(IR) The 5th IR - 3rd OOC Thread (OPEN)

[Radiant]

This is a Public Post. Everyone should feel free to read it.

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Posted by Radiance:

Jade is impressed. Someone who has gone for soulwarp is not likely to be intimidated easily but this is just outright frightening. Organized and efficient Drow. They are dangerous enough in their normal state but this is a whole new dimension.
Their reception is about the only good thing on this whole trip and even that is most likely deception. The Sikari does not for one second believe that the Drow-Queen is helpless in any way. She has utter confidence in her own abilities and still she is sure that she would be dead before she could even cross half the distance between them or gather even enough energy for a minor psichic blast.
During dinner she leaves most of the conversation to Queyn who officialy speaks for the Celestial Imperium.
His point is rather simple, they are mostly interested in peace and are willing to open their borders for any trade agreements that might come up between private parties, they are not interested in large scale trade between the nations (mostly because there is not much they can offer anyway but they don't point that out specifically).
They mostly offer to allow the Drow the same relationship with the Imperium that non-enemy human countries have. That does not mean much since they have always been pretty much closed to outsiders but considering that they are offering it to one of the most feared races in the underdark it isn't that bad.
Apart from the fact that they are dealing with Drow they are not talking about anything important and it certainly does not seem important enough for them to actualy come down here. It's just the obligatory small talk.
Once Queyn has gone on long enough Jade softly raises her hand to shut him.
'Intruder wants to buy something from you your grace.'
It's obvious Jade wasn't chosen for diplomacy, she is a combat veteran and acutaly someone who can speak for the Sikari. In quick and unmistakable words she explains what they want.
They have country that was under total control from it's priests and is spiraling into Chaos ever since the gods got sealed out. The Drow among all people should understand exactly what that means. Yet Eclavdra managed to prevent the total breakdown of their society and took control of the whole situation. The Sikari intend to do the same with the Celstial Imperium. But politics is not their area of experience, fighting is.
So they want Drow assasins, spies and most importantly advisors to help them secure their power and wage their shadow-war against their political enemies. The more the whole incident can be kept in silence the better.
And no one is superior in this are of expertise than the Drow.
As compensation they offer sizeable forces of Sikari talons for whatever military goal Eclavdra is buidling her forces for. If she has no need for them now they offer a contract that will allow her to get them at a later time once she has need for them. As long as their own borders are not concerned by it they don't care what the Drow's aims are and the Claw can reach any destination within minutes after they haven called.
The exact number, etc are open to negotiation depending on what exactly Eclavdra needs.

From Edena:

Eclavdra listens. She does not talk, she listens.
After Jade is finished, she speaks: her voice is soft, gentle, but troubled:

The drow suffered the same fate as your country, Jade.
Except for Eclavdor, the drow are gone. Just ... gone ... (Eclavdra shakes her head sadly)
You see a frightful society ... organized and militant drow ready to attack and kill and destroy ... (again, she shakes her head sadly, and her voice is tinged with sadness)
What you see ... was the only way to save my people. They would have all died. I saved them through belief, discipline, and law.
Jade, surely you understand? You are a warrior, and your answer to the collapse of the Celestial Imperium was that of a warrior.
I, also, have chosen a warrior's answer. This answer, that you see around you.
Now ...
I do make an offer.
I offer to send my force to your aid. Disguised as humans ((note, elite units)) to aid you in reunifying your country outright. And, truly, it is your country now.
Once you have regained control, and there is peace and prosperity once more in the Celestial Imperium, then my price for services rendered ...
I desire that my people be allowed to Ascend, from their cities below your country. Allow my people to leave the dark. Let them live under the sun again. Allow them a place within the Celestial Imperium that they may call their own country, and where they may begin anew in the world Above.
(Eclavdra regards Jade intently)
I appreciate your fear and distrust, which is so openly written to see ... are we not the drow? Do not the banners of Lolth fly around you?
However, if there is to be a future, there must be cooperation, and trust must be built through deeds.
(Eclavdra shakes her head)
I do not speak for the far future. I cannot dictate such a future.
I speak for the now.
Soon, a Terror will be unleashed upon Oerth. My portents have all spoken of it. The Gods are not here to protect us. Only our own will is there, and it must suffice.
We would aid you in restoring peace and prosperity in your land.
In return, we ask for a place to build a Surface nation of our own.
And yes, we would agree to open trade, commerce, travel, and diplomacy.
What say you, Jade?
What say you to such an offer - and a request - as mine?

