The War Tent

"Well... it seems we can't change the world afterall. We are but pawns in the grand scheme of things. It appears numbers ans savagery will always win."
-Rholor takes a drink and stares at it thinking about those that were left behind-

Cut to the portal north of Daring.

Nowhere steps through the portal back into Kantas. It's a commute he has done frequently recently. However this time something is different. His eyes narrow as he immediately sees that something is wrong. He summons his familiar, a crow with glowing red eyes and tells it to explore the area. Something feels..... Bad.

It doesn't take long for Nowhere to understand the devestation wrought. His beloved library ransacked, and no sight of familiar faces. His eyes fix on the far distance, apparently deep in thought.

Moments later, his eyes narrow, his mind set on a plan. He turns around and steps back through the portal.....

Aurelia steps into the tent, a grave look on her face.

"Willum... sorry, Mayor Daffles, is gone. I don't know where he is." She sighs.

"And we can't spare the time to figure out what that means. I don't even know who's in charge if he's not here. But we need to figure out what happens next. I think we should try and get Daring Heights back, personally. And I'd like your help. You're the only ones with the resources to make things happen right now.

We need help, and we need it fast. As impressive as you were back in town, you can't take out an army alone.

I've been thinking and there are only a handful of powers that we can access that could provide the force we need." She begins to tick them off on her fingers.

"First, Kundar. It's a big city, and they know how to teleport to Daring Heights. We've been a good trade partner with them, I think, however even in Kantas, kobolds are cowardly creatures, and the dragonborn seem to be second class citizens to them.

Second, Vorsthold. They've been reluctant to join the fray, but maybe we could find some way to properly get them on side? So far I don't think anyone's had more than a 5 minute conversation with them. They sound a potent force. Perhaps they would regret not helping more previously?

Third," she swallows. "There's *always* Granny Longtooth."

Aurelia moves on swiftly. "Fourth, the Feywild provided aid before as well, they seem to have an interest in keeping our town thriving. Perhaps the loss would prompt them to give more aid to restore it?"

"And finally, I don't have many contacts back here in Faerun, but perhaps you could find someone on this continent who would be interested in taking the city back? I don't even know where you'd start though."

"Those are the options I see. There is no one to lead us now, and we have only you to deliver us. I imagine merchants and nobles will begin making their own plays for control of whatever we reclaim soon enough, once news of Daffles' disappearance spreads."

"I can take you wherever you need to go, but I would urge you to make a choice and make it count. We need one strong ally here, not ragtag pieces of support. Let me know what you think."

-Rholor tenses as Aurelia enters the tent. A stern look on a face such as Aurelia's never bodes well.
As she mentions the disappearance of the mayor, anger, sorrow and hatred start welling up inside him.
What else could go wrong? The town he called home is being pillaged as we speak, some of his close friends are probably dead or being tortured and now the money is gone?
He steels himself before speaking, forcing his tone be docile and caring-

"Aurelia, please sit down... take a deep breath, clear your head and let us think together, let's be methodical.

First, Kundar, as you say, may not be very keen on aiding us, specially after hearing the news that we already lost. We may be able to sway them with promises of things we don't have but empty words are hard to deliver.

Vorsthold... I have no doubt they are heavily trained and would be powerful allies but they live in a constant state of war with the darkness below, the only way we could get their military aid would be if we can somehow put a stop to the flow of aberrations that floods their underground caverns.

Granny... I have no doubt she can take out more than a thousand orcs... but at what price? Are we willing to pay that price?

I have no notion of the extent of the Eladrin forces, they might be powerful allies or not. If they have enough forces, this does seem like the most viable approach.

Here in Faerun, we can maybe try and win the favour of some kind of nobility. Someone with enough forces and willing to start a new endeavour in another continent. But this sounds like a long-shot. I know close to nothing about Northern Faerun and I'd not be willing to return to the south where I'm a twofold wanted man.

As for leadership, we take it. Now. You, me, them. - Rholor gestures towards the remaining people inside the tent.

Between me and you we can move swiftly across space and planes if necessary. We just need to decide... Daring's future hangs on a thin thread."

"This is like one of those rare nights where I've misread the crowd and nothing I've prepared is appropriate. When that happens, I fall back on the strongest song or story in my repertoire as quickly as possible.

We need to find a ready-made solution to our problem right now. We don't have time to build new alliances here in Faerun or convince lesser forces in Kundar to help us. Nor can we waste time, resources, and possibly lives winning favours from Vorsthold. We need the Eladrin or Granny. And we need them now.......

...........Or, you know, some other, better, simpler solution I've not thought of. Speaking of which, where's Nowhere? He usually has a bright idea or two. Especially where Granny is concerned."

As Lachlan speaks he gets a feeling of warm fur rubbing against his right hand, the warmth has a feeling about it, something more than heat, something... divine.
Looking down, he sees Lyka, but she seems as if seen through smoke...

She looks at him for a second, then bounds onto the table, surprising most people in the tent and drawing many gasps. In perfect, but perhaps childish Dwarvish she speaks, her voice distant:

"Hello friends of my master. Lyka is happy you are alive. Master alive too, biiiiiig Orc pack take him and friends. They make master and friends wear leashes, hit them with sticks and whips, make them walk" Lykas image flickers momentarily, her head droops, pain crossing her features and an uncharacteristic animalistic snarl escapes her. "Lyka, no have much time, Orcs hurting master and" her voice suddenly changes slightly her manner of speaking becomes much more mature "summoning me in this form amongst you, requires the magic to cross several planes of existence, the drain on my master is incalculable, channelling so much divine energy would still normally be beyond him, time is short so hear me well denizens of Kantas for there is only time to tell you the once" Lyka shudders, shakes her head quickly and proceeds to talk again in her usual childish manner

"master say to say, many prisoners, being taken to Orc camp we think. He see Varis, Tugark, the one with no name, Barden and others, many Lyka no know... They are alive, but their sticks and swords taken. Master has an idea of how to escape, but hard to do. Master tell me to warn you that Daring is still ..." her voice and image flicker, making her statement unable to hear, her image reapers brighter than ever, as if forced into existence by an enormous power of will... and pain "he also say to warn you that Taaa - na - ruuk is dead, but Orc Boss still live, many orcs left , he say there are about ..."

But then her voice fails again, her image dimming, anger and fear cross her features, but they somehow do not mix. Those of the adventurer that knew Dvärgar and Lyka well, recognise the flash of fury as unmistakably that of Dvärgar while swinging his hammer against those that would oppress the weak... the fear is that of a child who's parent won't wake up... that is Lykas alone... And with a silent howl that looked like it could have made the very night cry in pain... she disappeared.


(andycd and mattwilkin may be prepared to say that some of you with higher perception were able to catch the numbers mentioned by Lyka and the details of the state of Daring, knowledge is power after all...)