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Post by Maestro Buliri on May 12, 2015 3:24:55 GMT
And now to the second act. The drama of the first had managed to wind itself down and now the stage was free to manipulate events much further down the line. With the knowledge of the wizard's tournament in place, it was now a matter of clearing the board and making sure just the right pieces were left to leave him... sorry, THEM (meaning himself and Brass, of course) in the best possible position to clean house.
That meant he needed to make sure that this little band of heroes that was soon to form was far away from anywhere they could cause trouble for his plans.
"By all means, let them meet the wack-o witch..." Buliri muttered, rolling his eyes slightly. "Surely her special brand of knowledge will be MOST enlightening and I do speak with the heaviest amount of sarcasm I can possibly muster."
Looking to Atticus now, Buliri lifted a thoughtful brow. "That's going to drag you right back here, unless you arrange to meet this woman on the road. Bear in mind, young man, that you don't have the luxury of having time to waste. But if you insist on chasing rumors and speculation, I might suggest another place to look for someone worthy of your quest..."
Buliri waved a hand and conjured an illusory map upon the table depicting the wild countryside of their world. As he pointed and spoke, magical, gem-shaped indicators would hover over where he was intending to draw attention. "The Church of Creation is here, to the north, and my suggestion takes you out here, to the desert..." he said. He sat back and assumed a knowledgeable tone of authority as he spoke.
"There's been quite a few rumors of some strange magic out there on the dunes. Some of the more out-there theories suggest the presence of a djinn's lamp even. I've sent one or two students out that way to investigate, but that was only a few days ago and they haven't had a chance to conduct a thorough examination just yet. I can't say I know what you'll FIND out there, Master Daegal, but I can venture a guess and say that whatever it is, it should prove... interesting at least."
He grinned and fell silent, watching the next round of reactions. How would they take him suggesting a wild goose chase in the desert in the heart of all the political upheaval that was to come? Would they see his game, or would the allure of a mystery blind them to his goals? Only time could tell.
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Post by Almalexia on May 12, 2015 3:43:23 GMT
Though she could not hide a slight twitch of annoyance at the Duke's insistence on mentioning that this Chancellor was an Elf, Almalexia was nevertheless capable of maintaining her clam. She listened patiently to the Duke's... rather unhelpful diatripe about what they could and could NOT do and then to Buliri in turn. While neither did much in the way of offer answers (something she doubted very highly they would be able to provide even had the diviner been among them), they did both bring up somewhat important points. She looked to Atticus and, swallowing her extreme distaste for his past and what he represented, spoke calmly.
"I'm afraid I must agree with our master of Transmutation. As it stands, should you need to defend yourselves, you are not quite prepared for combat. I'm certain Miss Hyne has seen her fair share of confrontation, but this is a far cry from helpless passengers aboard private vessels and their expensive trinkets..." she said, then looked to the Illusionist and no doubt grinning Duke seated across the way.
"As to this rumor in the desert... I admit myself curious as well. Any magical activity does warrant investigation and I praise Maestro Buliri for his quick response. In the future, I would like to be kept abreast of any developments as they occur as well..." she said, knowing that the only reason she would not have been informed would simply be because she had only just taken the position as grand conjurer and no one has yet had the opportunity to update her on current events.
Having stated her interest in the affair, she looked now into the eyes of the Duke for whom she held a great deal of contempt but knew that if she was to make herself a respectable member of this council, she needed to "play nice". "Your Grace, let us consider the timing of the events to come. If this delegation is to take place soon, then why do we not take our time in this matter? While the diplomats and aristocrats make their journey here, surely you would be greatly interested in overseeing Young Master Daegal's higher magical education in the absence of our Grand Evoker? Teach him what he needs to know to protect himself and his party. I would be... pleased... to take Miss Hyne under my wing in the meantime. When the delegation arrives, they can have their interview with the Chancellor whom I am certain will prove to be both pragmatic and insightful beyond her many years..."
