Thema: "A simple escort," she said ...

[Zanan]

While waiting on the last two's replies, Kylara walks towards Xune and Tavia. They talk to one another, Tavia's looks turn sour, then lighten up a bit. Finally she nods and turns towards Xune again. Both females trade a few sentences, then exchange some items.

Kylara returns to the group, a determined look on her face: "Right those remaining here will be assisted by Tavia. Khalas, I give you command on this place. Guard it with any effort you can muster. I doubt that anyone will show up here, but we want to be prepared nonetheless. Is that understood?" She bellows at all those remaining here, receiving nods of agreement. The Dalharil hands the wizard a bag, telling him to pay out the fee agreed so far. Then she waves all those accompanying her on the hunt to one side of the cavern and bades them to sit. "Now I am going to tell you what this is and what we are in for."

[Korach]

"I think it will be ... wiser if I stay here." Xyranma tells the yathrin.

[Szordrin]

Szordrin turns towards the yathrin, tilting his chin up and crooking his head slightly to the side as he regards her. His red-orange eyes smolder momentarily and then wink out like a dying flame.
The spider emblem that previously rested on the back of his neck crawls over his face, outstretching all eight of it's spindly purple-black legs over his entire head.
Despite the apparently living tattoo covering his face, Szordrin's bright white teeth are hard to miss as they shine through the....image of a spider on his face in a devilish smile as dark thoughts creep through his mind causing his lips to curl up.

[Zanan]

Kylara looks at all of you, then says something to Xune. The small female nods and casts a spell. Magic rolls off her and washes all over you, to no apparent effect, at the moment.
The Dalharil points towards the stone circle. "This is a portal to the realm of one of the most powerful deities there are in the multiverse. At least that is what I was told by my superiors. When the gods worked the lands of the mortals, various of these portals appeared and many a foolish mortal and would-be deity attempted to open the portals and venture forth, as there were rumours abound that the realm of the deity was rich in any treasure a mortal or immortal could ever desire. Utter rubbish, of course, for no-one ever returned from the trip, if anyone succeeded making it at all. Nonetheless, after the god-walk, certain faiths were charged by their deities to keep these remaining portals closed and guarded, for the heigher gain of the deities. It was at the command of the over-deity that they send these guardians forth, for the over-deity has no followers on Toril itself. The deities of Fate agreed to this and also upon a 15-year-turn of protection. This year, the Dark Mother's turn has come, yet, for reasons that need not concern you, it was not possible for her to send her guardian." The Dalharil pauses for a few moments before continueing. "We were charged to find a suitable replacement (her eyes move towards Naedragard) to perform the ritual and did so. For that ritual we do need to have both, the old and the new guardian in place though. Thus, we are in need to find the one who protected the portal up to this point. I have no idea why he was taken from here, and how." At this Naedragard smiles, but says nothing. "I assume that the guardian is still alive and you are paid to find him and get him back here. The reward will be generous for those looking for coin, and even more generous for those looking for the protection and guidance of the Dark Mother. Questions so far?"

[Phaerven]

Zhadristan looks quite surprised by Xyranma's announcement.

(After Kylara's explanation)
"Yes", Zhadristan begins, "what was the previous guardian?"

[Zanan]

"By the looks of it," Naedragard intervenes, "some sort of archon, sent from one of the other deities of Fate. Quite powerful a being, on its day."
Kylara nods and waits for more questions. After a while, she continues: "Since these interloopers have managed to defeat the glyphs and wards as well as to subdue the archon, we are most likely in for a tough fight. It could well mean that we have to travel the Planes. But one thing at a time. They cannot access a planar portal from just everywhere, so for the time being, we'll track them as good and fast as we can."

[Sheiriya]

"And why do you think they cannot use a spell to get to another plane?" Sheiriya asks Kylara.

[Zanan]

Xune drops in: "You need special places down here to get people to other planes and back. While teleportation spells and the like are generally hazzardous due to the radiation that permeates Har'oloth, planar shifting spells are not. Yet, there is a chance that the spell goes awry and one would not go all the length to free the guardian, battle him and then loose him in a failed spell, won't you?"
The Dalharil looks at the small priestess, noting her keen intellect. "Well, at least that is how I see it." She remarks dryly. "I would assume they have some place where they can go back safely and we will go after them and try to locate that place as well as the reasons behind this capture. They did not risk shifting right into this place, so we have a chance. Well, at least we need to try and figure out their identities on the way."
"Obviously," Naedragard interrupts, "there are always means to get these informations at a certain price." The Dalharil gives at the female a questioning look, who is immediately rewarded with a held up hand. "Nay, not from me. But I know whom to ask, should the time comes. But shouldn't we first try and hunt these transgressors?"

[Phaerven]

"Only try?", Zhadristan teases Naedragard.

[Zanan]

"If you were not a mortal, I might have said: get them, instead of trying to. But since you are mere mortals ...", comes the reply. Nodding at Farviaan, Naedragard adds "But we should be off as long as our planar friend here smells his cousin's blood, shall we not?"

[Phaerven]

Zhadristan inclines his head, smiling.

[Szordrin]

"Lead the way," Szordrin says to Naedragard as he seemingly stares blankly at an unforseen distance. "Our fate awaits."

[Fabius Maximus]

Farviaan glowers at Szordrin for a moment and answers: "Not ours. Theirs."

[Szordrin]

Szordrin momentarily cast his fiery gaze upon Farviaan and smiles. "Yes, of course," he says, chuckling slightly.

[Zanan]

Naedragard points towards the Dalharil for commands. "Gather your equipment!", the latter orders and moves over to Khalas and those staying behind. After a few minutes of discussions, she orders Xune to take the lead, which the diminutive female does in a manner akin to Tavia. Swiftly, you leave the place and go back to the chasm. Xune neatly jumps towards the other side, checking whether the tracks of the interloopers go on there. Soon, she waves you over and simply moves along the path. Naedragard waits at the edge of the chasm, saying: "I'll watch out for anyone falling down and may safe him or her, for a price." None offers her the chance though, as anyone who wants to jump does so without much effort.
The track does indeed continue on the other side, as anyone of you can easily spot. Disturbed dust and the odd drop of now dried blood lead the way through this magically carved passage. Occasionally, darkened stone mark places where spells of warding have apparently gone off. There is a sour look on the Dalharil's face as she notices this, but she keeps her thoughts to herself. Swiftly the scout leads you on and after about half an hour of walking, the tunnel ends at the wall near the ceiling of a large cavern. A it is dimly lit by some leeches and crystals, you spot vast amounts of spider webbing all over the place. As well as large amounts of burned spider webbing and quite a number of carcasses of slain spiders of various sizes. Again, the Dalharil keeps quite, asking anyone nearby in sign language whether they spot any traps or enemies in the cavern.