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Aphonion Tales: The Archducal Council -- Unedited notes; later posts are edited transcripts (posts MWF, update 3/1/23)
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<blockquote data-quote="CPaladin" data-source="post: 8818367" data-attributes="member: 7030144"><p>[Session 135, cont'd]</p><p>After appropriate formalities, Alistair asks, “Did they take any prisoners with them, or seek to attack anyone of fae or other elder blood?”</p><p></p><p>“The two cities that they focused on--and I use cities in a way that you might not--are the two places within the Broken Lands with the most of the old blood. I do not know that it was a direct attack on them. But they did try to take captives--common women primarily. Whether the captives had old blood, and whether and where they were taken successfully, I can not say. We did not expect the attack, and there was considerable breaches of our defense initially, and there were simply too many people missing and or dead to sort out everything. Eventually, over time, Lady Talen may be able to determine but not quickly, and I was sent immediately when the council of covens realized the way they look to be headed.”</p><p></p><p>“Did you see any specific types of demons?”</p><p></p><p>“Several but primarily some odd creature that we do not have in our… I beg your pardon, my lord, I know you're the Protector of the Light…”</p><p></p><p>“I think I should call Dame Constance, our court diabolist, to be part of this conversation.”</p><p></p><p>After Dame Constance arrives, the ambassador continues.</p><p></p><p>“There were some form of I think they were called [Bq Yolanda—I think this is a transcription error, but I don’t know what it was supposed to be], but they're not in our list, not in our grimoires. They were goat-like…”</p><p></p><p>“Ram-like?”</p><p></p><p>“Perhaps. There were quite a number of them. They were not extraordinarily potent, as demons go, and our devils were able to rip them apart while chuckling, which I must admit, even for me was a bit unsettling. I almost think we were meant for a distraction. My husband had a great deal of strategic training and military background. I do not. But it seemed to me like an awful waste of summonings--they had no chance against the bound pit themes that guard the inner sanctum of each of the cities. And to throw them against those defenses, they had to have known that. If they could summon them, they can't be so stupid they didn't know they were insufficient. There were also a handful of others but only a handful of them. Nicodemons[?] were the most dangerous, of course, and a few lesser things, rutterkin and such, running about. It was the humans that did most of the damage. However, the focus of the demons was so limited to a target they could not possibly take, but it certainly distracted our warriors which allowed them to get to the commons at all.”</p><p></p><p>“And that doesn't discharge the defenses for future purposes, does it?”</p><p></p><p>“No, the pit fiends are permanently bound, and the one they did manage to disincarnate has already been replaced by Lady Talon, the high witch. She is concerned about the possibility of-- well, to be honest here, imperial majesty, of our being blamed for sending demons down on you. We do not deal with demons. Having order is an important thing.”</p><p></p><p>“We understand that. And while we do not entirely approve of the practices of our cousins in Darkness, we understand our mutual alliance against demons.”</p><p></p><p>Relief passes across her face as she hears this.</p><p></p><p>“You said that you cannot scry on them now?”</p><p></p><p>“Yes, they have become invisible, even to the pool.”</p><p></p><p>“I take it that that your scrying capabilities are substantial.”</p><p></p><p>“Yes, we've never lost track before of anything.”</p><p></p><p>“Would you be willing to share your mental images of their leader?”</p><p></p><p>“Yes, of course. I've been instructed to cooperate with you in any way that I can.”</p><p></p><p>“And do your scrying techniques include psionics?”</p><p></p><p>“Ours are only magical. We count strictly on the power of the Earth, Wind and the forces of Hell.”</p><p></p><p>Dame Constance almost chuckles when she hears that combination.</p><p></p><p>“I’m curious, what is the distinction between witches and wizards or the like?”</p><p></p><p>“We utilize an entirely different set of spells, the items that we produce with our craft are different, and we depend on pacts with devils, not compulsions.”</p><p></p><p>“So you've not promised your soul, then?”</p><p></p><p>“No, although a fair number of animals have died for every single one of the bound devils. But our souls go to Lord Paranswarm, for we are His worshipers.”</p><p></p><p>“Have you found ancient ruins or the like in the areas that were attacked? How long has that been settled by your people or by people before you?”