Dust and blood

[Anastasia]

'Easily.'

[Iron Dragoon]

'Alright, get what intel they have on their target and get back. We'll do an evaluation of it before we promise anything.'

[Anastasia]

'I'll be back soon,' Bastian says, 'Get everyone together so we can do this. I doubt we'll need all of us, he's not that strong.'

[Iron Dragoon]

'We'll talk about it when you get here.'

Alyssa informs the others.

[Anastasia]

Soon enough Bastian returns, and all of you gather. "Now we might have to try a little bit to find him," Bastian goes on, "But the target's named Grumrock. He's an earth elemental golem - no, I don't know how it works, I didn't care to ask - that does a lot of dirty work for Ogremoch. It's some sort of metal druid as well. Nothing we can't handle, but it might be annoying if we approach it wrong."

Emily listens, "It's not one that's run across Mom's dealings in Earth, but she's not that tied into Earth compared to some of the others elemental planes. Well, that and Ogremoch doesn't really advertise his servants. They just show up, like elementlas."

[Iron Dragoon]

"Well, just to play devil's advocate, is this a fight we want to pick? Is Ogremoch someone we want as an active enemy on top of what's already on our plates? The question has to be asked."

[Anastasia]

"He has to be stopped, so yes," Emily says, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.

"It's an enemy," Jarem muses, "Hardly the worst but still a problem. More because this will feel as a personal insult to him to attack one of his unprovoked."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa points to Jarem, "Exactly my point. Dolmaya? Honeydip? Bastian? Opinions? Do you think it's worth it to pull in another enemy, on a personal level?"

[Anastasia]

"Too much trouble," Dolmaya murmurs, "They're not only buying our aid now, but in the future when this tangles us in Earth's troubles. It's a smart offer by them, they either ward off a half hearted attempt or involve us deeper in Earth in their favor."

"Ogremoch is a worthy foe," Honeydip speaks up here, voice cute and clear, "Don't turn away from him out of pragmatism, but stop him because it's the noble and just thing to do. Every person you save from his wrath will be in your debt. No matter if they know it or not."

Bastian crosses his arms, "Dolmaya's got the point of it. It's bait. It's not an insult I imagine Ogremoch will ignore, and if he comes after us, we'll get drawn into Earth's politics."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa taps the arm of her chair, "They want this to be circumspect and detached. Can we do the same? Is there a way for us to draw in some sort of mercenary force to keep ourselves clear?"

[Anastasia]

"Of course there is, if you have the money and connections," Jarem waves a hand, "I can do both. That also means they may fail."

[Iron Dragoon]

"Hmm... What do you think of that route? Fund an attack, five or six steps removed from us to keep us out of it, and capitalize on the distraction?"

[Anastasia]

"Slower, more likely to fail, more expensive - but less risky and less likely Ogremoch finds out who did it," Jarem ticks off fingers, "He's not the sort to go for deep motives and conspiracies."

"It's too indirect," Honeydip speaks up, "Don't be afraid of him - one day, evil will come to you if left alone. Don't be afraid to stand and oppose now."

"She's right, Alyssa," Emily speaks up, "Ogremoch needs to be halted. To weaken him is a good thing, even if it draws his wrath."

[Iron Dragoon]

"I agree he's not to be ignored, but, consider this. In the fight that's to come, do you at all doubt that if Shar finds out that she will pull him in to strike at one of our flanks at a critical time? Our goal, at this moment, isn't Ogremoch, it's  Gargauth. I don't want to miss our first target because we're focusing on a second one.

How about this... Let's hire the mercenaries and send a few of our own to serve as commanders. We've all got key followers at this point, let's send them out as part of the mercenaries as a test. We can monitor and direct them remotely, if need be. Eventually it'll reveal our part in it, but for the moment they're likely to be overlooked as part of the mercenaries. What do you think?"

[Anastasia]

"Too indirect," Honeydip rejects ti immediately.

"Slower," Jarem disagrees, "But I like it since this is an indirect strategy with minimal risk. It'll be harder to find mercenaries who will accept those conditions, though, and probably cost more for them to go along with it."

Dolmaya drums her fingers on her chair rest, "...fine. It's a spymaster's move, but it's a spymaster's game we play."