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<blockquote data-quote="Cerebral Paladin" data-source="post: 2459128" data-attributes="member: 3448"><p>Stithis quickly roused the party telepathically. "A group of drow have attacked and taken Mahler! They teleported out with him just after they arrived."</p><p></p><p>The camp quickly devolved into chaos. Dame Brionna and the Paranswarmian guards, frustrated by their inability to stop the attack, contented themselves by attempting to guard against any further attacks. Alistair, having only taken the time to throw on his tunic and grab his spiked chain, rushed over to the site of the attack. The Inquisitor General was closely examining the ground with his top aides.</p><p></p><p>"Inquisitor General, would you be able to follow them?"</p><p></p><p>The Paranswarmian looked at Alistair. "We could... it would require some of our greatest magic, but we could follow use a gate to follow their teleportation."</p><p></p><p>"Then we must do so," Alistair said. "The drow took Mahler because they believe him to be Lord Alistair of Canberry. At Lord Alistair's request, Mahler had impersonated him, but now assassins sent to kill Lord Alistair are trying to kill Mahler instead. Lord Alistair would never forgive himself if Mahler died because of that deception. It is our duty to retrieve him."</p><p></p><p>"Very well. When you and your companions are ready, we may proceed through the gate. I will bring us to a point some hundreds of feet away from the destination of their gate. That should permit us to evaluate the situation before we take action."</p><p></p><p>Stithis, Delbon, and Kit soon joined the Inquisitor General, prepared for battle. Dame Brionna had already been ready to go but brought over the remainder of Alistair's clothes and equipment as well. Within minutes, the group stood before the Inquisitor General and his remaining guards. The Inquisitor General chanted a great prayer to Paranswarm, finishing by making the sign of the downward arrow. As he finished, the group vanished from the encampment and reappeared on the edge of a wide field.</p><p></p><p>Two great valar, the mighty flying ships made by both Eldar and Noldar elves, dominated the field, surrounded by a small drowan military encampment. The larger valar was an enormous man-of-war, but even the smaller ship carried a terrifying number of drowan troops, along with powerful magic and psionic weapons. But perhaps even more frightening than the valar was the figure speaking with a defiant Mahler. The guards in the circle around Mahler were drow. But their leader, resplendent in crystal armor, was a Noldar lord, wearing the marks of office of Zorplona-Argoni's Controller of Region 6.</p><p></p><p>"Should we attack to rescue Mahler?" Stithis whispered.</p><p></p><p>"We dare not while the Noldar is with him," responded Alistair. "Attacking openly would be suicide. But if he hasn't harmed Mahler yet, we probably have some time. He won't guard Mahler personally forever."</p><p></p><p>The group crawled forward through the high grass of the field as far as they dared. They approached to a distance where they could safely watch, although they were unable to hear the conversation. They could tell, based on the arrogance of Mahler's gestures and body language, that he must still be playing the role of Lord Alistair. The Noldar and his drow servants, for their part, treated Mahler with respect, courtesy, and firmness. After another minute of conversation, the Noldar gestured towards the warship. Mahler gave a formal half-bow, and followed two of the drow back to the valar man-of-war. As they walked, Stithis slipped forward invisibly and made mental contact with Mahler.</p><p></p><p>"Mahler, it's Stithis. We're watching you and waiting for an opportunity to rescue you."</p><p></p><p>"I'm glad to hear it. They're exquisitely polite to me, but only as a prelude to my execution in the morning. Apparently, I'm to have the great honor of being personally slain by the Noldar."</p><p></p><p>"Make sure I know where you're being held... I can't come any closer in case they have wards against invisibility."</p><p></p><p>"Don't worry, I'll stay in mental contact." After a minute or so of travel in the ship, Mahler reached his cell. "They've placed me in the forward cabin of the warship. The two windows facing forward at the front of the ship open into my room. There are only a few drow directly guarding me; Captain Abruz and two guards, I believe."</p><p></p><p>"I'll let the rest of the group know and we'll come as soon as we can."</p><p></p><p>"Excellent," thought Mahler. "In the meantime, I think there's little for me to do but enjoy the quite good drowan wine they serve their 'guests.'"