Track Down This Murderer
-=--=--=--=--=--=-<* A15: Mithralla Merchandise: Ballroom *>-=--=--=--=--=--=-
The ballroom has been craved directly out of the mountain. It is large enough to hold a hundred guests in comfort, beneath an artistic style reminiscent of the sildanyari tradition and heritage. The walls are solid stone, carved directly from the mountain. Left bare, the simple texture of the stone provides natural decoration and honors nature's creation. Although stone is an unusual material, the artist's treatment of it respects nature's source.
Regular pillars line the walls, arching high over head to branch out like massive trees, creating an intricate lacework upon the ceiling. At first glance, one might think the roof open to the sky above, but closer inspection shows clever illusions to depict an open sky.
The floor is smooth stone, carefully polished, and a simple platform has been raised near the far end of the room to provide a basic sort of stage. The acoustics of the curved roof help to bring the sounds of those upon the stage to the entire room, with minimal distortion. A large aspen tree has been carved into wall above the stage, with numerous small plaques in it's branches. The far end of the ballroom, beyond the stage, is covered with a network of stone, carved to resemble a covering of ivy and beautiful forest plants. Three small alcoves can easily been seen between the 'branches'.
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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Appearing, in Order -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Seldan 5'11" 187 Lb Human Male Ginger-blonde human in armor wearing Eluna's symbol. Cryosanthia 6'9" 267 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman. Acedia 3'4" 39 Lb Goblin Female An ebon-skinned Goblin in leather armor. Sabina 5'4" 130 Lb Human Female Tsuran woman of dark hair and green eyes Auranar 4'8" 123 Lb Wild Elf Female A wild elf with dark skin and a red dress Jasper 5'4" 130 Lb Half-Elf Male Young, thin, Half-Sil, dark hair, blue eyes, 5'4" Elleandra 5'4" 108 Lb Wild Elf Female Blue-haired, green-eyes, Sylvanori Faranmidahn 3'3" 35 Lb Halfling Female Albino Lucht woman in black leather armor with a BIG spider Malik 6'2" 195 Lb Human Male A sandy-haired tsuran with blue eyes. Lanier 6'0" 245 Lb Human Male Young, lean and strong Acanian wearing hide clothing. Quilani 5'0" 110 Lb Sith-Makar Female A light brown sith makar with robes and big glasses. Serene 6'2" 175 Lb Eldanar/Charn Female Glacier meets granite meets strawberries. Hun'rar 6'2" 198 Lb Human Male Heavily armored knight with a dragon motif Mikilos 6'8" 180 Lb Dawn Elf Male Tall male dawn elf, rosey blonde and handsome. Konstance 6'2" 240 Lb Human Male A human with blonde hair and blue eyes -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
Rumor has gone around the adventuring contingent of the city - those who want to help deal with the menace that is the plague and its perpetrators should gather at Mithralla Merchandise at sunset on Eliday. Those who have gathered find the ballroom set aside for their use, arcane sigils carefully protected at every boundary and wall to the room. On the stage stands a single man, a young human male with ginger-blonde, messy hair and pale blue eyes. He wears full plate armor and appears to be fully armed, the armor moonlit-quiescent beneath an open robe of blue, trimmed in silver, and from a steel chain around his neck openly hangs the crescent and sphere of Eluna Seeress. He looks tired, like he could use a good deal more sleep, and a little paler than perhaps he should be.
Behind him, is a magical opening of some kind, that waits patiently.
Cryosanthia is on hand. The sith-makar is wearing her layered wizard robes, both she and them are predominantly bright white, with pale glacial blue accents in the form of patterns on her scales, and trim on the robes along with a repeating Snowflake and DragonEye pattern. She seems well rested and contained, her movements are minimal but there are signs of life, her tail twitching back and forth slowly. Anyone who arrived early might have seen her dancing around the ballroom, although with little enjoyment. More exercise and practice than an expression of inner happiness, and once others showed up she settled down to wait on the stage beside the magical opening with Seldan.
Off to one side, away from the stage, a familiar face can be found. Malik leans against the wall, arms crossed, staying silent -- and mostly out of the way.
Clattering into the room, with a gait that speaks of someone ... new to heavy armor, a wee humanoid dressed in full plate, including helm, wobbles into the room. The armor seems used, but cared for, and the small tabard bears the symbol of Eluna. Around their neck is a similar crescent and sphere that Seldan possess. The armoured figure slowly, carefully, make their way towards the stage. The intent seems to be to occupy a spot where they can observe without taller people blocking their view.
Sabina enters cautiously and looks about first. A small look or wonder as she spies the magical opening, obviously her first such look at a thing. Stiffling a laugh at herself she slips on her mask and gives a small wave to the peoples she's met before or knows. The peacock on her shoulder seems subdued for now.
Like some others being short of stature, Auranar has come a touch early to the meeting, making her way to the front in the hopes of not being lost in what is likely to be a goodly number of people. She stands out a bit, with her black hair fading to pink and her dark eyes watching everything and nothing. She nods to Cryosanthia politely, but doesn't say anything to the sith-makar. Doesn't exactly seem to know what to say, which make silence a safer answer. Instead the elf joins those at the front and silently awaits hearing what will be said and seeing what will be done.
Jasper slips quietly into the room, his movements careful and deliberate. Just inside, he reaches up to tuck a lock of dark hair behind one of his ever-so-slightly pointed ears, then steps to one side. Blue eyes scan the room, landing on the stage, and there is an almost imperceptible nod of recognition given to Seldan. Then, folding thin arms across his chest, he leans against the wall and waits for the conversation to begin.
Elleandra comes quietly, offering a small wave to Seldan as she joins the growing group. She looks to the magical opening and smiles, having a guess of sorts where they will end up having their little conversation. She bears no weapons only to this gathering, having no intention of fighting at this point.
Another soul enters, pale and drawn, though.... better than she'd been recently. Clad in humble leather armor, though Faran's familiar weaponry and cloak are present, though the purple rose broach is not. Also of note are the addition of a white fuzzy spider a little smaller than a tarantula, and a halfling scale bastard or greatsword... with her relative height it's hard to tell. Her usual cheery demeanor is absent, sweeping those present with a thousand yard stare.
Cryosanthia looks over everyone who shows up. She seems to be keeping herself quiet. The scales around her eyes are glowing and she glances down at her left hand often. She's gloveless on that hand, but covers it with the other one. She smiles at Sabina, and gestures for Faran to come close.
Quilani enters somewhat quietly, the sith-makar folding up a small map and sliding into a pocket. She adjusts her glasses as she notes the amount of people who had gathered, and quickly steps out of the front door to let other people enter. After scanning the room for a small moment, she finds an empty pillar to lean on, generally surprised to see so many that had gathered. With the pillar selected, she remains quiet, though keeping a wary eye on the stage.
Rumor has made its way as far as Lanier was, out in his home in the forests surrounding Alexandria. He has made the trip, passing the outside security into the ballroom of Mithralla Merchandise. He takes a deep breath, looking around at the room rather than the people, it seems. He finally breaths a sigh of relief, his eyes looking forward until he finds a good angle to see those gathered up towards the front.
When it seems all have gathered, the figure on the stage finally speaks, the tones even and pleasant for all the look of weariness. "Thank you all for coming." Despite not being all that loud, he is easy enough to hear. "I would ask you all to join me in the mansion on the other side of this opening. You have my word that no harm will come to you there, and I will explain the reason for it when we are all within it. Food has been laid out there as well." He turns to the magical-looking opening, and is gone.
The lucht sorceress lifts her chin some at Cryo's silent beckoning and makes her way over to stand at her side, lifting a hand to greet the others gathered. The spider on her shoulder crawls up under her hair and settles down against the side of her neck. She glances at Seldan as he speaks, then, after a moment's thought, turns and reaches out for the palescale's hand to bring her along through the portal.
Jasper arches a dark eyebrow at the words and subsequent exit of Seldan, then lightly pushes his body's weight from the wall. Light steps carry him forward through those who are gathered, and, without a backwards glance, he steps through the portal as well.
