Log:Expedition to Earth-946, Scene 3

Expedition to Earth-946 2008/07/16 	 Jennifer and Jessica Sable the king of Zghe Jhorbaghof a scholar a couple of soldiers Trueshot Yolanda Nexus (spoofed) 3

Jennifer and Jessica see the last of the demons go down with heartfelt relief. Jennifer backs to a tree and sinks down to sit with her back against the trunk coughing. Jessica merely leans again a tree for support as she tries to regain her breath.

Trueshot asks the twins something with concern in his voice as he goes about collecting up several arrows - only to take aim again at piles of snow which were demons.

Yolanda stops forward from her hiding place amongst the copse of trees. She holds her arms wrapped tightly around herself as she shivers. "Is everyone alright?"

Sable turns to regard the exterior of the copse, scanning the terrain and the deployment of the opposition forces. Her breath steams in billowing white clouds as she regains her composure. "I'm fine." She glances to the twins. "We should withdraw."

Jennifer says, "I... I'm having a little trouble with the coldness of the air but I'll keep up."

Trueshot fires at defenceless piles of snow why keeping one eye on the enemy camp. "No one's coming yet," he reports through Yolanda.

Jessica adds, "My lungs got torn up by Sarin gas one time. They never really recovered."

Sable nods firmly. "I'll act as rearguard. True Shot needs to be to the front to identify us to the City sentries."

Yolanda says, "It's clear that we can't stay h-here, but where do we retreat to? The city is surrounded by soldiers..."

Nexus points out that getting into the city again isn't a problem.

Yolanda nods. "Let's go, then."

Sable nods to Nexus. "Do we need to get closer for the jump?"

Jennifer nods to Nexus. "When we inside you ought to hide away. You're our get out of town safeguard if things go wrong."

Nexus nods.

Trueshot gathers the last of his arrows.

One by one - with a twin first and last for communication purposes - Nexus ferries everyone into the city,

Sable looks to Yolanda. "So who should we be talking to?"

Nexus then waves and takes to hiding, as planned.

Yolanda shakes her head. "I'm not certain. We got as far as the building, but the guards got scared when I tried to talk to them telepathically."

Yolanda says, "Maybe I should stay back, altogether."

Jennifer and Jessica put away their whips and assemble the pieces of English style longwsords. She figures it will help to fit in.

Everyone is in the same street as last time, and again few people are in sight but, bizarrely, a few beggars and some guards on the wall.

They certainly seem to be into swords here. A lot of the buildings have pictures of little swords at differing angles in rows on them.

Sable says, "Ok, so what is the local equivalent of "We come in peace, take me to your leader?""

Jessica walks over to the nearest guard. "Take me to your leader." she commands him. In English. Hey, it works in the movies.

It doesn't seem to work here. The guard has his sword out as Jessica approaches and seems very wary of her.

Sable looks to Yolanda. "Can you ask True Shot to give me the equivalent of that phrase?

Trueshot provides the phrase.

Sable moves after Jennifer and repeats the phrase to the local guard, doing her best to simulate the pronunciation.

Jessica coughs and then shakes her head in irritation at the need to do so.

The man responds to sable incomprehensibly.

Yolanda stands at the rear of the group, hands dug in her pockets, eyes down, generally trying to look inobtrusive as she provides translations.

Sable raises her hand to her chest. "Sable" Then she gestures to Jessica. "Jessica." Then she makes an open palm gesture with both palms. "We don't speak the language."

The man says warily, "Tjasivju"

The man says warily, "Tjasivju, a vmehnykyh. Dvohoh ehbbuhshfta?"

At which point Trueshot, seeing this is hopeless, decides to chip in, and speaks quickly to the man.

Sable points over the wall and jabs her finger repeatedly. "We are here to
 * SMASH* she pounds a gloved fist into an open pal"

The man seems to get Sable's drift. Though he looks distinctly dubious.

Still he shouts something to a younger man, who runs off.

Trueshot says, "He sent him to get someone, a scholar he said."

Sable glances to Jessica. "You know, I don't remember the champions ever having to do charades in THEIR adventures."

Jennifer says, "Good."

The blind beggar rattles his bowl.

Jessica says, "Same in tri-dee. The aliens all speak English."

Sable glances at the disappearing young man. "I think we're going to have to pick ups some of the local language."

Jennifer opens her backpack and gets out a ration bar to drop in the bowl.

