By now, Myn has been to several meetings of the Masked Lords of Waterdeep. They seem to meet weekly, and at each meeting he has attended, he has noted that roughly six to eight Masked Lords are given to attend, and while their identities remain unclear, it is clear that not the same ones are attending every single meeting, though sometimes a returning figure emerges.

On this particular occasion, seventeen Masked Lords are present in the council hall, both on the main floor and in the mezzanine. In the dim lightning, Myn can tell most of these Masked Lords he has seen at another council meeting at least once, though some are new to him. He is fully dressed in his formless, hooded black cloak and mask which protects his identity, and in his hand is a magical staff that alters his voice.

At first, the meeting proceeded as any other--various matters relating to commerce and inner city politics were raised and voted upon. Each time a matter is brought before the council, one of the Masked Lords ascends the platform at the front of the council hall, where two banners hang--one bearing the crest of Waterdeep, and one bearing the crest of the Open Lord of Waterdeep, the Neverember crest. Once on the platform, they present the issue, and a count of ayes and nays is taken. Several scribes are on-hand to carefully record the proceedings, and they appear to be rotated for each meeting, and they are seated behind a thin black screen where they can hear the Masked Lords but cannot see them.

The meeting seems to be at a point where it is winding down when suddenly a Masked Lord bursts into the council hall from the ground-level entrance with an moon elf woman in tow. She wears scale armor and has a scabbard for a long, thin blade at her side, and wears a green cloak that trails behind her as she briskly follows the Masked Lord to the platform. She has auburn hair, fair skin, brown eyes, and an angry expression that she fixes outwards towards her audience.

The Masked Lord speaks--his or her voice high and tinny as projected through the magic staff, "Comrades, I regret to inform you of the sudden death of Arthagast Ulbrinter. He was killed in his villa last night by brigands wearing strange masks and capes. The brigands sacked his villa and made off with his body, along with an indeterminate other number of valuables."

This provokes a stir among many of the Masked Lords present, who begin to murmur to each other. The Masked Lord on the podium indicates the eladrin woman, and says, "This is Remallia Haventree, lord Ulbrinter's widow."

"As I'm sure at least a few of you know, my husband was a Masked Lord of Waterdeep," comes the terse, whispering voice of Remallia Haventree. "I have come before you to implore the Lords of Waterdeep to have the city act swiftly to catch these murderous brigands!" Calming herself slightly, she then adds, "In addition, I have another request--that I be granted free reign in conducting my own investigation into my husband's death, and save Waterdeep time and money in so doing."

Despite the reaction to news of lord Ulbrinter's death, the Masked Lords do not seem inclined to discuss the matter openly. It moves immediately to a vote, and Myn knows that the Masked Lords tend to vote in favor of not spending money. Indeed, the first few votes are very quick "ayes", and it's soon Myn's turn to vote.

"Aye."

"It's hardly my concern, but on the chance that masked lords are the targets in general another source of interference could be useful."

The vote passes unanimously. Once it's clear that this is the case, Remallia Haventree bows deeply and says, "Thank you. You will not regret this, She pauses briefly, then adds, "I hesitate to speculate, but I have a good idea of the party responsible, and I will bring it before the Council of Waterdeep later today."[/b] and then departs the council chambers. The "Council of Waterdeep" Remallia refers to here is not the council of Masked Lords, but rather a separate meeting taking place later today between delegates from the Lords' Alliance and several other independent powers in how to respond to the many growing threats that face the realm.

Once it is certain that she has gone, the main business is put forth, and Myn suspects that this is why attendance is so high on this particular occasion. A Masked Lord ascends the front stage--its small stature suggests a gnome or halfling, but the voice projected by the magic staff he or she holds is very deep. "As you all know, the Open Lord of Waterdeep has not set foot in the city for more than five months, and has only recently arrived in the city to represent the interests of Neverwinter and Waterdeep at the upcoming council meeting. Indeed, lord Dagult Neverember has been spending all of his time and effort into rebuilding Neverwinter and has neglected Waterdeep for far too long. We have long discussed removing him from power, and now is the time to put it to a vote, so that we can inform him that he has been removed from power before he leaves the city."

There is a resounding cheer from the Masked Lords present, and though votes are being officially tallied, there isn't much question as to the outcome.

Myn votes positively as he wonders how much a masked lord position can be sold for.

With Myn's vote, it is again unanimous. To commemorate the occasion, the speaking Masked Lord pulls out a longsword, and slices down the banner bearing the Neverember crest. He or she turns, and begins to speak once more, "Ah, there is one last thing to discuss. As I'm sure many of you know, the first session of the so-called 'Council of Waterdeep' is later today. While lord Neverember will be representing our interests at this meeting, we will have his replacement ready by the time of the second session. Each of you should carefully consider who best to elevate to this position."

With a thoughtful pause, he or she continues, "Many important dignitaries from foreign lands will be arriving at the City of Splendors for the first time--ever, or in years. It is fully expected that the Lords' Alliance will be officially reformed." The small humanoid scans the room, giving a meaningful look to each of the Masked Lords present as he or she speaks, "I am given to understand that they are attempting to get the adventurers that took down the Fell King to attend the meeting as well. The officials there want to personally thank--and reward--the adventurers for their efforts." Bowing, he then leaves the stage.

When the dragonborn next opens his eyes, he is standing in a small, circular room covered in arcane sigils and standing atop a teleportation circle. There are two other people in this room--Elayne, who stands in front of you, smiling; and Gilgamesh, who flanks you, scanning the room, his face looking quite impressed.

"You didn't tell me you had connections like this, sir Torinn!" the red-garbed giant man says in wonderment. Over the past few days, Gilgamesh has been accompanying you on journeys on the outskirts of Tymanther, up until just a day ago when you received a message via animal messenger--plus a ready-to-use teleportation scroll. A local wizard helped you determine that it was intended to send you back to Waterdeep, and the message indicates that a council of high-ranking dignitaries wishes to see you back in Waterdeep, to offer thanks and rewards for your actions against the Fell King, as well as to discuss other matters relating to the continued safety of greater Faerûn.

Meanwhile, Gilgamesh has been entertaining Torinn with various stories about his exploits on other planes of existence, seeking powerful weapons with strange names such as "Excalibur" and "Bradamante". Elayne bows deeply to you as you enter, and says, "It is a pleasure to see you again, Torinn Tormine. Have you been well?

>>77461
"I guess I didn't talk about myself that much," Torinn admits sheepishly. Smiling at Elayne, Torinn gestures to Gilgamesh, saying, "Hello, Miss Elayne, I made a friend. This is Sir Gilgamesh, a warrior who seeks out rare and unusual weapons."

"Ah, yes, I did notice your unusual... traveling companion," Elayne replies, nodding towards the giant man. "Greeting, sir Gilgamesh. I am Elayne, the curator of the Arcanimus, and institute for arcane research and practice."

"A pleasure!" Gilgamesh replies boisterously. Looking to Torinn, he asks, "Now, your adventuring companions I've heard so much about! Didn't you suggest they'd be around here too?"

"All of them have been summoned here and most are already in the city proper. Sid is right here in the Arcanimus, in fact," Elayne replies smoothly. Her expression changes to a more troubled one as she says, "Though, it's actually at the behest of Valanor that we called you. He and a Harper known as Leosin Erlanthar are requesting to meet you at the central crossing in the Market Square as soon as you are able."

As soon as I'm able? That sounds pretty serious. "Alright, give Sid my regards," Torinn replies. Looking to his larger companion, he says, "let's go, I'll introduce my companions when we meet them."