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well, crap

for Edena_of_Neith:

[sblock]At this very moment Jade is more than thankfull that Claw eyes show no experession. Otherwise she is sure she would have looked nothing less than stupid right now.
mostly though she is a soldier and in the first few seconds about a thousand military scenarioes that could arise from this race through her mind.
In her stead Queyn takes over the word to not let the situation degrade to an uncomfortable silence.
"Your grace, your proposal is most ... astonishing."
Unlike her human followers the Sikari handles her surprise really well and actualy seems to consider it.
"Intruder must hear of this. She will want to talk with you. We will see what she has to say. Excuse me."[/sblock]

poor old me will sleep over this, an apt represantion of the first talon arguing over the whole thing

 

[Darkness]

Hey there, Darkness. I'm back on ENWorld. Can you believe it?
2 years of nothing, and then hundreds of posts. Hehe ...

Good to see ya, mate. I took a long semi-break myself and now went up like 200 posts in 3-4 days of largely casual posting. I'll catch up to hong yet, believe me.

 

[Bugbear]

Eclavdra speaks back, looking through the Magic Mirror at King Rhynnon.
As is usual, when she speaks her voice is soft and gentle:

We are grateful indeed ... yet let our Embassy be under the open sun.
The drow should not hide like criminals in the darkness, but would run free in the wind, under the open sky.
Your laws will be obeyed.
Send as many as you wish to Erelhi-Cinlu. I will work to enable them to acclimate here.
All from Greater Nyrond are now welcome here, and across Eclavdor. Our borders are open to your people. That ... includes ... your elven people.
Your people - elves and otherwise - WILL be treated with courtesy and respect by our people and our law enforcement.
We do ask courtesy and respect back, and obedience of our laws also.
You speak of Nyrond as being threatened. We are threatened, and we are responding, as your diplomats will see. But who threatens Nyrond?

Seth Rhynnon seems surprised when he hears that the Drow desire to live under the sun and the faintest of smiles flickers across normally stone like features.

"Of course dear lady, should you wish to construct your Embassy on the surface, the estate we have purchased for you can easily accommodate. Though, I must admit this surprises me. I had chosen this particular estate not only for the underground construction, but also for its garden. To me, at least, the Garden symbolized the Mordeil. Once a thing of beauty which inspired wonder and hope, but which turned wild and dangerous without a proper gardener. You, Eclavdra, are the gardener, your people the garden."

Rhynnon's features return to the expressionlessness you have come to know.

"Forgive me, sometimes I am taken by romantic notions. You ask of our enemies. First among them is the Cambion Iuz, for he is the foe of all that is free and just. During the Great War, I fought in the Shield Lands against his forces and such destruction you have never seen. Surface wars are different than those which can be waged in tunnels and caverns. Iuz's armies are endless, their savagery undiscrible. Then there is Aeardy, now calling itself the United Kingdom. For a thousand years, the rulers of Aeardy have been mad and have hungered for the rich lands to their west. They say they want peace, but I know that this is a lie. To our south lies the Triumvirate Rebellious, Almost arrogant name that. Through trickery, they have taken Greyhawk and unlawfully occupy Selentran. They have also summoned Tanar'ri by the thousands to bolster there armies.

Tell me of the one who threatens the One-Hundred Cities and who would seek adventure in the Kingdom of Greater Nyrond"
.

 

[Rikandur Azebol]

thanks but I guess I won't work them out statwise. Doesn't seem that it would have any purpose in this game. I rather put the work into writing more fluff. But if I do decide to work them out later I'll be sure to check them out.

Boy, you missed your chance of having your country recommended for vacations
Cool story. Please don't write more from the perspective of my factions characters though. It was all fitting but I allready see the possibitly for a lot of confusion in the future. Especialy once it goes about important matters.

Yeah, fluff is good for our factions, personalities of our PC's and overall humour.

