In the Temple of Lathander - Shadow War
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((double posted))
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I'm also still standing here. From what our scouts reported the six who appear to have been left behind were four warriors and two scouts of their own. Unless they were divine casters, or perhaps rangers I don't believe that would make the caves the place of ritual, unless those left behind are guarding or preparing.
Caution is always wise, but don't let caution err to paranoia. I will submit to truth spells if needed.
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:Hess listens and nods to Lycka, carefully considering her words.:
I understand.
I also know that both a hare and a snake have equal fear of a hawk, yet no hare would willingly accept an invitation to a snake-den.
The Hoarans have mighty warriors. Surely they, too, could send an expedition to these cold-caves. Yet they seek us to go. The same folks that they attack without provocation in the pass…
Perhaps, instead, this should be viewed as a chance to strengthen ties. Maybe the Hoarans, too, should send someone to the caves. However, 2 snakes and one hare do not help the hare's chances of surviving. Especially if the snakes are fueled by revenge.
I do not doubt that the Shadovar also plaguing the Hoarans. All I ask is that we not rush head-first into this without considering the outcomes, both positive and negative. It seems to me that this venture could easily be turned into the beginnings of a peaceful relationship should it be chosen.
:Hess bows to the armored messenger::
My apologies for referring to you as either a hare or a snake, ma'am. I am just trying to make a point.
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With a light crease on her brow, Lycka notes:
"The Children of Hoar have been under attack from the Shadovar themselves, on more than one occasion. And they stand to lose just as much as anyone else if the Shadovar fulfil their goals."
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Hess pulls a piece of mistletoe from his beard and regards it thoughtfully as he removes one of the brought red berries. Focusing on the berry he speaks.
"so, we are now ready to rush off to a potentially deadly ambush just because this messenger appears to be earnest?
"it seems to me that this would be a quick way to bottle up and extinguish many of you heroes in this room, certainly something that the Hoarans would benefit from, yes?"
"revenge is their life-force. Keep that in mind.
"is there a priest amongst us who might discern whether she speaks the truth?"
Hess smiles and nods to the armored messenger.
"I am sure you would do the same in our shoes, yes?"
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_"Right. Cold Caves it is.
Never been there before either."_
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What little colour is usually in Eluriel's face drains clear away as she echoes a phrase just spoken.
All but six.
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The short horribly scarred elf speeks up, he wears a pin on his cloak denoting him as a private in the Troff Legion, on his back he carries a large greataxe with symbols of Lathander.
"Thanks fer th' information. We'll be getting a group 't check 't out and see what th' Shadovar dug up. Any aid th' scouts could give us would be nice, but 't sounds like they didn't see them enter th' cave 't all.
Sounds like they mighta already got th' artifact, but maybe it was th' dragon this time. Either way we should check 't out."
The elven warrior known as Troff Legion gives her a last nod of thanks then turns to the rest for volunteers.
((no idea when we can run this but finals week nearing a close and I'm all done with my important ones. Whenever would be good for me.))
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A young woman in heavy plate enters the temple. Helmet under her arm, shield and spear on her back, she looks about the gathering, trying to discern who might be in charge or leading. Failing that, she'll announce in a clear voice.
I am Danielle, and I bear a message from the Children of Hoar.
Assuming that draws at least some silence.
I have been sent with a message for those who are opposed to the Shadovar that have been plaguing the lands. In response to a message left us about the ritual they plan, we had increased our patrols of all known cave entrances around our the camp. Including gnoll woods, and spider woods.
Our scouts observed close to eighteen men in dark armor, most appearing warriors enter the Cold Caves from the gnoll woods. Hours later, all but six were seen to depart carrying an item. Sadly, it was only our scouts that observed this, and they were not under orders to engage.
Jonathan is making allowance for any who wish to investigate the Cold Caves about this matter. We will not harass you within the gnoll woods, nor the caves assuming you make no moves towards the camp itself.
