

Jessica nods. "Yes, Nexus."

Sable's shoulders lift. "I can't think why it would be bad."

Regent nods.."Be careful.."

Nexus slides an arm underneath Jessica's shoulders and conecntrates, teleporting to a spot aout 60 miles west and a mile or so straight up, to get a closer view of the besieged town.

Sable raises a hand. "One question."

Jessica grins, "Now is not a good time for your grip to slip."

Sable says, "Where is the archer's family?""

Yolanda says, "In the wizards tower I believe."

Sable says, "Can you just check because we are going to need to make them a priority if they're closer.""

[To Sable] Yolanda says, "There's no way to know for certain, but that's where they were held last."

Sable nods slightly. "I was just checking they weren't close at hand. He might decide we're not to be trusted if we move on the wrong target."

Regent shakes his head, "If they're in the castle, that's a hundred miles north of us."

Jessica laughs, "Nice 'port Nexus." she says as they arrive above of the sleighing army. "Can you bring the rest? I'll go entertain the commander for a while until you get back?"

The archer asks, "What's happening?

Nexus nods to Jess. "OK, will do." He takes a moment to memorize a reasonably safe-looking spot. "Get 'em ready, OK?"

Jessica nods, "Sure will."

Regent waits..then calls on the chan..

A few seconds later, Nexus ports back to the spot by the riverbank. "OK, who's first?"

Sable holds up her hand. "Sure, why not?"

Regent looks around "Take Jenn, The twins together are a force..then grab The archer, a local might be useful."

Jennifer shakes head. "I can keep you up to date on what is happening if I stay to later."

Nexus turns to Y and adds "explain to this guy I'm about to port him into a siege, OK?"

Yolanda translates for the Archer.

The archer nods, though he's a little dubious about this.

Regent frowns..."You can keep yourself safe, you can coordinate, we'll be there in a heart beat.."

Sable pulls her hand back down.

Nexus says, "OK, folks. Helping-out-the-seiged-town express, next passenger, let's MOVE."

Sable steps forward to take Nexus' offered arm.

Nexus ports with Sable back to his memorized spot in the woods.

The archer makes sure he has his bow ready!

Sable appears in the designated spot and looks at her surroundings, moving to join stay out of sight and out of Nexus' way when he jaunts back.

Nexus shuttles the rest of the team to the spot in the woods. This takes a while, and he seems pretty exhausted by the end of it.

Regent watches over Nexus as the last of them to go. "Rest up bro. I'll watch. Jenn..what recon?"

The twins are noticably sulking a little.

Yolanda looks to one of the twins. "What's our next move?"

The archer peers out the the twins and says something with the attentive might notice is something Kihzra says when upset.

Jennifer says, "How about the West gate of the city? We can take out the commander's tent on the way."

Nexus nods, breathing heavily. "Warcraft is your gig, I just do deliveries. Where do you want us, Jess?"

Sable's shoulders lift. "The weather is magical, if we can take out the magician or the apparatus causing it we remove a strategic asset."

Jennifer says, "Can you, after you recover, do a mass 'port to beside the tent?"

Regent looks at the battle...for the magic user..

There is no battle as such. Just a siege. No one's attacking - the defenders are being starved out.

Sable looks to Yolanda. "Does True Shot know if the commander and the magician are the same person?"

Regent puts up a hand.."hold on guys.."

Yolanda translates the question for the archer.

Regent frowns.."All this weather wizardry is screwing me...I can't tell if theres any extra magic coming from the tent.."

Nexus shakes his head to Jenn "Not in one jump. Maybe a quarter of the way, if that."

Regent swears..."They're using extradimension magik..they might have summoned Ice demons.>"

Nexus says, "I can probably sneak in without being spotted, get a safeport spot closer in within group-port range, then repeat the shuttling and do it from there."

Regent asks, "Does the Archer know this city? Does he know the army?"

The archer nods once the question is translated. He confirms the ice demons too. "That's how he makes it winter - he brought ice demons from the north where it's alway winter...."

Nexus says, "Or we could go in through a thin spot in the army, not where the camp is, and maybe coordinate with the besieged army. Assuming they don't decide we're invaders, instead.""

Nexus says, "um. besieged town. I don't think they actually have an army."

Regent raises an eyebrow.."Dude..you think we can go covert and get into the army?..come on..Why not port into the city with the archer and see if...wait, the Archer used to work for these guys right? Maybe he's our in?"

Yolanda shakes her head. "I don't know if we can risk revealing him, Regent. Ghravvruhs has his family hostage."

Regent nods.."Right right..ok."

Jennifer shrugs, "Okay if we can't reach it we might as well head into the city and find out what the situation is. As Nexus says, a coordinated attack, inside and out, could be the way to go.

Nexus shrugs. "Beats me, just throwing out ideas. Group warfare, I dunno much about."

The archer reports, "Most of the ice demons are circling the city, together with human soldiers."

Nexus hrms. "Alternatively, I could port one of you by the camp, make this a quick neutralization."

Nexus says, "But with magic... who knows what happens?"

Jennifer nods. "That'as an option we'll still have after talking to the people in the city.

Regent nods.."perhaps we play it smart...we wait for dark and you guys sneak. I'll go away, I won't betray our position."

Nexus turns to Yolanda. "OK. If we want to coordinate with the city, we either need to bring the Archer here in to talk to them first, or bring you in to 'path 'em, or he needs to teach me to say 'I come in peace' in gibberish."

Yolanda says, "I'm willing to go."

Jessica hands Yolanda her holo-cloak. "No need to reveal who he is."

