(IR) The 1st IC-thread of the 1st Turn of the 5th IR

[Knight Otu]

(Wait, so we are actually, finally holding that elusive TEC summit? )

Ashardalon, too, will travel to the Silver Palace.

 

[Serpenteye]

Serpenteye:

[sblock] I stop influencing the drow I retrieved from the cities below my territories towards evil. I quarantine them and prepare to teleport them to the Great City when things have calmed down. I'm giving them back to Eclavdra to do with as she wishes. I'd actually give them back now, but things are a little hectic. As soon as things quiet down, and when you rule on all that's happening now, I'll send them. [/sblock]

Eclavdra is in no position to recieve them, Elistraee would sure like to get her caring hands on them, though.

(What Eclavdra was looking for was a very forceful intervention, for the drow. An in your face affair, as it were. Al'Akbar preached personally to the stricken drow, and Serpenteye said this made a big difference. So Eclavdra was hoping Al'Akbar and other good demipowers would do some more personal preaching. For it seems the drow are very stubbornly evil, and to make them otherwise would take an equally stubborn effort.
As for Eclavdra, she sees what she is doing as wholly good and right. She believes that by forceful intervention, by demanding the drow sit up and heed her voice, they will respond and make it through. At least, more of them will.
Sort of like you're trying to lift a very heavy weight, and your gym teacher is shouting encouragement in your ear. Or think of Basic in the army, where the seargeant screams at the recruits to encourage them on.
Turning the race of drow to good is no easy thing, as Serpenteye said. It wouldn't be possible in canon, but it isn't easy even in an IR.)

She did get trough to them, and the Drow in the Great City are no longer unconscious. They are in terrible pain right now, the fires of Eclavdra are burning their very souls, but wether they will be better off in the end than the Drow she didn't speak to is unknown.

If the sitaution in Rel Mord has calmed down then, Morwel will leave Eclavdra in the capable hands of Rhynnon and Murlynd and Zagyg. And personally visit each of the drow hospices held by powers willing to let her enter. She will speak no words but allow her love for freedom and free choice to flow over them, and she will attempt to remove any unnatural evil in them, but she will not force them towards good, if they are heading towards it she will help them through, with images of deeds done for good over the millenia and the feelings it inspires.

Good aligned Powers/Edena (Drow)
PRIVATE
[sblock]If she feels it will help the drow and will not adversely affect her worshippers, Morwel will use up 1 Epic PL of her power (As if lost in battle) to aid the drow she visits.[/sblock]

It helps, and though the loss of power weakens Morwel's abilities in combat it does not affect her ability to provide for her worshipers.

The Drow she visit in the Great City calm themselves somewhat. They're still in pain but no longer laugh and scream as loudly as before. As time passes the noice in the City becomes less unbearable.

OOC - Serpenteye, can Demigods grant spells to those not usually of their clerical alignments if they want ?

private
[sblock]If so Morwel will extend her power to any good, and any non-lawful neutrals, amongst the drow and elves, she will still frown on lawful acts, and revoke access for evil ones. [/sblock]

Yes, but doing that requires more effort from the Deity than it's probably worth.
-
Morwel can grant spells to them, but it will be a heavy strain on her, and she won't recieve enough worship in return (at least in the short term) to compensate for the energy spent. It won't affect her PL, but it will make it harder for her to gain divine ranks if she grants her spells that freely.

OOC:
Serpenteye, Private:
[sblock]Since GP splits his forces so thin. All Iuz's Elite and Epic PLs will set a trap in second place they would visit. Because after the first visit Iuz will know it all. Melkor said he is lending me 3 epPLs and 15 elPls. If this is true, it will only easy down Iuz's work. I use them too, in the shape of Meliana Vampire Princess of the Veil. My trap is of course guarded against any Magical Escape attempt. And subdued, Yes, subdued brothers will became snacks for Iuz recovery.[/sblock]

His Priests leave Great City without second word and Demons stopped transporting Drow wounded. They all vanished. Short note is send to Drow, that they are welcomed to became citizens of Empire if the will to leave Eclavdor.