The small figure in full plate slowly clanks their way to the opening, pausing for a short time at the side of the portal. They eye the others gathered, and then walk through. Sabina wastes little time in moving forward towards the portal. Peering at it intently as she nears and then even toughting the surface of it before grinning and moving through to the other side. The bird on her shoulder puffing up at the strangeness.
Elleandra steps towards the portal confidently. She adds softly, "It's actually quite safe inside. I've been there before. And the food is excellent." She looks over towards Cryosanthia and Faran, smiling in what she hopes is an encouraging way before entering.
Malik hesitates for a moment, seeming to consider the options. But eventually he seems to come to a decision, pushing off the wall and stepping up to the portal before turning to the others. Turning to survey those who have arrived, briefly, he offers a nod, and steps through the door himself.
Serene arrives a little bit late.. from the quick scane she gives of the expansive room, perhaps this was on purpose so that she could get a look at all of the attendees in one sweep. Regardless of the reason, she remains near the back of the room initially. Only once people are filing through the portal does she stride forward to do the same, making every effort to be one of the last ones through.
Cryosanthia let herself be lead by Faran, and steps through the portal into Mikilos' Magical Mage Mansion. She passes through with a flick of her tail and smiles down at the Lucht. Once inside she waits until Auranar enters, then takes Faran over to her. She bows her head when she's near the black and pink haired elf, speaking quietly. She sounds defeated, "I couldn't stay at the Temple with Zeke gone. Not in that room, after everything happened. With my memories all over the walls, the scent of him, the stone, the beds. Too much wrongness. I appreciate all the help you gave me, but I had to get out. I have to get him back."
Auranar doesn't hesitate to follow Seldan and the others through the doorway though there are enough people that she has to wait her turn for such. The shiver of magic in the passage of the gateway makes her shiver and she finds a chair on the other side quickly enough, watching as ever everything and nothing.
Quilani is...a little less than pleased at the invitation through a magic portal and her hesitation makes sure she's one of the last few through it. If this was always the intention, why not just lead with the portal instead of making people wait? Then again, arcane magic could be very bizarre compared to other forms of magic. She steps through the portal when there's an appropriate space to do so, and quickly moves out of the way out of most of the larger adventurer's likely coming in right behind her.
Faranmidahn tries to fit a smile to her lips, but it's thin and threadbare, though she finally speaks, "Hello, Miss Aura.... Elly." She looks to Seldan and gives a deep bow of her head, as well as to Mr Malik.
Those venturing through will find on the other side - a veritable mansion. They stand in a similar ballroom to the one they left, except that a massive feast has been laid out, enough for all to eat their fill. The man in moonlit armor walks to the table immediately, and chooses a chair, not at the end, but in the middle of the table, and stands behind it. Something in him has relaxed here, and he turns to the group. "I apologize for the silence and lack of explanation, but this meeting must evade scrying by the most careful of measures, including the concealment of the mansion itself." His voice holds a strong Myrrish accent. "Now that I am certain of our safety, I am Seldan Padaryn, of Eluna's Silver Guard. The place in which we now stand is a Magnificent Mansion, a mansion in a pocket dimension. Eat your fill, but the food will vanish if taken from this place."
He smiles in response to Faranmidahn, an expression tries to be reassuring and is somewhat threadbare itself. "Before we begin, I must ask a thing. If you have the brand of a snowflake somewhere upon you, I would have you make yourself known to me now. I do not judge, nor mistrust you, but indeed, I have a task for you."
Malik raises an eyebrow at Seldan's request. He's certainly not one that steps forward, but watches curiously to see if others do as he glances around the space that they find themselves in. And, as before, he moves to the side, leaning against one wall with his arms crossed as he simply watches Seldan -- though the earthen tones that he dresses in suddenly make him seem to stand out a bit more here.
"You know I do Seldan, and the others should now." Cryosanthia calls out loudly and holds up her left hand, the snowflake symbol on the back.
Sabina is again looking around the inside of the constructed space with wonder. Then, nodding to Seldan's words, she steps forwards to the table and pulls out a chair waiting for a few others to join before sitting at the table. She reaches up to cover her familiar's eyes when she spots roast pheasant.
The small, full-plated humanoid stumbles towards the table, and strains to reach one of the food items: roast chicken. Managing to snag one of the legs, the person slowly steps away. They end up near Malik, and in the process of waving to the man, unbalance themselves enough to end up clinging to his waist with one hand.
Auranar grants a smile to both Cryosanthia and Faranmidahn, the expression chasing shadows from her face that were invisible until the moment that they left. She it seems is the first to take a seat, but she doesn't move from it, instead nodding as if to herself as Cryosanthia steps forward to show the mark on her hand. The elf looks at the mark for a long moment, then turns her attention back to Seldan whom it seems is in charge of this meeting.
Lanier narrows his eyebrows and then nods his head, "That explains the portal." He seems to mull it over before his shoulders raise and lower. Stepping across the ballroom, Lanier heads towards the portal and disappears within.
Growing up on the meaner streets of Alexandria City, Jasper has learned never to miss an opportunity to eat for free. When he steps forward it may seem initially like it is in response to the request for those with snowflakes to make themselves known, but it is instead to the table he moves, his long fingers already collecting morsels.
Cryosanthia replaces her glove, and the scales around her eyes stop glowing. She grabs a stool that will accommodate her tail and moves to opposite side of the table from Seldan. She selects a spot that is further along, not directly across from the elunite and makes room for Faran, Auranar, Elly, anyone that might be want to sit near her. She takes a plate and fills it mostly with meat strips, some fruit and gets herself some tea as well.
Serene continues to remain just apart from the gathering. Though she doesn't stay near the portal, and does in fact cross some of the distance to the table, she does not choose a seat nor does she partake of the food. Instead she remains far enough from the table to allow those who mill about plenty of room to do so. She does manage, at least, to remove the figurative rod from her... back... and stand in a slightly more relaxed pose, thumbs hitched into her weapon belt.
Malik braces himself as the armored figure holding the chicken leg crashes into him, wrapping around his waist. The weight of a small humanoid is one thing, but the weight of a steel- canned small humanoid is a whole other matter when one isn't expecting it. Looking down, he offers a small smile, rolling his eyes a bit. "Alright," he sighs. "Come on then." And before the figure has a chance to object, he leans down, scooping the small person armor and all onto a shoulder so they can get a clearer view, though it looks like it takes some effort.
"The second thing I would ask - if you are infected with the plague, I would have you remain behind at the end of the meeting. We may be able to aid you." Seldan looks around at those gathered, his smile widening when Acedia goes for the food, but he does not comment. "The one responsible for setting this plague upon us is an Immortal Fae. She has referred to herself as Salina, and the fae themselves refer to her as the Endless Winter. It is not truly a disease, so much as a creature, and something akin to a curse." He goes on to explain its origins, of the wizard Zeheir and its original uses to clean and repair the Shard Tower. "It has been corrupted in the Hells, and co-opted by the Endless Winter, where she now experiments with it."
He stops then, and scans the gathering, looking for a face in particular. "Did Master Mithralla come through? He understands more of this ooze than I, for he has spent significant time in its study."
Quilani 's eyes widen at the appearance of the mansion and simply marvels at it's grand design, before her eyes are immediately drawn to the food. The warning from the mage is barely heeded. No hoarding delicious food for all eternity. Got it. She practically zips to the grand feast, piling as much meat on her conjured plate as possible. And then, as an afterthought, adding a singlar roasted apple.
What? This is a perfectly balanced meal!
In response to the snowflake question, Quil, with half a drumstick in her mouth, shrugs. She finds an empty table to plant herself at, and sets into shoving as much of that food into her stomach as possible.
Mikilos grumbles absently to himself as he exits the ball halls into the ballroom, checking the wards absently before heading into the magical portal to the pocket Mansion. Looking around to those present, the wizard takes a spot near teh end of the table. "Apologies, I was unexpectedly delayed. Despite the plague going around there, are some customers who just can't seem to grasp supplies have been delayed. Anyway, yes, the ooze. Sadly, there's a great deal I don't know, but of what we've learned or inferred so far...."