</p><p></p><p>The group watched quietly as the Noldar, his chief lieutenant, and several drow guards walked over to a human peasant couple who waited with trepidation at the edge of the clearing. The group recognized the peasants as two of the people of Lyneham. The Noldar tossed a heavy purse onto the ground between them, and the peasants, with much bowing and scraping, collected the purse, obviously their wages for betraying their liege. As the Noldar walked away, he made a small gesture to his guards. The couple died before they even noticed the drow drawing their swords. The fallen elves did not even bother to recover the peasants' payment.</p><p></p><p>Activity began picking up throughout the camp. The drow were striking camp, taking down the tents and moving equipment back onto the ship. Dame Brionna nodded at the activity. "If we wish to free Mahler, we need to make our attempt before they finish striking camp, m'lord. Once the valar take to the air, we will be unable to do anything."</p><p></p><p>Alistair nodded. "With a sufficient diversion, we should be able to quickly reach Mahler. But getting him out will be very difficult. Still, Lord Alistair would insist that we not allow Mahler to suffer on his behalf. We have to try."</p><p></p><p>The Inquisitor General interrupted. "I believe that I can take care of the remainder of your problems." He handed Alistair a small stone disk. "Breaking this will activate an area Recall to my Cathedral in Tang. If you are tightly grouped around Mahler, it will carry all of you to safety. My men and I will provide you the diversion."</p><p></p><p>"Thank you, venerable bishop... but are you certain? You cannot survive providing that diversion."</p><p></p><p>Stithis said, "Maybe I could provide a diversion instead, using my whirlwind and my large form to make them think that they were under a more serious attack."</p><p></p><p>The Inquisitor General shook his head. "No, valorous djinni. The drow and Noldar have powerful weapons and spells that would discorporate you in moments without requiring them to shift their focus of attention, and then your friends would be captured or killed as well. Only a full force attack will provide enough distraction. As for your concerns, Baron..." The Inquisitor General faced Alistair with a smile. "Let us be honest with each other, your highness. It is clear that when you speak of Lord Alistair's determination to not abandon one of his people, you speak for yourself, not some liege-lord who has departed towards Canberry. Your true identity has become clear. The Noldar's plan is to slay you to generate chaos throughout the South of Drucien. Lord Paranswarm detests such chaos, and I must act to stop it. As I know that I cannot persuade you from abandoning your lawful duty to your companions, and would not wish to if I could, I must provide you the means to stop the rise of this chaos." He nodded, in thought. "My guards and I have served Paranswarm well and are ready to face His most orderly judgment. If you will return the renegade's bones to the Cathedral and instruct them to consign his soul to the Second Deepening for five-hundred years, we will even have finished our last mission."</p><p></p><p>Alistair accepted the sealed box of bones and ash with a grim nod. "You have my deep thanks, then, as well as Canberry's. Is there anything else you would like returned to your cathedral?"</p><p></p><p>"No. I think I should like to wear my ring and sash as I go to meet Paranswarm. They will be able to make new regalia for my successor. Wait for our attack to draw their attention, then execute your plan quickly. May Paranswarm's Darkness cover your escape."</p><p></p><p>The group waited patiently, as close to the bow of the man-of-war as they dared approach, waiting for the moment to strike. A tremendous gout of fire, laced through with streaks of pure blackness, fell from the heavens and engulfed several drow at one of the rear-facing crystal weapon emplacements. With a tremendous shout, the Inquisitor General's guards charged, hacking at the drow closest to them. The drow on both valar responded immediately, charging towards the stern of the ships as they readied their weapons.</p><p></p><p>With the sign to act clear, Delbon cast a spell to enlarge Alistair and scrambled onto his back. Alistair used his new size to easily cover the distance to the ship and smashed through the window with his chain, while Kit nimbly clamored up him and through the window into Mahler's cell, pausing only to toss Mahler the rapier he had dropped at his capture before stabbing at one of the drow guards. Dame Brionna followed close on her heals, although rather less nimbly, and joined the fight. The drow fought for a few seconds before their leader, Captain Abruz, stepped back from the main fight and concentrated. Stithis and Kit clearly "heard" the message he broadcast psionically throughout the area: "The attack is a diversion. A strike team seeks to free the royal prisoner. Request reinforcements."</p><p></p><p>Kit's eyes widened in surprise. "Alistair, more troops will be here in seconds."