After Nathan stalks out of the library, Philip catches up with him on the way to the Storm-rider encampment.
"Well, that was entertaining," says Nathan flatly and without turning around, "and I'll probably feel lousy for it later, but screw him. I'm going to break some stuff, it's up to you if you want to come along."
Nathan, not really waiting for a response, heads towards the archery range - with intent to stick pointy objects into things.
"Naw, it's just stress. We shouldn't be crackin' on each other either way, you know? It's a bad situation and you do the best ya can." Dracos followed along. "Not all of us are nuts that don't get stressed after all."
Dracos
Nathan sighs and replies while he walks.
"Bjorn's stressed and all, and he doesn't entirely like this, but he's got more drive than me, and he puts on such a good act of knowing exactly what he's doing that it doesn't occur to him that we might not. You . . . worry me just in how easily you kill people, really, but for the most part I trust your judgement. Gin . . . Gin's either in complete denial, or he's a psychopath. Huitz seems moderately sane, if impulsive . . . but he's stuck in prison with the threat of an axe hanging over him. Woop-de-fucking-doo. I'm not going to die here, and when this is over I'm going to get my life back.," his voice cracks slightly, "and my God have mercy on anyone who gets in my way, because I sure as fuck won't."
Dracos shrugged, putting a hand on Rez's shoulder, his voice fairly calm. "UT match once we get all this shit finished and back to sanesville where you don't have to wonder if the guy across the table is going to pull a bomb out of his hat? Things will get back to normal. We'll get back to way things should be. One way or another. So, just relax when you can, man. Human mind isn't meant to handle all this death and stress. Just got to do what you can, get through the day, and try your best while not forgetting what you really want. Which is to have this shit done and to be free to sleep in on sundays, no?"
Dracos
"Mm, I guess."
Nathan, with nothing more to say . . . continues walking, destination unchanged!
"Hey Rez, want to skip out on the strategy meeting today?" Dracos continued walking with him. "I'll cover."
Dracos
At about this point, Nathan and Phil reach the archery range, where a few Storm-riders and keep-defenders are entertaining themselves firing at their targets.
"No, I'd better go. Right now there's something semi-useful to do, though, and yesterday there wasn't. 'sides which I don't particularly need allegations of 'sulking'."
Nathan grabs his bow, then moves over to an empty part of the shooting range.
Nathan's accuracy with a bow improves with concentration. A few of the other Storm-riders watch for a bit, and then get back to their own practice.
Shortly, a pair of keep guards jog up to Phil, however.
"Lord Bloom," one of them says respectfully. "Lord Kevin requests your presence at the nightly meeting."
"Hey Nathan, come on." Dracos turns and heads to the meeting.
Dracos
Rez mumbles something incoherent and, reluctantly, puts his bow back over his shoulder and follows Drac.
The guards lead Nathan and Phil to the meeting room, followed shortly by Parthipan and Bjorn.
Moments after everyone steps into the room (where Kevin, Lammermore, Radagast, and Ekim are already waiting), the Storm-rider commanders enter, followed by Donovan and Mirallia, one of the vassals of Aestock, Lindsey, Astryd, Eske, and Devin.
The meeting is now being held in a small banquet hall which none of Phil, Nathan, Bjorn, or Parthipan recall seeing before. There are no visible windows, and there's a sizable contingent of guards outside the door.
Neither Qurral or Derrick are present.
There's some bumbling as everyone figures out where they sit -- Lammermore and Radagast are immediately to Lord Kevin's left and right. Beyond Lammermore is Bjorn, then Donovan, Mirallia, Carl, and Jeff. Beyond Jeff is Ekim, who makes the vassals of Hammar a bit nervous. Past Ekim is Nathan, then Sir Eric, then Lord Rogers, Lord Bloom (directly opposite Kevin), Lord Farwell, Lord George, and Sir Harold. Continuing in that direction around the table is a single vassal of Aestock, who looks distinctly uncomfortable about sitting next to Harold (Harold only briefly glances at the vassal with something most simply termed 'contempt'). After the vassal is Lindsey, and then the Lorekeepers. Astryd, Devin, Parthipan, Eske, Radagast, and then back to Lord Kevin.
"It would seem we're all here, then," Kevin says, nodding to himself. "Excelent. I think we're ready to discuss our plan for today, then?" he asks, glancing across the table to see if there are any objections.
"A question, if I might?" Lindsey says, raising her hand.
Lammermore eyes Lindsey, and answers for Kevin. "What would you like to know?"