Elleandra watches Cryosanthia and Seldan closely, selecting a seat next to Cryosanthia. She draws it out and settles on it, helping herself to drink for now, but with an eye on the food later. Seldan's words are not a complete shock to her, though that says more about the hard work of others than anything she's done. For now, she has only to listen.
There's a small squeak heard as the small, armoured person is hefted up onto Malik's shoulder. Then a lengthy sigh as an armored hand reaches up and fusses with the faceplate on the helm. Pushing upwards, a wee, black, Goblinoid face is revealed. She laughs lightly and looks to Malik. "How did you know it was me?" The other hand, holding onto that chicken leg for dear life, comes round to hover the roasted chicken within biting range for the man. "Want a bite of chicken?", Acedia offers, before she glances to Seldan.
"I know not if it is important, Seldan, but I was plagued at once point, though I was cured by Chay. Did you need me to submit to something to put peoples' minds at ease?"
Faranmidahn keeps looking about as Cryo explains her status, her hand silently lifting to gently settle on the sith's arm. She notes anyone else that so identifies, though no judgment is in her gaze. Once such numbers stop increasing, she will move to join the table at her sister's side, making a passing, begrudging strafing run along the festive bounty. There've been enough.... conversations about her self maintainance of late. As she finally settles in and Seldan calls attention to him, the lucht's attention turns to Master Mikilos in time for his explanations to begin.
Auranar looks a trace uncomfortable with the line of questioning, but she seems to relax as Mikilos closes the door behind him. Somewhat. It seems that everyone is here. She picks up a fork with a free hand and toys with the utensile idly while she watches the ongoings with her dark eyes. She doesn't seem overly interested in the food, but rather focuses on the people and the things that they have to say.
Serene's gaze flickers over the assembled adventurers as Seldan suggests those currently bearing the weight of the plague identify themselves, clearly ready to take mental notes. She otherwise continues to remain silent as the organizers of the meeting impart their summary of recent events and the purpose of the gathering.
Mikilos says, "For the sake of accurate records, I've been infected twice, and cured twice. Neither time a pleasant experience."
"Eat Faran," Cryosanthia encourages, being the one that's been promoting the self-care. She looks around at others that might have revealed a mark, then eats some meat strips. She nods when Seldan indicates her investigative task. She speaks up after Mikilos, "Same. Infected Twice, both cures extremely unpleasant."
"If you are, then I am as well, Acedia. I need naught from you." Seldan sighs and lowers his eyes a little. "There are several among us who have had the plague, and been cured. Those cured by extensive magic ... have been left changed in ways that none understand, and yet do not seem to be harmful." A deep breath, and he removes the thin silver headband that he wears. The moment that he frees it from his head, it becomes a red velvet hat with arcane stitching in silver around the brim, and while the strawberry-blonde hair and ice-blue eyes remain the same, as does the rest of him, his skin, all of it, turns matte jet-black. The effect is eerie, but he at least pretends to ignore it. "Mal, could you be so good as to take this?" He raises the hat towards the man off to the side.
He looks up then, pausing, waiting, and watching, wearing the look of one holding his breath. "Thank you, Master Mithralla. It is true that there is much yet that we do not know, but ..."
"We must move against her, and swiftly. Kol Demontry, the vampire that stalks the city, is no more, but she retaliates. She has taken friends. Family. Mates. All of these she removes to her tower, where she uses them for pitiless experimentation. I would spare certain here the details." His eyes rest on Faranmidahn. "Know this, though. Those bearing the brand, she marks as hers. She scries through them at will. She uses this plague to make of people vampires." His tone is taking on a hard edge as he speaks. "And yet do I not blindly move upon her tower, for she controls it, and bends it to her will. We will not find it, does she not wish us to do so. Instead, this would I ask of you, Cryosanthia. As Eluna's holy light but partly illuminates that which truly is, so too would I be, in dealing with our enemy. I would show her that which I wish her to see."
Elleandra looks over at Serene intently, "Sickened and healed. Thanks to Serene and glory to Eluna for the healing." Hearing Seldan speak of the tower draws her attention, if reluctantly. The thought of being trapped sends a shiver down her spine.
Mikilos mmmmms, and rolls up the sleeve of his robe, the skin of the shoulder raw and tender. "I also had a snowflake scar, but it was recently cut off and the wound magically healed." the mage considers. "I -believe- this removed Endless Winter's link for scrying, but I'm not positive. And as I spent... time... in her Tower, she may be able to scry upon me anyway. Though I doubt it possible in here, with all the precautions and wards."
Bina sits quietly and takes from the offered food, a small bite here or there. Bread is offered to her bird to keep it quiet. The talk of people taken and killed as well as the vampire cause her smile to smoothe out into a nuetral look, her eyes still mostly hidden behind her mask.
Faranmidahn closes her eyes and nods, "Yes, sister." she says softly, though her hand stills for a moment in time to Seldan's remarks. Her eyes open to regard him, harrowed, a grim set to her jaw and she takes a steeling breath then, "They must.... understand her.... cruelties, Sir Seldan..." Her eyes close a moment, then reaffix upon him, and she cradles her little spider in her palms.
Malik listens as Seldan speaks, and straightens a bit when called upon. Turning to the gobber on his shoulder, he sets her down gently, then moves to Seldan, taking a hand for the item the man offers. "If you're sure," he says, gently. But Seldan seems to have already made up his mind, the black skin showing through. Malik takes a step back, nodding, letting those with more to say continue.
Quilani slows down her eating as the topic of conversation turns a little more serious. Sucking in an errant bit of bacon to clear her mouth, she leans forward, her ear fins slightly expanding to listen on what's being said. She still keeps her mouth shut, as this is involving events, people and places she hadn't heard of.
Auranar glances between Seldan and Cryosanthia and then hesitantly lifts her hand to draw attention to herself. She licks her lips before she speaks, but does speak. "If the mistress of this tower, this person we've come to... Plot against can scry through Cryosanthia then..." She hesitates again and looks at Mikilos. "Then we are not scried now? Yet his words suggest that he intends to speak to the mistress of this tower, or share something of our plans with her. Is that wise?" She motions to the now black-skinned Seldan, seeming somewhat unsettled by his change.
The Gobbo stands on somewhat shaky legs, the armour still new to her, as she's set down by Malik. She carefully, slowly, draws forth the blade on her hip. "You have my blade, Seldan. And what magic I possess. What can be seen by these eyes and heard by these ears. I will tread where you dare to lead."
Cryosanthia nods, "Of course Seldan. Whatever you need me to do, whatever it takes. What she does in the tower, perhaps that should be told." She looks at Faran, rubs gently at her back, then returns her attention to Seldan again. She has no reaction to the change in his skin colour. At Auranar's question the sith removes her glove again, flicks her hand through some quick arcane gestures. Light plays across her scales and the ones around her eyes glow once more. She stares at her hand, "Mikilos' place has some protections, this extra space inside it, should be secure Auranar."
Mikilos tries to clarify. "Scrying is... difficult and uncertain. The spell doesn't always work. A solid knowledge of what you wish to view helps. A material link helps more. A magical mark to... hone in on... helps even more. But it all remains uncertain. A spell might still fail. And wards will block most spells. This hall sits in a pocket dimension. Another plane of existance. Some types of scrying can cross planar boundaries, but few, and those would have a hard time finding, let alone viewing, a small, novel plane."
Serene tilts her head forward slightly to Elleandra when she sees the sildyanar looking her way, then once more looks about the assembled personages as Seldan reveals what his magic had been hiding. Gauging reactions, perhaps, though if she herself is surprised she hides it well.
"That is why we are here, my lady, and why the extra protections. Why the portal was itself hidden from scrying," Seldan explains to Auranar, politely. "It seems excessive, and yet is the reach of her power great. I would not share all of my plans, no, but do we march on the tower, seeking to wrest her from it, we allow her to choose the battleground. I have other ideas, but she must know enough of what we say and do to be ... moved to intervene." He chooses his words carefully, and with a small smile, leaving it at that for the moment.
