Post by andycd on Jun 12, 2020 8:45:41 GMT
==Early morning, 28th Mirtul==
The Ettin taproom was an unusual cacophony of noise for this time of day. The full staff had been called in to cater for everyone as the tables filled out with adventurers new and old. People who hadn’t seen each other in weeks or months clasped arms and sat down to catch up over drinks and food (brought out just as quick as possible, thank you for waiting) as they waited to see what news would come.
The Flourished Hook was always a cacophony of noise, but today it was definitely louder. The call had gone out across the two towns, a message passed swiftly down streets and decried from rooftops, “Adventurers, Assemble.” Naturally, everyone understood that meant at the pub.
For all the chaos, the Ettin went quiet very quickly when Aurelia walked in, flanked by Khazifa and a tall minotaur some recognised as Senator Rhodes. They strode through the crowd parting before them and stepped up onto the small stage. Khazifa turned to face Aurelia, and moved her hands in the air, creating a faint blue oval in the air. At the same time, a similar blue circle appeared in the air in the Flourishing Hook miles away and Aurelia’s face peered through.
“................................. ah there, sorry I was on mute.” Aurelia’s voice rang out in both taverns.
“You are all aware of the dire situation developing in K’ul Goran. The armed forces there have already been fighting a growing army of Devils and Fiends from Avernus, and the rate of their incursion is accelerating by the minute. Daring’s First, our army, have already been deployed to support and we will be coordinating with Grandmaster Nailo where possible.
Six months ago we faced giants in K’ul Goran, and - pardon me, Senator - but the worst case outcome then for Daring was the loss of a dear neighbour and partner. The worst case scenario today is exactly what is happening - the invasion of the Material Plane by the forces of Hell. The Blood War between Devils and Demons has been fought for longer than time itself, and the balance between the two sides is all that stands between us and the total domination of all life by one of these two forces.”
She paused. “I cannot stress this enough. Having Archduke Zariel gain a foothold on the Material Plane like this is one of the Endgame Scenarios. If they succeed, we don’t just lose K’ul Goran, or Daring Heights, we lose everything - everyone you have ever cared about. And we simply do not have enough time to pull in more forces from elsewhere. We stop them now, or we do not stop them at all.”
The circle fizzled and disappeared in Khazifa’s hands, who cursed and shook her hands out briefly before reconnecting to the team meeting.
“To that end, we have a plan, coordinated with the leadership of K’ul Goran as well and we need your help to achieve it.Prior to tonight, you were each instructed to prepare a lip-sync to Meatloaf’s Bat out of Hell. We have to close that portal, and yesterday some of you helped Khazifa here to confirm how - there is a generator in Zariel’s Tower in Avernus which is powering the rift from their side. We cannot disrupt the blood ritual that is powering it on this side, as it is the size of a country, but we can stop that one.
To get to it will require a great feat, and no one is better equipped for this sort of task than those of you gathered here and in Port Ffirst. There are obstacles, however. If you go straight for the generator, all the hordes of Hell will close around you. There are sufficient sentries and wards that if you sneak to it without a significant distraction, you'll get caught, and again the hordes of Hell will close around you. Even with a major distraction, Archduke Zariel is one of the foremost tacticians in the multiverse. If she is still in play, she will likely figure out our strategy, and yes, that means all the hordes of Hell will close around you.
So this is what we propose: later today the bulk of you will be deployed alongside the main forces and prepare for a full counter-attack against the Devil army. We will rout them, force them back through the portal and follow them into Avernus itself. We have a few other thoughts of ideas which may assist with this, but that is the core of it. While this action happens, demanding Zariel’s focus, the strongest amongst you will make a play straight for the Archduke. Your task is simple: keep Zariel’s attention. We need to take her eye off the field. Whatever you need to do, do it, but be the distraction we need you to be or all is lost.
Finally, a small group of you will be sent into Avernus completely separately, to sneak into the tower, find the generator and sabotage it, closing the portal and stopping the war completely.
It’s a… bold strategy, and it requires putting a great many lives in peril, including yours. Unfortunately, time is not on our side, and this plan *will* work if everyone plays their part. We will stop this horde, save K’ul Goran and ultimately the world! Who’s with me?”
