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Message: <blockquote data-quote="S'mon" data-source="post: 1437617" data-attributes="member: 463">Leo's Account:Reckoning. Leo had just finished memorising his quota of spells for that day. It had to be a careful choice. Today was the day of the Congress. Momentous events were going to be discussed. It was necessary for him to have a choice of magic that was suitable for the event. Mainly divination magic. As he was contemplating his choice, he heard a loud rapping on his door. Opening it, he found Tarquin on the other side. “Leo, take your amulet off. Someone is trying to get in touch with you.” Leo complied and suddenly he received the first Sending. It was not from Dovistar as he expected but rather from the archmage Clarendon, magist to Archduke Ulfius. Leo went to his bed and sat down. More and more information was relayed to him. He absorbed it, concentrating hard, making sure he would not forget anything. This was too important. Finally, after several minutes, it stopped. He then turned to Tarquin and said: “Could you get everyone here please? We have to talk immediately.” Soon everyone arrived. Xiang, Fjorent, Ramu and Raven. Cailin could not be found and Sigurd was unavailable as he was conducting policy as the King of Trafalgis. No matter. Leo turned to the others and said: “I have just received a great deal of information from Ulfius via Clarendon. He paints a very bleak picture. He has personal experience of fighting the Mongali when he was helping to defend the Settler’s Country in the North. Ulfius says that we are likely to lose this war for several reasons. The Mongali are some of the best soldiers in the world. The fact that we outnumber them is irrelevant as their troops are vastly superior to ours. The League is hopelessly unprepared for this war and it will be trying to fight on two fronts with the North still trying to eradicate the forces of chaos. It is also inexperienced in fighting the Mongali. Finally, if the unlikely happens and the League does win, it will be so weakened that anyone could walk in and take over. Ulfius’s advice is to accept Tarkane’s offer. Use his army while swearing fealty to him. I have thought about this and much as it pains me, I have to agree with him. After getting the information from Ulfius, the best course of action to make sure that the cities in the League survive would be to accept the Overking’s offer.” After that, there were many questions. Everyone wanted to know about something but finally, after listening to the information again and again, everyone agreed that Tarkane’s offer was the least worst alternative. A decision was made to go and see Kanor immediately. He was in his quarters, getting ready for the Congress. Everyone entered. Leo gave him the gist of what everyone discussed. Kanor was understandably reluctant to accept what he heard. Tempers flared a little between Kanor and Ramu until the Aryptian was taken into the garden to cool off. Then Kanor began to understand various facts that were being given to him by the group. More importantly he was not able to answer several key military questions posed mainly by Xiang. It began to dawn on Kanor just how unprepared the League was. The war was a few months away, maybe a year and they had not even chosen a war leader yet. He began to see the problems. He made a decision. Fjorent, Xiang and Ramu would go and see Zalindra, try to sound her out about Tarkane’s intentions for the League. Kanor with Raven, Leo and Tarquin would go to see what other members of the League thought about Tarkane’s proposal. Especially those members not directly tied to the city of Scorn’el. Leo later learned that the meeting with Zalindra went pretty much as expected. She was a canny operator. She gave little away. She was pleased to hear that Kanor would support Tarkane’s proposal. She also made a reference to certain “fugitives” who were supposed to be in Gaxmoor. Kanor and the others met with Duke Persenex of Vantouche, an elderly, balding but still formidable warrior. He made his priorities quite clear. The chaos forces in the North. The Mongali were an inconvenience for the Southern cities but unfortunately it would be impossible for the Northern cities to send much support South lest Chaos took advantage of this. Leo winced mentally and he could see Kanor was beginning to grasp the magnitude of the task for both the League and its future War leader. If something as fundamental as a North South divide had to be negotiated well then…. Kanor was quiet. Leo suspected that he kept hearing things he didn’t like today. Tarkane’s offer, lack of cohesion in the League, the arrogance of the city of Scorn’el, Mongali military might, lack of wizard support and he still had the massive worry of the cambion Heracules and his possible winter invasion. Then it was time for the Congress. Delegates gathered in a semi-circular chamber. Maxilio Vebaris, mayor of Scorn’el was chairman. Just before the proceeding started Leo was startled to see Fjorent approach Kardus and hold a brief conversation with him but then the meeting started. Kardus was first to speak. He made an impassioned plea for an alliance, putting himself forward as a potential war leader, stating his willingness to fight and his experience in warring with the Mongali. Unfortunately, his