** Part I: Fire and Ash **

[spike]

The mage and the five elite assassins are dead.

Idrys didn't find anything pertinent on the dead assassins other than crossbow ammunition, but on their mage-leader you obtained another whipe with a scythe head, the blade has runes engraved on it. Even though the wizard is utterly dead, Idrys noticed his eyes were moving about independently of eachother similar to how alternating ecurity cams might, yet these were akin to spheres instead of eyes and they both looked up at you at the same time.

[SARRMATT]

Whisper will use his elbows to prop himself up to a sitting position from prone when the battle is done. The front of his shirt, pants, and floor around where he had gone prone to get out of the line of fire are slick with his blood. The bloody dagger that had done such terrible damage to the young mage rested on the ground a few feet away. When the question is asked about injuries, Whisper raises an unsteady bloody hand finding it difficult to speak and impossible to stand at the moment.

[OoC] How many HP are recovered if a character gets a full rest? I ask because I'm at 1/5 max right now, squishy mage says ouch! Is it a set amount like 1 hp per 8 hours of rest, a random die result is healed, a straight HP equal to level restored, some other formula? I will need to probably redo my spell selections the next time the character rests, I will update the character sheet accordingly at that time.

[spike]

Typically 2 hp from full 8 hours.

The wound that Whisper suffered from was painful indeed, an expert killer who knew what he was doing you surmise. Azonia binds your wound (+1 hp restored) and says 'good work with that web spell, it made it easier to defeat them' she said, then admonished 'stop hiding your talents, mage. Two dhampirs, one an assassin, an Esmyrian battle maiden, and a black cloak fighter aren't the type to tolerate buffoonery, and leave the secrecy to Karlene. One priestess of Lor is sufficient!'

Drusilla says 'come, we will here the priestesses words' she aided Whisper and further binds his wounds this time with a herbal gel salve comprised of honey and crushed mint leaves, garlic and some other ingredients (+5 hp restored). She turned her gaze to Sarancen asking 'well, you're a black cloak formerly, what strategy can you suggest to preserve our continued well being?'

Sarancen shrugged, 'Uh, leave this place fore it becomes our permanent tomb. See those eyes on that mage? That means his original eyes were torn out, replaced with the demon eyes as they call them. Dezloz's other lackey's can scry through them, In fact' he tears the eyes out with a dagger and hurls them down the shaft that the meazel and come through, 'sorry, but with those disgusting things we will surely be tracked even underground'

[Chris1234]

{OOC: I suspect this one slipped through the cracks - although I've paraphrased part of it for brevity:

@Spike - Please clarify if Karlane is forbidden by her religion from using a) darts, b) explosives or c) poison?...
Finally I need guidance on how to respond to the effect of the poison. Is Karlane 'out of it'? Or affected as per a Slow spell? Or..?

Also, just to check, did Karlane cast the CLW on herself? And no one else spoke up saying they were damaged?}

[SARRMATT]

Whisper was able to get to his feet after losing so much blood with the bandaging of those. "I feel half healthy, a blow like I suffered in the battle would end me. If you have healing magics to spare I would appreciate it."

[OoC] Thanks for clarifying resting and healing. Can you advise on death? What point does it happen? As an unarmored very squishy mage I believe I will be approaching that quite often.

[spike]

Death is at -10 hp, 0 is unconsciousness possibly due to sustaining a critical hit, in the state of dying, or simply unconscious (at which point you don't lose 1 hp/round if you were dying, you're just knocked out)

Karlene: heals self (+6 hp restored) she is not forbade to using darts, explosives, but is forbidden from use of poison. This is actually considered a blasphemy because it declares reliance on a power to destroy outside of the scope of power Lor provides. However she can use the spell poison if desired, nothing wrong with that.

WAR COUNCIL

Azonia, and Sarancen are in attendance and stand guard while the council commences. Lucien patrols the halls scouring for enemies to silently drive away or capture.

[Chris1234]

Failing to perceive any remaining effects of the poison, Karlane hiccups, then says, "We must decide on our direction, or, rather our sequence of directions. Here is what I know.."

[spike]

The Dwarven brandy neutralized the debilitating poison successfully. You're a little tipsy as a result.

[Chris1234]

{OOC: Sorry for length of this; it's edited down and extracted from over 60 pages of notes in Word, narrow margins, 10pt font!}

Karlane pulls out the most appropriate map found, or sketches one if necessary, and says, pointing at the map appropriately, “Today we have 4 courses of action, 3 desirable and one fixed, for me at least. Firstly, deliver the letter by intercepting Lomag's messenger, replace their message with our newly minted one. The messenger will approach Harby from the north along the highway, disguised as a wine merchant or a spice dealer. Secondly, there is a shipment of weapons and ammunition from Jez’zur on the highway to the east. If we can intercept that, and divert it to the elves, it will buy us goodwill there, strengthen them and weaken our foes. Thirdly, there is a portal to a foe’s safehouse in Stoink. It lacks guards, but has well designed traps. A monk, a Lorian fighter and a drow renegade are held there pending transfer to another place. Finally, Lor directs me to be on the northwest road from here where I will meet foes. I know not the exact times, but my thinking is first Stoink, and possibly gain reinforcements to overcome the arms shipment. After the arms shipment, move round to the north for the letter, and then move to the northwest. Or we can split up. So, who can add details such as timing? What options do you see?”

