odin
Officer
Confused Wanderer in the War Zone
chuch
Posts: 161
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Post by odin on Jun 6, 2010 22:02:58 GMT 1
The Hag and The Hood "The future is never a clear thing." She pauses before continuing. "If things don't change for the better, not well. But there is still hope."
She bows and Sufe's body shakes, the crone's presence leaving her. She looks around for a few seconds, spots The Hood and lets out another shiver that has nothing to do with The Hag.
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Post by Sayn on Jun 6, 2010 22:19:32 GMT 1
When the Hag leaves Sufe's body Hood mumbles something. It sounds like "I see..." but his voice makes it difficult to tell.
Then he looks at Sufe and smiles his invisible smile once more. "I am looking forward to our conversations, Sufe. I hope the same is true for you, but I know I am hardly the first choice of conversational partner for anyone." Well, Hood begins to test his "patching"-techniques on the Veil. Nothing big for now, just trying things out and using the various information gained through Sufe to improve his general control and influence over the Veil.
Does it seem like he can close holes without draining himself completely of energy? His magic is a rather important part of his power, after all.
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Post by dargon on Jun 6, 2010 23:00:32 GMT 1
The Behemoth and Kristialin "yes it does, thank you for the meeting and I hope that you succeed." Kristialin took off slowly and flew a lazy lap around the village before flying away. To Umberto Now be fair, I harmed no one when I rescued my follower and how could I leave him to die? I would expect the same from you had our positions been reversed.
As for Tetra, I had nothing to do with his and the others deaths, in fact I've heard rumors that Cerrak had hired assassins to have them killed. Who the assassins were, I don't know but I belive they were servants of Hood.
TJ and the Great White One "It is good to finally meet you, Great One. Is this close enough?" TJ says advancing slowly as to make sure whatever guards are around are assured of his peaceful intentions.
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Post by Rationalgoblin on Jun 7, 2010 4:43:54 GMT 1
odin
Are my troops near Nazhedria/Howling Pits yet?
If not, sending the troops I've scrounged up (along with Cerrak, the Firbolgs, and the various mages that might have joined me), about +++ of them, to participate in the "clean-up" against the remaining forces of X'Yogg'Thoth.
Once they are done helping Nazhedria (and take anything valuable that Nazhedria does not want), my forces will swing upwards, towards the Shapers.
As we go through the Hood's territory, I will distribute the magical weapons I made for Hood amongst his followers there.
Cerrak to Nazhedria I'll help in crushing the last pockets of resistance. Afterwards, would you assist me in crushing the Shapers?
Cerrak to Hood The weapons you asked for are enroute, Hood.
Cerrak to Umberto I can promise you that my agents did not kill Tetra. Besides, if I actually decided to kill any of the Council Theologica under my own power, you'd be the first to know.
Regardless, from what we know of the incident, we can deduce several suspects from the actual killing, who have much more to gain then I in the murder of the Council and Tetra.
First, the dragon Kristialin himself. His appearance, and the traitor in the Council's mist could have been a smokescreen for a mass assassination.
Second, the Fallen. Their "attempt" to save Tetra could have been a mere distraction for angelic assassins.
Third, there is the possibility that the two secretly allied with each other. After all, the Fallen did not succeed in either killing Kristialin or protecting the Council. Who's to say that the little harm visited upon the dragon was not part of their plan?
Either way, you must admit that I, personally, have little to gain from the deaths of Tetra and the others. I was already aiding you regardless. If anything, you have been enriched; there are no priests that dare speak out against you, and now that the survivors of the Council (and thus the Empire itself) are reliant on your defense; you can take supreme control over military and economic matters within the empire.
In any case, I apologize, for I have not been quick enough to help against the X'ian cultists. I will atone for this by wiping out the Shapers, with your blessing, Umberto.
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Post by Sayn on Jun 7, 2010 15:18:19 GMT 1
Excellent. By the way, how good are you at forging magic? I may have an offer for you.
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odin
Officer
Confused Wanderer in the War Zone
chuch
Posts: 161
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Post by odin on Jun 8, 2010 20:04:36 GMT 1
Sufe seems comforted by the Hood's niceties, but after a short bow makes her way out of the audience chamber as quickly as possible.
The amount that you slow the veil's disintegration is directly proportional to how much energy you put into the task.
That being said it might be more energy efficient to stop people from poking holes in the veil then to plug them after the fact.
You could have tried diplomatic channels. Barring that I'm sure a more surreptitious escape attempt could have been made.
I've heard the same rumors. My hands are largely tied by The Cult but if you could find evidence that Cerrak was involved, I would do my best to calm the fears of my people. If you can bring proof I'm sure that we could arrange some sort of agreement.
