Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Cerebral Paladin" data-source="post: 4228883" data-attributes="member: 3448">The Council moved on to the question of how to deal with the molydeus.  Canberry would not be safe as long as it remained embedded within Brightspan City, but at the same time, its power was so great that a direct assault could have enormous costs.  One possibility that the Council considered was summoning extraplanar help of their own to fight it.  The Bishop could summon a major angel, perhaps a solar or something similar, to aid the Archduchy, but Alistair’s estimate based on what they had learned about the molydeus was that a solar would be unable to defeat it, at least without substantial assistance.  Kit suggested that Dame Constance might be able to help by sending a powerful devil, and the fact that it would turn two evil creatures against each other tempered Dame Brionna’s usual antipathy towards the Archduchy’s use of diabolists.  Dame Brionna also suggested recruiting a good dragon to attack the molydeus, but that presented a logistical difficulty:  a powerful enough dragon would probably be too big to fit in the catacombs and entering the catacombs in a different form would sacrifice much of a dragon’s power.The Council finally decided to just gather more information for the time being.  While there were several experts in demonology in the diocese, none of them were attached to the Archducal staff.  However, the diocese maintained a bonded church exorcist, as well as a major exorcist in the service of the archdiocese.  The Council sent word to the archbishop, requesting an appointment with the archdiocesan exorcist.  Shortly later, they received a message confirming that the exorcist would be able to meet with them in two days time.With that dealt with, Alistair raised the issue of his marriage options.  “What do people think of Princess Kaitlyn?”Kit sounded somewhat unhappy as she responded, “I think that she’s the best option out of what we’ve got.”Dame Brionna nodded cautiously.  “I agree, your grace, although I am still concerned about Manyhands.  If he is demonic…”“That would clearly be unacceptable.  It sounds like we should then finish the vetting process for Princiess Kaitlyn, focusing on an in depth examination of her court mage?  If that comes up clean, we may be ready to move forward on this.  The sooner we act, the safer Canberry will be.”“I’ll have some of my people investigate him, m’lord,” said Kit.  “We might also ask the Minister of Magic and Dame Constance for reports on him.”Alistair agreed and sent pages out to deliver those requests.Almost immediately, Lady Constance stumped into the room.  “Your grace, it’s good to see you in good health.  You wished my opinion of the mage that advises Princess Kaitlyn, the request says.  Well, he is primarily an elementalist-- I could determine his exact connection to the princes with some work, but I can tell you that is his central connection.  He bears a devil ring on the third toe of his left foot.  I think it is his weakness.  I believe an erinyes is bound to it.  I can’t abide them, myself, although I do use them on occasion.”“What are the particular concerns about erinyes?  I take it that there are different issues than with other devils.”“Yes, your grace.  There are two ways to bind an erinyes.  One is to offer it a sacrifice-- I do not think he has the stomach for that.  The other is to offer your bodily fluids.  I believe he may be enamored of her.”“If she’s bound to him, would there be a threat to Princess Kaitlyn or to others?” asked Kit“No, only to him.  If he has allowed himself to fall under her sway, she will use that to draw him further into her control and plans.”“Why is he called Manyhands, anyway?”“Ah.  He has more than the standard two.  He mostly keeps them out of phase.  When they are here, they have no arms.”“How did he get the extra hands?” asked Alistair.“Rumor has it he was experimenting when he was a young man.  He had a particular desire for these hands-- they are imbued with a sense of feeling.  The erinyes follows after his pattern…”Kit made a disgusted face.  “He was using the extra dimensional hands for that?”“Indeed.  He is something of a lecher.  But do not underestimate his capabilities based on his personal weaknesses.  He is fairly powerful.”“We were contemplating offering him a position as an instructor in the magical academy we intend to found.”Dame Constance nodded thoughtfully.  “He could be a good instructor in the proposed school.  You should know, he is much older than he looks.  He probably has some nonhuman blood.  The rumor is that it is from the Courts of Chaos.  Probably not a parent, but maybe a grandparent-- could be one of the Lords of Sorts.  Their blood is known for great magic, and it was considered something of a coup in the Southlands to get one of them to mate with you.  So there was a smattering of families that had blood of the Courts of Chaos.’“Does that carry with it other taint?” asked Dame Brionna.“It simply increases the ability to control the flow of magic.”“Hmm,” Alistair mused thoughtfully.  “Are there any similarly gifted Glor’diadelian bloodlines?  We might use that to strengthen our magical resources.” “There are some bloodlines associated with Lord Glor’diadel that are renowned for their magical prowess.  Unfortunately, they are not on this continent-- mostly on Zest’qua, although also some on Khamista.  They cluster near the enemies of the Light.  Some of the families are in the Border Kingdoms by the Shadowline in Zest’qua, some in the lands on Khamista near the lands of Morgroth.”  The Council discussed recruiting a prominent member of one of the bloodlines to teach at the academy.  It would provide an additional magical resource and might lead to the development of a local line of descendants of the bloodline.“I have a colleague who has recently taken up residence in Tarkenia, in preparation for a rumored counteroffensive there,” commented Dame Constance.  “I could consult with him.”“We would appreciate it.  Thank you for your advice, Dame Constance.”“It is always at your disposal, your grace.  I should add that we have extracted a bit more information on the incholate.  The research is slow, but we are making progress.  The books are not consulted very often on this topic.  It is very hard to advance.”  Alistair and Kit noted that Dame Constance leaned more heavily on her staff than she had previously.  She looked more drawn than in prior meetings.  They exchanged a glance, and Alistair spoke again.  “You have our thanks.  There is no need for you to push yourself with regard to this research.  Peel free to delegate the work to other members of the coven.  We don’t want you pushing yourself-- take any breaks you need.”Dame Constance nodded gravely but said nothing.  She surely understood where Alistair’s concern came from, but just as clearly did not want to speak of it herself.</blockquote>

Verification