Sharisa maintained her grip on the mage, but she didn't need to use much force as Litora nodded.  "All right, let me go now, you've made your point!"<br/><br/>Faliensk, eyes watering from the pain, rushed over to the stream to jump in headfirst, looking for<em>anything</em>to dull the pain.  Not wanting to get wet herself, Litora conjured a<em>floating disc</em>to try and help pull up her elven friend.<br/><br/>Claudia came running back, soaking and anger in her eyes.  Hanifa pointed over to the disc-bound mage helping up a struggling Faliensk, who looked like she was still burning up on the inside.  "Damn, I won't forget this!" she said as she aided Litora in helping Faliensk out of the library and to Garetz' place.<br/><br/>"Oh no, there's no going back for me now," Sharisa said through chattering teeth and quivering knees.  "I, uh, Silent Girl, you...spoke, earlier?"<br/><br/>Hanifa twiddled her index fingers as she avoided eye contact.<br/><br/>"Oh, uh, you broke your vow of silence.  Sorry about that.  I'm sorry that you had to get involved in this."<br/><br/>The ranger smiled and reassuringly patted her on the shoulder.<br/><br/>"So, what were you doing-oh, pretty!"  Sharisa discovered the Pathfinder code-pictures.  "Did you two draw these, these are really good!"<br/><br/><em>Menya gains 2,400 experience points.</em><br/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">Nineteenth Day, Nightfall</span></span></div><br/>Although Sharisa suspected nothing, Hanifa decided that they couldn't continue their conversation that time and instead did it when most people (save the guards) were sound asleep.  She snuck into Menya's bedroom and slid under the covers with her, whispering into her feline ears of potential plans.  If anyone happened to sneak a peek, it would look as though the pair were getting "close," not an unusual occurrence among certain ladies in the palace.  But another reason Hanifa did it was that now with Menya's memory back she wanted to remain close to her friend, embracing her as though she might be easily lost again.<br/><br/>"You should try convincing Judi to take a tour of the City of Glass, potentially with me or as part of a group.  I would love to see the places beyond the Palace's walls.  As for the 'snake,' I've got her routes down pat now; she thinks I've all but given up on you, so she doesn't seem to view me as much of a threat.  Now as for the golem..."<br/><br/>Hanifa paused in contemplation.  She motioned for Menya to sit up briefly as she turned the large fluffy pillow over so that she could get the cold side of it.<br/><br/>"Ah, that's better.  The man of stone...  Some of the closets might be small enough, and there's a rickety scaffolding in the courtyard undergoing construction...he's brawny, that's for sure, but golems aren't my strong suit."<br/><br/>Hanifa pauses to hear her out, sometimes  running her fingers through Menya's soft tail which occasionally brushed up against her leg.  "Heh, I remember that time we were clearing out that mountain stronghold in the Thuvian mountains.  A series of rocks fell, and the advancing scarab beetle swarm was about to overtake us.  Your tail was caught, and for a minute I was almost persuaded to cut it to help you escape.  Your plan was better; at least you still have your nice furry tail!"<br/><br/>She giggled a bit as she closed her eyes.  This bed was soft and luxurious, and being right next to her best friend instilled a sense of serenity and calmness in Hanifa which made it all too tempting to go to sleep.  "Menya..." she whispered after a bit.  "The other ladies...Alfreldi...Zelda...they have to know, but...are they willing, do you think?  They might be going along...maybe..."<br/><br/>Hanifa yawned, sleep starting to claim her.  "Maybe we should save them...if they're here... like us..."<br/><br/>The white-haired ranger fell asleep, one arm comfortably wrapped around the catgirl as they lay in a bed softer than the summer clouds.<br/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">Twentieth Day in the Gilded Cage, Morning</span></span></div><br/>After having a light breakfast, Hanifa was more than ready to begin the next phase of their plan.  The Sultan's vault doubtlessly stored enough riches and gear to help them bust out once it came time, and possibly the guard's armory.  Hanifa helped gather material components for the catgirl's spells, giving her 3 more uses for each one, comfortably stored in out-of-the-way locations others are unlikely to stumble by, but strategically scattered to remain within an easy run.  Surprisingly there was no full map of the estate, so the ranger suggested some library research.<br/><br/><strong>Escape Plans:</strong>Below are a list of tasks for Menya to perform to help aid in the eventual escape.  In addition to experience points and equipment, successfully completing challenges can increase their chances of a quick, safe getaway!  Two tasks can be performed per day, and can be repeated on a failed check if necessary.