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Message: <blockquote data-quote="simmo" data-source="post: 1430143" data-attributes="member: 9744">Part 18 The Modrons Dilemma chapter 1 Where Do We Go From Here?The priestess of Bahamut walked in to the tavern, her white and gold robes flowing around her as she breezed across the room. Her fair features were like those of an high elven maiden, but her webbed hands and bluish skin indicated that she descended from their aquatic cousins. Her golden hair and eyes shone with an inner light, casting a spell over all those who gazed upon her. "You would be Cade Highdale." Lady Toujin extended her hand to the halfling who kissed it. "Your knight has been telling me about you." She winked at Sir Osbourne and the celestial warrior actually blushed in embarrassment. "Suren," the halfling replied. He shared a secret smile with her at making Sir Osbourne go red. "It must be difficult to be separated from your people," the priestess said in a hushed tone so that the others could not hear. "Yes," Cade replied nervously. "It is fortuitous that you have come to replace Sir Vamish's who has fallen in his quest to protect the marchers. The healers say that he will recover." Lady Toujin spoke louder so that the others at the table could hear as well. Her voice had a musical quality, almost as if she was singing as she talked. "He is calling for his sister, but apparently she has not returned." "Sister?" Serena asked in surprise. Cade Highdale was unsure of what to respond and realised that everyone was looking at him to say something in reply. "Is his sister also a knight?" Serena asked, having seen that Cade was just as confused as she was. "Of sorts." The priestess tried to think of how best to describe Greir's role. She was a knight in her own way, but did not ride a horse or wield a lance. "She went to one of the Anakharim basis to find out when they would next attack the march. She has not returned." "Why do your knight protect the march?" Littleby was keen to hear the priestess' explanation about why the Order of Planar Militants were safe-guarding the marchers across the Outlands. "They are not my knights," Lady Toujin said with her eyes down-cast. "But I am in agreement with them that the knights should not be preyed upon in this manner." The priestess had been charged to join the knights to provide spiritual guidance, but she was eager to play a more active role. "Is it normal?" Littleby asked."Being preyed upon?" Lady Toujin replied, unsure of whether the scholar was referring to the attackers or not. "Being guarded," Littleby clarified. "Yes, the marchers have always been protected when they march through this side of the Outlands." This was the first march that Lady Toujin had witnessed and her superiors had made her study the histories of the previously recorded marches. "Several hundred years ago when they last passed through here?" Littleby pondered again on why the march had left early. No new evidence had come to light and he was left with his original theory. "That is correct." The priestess sighed, expressing her frustration at not being able to reveal more. "Now that the leader of the knights has fallen, the Anakharim will continue to prey on the marchers each time that they travel on to the Outlands." Lady Toujin had requested additional assistance from the celestials, but they were strangely reluctant to have anything to do with the modron march. The archons in particular had commented about the possible chaotic taint to the modrons, seeing as how they had broken with the previously established order of marching every 17 cycles. "That does not sound nice at all." Cade smiled at the beautiful priestess trying to cheer her up. "No it is not," the priestess replied in a subdued voice. "IT IS NOT REALLY OUR PROBLEM EITHER IS IT?" Caleb stated. The earth genasi could not see the point why they should help the modrons as they seemed capable enough, especially the higher ranking ones. "Very, very..." Littleby muttered. "Good point well made Caleb." "AFTER ALL THE MODRONS DID NOT LOOK PARTICULARLY HELPLESS WHEN THEY FLATTENED YOUR HOME TOWN." The genasi looked at Serena to read her reaction, but the seer appeared lost in thought. "Stunningly elaborated Caleb," Littleby said in a neutral tone. It was difficult to tell whether he was agreeing with his friend or jesting in a subtle manner. "It is not technically my home town but that does not mean that I do not care for it." Serena spoke up, she stared back at Caleb accusingly angry at being reminded of the destruction that the modrons had caused. "Whilst it's not our problem I am not sure if we want to add to our extensive list of problems." "Extensive list of problems," the halfling said excitedly. "You'll have to tell me about them some time." "In good time," Serena commented, brushing Cade's request aside for the moment. She looked at the dwarven scholar for support in not helping the modrons. "Littleby what do you think?" "I have to admit that as much as it pains me, I feel that it would be best in our long term interests to protect the modrons." If the modrons are indeed on the look out for signs of those who want to bring back Orcus, the dwarven scholar mused, then we will be helping ourselves by aiding the modrons. "What about you?" Cade asked Andrew, who'd sat in silence at the end of the table smoking his pipe. "Well," Andrew replied with a sly grin. "I'm interested in getting back to Sigil." "We all are," Littleby agreed. "The route that we take to get there does not bother me so much." As a member of the Free League Andrew did not have any loyalties to the cause of others. "There's no place like Sigil." "We're not in Sigil any more," one of the mephits shouted up from beneath the table. "There's no place like Sigil, thank Tomeri." Serena said in agreement to Andrew. The mephits began to sing about a road made of golden bricks, but did not get very far as their master kicked them from beneath the table. Lady Toujin had sat down next to Littleby and he could smell enticing perfume. "Do you know much about modrons Cade?" The Dwarven scholar asked the halfling traveller in order to get his mind back to the subject of modrons. "A bit." Cade grinned, pleased to be the centre of attention again. "The usual things. They march around and most of them don't come back. There's a big chap....""Primus," Serena supplied the name of the top modron. "That's the chap," Cade smiled at her appreciatively and lost track of what he was going to say next. "Have you ever heard of an instance where someone has made a deal with the modrons?" The dwarven scholar had been thinking of how to get the information from the modrons about the possible return of the dead god and wanted to know if the modrons could be bargained with. "Such as we'll protect you and then you can help us." "Not really they seem quite capable of looking after themselves," the halfling replied cheerfully. He caught the attention of a passing barmaid and ordered another round of drinks.</blockquote>

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