Bowing once more, Elayne adds, "Sid will be along... presently. He can get very absorbed in his work, and he wants to wait until we've confirmed that all of you have arrived to head out. In any case, I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors, though I doubt you need it."

Torinn and Gilgamesh exit the Arcanimus into the city proper. Waterdeep is a bustling city, though it is not as populous as Baldur's Gate. It is only due to the Grand Duke's treachery that the City of Splendor has regained its status as the most prominent trade center of the Sword Coast, though the city itself is more more flat and aesthetically pleasing when compared to Baldur's Gate, where buildings are quite literally stacked on top of each other in order to house every person who lives there.

The "central crossing" Elayne referred to is a point in Waterdeep where three major trade routes intersect--the High Road, the Long Road, and the Trade Way. Merchant stalls and decorated stores crowd this area, but Valanor stands out quite a bit and is thus not too difficult for Torinn to spot. The human-looking sorcerer stands aside a familiar face--the shaman who called herself "Bernkastel", and an unfamiliar face--a half-elf man with a neatly trimmed black beard, fair skin, wearing brown leathers under a blue-and-white tabard of some sort. He carries a quarterstaff slung over his shoulder and possesses a lithe figure.

>>77465
The shaman doesn't look too different from before, other than her enchanted reading glasses. She notices Torinn, and waves at him as he gets closer, turning his armor pink and flowery. Prestidigitation.

Gilgamesh looks over to the shaman, then glances at Torinn's armor after watching her use magic to alter it, and says, "Ah... um, well met?" He turns back to the shaman and says, "I am Gilgamesh! Torinn and I met back in Tymanther and I accompanied him on his journey here. It is good to meet another member of the band that took down the Fell King!"

Nodding to Torinn, Valanor speaks up as well, "It is good to see you again. This is an associate of mine, Leosin Erlanthar," he indicates the half-elf beside him, who nods and smiles. "I will save the full introduction for when the rest of your party arrives--though I am given to understand that Ramuh will be meeting us at our destination instead, because he is accompanying Taern Hornblade from Silverymoon."

>>77467
Torinn glances down at his armor, makes a face, and then proceeds normally. "Sir Gilgamesh, this is the shaman I told you all about," Torinn says to Gil while gesturing towards Bernkastel. He gives a small bow to the half elf, and to Valanor. "It is good to see you again, Valanor. What have you been doing these past couple of months?"

>>77467
>>77468
Nodding to Torinn, the shaman looks up at the intimidating-looking giant, and makes herself speak. "Hello, Mr. Gilgamesh. Please call me Bernkastel."

Gilgamehs grunts and nods in the shaman's direction as Valanor addresses Torinn, "Trying to get ambassadors from the metallic dragons of Faerûn to hold council. Luckily, such prodding has proven more fruitful with this new business involving the Cult of the Dragon. I have been appointed as temporary liaison to Waterdeep, though really I think they're just letting me do what I want in regards to our business at the Well of Dragons. I'll explain more later, but I fully expect I'll be replaced as official liaison sooner or later."

It is at this point that Myn approaches the group. He also received word that Valanor and a Harper agent wished to meet with him and the rest of the party, though he received it from a retainer in his service as a Masked Lord of Waterdeep. He is not wearing his Masked Lord costume in public, of course, and the rest of the party is none the wiser about his identity as a Masked Lord.

>>77470

"Good afternoon."

The owlbear sniffs Gilgamesh curiously.

>>77471
"And this is Myn Nthelsyr," Torinn says, gesturing to the newly arrived half-elf. For Myn's benefit, Torinn introduces everyone present.

"It is a pleasure to meet the two of you."

"Another half-elf. At least he won't contribute to this group's offensive ambiance."

>>77473
"Mr. N, where did you go before the meeting? I didn't think you had a job."

>>77474

"I was merely meeting some acquaintances in the city. Of course, I would much rather have been able to forgo social obligations and read in my room for the past two months as well."

"Stalker."

Reiyasu regards the group as the introductions are handled. It appears to be the one described by Sureiya, but there are a few others present who he doesn't recognize. He's still collecting his thoughts when Sid jogs down the road, calling out, "Sorry if I'm late, sorry if I'm late!" Coming to a stop in front of the gathering group of suspicious-looking individuals, Sid pauses to catch his breath and regards the half-elf and the giant red-garbed man, whom he does not recognize.

Not very far away, another figure approaches the adventurers. A middle-aged human.
This person wears an elegant red robe, covering for the most part his heavy armor. His black hair is long and decently groomed, which fits well with his intense dark eyes. You can also see that he carries a nicely carved quarterstaff with him.
With an enthusiasm that looks a little off for someone of his age, the human ranger walks toward the central crossing where he was asked to meet the rest. "Oh my, they do seem as lively as my son described them."

Then, once he is close enough to the group, he introduces himself. "Greetings adventurers, my name is Reiyasu Yatagarasu. As my son Sureiya cannot be disturbed from his training at this time, I will attend this meeting in his stead. I hope we can get along, my son has told me plenty about you and your adventures" he says, with a gentle smile in his face.

>>77475
The shaman curiously regards at Myn for a moment, knowing he's leaving something out, but moves on. "I was studying to cast rituals, and had to make library visits," the shaman corrects.
joji refused to roll bluff and didn't care if the shaman suspected something

>>77476
>>77477
"Hello, Mr. Sid," the shaman greets, but before she can say anything else, the appearance of the strange human earns her stare.

Last edited at 15/08/28(Fri)19:25:05

>>77477

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mister Reiyasu. Your son has saved our lives many times."

"This man is the best-smelling orc I've ever met."

At this point, the man Valanor referred to as Leosin speaks up, addressing Reiyasu directly, "Ah, yes, I had been informed of your situation! It is good to meet you in person, though a shame that Sureiya could not attend, as his skills were invaluable to the Sword Coast in the past."

Gilgamesh exchanges pleasantries with the new arrivals as well, and Valanor states, "Well, then. If there's nothing else, perhaps..." The human-appearing sorcerer's voice trails off, and his eyes suddenly go wide. As his head begins to twist this way and that frantically, everyone present notices something disturbing: there is a sudden shift in the wind that brings with it a strange sense of unease. The feeling is akin to the drop in air pressure before the approach of a deadly storm, or faint tremors felt from a landslide or earthquake far away. You’re not the only ones who have noticed. The city around you goes unnaturally quiet suddenly. No dogs bark, no birds squawk. Even the street vendors have gone silent.

The silence lasts only a moment, and almost immediately the sounds of Waterdeep return to mask anything the sudden silence might have portended. Humanoids continue about their daily business, though a few uneasy murmurs are whispered in the crowd, and everyone looks slightly unnerved. A merchant's horses seem uncooperative and skittish, and birds fly away without a note of song. In contrast to most everyone else appearing merely a bit unnerved, Valanor looks nearly frantic, and his head turns this way and that erratically, as if searching for the source of some unheard sound.

>>77480
The shaman looks around as well. "Mr. Valanor, did you hear the Draakhorn?"

"That... was almost certainly the Draakhorn, yes," Valanor replies, shaking his head as if snapping out of a daze.

"The... Draakhorn?" Leosin asks, curious, but Valanor shakes his head.

"We'll explain later. For... for now, we should head to the Lord's Palace. The preliminary session of the Council of Waterdeep will be starting soon, and I have information I wish to share with all of you regarding the Well of Dragons," Valanor says.

