A Shot of Crisis

[Dracos]

Dracos stands up, moving after Bjorn, quickly mentally 'asking' the guard's mind how long ago it happened and what evidence they found of a struggle and what information they've already gathered before coming here.

Dracos

[Brian]

Nathan growls and stands up.  "Well, I suppose I stand thoroughly cor-wait, what other prisoners?"

This elicts a pause, as Kevin and Radagast blink.  Lammermore rolls his eyes.

Bjorn is not able to find a Durant smudge at all -- it's like he vanished from the face of the universe.  The Lindsey smudge is present, but unreadable.

Philip is able to get a quick image of the guard walking into the room with a tray of food for the other guards, opening the door, and seeing a bunch of very brutally murdered other guards (and executioner).  From what can be seen, they appear to be knife wounds.  That's about all that really comes through the panicked guard's rather confused mind.

[Dracos]

"No time, Nathan.  Come on.  The longer we lolligag here the less useful whatever hints as to where the villian responsible for this has gone to will be."

Dracos messages Bjorn, ~Scanned the guard.  He seems on the level and not an assassin causing panic and getting us out of the room.  Was a swift knife attacker from what it seems.  Let's get over there now.~

Dracos leads to the exit of the room and towards the prison with quick strides unless stopped.

Dracos

[Rezantis]

Rez taps Drac on the shoulder as he starts moving.

"One of us should go and make sure everything's getting organized.  You or me, call it."

[Brian]

"Halt," Kevin says, frowning sharply.  "While we may have bought ourselves time with Master Parthipan's work, I don't intend to have my best chasing an assasin while we could need to be battling the Dreadmarch.

"Sir Bjorn, Lord Bloom, while I appreciate your willingness to aid in every event the keep experiences, I am the lord here, and I think I will arbit this matter.  It's not trivial, and I by no means mean to trivialize your efforts -- indeed, I value them so highly, I can't imagine using them for something such as this, where there are more important matters.

"Sir Shuker, I believe that you, also, have more pressing concerns to attend.  I think it would be best, honestly, if we were to assemble your ... force of tasking," here Kevin pauses, briefly, and his eyes flicker across the Storm-riders, as if to guage the validity of his usage of the language, "sooner rather than later.  Mistress Astryd and Loremaster Radagast are already here -- as well as Gatemaster Eske."

[Bjorn]

Bjorn's jaw twitches, almost unnoticeably under his beard, before he relaxes and seats himself again.  "As you say, Lord Kevin," he says respectfully.  "What would you have me do, then?"

[Brian]

Kevin frowns. "We must prepare the troops, even if it turns out that there is no need to battle tonight," he says. Rising, he adds, "I will attend to Durant personally. Lammermore, before I summon the Blackguard, who are the other prisoners?"

"They are of little consequence," Lammermore replies, grimacing. "The worst have been executed already. Merely a trio of petty thieves, and a pair of men who don't know when to stop drinking. Are you certain you must attend? I think Stuarts is more than capable--"

"It's my keep, it's only reasonable that I do something around here," Kevin interrupts. "Sir Shuker, I trust that you can manage your assignment well enough ... but good luck, and may the gods watch over all of us." Nodding, Kevin leaves the room, his cloak flaring and showing off his gilded armor to maximum effect.

"Well," Lammermore grumbles. "I'll get a headstart on overseeing the troops," he says, excusing himself, and heading towards the exit.

[Dracos]

Dracos shakes his head, turning to Nathan and his own commanders.  "Any comments?  We need one of our best to go with Nathan and make sure that we recover that crystal from the Archonae.  The rest of us have to be ready for when the loremasters finish their own madness.  If there's anything else to be addressed before we get moving, we should likely cover it now."

Dracos

[Brian]

"I'm sure Alec would be more than willing," Eric ventures, frowning.  "But if we need someone to be stealthy--"

"The moon's almost set," Rogers interrupts, glancing through the room's one glass window.  "Methinks we might best wait until after the battle to sort things out on the Archon-raiding front."

[Bjorn]

Bjorn glances over at the storm-riders, and then addresses the rest of the table.  "It seems that this meeting is at an end," he says quietly but clearly.  "Unless there are questions that must be answered, you had all best be about your duties."  

Rising to his feet, he quickly surveys the crowd, seeing if anyone has any objections, and then, with a slight bow, makes his way out of the room to join Lammermore in preparing the troops.

[Rezantis]

"I think Lord Kevin already made that clear, thank you," Nathan notes quietly, then shrugs.

"Anyway . . ." Nathan raises a questioning eyebrow to Eric again, "What's up?"

[Dracos]

"That's true.  We can talk further while we walk.  Let's get the men into position."

Dracos turned to head out, expecting the rest to follow.

Dracos

[Brian]

Speaking to Nathan a bit more quietly, Eric explains, "It's merely that I thought you would be a suitable hero to champion this cause."  He shrugs, and that's pretty much that before everyone is in position, and the gates wheel open, while everyone waits for the moon to set -- though it doesn't appear it'll take long from here.

The Storm-rider generals quickly assemble their men, and Lammermore's got the keep's defenders in order.

[Brian]

The doors are open, granting everyone standing in the foreguard of the amassed army a good view of the field as the moon sets, as the Dreadmarch floods across the field.

We now leave this thread, and move to Fire and Rain.