A Shot of Crisis

[Dracos]

Dracos summarized, "So, we have four issues in front of us with regards to the crystals.  One is how to free the younger gods from them.  One is recovering the crystal from Liene.  One is recovering the crystal from the Arcahanoe.  And one is keeping all of those here alive long enough to care.  I suspect that recovering the crytsal from the temple of Liene will not be too troublesome if Priestess Mirallia can truly accomplish a meeting with the high priestess.  Therefore we should have a small honor guard and the priestess head out as soon as reasonable to accomplish this, with Eske providing the gates to quickly get her there and back.  Secondly, we must figure out a way to cut through the wards holding the god in the crystal we have.  I suspect the second we do so, the elder gods will react and react dangerously, therefore when we do it, we must already have all three of the crystals so that we can release all three of them.  Nathan's blade may be able to do some damage, but I doubt that it will effect such a prison.  I think I may try to force Mattias into helping us.  Aside from that, Lord Ekim, do you have any ideas?  Know of any legends of anything that would be able to deal with this?"

Dracos shook his head.  "And finally, on the crystal held by the Archanoe.  First, we have to ascertain that it is indeed there.  We know the crystal came here and left here.  But we've seen the Archanoe among those with the dreadmarch.  We have no certainty that it ever returned to their city.  Sending a task force or skilled thief to remove it from there if it is not there would be sending them to their deaths.  It would also antagonize those who may not yet be aware that we are aware of their treachery.  The last thing we need is them mobilized.  Therefore we need to know if it is there, and if it is, we need to know as much as we can about where it is.  I would like to oversee putting together a small task force to retrieve it.  Preferrably of the best stealthy warriors among the stormriders and any that you think would fit the role among your own troops.  Eske can gate them in as close as possible to the archanoe city, preferrably inside.   From there they could sneak into the city as swiftly as possible, retrieve the stone, and contact eske to get out.  Radagast, can you create something for communication amongst long distances?  Once we recover that stone, we'll have likely a short period of time to figure out how to free the gods before the archanoe join with the dreadmarch to seek our destruction."

~Don't worry if you cannot, Radagast.  We will figure out a way to provide for it.  If you cannot, please just claim you can or someone can.~

Dracos

[Rezantis]

While Drac is talking, Nathan glances across at Eric, nods slightly, and raises an eyebrow questioningly.

[Brian]

Eric shakes his head, and glances around, whispering, "Later," to Nathan.

Ekim frowns thoughtfully at Philip's question, and everyone falls silent to listen to him.

"I think," he says slowly, "that there were tales of a keymaker and a locksmith ... but if I remember those stories correctly, those were the Archonae.  It would seem ... to me ... that what we need is an ally among the Archonae.  But how could we succor one?"

"In the meantime," Radagast says, frowning, "I believe I might devise some way for us to communicate with one-another."

Kevin nods, and leans back in his chair, surveying the room thoughtfully.

[Bjorn]

"The Archonae, from what I understand," Bjorn says, slowly, rubbing the side of his jaw, "have one strong desire: to be able to leave the confines of this world.  If that's the case, then we might well have a bargaining chip to convince one to provide us with assistance."  He shrugs, dropping his hand back to the table.  "A larger problem, though, is the simple problem of speaking to one in the first place."

He looks over at the lorekeepers, Eske in particular.  "It seems to me that the Lorekeepers who studied with the Archonae might have an idea of who to approach, and how to go about it."  He smiles faintly.  "We might even want to speak to the Archon with the Dreadmarch, if all else fails.  If he's turned traitor once, he may very well be amenable to doing it again."

[Dracos]

"Eh...  Recall the Dwarf, Bjorn.  It's highly likely that the Archon that is working with them has a similar reasoning.  Thus we'd have trouble providing some offer to convince him to turn traitor in that fashion.  I don't think it's a good idea, but then again, at this point, it's not the time to be closing off options."

Dracos brushed his beard thinking.  "Lord Ekim, how old are those tales about that?  If such tales existed, we should find any and all information we can about them."  Dracos questioned the room at large.  "Do we have anyone in the keep who specializes in such history and tales?  Even though we all know the general tales, who knows what small vital hints may exist in old records of what happened around the time of the war of the gods."

