Sarduris
A lone figure stands, looking over several region maps, shadows dance across the walls in response to the flickering flames enveloping his black adamantine armor. An authoritative metallic tone penetrates the darkness, “Your report, Hardrider.”
Ogden the Hardrider
Frost creeps across the room, extinguishing the candles, as a bone white skull emerges from the depths of a growing darkness in the corner of the room. Soundlessly it strides into the bright light, the chill of its presence warming into vapor against the Dark Knight’s fire.
“It is as you say Eternal Sarduris. They have not returned. The Sharawood is no longer under our domain and holds new dangers we have not encountered before. As for the Everlasting Wyrm, the Undying fall under his influence if they stay too long. The Still Living go mad, if the poisonous fog doesn’t get them first.” Ogden responds in a hollow disembodied breath as he extends a scroll to the commander with a black leather gloved hand.
Alla Breve
A voluptuous brightly plumed fey woman saunters past the curtains into the crypt chamber, followed by a willowy snow white plumed fey woman and blue skinned, with blue glowing runes, stocky man that ducks to get through the doorway into the war room. Sarduris opens the report to peruse it, as the contesting heat and chill in the room dies down from Sarduris and Ogden’s auras diminishing with the arrival of the Durthans.
“Cadenza tells me your Wyrm was to be taken by the Mists, but he outsmarted them somehow. Something unheard of.” The alluring Fey remarks euphonically as she picks up a miniature Dragon figure and studies it in her palm.
Sarduris
“The Mists, Alla?”
Cadenza Morendo
“The Dread Mists of the Dark Powers. I felt them envelope the forest, searching, on the changing of the year.” Cadenza melodically states, rather matter of factly.
Alla Breve
Alla Breve turns the figure between her talons and sets it firmly inside Castle Al’hanar. “My sister’s Song is never wrong. Your foe is not where you last left him. The full moon last night illuminated many secrets.”
Cadenza Morendo
“With his departure, his hold on the Sharawood has weakened. There is a Feywild presence there now. Possibly even something we can use to re-establish the ties to Rashemen for our coven. The Wyrm is a powerful spirit.”
Sarduris
“Do you…”
Ogden the Hardrider
A dissonance of soft haunting whispers fills the room, growing louder until a dark haired woman floats through the curtains to the makeshift war room. The whispers stop, and the thrum of two steady, slow heart beats emanates from her until a second incorporeal woman separates and forms beside her.
“Honored ‘We’.” Ogden greets her reverently.
Sarduris
“You’re late.”
Honored "We"
Her white pupilless eyes look through Sarduris as she intones hauntingly, “We arrive at exactly the right point in time. Our forces must be recovered, and you must find the Font of the Tortured Spirit the Mists left behind. We can… sense it. Among other things lost to the forest.”
Sarduris
“Reconnaissance, Recovery and Recuperability? That is too much for one team. They will not have enough time. What of Saed Baroda and the Beast Lords?”
Honored "We"
“These are trying times, there will never be enough time since the Wyrm has had decades to consolidate power. We do not believe that Saed ever expected the Reaper’s Return, or yours Sarduris. With what the events of the Spellplague did to this region.
We can not find fault with his logic of accepting a Dracolich into the ranks of the Beast Lords, though he may yet regret his decision. Dragon egos can be difficult to… lead.” Soulful whispers can be heard softly discussing the prospects of an alliance with the Beast Lords, debating the circumstances.
Sarduris
“If we move upon Xavarathimius, we must be assured that the others won’t interfere. Our Order had been here for millennia when Saed formed the Beast Lords and our neutrality was held when we could have snuffed him out in an instant. Is there no reciprocity at all?”
Honored "We"
The incorporeal form sways in the air and circles Sarduris. “We cannot assure that without a formal alliance and joining the Beast Lords, which would require putting aside your… vendetta.”
Ogden the Hardrider
“Or subterfuge and politics with a secret alliance with some of them, if that’s even possible. We don’t have the forces or resources to wage outright war on all of them. This is the secret behind their success in establishing the Beastlands, neighboring nations have been completely unsuccessful in dividing and conquering any one force. The Faithful are scattered and the Doombringers quiet.”
Honored "We"
“We do not know all of the Beast Lords, only Saed knows. Which We can secure a formal invitation, though that does not guarantee to reveal what Saed would wish from such a bargain.”
Sarduris
“The Great Rift once considered us allies, perhaps they would do so again.”
Ogden the Hardrider
“Dwarven politics. Just as dangerous. Latest reports on them point to Underhome still occupied by Drow. We have enough of a fight on our hands without involving the Underdark. The Shaaran Nomadic tribes are in decline as well, their meeting at Council Hills would be a good time to assess them later this year.”
Alla Breve
The clang of metal on stone rings clear as the hulking monstrosity of a man rests his hammer on the ground.
“Quite right Losk. We must stay on task with what is in front of us.” Alla Breve winks mischievously at the Runescarred Berserker, (is that a blush from him? Hard to tell). “We must form and equip our team, success depends on sending the right agents. I have a young full moon protégé in mind that can assess and diplomatically manage the Feywild…”
Losk of Half-Demon Fortress
“Alla…” A guttural word of warning is issued from Losk as he stands abruptly in response.
Alla Breve
The beautiful Fey pauses a moment, pained, then recovers, “She is accompanied by her bonded Runescarred. They will ensure the team’s success in arcane matters.”
Losk of Half-Demon Fortress
Losk picks up his hammer and retrieves Icemaiden’s Caress from its harness at his waist, looking down at the blessed divine ice axe as it brightens at his touch, he presses it into Cadenza Morendo’s hands and strides forward to leave. As he passes Alla Breve he glares down at her, “Winter’s Wrath, Woman.” then departs without another word.
Cadenza Morendo
“Ah, I shall join my bonded with preparations then. The team will need specific supplies with what we have learned here. I shall review the reports.” Cadenza hurriedly explains, before gathering her notes she was taking, excusing herself and following Losk out.
Honored "We"
The whispers in the room fall silent, the incorporeal form leaves Sarduris’ side and rejoins with its corporeal body, “We have convened, there is a Night Walker that is well suited to this task. We have long suspected that he is unique, quite devout in priesthood to the Bone Lord.”
Ogden the Hardrider
“A Night Walker? Unusual. I will commit two Night Riders then. The Weird Sisters, they’re called for their efficiency. Be ready to ride at dusk when they return from their current foray.”
Sarduris
Sarduris looks down at the war table full of figures before him, then reaches for a knight mounted on a horse and surrounded by flames with a banner of Myrkul flying proudly above it, “I shall commit Derebeys Alrion to lead this mission for the Order’s interests. He has never failed.” He sets the figure down next to Sharawood’s Forest Avenue.
“We will reconvene in two weeks when the team returns, after our own missions are completed. May the Sacred Hand guide us all.”