Sithiuss lets out a deep rumbling sound that might be a chuckle. "Marvelous! A great improvement over the frail human form. You know without wings I could almost mistake you for one of us. Keep in mind of course my vision's not what it once was."
"You're welcome to stay here as long as you like. Our fellow saurians are welcome to take refuge here, far from the cruelties of man." Sithiuss points his snout towards a tower being erected on the far side of his swamp. "Preparations are being made for Kristialin's arrival should he ever have the opportunity to visit our humble abode."
He pauses for a second before continuing. "Forgive my enthusiasm, you must be tired from the road. Eat, sleep and in the morning my adjutants can take you on a tour of the city."
(The C'tis take TJ on a tour of the city. All around the area there is intense activity as low C'tis workers and human slave toil to build levies, haul earth, excavate ruins and do all the tasks necessary to raise the tombs of ancient kings from the swamp.
It also becomes apparent that the C'tis would like to create an alliance with Kristialin, exchanging monetary and military aid in exchange for access to information gathered from The Dragon's spy network, but they'd prefer to deal with Kristialin directly. )
Not yet. But they should definitely be there in time for the clean up. You have my utmost thanks in this matter. Your insight is highly appreciated.
Rest assured I'll find the people, or things, responsible for this and bring them to justice.
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Post by dargon on Jun 9, 2010 3:11:31 GMT 1
To Umberto Considering that TJ was threatened with a long tortourous death if he didn't confess and a quick death if he did, I don't think that diplomacy would have worked. A more subtle approach may have succeeded but I belive my method was the most effective and safest approach.
As for evidince, I have none and unless I can get a signed confession either from Hood or Cerrak, I don't think I could find any but I shall do my best. If you can think of another way for me to prove my innocence I would be happy to hear of it. TJ and the C'tis "I'm sure Kristialin will join us soon" TJ says before going to his quarters to rest. On the tour TJ asks many questions about the past history of the C'tis, the meaning and design of the tombs, the techniques used to raise them out of the swamp, and what future projects they have planned.
"It seems to me that slavery is an ineffienct way to recover the tombs. Perhaps we could offer a magical solution instead?" TJ says looking distastefully at the slaves. "I know that slaves only ever do the bare minimal work required of them instead of reaching their full potential. Of course some work would still need to be done by manual labor but the more we can reduce the better."
To the Fallen I'm not sure what your plans are, but I propose that we work together in order to find evidince of who murdered Tetra.
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Post by Sayn on Jun 9, 2010 22:53:13 GMT 1
I'm guessing that the ones poking holes are the necromancers and similar things? Oh, and Hood examines the possibility of denying the necromancers the souls of the Shade Lands. I can only imagine how irritating it would be if they couldn't even use their main source of power.
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odin
Officer
Confused Wanderer in the War Zone
chuch
Posts: 161
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Post by odin on Jun 11, 2010 11:29:58 GMT 1
Umberto to Kristialin I'm sure a dragon as smart as yourself can think of something. ((From the tone of the letter, Umberto doesn't seem to mind if the evidence is genuine or just a good fake.)) TJ in C'tis The C'tis seem more then happy to regale TJ with past history and give extensive tours of the excavated tombs.
The C'tis guide nods. "Quite right. The humans are a slovenly bunch, but we need all the manual labor we can get at the moment."
The guide leans in conspiratorially, "Just between you and me, we are working on an alternative solution. We've arranged large shipments of necromantic supplies from Nehrezda. Sithuss wishes to raise the dead Tomb Kings, along with their servants. Combined with the reanimated bodies of the humans we should have enough workers to speed our project along nicely. Rumour has it that Sithiuss plans to ask Kristialin personally if he'd like to help with the..."
Another C'tis walks by and the guide changes topic in mid-sentence. "And look at the craftsmanship! You'd be hard pressed to find it's equal anywhere in human lands."
Sayn Right. The Fallen are another big perpetrator since they keep punching holes in the veil to bring their angelic armies through.
Cutting off necromancers from the Shade Lands would be very difficult. That being said with enough time your wizards think they can come up with something.
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Post by Sambucus on Jun 11, 2010 12:38:44 GMT 1
Yes, I can - and will - help you defend your capital from attacks. Please do be kind to my forces that I will send to you.
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Post by dargon on Jun 12, 2010 7:59:53 GMT 1
TJ and the C'tis "Well we'll start working on a way to help as well. As for Kristialin I'm sure he'll be here relativly soon.