Noted.
-
The departure of Iuz's priests leaves a large number of Drow uncared for. Free of their restraints some of them rise from their blankets and begin to wander around, screaming and laughing.

Al'Akbar closes his eyes, and his brow is beaded with sweat. He calls up the images of his time as an ambassador to Arvandor.

"Behold, Arvandor -- home of the Eladrin and the Seldarine." A plane of great beauty, with majestic mountains and woods appears in the minds of the elves and drow on Oerth and Greyspace. "I was honored to visit Arvandor many times as an ambassador. Behold some of its wonders."
...

He can sense something stirring in some of their confused minds, a sorrow for something lost once long ago and now lost again, forever beyond their reach...

Guilt Puppy and Serpenteye:

OOC:
First, Iuz cease to give spells to all Aliadores, if Morwel is helping them anyway ...
Oly evil elven clerics will recive then his blessing. But this later.

Here's Tactic, so Serpenteye could judge: In the next place, where Brotherhood forces will enter Iuz's Epic forces will wait, along wilt Epic forces borrowed earlier from Melkor, if they are avaible. Hidden will wait until invisible and protected with nondetection Demons will surround all traditional escape routes. Incorporeal Elite Undead will assemble in the ground below Brothers, beyond reach of Detect Undead but ithin their own charge range. Then, using Rods of Maximize Spell, Iggwilv, Iuz and eventually Meliana Will cast on themselves Time Stop, it will give them five combat rounds before Brothers realise peril in wich they are. Then Iuz will cast several Firestorms used with Subdual Spell Metamagic Feat. He used Miracle to change his spell list and rejunevate it if it was depleted. It will be used that way that spells will cover as many Brothers as it is possible. Real life equivalent of napalm bombing.
Iggwilv will cast Walls of Force, surrounding Brothers so they would have fly to escape. If left wit time she will also throw at them Mordenkainen's Disjunction first and Dimensiona Anchors second.

Meliana will throm Horrid Withilings on Brothers, along with Ice Storms, Cones of Cold ... mages have plenthora of evil magic at their disposal. But first she will cast Spell preventing magical communication. Just after the Mordenkainen's Disjunction cast by Iggwilv. All these nasty spells are subduing. Not killing.

Remeber, that Mordenkainen's Disjunction is first spell to fall on Brothers ! Dimensional Anchors appear hearbeat later, then Walls of Force, damage spells hit last.

And after that, Time Stops wear off and all Hell break loose. Since Spells are Subduing, Undead will ignore them completly while draining strenght and vitality from Brothers. First wave, while Succubi start flying above and casting their confusing magic on brothers. Vrocks will add their 2 cents too, with nondamaging spells and screeches. Undead will cease attacks, just before particular victim will be about one third of his strength. They will not drain them to death, Iuz used nasty Miracle scroll to make their deadly attacks subdual for a hour. About twenty minutes before Brothers arrived.

Rest of Iuz's and Meliana's ground forces will then start hurling blunt missiles from roofs and chimneys, revealing themselves. All against the Brotherhood upstarts. Epic spellcasters will then use Wave of Despair, Doom, Wrack, Symbol of Fear, Curse, Greater Curse and other morale breaking magic. Elite spellcasters will hurl Fireballs with subdual description, Rays of Enfenmbleet, Enervations and other offensive magics, with subdual description. And later ... Vrocks and Winged Iuz, carrying Drelzna will hit in remaining Brothers like ton of bricks. Demons were enchanted so their natural attacks will cause only subdual damage. The same with Iuz and Drelzna, both have lifewards on them , that are transporting damage from them to other troops. As well as Stoneskins, Righteous Mights, Cat's Grace, Bear's Endurance, Bull's Strength and Greater aspect of the Deity. When meele start, only spells that will fell on the combatants will be Prayers and other clerical magic that help fight against Law and Evil. Or is helping allies and distracting foes.

Well ... if all will go right, nobody would know where Brothers "dissapeared". Keep in mind that it will be force as overhelming as it is ppossible ! I'm hoping that they will squish Brothers in first attack enough that they won't have chance of retaliation against Iuz who might fall to their attacks easily. Demoralizing spells are mentioned intentionally.

