Enter Alyssa

[Iron Dragoon]

"Madala, you're not entirely wrong. My presence here has gained the attention of powers that have no scruples. Before you jump at the chance to try to unseat me, however, realize that not only is the attention the Order has come under will not go away if I do, but that I'm also the only one in the Order who has a chance of being powerful enough to fight against that attention and the only one who has a chance of gaining alliances with gods."

She pauses for Madala to respond, but as soon as she sees her open her mouth, she leans forward and continues, "For example. Today alone I've been granted audiences with two gods. One of which made an offer of alliance and protection. The Red Knight flat out told me that nearly every power would be eager to have my allegiance. While yes, this will put us at odds with more deities, consider this. With the right alliances, what do we stand to gain?"

[Anastasia]

"We choose who we become a pawn of." Delaize speaks up very quietly, "Alyssa, I'm not attacking you, but we'd be foolish to imagine we won't become parts of the game between all the powers. So we choose who would benefit us the most and be something we can live with, one that will not overwhelm our order. Mystra is an obvious choice."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa nods. "I stated to the Red Knight that I knew she would be getting more out of this than she let on, but she didn't take the bait. Mystra is an obvious choice, yes. We have to be careful and consider our weaknesses, however. Right now, we don't lack in magical prowess, but in numbers and combat ability. Even our more adventurous members are more researchers and archeologists than battlemages, and our actual battlemages practice against each other, largely. We're vulnerable in ways I don't even fully know yet. We lack physical soldiers, we lack real physical defenses, we lack tactics and experience, we lack resources, we lack many things."

She sighs and finishes, "And we have no idea how much any of the deities we ally with will tolerate our allying with other deities. Gods are jealous. Shaundakul is a prime example. He's one of their own and a very old god, but he overlaps with some others, and they jealously restrict his expansion into those areas. We must be careful and act with much consideration."

[Anastasia]

"Sorry I'm late, had a dragon to put down," The man that enters has a loud, powerful voice. Bearded, human, perhaps 40. Regent Yorel strides in and takes a seat, "So what's this about the black bitch attacking our order?"

"...at least you're not dead," Delaize finally says, "Ular is, ritual sacrifice. Mickel too, both by Shar. An open declaration of hostilities."

[Iron Dragoon]

"Yes, and don't forget Leyral's curse. Shar's blinded him. I've met with Shaundakul and the Red Knight. She's offered alliance and tutelage. We're discussing alliances." Alyssa waves the man to his seat, pulling it out for him with a minor effort of her telekinesis.

[Anastasia]

"So what do you meant to do," he asks, you flat out. "You're the commanding voice here, so speak."

Regent Madala adds, a little softer this time, "Choices must be made. The Red Knight is not an intolerable once if we must."

[Iron Dragoon]

"Honestly, I think the Red Knight is the right move. For now. She can provide us with knowledge on defenses, tactics, and soldiers. All things we'd have to offer allegiance to another to gain anyway. I propose to structure her forces with ours to serve as group leaders and trainers. We can have her people serve as our shields and blades, but we need to keep an eye on the ratio. We can provide our own soldiers to a limited degree: summons and our necromancers can call undead. We can get some constructs in the works, as well. I have an idea for expanding the use and power of the Evacuation Rune spell to use to redeploy forces to each other. But any effectiveness from anything we come up with will be dependent on how well trained and how deep our understanding of combat tactics is. There's another benefit to allying with her: tactics and plans are her domain. If anyone makes a plan to attack us, she might become aware of it."

[Anastasia]

"I'm ultimately against it," Delaize finally says, "But I bow to the need of it." He sits back, "Take that for what you will."

Ule shakes his head, "I abstain."

Madala gives you a long look, "Will you listen to us even if we council against this?"

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa nods. "I said as much to the Red Knight: I may be first among equals, but you are my equals. The only caveat to that is that we need an alliance of some kind, I believe. Shar has done murder twice. Cursed Leyral. Malcanthet wishes parlay. They are the first, but by no means will they be the last. I am powerful, and may one day be able to defend us against some, but not all, and not today. Of note, the Red Knight did have conditions. A group of her clerics here to serve our needs and preach her word; though I did tell her I refuse to allow any sort of conflict between them and anyone else. And one of her clerics to serve me personally."

[Anastasia]

"Then do it. We'll kick them out by their red asses if we must," Yorel says, "Do you want to wait for the rest of the regents to present themselves?"

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa considers. "I think sendings will be enough? Do you all agree?"

[Anastasia]

General agreement to that as ...

Next move?

[Iron Dragoon]

Hmm... I guess rest then return to the Red Knight to accept and figure out where to house her people, then get a group to investigate Ular's murder to figure out what the ritual did, then off to Ooze for treasure ship.

[Anastasia]

You rest. It is a deep and dreamless sleep, one that leaves you feeling awakened and invigorated. A step forward, a beginning. Prepare.

You awaken to a knocking on your door, sharp and insistent.

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa sits up, making sure her night clothes are decent and calls, "Who is it?"