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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Cerebral Paladin" data-source="post: 3059209" data-attributes="member: 3448">Dame Brionna closed the door firmly behind the ambassador.  “There appears to be a small war going on near the townhouse of Caligshire; two small flying crafts dropped in over the walls about a half-hour ago.”“We tried to intercept them, your grace, but we couldn’t see them after the first sightings.  The men were slipping through the night with a deftness that we had never seen.”  The patrolman appeared to view this as a personal failing.  “We could only barely see them, your grace.”<<Sounds like the Noldar are dealing with Drusilla,>> Kit thought.“Do not try to engage them,” said Alistair.  “You will not succeed, and your losses will be high.”“But have the city guard evacuate civilians from the surrounding area, and guard the storm sewer exits,” added Dame Brionna.  “There are likely to be skaven fleeing the townhouse, and we want to stop them all.”“Uh, yes, your grace, Captain.”Kit nodded.  “And send a large number of guards to arrest everyone at the Golden Antlers tavern.”  She looked at Alistair and Dame Brionna.  “With the attack going on, we don’t want to give them time to regroup or let the demonist escape, and if they arrest everyone there, they’re bound to get her.”“Right,” replied Alistair.  “And bring as many mages as you have there-- the guards will need magical support.”“Yes, your grace.  I’ll tell them that both of the city guard mages are to go there.”The patrolman hurried out to deliver the orders.  A few minutes later, a young gentleman entered and saluted.  His uniform clearly marked him as a junior officer, but none of the members of the Archduke’s Council recognized its style.“Yes, ensign?”“Captain Fitzgerald has sent me to report, your grace.”“Captain Fitzgerald?”“Of the Air Guard, your grace.  Our voller has been patrolling the city, and we have identified unknown airships conducting military operations within the city.  Captain Fitzgerald requests permission to engage.”“Denied.  Under no circumstances is he to engage as long as the military operations remain centered on the Earl of Caligshire’s townhouse.”The ensign seemed perturbed by this response, but replied, “Aye-aye, your grace.”  His eyes rolled back slightly in his head and then focused again.  “I have passed your orders on to Captain Fitzgerald.”A shadowy drow figure flickered in to the room.  The drow bowed politely to Alistair.  “Your grace.  As you presumably know, we have attacked the forces of Drucilla and Region 6 in the city.  I fear that we need to discharge our energy lances at her compound.  Our psions did not fare well.”“Will there be damage beyond the compound?”“No, your grace.  Our energy lances will inflict heavy damage on the compound, but we should be able to avoid damaging the surrounding area.”“Very well.  You may do so.  Ensign, inform Captain Fitzgerald to expect the unknown vessels to use energy lances.  The order to not engage remains in force.”“Very good, your grace.”  The Ensign paused.  “Captain Fitzgerald acknowledges your command.”The prepared attack force including two Noldar vollers brought overwhelming force to bear.  Drow commandos engaged the defensive forces in the Caligshire townhouse, led by three psions who attacked Drusilla herself.  They succeeded in preventing her flight, but even a relatively weak Noldar proved to be more than a match for them, and all three psions died.  About twenty minutes after the initial attack, both ships fired several volleys from their energy lances, smashing through the last of the defenses.  The energy lances inflicted substantial collateral damage on the Earl’s compound, but drowan accuracy confined the damage to his estate alone.  Dozens of Skaven gutterrunners fled through concealed exits into the sewers, but with the city guard ready for them, none escaped, although many guards lost their lives in stopping them.  The destruction of the colony of Skaven beneath Drusilla’s chambers eliminated the last significant group of ratmen within the city.  As the city guards finished off the last of the Skaven, they saw the same shadowy figures, most now wounded and some carrying dead companions, board the airships.  Searches of the compound confirmed that Drusilla, the Earl, and his entire immediate family were among the dead.  The Archducal Council sent word to the Duke of Furrows; with the deaths of the obvious heirs, the Duke would need to sort out his vassal’s succession.The detachment sent to the Golden Antlers carried out their orders with vigor.  All of the patrons surrendered immediately.  The owner also surrendered.  The owner’s wife, however, fought to the death, summoning bound entities that dismembered six guards before they cut her down.  Lady Constance and an exorcist easily bound the thought demon riding Brenda’s fetus, although the interrogation would have to wait for another day.  Her report included an amused note.“Based on the demonist’s notes, I confirmed that the two bound tanar’ii are both mariliths.  They are bound to ride harmlessly on two infants within the city until the command phrase is given.  And the only entity capable of giving the command phrase is now a mere larva with no memories.  I think they will have a frustrating time simply waiting the decades for the two infants to die, allowing them to return to the Abyss.  --Lady Constance Deepingwell”End of Session 8</blockquote>

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