Diplomatic Dispatch #4 - Interplanar Invasions
Mar 28, 2019 11:55:31 GMT
Dorian, Grimes, and 3 more like this
Post by Leif Tingle on Mar 28, 2019 11:55:31 GMT
No sooner had the group containing Dorian, Rholor, Daisy, Varis, Demik, Taffeta, and Oriloki materialised on the Teleportation Circle in the middle of Daring Heights than the huge Goliath bid his companions an uncharacteristically hasty – almost impolite – farewell and hurried off in the direction of the Council chambers.
Breathless and urgent, Oriloki strode into the main building and asked to see Aurelia as a matter of extreme necessity. When he had been ushered into her office, Oriloki began speaking hurriedly.
“Mistress Aurelia, please forgive this unexpected intrusion. I appreciate how busy you are, but I assure you this is most pressing.
Normally, I would – as per protocol – copy you and the rest of the Council into my latest dispatch to the Order: however, I must tell you that this time I will be submitting an official, priority one report to my brethren in Waterdeep. I wished to inform you first as a matter of professional courtesy.
In my considered opinion, the situation in Kantas has become untenable.
This latest incursion into the Material Plane is the most serious I have encountered or heard about.
Of course, as you know, Vorsthold requested aid as recompense for their support in the war against the Xvarts and Orcs. In fact, they were specific in itemising the threats they needed help with…”
Oriloki adjusts his glasses and shuffles through some scrolls before pulling out a piece of parchment
“To whit: “These tasks may include and are not limited to: excursions into the Underdark, raids on mind-flayer prisoner camps, beholder eradication, Drow intrigue.“
He puts the notes away and looks down at Aurelia, his face grave.
"Now, I have to say, the underestimation and undue casualness of this note cannot be greater.
When we arrived, it transpired that a number of Dwarves, including Force Commander Hammerglow, who held classified information about the safety and workings of Vorsthold had been abducted by Illithid. We were tasked with retrieving them – either dead or alive – to ensure no more crucial information was extracted. One can only surmise that the Illithid would use this information to attempt to break out of the lower reaches of the Underdark and take over Vorsthold as a staging post.
We encountered a small Illithid outpost – a mining pit where Gith were enslaved and being put to work. I’m sure I don’t need to point out the fact that the presence of the Gith on this plane – under the control of the Illithid no less – is a serious indication of the state of affairs. A number of the missing Dwarves were guarding the Gith. We removed the Illithid threat in the area and freed most of the surviving Dwarves from the mind control they had been placed under. It was during this encounter that you sent Mistress Thistletop to join us. Sergeant Grimes volunteered to escort the freed Dwarves back to Vorsthold.
We learnt from the Gith that one of their Adamantine monoliths had been taken over by a huge number of Illithid under the control of an Elder Brain. The structure had been transported here to the Material Plane; and while just one of the Gith is being controlled by the Illithid, they have a way to ensure the monolith remains here as a gateway to this plane.
We allied ourselves with a number of Gith freed from the pit and moved on the structure. The Gith took care of the roving Illithid, while those from Daring pushed deeper into the building. We found and freed Force Commander Hammerglow, who was being experimented on by two Illithid.
It was then that the Elder Brain spoke to us and told us it knew we were here all along. Knowing time was off the essence, we made haste to confront it. As we were about to strike, it was revealed Demik’s mind had been infiltrated by the Elder Brain and, through no fault of his own, he was forced to attack us. He eventually managed to shrug off the control, but I would suggest you examine him more thoroughly than we had time to.
We entered the Elder Brain’s lair, and fought it and a disturbing Gith/Illithid hybrid. No doubt others can provide more details on the actual encounter, but the salient point is that it was vanquished. The Gith were able to take back control of their structure and no sooner had we exited the monolith when it vanished from this plane, leaving none of their number around for us to question or learn from.