And, Serpenteye ... Guilt Puppy I ask for permission of describing the battle. After DM will judge it's outcome.

Hmm. You had 40 elPL and 6 (fighting-capable) epPL at the beginning of the turn. You've gained 1 epPL from the Regaila and Iuz has lost 2,4 ep PL during the last battles.
You borrowed some elPL to Melkor, but they've suffered only light casualties so far.

Now you have 39 elPL and 4,6 epPL plus 15 elPL and 2 epPL from Melkor, against the 3 epPL from the Scarlet Brotherhood. And, you're ambushing them, and you have the advantage of having your forces enhanced by a Demigod... The odds are overwhelmingly on your side.
-

The Battle doesn't start out good for you, though. You first attack fails and the Brothers counter-attack, the damage they inflict is minimal, though.
The Dimensional Anchors worked, but only on one of the Brothers (not Abbon). Realising how completely outnumbered they are by the great horde of Demons and spellcasters I rule that Abbon and the other Brother flee immediately (forfeiting their counter-attack).
The one Brother who remains is swiftly incapacitated despite his best efforts.

(Feel free to describe the battle, Rik. )

OOC - I assume Al'Akbar's was widely broadcast since its unlikely Morwel is even currently in the country.

Morwel will look up from tending to the drow in whichever hospice she is in and projects a wave of good will and love.

"I am not one for long speeches. Al'Akbar speaks much that is true, the Seldarine love their children equally, and would joyfully accept any who returned to them. The Seldarine sent me to help the elves and this aid extends to the Mordheil for you are elves too."

The Seldarine with one exception that is. But that one has ever danced on the edge of falling. Perhaps this will return him to a more stable stage.

Morwel will also use water from the Fountain of Beauty in tending to the drow, perhaps its purifying and cleansing nature will aid them. She will attempt to visit all possible hospices that will allow her to enter.

One of the Drow she's tending with the waters of the fountain has regained enough strength and control to speak. With tears of pain streaming down her face she whispers, "But they are gone... They are all gone... Lolth is gone, our mother..."

Oh some of the Elite PL in the great city will pick up any remaining bits of Ellisterae or Iuz that are around. Don't want anyone doing bad things with pieces of demidiety. *tsk tsk*

Heh... That brings me back.

You got the Nose and the Yawbone of Elistraee, but Bugbear got the Hand of Iuz (If I'm not mistaken he posted that before Rik posted about teleporting his hand back).

“First, the Celestial Empire. Since their time of civil conflict we have heard nothing from them, this likely arises from a lack of central leadership. I suspect there are many separate factions vying for control of that country, internal and possibly even external, so we must pay the place special heed lest they be unified under a potentially hostile leadership. Humanitarian aid would be rendered futile while a country bickers internally, it is likely best we sit it out until we can do something or react.

Latest news from the the Fourth Heaven Chronicle:

"The Warlords Su Tchen of the Mang-Hien province and Wuang-Li of the Tien-Sufang and Lohmien provinces anncounced the creation of a powerful new alliance earlier today. Wuang-Li, also famous for his mastery of the Path of Nature, warned against the incidious influence of the Sikari usurpers, claiming that they are "under the sway of Diabolic influences" and that "if they are not stopped in time they will doom this, the greatest nation on Oerth, to slavery under foreign powers."
The combined forces of the two warlords are quite formidable and could indeed pose a threat to our mysterious overlords..."

Hachiman (being Chaotic Good) hears the prayers of elves (and others) who would seek his aid in their time of need, but is hesitant in granting spellcasting ability with the limit of positive and negative energy on Oerth. He restricts granting spells to only clerics of his faith, and other clerics who lack spellcasting, have sought him out specifically and are within one step of his alignment.

Few are the elven clerics who flock to Hachiman, but in this time of dissolution and faithlessness a handful do indeed join his faith.