"This is where I must take my leave!" Gilgamesh announces suddenly, bowing briefly to the group. "It has been a pleasure, but I have my own business to attend to, Torinn. They wish to meet with and thank the heroes who defeated the Fell King, and I am not counted among they! So I must bid you farewell, and we shall certainly meet again!"

Torinn greets Reiyasu with a firm handshake and echoes the compliments of the others. Before he can sah more, there's a sudden change in the air that makes him feel... off.

He snaps out of his daze after Gilgamesh speaks, and sees the giant off with a smile. "Farewell for now, Sir Gilgamesh," he says, "we shall certainly meet again."

After his travelling companion leaves, though... Torinn looks a lot more serious about what just happened.

Reiyasu feels honored to hear such praise from his son, and he manages to recognize Torinn, Myn, Bernkastel and Sid in the group. His mood would have stayed rather cheery, if it wasn't from the sudden change in the air and the chills it caused him.

"That was certainty... uncomfortable. Perhaps we should haste the way to our meeting" the human says, realizing it's no time for introductions.

The shaman is ready to go.

Gilgamesh walks off with a bit of a swagger, as if he was totally unaffected by the unsettling event. Valanor leads the group to the Lords' Palace. Passing from the Trade Ward to the Castle Ward, each of you notices that while the behavior of the humanoid inhabitants of Waterdeep is largely unchanged, the animal life present in the city seems absolutely rattled. Cats hiss and flee to hide when they are approached, dogs seem disinclined to bark and instead merely watch listlessly as the world goes by, horses are unnaturally skittish, and what few birds remain fly away without a note of song. Finally you arrive outside the Lords' Palace, and though Myn has been here before, none of the rest of you have. It is an enormous structure that has been a part of the city proper for centuries, comprised of several large circular tower-like stone structures that are connected via enormous stone walls surrounding a courtyard where the City Watch and the City Guard both train.

Your destination is the Great Hall, which sits on the back end of the structure, against the back of the larger walls that surround the city itself. Myn is aware that this is where the Lords of Waterdeep entertain the Open Lord of the city, as well as foreign dignitaries, while the Masked Lords meet in a separate, hidden part of the structure. You approach the outside gate via a stone ramp, and after some pleasantries are exchanged with the City Guard, you are admitted through. As you pass through the courtyard, you notice no training taking place--instead, there are dozens of members of the City Guard simply standing guard around the palace structure. In addition to armored members of the City Guard, two figures stand just outside the grand entrance to the Great Hall. One you recognize--Ramuh is present here. The other you do not recognize, though her garb identifies her as a Waterdavian noble, and she is a middle-aged human.

"Dala Silmerhelve," Valanor says, nodding to the human woman. "You are outside? I thought the nobles had already started talks."

"Nothing important will be decided until the arrival of our honored guests," the noble woman replies easily, nodding to the group of adventurers.

"And Ramuh! It is good to see you again as well," Valanor says, bowing slightly in respect.

Moderately affected by the change of mood, Reiyasu remains quiet until the group reaches the palace. Once there, he recognizes another one of Sureiya's comrades.

"It's a pleasure, Mr. Ramuh. My name is Reiyasu." the human says humbly. "I have come here instead of my son Sureiya. He refused to attend until his training was over, and so he asked me to accompany you in his place" he softly explains.

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"Ah, how could I be so rude?" Valanor exclaims, nodding to the human woman. "You've all met Ramuh--save Reiyasu here, but allow me to introduce Dala Silmerhelve, Waterdavian noble and a longtime friend of mine."

She curtsies and smiles to the adventurers, saying, "A pleasure. It is my hope to be of some use to you in the coming days."

>>77488

"My name is Myn Nthelsyr. I'm sure we would all welcome any assistance you may be able to provide, Miss Dala."

"I suppose we'll be exchanging introductions with half the city at this rate."

More import accorded training than a meeting around─ just as well, 'twas not Ramuh's place to judge.

"Well met, Reiyasu," the elder replies. "I see you are all in fine spirits," his gaze lingering on Torinn's colourful armour a bit longer than on the rest, "considering what came to pass last we parted."

"It is a honor, lady Dala" the human cordially states. Then he patiently awaits until the rest of the introductions are over while he casually admires the surroundings.

Last edited at 15/08/30(Sun)14:11:50

"Well, we had best not linger," Ramuh says. "Just moments past, I sensed a... great disturbance in the force." He smiles wryly, as though he made a joke just now.

"I feel every moment is precious henceforth."

"I agree," Dala agrees, placing her hand on the grand set of double-doors that leads into the grand hall. "But before we enter, I should introduce you to the personalities present, as I suspect that they will wish to get right to business without the formalities of formally introducing each delegate.

Many Waterdavian nobles will be present, but they have very little actual power other than whatever they can leverage against the Open Lord to influence his decisions.

The Open Lord of Waterdeep, Dagult Neverember, represents the interests of both Waterdeep and Neverwinter at this meeting. Lord Neverember is known to be hard-working, decisive, and orderly. Though he is not known to be especially cautious, his strong, honest, and direct nature has gained him some rapport with sellswords of all stripes. He has transformed Neverwinter from a forgotten ruin to a functional, if still fledgling, city, on the outskirts of civilization. The location demands a lot of work to be done, and has attracted a great many adventurers and treasure-seekers, and Neverember has earned the respect of most of them. However, the fact that he has spent nearly all of the past year in Neverwinter rebuilding while shirking his duties as the Open Lord of Waterdeep has bred a fair amount of resentment in the City of Splendors.

Ambassador Connerad Brawnanvil, son of Banak Brawnanvil and former king of Mithral Hall, has traveled from Mithral Hall to act as a delegate representing all the dwarves of the North, including Citadel Adbar and Citadel Felbarr. Personally I don't know much about him, but rumor has it that he's a stubborn old dwarf, and very unwilling to commit troops from the dwarven homelands to foreign campaigns. However, he detests dragons, cultists, and demons alike; and respects bold displays of heroism. He likely knows your reputation, and it should be possible to win him over through decisive and direct action.

Marshall Ulder Ravengard of Baldur's Gate has only had a short amount of time in command of the Flaming Fists, but he unquestionably represents the largest number of soldiers out of anyone on the council. The Flaming Fists can both muster and field more military power than any the other delegates can individually commit, and I'm given to understand that his personal military prowess is also the greatest among the members of the council. Lord Ravengard is of two minds on this matter--he knows the Flaming Fists are necessary to police the city and help keep the peace following the events involving Grand Duke Prestor being revealed as an elder red dragon, but he also would personally love to see the Flaming Fists leading the charge against the Cult of the Dragon. He respects discipline and order, and is more used to dealing with soldiers than adventurers, but an appeal to his thirst for glory might be what we need to get the Flaming Fists committed.

King Melandrach speaks for the elves of the Misty Forest and the High Forest. Again, I don't know much about him, but from what little interaction I've had with him, he seems to be a very cautious man, and will always call for more information before committing to anything. I'm not certain if any amount of intel will sway him. I have learned that he has two sons, Alagarthas and Neronvain, who are very much his opposites--they rush headlong in pursuit of their goals, while Melandrach is a staunch defender of elven tradition. He will be very slow to change, and frankly, I'm not certain it's going to be worth the effort to wear him down, though the elven rangers, wizards, rogues, and eldritch knights he can commit to the cause would be very useful against the cult.

