Alternate Realities, portal Xanadu

From: lev0@tank.uchicago.edu (Ron Levy )

Date: Wed, 04 Apr 1990 16:55:49 +0000

Sorry for the delay everyone, spring break and all, and not
enough people have been harassing me to get the moves out.  Hassle me
if you want speed.

Tarrin and Swifteagle meet up with the ground team 2 1/2 days out of
Xanadu's capital.  They make their report on the bandit's forces, and
Swifteagle attests to the presence of Garth, the youngest Basilisk (about
150 years old).  Everyone notes that the tips of Swifteagle's feathers are
slightly greyed.  Swifteagle asks if anything can be done about this,
and Melanie, who knows magical healing, assures him that while these feathers
are unfixable, when his new feathers come in, they won't be grey.  Anyway,
it looks distinguished.
     The Bandit forces are set at thirty, of which ten are archers,
Fliers number 2 eagles, 2 hawks, 2 swifts, and a sparrow.  Active
sentries (not included above) number five, in given positions, and a
sparrowhawk flying high guard.  There are two pavilions which could
not be looked into, one contained Garth.  It is likely that the larger
one was for the bandits to sleep, and the smaller for officers and
nobility.  Ten of the non-archers have crossbows with bolts poisoned
with basilisk's blood, they don't appear trained in their use.
Likely, they were just told to point, shoot, and get lucky, because
even a scratch kills.

The whole gang, now consisting of Melanie, Ecrylion Farlasa, Ralph,
Morgan, Thielvar, Viento, Serroli, Casha, Dorian, Lt. Shosharra,
and Hachiro is a short distance from the border in the dead of night.
A stealth team is sent out to check the border for nasty surprises, and
for a choice place to cross.  On this team is Morgan, Dorian, Ralph,
and Lt. Shosharra (she is the only one who can detect spells of perception
at all).
     Shosharra detects no perception spell, and a choice concealed
spot for crossing is chosen, where it is unlikely even from a bird's
eye view that they will be spotted.  They return, make their report,
and the whole crew sneaks as quietly across the border as is
manageable, Serroli swaddled in cloth so that his bronze feathers
won't make too much noise.
     The stealth team apparently chose well, because nothing bad
happens in the crossing.  Travel continues through the night, people
easily sleeping in the wagon.  Through the day, the wagons are covered
and disguised, and everyone hides.  For the most part, this is a
sparse forest with large trees, so a wagon can be driven through it
without a path, and a bird would have to perch on a tree and look down
to spot you.  The day of hiding is successful, and now our crew is some
2 hours travel from the bandit's camp by foot or wagon (same speed, less
tiring to sit and sleep on the wagon).

What's the plan of attack?

Email me at lev0@tank.uchicago.edu.

--
With weapons in hand,
We reach for the stars.
Our minds have not changed,
Only our cars.               "Kid Dynamo"