While letting any discussions to progress for a some minutes, Karlane fishes out the separate piles of coins that she had previously counted out and then splits Erodan’s redundant pile between the other five. Each contains 273GP and 2SP, and when discussion stops, she adds a dagger to each pile and indicates one pile each for Azonia, Sarancen, Idrys, Drusilla and herself. {OOC: To be adjusted if I’ve missed anyone.}
“I burn through pearls Identifying magical items. I plan to retain the platinum coins to purchase more pearls. If any of you disagree, speak now and you may have your share instead of any future magical or special items.”

When this is done, Karlane offers Idrys, Azonia & Sarancen each a vial of white, milky liquid, saying, “These are potions of Invulnerability, but they only work on those with martial {OOC: Fighter} training.”
When distributed, she adds, “Our enemies have a base, a ‘farm’, a place of torment for prisoners, in the suburbs of Lor. Do any of you know of this? And I have three final questions. Does anyone know of Thyriz? Or of a 'Cats-Eye ring'? or of Dwemer items?”

[spike]

Azonia: 'The weapons shipment will be slower in it's progress than a messenger who will possibly be alone. We should set up an ambush here, dig a pit on the sides of the road, and we can drop a spike studded log suspended by rope from the trees. Sarancen will take out the escorts if he has any, and Idrys can engage them with hand to hand. Or the mage can use his web spell, or charm the bastard. If he's been charmed he will willingly cooperate with any of our wishes is that not so?"

Sarancen: "The safehouse sounds like it would be ideal for us to clear and use as a base of operations. I know of the farm, it's in the suburbs outside of Lor's east wall, in Rainhaven I believe. Special prisoners are sent there for interrogation.'

Drusilla: 'Cats-eye ring?! That's the Telemvor signet ring, it's been lost in time, perhaps smelted down in some pawn shoppe's forge by now."

Sarancen says 'Aye, Dwemer items are what the black cloaks constantly scour for, at behest of Dezloz. Most of it is ancient dwarven artiface, weapons and contraptions the likes of which are a form of wizardry only Dwarves and Gnomes are gifted with. Dezloz has some in his armies, giant walking buggers, the metal giants we call them. Like golems or automatons. Some able to shoot fire and rays of light that destroy. At any rate I doubt you can get your hands on any, it's nearly extinct from the world'

[SARRMATT]

"That first name you mentioned, Lomag. It stirs my memories but they are still hazy. Who is he in this time?" Whisper pipes up at hearing the name. Holding his hand against the bandages the mage waited patiently for treatment if it might be forthcoming.

[spike]

Drusilla heals Whisper for 9 hp, his deep wound was no longer bleeding profusely.

She says 'Lomag, he's a blunt instrument of another, the architect, a priest of Demogorgon. But he is also a member of the council of lords in Lor, so he holds great power both in the shadows and in statecraft throughout Nyr. He has been found conducting bloody rituals and creating shades with the help of a mage named Karnak. The two are in cahoots together, and both answer to this architect fellow. He's not terribly powerful, just an organizational genius really and master tactician. I believe he was formerly a priest of Lor himself, in the upper echelons of your orders hierarchy Karlene. He's what you would call a dark Lorian, one who has blasphemed his oaths and became drunk on the secrets he's amassed. Now all I need do is discover more about his boss, a man they call the engineer[/i, but his real name? Lord Chess. Obidiah Chess. That is one wily fox I would be most glad to capture'

[Chris1234]

Karlane looks up from the coins, now nearly sorted, "So 'Chess' is the Engineer? Or the Architect? And so is the other one?"

[spike]

Drusilla: "The engineer is Chess, the architect is elusive, hidden, his identity a carefully guarded secret and I know not his true name. I believe him to be an assassin, yet one who works from behind the scenes, not out in the open. Purely an assassin, not a warrior like Idrys. He would only fight face to face if he had no choice but rather employs his puppets to do his will. The engineer crafts elaborate traps, ambushes, counter plots, like a man who thinks himself a God who can play with other person's lives, killing them if they falter in his tests and games, or fall into one of his insidious traps. His favorite thing is to give ultimatums betwixt two different paths which either poses a deadly threat to the person. I only know because I was one of the few who managed to escape out of his damnable traps, Joyhdee be praised'

Sarancen 'Architects? Engineers? Hah, sounds like a pile of orc shit if you asks me. If we need to build us a keep we will seek these fine fellow's up. I think the imperium is sufficient enough an enemy for all of us to deal with by wit, blade, or magic. If these cowardly dungheaps want to face us, we'll deal with them appropriately. Who cares if they're well hid in some dark stank chamber making secret plans? So far all of their plans have failed flat on their faces, yes? I mean these two (points to Idrys and Karlene) even managed to out maneuver them with the imperium hot on their heels

Drusilla: "don't be so silly, soldier boy. They are not without resource and cunning, never underestimate an enemy you know scant regarding, he could be your doom. You won't be doing any drinking and whoring with that coin long with a dagger at your back or poison in your flagoon!'

[Chris1234]

"Thanks Drusilla; that covers it nicely. So, no one knows about Thyriz? Or has any more direct knowledge of Dwemer items?" presses Karlane for the final time. She pushes a pile of coins, 273GP and 2SP, and a dagger to each of those present in body. (i.e. Not incorporeal Lucien - figure he doesn't get to spend anything.)

{OOC: @Matt - Re Dwemer items: your character does (or did) know something about these as you have one of he best ones in the world in your possession. This is an opportunity for Whisper to start to build into the team. Right now, I'm thinking Whisper could do with raising his profile a bit. Unless you choose to avoid doing so, which is, of course, your prerogative. But if you do follow this line, you never know, Spike might feed you some more info on Dwemer stuff, even if you choose then to not share.}