She paused, allowing the challenge to sink into the Duke's mind a moment. It was a put up or shut up matter at this point, and she wanted him to know it before moving on.
"Then they can recruit their healer. We could even send a formal request to the Church of Creation to send us one of their own best suited to the quest so they may meet here rather than, as it was put earlier, waste time on trips. If they so choose, then an investigation into the desert sands would be most appropriate as they would then be equipped to handle the harsh environment...."
She stopped at last and sat back to indicate an end to her line of reasoning. She now only waited for the others to mull this information over...
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Post by The Creator on May 18, 2015 23:31:36 GMT
"A Djinn's lamp?" Regina said in a curious tone, staring deep into one of her cups, this particular one a mixture of green and blue liquid swirling about at top-speed; she dipped a finger in gingerly, almost as if trying to stop the magic, to no avail.
"A lamp...excuse me, my lady Almalexia. Master Buliri--was it not Lady Caria's assertion the lamps had all but been destroyed ten years ago? I thought the Plane of Air had severed its gates? A genie. Could a Djinni gift help us? Is it even in their power to do so?"
She thought this over once more, her shoulders suddenly shaking, as if the idea of three wishes overwhelmed her. After all, she was a mortal with no magic. There were plenty of things she could ask for...
Lady Almalexia. You have spent some time at the Temple. Is there anyone you know of who might be a capable companion to Master Daegal and Mrs. Hyne? I wouldn't wish to hire a simple priest to get their hands dirty--perhaps a militant Templar. The Order boasts a host of divine Knights, doesn't it? Master Daegal, I feel the weight of a Paladin could shield you much better in this endeavor than a preacher may...we do not want to risk you all getting badly injured out there. With the prophecy and all."
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Post by Lord Rail on May 18, 2015 23:42:16 GMT
Rail gazed at the illusionary map with feigned disinterest, but his demeanor couldn't have been any more false. In fact, Buliri's spy network had seen a lot more than the Necromancer initially conceived, and for some strange reason, this irritated the man. He peered up at the Gnome and, withholding gritted teeth, raised his scythe and dropped it where there lay a dark blot.
"A Holy Knight is well and good, but cannot provide the healing capability I believe Atticus is looking for. But I think i can help there. Here is the Temple of Carsas. This the third on the Pilgrim's Path, where a prospective high priestess is heading on the way to take her final vows--she intends to reach sainthood. Her path will lead to the desert at some point...the Monastary is there. If you're going after a genie, I would get a priestess anyway, one with the skills capable of binding extraplanar beings, should they pose a threat."
He felt the woman's life waning...there was no way she would reach the pinnacle of her power continuing down that path. And the others needed a healer. With Atticus's strange power--he could feel it--the woman may yet live, caught in the timeless aura the beasts within exhuded.
"She convenes with the patron Carnasa. It would be wise to help her there, if you wish to earn her assistance."
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Post by Atticus Daegal on Jun 2, 2015 20:57:18 GMT
Atticus was strangely quiet and focused, a state that was usually out of place for him unless he was seated in one of the great lectures of the magical studies which he so enjoyed. He leaned forward thoughtfully, his hands folded together with what one would presume to be his chin nested comfortably in the seat of his thumbs and forefingers. He watched and listened carefully to each grand mage and the empress herself in turn, carefully weighing their words and their meaning and working out a course of action for himself.
It would have been easy to take the new conjurer's suggestion, to stay and do nothing but study. By the gods, it was what he wanted most. However, with the weight of the prophecy bearing on his shoulders, he felt swift action was what was called for beyond the more comfortable and attractive option of simply waiting for something to happen. Yes, he needed to learn, but he could no more leap to the ninth circle of magic from his current position than a fish could take to the starry skies. Logic and reason had to be what guided his decision today.