</p><p></p><p>“Oh, we settled the areas. No one else wanted them to be honest. Being coven of witches is not necessarily the most accepted thing in some nations. So we fled to those lands. They are swampy, they are poor in resources, but they support our population well enough. You'd be amazed what you can find in the swamp if you know what to look for. We have been there about 1500 years. There were the remains of fae tors, where we built our main cities. Some are still there, but their great lords had diminished or had left and gone away. We've never been able to exactly figured that out. They were glad enough to have new neighbors that were strong enough to shield them from the exigencies of fate. They are bound to the land and were unable to leave to go to other places where there were nobles of their kind still.”</p><p></p><p>“Were any fae-blooded who were slain sacrificed?”</p><p></p><p>“I cannot say for sure, though I thought some corpses oddly slain. Do you know what branding is with animals?”</p><p></p><p>“Yes.”</p><p></p><p>“They had been branded before their throats were cut. I do not recognize the symbol, despite my expertise in magic.”</p><p></p><p>Dame Constance shakes a little in response to this. “Imperial Majesty. When the Grand Master gets here could he also get an image of these sigils, please.”</p><p></p><p>“Indeed, indeed.”</p><p></p><p>About that time the Grandmaster enters.</p><p></p><p>“Lord Silverleaves, the Countess... I'm sorry, what is your title?”</p><p></p><p>“Ravencall.”</p><p></p><p>“The Countess Ravencall, ambassador from the Broken Lands.”</p><p></p><p>“A pleasure to meet you, your Eminence, I'm not sure what the appropriate title is, my lady. It's a pleasure to meet you.” In the way that he often does, Lord Silverleaves attempts to be overly respectful of human titles that he does not in fact respect much at all.</p><p></p><p>“There has been a demonic assault on some of their cities, along with various demonic followers. They have repulsed it. But the leader, who was transparent in flesh, escaped despite their efforts to slay him, and they can no longer scry him despite their quite considerable scrying capabilities.</p><p></p><p>“Further, at least some of the dead were branded with a strange sigil or mark, and we fear that this may have been sacrificial in some sense, and then this may have been the purpose of the attack to gather such victims.”</p><p></p><p>“Do I have your leave to draw the vision out from you, my lady?”</p><p></p><p>“Yes, you have my leave”</p><p></p><p>“Grand Master, can you project the image out here so we can study them?”</p><p></p><p>“Of course, Dame. These people never give up. And apparently, many of the demons there were feillu, which the witches were not familiar with. They don’t really summon demons, do they? They are one of the cheaper demons to summon.”</p><p></p><p>The image stretches to form a transparent figure with blue fire in its chest, exactly like the ones they have seen before, except much bigger.</p><p></p><p>“I suspect that used to be, with a relatively high probability, originally a stone giant. I don’t know how they got one of those to worship them.”</p><p></p><p>“Some of the possessions have been involuntary, though.”</p><p></p><p>“That's true, that's true. They always were good at that. Oh, these marks you mean?” The image focuses in on a sigil.</p><p></p><p>Dame Constance says, “We need that sigil precisely copied. It's essential for a conduit and that may be useful. I've been working with sigils for a while.”</p><p></p><p>Kit’s secretary carefully makes a copy, then the Grand Master superimposes the image to make sure it has every single stroke.</p><p></p><p>"Excellent. This psionic thing does have its advantages. Thank you, Your Majesty. I will study this further but this is a conduit to the north, and somewhere to the west, some hundreds of miles."</p><p></p><p>"Somewhere north of them could be that effort on the ice."</p><p></p><p>"It could."</p><p></p><p>"What would happen if it was cut or broken?"</p><p></p><p>"If anything were being fed through it at the time, it would eliminate it. I hope that no one else is being sacrificed using it at the moment. But I am sure that's what they were after. I don't think they're coming here. Do you, Grand Master?"</p><p></p><p>"We know that he's been covered in a scrying shield. Let me see what I can find... coming from south and west of the Broken Lands and heading north and west."</p><p></p><p>"That's clearly not towards us. That is more or less directly towards Singing Leaves or Debonai. Singing Leaves could manage these without difficulty, I wager. So that leaves Debonai."