He turns his attention instead to Faranmidahn. "Are you certain? You would have me speak openly?" He closes his eyes, then re-opens them. "Then I will speak openly of that which she does in the tower, the things that we know - and there is much we but guess at. Animals, torn apart and sewn back together with other animal parts, to learn how that might be made to work. People, vivisected and healed, day after day, for decades. Do they not survive, she but shrugs and makes them undead. Tearing a man's soul out, and putting it back, repeatedly. One among us here received her mother's arm, torn from its shoulder and perfectly preserved in a box." His tone has taken on that hard edge, and something of an impassive one, as he speaks.
He pauses for a moment, drawing a deep breath, something of that impassivity breaking. "She uses magical compulsion to force people to kill their loved ones, repeatedly. To choose between those they love. To compel a man to murder another. She uses the plague ooze, to turn a mother to a vampire, then compels her to attempt to kill her son."
Sabina pauses her eating and puts hands in lap along with a napkin. Her eyes on her plate as the horrors in the tower are made clear. "I think I've lost my will to eat." She says softly. More for herself then those nearby.
Faranmidahn had steeled herself for the summary. She'd been grappling with the incident for days, and as the arm is explained, her chin dips almost imperceptibly as she shows her eyes only to the little spider in her palms. The vampire attacking her.... son? That, however, brings owlish rose eyes lifting his way as though tugged with hooks and those closest may hear even her shallow breath catching within her breast.
Auranar nods politely to Seldan, smiling softly to show she means no harm by her concern. It's a smile leaving quickly as he continues. His words steal all trace of joy from her face and leave her oddly discolored. As if all the color might have drained from her features, but her skin is not pale enough for such things and is instead left changed by the lack. Her black eyes look away from Seldan finally, so that she can look at the fork in her hand, her knuckles gone even more pale than her face with the force of the strength that would bend that fragile metal if it were an ounce weaker. She parts her lips not to speak but so that she might be able to breathe around the horrors he speaks of.
Malik opens his mouth at the mention of the vampire, as if to say something, but instead thinks better of it, pressing his lips into a frown as he simply holds the hat, looking around at the others to see if anyone adds anything else.
Jasper, who has been chowing down on the free food, suddenly goes pale as he listens to Seldan's tales from the tower. Slowly, he sets his plate aside, the rest of the morsels there untouched.."
Sabina clears her throat and speaks up. "Let us not forget she has a mastery over cold. That she tends to freeze everyone she's not interested in, in place, killing them." She specifically does not look towards the others as she speaks.
Eat? Oh, right! Acedia remembers the roasted chicken in her other hand and bites into it. She becomes less enthusiastic about it, though, with Seldan's description of what happens in the tower. She clears her throat. "And she does that without a lick of care. Do not look for compassion or empathy, She has neither. She does this out of based curiosity, simply to see what happens. To see what makes things run. She will show you what you want most right now, and then take it away. Over and over again."
The Gobbo pauses to take another bite of the chicken, free food is free food after all. "She has snatched loved ones right out of people's arms. She changes all whom she touches." Acedia looks to Seldan. "So how do we get to her? How can we pull her down?"
Cryosanthia slips her hand around Faran's, squeezing it. Looking down at her, she nods. The sith sits taller, raises her head and adds, "This one cannot emphasize how terrible the horrors are. There is nothing redeeming to her, nothing I think that can be redeemed. Somehow she controls the Shard Tower. This was created by Zahier, a thousand years ago, it travels now at her whim. It has been in a plane of Hell, the Duke of Hell Eclavdran was imprisoned in it as a guardian for a time. This one has no idea how she came to control it, but she each door in the tower opens on what she desires. The only constants are the first floor, the lab beneath, and the dungeons beneath that. We have a way to get to a version of the Tower, but it seems it will not be the one she's currently in. To complicate things further, it has a teleportation circle that can be used to send people back in time, and perhaps forward as well."
"If anyone has ideas on how to lure her from the Tower, they would be appreciated."
"Do we know what her purpose is?" asks Elleandra suddenly. "I have heard of her cruelty, but I do not understand what her goal is. Is she simply evil and bored? She does experiments, but do we know to what purpose? Are we like insects to her?"
"From the sound of things, we need to put this creature down." Konstance says, smoking a cigarette as he exhales a plume of smoke. "The fae arent easy to trick. They are clever and will have contingencies planned." He says as he looks to the others. "I say we get something she wants. Some juicy target which we know she cant refuse. Lure her out, and put an end to her. Everything has something that will make them lose focus. It is simply a matter of finding this weakness." He says softly.
"What she wants is passion." Jasper looks startled that he has spoken, and a slow blush creeps up his cheeks. "Erm, that is...I do not know her, nor have I ever encountered her. But it would seem that she is interested in what makes living things...tick." He seems uncomfortable with the word, but shrugs it off. "The fact that she takes what people love again and again, or makes them choose. Her curiosity...about love. It would seem that is the bait. If we can find the ideal person. Or situation. Something that encapsulates what it is she is trying to find, or the depth of feeling she seeks..." He trails off. "Just a thought."
Sabina speaks up again. "If you want something that will bring her hunting for you on your own terms then I would sugjest something she fears. Or is made to fear. Perhaps mythical item that could control her tower and mentioned when she scries." She nods then to Jasper. "That too could work but we don't know exactly what she has and has not reserched and is still interested in."
Mikilos says, "The ooze gathers energy. The life force it steals, it saves, to fuel.... something. We aren't sure what. If we can learn that, we might find som srot fo bait to draw her out. But with all her resources, would be hard to get something she hasn't already gotten herself."
"That was tried," Malik answers, speaking up really for the first time since his arrival. He looks to Konstance. "It was tried. And it failed. That is what makes this creature dangerous," he says. "It is almost impossible to tell what she -wants-. And even if we could, she is truly immortal. She need not rush to any particular end. All she needs to do is -wait-. And she's been waiting for some time now. She has no need to risk herself when her enemies will wither and die in good time, and her treasures will be there for the taking anyway."
"Master Mithralla, there is one thing for which she will not wait, but respond at once." Seldan's eyes go first to Cryosanthia, to Malik, then to Mikilos. "You know of it, but will not speak of it, and rightly so, until the trap be laid. It is not a thing she wants, or would learn, but a thing that will enrage her if spoken." His gaze remains steady on the sildanyari, waiting.
"All the magic in the world can not undo tragedy." Faran says as steadily as she can, though there is nonetheless a subtle edge in her voice, "Her signature, left at the sites of her personal sins. Both at the Soldier's Defense, and at a research camp near the Everstorm. If not on the same night, then so close as not to matter." Cradling Zephyr in one hand, as Cryo takes the other, the lucht looks a thousand-thousand apologies and sympathy to the ginger paladin., "While at the research camp, she stole all the relevant research data, leaving only the personal journals, behind, either as a curiosity or to stave off a potential threat to her power, or even a way to enhance what she already has."
Cryosanthia eats a strip of meat. She washes it down with tea. She seems very calm, almost disinterested, though when she speaks her voice is engaging. "Seldan, she takes our loved ones. They should not be bait. Everyone here, be aware. If she knows you love someone and you move against her, she will come for them if we fail. That is assured." The sith looks over at Elleandra first, then at the others assembled.
"Is such a creature capable of rage?" Auranar wonders aloud, then seems embarassed to have spoken, twisting the fork in her fingers and then shakes her head. "It seems a mocking thing to say. Does she mock our abilities, the gods? Or does she mock one of us specifically?" She seems to think on this, tapping the table with the fork. "Do the words mean something to someone more than than they mean to me?"
Hun'rar stands at the back of the room, keeping to his own council. Without his armor and weapons he is not nearly as obvious to pick out, red scales and dark skin making him less visible . Most of this he has heard some version of but the details help him. "Well they all need to be destroyed. Her, the Duke, the slimes and probably the towers too. All of it, all of them. But I think thats something of a foregone conclusion. Do we have a way to capture her and do that even if we draw her out?"
