The Wraiths of Ilien

[X-Bellam & BC/TB (Bobby)]

"Lord Mayor, as we go to explain what has occurred, we must also warn you."  Bellamie motions to the prisoners.  "These men were taken captive beyond the Veil, part of a much larger force - more than a hundred men, slipping into the city in the Shadow World.  We cannot be certain more had not already arrived, or will arrive soon.  We must assume they have means to return to this plane once within the walls - you can see the danger, I am certain.  Will you see that the guards of Ilien are watchful for these invaders until we can inform the Countess of the threat?"

[X-IHH/Wallac Isilviere (Kasper)]

Gesturing at one of the guides supplied by the Countess from the Guilds working in the sewers

"Lord Mayor Baron Bellamie speaks the grim truth; one of our guides can show the guards where the weak spot in the veil is located. I suggest putting a hefty guard on alert down there"

[X-Tornilen/SM (Alexander)]

Since the fight and during the following journey back through the sewers the Sword Mage has kept silent and to herself. When tempers were flaring, a slight nimbus was beginning to form around her, an advance warning that she was at her temper's end as well.

Now that things are well in hand, she returns to playing aloof and uninterested. Simply walking along and observing.

(OOC: Since no one has mentioned it, I call dibs on having investigated the corpses of the mages first. Not having any hope of finding "phat lewt", but since they were the Red Wind's men, perhaps they had something on them linking them to him...)

[DM B]

Since the fight and during the following journey back through the sewers the Sword Mage has kept silent and to herself. When tempers were flaring, a slight nimbus was beginning to form around her, an advance warning that she was at her temper's end as well.

Now that things are well in hand, she returns to playing aloof and uninterested. Simply walking along and observing.

(OOC: Since no one has mentioned it, I call dibs on having investigated the corpses of the mages first. Not having any hope of finding "phat lewt", but since they were the Red Wind's men, perhaps they had something on them linking them to him...)

Unfortunately for the Sword Mage the disciples of the Red Wind have their magic tied to their tattoos - and now that they are dead the tattoos are powerless. 

[X-IHH/Wallac Isilviere (Kasper)]

OOC Is the adventure finished or do we get to settle what happend to the prisoners and what informations can be learned from them?

[DM B]

OOC: Patience...

[X-IHH/Wallac Isilviere (Kasper)]

Sorry it was not meant to rush you - I simply was not sure if adventure was finished and so started to incorperate further actions in this regard in my future plans.

Regardless please do take your time 

[DM B]

The prisoners are taken to the dungeons where they are placed under heavy guard - the Countess even has some magicians among her guardsmen. Oh, and now there are RCS and IHH priests/templars helping out too. It quite the crowd.

You have time to freshen up a little before seeing the Countess, and the Pontiff even manages a quick trip to the dungeon for one last look at his precious prisoners

Preliminary interrogation has revealed very little, but now that you've had a chance to think about the men's origin is not so mysterious. They are Black Galley Raiders - Adurian humans and goblins working together on ships, raiding the merchantmen and coasts of Anuire...its not like it could be anyone else. But since they are working with the Red Wind's disciples, it might indicate that the Red Wind is taking his vow to rule Aduria quite seriously.

This doesn't really answer any why they were in Ilien, but its a start.

The Countess greets you in a small room overlooking the harbor. She is making ready for supper (it is now the evening on the day of your return to the Daylight World) with Archduke Osoer - and you of course (you being the two Barons, the High Prefect, the RCS prefect, and the SM). Both seem to be in a good mood. You overhear the Countess telling the Archduke that an escort has been arranged. Apparently Archduke Diem is expelling him from Ilien and sending him home overland through Roesone.

The Countess greets you politely and calmly:

"Welcome back heroes of Ilien. From what I hear you have had a remarkable journey into the underworld. But pray tell, who are these men and goblins you brought back? Surely they were not found living in the sewers?"

[X-Bellam & BC/TB (Bobby)]

"Indeed not, Countess," replies Bellamie, "for what began as a hunt for the beasts which plague your city became, as these things do, rather more complicated as we progressed."

"Two things did we find beneath your city - the first, what we suspect to be the lair of the undead; the second, the weakness in the Veil which first gave them passage into our world.  We were forced to choose which to move against as darkness fell, and we sought to seal the rift, that no further horrors might emerge.  It was our hope as we did so that we might discover what had brought the rift about, and whether some greater force was behind the wraiths' emergence into Ilien."

"I believe the gods took an interest in our efforts, your Excellency, because with each step we took, a new danger was revealed to us.  Upon reaching the rift and the Shadow World and preparing to see what might be done to seal it, we found to our surprise that we were not alone.  A fleet of boats had entered the harbor in this shadowy reflection of your city, carrying hundreds of armed and armored men, for purposes we could only guess at.  Their goal we must discover from those we captured, but they appear to be members of the infamous Black Galley Raiders, led by servants of the vile Lost known as the Red Wind who guided them through the Shadow World.  We returned here after confronting them, bringing with us as many as we could seize, that we might discover if still greater threats approach Ilien and the rest of Anuire."

