Part 3B - Der Tempel von Kadatheron (Max and Karl)

[Mr. Handy]

Max also runs out through the new doorway he created, gesturing for Helmut to follow them.

[SunlessNick]

OOC,Call it Dodge, with a bonus die because he appearance of the door has left the guards flat-footed. Max's Dodge: 42 Karl's Dodge: 25 Helmut's Dodge: 20 Rolled 1D100: 17, 09, 30 Max's Spot Hidden: 55 Karl's Spot Hidden: 50 Rolled 1D100: 87, 61

You both move like lightning, making it to the new doorway before the guards can react. But you're both outside before you realise Helmut isn't following. You can hear voices within, but his isn't among them. If you keep going you may be able to lose yourselves in the crowded plaza - if you turn back, you will facing at least four men.

[HoneyDog]

"Helmut!" Karl cries to Max. "He didn't follow!"

[Mr. Handy]

"We're going to need allies before we go back to rescue him," says Max. "And maybe modern weapons. A panzer would be nice too, but that might be overdoing it. We could circle around to the front where the Dotherites were waiting and get some answers out of them, but they can't be trusted. It's quite possible they knew this was a trap."

[HoneyDog]

Karl nods.

"Let's get out of here then, before they find us."

[Mr. Handy]

Max nods and leads the way into the crowd in the plaza.

[SunlessNick]

OOC,A general Spot Hidden roll for the guards: 90

The two of you are able to disappear into the crowd with relative ease - now you're inamongst them, you can tell that most of them are traversing the plaza to get to one of the great roads from another, so you can also make it to one of them unseen. The question is where to go to find allies.

[Mr. Handy]

"Shall we head around closer to the front of the temple to see if the Dotherites are still waiting outside?" asks Max. "Nobody would expect us to come back so close to the place this soon."

[HoneyDog]

Karl hesitates.

"How do we know they weren't in on it?" he asks.

[Mr. Handy]

"We don't," says Max, "but this is a way we could find out. I do suspect that they led us into a trap, but we can make sure of it. If they are no longer waiting around in front of the temple for our return, then we know for a fact that they set us up. If they are still there, it becomes less likely, and we can find a way to approach them. I've studied psychology, so I should be able to tell from their reactions to seeing us again whether or not they sold us out. If they truly are innocent, they would make potential allies. They are also the only people we have any knowledge about in this city."

[HoneyDog]

Karl nods.

"An excellent hypothesis, Herr Max" he says. "Let's go take a look."

[SunlessNick]

You're able to work your way back around the plaza to where you left the Dotherites. At first it appears they have indeed left, but then you catch sight of a food stand set up against one of the plaza's outer walls - a brick griddle next to a wooden counter on wheels, and a few benches around them. Two of the Dotherites are there, eating what appear to be rolled up strips of bread. They are sat next to each other, facing the same direction, giving you the option of approaching from in front or behind.

[Mr. Handy]

"Let's approach from behind," says Max. "We want to be close to them when they see us."

[HoneyDog]

Karl nods. Max is obviously a man of action, and the scholarly Karl is happy for his companion to take the lead.

[SunlessNick]

The plaza has enough ambient noise for you to get up right behind the two Dotherites. After a moment, one of them turns apparently sensing a presence.

"You're here!" he says. "What did you see?"

"It's not been enough time," the other breaks in. "Did they not allow you in?"

OOC, Max's Psychology: 55 Karl's Psychology: 10 Rolled 1D100: 61, 05

Ironically perhaps, it is Karl who discerns that the first spoke with eagerness and the second disappointment.

After a moment, the second Dotherite adds, "Where is your friend?"

[HoneyDog]

"They tried to seize us!" says Karl angrily. "And now they have our companion! What is going on here? Did you betray us?"

[Mr. Handy]

"If you truly did not know what would happen when we entered the temple," says Max, "you will help us get our friend out of there. You can start by telling us everything you know of the temple and the people within."

[SunlessNick]

"They tried to seize us!" says Karl angrily. "And now they have our companion! What is going on here? Did you betray us?"

"If you truly did not know what would happen when we entered the temple," says Max, "you will help us get our friend out of there. You can start by telling us everything you know of the temple and the people within."

"We did not betray you," the first Dotherite insists. "What would we gain from it?"

The second responds to Max's pronouncement. "The temple is in honour of the Great Ones, the gods worshipped by most in the Dreamlands. The priests who accompanied you into our enclave follow them too. We do not, but more than that we not discuss with outsiders. But no matter. it is said that this temple is the oldest, and built by the Great Ones themselves, with stone from their own home, Kadath. The first priests carved the ancient history of the Dreamlands on brick cylinder seals, enchanted to survive the ages - in time, the enchantment grew so that new carvings appeared by themselves as events too place."

The first picks up the thread. "We cannot tell you how many priests serve in the temple, nor its layout within. You may be able to find that out from elders in the city - once, any who visited were permitted entrance, but in more recent times, only the city's guards and those of importance - that is why we thought they would not refuse you. But there must be some here who remember from before."

"When you go to free your friend, we will come with you and help you," the second says. "As will any others of our people in the city - we are well travelled. But we will also seek out the cylinders."

[Mr. Handy]

"Thank you," says Max. "It seems things have changed here as well. Then let us first seek out the elders and get more information."

[HoneyDog]

"Wait a moment! Why would they want to capture us?"