"I count myself amongst those who feel that knowing a foe's motivations is one of the most important steps in knowing how to defeat it... however, I fear that to try to hard to understand this creature may lead to erroneous assumptions. And we cannot afford to wait, as she might. As Silver Guard Seldan has said, the evils she has committed so far are terrible. At least one nest of her vampires was discovered and purged, though many escaped.. and I have little doubt that there remain more. She is at the heart of a web of evils and must be cut from it so that its strands may be finally dealt with." Serene's words are not loud, but they are hard. "Including this... Duke."
Konstance takes another drag of his cigarette and he looks to Seldan. He then looks to Jasper and shrugs. "I have no loved ones. I lost my family after renouncing my wizard ways." He says as he watches the people. He then shrugs as he adjusts his robe. "Tell me what to do and it will be done." He says as he watches Seldan.
Mikilos says, "A lament, to some degree, I think. Something she cannot undo, for all her power. A destruction in her childhood, mayhaps, but i am uncertain. But I am confidant she gets... annoyed. Perhaps not angry, but I know I've ticked her off... though I can't recall how."
"She does want you dead, Seldan. Or, at the least, she wishes to torment you more." Acedia takes another bite of roast chicken. "That might prove useful if you wanted to lay a trap. I really hope that you are not considering that, though, Seldan." She looks to Faranmidahn. "She has sent that as a calling card to us as well, a few times. Though, if Mikilos is right, and I do not doubt him, what is she doing with the magic she is siphoning off with the oozes? Could she be considering doing exactly what her taunt says magic cannot do? Is she planning on reversing what caused her so much pain?"
"To cut to the heart of the matter," begins Elleandra, "Are you proposing to draw her out and force a confrontation of some kind?" She turns to meet Cryosanthia's gaze and smiles in understanding. "If so, where will your battlefield be? How do you propose to face one such as this?"
Auranar considers the other's speaking seriously for a long moment. "It is worth considering her... intents toward the elves as well. For she torments them as much as she torments Alexandria. They must have done something as much as us to earn them her attention." She shakes her head again suddenly. "No, you are all right, considering her motives will not win us the battle against her. Even if understanding them might give us some necessary key." She looks to Elleandra and nods. "Dangerous though that might be, it would at least be something. It would be /good/ to do something against her."
"How did she come across her power? She wasn't the the queen of winter from her first breath was she? Is there anything of her history we can learn from?" Sabina asks, trying to eat some of the bread setting out.
"The thing that she cannot undo is her own childhood tragedy." Seldan speaks up at the question of the meaning of the words, looking around at all those who speak. "A few of us were ... shown ... her past, in which demons attacked her village and tricked humans into joining in. The village would not permit her to fight, and perished to a man in protecting her. She refers to Zeheir, a man who for all his power could not save his wife from the plague. She refers to many things, and yet - the fact remains. She uses magic in the most unholy of ways, and must be stopped."
Serene gets a firm nod of agreement. "The Duke of Hell that roams the sewers ... is also her doing, I believe. A summoning circle lies beneath the city, in the sewers. But we move against her first, and then when she is thrown down, then shall I deal with that ... if indeed he does not deal with himself. He likes her no more than we."
Auranar gets his next attention, and another firm nod. "I mean to do precisely that. I shall use none as bait who are not willing, and I am used to being the bait." Not a trace of humor in that. "As for the battleground, and how we set it up - it is here that I would turn to those assembled, and hear your thoughts and ideas."
"Speaking of the Duke," Malik adds. "No one is to venture into the sewers until this is over. If you do so, you do so at your own peril. He actively stalks there, probably at her behest to keep the circle intact, and will attack with no questions. If you ignore the warning -- well. Let's hope the gods are on your side. She is no longer using him as an amusing distraction."
Mikilos says, "Silvermoon was atacked by the plague. To try and stop the attack, they made use of the Tower, sending a demon back a thousand years to try and stop Endless Winter -before- she came to power. The demon Duke Eclavdran. Their actions only started the cycle that lead to the attack they tried to stop."
"A wasteland would come to mind," suggests Elleandra. "Far from the city. It has been troubled enough by her. I fear that she will cause incredible harm in battle." Her smile fades as she continues, "And I wonder how you plan to win this fight. To infuriate her in one thing, but is there any weapon we have that can harm her?"
Mikilos says, "Yes. Mortal Dread, a True Death Weapon forged thousands of years ago by the gods of the Fae. It will kill an Immortal."
Cryosanthia looks over at Mikilos, "OH! This one has been very curious about that cause. How does the Ice Demon, Yukia fit in? Was there a Queen of Endless Winter before her, must something take that mantle from her? Would that be Yukia's goal, or is she a power pawn also? This one has another concern, her ability to interfere with our memories, and the Tower's ability to do the same. Is there any protection from that?"
There's a sound from Auranar's corner, the sound of something breaking. She had picked up a glass to take a drink and something... something that someone said had filled her for a moment with such absolute rage that the glass had broken utterly in her hands. She's half on her feet with the emotion still staining her features. "Wait. Wait!" She's breathing heavy. "You mean to say that the Duke of Hell... /Eclavdran/ is here in the city? In Alexandria, stalking the sewers?" She is stairing at Malik intensely.
Jasper glances to his food again, forlorn on the plate, but still cannot seem to muster the stomach for it. As he sits, feeling foolish for speaking in the first place, the color only deepens on his cheeks. Keeping his blue eyes on the floor, he focuses instead on what those with more experience are saying.
Hun'rar furrows his brow a little "If she is the Queen of Endless Winter, should there not be an opposite analog? A King of Summer or the like? Evil never exists in a vacuum by itself." he offers as a suggestion. "Though if Fae, perhaps best left alone."
"What might harm the Fae should harm her, yes? Cold iron, as the legends and stories say?", the Gobbo wonders. She shrugs and looks to Mikilos. "Do you have that weapon in your possession? Does one of us have it?" Acedia looks back to Seldan. "She must know that all of us have 'disappeared' from her view. If she were to strike, it would be when we pop back up in the real world. Would that not be a good time to fight her?"
The Gobbo looks to Auranar. "There are all kinds of things down there. More oozes. Though, it is surprisingly clean for some reason."
Mikilos shakes his head to Cyro. "I don't know how Yukia fits in, nor how the various titles go. With time travel shenanigans, it might be something she gains a thousand yaers into our future." He nods to the goblin. "Cold iron -harms- fae, even Immortal. But mere mortal weapons won't -kill- an Immortal."
"Yes." Seldan's eyes are on Auranar, flat and impassive. "Yes, he is. He does not lie to you. Heed his warning. I do not move against him, not yet, not so long as she controls him, for I would not fight a battle upon two fronts."
Malik looks at Auranar and simply offers a shrug. "Probably? Unless she has recalled him. I haven't exactly been keeping close tabs. If you feel like risking it, though, feel free. If you don't come back alive, I'll consider that proof positive. He gave a rather detailed description of the method he would use to kill, though. I really wouldn't recommend it."
Sabina lifts her head. "Didn't this duke give over a location of the tower? Thta is where it is currently. Not where/when it is with the Eternal Winter?"
Mikilos shakes his head. "The magic Map leads to the Tower. But it will be the version of the Tower with Endless Winter prepared and ready. A trap."
Cryosanthia reaches out and takes Auranar's hand, squeezing it. Holding both hers now and Faran's. "We will get him, this one promises. Hun'rar, their titles aren't mirrors. We have met with the Queen of the Wee Folk, Mikilos and Seldan met with the Queen of Air and Darkness. Both asked great sacrifices of Mikilos. There is the Kind of Light and Illusion, who is insane, not met, and also the Queen of the Sluagh. She has not been approached. The Queen of Endless Winter is the other Royal Fae, and the Royal Fae will not move against her. They are all subject to the Wild Hunt, though, how to get the Hunt to chase Her for breaking the rules of the Fae is another unknown, we don't know their rules. I would have to think hard if I saw her break one." The sith rubs at one of her horns.
Sabina raises her hand in understanding of Mikilos's words. "I understand that it's likely a trap. But it's still the tower, right? Complete with this time traveling cricle? Could not the circle be used to travel to her /when/?"