Yolanda shivers. "Really. If we were here to trick them, would we be standing her freezing to the bones?"

Sable turns back to the guard. Tjasvju"

The beggar bites hungrily into the bar with his few teeth.

Sable reaches out to tap the man's sword and lifts her brow. "sword."

The main raises the sword defensively at the approach.

Yolanda comments. "Tjasivju... the greeting. It translates roughly to 'in honor'."

The young man returns at last with a very thin old man, not well wrapped up again the cold. He doesn't look happy to be dragged outside.

Sable makes no untoward movement, just keeping her brows lifted and her palm upward, maintaining eye contact.

Yolanda says, "Sable, go ahead. I'll translate what you want to say for Trueshot, who can relay it."

Yolanda says, "If we have some time here in the city, I should be able to teach him English, which will simplify things a little."

The old man says to Yolanda, "If you can transrate, why do you need me?"

Yolanda blinks. "You... speak English?"

Jennifer grins, "See. I told you it always works."

says, "I speak many ranguages, but yours is a strange one."

Sable glances to the new arrival and inclines her head. "Tjasvju. It is wonderful to meet you. We are from a distant realm and we have come to overthrow your oppressor and liberating you from the sorceror's clutches."

The old man answers that simply with a sceptical glance and a scornful laugh.

Yolanda looks nervously to Prohz, wonder if she's just blown his cover. One thing at a time. She looks back to the old man. "It's difficult for me to translate. I'm glad that you speak our language."

Jennifer looks over at the old man and then the guard. She hands her sword to Yolanda and walks towards the guard. "Tell him to defend himself." She tells the old man.

The old man raises an eyebow and says something to the guard. The guard doesn't need telling twice.

Sable nods to Yolanda. "Jennifer's got a point, we need to establish our effectiveness."

The guard readies himself for an attack from Jennifer.

Jennifer simply goes for a straight forward takeaway of the guard's sword.

Jennifer lets the guard start a strike and uses an open hand deflection of the blade for showiness before stepping in closer and trapping the blade between her palms for a simple twisting motion that extracts it from the guard's grip. She holds the sword for a moment trying the balance and then offers it back to the guard hilt first.

Yolanda watches Jennifer nervously. She explains to the old man. "We come from a place called Earth. When Grahvruhs banished Kihzra from your world, she ended up on Earth, where she is a great hero. We have come here on her behalf."

The guard snatches the sword back, and glances about.

The old man doesn't seem to react much to Kihzra's name.

The old man says, "Can you say what it is you want? It's freezing my ancient bones to stand here."

Sable glances to the translator. "We want food and board and to consult with the leaders of your city's defense on how best to raise the siege."

"Hah! You want food. Who doesn't? But yes, let us go talk to the king. He has a fire!"

Jessica coughs again. "A fire? Great. Uh, take us to your leader."

The old man explains to the guard how you've come to offer your services to the king and seek an audience. With him, of course, as translator. He may be a bit free in offering your services.

In any case, the younger guard is soon despatched to take you and the old man to the king.

The old man talks to the young guard a fair bit on the way.

Yolanda glances to Trueshot: << Can you double check his translations? >>

Trueshot reports back the gist, anyway.

A few unfortunates can be seen out of doors on the way. Most are starving, or ill, or both.

Yolanda says, "Jennifer, Sable... maybe I should see what I can do for some of the people here. I'll need Trueshot to help translate."

The king's 'palace' - it isn't actually all that grand for a 'king' though it's still the most impressive building in town - is on a big square, in which bucket are being lowered deep down the well.

Sable inclines her head. "As you wish. I'm thinking we need to hit the bad guy's food supplies anyway."

The old man asks Yolanda, "Aren't you coming to the palace, then?"

Yolanda looks to Jennifer and Sable. She's quite for a moment, thinking. "I'll come."

Jennifer opens her backpack and filles her pockets with ration bars. Just a fraction of those in the backpack. "Dr Simmons, take this. I loaded up with ration bars as we didn't know where we would could out."

Sable nods and follows where the old guy and the young guard lead, careful to keep her body language subdued and the tone of her voice low and demure.

Yolanda nods. "Thanks Jennifer. Let me come with you guys to see the king. I need to keep my mind on our main job here."

Jennifer swaggers a little although the persistent cough rather ruins the intended effect.

The old man seems to be quite good at talking you in the front door at the palace. However, once in you're left to wait in a room a while. Still, it's warmer than outside and the old man seems happier.

