[Season 10] Zephyrus
May 16, 2022 16:12:59 GMT
Merla, the Daughter of Summer, Jaezred Vandree, and 5 more like this
Post by Lykksie on May 16, 2022 16:12:59 GMT
Aurelia Archselon closes the door behind her with a quiet but firm ‘click’. The occupants in the room - busy poring over maps, organising letters and scraps of intelligence, drinking copious amounts of tea and engaging in frantic but hushed speculation - don’t immediately notice her arrival. She takes a moment to steady herself, to take a couple of deep breaths and make sure her hands aren’t shaking.
Setting her personal feelings firmly aside, she finally clears her throat softly to draw the attention of the rest of Council of Daring Heights and some of the more prominent members of the community. One by one they fall silent, watching her intently, waiting for news they’d rather not receive.
“Gadenthor is now functional enough to be mobile. They’re flying the city and they’ve set a course east.”
She glances over at Lady Saria Underwood, the unspoken question hanging in the air. Lady Saria consults her notes and makes the estimation.
“We have six weeks. At most.”
There are instant murmurs as the speculation starts up again, only to be hushed just as quickly. Cecil shakes his head in mild disbelief. Captain Thundercog throws several pages of drafted strategies into the nearest fire. Lord Jean Auber reaches for another muffin.
“We also know,” Aurelia continues, gesturing to the door behind her, “that while they’ve narrowed their search down to the Dawnlands, they’re still not entirely sure where he is.”
Some take it as a shred of good news in the midst of the dismay but Varis Nailo leans forward to speak.
“And they are ready to burn it all down to find him.”
Ghesh picks at his lightly singed trilby. “Wouldn’t take ‘em long neither, if what they did in Kundar’s anythin’ to go by. They were ridin’ some big old dragons.”
Aurelia nods, having reached the same conclusion.
“Thousands of innocents will be caught in the crossfire. The loss would be… Unimaginable.”
“So we evacuate,” Samed Mirass cuts in. “We worked ourselves to the bone getting the damn things signed - it’s time to put the Accords to the test.”
Cordelia Jadefist wrestles the pertinent documents out of Thundercog’s hands and slams them down on the central table they’re all gathered around.
“Then we move fast. Civilians out as soon as we can, and every available fighter mobilised.”
She stabs a finger down in the middle of the large map - drawn up on special order from the Daring Academy cartographers - at the very heart of the Dawnlands.
“Here.”
Lord Auber scoffs.
“The Fort? The blasted building doesn’t even have a front door.”
“And you know damn well it doesn’t need one, Auber, “ Jadefist fires back. “Civilians out. Everyone else - every single one of these unpredictable menaces they call adventurers - mobilises at the Fort. And we take that,” she jabs the finger towards the door Aurelia just came through, “there as well.”
There’s another moment of silence as those present, one by one, arrive at the undeniable truth of her statement. Mavis Thovian is the one to break it.
“Where do we start?”
“We get the word out,” Aurelia says. She looks around the room at the people gathered - all leaders in their own right. She tries no to think too hard about the one currently missing.
“Spread the news. Get people moving quickly, but calmly. Under no circumstances can there be panic.”
“Right,” Thundercog says. “Time to get to work.”
Varis leans over to his Master at Arms and issues quiet orders. Ser Baine nods and walks out without another word, following the captain of the City Watch.
“We need to get word to New Hillborrow,” Aurelia continues. “And to Taffeta Thistletop, if possible. We could use both her skill and skiff.”
“Yup. Me. I got it,” B.B volunteers. She stands up to her full, impressive firbolg height and begins to carefully navigate towards the door, even as she’s speaking. “I can do both those things. Absolutely no problem. Pardon me. Oh, sorry. Oops. Excuse.”
Aurelia allows herself a small smile. Lady Saria picks up the thread instead.
“Port Ffirst is currently in what can only be described as a transition of power, but I’m confident I can get in touch with the right people. If anything, Menace can be counted on to know what’s profitable.”
“A splendid chap,” Auber agrees. “Truly, a fine man and a wonderful head for business.”
Samed refrains from rolling his eyes and instead returns to his previous point.
“And the Aegis Accords? How much support can we count on?”
Aurelia gets her head back in the game.
“That depends on our lines of communication with the other parties. Kundar might not be in a position to do much of anything, but we can send envoys to K’ul Goran and Vorsthold. As for the Fey - Merla?”
The Queen of Virtue & Virtuosity nods, eyes already glittering as she makes an expeditious exit. “On it.”
Cecil lets out a weary sigh and heads for the door, the one Aurelia came out of.
“I’ll get him- it? Them. ready to go.”
The remaining attendees all start getting to their feet as well, preparing to assist in whatever capacity they can, when Lord Auber’s voice rings out again, giving them pause.
“What about this business with Rholor? Any news on the High Diviner, Aurelia?”
She draws another breath and clenches her fists to hide the slight tremor.
“None yet, Lord Auber.”
“But it’s been days! They might all be dead for all we kn-”
“I have the utmost faith that both our fellow council member and the adventuring party I sent to retrieve him will return to us.”
Lord Auber pockets two more muffins and a scone before rising to his feet with a sneer.
