Eclavdran Tag-Up

Cesran has set up today's secret location down in the bowels of the library well away from the books, in one of the meeting rooms that can be found if you know who to ask. Seldan has asked for a meeting and so Cesran has set one up. He's set up Mage's Private Sanctum here for the day so that any business discussed here will go unheard. He's sitting in a overstuffed comfortable chair with some books. His staff is standing up right next to him watching over him as he reads.

It takes perhaps half a mark or so for Seldan to arrive, staggered enough to not draw attention to himself. He appears very much as his usual self, sorcerer's robe over woolen shirt and trousers against the fall chill. "Her light upon your path, Cesran," he greets quietly, turning to close the door carefully behind him and reaching to push aside a lock of strawberry-blonde hair that isn't there, cut close in a military style as it is. "I am grateful for your time."

Cesran looks up from his book as the door open and he closes the book he was reading, "Seldan it's good to see you. Looking much better than last time we spoke. Sit." He gestures to the other chair, "I'm afraid I was only able to get water for refreshments, but please feel free to help yourself. I too have some information that I wish to share." He says as he sits himself back down.

Seldan most certainly does look better, and a small smile comes to his lips at the greeting. "I look forward to your news," he replies, shaking his head at the water and settling down into the offered chair. Reunion, on his hip, is laid aside on the table nearby. "I have some news of my own."

Cesran says, “I met with Zeke to do some research into the magical device that was stolen from the demon Eclavdran. The spell Mage's Private Sanctum will protect against it, although it is an absolutely horrible device, allowing you to scry on anyone that is on this list and worse he has at least one more, maybe more. The one we have is incomplete, missing a master key that allows for addition or deletion of those on this list." Cesran says, "Also I've been trying to work with others to set up locations to set up the Mage's Private Sanctum so we can discuss our plans without being overheard."”

Recognition lights Seldan's even features, and his brows furrow in a grave understanding of what is being said. "I expect naught less from the likes of Eclavdran," he answers soberly, nodding slowly at the cataloguing of information. "Think you that such a master key is yet in his possession?" Something in his tone says that he thinks that quite likely. "It is as we guessed - he permitted us to have the thing, and did so for a reason."

"I do or if not him then someone who is working for him. It might be possible to try to use it against him, but the magical device is likely sending back some information back to the other device. If we can find that other device I'd know more. I agree, it's not to be trusted. As far as I know it's still in Zeke's possession at least it was when I left him. That is my news I have been busy learning news spell otherwise. If we need it I have learned the Mind Blank spell and have been using it on myself daily." Cesran informs Seldan.

The mention of learning new spells in response to a threat returns that small smile to Seldan's features. It's an expression of silent sympathy and understanding, a _been there and done that_ look. "I know not its location at the moment, I have not asked Zeke where he keeps it, although I shall encourage him to be cautious in carrying it."

"As to my news -" and here, the paladin pauses, pulling from his belt pouch what appears to be a stone orb, and holding it in a palm such that Cesran can see it. "I have spent a great deal of time, of late, contemplating this. It is - an artifact, it is thought, once found in the possession of Eclavdran's minions, although they themselves stole it from another group of fiends. It is not evil, and Serene and I sought a _commune_ spell of Zeke to learn more of it. The gods say that it can be trusted."

Cesran gives a nod in agreement, "Yes he asked if it could be turned off and I indicated it could, but also that the other device that is out there, would be able to turn it back on. I cautioned him about it after I learned all I could through spells." He looks at the stone orb, his eyes glowing blue from the spells he has placed up on them. He takes a moment to study the orb, "Interesting. Do you know all about it or is that what brought you to me today?"

"I continue to learn, but I would have you be aware of it, for there are others like it, and I would find them. Something tells me that they are important, though I know not why." As if in response, the orb in his hand, which had begun to glow softly as he examined it, brightens for just a moment. The glow itself is akin to moonlight itself, a cool light. "The results of our communing were vague, and yet did we learn a few things."

Cesran rubs his chin as he continues to look at it, "I have a spell that can tell me how magical items work, much more powerful than an identify spell. If you like I can use Analyze Dweomer on this orb and get a deep dive on what exactly it can do and how to use it. I would of course like to hear what you learned of it first."

"Thus far, this much is clear - it responds to my thoughts, and brightens or dims to agree or disagree with them," Seldan explains, eyes drifting down to the orb in his hand. It is a stone orb with a metal sphere at its center, much like a moon itself. "It is indeed of magic, and yet do I sense no evil within it," he adds thoughtfully.

Cesran sits back a bit, "Well that's unsettling, I personally never liked magics that messed with one's mind, tricking the eyes with illusion is one thing, but enchanting a person's mind just never sat right with me. So it's reading your thoughts and responding to them. So you can present to it a scenario and if it thinks it's a good plan it will grow brighter or dimmer if it disagrees?"

"I believe so," Seldan acknowledges with a dip of his head, leaning back on his chair. "I have much yet to learn of it, and have spent as much time as I can merely contemplating it and studying it."

"And you got it from a group of Eclavdran's minions who had stole it from another group of fiends. That seems highly suspect Seldan. I know you communed with the gods through Zeke, but still it sounds like it came from fiends. Perhaps Eclavdran wanted you to find it and he's subtly manipulating you in some way. I would really like to do an in depth study of it to see that it's safe." Cesran comments as he continues to study to the stone orb with the spells he all ready has.

A quiet reserve falls over Seldan's features, and he sits up a little straighter. "As you will, Cesran," is all he says, but curiously, the item dims in his hand, until it appears to be no more than a simple rock as any might find. "It is well to be certain."