Taern "Thunderspells" Hornblade, the ruler of Silverymoon, represents the Luruar alliance, also referred to as the Confederation of the Silvery Marches. I am given to understand that he has stepped down at least temporarily from his position as ruler of the city in order to serve as a delegate to represent Luruar, and the city is now ruled by Methrammar, the son of Alustriel Silverhand. You may know Alustriel as one of the Seven Sisters. Taern Hornblade can commit the Knights of Silver to our cause, as well as Silverymoon's many conscripts. He will also be a difficult one to sway, as the wards of Silverymoon have held fast against dragons before, so he may feel he has little to fear should the Cult of the Dragon grow in power. Nevertheless, he will be very hesitant to send his troops to die in battle, so he will want assurances that most of them will be returning home safely. Convincing him to lend aid to our cause will require us to provide a solid battle plan based on reliable intelligence.

Sir Isteval is a man of many loyalties. He was sent to the council nominally as a representative of the small settlement of Daggerford. While Daggerford is a popular waypoint along the trade road and a favorite stopping point for many adventurers, it can commit very little to the cause due to its relatively small size. However, he has confided in the council that he has been drafted by Cormyr to gain insight into what looks like a war brewing on their western border. He is a former adventurer and a Purple Dragon Knight of Cormyr. He is a good and honorable man, and refuses to hide this information from the council. While he assures us that his loyalties to Daggerford, Cormyr, the Lords' Alliance, and all good folk are not at odds with each other, this has already caused an uproar among the other delegates, many of whom would like to see that he is not invited to the next meeting. Personally I feel that this is short-sighted, as if through him we could get the War Wizards of Cormyr and the Purple Dragon Knights rallied against the Cult of the Dragon and their Thayan allies, it would be a great help to our cause.

These six represent the Lords' Alliance. In addition to them, we also have delegates representing three major non-national organizations who are willing to join our stand against the Cult of the Dragon. First among them we have Remallia Haventree, the widow of lord Arthagast Ulbrinter. She represents the Harpers, who have long made efforts to maintain the balance of power across Faerûn from the shadows, favoring knowledge over brute force. This is no simple task, and the Harpers have been destroyed, reformed, divided, and reorganized many times over the centuries. In addition to providing us with information, the Harpers also have many mages who can assist us in magical matters. However, it should be noted that Remallia is considered something of a hard-liner among the more traditional and cautious members of the Harpers, who will want her to prove that they have sufficient information to confront this threat before they are brought on board. Remallia herself is rather firmly on our side, however, so I doubt anything short of snubbing her outright will deter her. It would be best, however, to attempt to capture important cultists rather than kill them and turn them over to the Harpers for interrogation in order to win their trust.

The Order of the Gauntlet is being represented by Ontharr Frume. Again, Ontharr Frume is convinced of your worthiness already due to your part in aiding the Sword Coast against the Fell King, and personally he will support us as long as you are also on board. His organization, however, is a different matter. The Order of the Gauntlet is extremely crucial to our cause as they have many priests and paladins in their ranks to provide us with crucially-needed healing and support, but they do not tolerate anything they perceive as morally dubious. Should they learn that we have accepted aid from unscrupulous organizations or notoriously evil figures, the Order of the Gauntlet will surely pressure Ontharr Frume to withhold support. In contrast, winning over the hearts and minds of more noble benefactors, such as metallic dragons and good-aligned deities, may serve to prove your righteousness to them. One last note on Sir Frume is that he has a great deal of respect for Sir Isteval, and perhaps could be persuaded to assist us in keeping the Purple Dragon Knight on board as a delegate.

The lone representative of the Emerald Enclave is Delann Winterhound, a half-elf ranger who has spent most of his life traversing the northern wilderness. The Emerald Enclave is comprised of many druids, rangers, treants, and lycanthropes who seek to preserve the balance of nature rather than the balance of power. While they agree that the Cult of the Dragon's plans must be put to a stop, above all else they seek to preserve the various balances inherent to the world--good and evil, nature and civilization. Garnering the Emerald Enclave's support will require proving to Delann that you're not on a crusade to stamp out evil indiscriminately, as he would argue that both good and evil are necessary to preserve the balance of the world. As such, he believes that preserving life is a higher priority than destroying evil. You would also need to assure him that you're willing to fight in order preserve nature as well as civilization."

Dala Silmerhelve takes a deep breath, then looks to the party, awaiting any questions.

"G-great googly moogly! You've certainly done your homework on the council!" Sid exclaims.

Smiling nervously, Dala replies, "I owe much to... a certain benefactor." Her eyes shift to Valanor, and she nods slightly. "If this is what I can do to repay my debt, then I will see it done."

>>77493
The shaman nearly panics at the amount of information, and frantically scribbles onto a writing pad with a black quill, strangely without any ink. Even after the woman finishes her speech, she continues adding details, later to be added to her journal.

Myn blinks at the first name, but restrains his urge to pass out as the list lengthens.

Reiyasu quietly listens to the long explanation of lady Dala, and meanwhile attempts to prepare a strategy in the same way an experienced shogi player would try to predict the movements of his opponent.

"Winning the favor of the Order of the Gauntlet seems to be very important for our cause. As long the party doesn't deal into shady business and we get the support of the Dragon Council I suppose we can assume they will assist us. On the other side, lady Remalia has proved herself to be an useful ally and she might work more efficiently once she has the rest of the harpers convinced our intel is good. Heh, as if we were so naive to launch an assault without a proper strategy..."

Once the human finishes his inner monologue, he softly adds "Color me impressed, I'm honored to be able to meet so many important nobles and wise generals. However, it certainly also leaves me with a lingering feeling of uneasiness. Is the enemy we are about to confront that powerful?"

Last edited at 15/08/30(Sun)23:54:44

Dala begins to answer, but then hesitates, and looks to Valanor. Valanor nods briefly to her then turns to Reiyasu and explains, "There is more to this than any of us could have imagined, I believe. All will be explained when we meet the delegates... this information did not come to us easily. Indeed, everything was set in motion when you brought me news that the Fell King was somehow transported to the Well of Dragons. I will give the full story at the meeting, but the short version is that we believe that the ultimate goal of the Cult of the Dragon is to summon Tiamat into this world."

>>77497
The shaman stops copying for a moment to recall what she has read about Tiamat. Religion for Tiamat. (24) http://orokos.com/roll/321709

"Tiamat? Were they not something to do with dracoliches?" the shaman asks.

Last edited at 15/08/31(Mon)01:15:02

"... It is unfortunate that the threat we face is strong enough to warrant a meeting as this, yet the attending members have cotton for brains and need further persuasion." Ramuh shakes his head. "Would that the realm could simply unite in the face of a global threat. Alas, not so easy."

He considers for a moment, then adds, "Master Hornblade is but a pup to this. Chosen only recently to lead. I imagine he'll stubbornly cling to the road of caution, so it may be prudent not to seek Luruar's help first and foremost. Young leaders are ever frightful what history will say of them."

"Yes, for a very long time has the Cult of the Dragon been associated with dracoliches," Valanor confirms, nodding slightly. "They have undergone a change in leadership recently. Remi has more information on that."

Bernkastel (Religion): Tiamat is the five-headed dragon goddess of greed. All evil dragons, chromatic or otherwise, pay homage to Tiamat, as she is the divine principle of "might makes right". Her core belief is that anything you are strong enough to take is yours by right. She also represents vengeance and is known to encourage her followers to lash out at the smallest slight.

Tiamat is most often depicted as a colossal five-headed dragon, one head of each of the five main colors of chromatic dragons. Her power has waxed and waned over the eons, but as a god, her power and strength are well beyond the ken of mortals.

