Contact

[Nephrite]

"So, while I was there, I was contacted by Shar." Moore says, his expression sour.

"You all may know about Syllen, he's someone who's gear I've been collecting, and who made a few spells. Well, Shar has his soul, and offered me a 'game' of it if I came to the Forsaken Heart Citadel in the Negative Energy Plane."

He lets that settle for a moment before he continues.

"I can't say I have any real plans on going there." He adds. "But, if there's even a slim chance she's somehow being honest, and we could salvage someone's soul from her clutches...?" He shakes his head. "I guess that's how she operates, isn't it? Trying to prey on people who have hope."

[Anastasia]

"Feasting on them like a jackal," Cresiel's expression is sour, "It could well be a trap. A lie, nothing but a dead gauntlet to reave us from our lives."

"On the better side, Sharrans to kill," Kaja says, sharpening one of his scimitars in the meantime. "That's hardly a downside."

"I think we need to ask a better question: Can we live with ignoring it, in the event she's telling the truth?" Jetina asks, "Can we live with ourselves if we find out she was honest?"

[Nephrite]

Moore leans back to consider that.

"It's a risk, but maybe we can take countermeasures against it." Moore says. "Something to keep us from being trapped dimensionally there, or something like that?" He offers.

[Anastasia]

"I don't like it," Xandra speaks up, "It feels too much of bait, and I fear what Shar will have for us when she knows we're coming."

"A fleet means of escape," Cresiel says, "Strong protection against the negative energy there, beyond protective magics. Something harder to disrupt or dispel, so that native conditions cannot overwhelm us."

[Nephrite]

"There's wisdom in going, but perhaps not right now." Moore says. "It feels like an open invitation."

[Anastasia]

"We can discuss it with our allies as well," Kaja adds at that, then smiles, "Perhaps Shar will be less amused if we come with far greater forces than she expects."

"Maybe so," Jetina sighs as she sits back, a long note of sublime beauty. "It will gnaw at our souls if we ignore this, and yet...we know it is likely a trap. I fear she wins no matter what choice we make."

[Nephrite]

"I do not wish to leave anyone in her clutches forever." Moore says. "But at the same time, we cannot sacrifice ourselves for the possibility, knowing what we do about Shar. I intend to go there eventually, but... not yet."

A pause after that. "There's no reason to rush into something like this, at least in my opinion. I just wanted to get everyone's thoughts on it, first."

[Anastasia]

"For the best," Cresiel finally says, "We cannot allow the enemy to take advantage of us like that. Sometimes we need patience and understanding that a day of reckoning is not this day."

[Nephrite]

Moore nods. "With that in mind, we will be going to Foggard in the Deep Ethereal. It's a library... or something like that. Would anyone care to go with me?" He offers.

[Anastasia]

"I shall," Cresiel rises immediately.

Kaja rises as well, "Myself as well. Three is an auspicious number and should be enough. Is it enemy territory?"

Jetina shakes her head, "I'll stay here in case my healing is needed."

[Nephrite]

"I don't expect there to be anything to fight there, but it's the Deep Ethereal, so who knows." Moore says. "Xandra?"

[Anastasia]

Xandra bows her head a few moments, lips working silently.

"I'll stay," she finally announces.

[Nephrite]

Moore nods.

"All right. Contact me if anything happens." Moore says.

Only real prep here is to make sure his mind blank is active after the update from Melia, after which we're going to Greater Plane Shift to the Deep Ethereal and as close to Foggard as the spell will let us get.

EDIT: They will take three Phantom Steeds with them in case there's travel necessary.

[Anastasia]

Here the fog is thick and heavy, blanketing out almost everything beyond 10ft. Your steeds float in the air along with you as Cresiel peers ahead, while Kaja merely takes a breath of the cold, foggy air. It's cold here - cold enough to snow and ice, if you don't miss your guess.

"Winter fog," Kaja holds a hand out, waving it back and forth and setting the mists around him to stirring. "An omen of coming storms in my homeland."

[Nephrite]

"A moment, then." Moore says.

He's going to spend 3 rounds casting Lay of the Land (unless that wouldn't work here then he wouldn't bother) to make sure we at least are near Foggard.