LpDND: Reunions

[Whiteness]

Syric turns his 'hold' gesture to the other half-human, "Trinal, I have already acknowledged we may have missed some pertinant information, but I don't recall you being certain about much last night. You still haven't explained how it is used or what the control phrase even refers to. I admit I'm still not sure which is the thing with power, the sword fragments or the bag. "

[Whiteness]

Trying to keep the conversation from turning too negative he offers a smile and continues, Try to remember, we were all celebrating with a bit of ale last night as well. Let's just all get on the same page, then we can salvage the problems caused with the Baron."

[Jimer Lins]

Trinal relaxes somewhat. "I understand. Like the Professor-" he bows to him - "I try not to make absolute pronouncements when I'm not completely certain. My best understanding is that this thing is an object of power that is either harnessing some power of the sword fragments, or uses them as a fetish object to channel power. The bag and the objects together form the relic. I doubt we could harm the bag or the objects inside without a great deal more research. However, based on my understanding of the runes and the numbers, one would aim it, mostly by an act of will, not by pointing it or anything like that, then speak the command phrase. I can make the sounds of the command phrase. It's in a very ancient dialect, and the words don't really translate easily, but the first one seems to be 'death'.

Because of all this, I believe I know how to use it. If I'm wrong, speaking the phrase will have no effect. If I'm correct, it will expend a charge, and confer some type of effect- probably martial, likely harmful, but unpredictable in its nature, upon the target. Remember that this thing was alluded to in my previous research as being used against armies right here in this area.
"

[Whiteness]

Syric stares at Trinal for a moment, with a look that one could tell his thoughts were falling into place, finally.

"That...is definitely different from what I was thinking. I thought we were supposed to open the bag, which made me worry we coudl be unleashing...well unleashing anything was worrisome. But if you are telling me that this sword and bag have now become something like a weapon all on their own...I can begin to see why you were willing to test it as the Baron stated.

[Blackferne]

The door opens and an elderly man walks in. He is very well dressed and wears the royal seal and a symbol of Moradin around his neck. The Baron is behind him looking slightly like a scolded child. And in walk 4 soldiers. The elderly man says, "Don't get up. Stay seated stay seated." He takes what is presumably the Baron's chair. He has a grandfatherly air about him.

"I was passing through on my annual tour, and it seems that you adventurers have kicked a hornets nest. If I understand the Baron's brief report you managed to eliminate two cell sof Bha'alists and you cleared a vampire crypt? Quite the glories to you. So who do I owe a debt to for these tasks? Please give me your names."

[Furiel]

"Tony Plush your lordship."

Tony says with a bow and a flourish of his cloak, then he will return to his chair and reseat himself.

[Blackferne]

"Professor DK Gladdentsone formerly of Rhalbren." He syas with a tilt of his head.

"Victae Meneldur formerly of the Citadel at Aern Bruth." She says standing and doing a bow before reseating.

[Whiteness]

"Syric" said with a polite nod to the Earl

[Staris]

Stavis stands and with a bow "Stavis, Bard Stavis." then reseats himself.

[Jimer Lins]

"Trinal Katorm, lately of Thurwood, My Lord." Trinal bows politely, having been standing all along.

[Blackferne]

Insert a grunt from Ham'mon, some kind of Reesism regarding clans etc for Gobo, and a witty remark from Spintik.

"So I'm interested in what you found. Let's start with the vampire crypt. I have various agents out looking for them. I believe you've met one in fact. Drayson. What did you find in the crypt he sent you to?"

[Furiel]

"The tale of the crypt is a brief one. Tony Plush, the Professor, Victae and Syric cleared it of various types of undead, specifically ghosts, ghouls, skeletons, vampires and a couple gargoyles for good measure. While we were there we overheard a bit of conversation where they were discussing this vampire lord's disposition toward the Bha'al cultists and also the Orcus following barbarians in the east, which was that they are not allied with either faction, and that they believe the cultists are trying to recover a number of relics that will allow them to bring Bha'al back. After destroying the creatures of the crypt we also found a communication that further indicated that this spectral alliance, which is what the vampire lord calls his organization, is not intending to ally with either of the other factions at this time and that additionally they were instructed to start conscripting more troops to deal with some new threats that they perceive the cultists and barbarians to be to their intentions on the eastern shelf. Oh, and the communication also indicated that the barbarians are enlisting aid from some demonic forces. Not that Tony Plush means that as an aside of little consequence, just something that he realized he had failed to mention earlier when discussing these barbarians."

[Blackferne]

"That is grave news. And in terms of preventing he conscription of our loyal subjects, do you offer any suggestions?" The Earl asks.

[Furiel]

Tony snickers

"Grave news, good one your lordship! But in all seriousness Tony Plush believes we have already made a start by removing the forces at the crypt. However as we are new to the area there are likely other locations nearby that could harbor another den of evil that we are not aware of. With this threat we are likely dealing with largely undead agents which means they would be most active at night and often times need cover from the sun so crypts, caves and the like would be the most likely locations. Depending on what type of undead they were intending to conscript they would either need corpses to animate or a population center that they could abduct or corrupt people from. Some obvious precautions are to ensure that no one is outside alone at night, even in town, as most predators, supernatural or otherwise go after the weak and isolated. Additionally it would be smart to watch for people who begin behaving strangely, people who change to a nighttime activity cycle and similar actions.