Didn't Your read anything about Iuz's Empire ? Ach yes, you write earlier that Your people are like lambs without shepherd. It's too goody to be true !

And Yes, I were going to encourage something like that ... Sorry for abusing Your expedition, and one more thing ... Did You ever saw Gnoll of Orc shooting arrows ? And I recommend Sikari to find the guide ... he set them up for sure ! And mysteriously he wasn't among the slain or prisoners.

mostly for Rikandur Azebol (meaning not real interesting for anyone else but not secret either so feel free to read if you have too much sparetime )

[sblock]-A god, a real god.-
Chen could barely believe it. Like everyone else in the Celestial Imperium he had been convinced that they had all gone. The young son of the Suni merchant family was scared witless from the whole situation. All others from his group had been killed and he could still remember the angelic face of the Sikari that accompanied them as she suddenly fell over, an arrow in her back. He had not even known hown her name.
Once again he thought about the scroll he carried. It was a magical treasure of his house. Whatever he wrote would be exactly copied on the scrolls back home. He thought about calling for help for the thousands time. Maybe a Sikari could come and teleport him away from here. But he had a duty.
The Suni had thrown in their lot with the Sikari in the night of blood. They had participated in the unimaginable crime. Now the least they could do was to help save their people. If there was a god here that meant power.
With a nervous grip he checked if he still had his official papers and Sikari mercenary contracts. If he was the last one here he would do what was expected of him.

-Five minutes later:

It had been hard not include a cry for help in his message home but Chen knew that the possiblities here were far more important than his life.
Fixing his appearance as much as possible (without any visible effect...) he stood up and knocked determindly on the door, trying every language to explain that he was a diplomat and wanted to talk to their leader.

A few hours later in the throne room of the White Palace:

The few prists allowed to surive (since someone had to keep up the masquerade), the merchants and the very few military commanders loyal to the new order had assembeld in the Chamber of Light to discuss the most urgent matters of the Imperium. Or rather the parts they controoled. Occasionaly someone cast a nervous glance at the throne, still occupied by the dead king. The corpse was a constant reminder that they should not even think of misusung their newfound influence.
Even more often the same nervous glances met the young girl that was responsible for all of this.
Currently she was pacing the room, reading some message deliverd to her just moments ago.
Without a word she left them, sure they would try their best to stabilize the situation. Every single one of them was either totaly loyal or completly dependent on them. In the end both things mean the same and they could be left alone for a few hours.
Sanakan had a living god to talk to.[/sblock]

To Radiant, anybody else spying will have their spies executed !
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Dorakaa, morning hours
*Unfortunately, none of barbaric humans or monsters living here alongside them seem to know any civilised language, until one of the assembled in the inn Orcs started singing in their guttural tongue, banging his mug on the table out of lack of the drum. Later it were easy ... locals seem to know smartering of Orcish here, and it were resembling Orcish from the Orcreich enough to allow communication on the basest level. Here is what Chen learned of his situation ... He was reckognised as non-spy among the survivors of the patrol's attack, wich were unfortunate accident. Like in old saying, they were at the wrong place in the wrong time. Inkeeper, an bulky man with the eyes of mass murderer wich in Tsian would be easily mistaken for a demon, smiled at easterner and handed him another mug of "foreign wine". Surely made of the old socks ... But not taking it would be very ungentle, and here brwls started for lesser things. But around the thin diplomat seem to exist protective sphere, nobody picked up on him ... Finally,into the taver came hulking frogman that captured Chen and smiled. All patrons fled in the moment, making room for the dreadful soldier. And yes, he was barbaric, inhuman and stinked so bad that hairs were curling from the stench. But his warrior power was obviously great. Frog smiled wider at Chen, and spoke in clear voice wich sounded inside his head ...in pure diplomatic Tsian.*

You brought luck with You, yellow man. Tzar's own advisor, will recive You and listen to Your diplomatic sayings. And i will get medal !

Dorakaa, late evening
*Hulking frog-demon and his team were assigned to Chen as bodyguards. And he was forced to rcive numerous friendly nudges from the Orcs, chatting in their dialect so quickly that he couldn't undrstand more than a handful of perspectives thatwere awaiting them. Starting negotiations went suprisingly well, elderly woman named Halga examined his papers and his message.*

Tzar, Iuz the Old will grant audience for Your Leader. You will be granted all comforts, and are allowed to find a place for embassy.