Faran looks toward Auranar as she breaks her cup, concerned, but, she glances sidelong as others elaborate on the situation with Eclavadran. Then, "I have looked at Sally with my magic detection spell active, though her aura was blinding and I dropped the spell reflexively, though if I were able to share my memory of it, and the mechanisms of the water based oozes, perhaps a more experienced caster would be able to decipher what I had seen." Mikilos nods to Sabina. "Maybe. It's an option, but not a great one. To go into a fight of her choosing, and then -if- we win, on to fight yet again? One fight I have confidence in. Two in a row? Distinctly less so."
Rage and pain are lovely on no-one's face and they twist across her fine features so harshly that it seems that they /must/ spill out. But there's nowhere for them to go but into the shards of glass that spill out of her fingers. Blood splattering on the plate that lies before her. She has no control over herself for a moment, and it seems like she might say something biting, to Malik for his remarks. "If she controls him then we have no choice in the matter! She will send him against us if we will it or no!" She is breathing harshly and even Cryosanthia's cool hand can not chill the rage that she feels. She glares at Malik as if he wounded her somehow with his words and only barely manages to tear her eyes away.
"I am no general to plot and plan some attack against this fae creature. Nor even against that... /demon/." Demon was not the word Auranar was about to say, but it comes off her lips as if it were the foulest curse she could imagine. "Only that if she posesses such power then our effort to come upon her while she is unprepared may be moot."
Sabina glances over at the hot words being spoken and then sighs softly and returns to commenting to Mikilos. "Then send two teams. The first to clear the way. The second to take the fight to her. That would be some kind of control in a random situation. Perhaps."
Acedia gestures to Mikilos, and says to Faranmidahn. "Mikilos is an experienced caster, at least his reputation leads me to think so, he might be able to figure out what you saw. Or perhaps Seldan? Or the Temple of Eluna?" She glances to Sabina next. "It is... a random thing, that teleport, I think. Not sure there's much choice in where or when one arrives."
Auranar's words cause the Gobbo to watch and listen to the woman's anger. "She has controlled him for some time, and I would point out that she has used other means to attack us while leaving the demon out of the fight. There is likely a reason for this. Is dividing up our strength a good idea?"
With his warning about the Duke, Seldan had subsided, listening to the discussion swirl around him and turn towards the Royal Fae. Finally, he steps in. He has not himself touched the food, but his hands still rest on the back of the chair, until Auranar shatters the glass and leaves blood on the table. "She is a creature of magic, who I think knows but little of the ways of war. She thinks nothing of using magic to any purpose." The man is being cagey, watching the assembled thoughtfully.
Mikilos nods solemly. "Eclavdran's involvement is... complex. He was bound to -stop- Endless Winter. He is -not- her ally." He sighs. "But by no means does that make him our ally. Between the two, they may have.... played off each other... to their own purposes."
"If the fae intends to send this Duke against the mission, I intend to be there to face him," Serene declares. "Myself and those who wish to stand as in defence of those who face the fae creature. Numbers will only affect the fight against her to a certain degree.. any more than that, and they become a hindrance, or worse."
Faranmidahn rises and releases her grip on Cryo's hand to move around to Auranar's other side, trying to set a hand on the woman's other shoulder, looking gravely up into her face. She looks to the paladin, conflicted, but bows her head and chokes back her suggestion. She looks to Acedia at her words and flicks a glane to Master Mikilos before she nods.
Malik looks to Mikilos, raising what appears to be a -rather- dubious eyebrow at the man's assertion. But whatever thoughts he has, he doesn't give them voice. Yet.
It is some effort - great effort indeed for Auranar to swallow back her anger, to feel the pain in her hand and realize that she is bleeding. She looks down, squeezing Cryosanthia's hand briefly and then lifting her dark eyes with more control. "Then we must have a plan." She breathes deeply and clenches her injured fist tightly as Faran comes around to her other side to offer her some comfort. "Perhaps if we could divest her of her power? Her magic I mean. It would I imagine give us some chance."
"In the interest of people knowing how... deep this situation really goes...", Acedia says carefully, "Mikilos, why don't you tell us /how/ you know so much about the Duke?" She eyes the mage at length. "I uhm... heard this silly rumour, you see." The Gobbo snorts at Auranar's question, "Shove one of them oozes down that Fae's throat, that's how."
"Master Mithralla, Master Gitanos ...." Seldan speaks into the silence as it falls, looking from face to face. "If she is destroyed, and she is his summoner, what happens to the demon? Does it return to its home plane, or is it freed upon this one?" He straightens and walks over to Auranar, eyes on the bleeding hand. "Yes, my lady. That was my intent. She is a creature of magic, and knows little of the ways of wars. An anti-magic field levels the battleground a great deal." He says no more on that point, but makes a gesture to the hand, a clear question in his eyes. Can I help?
Cryosanthia gazes softly at the wild elf, "Give me you hand so I can pick the glass out of it, so it can be healed. I'll tell you what I saw."
The sith speaks louder so her words carry across the table, "We broke the summoning circle in a small part. I don't know if it's been repaired, if that freed Eclavdran to come and go. He's appeared four times, the magic in the ooze underground has fizzled. That might stop him appearing again, but I doubt it. Maybe that means she's already lost some power? Perhaps that was the Demon's goal in appearing. It seems unlikely Eclavdran appeared solely to steal Kira and Merek. Auranar is right in that he might mess things up just because he can. Should we plan to attack both now? Have Serene make some plan to get Eclavdran in Hell, rescue Merek, Kira? Both would be useful, Merek especially if his mind was whole again."
"It has a certain direct, poetic charm." Faran murmurs to the goblin's words. She looks between the others again, then, "What about whatever makes the dungeons work? How hard is it to acquire compared to cold iron?"
Hun'rar nods in agreement with Serene "I wouldn't mind a proper crack at this Duke again. He won't catch me by surprise again. With some preparation I am sure we can defeat both. Also can we consider destroying the tower out from underneath her." he asks as a suggestion.
Auranar looks embarassed by Seldan's silent offer. "I would bear the pain of my anger, but I have been foolish enough having caused it to myself." She gives up her hand to Cryosanthia so that the sith might carefully remove the glass and then offers the injured hand to Seldan without quite meeting his eyes. She's clearly ashamed of her actions, but anger still flickers in the backs of her dark eyes. Just enough there to let those around her know that such depth of emotion can not be so easily erased. "It would be unwise of us to divide our forces now. However much I am loath to leave anyone in the company of a demon... If they are taken by him then it is unlikely that they yet live."
Mikilos says, "Eclavdran provided the magical Map. I was part of the group that obtained it from him, and in exchange agreed to owe him a minor Favor. One he has yet to call upon, though it cannot be somethign harmful to me or mine, nor more distasteful than working fora demon must be. As for nethicite, it's quite rare, and halts -all- magic around it. Making swift transportation difficult."
Seldan's eyes snap up at Cryosanthia's words, suddenly wide, and he straightens. "Eclavdran took the Seer - and the Sentinel?" The measured evenness has given way to startlement and growing horror. "I had not heard of this. Speak." His eyes remain on Cryosanthia, even as he reaches to take Auranar's hand between his own. He turns his attention away for but a few seconds, murmuring rote prayers meant to focus the mind, and soon enough, silver light forms between his hands. "Well do I know the feeling, my lady, and yet does such self-punishment serve none of us. I would have you hale for what is to come."
"A deal with a demon isn't to be taken lightly, though, however minor a favour owed. But this is the extent we are going, yes?" Acedia rubs an errant hair from her face, tucking it back under her helm. "So any ideas as to how to trick Her into appearing in the Arcanist's Dungeon? I think even I could swat her if she had a complete lack of magic. But if we cannot do that.. why don't we bring the arcanist's dungeon to Her, instead?"
Elleandra focuses on what is being said. And perhaps more importantly, not said. Just enough attention is diverted to eating to allow her to relax, at least a little. Tension is high enough in the room as it is. Whatever moment she is waiting for, it has not yet come. Eventually she seeks clarity, "So you have a means to summon her. You have the means to defeat her. Other than the demon, which would be a deadly fight on its own, what have you to decide but where to hold the battle?"
