A book and many things to do

[Iron Dragoon]

"Interesting... It's a positive, but nothing we can immediately benefit from. Well, I'm sure there are hold outs, and if we hit them hard enough to break them, this new guy probably won't want to try to stop us. How did he become leader, though, if he's such a coward?"

[Anastasia]

"His name's Akil bin Faheem," Bastian says, "The devils back him, they say fiendish legions march in the City of Brass to support their ally in this time of trouble. Dragonshit, it sounds like an occupation. Cowards rolling over, one and all."

[Iron Dragoon]

"It's probably not that simple, but not far off. Which devils are backing him?"

[Anastasia]

"I haven't heard names, but big ones. Hell itself," Bastian explains, "Got in touch with a friend who knew some efreet who made a quick escape before the city got locked down fully. The way I hear it is that the new Grand Sultan is having a time eliminating his old enemies. Rooting out traitors and saboteurs to the war effort is the official excuse."

[Iron Dragoon]

"Hm. Money to be made there if we're fast. They'll all be running to find spaces under rocks, though."

[Anastasia]

"I hear Magma and Ash will do well," Bastian says, "Which gets to my point. Have you ever been to Ash?

[Iron Dragoon]

"No, but I've been meaning to. I heard they have a new Archomental."

[Anastasia]

"Which one?" Bastian asks, curiously.

[Iron Dragoon]

"I don't know. I haven't had a chance to investigate. Is there more than one new one?"

[Anastasia]

That line of conversation is interrupted by Emily, Ianvasah and Dolmaya striding in. "Alyssa," Dolmaya calls, "What's going on?"

[Iron Dragoon]

"Bastian has news about a mission I sent him on. Is Jarem back yet, Dolmaya?"

[Anastasia]

"No," Dolmaya says shortly, "Not yet."

[Iron Dragoon]

"Well, we'll have to brief him when he gets back. Go ahead Bastian."

[Anastasia]

Bastian recounts what he's said before, and then, "What I did pick up from those efreet was a lead on some Sharrans. They're desperate and let it go."

"Good!" Emily says, "Where?"

"In the Smouldering Karst Mountains on Ash," Bastian remarks, "We'll need to do the legwork from there."

A rather considerable frown from Ianvasah, "How much legwork?"

"We have legs. Use them," Bastian says rather laconically.

[Iron Dragoon]

"Hm. We might be able to do two things at once here. Do we know if the new Archomental has territory near there? We could make an offer to take care of them for him. Diplomatic bonus to killing Sharrans."