"Ah, I haven't ... been able to find much since the incident with Dorian," she says, somewhat apologetically. "Am I to understand that Master Durant is unable to join us?"
Kevin and Lammermore look at Lindsey like she's clearly lost her mind. Before anyone else can answer (most of the Storm-riders seem completely uninterested, though the lorekeepers all quietly turn to study Lindsey), Lammermore says, "Well, Verrik the Unseen -- also known as 'Paul Durant' is being detained in the holding cells, still."
Linsdey blinks at this, and frowns slightly.
"If you're wondering at the proof of his crimes, we've the blade of Verrik the Unseen locked safely away in Durant's former quarters. Regardless, there will be time to discuss this later -- if you wish to speak with ... Durant ... he is in the cells below the keep. I trust you remember the way there."
"...indeed," Lindsey says after a moment, rising from her seat at the table. Her vassal follows her instantly, eyeing everyone as though they were potential threats. "Thank you for your patience, then," she says, bowing.
Lammermore and Kevin nod, and she sweeps from the room. As soon as she's gone, and the door closes behind her, Lammermore chuckles, and rubs his hands together. "All too easy," he says.
Kevin looks at him dubiously, then shakes his head. "Regardless," he says, somewhat annoyed, "now that a certain unpleasant bit of business has been dealt with, we can get on with the discussion for tonight's battle." He pauses, and eyes Lammermore. "Unless there are questions about ... that little scene?"
"Well, since you asked, and I was always too curious for my own good . . ." Nathan puts in curiously, "All too easy?"
"Just a trap," Lammermore demurrs. "We've ... suspicions about Lindsey, and this will prove them, if they're true."
Kevin sighs. "She's a priestess, Lammermore. I doubt we've any reason to expect any danger from her," he warns. "Now. Onto other business?" He looks around questioningly, as though to see if there are other objections.
"On to business." Dracos agreed, brushing the issue off. "Is their a change in the battle plans for tonight? How has the research into any sabotage done by Mattias gone?"
Dracos
"One question at a time," Kevin says, glancing at Lammermore.
Lammermore shakes his head. "Radagast spoke of a change in our plan for tonight," he says, glancing at the Loremaster.
Radagast sighs, and straightens up slightly. "Yes, well," he murmurs. "Lord Bloom's other question will have some bearing on our strategy, I imagine. Earthmaster Devin, if you please ... how fared your examinations of the wall?"
All eyes turn to Devin, who frowns. "Ah," he says slowly. "Mattias's runes will vanish after some amount of time ... I expect within two or three days. When they vanish, they will take the older runes with them, as well. I can prevent that from happening, but it would take all of my attention until the siege is over."
"Well," Radagast sighs, rubbing at his temples. "The plan you brought forward won't be usable, then, I'm afraid."
Devin scowls, and hangs his head, shooting a sharp glance at Parthipan.
"Excuse me, Devin, but did you mean that it would take the remainder of the Siege to fix this problem or just tonight?"
"The remainder of the siege," he clarifies, somewhat dourly. "But," he adds, brightening, "you could carry out the plan in my place, Windmaster."
"I'll do that for tonight's battle, then. Though what of the others that would've been a part of your link? Could they still combine their powers and will it be powerful enough to take out the dreadmarch general?"
Radagast looks uncomfortable at this. Devin nods, and most everyone else looks either confused or curious.
"It may be possible," Radagast hedges, "but ... it wouldn't be without risks."
"What sort of risks?"
"And what is it you are intending to do anyhow? Please, enlighten the rest of us?"
Dracos
"If multiple lorekeepers pool their strengths, then they are more powerful ... but the spell must be cast flawlessly on the part of every lorekeeper involved. If it fails, the power can backlash, possibly against those who invoked it." Radagast grimaces. "The only way to perform a casting like that with safety is to unify lorekeepers of a given path ... but we have no masters of the appropriate path to lead, and ONLY a master of a lore can lead others. There is ... less risk, perhaps, when there are closely related paths ... air borders both flame and water. Light borders star and death. The path of the gates borders the path of death and life.... Windmaster Parthipan is, among us, the only lorekeeper who could even attempt this. And even then, the resultant power may prove too much to handle."
"I have faith in Windmaster Parthipan's ability," Devin challenges Radagast. "With the powers of wind, fire, and water, does he not have the ability to summon a titan? A titan wouldn't remain long, but would swiftly clear the field. It could give us a much needed day of reprieve -- a day that will be quite important as I combat Mattias's sabotage, I might point out."