</p><p></p><p>"The question is whether they have come in the direction they've come because they've set up a gate or a pad there. I do not believe they're coming to attack us. They have been utterly failures at doing that. I think they will go to another target for more fae. Singing Leaves would be a tougher nut to crack then you could possibly believe. I've lived there for several human lives. So I must think that they're going for another fae-blood group or group of half-elves, and I do not know where those would be."</p><p></p><p>"We need to talk to the tor lord and find maps of the tors."</p><p>[End Session 135]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="CPaladin, post: 8818367, member: 7030144"] [Session 135, cont'd] After appropriate formalities, Alistair asks, “Did they take any prisoners with them, or seek to attack anyone of fae or other elder blood?” “The two cities that they focused on--and I use cities in a way that you might not--are the two places within the Broken Lands with the most of the old blood. I do not know that it was a direct attack on them. But they did try to take captives--common women primarily. Whether the captives had old blood, and whether and where they were taken successfully, I can not say. We did not expect the attack, and there was considerable breaches of our defense initially, and there were simply too many people missing and or dead to sort out everything. Eventually, over time, Lady Talen may be able to determine but not quickly, and I was sent immediately when the council of covens realized the way they look to be headed.” “Did you see any specific types of demons?” “Several but primarily some odd creature that we do not have in our… I beg your pardon, my lord, I know you're the Protector of the Light…” “I think I should call Dame Constance, our court diabolist, to be part of this conversation.” After Dame Constance arrives, the ambassador continues. “There were some form of I think they were called [Bq Yolanda—I think this is a transcription error, but I don’t know what it was supposed to be], but they're not in our list, not in our grimoires. They were goat-like…” “Ram-like?” “Perhaps. There were quite a number of them. They were not extraordinarily potent, as demons go, and our devils were able to rip them apart while chuckling, which I must admit, even for me was a bit unsettling. I almost think we were meant for a distraction. My husband had a great deal of strategic training and military background. I do not. But it seemed to me like an awful waste of summonings--they had no chance against the bound pit themes that guard the inner sanctum of each of the cities. And to throw them against those defenses, they had to have known that. If they could summon them, they can't be so stupid they didn't know they were insufficient. There were also a handful of others but only a handful of them. Nicodemons[?] were the most dangerous, of course, and a few lesser things, rutterkin and such, running about. It was the humans that did most of the damage. However, the focus of the demons was so limited to a target they could not possibly take, but it certainly distracted our warriors which allowed them to get to the commons at all.” “And that doesn't discharge the defenses for future purposes, does it?” “No, the pit fiends are permanently bound, and the one they did manage to disincarnate has already been replaced by Lady Talon, the high witch. She is concerned about the possibility of-- well, to be honest here, imperial majesty, of our being blamed for sending demons down on you. We do not deal with demons. Having order is an important thing.” “We understand that. And while we do not entirely approve of the practices of our cousins in Darkness, we understand our mutual alliance against demons.” Relief passes across her face as she hears this. “You said that you cannot scry on them now?” “Yes, they have become invisible, even to the pool.” “I take it that that your scrying capabilities are substantial.” “Yes, we've never lost track before of anything.” “Would you be willing to share your mental images of their leader?” “Yes, of course. I've been instructed to cooperate with you in any way that I can.” “And do your scrying techniques include psionics?” “Ours are only magical. We count strictly on the power of the Earth, Wind and the forces of Hell.” Dame Constance almost chuckles when she hears that combination. “I’m curious, what is the distinction between witches and wizards or the like?” “We utilize an entirely different set of spells, the items that we produce with our craft are different, and we depend on pacts with devils, not compulsions.” “So you've not promised your soul, then?” “No, although a fair number of animals have died for every single one of the bound devils. But our souls go to Lord Paranswarm, for we are His worshipers.” “Have you found ancient ruins or the like in the areas that were attacked? How long has that been settled by your people or by people before you?” “Oh, we settled the areas. No one else wanted them to be honest. Being coven of witches is not necessarily the most accepted thing in some nations. So we fled to