When the possibility of a Djinn's Lamp was approached, he was doubly careful to watch the reactions of those around him. He'd read a great deal of legends and myths regarding the power of genies and their ability to grant wishes. Very rarely did it end well for the wisher, and always the seduction of a simple answer to life's problems lured the weak willed to their doom. Objectively, he could see the hunger in the others' eyes. It wasn't hard to pinpoint when even the empress of the land began to ask questions regarding the extent of a djinn's might. Admittedly, even he felt a slight twinge in his heart for the slightest of possibilities that he might be freed of his own personal hell. Desire, however, would also have to take a back seat to the immediate concern.
Atticus sat up slightly, lowering his hands to indicate his desire to speak once Lord Rail had laid bare his suggestions. With a slow breath, Atticus collected his thoughts and looked to each in turn once more. "Thank you all. You've each brought up wonderful points for me to consider, and I think I can finally piece together some kind of plan with this input..." he said slowly, as though sewing together the various fragments of information together at that very moment. When he spoke again, he was much more clear than he had been in the past... and far more sure.
"While I agree that I, myself, am not fully prepared for combat, that is not the intent of this mission at its outset. Our first point of business is to enlist a capable healer. Lord Rail, you say this one can be found in the desert, along the same path as this magic aura that seems to be drawing attention. So, that sets our destination. However, facing the desert sands may be a challenge for only Miss Hyne and I, since the desert is known to be subject to violent sandstorms and strange creatures. We'll need protection."
He paused and looked to Almalexia now. "While I wish with all my heart to simply wait for your contacts to send US someone suitable, I'm afraid our better option is to act swiftly and achieve as much as possible in what little time we have before circumstances become too chaotic or dangerous for us to take further action. I would, however, greatly appreciate your assistance in contacting the Church of Creation. I'm told they keep a small detachment of holy warriors for the protection of their maidens. It is my hope they can spare one of them, a paladin capable of minor healing and swordplay to get us to our true objective."
He looked to Brass now, nodding. "In the meantime, Lord Brass... as a personal favor, might you gather a few choice lessons that I could begin mastering when we return? I am only a wizard of the first level, so attempting to leap to the heights of power would be a waste of time - but, with a structured plan, I feel I can improve my abilities considerably and possibly be in a better position to learn higher spells by the time we've procured our healer and made our way back."
Now, to Maestro Buliri. "Depending solely on whether or not we can do so before the delegation begins, our party will be four strong and capable of looking into this mysterious magic. With any luck, it will NOT be as rumored. The power to grant wishes may be an incredible asset, but it could also lead to complete ruin, especially if it can turn ally against ally in desire for that power or if whatever evil forces that guide this prophecy get their hands on it. However, if it is... I feel the wisest course of action would be either to lock it away from everyone or outright destroy the lamp before it destroy us all."
The hooded mage looked then to his empress, nodding lightly. "I pray you see my wisdom in this case, your highness. Whatever the case, it will take time for the delegates to arrive for the summit, and that is the time limit which I am imposing upon myself and this leg of the quest. It is my full intention to arrive before the ambassador must leave in order to have that meeting. Once that has been accomplished, we'll be ready to decide what to do next."
Finally, Atticus sat back and sighed, clearing his head a bit before looking to Hilda on the other side of the monarch. He nodded to her once. "So, in summary. Lady Almalexia contacts the Church of Creation and commissions a paladin. We fly there to pick them up while Lord Brass simultaneously begins preparing spell lessons for our return. From the Church, we make our way directly to the desert to enlist the assistance of the priestess at the monastery there. If there is still time, we check in on this magic rumor then return to meet the ambassador. From there, I'll attend the Duke's lesson while you and our new companions go over whatever new developments occur between now and then. Do you agree?"
It sounded so logical, so thought out. Quietly, he prayed to all the gods that he was doing the right thing, that his CHOICES were in fact the right ones. He doubted himself so much, but he needed to keep the façade of one who was confident and sure. He needed the others to believe in him, even if he did not. He needed to perform well.
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