</p><p></p><p>"Our cue to leave. Everyone in close!" Alistair pulled himself deep into the cabin, and threw the stone disk at the deck. Darkness surrounded them.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Cerebral Paladin, post: 2459128, member: 3448"] Stithis quickly roused the party telepathically. "A group of drow have attacked and taken Mahler! They teleported out with him just after they arrived." The camp quickly devolved into chaos. Dame Brionna and the Paranswarmian guards, frustrated by their inability to stop the attack, contented themselves by attempting to guard against any further attacks. Alistair, having only taken the time to throw on his tunic and grab his spiked chain, rushed over to the site of the attack. The Inquisitor General was closely examining the ground with his top aides. "Inquisitor General, would you be able to follow them?" The Paranswarmian looked at Alistair. "We could... it would require some of our greatest magic, but we could follow use a gate to follow their teleportation." "Then we must do so," Alistair said. "The drow took Mahler because they believe him to be Lord Alistair of Canberry. At Lord Alistair's request, Mahler had impersonated him, but now assassins sent to kill Lord Alistair are trying to kill Mahler instead. Lord Alistair would never forgive himself if Mahler died because of that deception. It is our duty to retrieve him." "Very well. When you and your companions are ready, we may proceed through the gate. I will bring us to a point some hundreds of feet away from the destination of their gate. That should permit us to evaluate the situation before we take action." Stithis, Delbon, and Kit soon joined the Inquisitor General, prepared for battle. Dame Brionna had already been ready to go but brought over the remainder of Alistair's clothes and equipment as well. Within minutes, the group stood before the Inquisitor General and his remaining guards. The Inquisitor General chanted a great prayer to Paranswarm, finishing by making the sign of the downward arrow. As he finished, the group vanished from the encampment and reappeared on the edge of a wide field. Two great valar, the mighty flying ships made by both Eldar and Noldar elves, dominated the field, surrounded by a small drowan military encampment. The larger valar was an enormous man-of-war, but even the smaller ship carried a terrifying number of drowan troops, along with powerful magic and psionic weapons. But perhaps even more frightening than the valar was the figure speaking with a defiant Mahler. The guards in the circle around Mahler were drow. But their leader, resplendent in crystal armor, was a Noldar lord, wearing the marks of office of Zorplona-Argoni's Controller of Region 6. "Should we attack to rescue Mahler?" Stithis whispered. "We dare not while the Noldar is with him," responded Alistair. "Attacking openly would be suicide. But if he hasn't harmed Mahler yet, we probably have some time. He won't guard Mahler personally forever." The group crawled forward through the high grass of the field as far as they dared. They approached to a distance where they could safely watch, although they were unable to hear the conversation. They could tell, based on the arrogance of Mahler's gestures and body language, that he must still be playing the role of Lord Alistair. The Noldar and his drow servants, for their part, treated Mahler with respect, courtesy, and firmness. After another minute of conversation, the Noldar gestured towards the warship. Mahler gave a formal half-bow, and followed two of the drow back to the valar man-of-war. As they walked, Stithis slipped forward invisibly and made mental contact with Mahler. "Mahler, it's Stithis. We're watching you and waiting for an opportunity to rescue you." "I'm glad to hear it. They're exquisitely polite to me, but only as a prelude to my execution in the morning. Apparently, I'm to have the great honor of being personally slain by the Noldar." "Make sure I know where you're being held... I can't come any closer in case they have wards against invisibility." "Don't worry, I'll stay in mental contact." After a minute or so of travel in the ship, Mahler reached his cell. "They've placed me in the forward cabin of the warship. The two windows facing forward at the front of the ship open into my room. There are only a few drow directly guarding me; Captain Abruz and two guards, I believe." "I'll let the rest of the group know and we'll come as soon as we can." "Excellent," thought Mahler. "In the meantime, I think there's little for me to do but enjoy the quite good drowan wine they serve their 'guests.'" The group watched quietly as the Noldar, his chief lieutenant, and several drow guards walked over to a human peasant couple who waited with trepidation at the edge of the clearing. The group recognized the peasants as two of the people of Lyneham. The