The few people you have seen to far in the palace don't seem to be starving. Nor is any in ill health.

Jennifer says, "How long has the city been under siege?"

Sable says, "Are you sure you're ok Jennifer? Maybe we should take a few days for you to recover."

Jessica tells Sable, "I'm not going to recover until we get back and I can get access to modern medicine."

The old man says, "The winter never ended. The soldiers came later, but we were already weak."

Sable says, "they may have some healers here that work on herbalism or mysticism."

Sable nods slightly. "So they destroyed your harvest and then struck militarily?

He shakes his head. "It's not harvest time yet. And they haven't struck. They're just making sure no more food comes in. But this year, there will be no harvest, and there are no animals left to eat."

The young guard looks at Jessica with a concerned look as she coughs.

Yolanda says, "They seem to have you on the ropes. Why haven't they attacked?"

Jessica nods. "The demons could swamp the city anytime they wanted. *cough* Since they haven't it means the mage doesn't want to take the loses. That's good. It means there probably limited replacements."

"What am I, a generarr? But that could be it." To Jessica the old man adds, "This is no prace to be if you're weak. Death is everywhere."

Sable tilts her head slightly, look between the old man and Jessica. "Weak is perhaps overstating it a little."

"Or everywhere but the king's -" He stops short as more guards appear, apparently to escort you before the king.

Jennifer nods. "I noticed." She give the old man a conspiratorial look, "I'm sorry we had to drag you out into the cold. Are there any people in the King's palace who can speak our tongue?"

"None but me," he says, with an air of pride. "Come, ret us go to the king's fire!"

Yolanda nods and follows.

Sable nods and moves forward to enter the royal presence, careful to maintain a deferential, non-threatening posture.

Jennifer nods, "So we can speak freely, Scholar, provided we control our expressions?" She asks.

"Just so."

The guards take you before the king, seated on the throne in his moderate hall. A fire roars nearby, and servants (not well fed, but neither starving, and none ill) seem to have found excuses to be working near it.

The king himself *is* well-fed. Actually, he looks rather strikingly like Brian Blessed as Richard IV.

Yolanda tries to take her cue from the Scholar as to whether bowing or other gestures are appropriate. "Your Highness," she says in greeting. She dips her head, glancing sideways to watch the Scholar translate.

No entry for 'scholar translates, and the king roars something which might be a sort of greeting. "His '.

The scholar translates, and the king roars something which might be a sort of greeting. "His majesty wishes to know your business with him," translates the scholar, who has positioned himself on the fireward side of the group.

Jennifer lets Yolanda take point in the discussion. She's not feeling very friendly towards this obviously well-fed King.

Yolanda says, "We want to consult with you to find the best way to end the siege."

Yolanda nods to Sable. o O ( I think you stated it best. )

The king's reply has a laugh in it, though it's not clear what he's laughing at precisely. "His majesty would like to know what you can do to help achieve that."

Jennifer says, "Ask the King if he has any recent reports from the guards on the west wall of the city? They can tell him there's twenty less ice demons out there in the sieging army. He can call that a start."

Yolanda says, "My companions are both skilled warriors; some of your guards can attest to their skill. I'm a scholar."

Yolanda adds, "If there were some way to engage the enemy sorceror in close quarters, I think that the siege could be ended."

There follows some untranslated discussion. It seems that the young guard who brought you from the walls has something to contribute.

"His majesty wants to know if you are saying you up to the task of slaying the sorcerer."

Sable's lips purse slightly. "Vanquishing is a better word."

Jessica nods.

The old man looks askance, and says, "Very well, of vanquishing."

Yolanda says, "Yes."

Sable says, "We could also end the siege by taking out the food supply of the opposition, but yes, I believe we could beat him in close combat yes.""

Jennifer coughs quietly covering her mouth with a hand.

When this is reported to the king he laughs again, somewhat jovially, then asks a question with a shrewd look in his eye. "His majesty wishes to know what reward you are seeking for these services."

Sable looks to Jennifer. "Do we need anything?"

Yolanda looks to Sable and says to her. "Supplies to continue our journey. And maybe some information about the surrounding lands. Outside of that, I don't know."

Jennifer nods. "The sorcerer out there beyond your walls is not the real enemy. We can defeat him. Another will come. Artic Fox is your real enemy. We need information most of all if we are to defeat him too."

Sable turns back to his majesty and bows at the waist. "Please inform his majesty that once we have freed the city we intend to destroy Icy Breath's master. We hope for his good will in this endeavour, modest supplises, and guidance."