Malik looks between Acedia and Mikilos, whatever he was going to say lost for the moment. He simply turns, watching Seldan as Cryosanthia offers up her information.
Cryosanthia meets Seldan's gaze, and nods. All the glass was carefully removed, she takes Auranar's uninjured hand again. She recognizes the fire in the wild elf's eyes. The white-scale sith is still a passionless tower. "This one apologizes, so much has happened. It was before I relocated here, I was in the marketplace. Eclavdran appeared in his human form, approached Darius, demanded he choose someone. Many others were present, Merek included. When it became clear we were dealing with a Demon, he offered to go and Darius selected him. Kira begged to have Merek's fate, and Eclavdran agreed. Merek insisted he go instead, and Eclavdran took both. This one has no idea of their fate, I want to try scrying for them."
"There was a suggestion for dealing with Kol, to use an Anti-magic field then wrestle him into the Arcanists Dungeons. With Kira, we could do the same, She would only have to be brought close. Are Nethercyte Shackles a thing?"
Serene's lips tighten and her eyes narrow at Cryosanthia's revelation of the fates of Merek and Kira and her sword arm, though it does not drift to wards her sword, does clench as though she wishes to. But with Seldan's demand of the sith'makar made, she turns her attention to Auranar instead. "My suggestion is not to divide our strength, but to be ready to guard against his involvement. If her control over the Duke is such that she can send him where she will, it is not so far fetched to believe that she might somehow compel him to involve himself in this. Particularly if she finds herself unable to flee."
Mikilos frowns, and ponders. "We know her true name. For a demon, that would be nough to summon them to a circle warded to contain them and keep the summoner safe from their power. But she's not a demon, and fae follow their own rules. We could call her, but I'm not sure she'd have to answer. The one time I used the Name, Kol and Yukia showed up almost instantly."
Auranar makes no sound of pain for the removal of the glass, nor even for the healing after. "My thanks." Murmured words to the paladin, her eyes for a moment upturned to show her anger now safely contained then darting away again. She takes her hand back when he is done and rubs at it idly as if she can still feel the phantom pains there. "If we can not summon her, then we may not have any choice but to use the map and walk into whatever trap she has laid for us." She looks around. "I would suggest though... what /exactly/ did the demon say of the map and the trap that might be laid for us? I ask because such creatures are known for their tricks and while he might not have lied, he may have spoken things in such a way as to leave us thinking what he wants for us to know and not what is in fact actuality."
"There's another problem." Faran chimes in as talk of invoking Sally to a row gets going, raising her voice just to maker sure her Luchtness doesn't impede her being heard over the others. She strokes the shell of her familiar with her thumb and looks across the group, "There are two versions of her at work. Perhaps alternate dimensions, or perhaps older and younger. We must be certain which we draw to a trap. And so choosing, would we fair better with the more vigorous youth, or the wiser elder?"
"She doesn't have Kol any more, does she still have Yukia?", the Gobbo wonders of Mikilos. "If not, she would likely... send others. People we know and love. If we can somehow beat them without killing them, without too much harm... eventually she might get annoyed enough to show up herself, yes? If we spoil her fun?" Acedia eyes Seldan, and the conversation going on over there, and moves to Malik's side once more. She only leans on him ever so slightly, though.
Quilani has been idle for awhile, having apparently fallen into a light snooze while multiple terms, people, places and things flew by her in conversation. She bolts herself awake, having fallen into her own plate of meat bones. A few of the chicken wings were plastered to her scales, which she quickly rubs off of her face. Noting that the conversation had gone on to a point to where she couldn't possibly catch up without interrupting, she looks from side to side, her tail flitting in the same manner. Pushing herself back in her chair, she stands and slowly starts to sneak out, heading along the outer edges of the ballroom to avoid attracting as much attention as possible.
A highlight to her budding adventuring career, to be sure.
Malik resumes his place along the wall, though this time he simply sits down on the floor, legs stretched out in front of him, not seeming to mind the gobber's leaning. He puts that red velvet hat over his face, apparently tuning most of the coversation out, for whatever reason, and looking for all the world like a nap is called for.
"Kol is no more." Seldan listens, his own expression hardening as he listens to Cryosanthia's explanation. "A thing I did not know, and a tragedy indeed. I would indeed attempt that scry." He pushes a stray lock of hair from his face, his attention turning to Mikilos, and to others as the talk turns to what might be summoned. "You think that it may not be her that responds. Perhaps, Acedia. If we may in so doing free them from her grasp...." He trails off, looking at the drowsing Malik, and stops. moving around the table towards the man.
Sabina has been quiet and remains so as talk of many things whirls around her. Paying attention and trying to fit together all the pieces that she can so as not to appear foolish should she open her mouth.
Cryosanthia thinks carefully, looking at the ceiling of the mansion, then nodding. Her eyes move between Auranar and Seldan, she calls on her Speaker training. Her voice isn't the demon's but it contains the same sneering tone. "Eclavdran's exact words were, 'I did promise you something that that cold woman doesn't want you to know didn't I? Very well. If you go seeking her in that tower I gave you a map to you wont find her. You'll only find what she wants you to.' Then he blew a kiss at Darius."
Auranar looks at Cryosanthia thoughtfully. "Why wouldn't she want us to know that we won't find her in the tower? Why in fact wouldn't she be in the tower? If for no other reason than to keep us from taking her prisoners from it, or taking it from her?" The elf looks very much as if she's on the verge of some riddle that makes no sense. "For surely the map will take us to the tower if it was bargined for... which means that this is indeed some manner of knowledge meant to aid us no?"
Cryosanthia shrugs her shoulders, looking at Auranar, "This one assumes it means a trap. That we will only find what she wants us to find and that we wouldn't know she is absent. This suggests it won't help. That her absence is deliberate, not accidental. It was dearly bargained for but I don't know what it means."
The white-scale sith exhales, "I dread showing up and finding my love dissected. That's what she would want me to find. I'd expect her to be there to enjoy my reaction with her non-mirth but she can likely scry me from afar and need not. It's another unknown. Maybe it's worth taking the Tower without her, attempting to control it. Not leaving it. Have the advantages she does."
The Gobbo is making herself comfortable in Malik's lap, and she eyes Seldan and his path towards them. She nudges Malik. "Psst, Mr. No Nap is coming.", she says in a faux whisper. "It is a possibility, Seldan. But she may have other allies or underlings to throw at us." Her ears perk up at Auranar's questions. "It is the nature of the tower. It's not a matter of if we will fight her, but WHEN we have fought her. It is likely she will know we are coming before we get there, thus it is true, if we go looking for her there, she will have left only traps... or worse... what she has done to those we love, those who may still yet live." Acedia shrugs. "Or maybe he is telling us that she no longer inhabits the tower? Maybe she's lost control. Or maybe she hasn't assumed control of the tower yet. Maybe she never does. Timey wimey wibbly wobbly stuff."
Malik lifts the hat from his face long enough to give Seldan a smile, watching the others for a moment as he looks between Acedia and the paladin. "I suppose," he starts, "should one have a particularly duplicitous mind, you might lull an enemy into thinking that they had managed to destroy you by luring them to a place of your choosing and having them engage in a battle with something of your own creation. Perhaps a version of yourself you have used as a double. Which would give them a false sense of security so that you could continue your work, and strike them when they were not expecting it. Knowing that you would not find your true quarry there would be particularly problematic for that plan." He puts the hat in his lap. "-IF- one had a particularly duplicitous mind. Perhaps."
"There are many versions of the tower, my lady." Seldan pauses in his rounding of the table. "Time makes it fluid. Without her will, it is in my mind that the tower will stabilize in time and place, and become findable. That is my hope, anyway." He stops as Malik looks up, flashes him a weary smile, and turns back toward the table. "Even so, Mal. It is in my mind that attempting the tower as it is now is little more than a trap. If we wish to have a chance, we needs must choose the battleground." He subsides into silence, at that.