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Estate Maps</div><div class="spoiler_body">Searching through the library's archives is necessary to get a good sense of the Palace's layout.  Zelda can be asked for help, which she's all too willing to give after "Arensha" helped out with her own research.<br/><br/>Roll a DC 20 Knowledge (Engineering) or Perception check with a +5 bonus as Hanifa and Zelda both help.  Each success nets 1/4th of the total estate layout.  Getting all four maps grants Menya 1,200 experience points, plus the continuous effects of <em>Know Direction</em> while in the Palace.</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Eunuch Head Count</div><div class="spoiler_body">"No, not that <em>kind</em> of head!" Hanifa whispered in an irritated tone.  "At the very least we need to know how many obstacles we're dealing with if they sense something amiss."<br/><br/>Roll a DC 10 Intelligence check to get a sense of the total number of guards in the harem area: 25.  A 15 or better on the check extrapolates a general population for a Palace of this size: 150.<br/><br/>If Menya has all four maps, she can substitute Knowledge (Engineering) as she looks at floor plans and bedrooms and their dimensions, making an educated guess based on these factors.  In both circumstances Hanifa's aid provides a +2 bonus on the check.<br/><br/>Getting a 15 or higher grants Menya 1,000 experience points, and when going about the Palace she can surmise how many guards are in an adjacent room.</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Befriend Judi</div><div class="spoiler_body">Judi al-Samara has gotten over her initial resentment of "Arensha," although she is often busy as of late trying to sire a child with her husband (a task which will fail due to the contraceptive tea).  A DC 18 Diplomacy check can convince her to lead Menya on a tour of the city, if she can convince hubby to let them go.<br/><br/>Al-Samara, however, will not be so quick to lend this aid.  A DC 23 Diplomacy check for him is necessary to have him consider the offer.<br/><br/>If aid is given, I'll type up a bonus scene in response.<br/><br/>Alternatively, Menya can try finding a spyglass in the Palace's observatory (Stealth DC 20 to get in, automatic w/ Invisibility) and survey the surrounding City from the balcony outside her bedroom.<br/><br/>The diplomacy option grants 2,000 experience points to Menya.  The spyglass 1,500.  If Menya does one route first then the other, she only gains 2,500 experience.  Additionally, hours spent people-watching the City of Glass' many streets and rivers grants her a keen sense of the planar metropolis' layout and can add her Knowledge (Local) modifier to her Stealth modifier when hiding out in the city.</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Locate the Armory</div><div class="spoiler_body">Although Menya's good with her claws, Hanifa needs a good ranged weapon in order to shine, and some armor never hurt anyone either.  The eunuch's guardroom is patrolled at all hours and under lock and key.  The treasure vault even more so, believed located in the deepest basement levels under the Palace.<br/><br/>In short, Menya needs to first succeed on a DC 25 Stealth check.  Then she needs to either beat a DC 30 Disable Device check to unlock the armory's weapons stockade or an opposed Sleight of Hand check to take the keys off of Ahriman himself!  A failure means that there's no easy opportunity.  A Natural 1 means that the golem spots Menya trying to take the keys off of him!<br/><br/>Locating the vault is easier (DC 20 Stealth), but it is sealed with a giant series of golden sliding doors.  There is no keyhole, although a DC 25 Use Magic Device check can fool the wards into thinking that Menya is al-Samara.  The two guards at attention will have to be dealt with, however.<br/><br/>Successfully breaking into the vault nets 1,500 experience points to Menya.  The armory nets 2,000.</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Moral Choices</div><div class="spoiler_body">Not necessarily a task so much as a series of difficult questions posed to Menya.  Al-Samara has people who want him dead, and some concubines may wish to escape as well but do not make this known.  If an assassination attempts creates an opportunity for escape, do they take the easy route or the moral route?  Should they risk blowing their cover to help free any unwilling concubines?  And what of the other catgirls who Roshul robbed of their memories?  Can anything be done about that?<br/><br/>If asked for her opinion, Hanifa is uncertain on most of them.  She does not like the thought of throwing al-Samara to the wolves, but less so them being his sex slaves forever.  She doesn't like the thought of Roshul manipulating the catgirls, and that disrupting the memory loss lotion (perhaps with more of Bakr's serum) might provide an opportunity for chaos.  As for the others, it's hard to tell how many of the concubines just gave up and learned to enjoy harem life, and if any wish to escape they're not telling.</div></div>