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An offer considered...

Bars listens to Dieter's suggestion and considers it. [Reaction roll, 2d6-1(CHA bonus), 5-1=4, Offer Accepted]

He says, "We will help you with your assault with our bows. I suggest that my band and I attack any in the skull's eyes, distracting them while you hug the side of the mountain, sneaking into the mouth. You can either sneak up on them from within or engage whomever is waiting for you there. Does that sound like a plan?"

Dieter - Mage

That sound like an excellent plan. Turning to his companions: What do you gents think?

Grimes - Fighter

Grimes grins and gives a thumbs-up. "Sounds like a fine plan to me."

"I agree, an excellent plan. I hope that we can slip into the entrance of the mouth without being seen."

Furuk checks his equipment and prepares to set out again.

"I'm ready to slaughter some more cultists."

Bars agrees with Furuk with a smile and a nod.

The party and their new allies head onward. The mountain is still a few hours away. You find the other members of Bars' clan untalkative.

It's dusk by the time you reach the hillside that leads to the Skull face. The sky is red as the sun begins its descent, the plume of smoke from the volcano that is Skull Mountain rises and looks like a blood trail reaching to the heavens.

The fires are already on in the eyes of the Skull, a haunting glow that seems to pulse as the braziers burn. The sacrificial area, where you launched your campaign on the way into the mountain and captured the cultists on your way back out, is bare. There is no sacrifice tonight, or at least none there. The drums that greeted you when you approached before are silent.

"Over there," says Bars, pointing to the side of the mountain that is far aside from the Skull. "You can follow the tree-line to that point and wait there. We will keep watch on you and set up here. When you are ready, give us a sign and we will begin our shots into the eyes, paving the way for your entrance. If Cooper is operating like we did, and our scouts have suggested that is the case, once we eliminate those in the eyes, you only need to worry about whomever is meeting you in the mouth. Beware, there is a murder-hole where someone can drop oil and set it alight in the path down the mouth. Best luck to you."

It appears that it will take twenty minutes or so to make it to the point he is indicating, it should be dark by then.

Actions?

Dieter - Mage

Many thanks, maybe we'll see you when we return... Drawing a dart he will start to make his way along the tree line. He'll keep sharp ears and eyes for anything out of the norm.

Grimes - Fighter
Grimes nods at Bars and his men, "Good hunting, gents. We'll see you soon, with a wake of dead cultists behind us."

Furuk gives a nod goodbye to Bars and the others. He draws his sword and follows behind Grimes along the tree line until the waiting point is reached.

Approaching the mouth...

Tension is certainly evident as you make your way to where Bars had indicated. It's almost as battle is already upon you. The light from the eyes of the Skull seem to intensify as the sun disappears below the horizon. The glow from the mountaintop where the volcano's caldera is lights the smoke and clouds from below. It seems even more sinister than before when all you saw was the ritual and the skull. With the volcano lighting the sky it is even worse.

Twice you sense that those in the eyes might have seen you (d12 x 2, 3, FAIL, 12, FAIL) but nothing happens so they must not have.

Finally you are at the location. You hug the mountainside and wave to where you assume Bars and his merry men are located.

At first it seems that nothing happens, then, in concert, arrows fly at the eyes. You hear a muffled yelp and commotion. Suddenly arrows are flying both ways, to and from the mountain. It's your chance and you take it. Hastily you make your way to the mouth. As you enter a cultist falls from one of the eyes at your feet barely missing you, pierced through the throat and lifeless. The corpse lies between two of the rocks making up the teeth. You scurry past it and into the mouth. The familiar walls greet you, deep and dark.



You are in. Ahead you can see the murder hole, now that you know where to look for it. There is still activity above you, but it appears to be dying down. Arrow shafts still hit the mountain side and eyes as Bars and his group fire shaft upon shaft.



You huddle in marching order and prepare for the worst...

Actions?