>>47509621
"So, they know about the hole, though it IS a tad bit hard to MISS it when a gout of fire and molten rock suddenly bursts through a rock-face. . .Can anyone here use invisibility magic?"

Welcome back, Chem!

>>47509715
I have no bloody idea how this household managed to chew through the satellites data cap in one week, but they managed it. Last month was suffering.

>>47509927
Well, fuck. Sounds like it.

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Rolled 2, 11, 3 = 16 (3d20)

"So, they know about the hole, though it IS a tad bit hard to MISS it when a gout of fire and molten rock suddenly bursts through a rock-face." You say, working over what to do in your mind. "Can anyone here use invisibility magic?"

Keel looks pointedly at the lead Magi, who seems to have recovered himself somewhat. Hesitantly he calls for a number of object, his aides flitting about from tent to tent, scrambling to acquire his materials. Stooping into the tunnel he turns back to Keel. "Can get maybe 10 feet out from the tunnel provided they don't move overmuch. Should be fine, yes?" The captain nods and the magi sets to work, calling back quietly to his aides for various tools as Veles looks with interest. Five minutes later he mutters an incantation and vanishes from the tunnel.

You start a bit when you see his head, then the rest of his body, phase into existence at exit. "Got some room to move, not too fast or we won't be able to mask it. Less invisibility and more a reflection of a still image. You have seven minutes."

One by one the Arma Nitor soldiers vanish into the tunnel following Keel leaving you and yours outside with the Schola.

>Follow them in?
>Let them handle the defenders?
Either way, give me a 1d20 roll if you would.

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>47510813
>follow them in
PLEASE RNG!

>>47510887
Fuck.
If no-one else comes in, should I roll one more time, due to the fact that there are normally three rolls?

>>47510901
Sure.

>>47510969
Okay. I'll wait about 15 minutes then do it.

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>47510979
Where is everyone?

>>47511207
Well, shit.

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Beckoning the rest, you head towards the tunnel, McCain taking the lead. You look at him quizzically and he gestures behind you, you look. Tails. Right, It'd be a bit before he gets in otherwise. Your vision blurs a bit as you pass through the... image, hallucination, invisibility veil? and then comes back into focus as you pass through the tunnel. Entering into the main chamber, you see the Nitor set up one what you assume are the edges of the safe area of the magi's spell. As yards and yards of various different snake spill out of the tunnel you listen to Keel. "Nothing major movement wise, looks like they ducked into one of the side rooms. Could be waiting in ambush. Be cautious. On my signal. Remember to account for the impaired vision as you leave the field." He says, raising his hand. He holds it there a second before dropping it and the men spill forward, before halting a good 20 down the towards the cavern

"Sah," one of his men says, "We didn't pass through the field."

Uncertain, another man pulls back to the tunnel. "Incantation's been damaged sir, trod on and then slithered over. We've been in the open for some time."

The men drop lower, moving to cover. Still no fire.

"Where are they?" McCain growls.

"No matter, we'll clear out the nest. One way or another." Keel says, looking over to you. "Which tunnels you figuring on heading towards, Miss?"

>Right side.
>Left side.

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>47512134
>take out coin
Heads(1) right, Tails(2) left

>>47512134
>Right side.

Chem? You alive?

>>47513225
Aye, tied vote if I read it right.

>>47513266
Could always flip a coin. . .

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Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>47513302
I suppose.

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Having McCain with you, and the of you already intimately familiar with at least a couple tunnels on the left side, you opt for that. Keel signals to a group of his men, splitting the force in two as he takes the right side. You and your handful proceed cautiously down the left until you get to the first tunnel. It appears to terminate in a barracks, or the remains of one, the frames shaped out of the stone itself but denuded of any actual bedrolls or coverings. Finding nothing, you head to the next. A storage room maybe? You're not sure, you see pallets and crates, but most seem broken into, only the remnants of some worm ridden hardtack giving any indication as to what it is. Popping out of that tunnel you head to the next, that's when the smell hits you.

You suppress a retch as you enter what had to be where McCain found the beastfolk. Wrought iron chains are fused into the walls, only the slightest slack available. The floor of which slopes towards the center terminating in a hole inside of which is placed a bucket. The reddish brown stains on the floor giving no doubt as to what went on in here. Looking closer, you see several of the iron chains have been shorn off, a brighter glint where the manacles had been torn. You look over to where McCain is, in one hand his pistol, the other resting on the pommel of that blade he took from his imposter. Expression unreadable, he gives the all clear sign and the group moves out of the charnel house.

Whatever pheonix were here, they must have left in a hurry, each of the other rooms you searched giving the same look of hasty but thorough abandonment. You wonder, then, who was it that shot at you when you first snuck a peak through the tunnel.

Finally you approach the gateway tunnel, the one you went through. As you approach the terminus, you hear muttered voices and footsteps. Along with the faint thrum of an open gateway.

>Give me a 1d20+3 roll.

Rolled 13 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>47513662

>>47513662

>>47513822

>>47513896
dice+1d20+3

>>47513896
Try the options, not name.

