Tama looked over at Jude.

"What ya' got there? A diary?"

(OOC: It was a day since we started, it could have been a week or two since my guy left.)

"You could say that...but I prefer the term Journal...doesnt sound too feminine...its a very interesting world outside my village..."

"You have a dairy... Can I read it?" Hiro looked over Jude's shoulder, beind very bored.

"There is only one entry, this is the first exciting thing that has happened since I left. What is it we are looking for again...a tomb...are those below ground?"

"I would think they are underground." Khakoi said as she walked along, "We're not going to have to... touch the dead people or anything, are we?"

"That really depends on the culture he came from. I wish he was egyptian. A person of his status amongst the rebels, he'd get a nice-sized pyramid. Would making finding him a hell of a lot easier."

"He wasn't burried... Wasn't he trapped into the cave so he would die, since he was evil and all?"

"What's an egyptian? Is that another name for the Scrimtah Clan? I have always wanted to see the pyramids of the Scrimtahn temples. I hear they are beautiful to behold."

"I have seen pictures of the Scrimtahn pyramids...very beatiful, and very large...but I have also heard that they were made to be nearly impenatrable by all except those who built it...most unfortunate that they stuck the ones who did build it inside for eternity..." Jude said aloud, recalling his school days.

"There big triangles made of a bunch of stones... There nothing special..."

"My father told me they are funtioning temples and centers of learning. He aided the Scrimtahns in their war against the Lepradans. He told me stories of how only the towers of the socerai were larger."

"So we would be wise to expect magical defenses? After all, learning and sorcery seem to go hand in hand."

"That was Scrimtahns, we are dealing with a gang of thieves...I would exect more makeshift defenses, if anything..."

"Not a gang of thieves, This isn't the Talan Clan. This is the Assassin guild. I'd expect deadly traps all over the tomb.

"I see. In any case, it would be good to try and get some information before walking into a thieves' hideout, which would imagine is festooned with traps for the unwary. "

"More than likely, but how do you plan to get some we can trust. First we have to find the entrance." Drae'san said. He mounted his horse again and readied his bow. "Something isn't right, it's to quiet here." A black arrow impacted with his braid. He knocked an arrow and spurred his horse. He fired into a bush and heard a grunt from behind it. Another arrow narrowly missed Khakoi.

"Damn. Looks like I'll have to call it out..."

To me, Longicolnis.

The broad metal lance materialized out of thin air and floated in front of the standing Zato.

"Longicolnis, defend."

Instantly, it leapt forward to intercept an arrow headed straight at Zato, then swung a glittering arc to parry another volley headed for Jude. Zato drew his short sword and turned to Drae'san.

"I suggest we go after our attackers. At best we'll capture one of them, at worst the attack will stop. Longi can't deflect arrows forever, not with such a large group."

Khakoi had looked over to say something to Drae'san, but as soon as she had looked over, an arrow whizzed by her head. "What the..." Khakoi turned about, trying to face the direction of the oncoming arrows. She whipped out Illuser, ready for battle.

"Eep!" Hiro put up his right arm infront of him, like one would if he had a sheild on that arm. The liquid metal expanded and in a small wave, covered the top half of Hiro. Then some of it spread to his legs, covering everything below the thighs. Everything but his eyes, ear holes, mouth, armpits, back of hands, small area in front of both hips, and most of thighs were covered by Shifter. Can't make a weapon, but no arrows will hurt me now

"Stay behind the horses. I'll move Longi out to screen the group. In the meantime, can anybody pinpoint the attackers?"

An arrow bounced off of Hiro's head. "My guess is the place the arrows are coming from."

"I see you have mastered the obvious side of the Force, but does anyone know their exact location?"

"FEDUCIA, REND!" Jude yelled, swinging the sword. Although the swor hit thin air, it scraped the ground, sending a earthwave that traveled in a straight line to the nearest bush. It exploded in a rain of pebbles and rocks, sending an archer flying. Still more arrows came.

"They are very persistent." Jude said, readying his other blade.

"Verily. But your Earth Rave power seems to be a useful counter... can you fell the trees closest to us? It might stop them firing..."

Meran's horse skidded to a stop right by them. He drew his sword and whacked an arrow away, before another bounced off his mail.

"Yes, could you please do that?"

OOC: Played waaaay too much RotK today.

OOC: I can tell. Believe me, if there were a cave troll or an Oliphaunt here I'd heft Longicolnis into its chest.

IC: Another arrow flew past, but this one grazed Zato on the arm.

"Damn!" he cursed, moving further behind Drae'san's horse. "Hope it's not poisoned..."

"REND!" Jude cried again, this earthwave crashing the specified tree.

"There...they seemed to have stopped for a second..."

One last arrowed bounced off of Hiros forehead. "Ow..." He complained, then started rubbing it. "That's gunna leave a bruise..."

"Longicolnis, return."

The metal lance flew back into Zato's waiting hands. HE closed his eyes and concentrated...

"... Spear of destiny, grant me sight beyond sight..."

Within Zato's closed eyes, a scene grew from the darkness, revealing his surroundings as though his eyes were open. The view quickly shifted,a s though it were an invisible camera moving very rapidly, until it focused on a group of bowmen. Zato pulled the view back out, until he knew the area they were in.

"I see them! They're there!" he pointed at the largest cocnentration of the bandits. "There's more of them around, but that's the most troublesome group! Longicolnis, fly!"

The lance shot forward again, into the forest.

Longicolnis... Zato was grinning now. Wound.

OOC: What is your swords power exactly...

ooc: You realize I'm mounted on my horse and I'm moving. A horse bowmen shoots on the run.

Drae'san fell ed several more assassins they may be good at hiding, but he was a marksmen. He pulled proda to the left and galloped toward a group of bushes, an Assassin lunged at Drae'san to knock him from his horse only to find an arrow between the eyes.

Zato was already sprinting forward, his short sword held in a reverse grip. An arrow came at him, but he dodged neatly, then fell upon his attacker. A quick slash severed his bowstring, but as Zato was about to finish him off, he remembered that they still needed an informant.

"Lucky you," he said as he reversed his grip again and bashed the side of the man's head with the pommel of his weapon. The assassin collapsed bonelessly to the ground. Zato bent down and noticed that the man had another short sword on his belt. He picked it up, feeling its balance.

"Good..."

Then he rotated both weapons into the reverse grip again and scaled a nearby tree.