Lord Gallador sends a sending back, there is much frustration in his voice:

"So the Erelhei-Cinhu Pact is broken?! We need its strenght to fight Vecna if he returns! And I have heard Eclavdra has fallen to the Light, she will pay me for this! I strongly recommend Lord Iuz to do not undertake any military actions before the Pact summit! But if war is unavoidable, I shall stay loyal to my closest ally, he will be helped by my forces on Oerth!( OOC: I have 10 Elite and 2 Epic Pl remaining on Oerth, including Princess Meliana and Princess Lanfear, plus those Vampire Drow, likely worth as much.)"

The battle, if one could call it that, is over swiftly.

Serpenteye, to clarify the current situation of my Power, is the following accurate?:

-Sulhaut Mountains were given to Airwhale, but I am sucessfully securing Galion Vool, with its 200 IC, and population of ?( 5 millions?).

- I had 400 Pl of regular forces mobilized at the beginning of the turn, 150 Pl went to Airwhale( do not mention this deal to me in the future!), 250 Pl should be on Gibenei by now, and my Necromancers are gaining control over Salitisa`s 300 Pl of mindless Undeath legions. I also have 40 Elite and 7 Epic Pl an Gibenei.

-Lord Yaghal agreed to ally with me as an equal, and our forces are fighting the Warlords loyal to Vecna in the capital of the strongest of them?

Pretty much. At this moment you've only gained control over a few of her mindless undead, but as time progresses you'll surely take control over many more.
Many of her mindless undead do not need to be taken over. Simple working-drones, they simply keep performing the endless tasks they were programmed to until they're destroyed.

 

[Guilt Puppy]

The others would definitely flee -- the remaining one will end himself quickly with a dagger to the eye. If any doubt the dedication of the Brotherhood, it should be said that he kept that eye open, and he didn't flinch.

Abbon will not be issuing that statement (re: pardons) to Iuz and Gallador after all.

 

[Uvenelei]

Eclavdra is in no position to recieve them, Elistraee would sure like to get her caring hands on them, though.

I'm willing to wait. For a while; then I'll just do it and be done with it. And as for Elistraee.. uh, no.

You got the Nose and the Yawbone of Elistraee, but Bugbear got the Hand of Iuz (If I'm not mistaken he posted that before Rik posted about teleporting his hand back).

Oh, you guys get to loot, but I try to get a small momento, and noooo, he has to be stopped... hypocrites.

 

[Rikandur Azebol]

Even with only half a jaw-bone, a deep gouge in her cheek and with little left that resembles a nose Elistraee is still more beautiful than most mortals. Her grace and charm is still awesome, and when she hides her lower face under a veil few mortal men could withstand her allure.
As she walks wearily trough the hospitals of the Great City, pouring her borrowed power into the Drow, she's still a vision of hope.

Hehe, Eclavdra will how Elistraee results of her actions. Iuz is avenged !

To snack on some souls? His ability is limited, but yes.

Yay !

Victoria smiles/snarls in reply, "Is it not obvious? I'm pregnant with your quarter-demon, half-Devil, quarter human half-God. If my mother was here to see this it would surely kill her again." She smiles wistfully.

IC:
[ CENSORED ]

WHAAAT ?!?

*For moment Iuz looked like hit by hammer of Moradin himself. Jaw dropped, eyes blinking blankly. Then he shaked like wet dog and embranced his consort.*

Care for the child. And ... and You will be provided with all what you will need for it to grow healthy. And for Your comfort. Fail me ... Achh, unimportant, devils aren't stupid. Just boringly unimaginative. Except You, m'dear.

*Iuz's voice was unusually warm, and he even hugged Vicoria harshly, and whispered in her ear.*

Our child will come to this world, and You ... You are simply amazing.
My mom need thousand expendable devils of human size, have any ?
Hmm ... I don't remember You having scales. My essence is changing You, >kiss<, if we had time ... but these arrogant upstarts from Scarlet Brotherhood are like thorn in my side. They betrayed me, and try to ruin TEC Pact that I had inspired ... I'm almost sure that they might work for Suel Lich's benefit. (OOC: Vecna's benefit)

*His voice was still full of suprise when he spoke of himself as father.*

The Drow under your care stay evil, for the most part.

Good, Iuz's priesstesses offer those Black Elves who remained sane asylum under the wing of Iuz. Empire will welcome new ovners of Ex-Drow cities.