"Consider what these men might have done had they not been discovered?  Without Prefect Isilviere's desire to aid and protect his fellow man, without Baron Enlien's determination to fulfill his duties and the Patriarch's skill and understanding of the ways of the Veil and the Shadow?  You might have seen armed men erupting from within the heart of your own city, seizing and looting and vanishing without a trace.  Seen a foreign and deadly foe seize control of magical power within your own demesne.  Seen your keep invaded, your guards cut down before they knew any threat existed and your own life threatened.  Many possibilities exist for their presence here, but all are unsettling to contemplate.  Only the nobility of these godly men and the heavens' guidance allowed us to intervene."

[X-IHH/Wallac Isilviere (Kasper)]

Wallac Isilviere nods in consent to Baron Bellamies words. Then looking at William Osoer with warm smile the High Prefect speaks up.

“Archduke Osoer it’s so good to see you again and it seems you have had a good time keeping Her Excellency company and it seems both of you are in a better mood than last time I saw you together”

Then with a small bow to the Countess of Ilien he addresses her.

“Your Excellency Baron Bellamie tells the truth albeit he forgets to mention his own unselfish bravery. I for one owe him my life.”

Considering how to continue the conversation but for a moment, the High Prefect looks at the Sword Mage.

“I believe the Sword Mage deserves recommendations as well. It was her who first recognized the three servants of the Red Wind and but for her battle magic we might have succumbed to the many waves of men assaulting our position time and time again. One of the three escaped and the other two got killed in battle”

“Those of our men who fell and by giving their lives saved ours and possible many innocents I pray for.”

Praying briefly Wallac Isilviere looks to the Countess

“How do you Excellency plan to proceed from here?”

[X-Osoerde (Alan)]

The Countess greets you in a small room overlooking the harbor. She is making ready for supper (it is now the evening on the day of your return to the Daylight World) with Archduke Osoer - and you of course (you being the two Barons, the High Prefect, the RCS prefect, and the SM). Both seem to be in a good mood. You overhear the Countess telling the Archduke that an escort has been arranged. Apparently Archduke Diem is expelling him from Ilien and sending him home overland through Roesone.

To which, Osoer expresses a desire to travel, with baron Bellamie, by boat to Gulfport to meet his retinue and then press on to the Imperial City for the upcoming Sword & Crown.

[X-Osoerde (Alan)]

Osoer leans a little closer to the Countess and speaks gently.

"They have done most well," he says before continuing.

"I doubt that they were here to cause troubles outright.  More likely that the Red Wind is curious of the doings of Anuire, and desires to remain abreast of them: the City of Ilien presents a prefectly avenue to do this, I would doubt if the Imperial City of Anuire also were to have agents of the Red Wind make attempts to establish there," he says.

"Additionally, Ilien's fleet has helped to keep the Black Galley Raiders back -- knowing your strength and stability would do much good on the part of the Red Wind," he says leaning back and closing his eyes.

"Actually, this development does not bode well for Cerilia's future, I fear."

[X-IHH/Wallac Isilviere (Kasper)]

“Regardless of the threat posed by the Red Wind the Wraiths still preys on the innocent. I think we should finish the job first thing. We are gathered many competent people here.
Your Excellency IHH is willing to make another attempt to remove the foul Wraiths. I hope that some of the brave and noble men and women gathered here will accompany me and my men. Perhaps we could settle who will be going should our assistance be welcomed.”

The High Prefect look at the regents gathered around the table his eyes resting on each one in turn ending at the Countess looking for a sign of consent.

“The mistake of not following the proper protocols was mine, and I am responsible for Archduke Osoer acting in good faith thought he was expected and welcome. Perhaps Your Excellency can persuade Archduke Carvaloen Diem to let Archduke Osoer do what he came to do in the first place and help fighting the Wraiths assuming the honorable Archduke Osoer is still willing to render such a service.”

With his last words he gives a small bow to first the Countess and then Archduke Osoer.

[OOC: If the Countess and Osoer is positive to the idea may I, being responsible for the diplomatic mistake in the first place, send a dispatch to Diemed asking for permission to prolong Archduke Osoers stay in Ilien for the specific task of banishing the Wraiths from Ilien once and, hopefully, for all?”]

[X-IHH/Wallac Isilviere (Kasper)]

[OOC: In three more days with no response, IC or OCC, it's a full week of silence. Then I will role-play Wallac Isilviere was completely ignored by all the gathered regents.]

EDIT: Ok Jon I'll mobilize what patience I can. I'll stop checking the forum regularly. If my attention is needed please send an email to me. I'll put this notification for this one and stop janking the chain.

[X-DM Jon]

[OOC: In three more days with no response, IC or OCC, it's a full week of silence. Then I will role-play Wallac Isilviere was completely ignored by all the gathered regents.]

OoC: Patience.

Edit: Cool. RoE tends to hit a dead period for a while, especially while we await the DO return. You can take a break until you got the DO back.