The old man himself stares at your words. He asks, incredulously, "You mean to take down Arctic Fox?" before he translates your words.

Jennifer says, "Yeah. That's the plan."

The king laughs, loud and hard. Once again, whether from joy or because it;s the most ridiculous thing he's ever head it's hard to judge.

Sable's head tilts slightly. "On the plus side if we get ourselves killed at least the city no longer has to feed us. So in that sense he doesn't seem to have much to lose."

He says something to the old man (still laughing). Which is tactfully translated as "His majesty accepts your offer, and will gladly pay your price if you can put an end to Icy Breath."

Sable nods firmly. "Has the king any suggestions as to how we might lure Icy Breath into combat on our terms?"

The king for the first time furrows his brow and responds in serious manner. "His majesty says that he has tried many things, but the accursed wizard is not to be drawn out. Time is on his side; all he need need is brock suppries."

Sable says, "So we have two alternatives. Strike by surprise or stealth or both. Or lure him into a confrontation by offering him an ambush to step into or by threatening him in a way he can't endure."

Jennifer says, "Are there any sunny days?"

"Some days are sunny, but orr days are winter. And when the demons pass close they brow snow rike a brizzard."

Sable says, "We could attack his supply lines or just thin out his troops?"

Jennifer nods, "The Mirrors of Syracuse. I'm willing to bet those demons will vape like a snowflake in a candle flame. The mage will have to act. We can strike in the confusion."

Sable nods slowly. "Both excellent suggestions."

The old man asks, "What are these mirrors?"

Jennifer thinks. o O(History classes. What would they use in this kind of tech?) "Something to see yourself in. Polished metal sheets, probably bronze or copper."

Sable says, "They reflect and intensify the light striking them so that it is bright and hot."

The old man looks doubtful. "A mirror is a good thing for seeing your face, but to make heat? Such a thing is never done."

Jennifer says, "The sun is warm on your face when you look at it, right? A mirror can reflect the sun onto your face and then will feel warm. Have a lot of mirrors and you go past warm to burning."

The old man shakes his head. "The river follows his course, and seldom takes a new route."

Sable nods slightly. "Would the sorcerer be willing to engage in a duel of champions? Is there some sort of tradition of personal combat?"

The king says something, and the old man has to explain things to him for a bit.

The old man says, "Sorcerer are not known for their honour."

Sable nods. "Which means he would be inclined to cheat, exposing himself to an attack of opportunity."

"But why would he accept the charrenge?"

Sable says, "Why not? It gives him an opportunity to destroy the city's most powerful warrior"

Yolanda nods, looking to Jennifer and then to the King. "A river can be dammed. Lands can be flooded as a result. It's worth looking at."

Jessica coughs badly hunching up with racking shudders.

Sable says, "Jessica!" She moves to her colleague. "Can my companion have a seat by a fire?""

The king frowns and says something. "His majesty expresses concern about this young woman's health. Has she brought some illness within these walls?"

"Oh, Jessica..." Yolanda says, sympathetically. She unslings her pack and drops to one knee. She begins to rummage through some some medicine that might help Jessica's condition.

Jennifer shakes her head. "My sister and I were injured a long time ago by enemies. The cold air is bad for me.. uh, us."

Sable says, "Her lungs are slightly weak, but she is not diseased, she is sensitive to the cold and wet."

The king waves his hand dismissively at Yolanda and speaks. "His majesty says that his healer will attend you. Should you succeed in the task you have undertaken, there will be no cost."

A servant is set running to fetch the healer.

Jessica chuckles painfully through her coughing. "If we fail I'll be dead anyway. Sounds like a winning deal to me."

The king is shrewd enough to see that Jessica is no use to him dead.

The healer doesn't inspire confidence when you see her. She looks old than the old man, and in no better health.

Yolanda frowns slightly. "I'm not sure if this is the best idea.." . o O ( I hope that they're advanced beyond the idea that leeches are medicine. )

Jennifer looks over at the healer. "Well there's a lot of experience there. But I'd feel better if she looked healthier herself. Oh, and no leeches."]

After receiving instructions from the king she looks Jessica over and listens to her cough a bit, and nods sagely. She indicates with a long finger that Jessica should come with her.

Jennifer nods and she and Jessica head out with the healer. "If I'm not back in an hour call the palace guard." She quips.

