Meeting the wanderer

[Anastasia]

"Not yet," Ianvasah says, "But from what I've heard, there's only a skeleton crew garrisoning the temple," she reports, "They're off at a religious ritual."

[Iron Dragoon]

"Yes, this one says much the same."

She floats the captured guard over to Ianvasah.

"In any case, let's get these sailors out of here. I can move... ten of them I believe. Delaize, Ianvasah?"

[Anastasia]

"Teleportation is not my skill," Ianvasah admits openly, while Delaize merely nods "Six per casting and I can do it twice."

[Iron Dragoon]

How many are we looking at here?

[Anastasia]

On a full headcount, 29 total.

[Iron Dragoon]

Hm. We need to find Emily, then.

Alyssa nods. "Where's Emily? She should be able to cover the rest."

[Anastasia]

"She's handling the response and counters last I saw," Ianvasah says, "I'll go get her."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa nods.

"If she's needed, then contact Jarem and have him dispatch a team to transport everyone. She's more valuable as a combatant than transportation."

[Anastasia]

Going to start teleporting, then? Assuming that goes smoothly, then what?

[Iron Dragoon]

Talk to Jarem and Emily and see if we want to hit the ritual, or just loot the hell outta this place in retaliation for taking people.

[Anastasia]

It's just outside the temple that the three of you get together, "See this here?" Jarem asks, looking up, "Dagon. Demon Lord. We're not dealing with good sorts here," he admits, "On the other hand, do you want to have to put so many to the sword or maintain an occupation?"

Emily frowns, "Maybe we make an example of the Dagonites and this temple," she asks, a soft burble of water as she turns towards it.

[Iron Dragoon]

"Consecrate the area? Wipe it clean of Dagon's influence. Though that'll probably just scatter them. A prisoner I captured said they're off doing a ritual. We might be able to cut the head off there, but any ritual will also have the attention of Dagon."

[Anastasia]

"Then we don't," Jarem finally decides after a moment, "If we're leaving, then we don't need to dump this in the Guild's lap. We make an example, leave a message for them and consider it done."

"What about the greater culture under here?" Emily says, "This can't just be one city beneath the sea, can it?" She frowns even more now.

"Don't know," Jarem admits, "We make our point and leave them to it. Let them have their squabbles down here and leave others out of it."

[Iron Dragoon]

"You have a point... This could turn into a protracted conflict... Hm... Let's flatten this... place of worship, get what we can of value from it quickly, and go. The goal is the sailors, let's keep that the focus."

[Anastasia]

"But..." Emily begins, looking on.

"Choose our battles. We can piss around under here or we can fight what we're supposed to be fighting," Jarem says, voice hard and firm. "There's heroes under the waves who can rise up, too."