those lands. They are swampy, they are poor in resources, but they support our population well enough. You'd be amazed what you can find in the swamp if you know what to look for. We have been there about 1500 years. There were the remains of fae tors, where we built our main cities. Some are still there, but their great lords had diminished or had left and gone away. We've never been able to exactly figured that out. They were glad enough to have new neighbors that were strong enough to shield them from the exigencies of fate. They are bound to the land and were unable to leave to go to other places where there were nobles of their kind still.” “Were any fae-blooded who were slain sacrificed?” “I cannot say for sure, though I thought some corpses oddly slain. Do you know what branding is with animals?” “Yes.” “They had been branded before their throats were cut. I do not recognize the symbol, despite my expertise in magic.” Dame Constance shakes a little in response to this. “Imperial Majesty. When the Grand Master gets here could he also get an image of these sigils, please.” “Indeed, indeed.” About that time the Grandmaster enters. “Lord Silverleaves, the Countess... I'm sorry, what is your title?” “Ravencall.” “The Countess Ravencall, ambassador from the Broken Lands.” “A pleasure to meet you, your Eminence, I'm not sure what the appropriate title is, my lady. It's a pleasure to meet you.” In the way that he often does, Lord Silverleaves attempts to be overly respectful of human titles that he does not in fact respect much at all. “There has been a demonic assault on some of their cities, along with various demonic followers. They have repulsed it. But the leader, who was transparent in flesh, escaped despite their efforts to slay him, and they can no longer scry him despite their quite considerable scrying capabilities. “Further, at least some of the dead were branded with a strange sigil or mark, and we fear that this may have been sacrificial in some sense, and then this may have been the purpose of the attack to gather such victims.” “Do I have your leave to draw the vision out from you, my lady?” “Yes, you have my leave” “Grand Master, can you project the image out here so we can study them?” “Of course, Dame. These people never give up. And apparently, many of the demons there were feillu, which the witches were not familiar with. They don’t really summon demons, do they? They are one of the cheaper demons to summon.” The image stretches to form a transparent figure with blue fire in its chest, exactly like the ones they have seen before, except much bigger. “I suspect that used to be, with a relatively high probability, originally a stone giant. I don’t know how they got one of those to worship them.” “Some of the possessions have been involuntary, though.” “That's true, that's true. They always were good at that. Oh, these marks you mean?” The image focuses in on a sigil. Dame Constance says, “We need that sigil precisely copied. It's essential for a conduit and that may be useful. I've been working with sigils for a while.” Kit’s secretary carefully makes a copy, then the Grand Master superimposes the image to make sure it has every single stroke. "Excellent. This psionic thing does have its advantages. Thank you, Your Majesty. I will study this further but this is a conduit to the north, and somewhere to the west, some hundreds of miles." "Somewhere north of them could be that effort on the ice." "It could." "What would happen if it was cut or broken?" "If anything were being fed through it at the time, it would eliminate it. I hope that no one else is being sacrificed using it at the moment. But I am sure that's what they were after. I don't think they're coming here. Do you, Grand Master?" "We know that he's been covered in a scrying shield. Let me see what I can find... coming from south and west of the Broken Lands and heading north and west." "That's clearly not towards us. That is more or less directly towards Singing Leaves or Debonai. Singing Leaves could manage these without difficulty, I wager. So that leaves Debonai." "The question is whether they have come in the direction they've come because they've set up a gate or a pad there. I do not believe they're coming to attack us. They have been utterly failures at doing that. I think they will go to another target for more fae. Singing Leaves would be a tougher nut to crack then you could possibly believe. I've lived there for several human lives. So I must think that they're going for another fae-blood group or group of half-elves, and I do not know where those would be." "We need to talk to the tor lord and find maps of the tors." [End Session 135] [/QUOTE]
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Aphonion Tales: The Archducal Council -- Unedited notes; later posts are edited transcripts (posts MWF, update 3/1/23)
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