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Message: <blockquote data-quote="the Jester" data-source="post: 813644" data-attributes="member: 1210">"...so you see, Thane Vulker, it's really in all of our best interests to try to deal with this Chaos Fleet on as positive terms as possible- and I think the best way we can hope to profit from it is to give deep discounts.  The quantity of goods we can move is going to be huge- at least for the right kinds of goods."  Vulker Hammerhead considers.  He's a stout, aging dwarf.  He was the hero who retook his ancestral halls at the head of a band of adventurers and managed to bring in enough dwarves to now, not much more than a century later, have a thriving community under his leadership.  His hair may be thinning, his manner may be gruff and his ears may stick out, but his mind is as sharp as it ever was (though, frankly, he's a fighter, not a mage).  And he's a dwarf- he's more interested in the money potential than the elves on the Council will be."All right," the Thane says at last.  "Sounds like we can make a few gold bars on this deal for sure, even givin' them the sorts of discounts that you're askin' for.  And it sounds a little dangerous."  If only Zeebo knew how this will affect Vulker and his son before all is said and done!"There's a Council meeting tomorrow," says Zeebo.  "Can I count on your vote?"Vulker nods assent.  "Aye," he grunts.  "Where there's coin to be made, there's dwarves willing to venture."Twenty minutes later, the Mayor departs Vulker's embassy, hurrying on his way to the next Councillor he's got in mind.  He has a busy day ahead.  But what else does he have to do, other than mope around waiting to be killed by the Bile Lords?Back at the house owned by the Swords of Assistance, Horbin prepares a small sanctuary.  He's been told all about Forinthian invasions of Tirchond in the past, how they've tampered time after time with the self-determination of the Shining City and the entire isle.  He can't help it; it still disturbs him that he isn't free to worship his god.He wonders if this is how members of other faiths feel in Forinthian areas?He summons an ally from another plane: Lionel, a planetar.  The angel commisserates with him over the lack of a proper temple, but counsels patience.  "With time, all things pass," Lionel says sagely.  They make a bargain: for a small amount of gold, Lionel will help fight off the impending attack of the Bile Lords.Angelfire and Red wander around together.  They find their way to the local duelling society.  It's a beautiful building, with a nice large front yard empty of major obstructions.  "Looks like a fine place for a duel," Red remarks.  They enter the building and Red pays for duelling licenses for both of them- "Just in case either of us need them."Sheva, meanwhile, communes with Coila, her goddess, the lady of time.  What can I do with my power to aid you presently?  Stop the forces of the Temple of Elemental Evil.Should we be worried about the Chaos Fleet?  They will serve their purpose.Where's the closest temple of Coila to Var?  The Delphinate.What's that?  The Island of Wizards.Is a preemptive strike against the Bile Lords a sound plan?  EXTREMELY dangerous.Is there any way to hide from the Bile Lords' wrath?  Not likely.In Bile Mountain we fought a strange time creature- what was it?  A chronal repeater.What's that?  A time golem (sort of).Is it possible for me to make them?  No.What is a deathbringer's weakness?  It's undead.Hmm, Sheva thinks.  I guess we shouldn't try to take the battle to the Bile Lords... but we can at least try to optimize the battlefield.  That night, while our heroes eat a feast of roast lamb in peanut sauce at dinner, an unexpected visitor arrives, teleporting in to the midst of them.  Although at first Horbin and Red start to reach for their weapons, the others reassure them that this is a friend: Estelias, the grey elven enchantress of inestimable fame and beauty.  In fact, Zeebo can barely restrain himself*, despite his long and exhausting day of lobbying.  Fortunately, Estelias brushes him off with regal elegance, or else he might have suffered a coronary attack.  Estelias makes idle chitchat for a few moments.  Zeebo tells her about the Chaos Fleet and his legislative agenda and she wishes him well.  "Maybe I can try to help a little," she says, but she makes no guarantees and remains inscrutable, refusing to say how.  Besides, she's an enchantress; whatever it is might not really be legal, and Zeebo doesn't need to know about that stuff.  She offers to go to the Council meeting with Zeebo on the morrow and he gratefully accepts; her word carries a lot of weight and she's the best speaker he's ever heard.She's never heard of the Bile Lords, but she does know what Bile Mountain is.  Told they've overthrown it, she tells Sybele, Sheva, Zeebo and Angelfire, "I'm impressed.  First Firestorm Peak, now Bile Mountain."  She favors them with a dazzling smile that leaves poor Zeebo full of built-up pressure, and as soon as she leaves to do her important enchantress stuff he hurriedly excuses himself and walks stiffly (and discretely) to the nearest brothel, where they take care of him.Boy, I can't wait to see Estelias again tomorrow, he thinks wryly as he drifts off to sleep that night.The party sleeps again; one more day until they are attacked by the Bile Lords' servants.*I think it's important at this point to mention again Zeebo's Chaos-induced "enormous fertility."Next Time: Preparing the battlefield!  Another commune!  The Council of Tirchond meets!  And will Orbius ever learn?edited to add in Angelfire and Red's trip to the duelling society.</blockquote>

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