A Shot of Crisis

[Rezantis]

Nathan looks unimpressed.

". . . sneak?  Phil - and I mean no offense to you, Gatemaster, in saying this - I don't know if the Gatemaster is the best choice for skulking around and trying to find things, and if he goes back in the open . . . he's not likely to be allowed to leave.  If we're going to send anyone there to scout, we should be sending an entire strike team.  If it's not there, they come back, but we're not risking the Gatemaster more than once.  The Archonae may not react well to being surprised, but they're certainly not stupid."

[Dracos]

"You're right Nathan.  I don't want to send someone just to get caught there, but at the same time, we cannot effectively act on that unless we can figure out a way to get a source of information from the inside.  I don't think the Archanoe are stupid.  We just... we need to figure out a way to get more information on where it is than we have.  Hmm.... is there a way to make a lore to sense where the crystals are?  I mean, they are immensely powerful artifacts which definitely affect the area around them.  Perhaps we could figure a way to scan for it from a distance?"

Dracos

[Brian]

"To make a Lore?" Radagast and Eske ask in the same voice, blinking.  They exchange a glance, and Radagast continues, "I don't think we really have time to create a new lore.  But I do have some small ability in looking at things from afar.  My only concern is that by the time we have information, if we take too long, then we will no longer be able to act."  Radagast sighs, and shakes his head.  "If Parthipan and the other lorekeepers are successful -- which I expect them to be -- then we've today free.  But we won't have that opportunity in the future."

[Bjorn]

"We can't retrieve the crystal of Liene before the crystal of Hammar, or the Archonae will be forewarned," Bjorn offers quietly.  "Retrieving the crystal of Hammar must then be our priority.  I cannot imagine the crystal is anyplace other than the Archonae fortress; it is far more secure than any other place in this world, and the Archonae, I think, would not rest without at least one of the crystals in their hand.

"Sir Shuker's evaluation is correct," he says, nodding across the table at Nathan.  "If we send anyone, it must be the strike force -- and I would say that we must indeed send someone. The suggestion of Gatemaster Eske and Loremaster Radagast seems a good one, but I think that the force should not consist solely of lorekeepers.  At least one person with skill in stealth and perhaps combat should be included."

He looks about the table.  "Does anyone have a suggestion for who might fill the role of 'master thief'?" he asks.

[Dracos]

"I can imagine two others.  One being the Dreadmarch fortress.  The other being the dreadmarch themselves in the possession of the Archon working with them.  Both would be remarkably secure.  Of course, thinking on it, since both of them bear the trait that we cannot gate into them, we're pretty much stuck with betting on the scenario that the crystal did return to Archonae instead of being hidden elsewhere under the pretext that we should've been borrowing it."

Dracos

[Bjorn]

Bjorn shakes his head.  "The Archonae have been spreading the story of what happened at the ceremony in the South," he points out.  "It would be wise, then, for them to keep the crystal close at hand, to show to any who might have questions.  Letting that aside," he continues, folding his hands together on the table, "at the moment the Archonae have no reason to believe they need extra protection for the crystals.  Why deviate from their usual methods?

"All of this, however, does not answer the question of who we will send."  He looks around the table.  "I will volunteer myself," he says, seriously, "though I have no skills in stealth, and am far from a good choice.  But if no one else will go, then I will."

[Rezantis]

Nathan shakes his head.

"You're a more than capable fighter, Bjorn, but you lack the stealth skills that we stormriders have learned in the wastes," he pauses, tapping his hand on the desk as he thinks.

"I'm a capable sneaker, I'm a capable combatant, and I'm probably one of the more expendable here.  I'll volunteer, but I'll also say that I think we need a small team for this, rather than an individual."

[Dracos]

"Best in case things go poorly and you have to fight your way out." Dracos agreed.  "Who else?"  Dracos turned to his command staff.  "Shouldn't be a large group, we already have the loremasters who are going and Nathan.  If the group is too big, then stealth will become a problem from simple numbers.  Who are our best stealthy warriors?  I'd think maybe four more to accompany Nathan at most."

Dracos

[Bjorn]

"Four more?" Bjorn echoes.  "From what has been said, that's not an option.  We dare not risk a party greater than five; one for each of Gatemaster Eske, Mistress Astryd, Mattias, Neil, and Ashton."

He ticks the names off on his fingers.  "The Gatemaster must go, of course, and I think it best if Mistress Astryd went as well, so that we have one more person who might withstand a questioning as to their identity.  Loremaster Radagast's knowledge is invaluable, I think, and hence he must go as well.  If we include Sir Shuker, then we have space for one more person at most, if we do not wish to arouse suspicion."

[Dracos]

"Then one.   Who is skilled enough at stealth to make their addition to the group most worthwhile?"

Dracos

[Rezantis]

Nathan coughs.

"I could find someone, I'm more than sure . . . but there might be something interesting that hasn't occurred to anyone.  Lorekeepers, do you have a way of finding if someone is speaking the truth?"

[Brian]

"Yes," Devin replies without hesitation.  "It's a simple trick, actually."

Radagast raises an eyebrow.  "Very well, then," he muses.  "What is the plan?"

[Brian]

"It's not so much a plan," Nathan says, "as a question that could prove relevant.  Has it occurred to anyone that if Durant actually is Verrik . . . he's currently unemployed?"

[Brian]

A guard charges into the room, skidding to a halt, and nearly tripping over the other guards who pile on him.

"Sir!" he says, struggling to escape the dog-pile he's found himself in.  "Sir Lammermore!  Sir Bjorn!  Lord Kevin!"

"What's this about?" Lammermore roars, jumping to his feet so swiftly that his chair is knocked backwards behind him.

The other guards carefully release the newcomer, who climbs to his feet, and bows deeply.  "Sir," he says, not looking up, and not meeting Kevin's eyes.  "The ... the guards in the prison were just found.  They've all been slain, and all but one of the prisoners released."

Lammermore's eyes narrow, and he asks, "Which remains?"

"That ... that would be Mattias," the guard manages, wincing away.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn rises to his feet.  "With your permission, Lord Kevin, I will go there immediately."

As he speaks, he's already pulling up the mindboard, and feeling through it to both the Lindsey-smudge and the Durant-smudge.