Cesran reaches for his spell component pouch and pulls out a gold rimmed rub lens. "It's not that I don't trust you Seldan, but I'd rather be sure. I hope I am wrong and that this stone can help us in some way, but I'd rather know then be left wondering. It will just take a moment." He says as he starts to cast a spell, the lines under his skin igniting with a blue glow.

When Seldan had finished speaking, some of the cool glow had begun to return to the orb, gently illuminating the stiff lines of Seldan's features as he watches the casting in process without comment. He says nothing, though, merely folds his hands in his lap and waits.

Cesran hmms as he examines the stone that's held in Seldan's hand, "Well it is indeed an artifact. Analyze dweomer reveals nothing, but detect magic and arcane sight at least tell me it's magical." He reaches for one of the books and opens it up. He takes out a writing utensil and begins to draw it into the book. "I'll add it to my list of things to research. I have been doing my best to try to track down any and all information I can about the demon Eclavdran, but he's proved very elusive. It's been a struggle."

"Faith in the good judgment of one's peers is a mark of respect, Archmage Cesran." Seldan, who has been watching the entire proceedings rather impassively, speaks finally. "I presume that the demon's prophecy is known to you."

Cesran finishes his sketch of the orb in question and he smiles, "I have the utmost faith in your good judgment Seldan, more than my own sometimes, and please just Cesran. I know that I claimed the Archmage's title, but I'd like to think that we are friends and you don't need to use it around me. Honestly I much prefer to go by just Cesran. Going around announcing myself as Archmage well it just seems a bit pretensions to me. Perhaps a sign that I'm growing wiser. I'll save it for when I need it, like a good spell." He reaches to take a drink of water and thinks for a moment, "No I haven't please go on, I have a thought about this orb, but I need a bit of a distraction so my mind can process it a bit more."

"As you will, Cesran." Seldan spreads a hand, palm down, in a placatory gesture, although he does not show remorse for having called him that. "You have not?" Some of the impassivity falls away, and he pulls from his belt a scroll case with a blue cap. There appears to be only one scroll in it, and this he passes to the wizard, leaning back and allowing him to read.

A pillar stands in the sky, Amid the fires of hell. The sky is filled with ashen snow, Lonely tolls the final bell. Here a shadow stretches, Across the land. The many eyes of evil open, And the hourglass fills with sand.

In the heart of the world Lies a beasts broken heart, Soul of shadow ripped asunder, What was one has torn apart. We who were mortal men, Now are immortal sin. Calling out with numerous voice Cacophonous din.

The hourglass fills with sand, Slowly drifting us past time, Across the land, And the many varied planes. Lonely tolls the final bell, Friends torn apart, Amid the fires of hell The demon stands in victory We will finally be free.

Cesran reads over the scroll a couple of times and then gives it a long stare as he commits it to memory. "Interesting. At first glance it sounds like the demons are trying to break free of the Iron Hell, but there is definitely more to it then that. Are these instructions that they are trying to follow to make it happen?" He hmms, "I'll look this over as well see if I can gleam any new insights." He takes another drink of water, "Thank you for sharing that with me. I was able to glean something from the orb. It's empowered the detect alignment spells, so perhaps in the hands of good it does one thing and it the hands of an evil or chaotic person it does another. Also there is something inside of the orb, my guess would be another orb. I'm fairly certain that I could take it apart, but I'm not sure what that would do to the object. I'd rather err on the side of caution and not do that."

"Indeed," is all Seldan says on the matter of the orb, giving it one last glance before tucking it away in his belt pouch. Once that is closed and away, his eyes go to the scroll copy on the table. "The commune revealed that the heart of the world is a place here upon Ea, although the identity of the beast is unclear. I think it well to determine where that place is, and undertake a journey there, for it may well be that more is to be learned there." The paladin's quiet, polite reserve has returned in full measure. "Of this much am I certain - that fighting amongst ourselves shall avail us naught. We just work together, if we are to win."

Cesran nods, "Off hand I've never heard of any place called the heart of the world. The beast sounds like Gunahkar, but it could be something else entirely. I'm more then willing to undertake a journey to the heart of the world. You are right there we must work together if we are to beat something as awful as Eclavdran."

"I know not if that beast be Eclavdran or another," Seldan replies, a nod acknowledging the other's thoughts. "This much do I know of Eclavdran, that he is different from most demons. He is more patient than most, and has a measure of honor, when it serves his end. Knowing this of him does not, nor should it, change our stance, but rather behoove us to be wary. There are means by which he may be brought to heel, until he is destroyed for good and all."

Cesran pauses to consider, "A prophecy like this is written to be vague so that only in hind sight does it look to make sense. That's the tricky thing about prophecies. He is not like other demons you are right, he's a pit fiend one of the worse of all demon kind. Serene was right in that not only do we need a plan A, but we need plans B through Z as well and a plan AA just as a back up we trying to go up against him. Destroying him would be very dangerous and on this plane at least a temporary solution."

"Indeed, and on that am I of your mind." Seldan agrees, nodding to reinforce the point. "He must be defeated through force of arms. It does not aid us to merely destroy him and being him back whence he came. One must improvise, and take what one is given."

Cesran says, “Well perhaps in my research I'll find something that can help us do just that. I remain hopeful. Was there anything else you wish to talk about Seldan? Any word on the rebuilding of those villages?" Cesran asks.”

"It proceeds," Seldan answers. "There is much yet to be done, and yet did I wish to offer you that much. I shall continue in my studies, and share what I may. But, I shall not take more of your time, for now."

Cesran nods, "I'm glad to hear that. I do what I can with the mansion to help get people food that need it out there. Thank you for the information you have given me more to study which I am grateful for, always happy to expand my knowledge and hopefully get to share it with others." He stands up to walk Seldan to the door.