"We should not judge them so harshly. Most of them have the best interests of those they are charged to lead first in their hearts," Dala replies in an easy-going tone. "The realm has faced many potentially world-shattering threats in the past and so far continues to exist, so many would be content to wait out this one as well. It falls to us to convince them that the scale of this threat calls for a response of equal or greater scale. At the very least, we should convince them that they can minimize their losses by working together. I fear it will be no simple task, however."

Valanor shakes his head slightly. "Alas, politics were never my strong suit. I can present my findings and speculations, but in the end, I'm a dragon-hunter." He turns to face Dala and adds, "You should try and convince Nymmurh to plead out case."

Dala scowls, as if Valanor is bringing up a sore spot for her. "He is far too busy with the work YOU have given him, Valanor." Turning to face the adventurers with an uneasy smile, she then asks, "Well, are we ready then?"

The shaman's note-taking has slowed down quite a bit, the quill only adding a few notes here and there. She conjures the smaller spirit companion, which looks a bit more solid than the last time her allies have seen it. The shaman hands it the quill, and it continues the writing while she looks up to speak again.

"...Even if we don't have much time, I think we should discuss at least the most basic strategy. Most importantly, if Sir Isteval can be as helpful as Ms. Silmerhame suggests, then I think convincing the council to keep him involved has immediate priority. We should first persuade Sir Frume to do this."

>>77501
>>77502

"While we should keep that in mind, it would likely be difficult to plan effectively without seeing the council in action. I should hope that a conclusion will take more than one meeting to reach."

Myn twirls his imp in cheerful anticipation.

Last edited at 15/08/31(Mon)14:40:16

Looking at miss I-cannot-be-bothered-to-introduce-myself, he happily replies.

"That sounds like smart thing to do, lady Bernkastel I believe? I was hoping myself sir Valanor could help us to begin on good terms with the Order of the Gauntlet, as their support might result being invaluable for our cause."

Last edited at 15/08/31(Mon)14:54:27

>>77503
The shaman nods. "We still want to be on good terms with everyone, the two especially."

>>77504
"Yes, Mr. Yatagarasu, I'm sorry for not introducing myself earlier. Please call me Bernkastel," says the shaman, bowing to the elder.

"I can certainly vouch for you," Valanor replies, turning to face Reiyasu. "Though I believe that sir Ontharr Frume already likes you well enough personally. Putting the matter of his organization's involvement aside, you and yours may wish to address him directly to gain his support in keeping sir Isteval on board."

>>77497
Torinn bristles, remaining quiet for a time as he processes what he just heard. What utter nonsense was just articulated to him. What unbelievable, hubris-laden idiocy was just explained. "They want to summon the Dragon Queen?!" he whispers loudly, his voice harsh as though he just held himself back from screaming out loud at the sheer foolishness of what he'd heard. As though those cultists fail to grasp the sheer scope of disaster that such a summoning would entail.

He calms himself down enough to just scowl instead of yell. "The Platinum Dragon appeared before me during my return to Tymanther," he says after a moment of silence. "He told me 'the fate of many hangs in the balance.' I didn't understand at the time, but now I think I do. We musn't let it come to pass!"

Now with her name confirmed, the human replies to her with a polite bow "Do not worry, we're on a complicated situation right now. In any case, what would be your suggestion for the meeting now?"

Then his attention is grabbed by Torinn's surprising story."That is... impressive" Reiyasu admits, loss at words. "After a sight like that, now we can rest assured that our goal is fair" he continues rather pleased.

Last edited at 15/08/31(Mon)20:50:29

>>77507
>>77508
The shaman nods to Reiyasu and looks just about to reply, but then is surprised by Torinn's outburst. "Mr. Tormine, you met Mr. Bahamut?"

Last edited at 15/08/31(Mon)20:57:26

Valanor seems a bit taken aback by Torinn's words, and Dala also seems to have taken a keen interest in his reply to the shaman. Sid seems to stumble over a proper reply.

"That is amazing, Torinn. The Platinum Dragon revealed himself to you?" Valanor repeats incredulously. "...though I tend to agree, which is why we need the nations to unite against this threat. If there's even the smallest chance they can bring Tiamat to Toril, then we must spare no quarter in stopping them."

>>77510
>>77509
>>77508
Torinn describes his meeting with the old man with the canaries, the form that Bahamut sometimes takes, and the cryptic warnings he was given. "It was through his blessing that I was able to aid in the slaying of an elder green dragon working with the Cult of the Dragon. Were he not there, it may have been able to escape."

"Gods revealing themselves unto you, then?" Ramuh grins confidently. "Good tidings, then. If we can but convince the council of this, one ally at least is all but secured. Though I should hope to learn what they consider unscrupulous allies..."

>>77510
>>77511
While the smaller spirit continues filling in notes for her, the shaman looks a bit more worried at Torinn's words. "...This cult situation sounds pretty important."

>>77508
Remembering Reiyasu, the shaman turns back to him to reply. "I think... we must also avoid turning the other representatives against us for supporting Sir Isteval. But I apologize, I have no experience with politics, and cannot suggest how to achieve these things," the shaman concludes with a bow.

Last edited at 15/09/01(Tue)10:30:47

"I would very much like to see the atmosphere before formulating a plan for that," Ramuh says to Bernkastel. "Lady Dala might have procured this information for us, but there's some blanks with regards to who stand against Sir Isteval and who do not."

He strokes his beard and is quiet for a moment, before he continues slowly, "There is an old saying I recall... that he who attempts to pluck every flower will see his bouquet wilted 'ere he is done. It may be prudent for us to consider securing the support of key members and worrying about the rest later." With a smile, he finishes, "Of course, I do mean to secure every single ally we can, but perhaps priorities can be made."

Last edited at 15/09/01(Tue)13:31:59

"Well, perhaps we move on, as Mr. Myn suggests" Reiyasu adds in a relaxed manner. He however curiously watches the way the half-elf interacts with his imp.

>>77514
"Yes, I agree with prioritization," the shaman replies to Ramuh. She pauses as though listening to some inaudible advice, and then continues, "If I may add one last thing, maybe we should keep in mind that some organizations would be more helpful earlier than later, and others vice versa."

>>77515

Noticing the orc's glance, Myn displays some of his advanced imp-juggling maneuvers.

>>77514

"Of course, that saying should not apply to the many-limbed creatures of the deep. Perhaps it may be prudent to divide our attentions for the sake of time."

Valanor absorbs Torinn's story with thoughtful reverence, and seems lost in his own mind by the end of it. As the group continues their discussion, Dala Silmerhelve interjects, "Ambassador Brawnanvil, lord Neverember, and King Melandrach seem most adamantly against the inclusion of sir Isteval, while lord Hornblade and lord Ravengard are withholding judgment. I do not know the position of miss Haventree, and Ontharr Frume seems conflicted on the matter. I do know he holds some admiration for sir Isteval, but for some reason he seems hesitant to openly support him. That is why I suggested it may take some doing to get him to speak about it."

The imp makes some very loud noises complaining about his predicament, which does sour the atmosphere slightly, though Dala looks ready to proceed inside if the rest of the party is. Valanor seems to be having an internal debate, and Sid appears ready to move.

Noticing Valanor's expression, the human tries to grab some more information out of him "Forgive me for intruding, Mr. Valanor, is perhaps something bothering you?"

Valanor shakes his head slightly, and says, "No, no, not exactly. Just a little overwhelmed, I suppose, with such direct involvement by Bahamut." He pauses, then adds, "And I'm trying to figure out how we factor into this. Ah, but I must present my findings regarding the Well of Dragons before the council, then I'll explain further."

