Heroes, Inc.: Aftermath

[frostrune]

"Has it occured to you that the army in the north is a feint? One to distract us if nothing else. It seems far too convenient that one of the twice damned shows itself in such a vulnerable way. Look at Cronos, we have yet to see him, only his henchmen." she said tiredly.

"The wars between the various nations are also troubling. To me, it's obvious that these Rakshasha agents or other shapeshifting of the twice damned are behind the hostilities. When the wars are done and the enemy is at it's weakest, then the twice damned will swoop in and pick off both sides with little or no trouble."

Timrin thinks for a moment, then frowns. "No I had not.... considered the army in the north a feint that is. The sudden eruption of war around Faerun seemed a bit more obvious."

"The problem is, feint or no, I don't see any other solid choice. We are flailing in the dark. Shar's fell shroud prevents us from seeing the whole truth. If you have an alternate target I'm sure we would all consider it?"

 

[Steve Gorak]

Murdoch will spend a lot of time with the Deceiver. After scanning our stronghold, Murdoch will roam the streets (invisible) with him (with proper hidden escorts for extra protection), to scout out some of Zarun's top folks as well as other key nobles and dignitaries (including Lareal, if possible).

The goal is of course to get a feel for whom has been replaced.

Did Murdock find anything interesting?

 

[DM_Matt]

Did Murdock find anything interesting?

None of them you can find seem to be shapeshifted or otherwise fake. Laeral is not among those you manage to meet with.

 

[kirinke]

"We know that at least two of the twice damned are in and around Waterdeep. Let's lay a trap for them, using the fake gem as bait." she said. "Then go after the northern army." she shook her head.

"They are trying to bait us out of Waterdeep. This much I know and I also know that somehow, Laurel and Zarun are in the thick of it. I have no solid proof, other than hunches and my own gut feelings. For Laurel, she is either an imposter or has gone mad with grief. That is all I can figure on her. For Zarun." she trailed off, troubled.

"Him I don't know. He could just be an apt politican, one who sees an opportunity and grabs it and we have to keep that in mind. I doubt that he is one of the twice damned. He is too new to Waterdeep and far too obvious a choice. It would have to be someone who is intrenched, someone who has been here for a very long time, who knows the lay of the land. Someone beyond reproach." she looked at him. "Someone we would never suspect." she frowned, thinking hard.

"I would look both at the prominant and those who work behind the scenes, who have access to information without being in the public eye. Those are more likely to be the twice damned in disguise, while their agents are more likely to be the public frontmen."

ooc:
Trying to put that high wisdom of hers to work. She may not be as smart as Maggie, persae but she's probably alot better at seeing the whole picture and the subtle underlying hints and flickers of information and putting them together.

 

[DM_Matt]

The next day, you attend your sceduled meeting with Zarun, at his manor. He has done much to restore and redecorate it sinnce arriving, such that it has far surpassed house Drakkenmere's glory at its height. Of course, the old house symbols are secondary to his own, and although red and black were always his House's colors, Zarun has increased their prominence. His servants are many, but his uniformed Red Guards with their magical flame gauntlets clearly run things for him. They are all quite large as humans go, and bear a resemblance to each other. Perhaps they are brothers, or cousins, or likely a combination since there are reasonably many.

He invites you to sit down on his many plush red couches in his study, and introduces his wife and daughter, who are on their way out of the room as you enter. "Welcome to my home, heroes. I suppose you have not been formally introduced to my family. This is my wife Rachel and my daughter Clarissa."

{Assuming you brought Kayla.} Kayla and Rachel run to each other and hug. Kayla whispoers sometihng to her and she whispers something back.

Zarun says "I greatly appreciate you magnanimity in taking care of my servant. Come, we have much to discuss. Drinks anyone?"

 

[Hawkeye]

"Water for me please.

OOC: No need to be rude..yet.

Hawkeye

 

[kirinke]

"Water is fine for me as well," Alethia said politely.

She smiled a little as Zarun thanked them for taking care of Kayla. "Under the circumstances we were rather glad to. One less life lost to our enemies, yes?" she sobered, remembering the body count and Aleena. "Though not nearly enough saved." she added, for a heartbeat you can see the almost alien anguish and grief that both she and Naverone share.

 

[Steve Gorak]

Nodding at his companions, Murdoch adds: "Given the severity of the situation, we need to all of our senses. I go for water too."

Looking at the guards, and hoping for some small talk, Murdoch says to Zarun: "I see you choose your guards carefully. Are they all from the same clan?"

 

[DM_Matt]

Nodding at his companions, Murdoch adds: "Given the severity of the situation, we need to all of our senses. I go for water too."

Looking at the guards, and hoping for some small talk, Murdoch says to Zarun: "I see you choose your guards carefully. Are they all from the same clan?"

(Water is given to whoever asks.)

"Yes, indeed they are. Old Mulhorandi nobility fallen on hard times. Very trustworthy, very strong."

She smiled a little as Zarun thanked them for taking care of Kayla. "Under the circumstances we were rather glad to. One less life lost to our enemies, yes?" she sobered, remembering the body count and Aleena. "Though not nearly enough saved." she added, for a heartbeat you can see the almost alien anguish and grief that both she and Naverone share.

"Yes, not nearly enough. In fact, before we turn to other matters, such as those regarding a more formal and permanent association between us and the serious military threats from the north, I have a lead on the whereabouts of the surviving assassins. Call it a sign of good faith. Mukaro will be in Calimport in two weeks time for a series of gladiatorial matches that he is sure to win. He will likely be staying in the Thayan Enclave in the city when not at the arena. I see three options, if you with appropriate veangeance. If any of you believe that you can defeat him in a match, challenge him publically, and he will have to accept. As a second option, you could raid the compound while they sleep, kill or capture and his attendants, and wreak whatever havok you see fit on the compound. As a third option, you can ambush him on the road as he did to Aleena.

Or, you could ambush them on the road after a tiring day in the ring. Or finally, you could combine them all. Specify the duel to be a non-lethal one. Have one of you try to beat him so that he may be humiliated, and keep a healer at the arena. Meanwhile, the rest of you raid the enclave. The two at the arena follow him back, and you take him down when he returns to the enclave."

 

[kirinke]

"Vengeance serves only to bring more of the same to our doorstep. A cycle that does not end and one that will cost more in the long run than we are willing to pay," Alethia said tiredly. "We know that two of the twice damned are somewhere in or around the city. One is in the north leading the armies. Our city is in disarray from the attacks." she looked at the noble.

"Neither Aleena nor her father would wish us to spend our strength and our manpower on some quest for vengeance when our strengths and skills could be better used to protect those who cannot be protected." she smiled, but it was without humour. "Besides, they will get what is coming to them eventually. Those who serve the dark gods find the service bitter indeed in the end."