The Storm-riders glance between themselves, trying to puzzle this out. Donovan grimaces, and glances between Lammermore and Kevin, who are currently looking between Radagast, Devin, and Parthipan. Astryd is staring at the table in front of her, frowning about something, but not voicing an objection.
Dracos frowns, quickly lashing out with questions. "And if it fails? The result would be? And would it be repeatable? Would it tire out the lorekeepers involved? A one day reprieve would be worthless if it means that the next day or two we have no magic support. And Devin, you just said it'd take you the rest of the siege to fix the wall. How would a day of reprieve change that? Would you not be spending your energies there anyway?"
Dracos
"If I had a day when nothing struck the wall, I could perhaps save time," Devin explains.
"The risks could include death, or ... losing the ability to channel power. At most it would cost us the two who Master Parthipan linked with ... but I consider that a great risk regardless," Radagast opines.
"How feasible is it that we could do this safely?" Lammermore asks. "Realistically, Radagast. What are the odds of Master Parthipan doing this and winning us a day of the battle?"
Radagast grimaces, and spreads his fingers wide, his palms flat on the table before him as his eyes close. Beneath his closed lids, his eyes are flickering back and forth, as though scanning through notes that only he can see. Finally, after nearly a full minute of silence, he says, with some reluctance, "I imagine that the odds are in his favor. He is probably not at any risk himself ... the primary risk would be for the safety of the two who were linked with him."
"I don't know how much I like this," Nathan notes, "I mean, don't get me wrong. If there's a way to win tomorrow and only risk two lives as oppose to all of our soldiers, I'm obviously for it . . . but this does sound risky, and losing lorekeepers will be a major blow to our future defenses, I'd say . . . Well, I'm probably not saying this very well, but this sounds like a plan that could be exceptionally problematic and capable of backfiring, and so I'd counsel holding it back until we need it. If we don't need to take the risk, I don't know that we should . . ."
He pauses, eying Astryd.
"I'm sorry, I don't know your name, but you're here as a Keeper of the Lore and so someone thinks you count," Nathan smiles wryly, "And you look like you have some thoughts. Care to share?"
"What sort of risk would the two linked with me be at?" After giving some thought, Ginrai decides to add, "Also, assume that they were able to use the periapts that once belonged to Ashton and Neil. Would this help reduce or even get rid of the risk they'd be at?"
"I merely regret the fact that there is no one for me to link my own efforts with," Astryd demurs, straightening up and shaking her head.
Radagast eyes Astryd, and then turns back to Parthipan. "The periapts may simplify things and protect the other lorekeepers that join the link ... and they may do nothing. It's difficult to know with any degree of certainty," he finally says.
"So . . ." Nathan looks between the various non-Ginrai lorekeepers as he says this, "you're not sure quite what the risks are like, and the loremaster you were intending to have lead this link doesn't even seem to be particularly clear on what's apparently a very delicate and dangerous process? Shouldn't you wait, and see if you can practice some simple exercises or the like beforehand? I'm not really clear on how your Lore works, I admit, but . . ."
"Quite right," Radagast says, nodding at Nathan.
Devin scowls, and glances around the table. "Don't let fear blind you to possibility," he says to Parthipan.
Ginrai shakes his head. "I'm confident that I'll be able to handle this. The problem here is if the other two lorekeepers linked with me will be okay. Is there any way we can test out the periapts and see what sort of effect they'll have?"
"They'll alter or invert the path that a lorekeeper uses," Radagast says, frowning. "If a lorekeeper of the Path of Fire wears the Periapt of Flame, then his skill and ability will be increased."
"And we are quite certain that's all they do?" Bjorn asks, leaning forward intently. "There are no ties or links to Solariat himself?"
"No," Radagast says, shaking his head. "I checked rather carefully for that myself. As much as I'd rather have destroyed them...."
"Will using it have any sort of negative effect on the user?"
"Not in the short term, but it is a ... a crutch. It would, after weeks of use, develop a dependancy on it," Radagast says. "But, I think we're digressing. I think we can all agree that it's a poor idea to use them, yes?" Radagast glances around the table for support.
Everyone else looks confused, except for Astryd, who's apparently indifferent, and Devin, who looks vaguely smug and self-satisfied.
"If everything is as you've described, Loremasters," Bjorn says briskly, "then it seems that the periapts are unnecessary, and not a risk worth taking.