With the adventurers' planning complete, Dala pushes one of the enormous double doors open and traverses a short distance to a stairway that leads a short distance downward. At the end of these stairs is a smaller, yet more ornate set of double doors, and opening this reveals the grand hall.

The area is split in two--a large, oval-shaped table sits in the middle, and it appears to be carved from a dark, sweet-smelling wood with green accents. Spread across the table is a map of the Sword Coast, another map of the Western Heartlands, and a third map of the Luruar region. Around the table are many chairs that appear to be carved from a similar wood that seems to balance the sweet smell with a different fragrance. Surrounding the table at a distance of about fifteen feet is a mezzanine where dozens of Waterdavian nobles sit, as well as what appear to be some courtiers from other lands. Many humanoid races are represented in these nobles, and they seem to be loudly discussing matters amongst themselves, though the sound appears somewhat muffled by some magical effect before it reaches the floor below. This is where you spot the dignitaries you remember mentioned.

Reiyasu quickly spots Remallia at one end of the table, standing next to a paladin dressed in shining white armor--a young adult human male, but the looks of him, though he appears to have gone prematurely bald, though sports a bushy dark gray mustache and matching beard. Going clockwise from this man, who stands on the left side of the oval and is very likely Ontharr Frume, is a taller, middle-aged human male in blue and gray robes, which matches the description Myn knows as Dagult Neverember. To his right is the dwarf diplomat, dressed in earthly browns and oranges, with a bright braided orange beard and long braided locks atop his head, who must be Connerad Brawnanvil. Standing to his right is Taern Hornblade, who Ramuh immediately recognizes with his somewhat simple-looking blue tunic and thick white hair and beard. Despite his hair going white, he has a youthful gait that perhaps stems from his magically lengthened age, but the expression on his face is grave and thoughtful. The elf to his right most be King Melandrach, as evidenced by his flowing green robes with a gold trim, and his stern, unwavering demeanor. He lacks any facial hair, but his neatly-trimmed, golden blonde hair is topped with a crown made of woven branches painted with silver accents. To his right of the elf king is a human man wearing simple shining steel armor, with short black hair and hard gaze. The tabard covering the front of his armor bears the insignia of the Flaming Fists, making him sir Uldur Ravengard. Sir Isteval, though somewhat advanced in years as a human, still sports a full head of black hair and a black, neatly-trimmed beard to compliment his shining silver armor and purple cape. The last member of the council on the far right side of the oval table is the half-elf ranger, dressed in light gray and white leathers and standing a bit of a distance from the table, a thoughtful look in his eyes. He too lacks facial hair, and possesses a short, thin head of dirty-blond hair.

None of the delegates appear to be sitting, and most have turned their head towards the sound of the doors opening and the entering adventurers, stopping any conversation that might have gone on before you entered. The side of the table facing the doors has been left empty so that the adventurers can take their place there, and you notice that several of the delegates seem to have aides present, standing a bit behind their given representative. A familiar-looking dwarf dressed in white that several of you know as Gourmert Goldsmith stands slightly behind sir Ravengard, and a reddish-pink skinned tiefling woman in red-and-black robes stands near Dagult Neverember. The elf king has three elves dressed like loyal retainers, two male and one female, and the dwarf king also has a dwarven aide at his side.

"Gentlemen, Remallia," Dala Silmerhelve announces, striding forward slightly ahead of the group and bowing, "Allow my to introduce the heroes who assisted us in the battle against the Fell King--paladin of Bahamut, Torinn Tormine, renowned arcane spellcaster Myn Nthelsyr, the shaman called "Bernkastel", sorcerer Ramuh of Luruar, and Arcanimus's chief engineer Sid Silversprocket. Also accompanying them are the gold dragon Valanor, and father of Sureiya, Reiyasu, as the ranger himself could not attend today's meeting."

She pauses here, and waits to see if the adventurers themselves have anything to add to her introduction.

>>77521
While Dala is talking, Torinn leans in and quietly whispers to Bernkastel, " Bernkastel, could please return my armor to how it was?"

>>77522
The shaman waves her hand and returns the armor to whatever it looked like before, knowing that the attendees would probably think Torinn is asking her to disguise his armor.

Last edited at 15/09/02(Wed)10:43:55

Myn smiles cordially, seducing everyone present with his irresistible charms.

"Thank you, members of the council, for inviting our participation. It is my hope that this meeting will be a fruitful one."

"A wretched hive of scum and nobility."

Diplomacy:http://orokos.com/roll/322412

"Though I may hail from Luruar, know that I stand here as Ramuh, and I represent my own interests as well as those of my companions," Ramuh adds. "It is my hope that we will find a common ground where each will leave these meetings satisfied."

Reiyasu performs a polite bow, but remains silent for the time being.
Insight: (27, actually.) http://orokos.com/roll/322445

Last edited at 15/09/02(Wed)13:31:55

Torinn stands silently, with dignity and poise.

With the smaller spirit having been dismissed earlier, the shaman looks around the room for traps and reads the general mood.

Perception (29) http://orokos.com/roll/322433
- I know stuff in the room was described already, so there's no need to repeat that if there's nothing noteworthy to be found.
Insight to read the mood (27) http://orokos.com/roll/322434

Last edited at 15/09/02(Wed)13:11:42

Insight: Reiyasu and Bernkastel can feel that the delegates present at the ground level are a little on edge--not because tempers are flared, necessarily, but more than everyone is cautious and guarded around each other. There's a lot of forced politeness that's been going around, and everyone knows it, and it's just served to make things even more tense. The arrival of the adventurers seems to have eased the mood slightly for some among the number, namely Remallia, Neverember, Istavel, Taern Hornblade, and Ontharr Frume. On the other hand, ambassador Brawnanvil and king Melandrach seem to get even more tense and guarded at your arrival. The only other thing of note that you can read from the mood of the room is that while most of the aides seem focused on their tasks, the tiefling woman behind Neverember seems to be paying very close attention to the group in particular, and Gourmert is happy to see the rest of you again.

Perception: Bernkastel doesn't notice anything else out of the ordinary in the room.

"Welcome, welcome, adventurers!" Neverember says loudly in a voice that both projects and demands respect. "It is good that you have come. Firstly, I want to personally thank you on the behalf of the Sword Coast for your efforts against the Fell King. Though he was not directly targeting our nations for his maniacal scheme, he was not above wreaking havoc on our trade routes and in our cities to accomplish his goals, and thus we owe you a debt for putting a stop to his efforts."

"...aye. Ye've the thanks o' tha dwarves o' tha north 'swell," ambassador Brawnanvil begrudgingly adds. "Our citadels'd've suffer'd tha full wrath o' tha Fell King's attacks'f 'is schemes nae been discov'red 'n stopp'd by ye, an' fer tha, ye 'ave our grat'tude."

"And the thanks of Baldur's Gate," sir Ravengard states in a neutral, even tone, nodding towards the adventurers in a brief gesture of thanks. "You were instrumental in aiding our city in its mission--however irrelevant it may have seemed to the city at the time, the fact of the matter is that you exposed a red dragon controlling the city and your efforts saw it removed from power."

As the adventurers move up to the oval table to join the other delegates, Valanor skirts to the side of the table closest to Remallia Haventree. Remallia looks more than a bit frazzled, but she tries to put on a smile as she looks over to Valanor, and then to Reiyasu. Dala has seemingly departed to join the nobles in the mezzanine. "Now that we've all assembled, I'll present my report." The delegates nod, one at a time, and Valanor turns towards the map of the Western Heartlands. The adventurers notice that several areas on the map have red circles, and a large one sits over the Sunset Mountains, east of Baldur's Gate. "Due to the information provided by the adventurers present at this meeting, I investigated the Well of Dragons, which as you all know, lies within the Sunset Mountains, which form a nigh-impenetrable barrier between the Eastern and Western Heartlands."