Elistraee looks up from the sleeping boy before her. A single tear tuns down her scarred cheek.

*Iuz appeared, and throw bucket of black lilys at Elistraee's feet. She reckognised him, even if he masked himself as mad ex-drow ... of wich Great City is full.*

Have it, and shut up. You got what You wished for ... more Drow. Black Elves living in my Empire, suprising that they weren't affected by lack of Llolth's influence, isn't it ? Don't You know that Hell is paved with good intentions ?!

What ?

OOC: Serpenteye, I allow myself to link those two events with Iuz's short conversation with Elistraee. Can I rule that Black Elves from Iuz's Empire are simply too heartless to have any troubles with conflicting emotions ? They are too busy with living "fully" in Drow sense. Most of them are outcast males, rarely females who weren't fitting with image of "Proper Drow Woman". And of course most of them are little insane.

And yes, this is closest Iuz ever stepped towards apologising someone. Elistraee might be shocked. And should.

Elistraee, far away in the Great City, presses her hands against the sides of her head and screams.

IC:
*Iuz sank to his knees, disbelief written all over his face. Then he laughed, painfully ... and it was strange laugh. This laugh have too much dissapointment in itself to be even evil laugh. He gazed in Elistraee's eyes ... and spoke unusually calmly and softly, for him.*

I'm speechless ... she is crazier than You, now. My sympathy for Eclavdra blurred my mind ... and now she choosed madness. Congratulations, You have now fanatic ready to burn the world for it's own good. >sigh<

Okay, if You will need quiet nice spot to think it trough undisturbed and big bucket of fungi vodka, then feel invited. I'm going to mourn my lost frie ... useful ally. But don't tell anybody that I'm not hostile to You anymore !

OOC:
Iuz teleports out in case of any danger. Or, just in case right now. Elistraee could contact him via "godlink", even if she's unable to localize him. Yep, Iuz listen to all prayers spoken with his name, even if only barely notices them.

The local authorities attempt to strike back, but assuming you don't stay for the fight there's nothing they can do. The occasional exchanges of fire-power end up completely one-sided in your favour.
The people of the Empire of Iuz are used to him coming and going and greet Abbon's words with extreme sceptisism. Though some are surprised that you're being allowed to spread your inflammatory propaganda most of them have no doubt that Iuz or his legions will soon end your campaign.

And Iuz's people know him good. Most faithful allarmed him with their prayers for bloody vengance. Especially for wifebeater-husband, who anyway wasn't that bad ... he was gaining good money in militia and rarely beats children ! And those bloody monks just killed him ! And may cancer twist the face of her best "friend", she thinks that she is preetier.

I remind DM about Iuz's response.

An unrelated question. When Rhynnon left the Great City, I posted that he grabed Iuz's severed hand. Is there any potential use for this or should I just have it made into an ashtay?

OOC:
It dissapeared in his hands to great suprise of King Rhynnon, along with all tracks of Iuz's divine blood. Rhynnon could feel honored, he is one of the few humans who touched Iuz and lived to tell the tale. But he better shouldn't tell about it to anybody. Iuz might notice and take offense, he is edgy now ... cursing himself for weakness towards Eclavdra who went absolutely insane. Stupid trinkets that he get from her aren't as cool as he thought. He became dad, and is undecided to eat Victoria, skin her alive or leave her be. She is boring when known better, like all devils. And he need to make something with criminals ravaging his Terrain ! And most paining his is that he make himself look weak when attacking Elistraee and leaving her live, for he have no doubts that daughter of Llolth is as vengful as Queen of Spiders.

And for potential uses of someone's bodyparts ? Ask any demonologist, Diabolist, Necromancer or Witch. Rhynnon will return his dinner after hearing their responses. Ask any wizard, and Rhynnon will became paranoid about his cut off hair and nails.

For example Iuz's priests use hearts during important masses and other "holy" days.
And eating heart of enemy, and collecting his skull as a trophy is sign of respect for enemy ... common among more pious, read unstale mantally, Iuz's faithful. Especially among Orcs who are simple people and don't have taboos about eating someone. Is his meat poisoned or what ? I know it was Ruglub, but he's dead.