"I'll admit that I'm skeptical about the plan in general. It sounds like a tremendously effective weapon, so I find myself asking: why has this not been suggested before? Why haven't you been practicing this, or taking whatever measures you might to make this as safe as possible?" He frowns across the table at Devin. "And with all due respect, Master Devin, it seems to me you have a great deal of... personal investment in this plan. If there are reasons beyond the obvious you wish for this plan to be carried out, perhaps it would be best if they were all made clear?"
Devin eyes Bjorn levelly for a long minute, and then says, "I do have a vested interest in, among other things, showing that we are able to succeed with the strength of our collected will, instead of depending on the Archonae. As far as to trying it earlier, the lorekeepers involved will most certainly be unable to defend themselves -- they will need to be watched over.
"I thought that earlier while it would have been useful, there were assasins to be aware of. As Sir Lammermore points out, the dreaded assasin king himself is now locked away below the keep. I'm certain that our newly enhanced guard will be sufficient to protect us."
"I see, then" Bjorn says slowly, nodding. "You intend to use this as much as a challenge to Solariat and the Archonae as a weapon against the Dreadmarch." He smiles, faintly and a touch coldly. "I don't think I'd object to that."
He turns to Kevin, and continues politely. "My suggestion, my Lord, would be to attempt this plan, if there are volunteers to enter into the link." He turns back to the assembled Loremasters. "Nothing that has been said here leads me to believe that this plan would prevent us from arraying the rest of our forces as normal. If it does fail, then we can proceed as in the previous nights, only slightly weakened from the absence of three Lorekeepers."
Kevin eyes Bjorn calculatingly, then looks at Devin, and then Parthipan. "Very well," he finally says, shaking his head. "We shall trust to the lorekeepers, and hold the troops in readiness for the unexpected."
Devin nods, and Radagast frowns, but raises no objections.
"I don't like this plan. I don't care so much about showing off to the Arachanoe or encouraging the dreadmarch to take us more seriously than they already do with half-gods in their corner viewing this as playing with their food until the fifteenth night. But if it is the decision of the rest of you, we'll wait in readiness."
Dracos
"Do you have a reason for your objection, Lord Bloom?" Bjorn asks evenly.
"Thirteenth night," Lammermore corrects. "But I see this tactic as viable. If it fails, we will be at the ready to battle across the field."
Dracos shrugged, "I just said why I don't like the plan, Bjorn. Listen and you may have heard it."
Dracos turned to Lammermore. "Agreed. Is there anything else with tonight's battle plan to be addressed?"
Dracos
"I have something of an objection, as stated before. I don't mean to undermine the competency of the lorekeepers," Nathan nods to them, "but if this is an extremely complicated rite the Windmaster seems poorly briefed, and it seems to me that if you held off somewhat you could practice or some such and make it both more likely to succeed and less likely to kill those involved. Unless I misunderstood something, anyway."
Radagast looks thoughtful at that, and glances to Devin.
Devin frowns, and drums his fingers on the table. "It is a possibility," he says slowly. "Though ... it would give and spies that caught wind of the activity time to act, if any are left. We have the advantage of surprise, right now. We might not, in the future."
"The obvious question," Bjorn points out quietly, "is how much benefit a day of practice would provide." He looks at Radagast and Devin questioningly.
Radagast grimaces. "Very little, in all truth," he says.
"Then a delay gains us nothing," Bjorn says, looking around the table, looking to see if there are any more objections.
Nathan shrugs, not looking happy, but not saying anything else either.
Dracos wasn't enthusastic at all, but wasn't opposing it further either.
Dracos
"Right," Kevin says, surveying the table, his eyes finally coming to rest on Parthipan. "Unless there are further objections?"
Ginrai checks to see if his other-self knew anything about combining powers with other lorekeepers.
"Which two lorekeepers will I be working with?"
Parthipan's otherself does indeed remember how to combine powers with other lorekeepers, though it takes a lot of concentration to do so correctly.
"That will be for you to decide," Radagast says, in response to Parthipan's question.
"Okay. In which case is there anything else that I'll need to know here? Otherwise I'll need to go to see who I want the other two to be."
"Nothing I can think of," Radagast says, sighing.
"Then I suppose our meeting is adjourned," Kevin says, slapping one palm against the rough wooden table. "Warriors, I think it best we assemble in the courtyard, should our attempt for the day fail. Lorekeepers, I trust you to know your arts better than I, and to you I bid good luck," he finishes, rising from his seat.