Looking over those assembled one more time, finally she nods.
Shall I bring back any messages?
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Then they've also a Paladin. Cedric has not been seen for some time…That makes two of six at least.
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Th' crypts they are currently infesting connect 't th' underdark. I think we should go down there 'n see if we can't find something. Arnath still seems like a likly place 't me fer any Shadovar goings on.
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Hess, Jerrick's apprentice speaks up.
"I was amongst the first group to encounter the shadow-people. They were centered and based out of a small cavern south of the Glenn where the goblins keep their wolves.
"they were searching for, and apparently found something in that cavern. We would do well to keep an eye on it as well. The crypts and these other places are obvious and therefore could throw us off track while the perform their ritual in a less likely dark place."
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"Yes - the barrows trip is what Maria told us about. I can give a more detailed report if anyone here wants to know more."
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_"Well the crypts are easy to reach at least. If people regulary go down there they might be able to at least disrupt things somewhat.
And there's still Mintas to raid.
Any luck getting into the barrows?"_
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"I don't know where this ritual is meant to be held, but the document itself was found in the Norwick crypts, on a powerful caster in the large room before the stairs down to the lower levels. The Shadovar presence in those crypts is -very- strong, and we were forced to retreat after only a quick peek down the stairs. It could be that the ritual was planned to take place there, though after our strike, perhaps they'll rethink. I really can't hazard a guess, but only my own speculations at this point. Perhaps the ritual is why the druids apprentices were attacked too. Were any abducted that we know of?
As for Vladimir, I wouldn't believe that story unless he could show me the item in question - and even then, ask yourself why the dragon's forces would keep attacking if they already have what they came for?"
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_That's howrrible news…It's a vewry dangewrous writual that we must stop at any cost. At which places do you think could this writual take place then? IS that why they wewre aftewr the Dwruid's appwrentices, because they need a castewr fwrom the natuwre too?
In wregawrds of Vladmiwir, I asked him about the object you mention, and he said that it wasn't an awrtifact, but just anothewr thing they looted fwrom the bawrrows._
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"Then he admits to both having been there and working for the Shadovar? The villagers said one of the persons in the first group from the Prime left bearing an item which caused them great pain, so either Vladimir is lying, or the villager is.
I have more to share, important news on the ritual found in the Norwick crypts. Ronan studied the document and it's even more omnious than it appeared at first glance.
The Rite of Unwinding is a Sharran ritual intended to suppress the Weave in an ever-expanding region, slowly creating a dead magic zone to suppress the Weave without actually destroying it - since destroying the Weave would cause the Shadow Weave to fail also. With the completion of this ritual, the Shadow Weave would work, and the normal Weave fail.
The ritual must be centered in some form of cavern or place of darkness and begins spreading out in concentric circles from that point. Vital to this ritual is the sacrifice of the life force of six casters, one of each caster type. This might be the reason for abducting Val - though likely she's being kept alive until they have everything they need to go through with the plan.
I don't think I need to point out how horrid the consequences of this ritual would be for us.. although I wonder if the likes of Vladimir know the end result he is really working for."
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it'd seem, against populawr believe aftewr ouwr last "mission", that the oscuwrans do not have any awrtifcat. This is at least what Vladimiwr says, and I'm not saying we should twrust him , but we should also not assume he's lying. He claims that when they awrrived thewre it was alwready taken, and he believes that the shadow dwragon took it himself….but as I said, this isn't necesawry twrue...nowr false.
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"Fair enough."
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@7252d1cbe6=cardamon:
That supports a minor inkling I have…I don't think the Shadovar can get through the rifts as easily as we can with the globes.
They can actualy go as easily as just opening a wrift themselves…without the need of one of them.
Then turns to hammerhand
They offewred us lot of valuable infowrmation, offewred sheltewr to wrest, twice...we helped them deal with a thwreat that was making theiwr lives missewrable and they even offewred us some useful items they had scavenged fwrom the battle fields.