*Later sergeant Ripp's team of dozen Orcs and several Gnolls, hyena headed humanoids with three year old child's tempers and appetites, went trough the city where everybody were armed to the teeth. Except humbly clothed bearded and small people with gray bandanas on their foreheads. These were mostly seen while deconstructing houses, or building new ones. The place is real maze as if dozen of drunked spiders were weaving their webs to make streets. Chen was to find suitable spot for embassy ... And acompanying them War Maiden, who is sort of priestess and was extremly quiet wich is unnatural for a woman, werent easying nything except discouraging every gang walking their way with murder in the eyes to suddenly start admiring cloudy skyes, new walls or change direction of their walk and dissapear in the by-street.*
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[Serpenteye]

Anyway, as much as I'd like to let the whole thing rest, I'd hate not to bring up one last thing relating to it: Serpenteye, you are one impressive fellow. You were put in a very tough position, one you didn't deserve to be put into, and you stepped in and dealt with it anyway. You could have shut the game down, or just stayed away and let the game get killed, and in either case you would have been totally within the right to do so: GMing should not entail a responsibility to put up with situations like that; that the game continues shows that you've gone above and beyond the call of duty, so to speak. Even before this, you've been earning respect like crazy during the preparations from this game.... After this, well, if respect were XP, you just went epic, man.

So yeah, that's more than I'd really like to say on the subject at this point, but as troublesome as it's been for you, I just can't stand to think it should be thankless, as well.

Thanks. What worried me the most about the whole episode was that a lot of people dropped off the thread for a while, for damn good reasons. I was afraid you wouldn't come back and that the argument had managed to kill the game.

A lot of players still haven't show up since it ended, so I'd like everyone who reads this and still wants to play to post a little message and let me know.

Good to see ya, mate. I took a long semi-break myself and now went up like 200 posts in 3-4 days of largely casual posting. I'll catch up to hong yet, believe me.

We could use a little more Darkness in the IR . Join us.

 

[Bugbear]

We could use a little more Darkness in the IR . Join us.

Yes, Darkness, Join Us. Just think what it will do for your post-count

 

[Knight Otu]

A lot of players still haven't show up since it ended, so I'd like everyone who reads this and still wants to play to post a little message and let me know.

*waves*



Little enough?

 

[Xael]

A lot of players still haven't show up since it ended, so I'd like everyone who reads this and still wants to play to post a little message and let me know.

I'm still here. I just managed to get sick exactly when my vacation started.

 

[Radiant]

Interlude:

High atop the clouds the wind was strong enough to carry a man away without effort. Yet the lone figure did not move.
Sanakan floated high in the sky, looking over the suddenly small city that ruled the whole Celestial Empire. The Sikari needed privacy and what they needed they got.
Suddenly the clouds split as a disc of glowing ultra-violet energy formed under her feet. It spreads until the force field extends twenty yards in every direction. The raw force of the storm battered against it but her will held it in perfect stillness.
It felt good to mess her powers with the raw forces of the elements, a relief from the stress and planning of the last days. The cristal plates of her Rixiss-Armor glowed with psichic energy and it started to grow and sharped at the edges. Only her willpower prevented the armor from extending fully.
She silently repeated one of the Sikari's oldest mantra's to keep her mind focused.
Nine dead, one changed. Do not fight me brothers and sisters, give me your strength. We are the ten that are one. We are sikari.
The armor glowed even brighter and and streaks of lightning could be seen under their surface but they returned to their normal appearance and the disc extended even more. The wind on it's surface died as her will held it back.
One by one they appeared. With shrieking sounds gateways opened as they teleported to the meeting. She did not have to look, the color of their sparkling gates told her who was arriving.
Silver: Jade
Blood Red: Blackwing
Softly pulsing Turquoise: Snowfox
Bright blue, arcing with electricity: Ratcatcher
Glowing Purple: Scarface
Bright Gold: Darkness
Pastel Green: Slayer