Auranar looks at Seldan, clearly trying to wrap her mind around the subject at hand. "Be that as it may. Freeing the prisoners therein and gaining control of what is hers would gain us something." She moves to the table once again and grasps the back of the chair she once sat in. Blood stains the table before her, but she doesn't seem to notice it. "What would you have us do otherwise Silverguard?"
Cryosanthia thinks for a moment, then looks over at Seldan. "She was scrying when Eclavdran told us that. So, she knows we're aware it may be a trap. As Malik suggests, perhaps her duplicate is there and that's what she wants us to find. It still might make sense if she saw us planning to go there, since we don't have a lot of options. That could be one of the ruses you use, while you work the other plan? It would have to be a convincing group."
Serene tilts her agreement to Acedia. "I favour drawing her to us. The argument for choosing our battleground, one we control, is a strong one, so long as we ensure she cannot escape. This does not mean she will be easily dealt with. But it should rob her of at least some of her resources."
Something in what Auranar says causes Seldan's knuckles to whiten where he holds the back of a chair, his eyes to lower. "If we can find them," he answers her simply. "Does she control the tower, we may not be able to." He nods tightly to Acedia, and then to Cryosanthia. "That is quite possible as a ruse. I, too, favor choosing our battleground, but ... so long as we may find the prisoners...."
Faranmidahn almost shrinks at Auranar's words and she looks across the table to Seldan, "Mayhap... I could serve to that end, Sir Seldan." the lucht says calmly, "She... knows my interest is personal, though... perhaps not so well how... controlled I can be." Not that she's indicated much of that, honestly, but she's working on it, damnit!
Auranar nods somewhat. "All the more reason for us to wrest the tower from her. If she has it not then this time-jumping that she has been performing thus far will be hopefully beyond her means as well. Much I hope will be beyond her without that tower as her plaything." The elf frowns to herself. "I have read much on it and I think that without it we might find her an easier target... but I can not pretend that strategy is my strength."
Cryosanthia looks around at the others, "This one suggests you get cold iron weapons as backup if you can. I want to scry a few things to see if that provides other options, and examine the clean oozes more. With Malik and Mikilos' help, hopefully these will go quickly. I have a Ring of Mind Shielding, it doesn't seem to help with Her ability to erase memories and control. Are the options to avoid her simply freezing us all in place, please think on that. Faran and I also need to share memories further... and perhaps think about them in depth."
"Very well." Seldan looks up, letting go of the back of the chair with an effort. Interestingly, the jet black of his skin has become patchy in places as they talk, with the beginnings of an alabaster-fair tone peeking through in tiny slivers. "I may be able to aid as well, Cryosanthia, if you can bear my presence." All trace of smile flies away at that, and he watches her openly. "For now, I would have each of you think on what you have learned. Look around you, at the faces gathered. These are your allies, and if you will have them, your friends. The purchase of a cold iron weapon may be advisable. If you would deal with the plague oozes, purchase of a blunt weapon is necessary. Think on what you have learned, go out and learn more, if you may. I will call again soon."
Malik watches the exchange between Auranar, Seldan, and the others, finally standing. "If you ask me -- and you haven't yet," he notes. "Going after the fae is the only thing that should be of concern." He looks to SEldan, measuring a moment, then back to the others. "The two that the archdemon took are not the main concern. Nor is the archdemon, who is just as bound into this as we are, and would otherwise not be a concern were it not for the fae. Risking making a foe of a potential -- temporary, distasteful ally, is foolishness. And letting her choose the killing grounds, prisoners or no, is likewise foolishness. The prisoners may yet be freed. Or they may already be dead. It's impossible to say. But there are always casualties in war. Don't think that this war will somehow be any less, and throw yourselves into the teeth of the dragon on that fleeting hope."
"I agree with Malik.", the Goblin says, looking sleepy as she continues to lean against the man's side. "All the more reason that Sally needs a good shellacking and soon."
Serene shakes her head slowly at Malik. "I agree with you in part... she is to be dealt with first. But that demon is already our foe, and if he does not know that his turn is coming then he is a fool. And I doubt that he is a fool. "
Something of what Malik says lights that old anger once more in Auranar's eyes, but it's a well-tended flame, not the burst of raw energy it was before. Carefully she scoots her chair back into place, hearing the edge of dismissal in Seldan's words. "I will do what I can in research and may yet find some information hidden there that might aid us." She doesn't sound enthusiastic about the thought, but she moves smoothly with sure steps toward the door. "I agree that this woman is our priority, but..." She stops near Mikilos, near where the door that brought them here was once. She straightens herself and rakes her eyes over those that stand assembled. "The name Eclavdran is not unknown to me, and he once took something from me that I can never forgive. For the loss of it I will tear apart the heavens or the hells or even this city with my bare hands to see him gone."
The elf's hands tremble until Auranar clenches them into fists and she turns her dark eyes on Mikilos. "I would go now, there is much to be done if we are to accomplish our goals and... I would be to it sooner than later." Konstance has disconnected.
THe lucht..... slowly.... turns. The look she affixes on Malik is one of reproach, even indignation, though after sparing a sidelong glance at Seldan, she bites her tongue and turns back Cryo and Auranar.... just in time for the latter to up and make to leave. With a mild shake of her head, she moves to follow.
Sabina has torn up the bread before her into tiny pieces and busies herself with feeding them to her bird. "I will assist with any plans that end this and her. Perhaps we can speak of plans then again later? For now I think I have some research to do of my own." She slowly stands and gathers up the peacock with a sad smile. "Is there anything you would have us do in the meantime, Seldan?"
Although Seldan says nothing to Malik's words, letting them hang there, something in them catches him blindside like a whiplash across the face, and he simply turns away, his lips moving in silence, his eyes closed. It takes him a minute to pull himself together, and when he does, his entire bearing is completely withdrawn, completely impassive. "Gird yourselves. Find cold iron weapons, do you have the means. Prepare yourself for the fight of your life. A blunt weapon will be your friend, would you aid the sick. If you would aid Cryosanthia's research, speak now."
Hun'rar shakes his head "Preparing weapons, praying to the gods for favor and training in might and magic." he says as a suggestion to get ready. "Its what I will be doing, strength in all things will carry us through this."
Cryosanthia watches the others starting to leave, "Remember, outside no discussion of our plans." She looks over at Seldan, "You know just about everything about me Seldan. I need to find Zeke, no embarrassment will stand in my way. Anything you need of me, any help you can give. It is fine. Consider given and asked for."
Finally she looks over at Malik, "I'll risk a dragon go get my cihuaa back. This one will need your assistance to find some other options. Mikilos too, someone with memory spells. Somewhere in there I'll fit in training." You paged Auranar with 'I'm debating whether he seeks the jail or not.'
"I would need a hand in finding a cold iron weapon.", Acedia says to Malik, tugging lightly on his arm. "Do you know where to get them, and are they much gold?"
Malik watches Seldan closely. There are a mix of emotions on his face, looking like he wants to say something, but holding back. And then there is a gobbo tugging at his sleeve, asking him a question. He simply gives her a wan smile. "I do," he tells her. "And they are not much, no. I can help you find something suitable, I think." And then, to Cryosanthia, another nod. "I -- will -- do everything that I may to help whatever decisions are made. As always."
Once most of the others have left, Seldan sinks down into one of the chairs at the table, reaching for a roll for himself, his demeanor pensive and more than a little worried, staring absently into the feast laid out.
Cryosanthia takes a few more meat strips. Her temptation is to eat them directly from the plates, but she resists, moving them to her plate then eating off that. A drink is grabbed, drunk quickly. She raises her gloves, ready to clean Auranar's blood from the tablecloth, then doesn't. The Mansion will take care of all. "Eat Seldan."
The white-scale sith watches the door, watches almost everyone leave. When it's down to the two Silverguards and the two mages she makes a curtsey to the group, "This one will be in her room, thank you Mikilos. I suspect you have things to discuss without me. I'll see what I can do for Faran." Then she leaves.
Malik moves to sit next to Seldan's side, squeezing his arm gently. He doesn't say anything. They both know what he would say anyway. How this conversation would go. There's no need. He simply leans over, kissing the man's shoulder gently as he reaches for a roll for himself.