Valanor takes a deep breath, then continues, "What I found there was most discouraging. The Cult of the Dragon has seized total control of the area, and has allied with chromatic dragons in order to do so. The entirety of the Well of Dragons is now essentially a cultist stronghold."

"This relates to information I have obtained regarding the cult's recent activities," Remallia adds, then takes the floor. "As some of you may be aware, the Cult of the Dragon has recently gained a new leader, a Calishite human named Severin Silrajin. We don't know a lot about him. What we do know is that he believes that true power comes from devotion to living dragons rather than dracoliches, and this stance has changed how the Cult of the Dragon operates in full. We are unsure on the details, but somehow, Severin has gained the divine authority of Tiamat, and this has allowed him to rally numerous chromatic dragons to his cause."

Remallia begins to pace at this point. "As some of you have heard, my husband, Arthagast Ulbrinter, was recently killed. A few of your probably know that the killing was almost certainly the work of the Cult of the Dragon. What perhaps only one of you knows is that my husband and several wizards and priests were studying the properties of a divine artifact, a magical black dragon mask. It was stolen. But here is what we learned before the cult plundered the mask: it is divine, perhaps created by Tiamat herself. The masks have several immediately obvious magical properties, giving the wearer the ability to mimic certain draconic traits and powers. But they have a more sinister and subtle application as well: if the wearer is erudite in draconic lore, it allows he or she to think like a dragon, gain favor among dragons, and subtly influence their behavior. We were trying to discover the specifics when the mask was stolen."

The elf comes to a stop, and Valanor picks up the delivery of information once more, "I think one thing that council can agree on at this juncture is that we need more information. Now, after the defeat of the Fell King, the adventurers did make a request of me to bring them to the Well of Dragons. There were complications, but as of now, I am prepared to fly you adventurers directly to that location."

Dagult Neverember seems to pick up immediately on where Valanor is going with this, and interjects, "We won't ask you to do anything that interferes or adds onto whatever reasons you have for going to the Well of Dragons. All the council really wants right now is for you to deliver any intelligence you obtain on the cult's activities in the Well of Dragons back to us, so that we can gather more information on their activities and organizational structure."

"And what is your purpose therein, if I may ask?" comes the boisterous voice of Ontharr Frume. Here the council pauses, and all eyes turn towards the adventurers present at the table.

"Oh my..." the ranger mutters in disbelief. As if the question of Ontharr was completely unrelated to him, he instead directs his attention to Remalia.

"Lady Remalia, let me tell you have my deepest condolences" he says in a soft and respectful tone, while looking quite saddened.

The shaman could be less nervous, but feels obligated to reply, as Torinn and Ramuh weren't present for this discovery. She calms her wits and answers the questioner. "We were following the lead that the Fell King was at the Well of Dragons."

Last edited at 15/09/02(Wed)23:43:40

The owlbear spreads itself across two of the unoccupied chairs behind Myn, scratching its belly as it lounges.

Silence seems to clamp down on everyone present, even the nobles conversing above, and the air in the council chambers gets very thick. Valanor looks quite nervous, and it's finally sir Ravengard who clears his throat, then asks, "Do you mean to say that you believe the Fell King is still alive?"

>>77533

"Worry not, there is no cause for alarm on that front. During the course of our assault, we discovered that the Fell King's actions were driven by a number of dragon spirits that had been possessing him, which were expelled when we defeated him. Once freed, he even assisted us in staving off the red dragon Daragoth as we escaped, and attempted to sacrifice himself to slay him. However, upon our return, both were absent, and a ritual revealed that the Fell King was incapacitated and at the Well of Dragons."

Myn's demeanor suggests his surprise that the delegates were not aware of the full situation.

"My assumption is that he was captured by Daragoth, and left alive for some nefarious purpose, perhaps related to his ability to affect leylines."

Diplomacy:http://orokos.com/roll/322650

Last edited at 15/09/03(Thu)19:09:22

Myn's words cause some murmurs from the mezzanine, and the dwarven delegate is the first to voice a reply, while hopping up and leaning over the table, "If 'e's still alive... 'ell have ta be brought ta justice! Spirits or no, 'e's too dangerous ta leave runnin' aroond!"

"Let us not be so hasty," lord Hornblade interjects, waving a calming hand towards the dwarven ambassador. "Spiritual influence can be quite powerful. It might not come to a matter for a tribunal. We need handle this news with the utmost care, and take it as an opportunity. If he can be rescued..."

"Bah!" Brawnanvil spits. "'e's too powerful fer a cautious approach! An' if 'e escapes 'gain?"

"All the more reason to let the adventurers who dealt with him before deal with him again," comes the calm, soothing voice of sir Isteval, as he too leans over the edge of the table. He regards the faces of each of other delegates, including the adventurers, then says, "For the time being, the Fell King's power base has been shattered, and he has no more agents willing to aid him. The dragon spirits that once aided him, benefactors or manipulators, have also been banished. And the true threat is his possible captor, Daragoth the Desolator. Whatever the case, action must be taken, and Valanor's offer is as good as any as a first move. The adventurers can gather information while the rest of us rally whatever forces we can commit to the cause."

"Your voice on this council, sir Isteval, is not guaranteed," says sir Ravengard with a slight growl. "The only body you are officially endorsed to represent, Daggerford, has little to contribute should we intend to rally our forces together, and as far as we know, Cormyr is not represented at this council."

A certain half-elf ranger clears his throat at this point, then adds his own contribution, "Excuse me, but this sort of bickering is pointless. We all know the real reason we're having this meeting--the Cult of the Dragon's rumored aim, which is to summon forth the dragon goddess, Tiamat." Delann Winterhound looks to Valanor, who nods uneasily.

"...Yes. The sounding of the Draakhorn portends a great happening for dragonkind. With the information gathered by the Harpers courtesy of miss Haventree, we do believe that Severin possesses divine gifts and could, in theory, with the aid of the Red Wizards of Thay, devise a ritual to summon forth Tiamat's physical form from realms beyond to Toril," Valanor explains with some small hesitation. "The dragon mask artifacts are certainly important to the ritual, and their seizing of the Well of Dragons makes this plot even more likely."

Remallia manages to nod some thanks to Reiyasu, smiling briefly before addressing the council once again, "Answers to all of our questions lie within the Well of Dragons. An accomplished adventuring party who also seeks some or all of these answers is an ideal choice, is it not?"

Lord Neverember takes a small pause in miss Haventree's monologue as an opportunity to take the reins of the discussion once more, "Our national assets will take time to mobilize, and there's no way to hide such activity from the cult. Thus, we must learn more before we move to commit our forces to the cause, because once we do decide to commit, there is no going back, and the Cult of the Dragon and their Thayan allies will know full well we are coming. Move too soon and they may evacuate, scatter, and we'll never track them all down. Move too late, and we will have to fight a dragon goddess at full power. I agree with the conclusions of Valanor and miss Haventree that our first move must be small, subtle, and aimed at getting a better read of the situation."

Onthar Frume makes a gesture towards the adventurers, then announces, "I can think of nobody better to trust on this matter. Their judgment thus far has proven sound, as I doubt that any would have been able to track down and defeat the Fell King in his own keep as they did, saving so many lives in the process. If they're ready to go to the Well and finish the job, or do whatever else needs to be done, I say we endorse them and give them all the support they need!"