Dracos coughed. "Radagast, I believe there was that other issue we talked about earlier when I asked about your research. I think, Lord Kevin and the rest of the room should know about that."
Dracos actively shared the information he'd gained mentally.
~Additionally, Radagast, the crystal is a prison for the younger gods. It may ease things over if you reveal that you discovered this while tracking down the source of Elric's power.~
Dracos
Unless told otherwise, Ginrai gets up and heads out to find Serril.
Along the way he tries to recall the specific details on combining powers with other lorekeepers.
Ginrai now moves to Fire and Rain (http://pishoque.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=40236#40236).
Once Parthipan leaves the room, Radagast heaves a sigh, and rubs at his temples, shooting a glance at Phil.
Turning his attention back to Kevin, Radagast says, "My Lord ... there is one other thing ... I ... thought it best not to mention this before Parthipan, as he'll need to concentrate. But ... it has been revealed to me that the Archonae betrayal runs deeper than we imagined."
Kevin raises an eyebrow, and Lammermore grimaces, cracking his knuckles and glowering at nothing in particular. "Yes?" Lord Kevin says, after an extended moment of uncomfortable silence.
"Ah ... Lord Kevin ... the Archonae turned upon the younger gods, and sealed them into crystals," Radagast says, rubbing his chin thoughtfully."
Eske hangs his head. "Ah," he sighs. "I know it, now. I had hoped this was a mad game," he continues, ignoring the fact that he's interrupted Radagast and the others, "but Solariat did speak of the Archonae ability to create wards to contain nearly anything. He said they could only not contain the elder gods ... and now I know why."
"Yes," Radagast says. "Well. At any rate, this explains why the younger gods vanished after the war -- they might be able to do much, MUCH more than simply swing the tide of the war in our favor. They could finish driving the elder gods off and end the war for good -- if we could free them."
"And how would we do this?" Lord Rogers asks, leaning an elbow on the table and raising an eyebrow. "It seems to me a worthy cause, but how would we go about it?"
"Yes," Eric murmurs, stealing a thoughtful glance at Nathan.
Ekim rubs his chin, producing another series of metalic twangs as his beard gets pushed around.
"We would need to recover the crystals, first," Radagast says. "If we had them, then we could discover the means to free our potential allies."
"Therein lies the problem," Kevin sighs.
"I'm certain that the clergy of Liene would be willing to relinquish their crystal, should we tell them what we know," Mirallia says, unexpectedly breaking the silence. "I ... my ... family is from that city. I'm certain that given a day, I could arrange a meeting with the high priestess, and explain our situation."
Lammermore and Kevin eye Mirallia with appraising eyes. "Wouldn't it be more simple to just take it?" Lord Rogers asks, rubbing his own chin in evident emulation of Ekim.
"No ... I imagine we'll use that approach with the Archonae ... if it comes to that," Kevin says, shaking his head. "We need to find a way to get the crystal from them ... but also to avoid drawing them into a fight against us. I'm not certain how to accomplish this, though."
"It'd be a skilled thief what could sneak something from 'neath an Archonea nose with them none the wiser," Lord George says somewhat sourly. "From what I've heard, it will be a fight. The question is a full scale assault, which we've scarecely the time, let alone manpower for, or a quick strike-force, lead into the heart of their fortress." He shakes his head. "Do they have a fortress?" he asks curiously.
"Yes," Sir Harold Volter answers, twirling a scrap of papers between his fingers thoughtfully. "With walls seventy man-heights high, and all aflame, according to the stories." He shoots a questioning glance at Radagast.
"Not true flame," Radagast says, shaking his head. "But close enough for us."
"Well, then we've got to figure that out, first," Kevin notes, grimacing.
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
While Drac is talking, Nathan glances across at Eric, nods slightly, and raises an eyebrow questioningly.
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.
"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."
"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
"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?"
"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?"
"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.
"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
"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?"
"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.
"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?"
"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."
"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 . . ."
"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
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."
"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
"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."
"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.
"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 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."
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."
"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
"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."
"Then one. Who is skilled enough at stealth to make their addition to the group most worthwhile?"
Dracos
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?"
"Yes," Devin replies without hesitation. "It's a simple trick, actually."
Radagast raises an eyebrow. "Very well, then," he muses. "What is the plan?"
"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?"
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 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.
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
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.
"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
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."
"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'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?"
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 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
"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 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.
"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?"
"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
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.
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 (http://pishoque.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=40383#40383).