Unravelling 28/1/20 - Varis
Feb 24, 2020 9:22:57 GMT
Grimes, Merla, the Daughter of Summer, and 1 more like this
Post by Varis/G'Lorth/Sundilar on Feb 24, 2020 9:22:57 GMT
1st of Alturiak 1497DR
“Master Nailo? Councillor Archselon will see you now.”
“Thank you, Phillip.”
Varis follows the ernest young man through the huge oak doors and into the council chamber. Aurelia stands with her back to the fireplace, the shadows making her face seem carved of marble. Her features have always been angelic, but in the flickering firelight of the huge, dim room, they look particularly otherworldly. At her gesture, Phillip excuses himself, and Varis joins her by the fireplace. As he approaches, he feels a tension settle between his shoulders. He once saw the woman hold a raw planar rift open with nothing but the strength of her will. He’s seen her summon entire castles from thin air as though it were an afterthought. A man does not stand before Aurelia Archselon without some awareness of how close he is to oblivion.
“Grandmaster. Thank you for meeting me here - I’m sure you have much business of your own to attend to.”
The beatific features split into a warm smile, and she gestures for him to sit. He does so, pulling the thick winter gloves from his hands and tucking them into his belt.
“I serve the people of Daring, Councillor, just as you do. I am at your disposal. What is it I can do for you today?”
“You were recently in Sigil, I believe, with some of your companions. My understanding is you went to discover more about the strange happenings at the end of the Giant’s War. I wondered if you might share what you learned.”
Varis nods.
“Certainly. At the Siege of Zot Goran, we slew the architect of the invasion, a Ghennan fiend named Mogtron. The nature of Yugoloths lead us to believe - and documents recovered from the creature’s study confirmed - that Mogtron did not act of his own volition. He was hired by someone else, presumably with the ultimate goal of enacting whatever strange magics we saw at the end of the battle. Sunday learned that one of the information brokers of Sigil, Shemeshka the Marauder, was herself an Arcanaloth, and we surmised she might know something of Mogtron’s history - perhaps even who it was that had been employing him.”
Aurelia is leaning forward in her chair ever so slightly, perfect brow furrowed in thought.
“And?”
Varis gives a grim smile.
“Nothing so easy, I’m afraid. We performed a small service for her. Distasteful as it is to trade favours with fiends, I felt little compunction destroying the eye tyrant that was her foe. The creature had kidnapped several children, and animated a fallen rival through necromantic magic.”
Aurelia arches an eyebrow.
“Never a dull moment.”
“Quite. In the end, what she provided us with was less information and more logic. Her reasoning - and I cannot find fault with it - was that with Mogtron dead, whoever had employed him must either have new agents operating in K’ul Goran, or have gone there themselves to direct the next stage of their plans in person. Someone must be directing the next phase of whatever this is. Find them, and we will find our answers. However, we must step carefully here. Our enemy will know we are hunting them, and if they have evaded discovery this long, they are formidable indeed.”
“Indeed. It does, however, provide us with an opportunity. We had feared all avenues of investigation closed with Mogtron’s death. It now seems that may not be the case. But we must be careful - whoever it is we seek will know that we hunt them, and if they have evaded discovery this long, they must be formidable indeed.”
The Councillor’s amused expression has faded to one of deep concern. For a moment she is silent, eyes lost in thought. Then she nods, turning to face the young man before her.
“Thank you, Grandmaster. This is troubling to say the very least, but it seems we are in this maze now. The only way out is through.”
She stands, walking him to the door. On the threshold she stops him, laying an alabaster hand on his arm.
“I was sorry to hear of the Order’s losses at Zot Goran. I did not know your soldiers, but I am sure they fought bravely. They will be remembered.”
Varis stiffens, avoiding her eye for a moment, then turning to give an overly formal bow.
“Councillor.”
Aurelia nods farewell, a sad, knowing smile on her face as he turns and walks from the room.
“Master Nailo? Councillor Archselon will see you now.”
“Thank you, Phillip.”
Varis follows the ernest young man through the huge oak doors and into the council chamber. Aurelia stands with her back to the fireplace, the shadows making her face seem carved of marble. Her features have always been angelic, but in the flickering firelight of the huge, dim room, they look particularly otherworldly. At her gesture, Phillip excuses himself, and Varis joins her by the fireplace. As he approaches, he feels a tension settle between his shoulders. He once saw the woman hold a raw planar rift open with nothing but the strength of her will. He’s seen her summon entire castles from thin air as though it were an afterthought. A man does not stand before Aurelia Archselon without some awareness of how close he is to oblivion.
“Grandmaster. Thank you for meeting me here - I’m sure you have much business of your own to attend to.”
The beatific features split into a warm smile, and she gestures for him to sit. He does so, pulling the thick winter gloves from his hands and tucking them into his belt.
“I serve the people of Daring, Councillor, just as you do. I am at your disposal. What is it I can do for you today?”
“You were recently in Sigil, I believe, with some of your companions. My understanding is you went to discover more about the strange happenings at the end of the Giant’s War. I wondered if you might share what you learned.”
Varis nods.
“Certainly. At the Siege of Zot Goran, we slew the architect of the invasion, a Ghennan fiend named Mogtron. The nature of Yugoloths lead us to believe - and documents recovered from the creature’s study confirmed - that Mogtron did not act of his own volition. He was hired by someone else, presumably with the ultimate goal of enacting whatever strange magics we saw at the end of the battle. Sunday learned that one of the information brokers of Sigil, Shemeshka the Marauder, was herself an Arcanaloth, and we surmised she might know something of Mogtron’s history - perhaps even who it was that had been employing him.”
Aurelia is leaning forward in her chair ever so slightly, perfect brow furrowed in thought.
“And?”
Varis gives a grim smile.
“Nothing so easy, I’m afraid. We performed a small service for her. Distasteful as it is to trade favours with fiends, I felt little compunction destroying the eye tyrant that was her foe. The creature had kidnapped several children, and animated a fallen rival through necromantic magic.”
Aurelia arches an eyebrow.
“Never a dull moment.”
“Quite. In the end, what she provided us with was less information and more logic. Her reasoning - and I cannot find fault with it - was that with Mogtron dead, whoever had employed him must either have new agents operating in K’ul Goran, or have gone there themselves to direct the next stage of their plans in person. Someone must be directing the next phase of whatever this is. Find them, and we will find our answers. However, we must step carefully here. Our enemy will know we are hunting them, and if they have evaded discovery this long, they are formidable indeed.”
“Indeed. It does, however, provide us with an opportunity. We had feared all avenues of investigation closed with Mogtron’s death. It now seems that may not be the case. But we must be careful - whoever it is we seek will know that we hunt them, and if they have evaded discovery this long, they must be formidable indeed.”
The Councillor’s amused expression has faded to one of deep concern. For a moment she is silent, eyes lost in thought. Then she nods, turning to face the young man before her.
“Thank you, Grandmaster. This is troubling to say the very least, but it seems we are in this maze now. The only way out is through.”
She stands, walking him to the door. On the threshold she stops him, laying an alabaster hand on his arm.
“I was sorry to hear of the Order’s losses at Zot Goran. I did not know your soldiers, but I am sure they fought bravely. They will be remembered.”
Varis stiffens, avoiding her eye for a moment, then turning to give an overly formal bow.
“Councillor.”
Aurelia nods farewell, a sad, knowing smile on her face as he turns and walks from the room.