"And what of your thoughts on the matter, King Melandrach?" Ramuh speaks the word 'king' in Elven, and rests his gaze on the Elven king who, so far, has deigned not to say anything.

The elf king seems a bit unamused at being suddenly called out by the upstart adventurer, but he folds his hands and leans forward, replying in an even tone, "-I- think... that we need to know more about what's going on. If this 'Fell King' character is still at large, then bring him here and let him be interrogated. We need to know more--about the cult, about Daragoth, and everything that has happened to him since his defeat at the Fell Keep."

Ramuh ignores any lack of amusement on the elven king's part.

"In that sense then, we look to be all aligned," the lord of levin concludes. To the party, he says, "I will be ready to leave when you are."

A little worried of the mood brought by the exchange between Ramuh and the elf, Reiyasu slowly approaches Torinn and softly whispers to him.

"Mr. Torinn. My son has told me you have your way with words, but you have stayed silent so far. Is something wrong?"

Reiyasu's prompting gives Torinn reason enough to speak. He's still absorbing everything he's heard, but he feels he needs to say what happened to him. "After we fought the Fell King, the Platinum Dragon, Bahamut, appeared before me back in Tymanther," he tells the assembly.

diplomacy to grab attention: http://orokos.com/roll/322760 (25)

"Good! That is how heroes are supposed to act" Reiyasu silently retreats to the back of the party, looking quite pleased.

This much does seem to catch the attention of the council. "A divine message? What were you told?" Ontharr Frume asks.

>>77542
"I was told I would play an important role in the future," Torinn replies. "That 'the fate of many hangs in the balance'. Furthermore, with his direct blessing, I helped subdue an elder green dragon that, working in league with the Cult of the Dragon, was plotting against my homeland. I have enough reason to dislike the Cult of the Dragon, as until they have given back what they have taken, the stigma surrounding my clan will not disappear. I also have enough reason to dislike Daragoth for using us, and giving him a scar is not the justice he deserves. I would see both of them fall. However, I also think that the Fell King must answer for all he's done. If he is repentant, then he will not object to standing trial."

Diplomacy: http://orokos.com/roll/322842 (24)

The council seems to accept Torinn's words, and many nod in agreement. Lord Neverember again begins to speak, "Of course, while our forces do not stand ready to mobilize at this time, you will have full access to the services of Waterdeep, and non-magical services will be free of charge. We will aid you in trading out your outdated magical equipment for whatever better items you need, and of course, you'll continue to be financially compensated for your service."

Sir Ravenguard crosses his arms and adopts a stern look towards the adventurers, then says, "I'm certain the adventurers are eager to proceed with their mission. Was there anything else?"

Sid looks slightly uneasy, but he doesn't say anything. The shaman and Reiyasu get the sense that it's something he doesn't want to discuss in front of the council.

Ramuh marvels at Torinn's way with words.

>>77544
"You all have my gratitude," Torinn says with a slight bow. "I look forward to working with you in the future."

diplomacy: http://orokos.com/roll/322977 (35)

"And the same for you," Lord Neverember replies, smiling and nodding. "I hereby declare this preliminary session of the Council of Waterdeep closed."

The nobles in the mezzanine resume their vibrant conversations at Neverember's decree, and the rest of the delegates begin to converse with their aides, wandering away from the table in the center of the room. Those who have no aides pull out what appear to be sending stones and look like they are about to use them. Remallia Haventree steps away from the table and approaches the adventuring party, bowing and saying, "Sorry I was not able to catch up with any of you sooner. I should have managed to tell you what happened with my husband and the black dragon mask before this," she gives a knowing look to Reiyasu at this point.

>>77547

"It is of no concern, Miss Remalia. For the matter of the loss of your husband, you have my condolences."

The warlock offers a brief bow before turning away slightly from the group.

"If you all would excuse me, I have a small personal request to make of one of the delegates."

Myn heads off to engage Neverember, adopting an affable demeanor but speaking with a lowered voice.

"Excuse me, Mister Dagult. I was wondering whether you might be available for a private meeting at your earliest convenience. There is a certain matter I wish to discuss with you."

As Myn moves to leave, Remallia smiles and says, "Please, I am known as 'Remi' to my friends." With that much, she turns to the group who remains, and says, "As it happens, divinations point to my husband's body being dumped in the harbor, and so I have agents currently looking for it. I would see to it myself, but the matters touched upon here are bigger than all of us, and my fellow Harpers are unmotivated to be as involved as I feel we need to be. Either way, once we recover the body, he'll be resurrected, and though I doubt he can give us much additional information, I will be happy to have my husband back. It seems the cult doesn't really care whether or not we recover my husband, and the moving of the body was either to spite or distract us."

When Myn approaches Dagult Neverember, he finds the man conversing with his tiefling associate. She smiles at Myn as the half-elf approaches the pair, and lord Neverember regards him, "A private matter? Of course. I am certain we could find a private chamber here in the castle..."

"M'lord, I feel it is best if I accompanied you," the tiefling woman interjects politely, nodding to the lord Neverember. Turning to Myn, she bows and introduces herself, "Rian Nightshade, special adviser to the lord Neverember. You understand, between his duties as both the lord of Waterdeep and the lord of Neverwinter, the lord Neverember has need of associates such as myself to aid him in his duties."

Lord Neverember seems to have no objections to the tiefling's words.

>>77549

"At what time did privacy become so rare a treasure?"

"If Mister Dagult will not object, then neither shall I. Let us proceed then."

Myn returns the tiefling's smile, masking his irritation.

The tiefling bows again, and lord Neveremeber leads Myn out of the grand hall and into one of the outer galleries, which appears deserted for the moment--all the nobles are busy debating in the mezzanine of the main hall.

Meanwhile, Dala Silmerhelve rejoins the remaining adventurers and Valanor on the ground level. "Are you certain that approaching the Well of Dragons at this juncture is wise?" she asks, clearly addressing Valanor.

"My friends here wish to know the Fell King's fate--as do I. Ragrim Dragonsworn could be a crucial asset, or a dangerous foe," the gold dragon replies smoothly.

>>77551
"Waiting will not make it any less dangerous," Torinn adds.

"Certainly, waiting will not, but perhaps extra information will" Reiyasu confidently adds while joining into the conversation.

"Sir Valanor, would you please further elaborate on the condition of the well? The idea of confronting both the cult and chromatic dragons does not sound very appealing. Have you thought of a plan of action, Sir Valanor?"

"Ah, do not mistake my good friend's intentions," Valanor replies first to Torinn. "Dala Silmerhelve has provided us with valuable intelligence on the Draakhorn--including its last known location. I think it was her hope that we would investigate that sooner than later."

Turning to Reiyasu, he nods sagely and says, "A network of lava tubes exists below the extinct volcano that comprises the Well of Dragons. Our objective is for you to infiltrate the caldera through these lava tubes--which are likely primarily patrolled by the members of the cult, as no dragon would lair within, and many are too narrow for a dragon to fight effectively. Once you are within the caldera you are completely safe from dragons, as no dragon alive would risk entering the caldera. It is said that for a dragon to enter the caldera is to be prepared for death, and I doubt that any chromatics would take that risk. We don't know if it's a curse or circumstance or what, but dragons that enter the Well of Dragons die. So... as you may surmise based on that, I will not be accompanying you either. Instead, I will provide a distraction on the outside, to lure away any chromatics that happen to be in the area."