Within a few minutes the first talon was assembled. They all glowed with power as they subcounciously pooled their force to create a sphere around them. It was stadard procedure to give at least some security against surprise attack and scrying.
By now the floatting energy disc glowed in an ever changing mix of colors.
One by one they gave their reports.
By the time they had finsished their discussion the sun had long gone down the sphere was a bright beacon in the night. Only the clouds obscured it from those who might have seen it from the ground.
As silent as they arrived they leave again, each one with more knowledge and some with new orders as well. All excpet for Scarface who comes and goes as he pleases who'se actions are none to no one else.
"The Dark-Elf Queen has a plan."
"Of course she does. But I need those Drow. We could use others but they are perfect and they are right here. I would have prefered to talk with that witch myself. She has accomplished exactly what we need to achieve here."
"You can not mean to allow them to settle here."
"Oh yes I can. We have more land than we can even control right now. We shall give the Drow a chance to prove their intentions. It is very simple, we still need thier spies and from your descriptions they are expecting to need military help soon. Make them a deal. If they actualy keep their end of the bargain and we succeed I will consider letting them settle here. But I will not promise her that. If the Drow want to get in I first want to see that they can actualy be a stable parnter in an alliance."
"Very well. We also have to consider that she is buidling those forces to move against us. But we can rule that out almost certainly if they agree to accept our help. The Claw won't do them much good if they try turning against us."
"I will not take anything for granted as far as the Drow are concerned. We want something and we are willing to help them for it. But if the witch wants trust then she has to earn it first."
Jade noded, knowing that bringing these news to the Drow might very well get her killed. But that was the reason she went. As the eldest she had the most experience with fighting them. And as she neared the end of her life they all knew that of all the leaders she was the most expendable.
In one more flash of power Jade vanished and Intruder was alone again.
I am sorry Jade. You are the toughest and most reliable one I have. So your life is the one at risk.
Is it possible they mean it? Most likely not but if they prove reliable I will have to meet this Queen Eclavdra for certain. I should do so now but there is a certain dark god who needs my attention right now.
The disc folded itself around her and lighting up even more intense than before for a split second, vanished. No trace of the Sikari's presence was left in the nightsky.

 

[Edena_of_Neith]

To Bugbear (Public)

Public Post (feel free to read)

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Queen Eclavdra nods solemnly, then speaks to King Rhynnon again through the Magic Mirror:

Your Majesty, the drow appreciate the wreckage and ruin of the Greyhawk Wars, and acknowledge your claims for redress: however, we cannot control those on the surface, or speak for them. Much less, be responsible for them.
If those on the surface would allow the Whispered One ((Vecna)) and his legions to whelm them, because they had weakened each other in war, they would find his rule very ... unpleasant. Iuz knows this ... and I am assuming he is making all efforts to ready for the Whispered One's coming.
If we are not attacked, and thus have the military strength at hand, we will send great force to the aid of Nyrond and all who stand against the Whispered One, when he appears. If others will leave us in peace, we intend to bring peace to the Celestial Imperium, which has collasped with the passing of the Gods. In this, we intend to work with the Sikari.
We sincerely hope Iuz in his wisdom sees our point of view, and turns his eye to the north: to the Solistarim, who are silent, and kill all emissaries sent to talk to them, and who have made common cause with Acererak ... and is he not a suel kindred to the Whispered One?
We hope Iuz and Aerdi will perceive the real threat. All our lives are forfeit if the Whispered One triumphs. Al'Akbar and the Baklunish Empire have agreed to mutual defense with us when the threat appears.
A garden? Hmmm ... a bed of weeds, filled with vermin. (she smiles wryly) Quite a job, for any gardener. I hoe the earth, clear the weeds, and shoot the vermin. Such is my calling.
There is an expression among your people: 'mad dogs.' We appreciate the surface elves think of us, the drow, as 'mad dogs.' I do not hope to ameliorate this hatred: I am not a diety that I could do the impossible.
Yet I do hope to prevent the Whispered One from inflicting a fate horrific beyond imagination to our surface brethren.
(she smiles wryly)
We may be 'mad dogs' to the elves, but we are not so mad we would deal with the devils, and accept their gifts. However, the Whispered One will, as will others. Oerth, including Oerth Below, is threatened with annihilation. (she shakes her head) May Lolth save us all.

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