Silence rippled across the two taverns, a few cautious hands raising in the air. Aurelia sighed and put a hand to her head, then looked straight ahead again.
“Did I mention we are paying triple?”
The Ettin taproom was an unusual cacophony of noise for this time of day. The full staff had been called in to cater for everyone as the tables filled out with adventurers new and old. People who hadn’t seen each other in weeks or months clasped arms and sat down to catch up over drinks and food (brought out just as quick as possible, thank you for waiting) as they waited to see what news would come.
The Flourished Hook was always a cacophony of noise, but today it was definitely louder. The call had gone out across the two towns, a message passed swiftly down streets and decried from rooftops, “Adventurers, Assemble.” Naturally, everyone understood that meant at the pub.
For all the chaos, the Ettin went quiet very quickly when Aurelia walked in, flanked by Khazifa and a tall minotaur some recognised as Senator Rhodes. They strode through the crowd parting before them and stepped up onto the small stage. Khazifa turned to face Aurelia, and moved her hands in the air, creating a faint blue oval in the air. At the same time, a similar blue circle appeared in the air in the Flourishing Hook miles away and Aurelia’s face peered through.
“................................. ah there, sorry I was on mute.” Aurelia’s voice rang out in both taverns.
“You are all aware of the dire situation developing in K’ul Goran. The armed forces there have already been fighting a growing army of Devils and Fiends from Avernus, and the rate of their incursion is accelerating by the minute. Daring’s First, our army, have already been deployed to support and we will be coordinating with Grandmaster Nailo where possible.
Six months ago we faced giants in K’ul Goran, and - pardon me, Senator - but the worst case outcome then for Daring was the loss of a dear neighbour and partner. The worst case scenario today is exactly what is happening - the invasion of the Material Plane by the forces of Hell. The Blood War between Devils and Demons has been fought for longer than time itself, and the balance between the two sides is all that stands between us and the total domination of all life by one of these two forces.”
She paused. “I cannot stress this enough. Having Archduke Zariel gain a foothold on the Material Plane like this is one of the Endgame Scenarios. If they succeed, we don’t just lose K’ul Goran, or Daring Heights, we lose everything - everyone you have ever cared about. And we simply do not have enough time to pull in more forces from elsewhere. We stop them now, or we do not stop them at all.”
The circle fizzled and disappeared in Khazifa’s hands, who cursed and shook her hands out briefly before reconnecting to the team meeting.
“To that end, we have a plan, coordinated with the leadership of K’ul Goran as well and we need your help to achieve it.
To get to it will require a great feat, and no one is better equipped for this sort of task than those of you gathered here and in Port Ffirst. There are obstacles, however. If you go straight for the generator, all the hordes of Hell will close around you. There are sufficient sentries and wards that if you sneak to it without a significant distraction, you'll get caught, and again the hordes of Hell will close around you. Even with a major distraction, Archduke Zariel is one of the foremost tacticians in the multiverse. If she is still in play, she will likely figure out our strategy, and yes, that means all the hordes of Hell will close around you.
So this is what we propose: later today the bulk of you will be deployed alongside the main forces and prepare for a full counter-attack against the Devil army. We will rout them, force them back through the portal and follow them into Avernus itself. We have a few other thoughts of ideas which may assist with this, but that is the core of it. While this action happens, demanding Zariel’s focus, the strongest amongst you will make a play straight for the Archduke. Your task is simple: keep Zariel’s attention. We need to take her eye off the field. Whatever you need to do, do it, but be the distraction we need you to be or all is lost.
Finally, a small group of you will be sent into Avernus completely separately, to sneak into the tower, find the generator and sabotage it, closing the portal and stopping the war completely.
It’s a… bold strategy, and it requires putting a great many lives in peril, including yours. Unfortunately, time is not on our side, and this plan *will* work if everyone plays their part. We will stop this horde, save K’ul Goran and ultimately the world! Who’s with me?”
Silence rippled across the two taverns, a few cautious hands raising in the air. Aurelia sighed and put a hand to her head, then looked straight ahead again.
“Did I mention we are paying triple?”