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Post by The_JJ: Solaris Council on Jun 12, 2010 22:11:22 GMT 1
To the Fallen: A travelling angel is accosted by a man in desert grab as it appears on the mortal plane. "Tell you leader to send me a messenger, if they're looking to do some good for this world." To Kristalin: Kristalin is flying when it senses the man in desert garb beneath its flight path, performing the magical equivilent of waving a signal flare. "What are you intentions with the C'tis?" he says as the great beast lowers itself. Nazhedria A note is left at the drop off point, address to 'the man who first came here to us.' "What are you intentions with the C'tis?"
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Post by dargon on Jun 13, 2010 3:28:54 GMT 1
To the Wanderer Kristialin lands spraying sand up. "My intentions with the C'tis hmm? Well I suppose you deserve to know since you are such close neighbors. I intend to use the C'tis as a sanctuary for any cells that are attacked by overwhelming force, a military force if truly necessary and as an experiment to see if non-humans can reach dragonborn status.
Besides that I intend to try and remove the slavery by supplamenting it with magic and to recruit the best of the slaves to my cause. I also hope to act as a civilizing force on the C'tis culture in general. "
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Post by Surly on Jun 13, 2010 5:17:53 GMT 1
The March on AzogRotting feet pound on the rocks as the dead approach the ancient city. There'd certainly been resistance, but the war was going even better than expected. Most of the setbacks had been anticipated and prepared for - ambushes from the caves, "surrendering" cultists bursting into masses of tentacles around their captors, and suicidally courageous defenders. Some commanders ignored orders and sent living troops to search captured temples, but they quickly learned that soldiers that either didn't have eyes or didn't have minds did equally good jobs and were more likely to come out with their sanity intact. The twisted citadel in the distance surely wouldn't be so easy. But it too would inevitably be crushed back to the dust from which it came, and with his followers broken the one beneath it could be left to sleep as the world rolled away from his grasp. Daunus nods approvingly as he inspects the siege engines rolling along the narrow path. Great machines of steel and wood powered by unliving sinews, he'd seen them throw boulders clear across a lake. They would suffice to knock the walls of Azog down. Even if they failed, brute force would be easy with their legions of tireless undead. As for the defenders... the mages could handle those who didn't hide. And then clearing those that did out of the tunnels would fall to him. He cracks a slight smile. His Pankrator was gone, he had to serve a being he'd hated for his whole life, but at least he could still fight evil. All the compromises would be worth making just to see this threat to the world stop in its tracks. Spurring his skeletal mount forward, Daunus rides up to rejoin Lord Anaxias. The Lord would want to hear his last thoughts on the attack before nightfall. And Anaxias came closer to terrifying him than any beast from beyond time and space ever could. Nazhedria to Cerrak We have prepared to attack the C'tis next winter, and don't want to waste the preparations we've made. However, we'd be glad to feed your troops during their offensive, and provide you with high-quality steel for those wonderful weapons you make. And if the Shapers haven't fallen by the time I'm finished in the south, we'll gladly send you some support. Nazhedria to Jouppon Hail, great Oni King, and congratulations on uniting your subjects.
We wish to arrange a trade deal. We will give you food and fine weapons. In exchange, we ask for slaves and any corpses that you don't have a better use for.
In addition, we would give you very favorable prices if your servants who are traveling to help X'Yogg'Thoth decided to stop where they are.
Finally, we ask to know what part of the mainland you plan to conquer first. We don't want to be selling anything to people who won't be able to pay us. Nazhedria to the Shona Hag We would like to arrange a simple trade deal with your people, great Mother of the Pankrator. Lumber from your forests for metal from our mines. Do you accept? Nazhedria to the Wanderer Our intentions are threefold. We intend to slay Sithiuss for his crimes against the Pankrator; to release their slaves and let them take dominion over the land as repayment for the C'tis's crimes against them; and to learn the ancient secrets hidden in the C'tis tombs.
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Post by The_JJ: Solaris Council on Jun 13, 2010 18:09:39 GMT 1
Wanderer to Nazhedria: A note it left in the cache. "Very well. We will allow negotiations for conditional access to the Tombs at a later date. You need not worry yourself about the rest, come a few months."
There is also, in another hand, a sealed note addressed to 'the man who first came here.' Wanderer to Kristalin: "I reckon you, on balence, a good sort. However your plan is too slow and allows far to much evil to proceed as you attempt 'civilize' this culture out from beneath the White One." The man adjusts the cloth over his face. "The desert is sactuary to any good refugee fleeing evil. If you help me against the C'tis within the next few weeks, any follower of yours will be welcome at any Wayward hearth or campfire. You would also be free to recruit from any follower of mine or from any in territory under my protection, including any C'tis wise enough to surrender. Civilizing their culture will come as a natural step. I will break their leadership, and see if, removed from that, the rest of the race is salvagable.
"All this, save for the desert sanctuary, is conditional upon your tangible support in our operation. Are you in?"
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