Again, I must reiterate my concern at the ease with which powerful, extraplanar entities can come and go from this realm – and will be stressing this point most strongly with the Order. In addition, I have been reading reports from across Daring Heights and Port Ffirst, and a common thread seems to be emerging: denizens from more and more dangerous outer realms are crossing into our plane. Demons, fiends, and aberrations are all lining up to gain access and I have no choice but to inform the Inner Circle of the Watchful Order.”
Breathless and urgent, Oriloki strode into the main building and asked to see Aurelia as a matter of extreme necessity. When he had been ushered into her office, Oriloki began speaking hurriedly.
“Mistress Aurelia, please forgive this unexpected intrusion. I appreciate how busy you are, but I assure you this is most pressing.
Normally, I would – as per protocol – copy you and the rest of the Council into my latest dispatch to the Order: however, I must tell you that this time I will be submitting an official, priority one report to my brethren in Waterdeep. I wished to inform you first as a matter of professional courtesy.
In my considered opinion, the situation in Kantas has become untenable.
This latest incursion into the Material Plane is the most serious I have encountered or heard about.
Of course, as you know, Vorsthold requested aid as recompense for their support in the war against the Xvarts and Orcs. In fact, they were specific in itemising the threats they needed help with…”
Oriloki adjusts his glasses and shuffles through some scrolls before pulling out a piece of parchment
“To whit: “These tasks may include and are not limited to: excursions into the Underdark, raids on mind-flayer prisoner camps, beholder eradication, Drow intrigue.“
He puts the notes away and looks down at Aurelia, his face grave.
"Now, I have to say, the underestimation and undue casualness of this note cannot be greater.
When we arrived, it transpired that a number of Dwarves, including Force Commander Hammerglow, who held classified information about the safety and workings of Vorsthold had been abducted by Illithid. We were tasked with retrieving them – either dead or alive – to ensure no more crucial information was extracted. One can only surmise that the Illithid would use this information to attempt to break out of the lower reaches of the Underdark and take over Vorsthold as a staging post.
We encountered a small Illithid outpost – a mining pit where Gith were enslaved and being put to work. I’m sure I don’t need to point out the fact that the presence of the Gith on this plane – under the control of the Illithid no less – is a serious indication of the state of affairs. A number of the missing Dwarves were guarding the Gith. We removed the Illithid threat in the area and freed most of the surviving Dwarves from the mind control they had been placed under. It was during this encounter that you sent Mistress Thistletop to join us. Sergeant Grimes volunteered to escort the freed Dwarves back to Vorsthold.
We learnt from the Gith that one of their Adamantine monoliths had been taken over by a huge number of Illithid under the control of an Elder Brain. The structure had been transported here to the Material Plane; and while just one of the Gith is being controlled by the Illithid, they have a way to ensure the monolith remains here as a gateway to this plane.
We allied ourselves with a number of Gith freed from the pit and moved on the structure. The Gith took care of the roving Illithid, while those from Daring pushed deeper into the building. We found and freed Force Commander Hammerglow, who was being experimented on by two Illithid.
It was then that the Elder Brain spoke to us and told us it knew we were here all along. Knowing time was off the essence, we made haste to confront it. As we were about to strike, it was revealed Demik’s mind had been infiltrated by the Elder Brain and, through no fault of his own, he was forced to attack us. He eventually managed to shrug off the control, but I would suggest you examine him more thoroughly than we had time to.
We entered the Elder Brain’s lair, and fought it and a disturbing Gith/Illithid hybrid. No doubt others can provide more details on the actual encounter, but the salient point is that it was vanquished. The Gith were able to take back control of their structure and no sooner had we exited the monolith when it vanished from this plane, leaving none of their number around for us to question or learn from.
Again, I must reiterate my concern at the ease with which powerful, extraplanar entities can come and go from this realm – and will be stressing this point most strongly with the Order. In addition, I have been reading reports from across Daring Heights and Port Ffirst, and a common thread seems to be emerging: denizens from more and more dangerous outer realms are crossing into our plane. Demons, fiends, and aberrations are all lining up to gain access and I have no choice but to inform the Inner Circle of the Watchful Order.”
