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[Anastasia]

"Onward, brace against the cold," Cresiel declares, huddling down against his mouth.

"Moore," Kaja calls over the storm, "Can you ward me against cold?"

[Nephrite]

"Let me try!" Moore shouts. "I don't normally use it like this!"

Moore is casting Planar Tolerance for the plane of Ice. In theory, this should at least provide some sort of respite from the cold, I'd think, given the description of the spell.

[Anastasia]

Worth a try for reference.

After a few moments Kaja shivers and adds, "I d-don't think it w-worked!"

The spell protects not against cold per se if used like that, but the natural conditions of the plane in question. The thing is, this isn't the natural conditions of Ice, on Ice. It's a blizzard in the Deep Ethereal, which is not normal in this place, so it wouldn't help.

[Nephrite]

"It sure seems that way!" Moore shouts. "Let's just go back for right now and prepare to deal with a blizzard!" He adds.

[Anastasia]

"Back," Kaja agrees, shivering more and more as you all turn around.

Going back and teleporting back to prepare, or a more measured and lesser fall back?

[Nephrite]

Planeshifting back to Hope's Landing.

We're going to get Xandra and Jetina too.

Moore will contact Erathaol via Sending Orb to let him know, quote, 'We went to Foggard in the Deep Ethereal. There was a scryer there from Lixer -- Hell may be doing something there, but I cannot confirm. The area was also surrounded by a blizzard -- I do not know if this is manufactured or natural.'

[Anastasia]

You get an answer right away.

'Hold until I give you word to leave.' Erathaol sends back.

[Nephrite]

Moore will gather the others!

"So, while we were on our way to Foggard, I found a scrying censer from Lixer." He says. "We're to wait here until further orders, but we may be attacking Hell's holdings there."

[Anastasia]

Cresiel smiles, slowly cracking his knuckles.

"Just like old times," Jetina remarks, sitting back. "Do we know anything else about the threats?"

[Nephrite]

Moore shakes his head. "No idea. But if Lixer is watching it, it can't be good."

[Anastasia]

The silence is filled by Cresiel getting up and kneeling, Xandra and Jetina quickly following suite, then Kaja doing the same. Between the blinks of an eye Erathaol is before all of you.

"I believe this information is worth passing on in person," he says, expression grave.

[Nephrite]

How did they...?!

Moore bows his head respectfully. "If it is so dire, then I hope we can do something about it." Moore says.

[Anastasia]

"It is...difficult." Erathaol says, "I confronted Lixer over his interference and scrying, and he extended a formal invitation for our aid in evicting the servants of Orcus and Cryonax from Foggard."

Silence follows that.

[Nephrite]

Moore opens his mouth.

Then he shuts it.

He shakes his head after that. "I think we should do it." He says after a pause. "But... maybe I'm incorrect, but I assumed Cryonax and Hell were allies? Is that not the case?"

[Anastasia]

"As anything with Hell, it is more complicated than that," Erathaol says.

"I have no desire to aid Hell, but no desire to leave Orcus and Cryonax free to do what they will," Cresiel grimaces openly. "It is distasteful."

"So it is," Erathaol agrees, "A bitter cup is put forth to us. Lixer has made his wish to dislodge those forces there. Yet is it any different than when we dislodge a demon company in the Blood War? Be not afraid of such things, and know that the light will show the way forward, no matter what the voices of the wicked claim."

"The point is taken," Xandra says, "I move we prepare to go to battle, then."