Noldar tossed a heavy purse onto the ground between them, and the peasants, with much bowing and scraping, collected the purse, obviously their wages for betraying their liege. As the Noldar walked away, he made a small gesture to his guards. The couple died before they even noticed the drow drawing their swords. The fallen elves did not even bother to recover the peasants' payment. Activity began picking up throughout the camp. The drow were striking camp, taking down the tents and moving equipment back onto the ship. Dame Brionna nodded at the activity. "If we wish to free Mahler, we need to make our attempt before they finish striking camp, m'lord. Once the valar take to the air, we will be unable to do anything." Alistair nodded. "With a sufficient diversion, we should be able to quickly reach Mahler. But getting him out will be very difficult. Still, Lord Alistair would insist that we not allow Mahler to suffer on his behalf. We have to try." The Inquisitor General interrupted. "I believe that I can take care of the remainder of your problems." He handed Alistair a small stone disk. "Breaking this will activate an area Recall to my Cathedral in Tang. If you are tightly grouped around Mahler, it will carry all of you to safety. My men and I will provide you the diversion." "Thank you, venerable bishop... but are you certain? You cannot survive providing that diversion." Stithis said, "Maybe I could provide a diversion instead, using my whirlwind and my large form to make them think that they were under a more serious attack." The Inquisitor General shook his head. "No, valorous djinni. The drow and Noldar have powerful weapons and spells that would discorporate you in moments without requiring them to shift their focus of attention, and then your friends would be captured or killed as well. Only a full force attack will provide enough distraction. As for your concerns, Baron..." The Inquisitor General faced Alistair with a smile. "Let us be honest with each other, your highness. It is clear that when you speak of Lord Alistair's determination to not abandon one of his people, you speak for yourself, not some liege-lord who has departed towards Canberry. Your true identity has become clear. The Noldar's plan is to slay you to generate chaos throughout the South of Drucien. Lord Paranswarm detests such chaos, and I must act to stop it. As I know that I cannot persuade you from abandoning your lawful duty to your companions, and would not wish to if I could, I must provide you the means to stop the rise of this chaos." He nodded, in thought. "My guards and I have served Paranswarm well and are ready to face His most orderly judgment. If you will return the renegade's bones to the Cathedral and instruct them to consign his soul to the Second Deepening for five-hundred years, we will even have finished our last mission." Alistair accepted the sealed box of bones and ash with a grim nod. "You have my deep thanks, then, as well as Canberry's. Is there anything else you would like returned to your cathedral?" "No. I think I should like to wear my ring and sash as I go to meet Paranswarm. They will be able to make new regalia for my successor. Wait for our attack to draw their attention, then execute your plan quickly. May Paranswarm's Darkness cover your escape." The group waited patiently, as close to the bow of the man-of-war as they dared approach, waiting for the moment to strike. A tremendous gout of fire, laced through with streaks of pure blackness, fell from the heavens and engulfed several drow at one of the rear-facing crystal weapon emplacements. With a tremendous shout, the Inquisitor General's guards charged, hacking at the drow closest to them. The drow on both valar responded immediately, charging towards the stern of the ships as they readied their weapons. With the sign to act clear, Delbon cast a spell to enlarge Alistair and scrambled onto his back. Alistair used his new size to easily cover the distance to the ship and smashed through the window with his chain, while Kit nimbly clamored up him and through the window into Mahler's cell, pausing only to toss Mahler the rapier he had dropped at his capture before stabbing at one of the drow guards. Dame Brionna followed close on her heals, although rather less nimbly, and joined the fight. The drow fought for a few seconds before their leader, Captain Abruz, stepped back from the main fight and concentrated. Stithis and Kit clearly "heard" the message he broadcast psionically throughout the area: "The attack is a diversion. A strike team seeks to free the royal prisoner. Request reinforcements." Kit's eyes widened in surprise. "Alistair, more troops will be here in seconds." "Our cue to leave. Everyone in close!" Alistair pulled himself deep into the cabin, and threw the stone disk at the deck. Darkness surrounded them. [/QUOTE]
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