Nexus nods to Jess. "Right. Good thought."

Yolanda waves her hand to Jessica. "It's alright. I've got it." She reaches for Nexus's hand, and once she has it, she vanishes from sight.

Nexus nods. "OK... I guess that's a plan, then. I'll call in soon as we're inside, if I'm not dead." He becomes somewhat more difficult to see, himself.

Regent sighs and slumps down behind the clump of trees. "I wish there was more we could do."

The archer is sorry to see Yolanda go - now he can't talk to anyone.

No one seems to see Nexus. THe people on the walls look sleepy. SOme sort of squabble seems to be going on among the ice demons and they don't even look his way....

Yolanda appears once she's inside the gate.

Yolanda tries to find someone of authority inside the besieged town.

Nexus and Yolanda appear in a street just inside the walls. Other than by the manned walls, it seems strangely quiet for what evidently should be a busy shop-lined street. Bizarrely, there are still beggars sitting or lying here, some blind, some disfigured. A blind one shakes an empty bowl.

Nexus follows Yolanda around, letting her handle any negotiations. He also looks for a well-concealed spot he could port the rest of the team into.

Jennifer sighs with relief on hearing over the team comms that Nexus and Yolanda are in safely.

Yolanda starts with the beggars since they are likely the closest. << Tjasivju. I've been sent by Kihzra to help. I need to speak to whoever is in charge of this town. >> She'll continue asking around telepathically, until she can get an answer.

Nexus fishes through his pockets and drops a couple of Tootsie Rolls into the bowl.

The beggar feels the tootsie rolls in confusion and points down the street.

Crying children within doors suggest where the people largely are - in shelter from the cold and too lethargic from starvation to be doing much.

Yolanda tries to tell reach out to the beggar mind and communicate a mental image of what the object is to the beggar and starts to head in the direction that he indicates.

The soldiers on the walls clearly fare better. They may be underfed, but not so much they couldn't fight.

A palace or sorts is clear in the beggar's mind. Only the tall houses hide it from here.

Nexus follows Yolanda, playing bodyguard.

The beggar eats the tootsie rolls hungrily once he works out how. Despite his blindness, he seems to have no trouble beating off another beggar with his stick.

Yolanda looks to Nexus. "Would it make sense to bring the others into town now?"

Yolanda moves briskly, almost jogging towards the palace.

Nexus says, "I asked... they'd rather wait 'till they're sure you're safe. I'll port you back if things get dicey."

The palace is obvious once it comes into view. In the square in front of it townspeople are lowering buckets deep into a well.

Nexus shivers. "Lets do this fast, though."

Yolanda picks up her pace, if only to get out of the cold more quickly.

Guards stand at the closed heavy doors of the palace, and more look down from above.

Yolanda jogs up to the guards, comes to a stop with her arms wrapped around herself. "Tjasivju" she says as best as she can with her accent and chattering teeth. She tries to make telepathic contact with a guard. << We're here to help. We're friends of Kihzra's. We need to talk to who's in charge >>

"Ksahrzeh!" shouts the guard the moment Yolanda touches his mind and he and his companion move to attack.

Nexus makes friendly gestures while lowering his DCV to half in a very nonhostile way.

Yolanda raises her hands to show that she's not hostile. "Sorry, that was clumsy of me."

The second soldier, being the faster, swings at Nexus, assuming he must be the sorcerer.

Nexus continues their porting process.

Regent says to Jen and Sable, "Ladies, I know Jen's done the dance, but Sable, have you ever been in a situation like this?"

Yolanda tries communicating the guard. << Stop! We're here to help you guys! >>

The first guard takes a swing at the witch, then.

This guard doesn't looks so well, and it shows in his fighting - but he still hits.

The guard doesn't seem to have the strength to harm Yolanda.

Nexus returns with Yolanda to the rest of the team.

Nexus says, "OK, that didn't work."

Yolanda says, "Sorry guys... I blew it."

Jennifer says, "What happened?"

Nexus says, "They decided she was hostile, attacked us. Totally lameass, but the last thing we needed was to get into a fight with them. So I brought us back."

Yolanda says, "They assumed that we were sorcerors. I can't say I blame them."

Regent sighs..."Now what? Perhaps if we brought them a gift of food...they'd trust us."

Regent says, "Nexus can you transport large items?"

Jennifer smacks her forehead, "Doh! Yeah, Kihxra was the same when she first came to CB. They're scraed of mages, and anything that looks like it."

Nexus nods. "Not for huge distances, though. Getting into the city with a big box... maybe."

Regent looks skyward then at the perimeter..."Why don't you do that, I'll provide a distraction?...Fireball from the sky at the ice demons?"

Nexus says, "I could port straight in with about 100 kg of stuff. Or mess around in more complicated ways with larger amounts."

Nexus says, "Do we have a pile of food to offer?"

Regent shakes his head, "no..but I'm sure the sieging army does."

Nexus shrugs. "I suppose. You're thinking I sneak into the enemy camp, grab some of their supplies, port into the city, try to make nice-nice in a foreign language?"

Jennifer says, "Matt. They're Ice Demons. Snow creatures. Any food will be for the controlling mage. Probably in the tent."

Regent nods.."Sort of..just dump food and do that a few times to show we are of good will, I will attack the perimeter to show we're a force on their side as well.

Nexus looks puzzled, but game. "Um... OK, I guess."

Regent looks at the rest of the team. "Look, Nexus can get you all in, but getting in isn't the problem, its helping the starving people in there, and not getting ganked as soon as we get there."