It may seem cliche' but are there any cave systems, old ruins, places that are rumored to be haunted and the like nearby? Those may be places that warrant a scouting trip to verify that they aren't being used as bases for this spectral alliance."

[Blackferne]

The Earl responds, "While we might be able to enforce curfews for the towns and village sunder my control, you have to remember that the vast majority of the people who live out here are farmers. We can't possibly hope to keep them all locked up and isolated at night. Doesn't mean we shouldn't try to do something to encourage periodic reviews. Perhaps it is time we brought back mandatory church services as a time to check to see if people are afflicted. As for ruins or caves, there are several, some ruins going back thousands of years. I'm sure the sheriff could give you a few to check out if you are interested." He signals for a drink.

"Do we have any leads to the vampire leadership structures?"

[Furiel]

"That we do have. In the communication Tony Plush mentioned earlier there were references to three names: Vlad, Viggo and Stanislav. Tony Plush has deduced from the titles used within the communcation that Viggo is the head, likely the vampire lord himself. Vlad is his enforcer and likely his right hand and Stanislav is a clerk and likely at least a high ranking advisor and he was the one who signed the communication we obtained giving the information on their disposition toward the other groups and the conscription orders as well."

[Blackferne]

"Now let's turn our attention to the Bha'alists. Tell me how you discovered this threat and what they have been up to." He asks.

[Jimer Lins]

"My Lord, we had received reports that goblins had been spotted robbing graves, so while Mr. Plush and some of our band went to investigate the crypt, the rest of us went to investigate the goblins. We found freshly dug graves, and upon investigating further determined that the reported goblins were operating from an old tower near here. We took the tower by force and killed a number of goblins, fire beetles and a mage who was turning the corpses into zombies, which we dispatched.

Upon concluding our discussions with the goblins, we discovered several items, some of which we took as spoils, but among them was the small sack my colleague Syric holds. It is believed to contain fragments of the sword used by the Bha'al cult 600 years ago against Eadred, and we believe it to be a relic of some power, but have not tested it. We then returned here to Belholt."

[Blackferne]

"So you investigated goblins, found a tower, killed everyone, and found a relic. Do you have any clues as to where teh Bha'alists are working out of? Or who their leaders are? And what are your plans for this relic?" He asks sipping his tea.

[Furiel]

"What my collegue here left out is how we originally learned of the cultist threat. Which was when we were hired by a local merchant to recover some property that had been stolen from him. The theives turned out to be Bha'al cultists and we learned from some of their documents that there is an individual named Nylock who has recovered a relic that they intend to use to bring Bha'al back. We do not know if this Nylock was at the tower or not, and if the relic we now have in our possession is in fact the relic in question. It was upon our return to town after that trip and then informing local authorities that we were presented with the two opportunites to investigate the crypt and the grave robbings that ultimately lead the others to this tower and Tony Plush and the others to the crypt."

[Blackferne]

"TO make sure my age isn't affecting my memory, we have Vlad, Viggo, and Stanislav as vampires. And Nylock as a bha'alist. Do any of you have suggestions about where we should spend resources against the bha'alists? Do we know how large of a threat they pose currently?"

[Jimer Lins]

"We know that they were wary of the vampires, but intent on finding out if they could be convinced to join them. The cult seems to be fairly well-supplied, as evidenced by correspondence we found at the site of our original employment."

[Staris]

"Regrettably only tell tell signs. Heppil's mine that had been doing the thefts had 65 crates of metal works for carts of with a sizable number with Bhal'alist symbol. Along with the openness of the Goblins grave-robbing for the ritual they where attempting suggesting a fairly sizable following or very brazen and foolish group."

[Whiteness]

"The man they spoke of earlier, Drayson, had informed us he tracked the Vampire Lord to this area, but we only encountered his minions in the crypt."

[Furiel]

"That is correct your lordship. Tony Plush has shared all that he knows at this time. We have not come up with definitive next steps yet, that was a conversation we were intending for today. There is the thought that if we were to travel to Sagemoor or a larger city that we could use those names to continue our investigation and locate another cell or two of their organizations. Which is one avenue of approach and may be our best option as we don't have any other really good leads Tony Plush is aware of.

As for the size of the threat, Tony Plush does not believe them to be insignificant in the long term. Especially with the numbers they have. We do not know the size of any of these organizations, but we have to remember that there are three of them. So while each individual threat may not be enough on it's own to destabilize the area, a combination of all three at the same time could bring unimaginable horror to the area. And the fact that they are sending envoys between them and they have organization means that they are likely not small in their own right.

And to finally answer your previous question about our plans for the relic, Tony Plush's plan with this relic is to keep it out of the hands of the Bha'al cultists...with extreme prejudice. Per the conversation we overheard in the crypt we believe this is one of several relics that Bha'alists would need to create a ritual meant to bring him back into this world and Tony Plush will allow that to happen literally over his dead body. If we could find a way to do so safely a number of us would like to destroy this relic. In Tony Plush's opinion it is unlikely we would be able to do so, but if a way could be found he would be in favor of it as it would be a significant delay or perhaps make it impossible for the cultists to be successful. Not all in present company share that view however. Utlimately though Tony Plush believes that we are all agreed on the point that it is of paramount importance that the relic be kept out of the hands of the cultists and to that end we intend to keep with with us and we will protect it with our lives."