Yolanda follows along with Jennifer. "I'm not an internist, but I'm sure I'm closer to a doctor than she is. Still..."

About an hour later...

Jennifer and Jessica walk back to her friends grinning widely and almost bouncing on toes. "Hey, I'm BACK! All the way back. For the first time in over two long years. That healer woman is weird but great heavens she's amazing good!"

Jennifer impulsively hug Yolanda and Sable in obvious delight.

The old man looks distinctly jealous.

Jennifer says, "Okay! Let's go kick some sorcerer butt."

"You have a costly reward for your service after orr, then," he comments.

Yolanda blinks, surprised at Jennifer's energy level. "This reminds me..." She looks to the scholar. "Have you have had any trouble with the wasting plague?"

"What wasting plague?"

Yolanda says, "It's a disease where those suffering from it age rapidly and eventually die."

Yolanda says, "Their appetites increase dramatically and they become irrational and violent."

"Not here. But a city to the north was destroyed by it."

Yolanda says, "Which city? I've got a little of the cure for the disease with me."

"It's hard to name in your ranguage. The brave town, the heroes' town."

"Zhge Grymi."

Yolanda nods. "Where is Icy Breath from?"

Jennifer and Jessica went off with an old woman healer for about an hour. When they returned they look delighted and bouncy cheerful. 

"As far as I know, from the far North where it is winter all year."

Sable says, "Have we had nay progress on how to lure Icy Breath into arm's reach?"

Jennifer says, "Not really, Sable. We could go to him. How about making a night drop on his encampment?"

Sable nods slightly. "We could, but our body heat will show up more vividly at night. We should still be sneaky enough to pull it off."

The old man asks, "How did you draw out the twenty demons you srew?"

Jennifer says, "They came to us. Not a mistake I'd imagine Icy Breath will make again. Are there any large flying creatures used in battle?"

Yolanda hmm. "It was a bit of an accident. I tried to.. ah... scry on them."

Sable says, "We let them see us, but we can't fight toe to toe for longer than a few seconds"

Sable says, "Not against his massed forces."

Jennifer laughs, "Yes we can. But, yeah, the whole army at once is just a bit much." She seems hyped up at the moment.

"Not usuarry. I've seen none here, unress you count the ice demons, which fry when they are rike a wind."

Jessica nods, "So they won't be expecting a threat from above. My flight belt has the lift to take us up high and I packed a couple of mistral-wing chutes. We can make a silent drop on them at night."

Sable nods slowly. "Excellent suggestion actually, can we be assured where Icy Breath can be found at night?"

Yolanda says, "I could try to look for him again, but it will definitely draw his attention. I'm also not sure if I know him at all well enough to try and find him."

Sable says, "Do we have any alternatives? Like looking for the biggest, most heavily guarded tent?"

Jennifer says, "Bare eye observation then. It won't tell us if he bamfs out from inside the tent but otherwise we should be able to track his comings and goings."

Yolanda says, "How high can you fly, Jennifer? Do you have binoculars?""

Jennifer says, "Yes and yes. I didn't bring any high altitude gear so 15,000ft is a sensible limit."

Sable says, "In which case we can give that a try?"

Flytrue offers, "I can provide a distraction from the walls if it helps. The army aren't camped too far away for me to hit." THen adds after a thought, "But that might give away who I am."

Jennifer nods, "That would be a bad idea. You need to stay concealed.

Yolanda says, "Maybe I can scan for him as a diversion from within the city while you guys drop in on him."

Jessica says, "No, Yolanda. Scanning will put him on alert. We want surprise."

Sable says, "If we have timber, we could fashion a mangonel or ballista"

Yolanda nods.

Jennifer grins. "I like that idea. I can cook up some local version of Greek Fire too."

Yolanda asks the King a question. "Do you know why the encircling army hasn't attacked yet?"

Sable says, "Probably insufficient numbers. Sun Tzu says they need to outnumber the defenders fifteen to one to assault directly."

"They want to starve us out, to break our wirrs, not to kirr us. What use is it to Arctic Fox to rure a dead town rike the town of heroes?"

Jennifer says, "That assumes rough equality of force capability though, Sable. The ice demons could fly over the wall and swamp the defenses. But that would, as our friend here says, only gain them a dead city."

Sable nods slowly.

Yolanda nods.

Sable says, "With mangonels hurling flaming missiles that should provide an awesome distraction."

Jennifer nods and grins.

Sable says, "I think we should be able to strike"