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Post by willjenkins on Oct 24, 2022 7:55:54 GMT
Aurelia’s brow furrows, continuing to pace back and forth across the floor she attempts to assimilate this new information brought to her by the experts assembled in this room. Her flowing robes pristine white and blond hair perfectly in place despite the stress that had dominated her life over the past 3 weeks. She had called together a crack team, assessed the problem from all angles and it seemed until yesterday like they might have a solution. But that solution was no longer an option. It had been 6 months since the invasion, 6 months since the Gith and their blasted dragons had levelled great swathes of the dawnlands and forced so many from their homes. 6 months of relative peace and quiet as people laboured to re-build their communities and overcome the grief of loss. Glancing up, all the faces before her wearing the tired expressions of people who had put everything into their work. She spoke, breaking the silence with an authoritative voice as her fingers traced the plan across the map in front of her with its myriad little symbols. ‘ Could we move the apple pie stand to the other side of the stage? Split the food and drink sellers wider to make room for the circus tents?’The team of party planners craned their necks and a few hushed whispers echoed forwards regarding symmetry and customer flow. Gawvin Babbletoll; A tall gnome, thick blond beard and bushy eyebrows cleared his throat. ‘Yes ma’am, absolutely. I will inform the stall owners at our next meeting.’
‘Thank you Gawvin. That leaves us with just the posters we discussed. How to let everyone know.’The gnome turns into the crowd and a sheaf of papers were passed forward: ‘Perfect.’ A smile breaks across Aurelia’s face; lighting the room. The council knew there was a need to celebrate something, to show the progress that had been made. They were going to make this a winter fair to remember. All Players are invited to the Season 11 Finale: Tue 6 December 2022. |
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Post by willjenkins on Nov 21, 2022 19:45:36 GMT
‘Thank you Queen Merla, knowing you will be there amongst the crowds gives me renewed faith that this Tim fellow won’t be able to harm anyone.’
Aurelia sits up straight as she finishes her sending. Both Baine and Merla had answered the call. Vandree was right; Tim was smarter than she had given him credit for and that sphere made him all the more dangerous. In a crowd, at the fair, there would be carnage. Even the unsubstantiated rumours she had heard of his desire to target the academy first could lead to devastation.
BB would be there, naturally, it was her home, but the space was large. Any of the others would be a welcome addition. Ghesh? Varis? Menace? Taffeta? All could be the difference between defeat and victory if Tim came calling with that thing. Aurelia shivers, just imagining the potential of true annihilation.
Veridian however was the next on her list, and given his proximity the use of sending seemed rather unnecessary. She stands. Walking through the heights to his store she feels the chill in the air as winter begins to settle on the land. As she enters through the open door of the shop, she sees the archmage standing next to his father; engaged in energetic but good natured debate on the merits of some herb or other. A smile spreads across her face, family can change us all and usually for the better.
"Pentaghast, it is good to see you. Might I trouble you for a moment or two?"
“Fine you win this round old man but this does not mean we are adding mint to all of the potions.”
Both father and son share a small chuckle before Veridian turns to face their guest.
“Oh Aurelia what a pleasure to have you grace our humble shop, and of course I will always make time if you require it, shall we head somewhere a little quieter.”
Veridian gestures for Aurelia to head first through the door next to the counter that he and his father were talking. The room she walks into is somewhat reminiscent of the alchemy lab of Fort Ettin, filled with all kinds of equipment and utensils that would excite only the most enthusiastic alchemists. Veridian offers Aurelia a chair at the least crowded table along with a cup of tea before sitting down himself.
“So what is it I can help you with?”
"I don’t know how much you have been keeping up with current events, but there is a Wizard who goes by the name Tim who has been causing some low level trouble in the dawnlands recently. Ordinarily it would be nothing to cause me concern, adventurers often stop such troubles without a thought. But this man has found and mastered the use of an item known as the Sphere of Annihilation."
Aurelia pauses to watch Veridian’s reaction; there is a concerned look on the wizard's face the instant Aurelia mentions Tim’s name.
“I have been keeping my ear to the ground, making sure to keep up to date as best I can. But the fact you are here lets me believe this situation is far worse then I had predicted. Last I heard he was moving the sphere in this direction but surely it would take weeks or months before it is a threat to Daring Heights?”
Veridian pauses for a moment.
“Though you would not be here if we had months left, he’s close isn’t he and I’m guessing he’d had a few tricks up his sleeve for worming his way out of whatever my fellow adventurers have managed to throw at him.”
"Close indeed, too close for my liking."
Aurelia grimaces gently before continuing.
"Lord Vandree and a small team managed to kill him, but the more I hear about it the more it seems like he knew it was coming. He stood there stark naked, his tomes, any magical artefacts and certainly the sphere itself hidden elsewhere. He had a clone awaiting his death, it appears he is well prepared and thought through his actions."
Sipping her tea, she asks the question.
"Which brings us to the reason I’m here. Amongst the information we have accumulated on his plans are two targets. Both the Daring Academy where he once worked and the Winter Fair in New Hillburrow. It would make either safer to have you present, but the fair is larger and with far more innocents. Do you think you might be able to attend?"
She hands him a flyer, although Aurelia guesses he may already have the knowledge it contains.
Veridian happily accepts the flyer.
“Thank you, though fortunately me and Cai were already planning on attending but I will make sure to keep an eye out for Tim and the orb, though I don’t know if I have a way of stopping it. I hopefully can at least delay his plans should it come to it. But if that is all it, as always, was a pleasure to see you again Aurelia.”
Veridian stands up and gives a small bow.
Aurelia bows politely, archmage to archmage and departs. The time is fast approaching and while speaking to the others face to face would be preferable, magical communication might be necessary for others like Merla who were abroad right now. For just a moment her mind turns to Coll and the level headed counsel he often provided at times of crisis like this. Would he have words of wisdom even in his new state? Or was it cruel to remind him of the past, should she allow him to focus on the future and guiding Gadenthor to the best of his ability?
Note to all Players: Graduated PCs will be welcome at this season’s finale.
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