The Next Step Forward

[Anastasia]

Thing is, each casting with permanency takes 24 hours. So it's a question of how long you're willing to spend on this.

[Iron Dragoon]

Well, I mean, we're setting up defenses here. I expected it to take a long time. I don't mind the extra time spent on it, honestly. It has to be done at some point, after all. Remember, though, that each mage in the spell circle doesn't just add a CL/DC boost. They're also casting the spell themselves. So if we have 30 mages in the circle, it's 30 casting of it, each empowered by Cooperative Spell, so that'll cut down the number of times we have to do it.

I guess the real question is, what's the time estimate for complete coverage vs. bare-bones coverage?

[Anastasia]

Barebones is 1 week, fully is 2 weeks.

[Iron Dragoon]

Eh, might as well go all-in, then. I imagine Emily won't be happy about the lack of adventure, but stuff's gotta get done. It gives her time to do research on a replacement for Waukeen and to also decide where she wants to go for some adventure. On that note, Cor suggested Salt? Apparently, it's good for loot?

[Anastasia]

Up to you there, but this will eat up two weeks. Confirming yes/no?

[Iron Dragoon]

I'm fine with it, provided I can have people searching for the assassin while I do it.

[Anastasia]

Sure. Roll and post 1d100.

[Iron Dragoon]

[blockquote]Rolled 1d100 : 15, total 15[/blockquote]

[Anastasia]

It's the middle of the night after the first day. You're fast asleep, only to be awoken, "Ma'am! Ma'am!" A servant, a mere page, "Awaken! " A pounding on your door, loud and insistent as his voice."Treachery and death!"

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa springs out of bed, shifting her clothes to something more appropriate than sleepware and pulls Shifting Steel to her as she throws open the door.

"Report, now."

[Anastasia]

A young woman - you've seen this one before. Not that you have time to linger, "An assassin came after Regent Hawkwine, ma'am, but a servant spotted him and spoiled the surprise. The Regent is unhurt, but the servant was slain."

[Iron Dragoon]

"Get Jarem and Emily to the scene. This was at his quarters?"

[Anastasia]

"Her quarters, ma'am," The page corrects, "But yes."

[Iron Dragoon]

"Get them there. I'm on my way."

Alyssa heads there after sending the page to get Jarem and Emily.

[Anastasia]

You find Madala is unhurt, in a cotton nightgown and sitting on her bed. Jarem's already there, blade and shield ready. Emily isn't there yet, as meanwhile a priest tends to the slain servant - a middle aged man, skewered through the chest.