Dracos

[Brian]

"I'd be hard pressed to trust an ally like that," Kevin objects.

"But to use one?" Lammermore counters with a smirk.  Kevin falls silent, and shakes his head.  "The better question, though, is what this bargaining chip we have is," he continues, looking at Bjorn questioningly.

"Eh," Ekim grunts, falling silent and turning contemplative.

"Well, I studied with the Archonae," Eske says slowly.  "I imagine, more likely than not, if they and Solariat are united, they assume me to be on their side.  It wouldn't be entirely unreasonable to guess they think that everything is under control here.  I saw no evidence that any of the traitors we saw had a way to get into touch with the Archonae to give reports.

"Most likely they expected their ... chosen servants to accomplish what they had been instructed to do, and me to return with the Lorekeepers they intended to subvert.  We could quite easily get into their fortress if we wished to assume such a guise ... we could then take myself, Astryd -- whose master is with the Archonae, I believe," Astryd winces at this, "and then Radagast could use his power of illusion to appear as Mattias."

"I would pass their test," Radagast admits, frowning.  "I imagine we could cloak Devin as Ashton, and Parthipan as Neil.  Or perhaps another -- our master thief.  If the crystal is to be found at their fortress, then we'd have ample opportunity to sieze it, and then use your gate to escape."

Eske nods.  "This is an option, should all else fail."  Shaking his head, he turns to face Phil, Bjorn, and the Storm-riders.  "I'm sorry, I didn't answer your question.  What would you like to know about the Archonae?"

[Rezantis]

"Silly as this is going to sound," Nathan notes, "Durant, as I recall, knows a lot of old tales, and there's grains of truth to more than one of them. I should know."

He pauses.

"But what did you mean, Lord Ekim, about a keymaker and a locksmith?"

[Brian]

"It is merely that having had a hand in creating us, the Archonae meant to tell us that any lock they created, only they could unseal," Ekim says, shrugging.

[Dracos]

"I'm curious as to any legends that exist on the crystals creation.  Both among our kind and the Archanoe.  Such may be helpful in figuring out how to undo their madness.  Any history behind the keeping of the crystal and who is currently responsible for the crystal of hammar would also likely be helpful.  I also worry slightly at the idea of sending off all of our brightest lorekeepers.  Even if Mattias had succeeded, it would be somewhat soon for even an expected victorious return.  Even knowing your skills, it'd be a devestating blow to the keep if all of you ended up lost."

Dracos

[Bjorn]

"Another question," Bjorn says quietly, "is anything you can tell us about the Archonae as individuals, rather than as a semi-mythical group.  Do they differ in outlook?  Disagree on goals?  Is there one with whom we could talk, and persuade him to assist us?"

[Brian]

"I know nothing of the creation of those crystals," Ekim says, shaking his head.

"For the Archonae ... the younger Archonae have different viewpoints than many of their elder bretheren.  I suppose being born after the Elder Gods stepped back might make a difference," Eske says.

[Rezantis]

"That sounds like something for you all to think on, Loremasters . . . if it would be possible to subvert one or more Archonae.  You're the only people who'd have a clue as to who to approach - or how to do it - after all . . ."

Nathan considers for a moment.

"In your honest estimation, Loremasters, what would be the chances of a strike team being able to retrieve this crystal from the Archonae fortress if it's location were . . . pinpointed?"

[Brian]

"I have faith that with coordination, and good planning, it could be accomplished," Radagast says, rubbing his chin.  "The Archonae are formidible, but not at their ... strongest ... when surprised."

[Rezantis]

"Well," Nathan asks the table at large, "Does anyone have any ideas that they want to share?  If so, put them forward . . . because if not, it's probably time we should be going and getting ready . . ."

[Dracos]

"Well, whatever we decide to do, we should set in motion before moving out of here.  Time is of the essence.  Freeing the gods may indeed be our only way of not all being slaughtered by Elric.  Hmm...  We should organize a group here to go and begin negociations or have the message sent from Mirillia.  Also, if Eske could sneak into the Archanoe city and ascertain that the crystal is there at all, it would likely be a big step forward towards collecting it.  Unless there's another idea on how to ascertain that we do in fact have to get it from the Archanoe city instead of some other hidden stronghold or from among the dreadmarch."

Dracos