“Adventurers. Not even remotely reliable. This is a fine mess we’re in - Githyanki and dragons and flying cities! What are the adventurers going to do to help us?”
Aurelia raises a delicate eyebrow and shoots him a sharp grin.
“They’re going to do what they do best.”
Setting her personal feelings firmly aside, she finally clears her throat softly to draw the attention of the rest of Council of Daring Heights and some of the more prominent members of the community. One by one they fall silent, watching her intently, waiting for news they’d rather not receive.
“Gadenthor is now functional enough to be mobile. They’re flying the city and they’ve set a course east.”
She glances over at Lady Saria Underwood, the unspoken question hanging in the air. Lady Saria consults her notes and makes the estimation.
“We have six weeks. At most.”
There are instant murmurs as the speculation starts up again, only to be hushed just as quickly. Cecil shakes his head in mild disbelief. Captain Thundercog throws several pages of drafted strategies into the nearest fire. Lord Jean Auber reaches for another muffin.
“We also know,” Aurelia continues, gesturing to the door behind her, “that while they’ve narrowed their search down to the Dawnlands, they’re still not entirely sure where he is.”
Some take it as a shred of good news in the midst of the dismay but Varis Nailo leans forward to speak.
“And they are ready to burn it all down to find him.”
Ghesh picks at his lightly singed trilby. “Wouldn’t take ‘em long neither, if what they did in Kundar’s anythin’ to go by. They were ridin’ some big old dragons.”
Aurelia nods, having reached the same conclusion.
“Thousands of innocents will be caught in the crossfire. The loss would be… Unimaginable.”
“So we evacuate,” Samed Mirass cuts in. “We worked ourselves to the bone getting the damn things signed - it’s time to put the Accords to the test.”
Cordelia Jadefist wrestles the pertinent documents out of Thundercog’s hands and slams them down on the central table they’re all gathered around.
“Then we move fast. Civilians out as soon as we can, and every available fighter mobilised.”
She stabs a finger down in the middle of the large map - drawn up on special order from the Daring Academy cartographers - at the very heart of the Dawnlands.
“Here.”
Lord Auber scoffs.
“The Fort? The blasted building doesn’t even have a front door.”
“And you know damn well it doesn’t need one, Auber, “ Jadefist fires back. “Civilians out. Everyone else - every single one of these unpredictable menaces they call adventurers - mobilises at the Fort. And we take that,” she jabs the finger towards the door Aurelia just came through, “there as well.”
There’s another moment of silence as those present, one by one, arrive at the undeniable truth of her statement. Mavis Thovian is the one to break it.
“Where do we start?”
“We get the word out,” Aurelia says. She looks around the room at the people gathered - all leaders in their own right. She tries no to think too hard about the one currently missing.
“Spread the news. Get people moving quickly, but calmly. Under no circumstances can there be panic.”
“Right,” Thundercog says. “Time to get to work.”
Varis leans over to his Master at Arms and issues quiet orders. Ser Baine nods and walks out without another word, following the captain of the City Watch.
“We need to get word to New Hillborrow,” Aurelia continues. “And to Taffeta Thistletop, if possible. We could use both her skill and skiff.”
“Yup. Me. I got it,” B.B volunteers. She stands up to her full, impressive firbolg height and begins to carefully navigate towards the door, even as she’s speaking. “I can do both those things. Absolutely no problem. Pardon me. Oh, sorry. Oops. Excuse.”
Aurelia allows herself a small smile. Lady Saria picks up the thread instead.
“Port Ffirst is currently in what can only be described as a transition of power, but I’m confident I can get in touch with the right people. If anything, Menace can be counted on to know what’s profitable.”
“A splendid chap,” Auber agrees. “Truly, a fine man and a wonderful head for business.”
Samed refrains from rolling his eyes and instead returns to his previous point.
“And the Aegis Accords? How much support can we count on?”
Aurelia gets her head back in the game.
“That depends on our lines of communication with the other parties. Kundar might not be in a position to do much of anything, but we can send envoys to K’ul Goran and Vorsthold. As for the Fey - Merla?”
The Queen of Virtue & Virtuosity nods, eyes already glittering as she makes an expeditious exit. “On it.”
Cecil lets out a weary sigh and heads for the door, the one Aurelia came out of.
“I’ll get him- it? Them. ready to go.”
The remaining attendees all start getting to their feet as well, preparing to assist in whatever capacity they can, when Lord Auber’s voice rings out again, giving them pause.
“What about this business with Rholor? Any news on the High Diviner, Aurelia?”
She draws another breath and clenches her fists to hide the slight tremor.
“None yet, Lord Auber.”
“But it’s been days! They might all be dead for all we kn-”
“I have the utmost faith that both our fellow council member and the adventuring party I sent to retrieve him will return to us.”
Lord Auber pockets two more muffins and a scone before rising to his feet with a sneer.
“Adventurers. Not even remotely reliable. This is a fine mess we’re in - Githyanki and dragons and flying cities! What are the adventurers going to do to help us?”
Aurelia raises a delicate eyebrow and shoots him a sharp grin.
“They’re going to do what they do best.”