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>>47513944

Rolled 4 + 3 (1d20 + 3)

>>47513896

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>16

You pick up the pace as you hear it, barelling into the room just in time to see three figures standing next to a gateway. A different series of runes surround it, than last time and you see two people with the distinguishing features of the phoenix empire slip through. Charging the portal you see the defiant face of the false McCain turn and notice you, flipping you the double birds as he backs through the portal. You're almost to the gateway, and able to see through it when it abruptly winks out. Frantic you try and reopen the gateway to no avail, you then turn to the others. "We need this portal open. Now."

"What's wrong Sasha?" Veles asks, moving up behind you.

"That was the back of my house." You say, "They tunnelled into the gateway between our your lair and my ranch."

You see McCain's knuckles whiten has he grips his weapons tighter at that revelation. Veles immediately heads towards the gateway and begins tracing the runes. In the distance you can hear Captain Keel sound the all clear. The cavern is empty. All of the Phoenix that were here are gone.

>What do?

>>47514291
>inform Keel of the turn of events
>attempt to help Veles

>>47514291
As soon as we can get the portal open, go through and stop what ever plan they have. Make sure that Tai and especially Tatiana are safe.

>>47514539
Not Mari?

>>47514554
Mari can fly, Tai may be at risk as perceived as a traitor, Tatiana is at risk as a possible bargaining chip with her people.

>>47514862
Bullets are rather fast, and people can look and aim UP.
I'd also be quite worried about the beast-men.

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Motioning for the nitor to give Veles space you back out and all but dive into the lagoon to cross to Keel. His puzzlement turns to alarm as you explain what you saw, him calling for the Nitor to get down here immediately. You watch him direct the head magi, and his staff over to the tunnel where and the rest into one of the tunnels on his side. You don't think to ask what he found, opting to go back and check on the portal immediately.

"They used up a lot of energy to open this." Veles says, after examining the gateway. "I thought they were using the blood as a catalyst, but it seems they used it as a fuel entirely, with no real latent magic to back it."

"Can you get it open?" You ask, trying not to think about what the bastards are doing to your land right now.

"In some time, I am feeding some of the energy we saved not opening the barrier to reactivate it. Your attempt to reopen the portal prevented it from collapsing completely. They likely intended it as a one way trip."

"How soon can you get it open?" McCain asks, worry creeping into his grim facade. He's probably upset as you are.

The Magi answers him. "There is a sophisticated throttling mechanism, likely to prevent the blood from being consumed too fast, but your... associate." He says, gesturing to Veles, "Is refilling it, somehow. If the current gauges are accurate, an hour at the earliest."

Entirely too long. You pace back and forth almost tieing yourself in a knot before you approach Veles. "Can I help feed it?"

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>>47515244
<More is not better in this case. For some things refinement is needed. If this mechanism fails the gateway will fall useless, and we will have to return to your home a different way.> He says, gritting his teeth as he focuses on his task.

"They ended up using their own." Keel says with a distasteful grimace, "Bled their lower ranks for power. Willingly if the room was any indication. There's another gateway on the other side, near some mechanism. They had many documents left. I think your stunt scared them off. I'm willing to bet someone important was here." Seeing your look he continues, "Logs, research notes, and a giant mechanism we're having the schola look over."

"That's all well and good but what about my people, what about the ranch?"

"Unless you've got a better idea, this is the fastest way. I know it is frustrating, but we can't do anything about it at the moment." He says, before muttering "Story of my life it seems."

>Find something else in this cavern to keep your mind occupied.
>Wait for it to finish charging
>Try and help?
>Other?

>>47515256
>Try and help.

>>47515280
Give me a 1d20+2 roll.

Rolled 9 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>47515393

>>47515256
>Try and help?

Rolled 7 + 2 (1d20 + 2)

>>47515393

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>11
You do your best to try and help, chosing nonobtrusive ways to try and fiddle with the thing, picking up the burden of power from Veles. You suspect he only shifted a portion of it unto you, but even still the sheer draw of the thing left you drained. The relief on Veles' face though makes it evident that what he was doing was taxing, even to him. While taking care of that, you see the Nitor Magi and Keel spirit themselves away to whatever thing he found on his side of the cave.

You don't shorten the time by much, but at least both you and Veles are only nearly sapped instead of completely exhausted. One grueling hour later you manage to get the gateway open. Heedless of the rest, you barrel through, hoping to protect your ranch. You slip through the gateway, looking quickly to see the damage before a blade pulls itself to your throat. Immediately you freeze, only to have your assailant lower the knife immediately, whipping around, you see Zhou drenched from head to midriff in blood.

"Oh, Miss Sasha." You hear Tai call from one of the windows, rifle in hand. "We had some visitors. I think some of them may be still alive."

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>>47516022
And that's it for now. Gonna try and get some momentum going and run next weekend as well. As always, thanks for reading, and I hoped you guys enjoyed the thread.

>>47516022
"Oh, thank the Light you all are alright! I only knew that they had come here, I didn't know how strong their force was or. . . Did you guys already get them all? Any prisoners?"
>>47516120
Damn. Oh well. Thanks for running, as always. See you next week.

>>47516120
Thanks for running.