IC:
*Iuz materializes in front of Rhynnon, clean and without visible signs of wounds. Only his hand is covered in gauntlet shaped like demonic palm. He is unarmed and carries small box. Big enough to contain Regalia of Lordly Might. He smirks to Rhynnon.*

Now You know why I took Reglia from Eclavdra, then she was collapsing Great City on her own head. I'm leaving them in Your care, why ? Because I belive that Regalia of Neutrality will force You to not steal them for Yourself. Give them back to Eclavdra if she wishes them.

*Iuz turned back, and spoke above his shoulder. Grinning.*

And ... My generals are praying for freedom, what would You want as ranson ?

 

[Bugbear]

I'm willing to wait. For a while; then I'll just do it and be done with it. And as for Elistraee.. uh, no.

Oh, you guys get to loot, but I try to get a small momento, and noooo, he has to be stopped... hypocrites.

Send them to Nyrond. Eclavdra is here, and allthough she is not allowed to leave the Hospital, she can (and I imagine will) speak freely to the other patients, so long as she doesn't become violent again.

Hopefully she will be able to help them pull through the withdrawll, along with the help of our healers (who are trying to instill some lawfulness into them)

 

[Anabstercorian]

Hearing Eclavdra's call, Abbon heads at once to Rary's Silver Palace -- he is less concerned with how to aid the Awakened Drow, but trying to keep together the Pact she founded has just become that much more difficult.

He will keep his entourage with him until enough other leaders or powerful representatives have arrived to assure his protection; then they are dismissed, and return to the Tilvanot Peninsula.

The Scarlet Brotherhood propose the following agenda for the TEC Summit:

- The Means of Concensus (voting procedure, or...?)
- The Drow Resolution (to determine their status as a nation)
- The Trial of Iuz (for the theft of Eclavdra's Regalia)
- The Trial of Gallador (for the vampiric infection of Drow citizens)
- The Unprotected Aggression Clause (to avoid pact members being dragged into wars of aggression)

Rary meets Abbon Craylor at the Silver Palace. It's a fantastic place, made entirely of glasssteel and silver foil, glittering agonizingly in the light of the Bright Desert sun.
He extends his hand, a frown etched eternal on his face (as always), and firmly says, "Now that this... delay... has resolved itself to some extent, perhaps the business of ruling may begin again."

"I accept your agenda for the TEC Summit. If I am not mistaken, we should now add Attempted Regicide to the list of Iuz's crimes."

(OOC: Does anyone mind if I create a new thread for the TEC Summit? Or would that make things too hard to keep track of?)

 

[Melkor Lord Of ALL!]

Anabstecorian! Guilt Puppy!

Princess Lanfear enters The Silver Palace, stunning everyone with her unhuman beauty- perfect figure, exotic skin color typical to rare half-elves of Drow descend, silver hair and velvet eyes. She wears a silver dress with pearls, moving with grace the living can`t hope to achieve. She looks at Brother Abbon with anger:

"So, you dare to accuse my father of treason?! He can`t be here, for he is valiantly fighting the followers of Vecna, which is going to save your pathetic, undeserving skin! And we saved only those Drow that denied Eclavdra Velsharess, they were not members of our Pact! Those we embraced have ascended to the state of Immortality and Power, while the rest seem to be failing into madness!"

 

[Bugbear]

The Scarlet Brotherhood propose the following agenda for the TEC Summit:

- The Means of Concensus (voting procedure, or...?)
- The Drow Resolution (to determine their status as a nation)
- The Trial of Iuz (for the theft of Eclavdra's Regalia)
- The Trial of Gallador (for the vampiric infection of Drow citizens)
- The Unprotected Aggression Clause (to avoid pact members being dragged into wars of aggression)

Greater Nyrond agrees to the agenda proposed by the Brotherhood

(OOC: Does anyone mind if I create a new thread for the TEC Summit? Or would that make things too hard to keep track of?)

An excellent Idea. This will allow us to do all our wheeling and dealing without taking over the main thread.

 

[Melkor Lord Of ALL!]

Double Post.