pleas fell on deaf ears. Kardus was on the front line. Leo thought that Kardus was a victim of political expediency. After he had finished, a vote was taken on his proposal. The reception was lukewarm to put it mildly. Kardus gathered his staff and proudly walked out of the hall. Leo had a feeling that this could be the last time he saw this man. He had stated his intention to fight to the death. If the meeting went as Leo expected then the League would become part of the Overkingdom. Kardus was an Albine. Tarkane’s feelings about Albines were well known. He liked burning them. As Kardus left the Hall, Leo caught a glimpse of Raven as the dwarf hurried out of the side door. Zalindra then got up and made a competent, no-nonsense speech outlining Tarkane’s proposal. She made a striking figure but possibly due to Scorn’el’s underlying hostility to the Overking, she also did not make a strong impression on the delegates. Duke Persenax stood up to introduce Lord Calawan, a polished aristocratic diplomat who made a strong case for making Alidarn war leader. Finally Kanor stood up and he made a lengthy, considered speech outlining the massive problems facing the league and stating a case to support Tarkane’s proposal. He was supported by Xiang and Ramu; Duke Persenex also stood up to claim that the suggestion that the League would only survive under Tarkane’s overlordship was good. Leo thought that the old warrior realised for all his comments previously, without the South the North’s chances diminished rapidly. Leo glanced at Zalindra and saw a slight smug smile on her lips. A vote was taken. The decision was narrow but the League voted to accept Tarkane’s proposal for better or for worse. Leo sighed. He was going to have to think hard about this. This affected him personally. Time for that later. Kanor then stood up. He explained that originally he was going to put himself forward as a candidate to become the warlord, but since this did not seem relevant at the moment he suggested they choose a negotiating committee. Persenex stood up and proposed himself as a member for the Northern cities. Kanor suggested himself as the representative for the Borderlands and the obvious choice for Scorn’el was the mayor, Maxilio Vebaris. As the final details for the committee were being decided upon, a thick green cloud appeared in the group of northern representative while at the same time, a sorcerous hail of snow an ice hit Kanor and the group. Pandemonium erupted. Leo first tried to find the perpetrators but he couldn’t. Then he grabbed Xiang, Ramu and Kanor and transported himself to their quarters in the Temple of Carthea. Raven had voluntarily stayed behind, trusting to the power of his weapon. There was no sign of Fjorent but the witch had shown plenty of ability in taking care of herself and he had pretty good knowledge of Tarquin’s abilities. He still needed to find the people responsible and finally he did. It had been difficult as the hostile group was invisible and streams of people were erupting from the exits of the Hall. Five figures hovered over the roof of the building; at least two of the figures were casting spells at the crowds below. Leo saw these looked like Mongali. He shouted this to the others and Xiang immediately demanded flying ability if Leo could give it to him. Leo had one spell, which he cast on Xiang. Ramu also demanded the spell but there was only one available. Xiang flew up but as he was approaching, the figures all got together and disappeared. Kanor and the others emerged from the Temple. Tarquin was a little hurt but nothing serious. Xiang found them and told them that both Zalindra and Maxilio were just around the bend. They were having a conversation about security issues. Zalindra was showing a little of that temper for which she was infamous. Kanor approached the group together with the northern representatives who had also survived. Several conversations ensued. The important point was that the vote to join the Overkingdom had been passed before the attack. While these conversations were happening Leo was thinking. He was confused about the attack. According to reports, the Hall had been warded against these kinds of spells. While it was possible to break through the wards, the magic needed was of a very powerful nature. Was the purpose of it to sow terror or was it to show Scorn’el that the Mongali hakomen could strike in the heart of their city whenever they wanted. Maybe it was both. While there were casualties inside Leo thought that all the major players were still here. Some of the aristocracy had died. That was unfortunate but aristocracy could be replaced. That was one of their major talents. Making sure that their power and estates remained in their families. Someone like Alidarn, now that was different. He would be very difficult to replace. Yet these kinds of spells used were unlikely to kill powerful individuals. He speculated that the Mongali wanted to disrupt the voting. Killing voting delegates would certainly do that. Maybe due to the distance they had mistimed their attack. He couldn’t discount the human factor. He was also glad in a way that the magic he saw was of a nature familiar to him. All the spells he saw being used he knew either in theory or practice. He also knew ways to counter them. Lost in his thoughts he wasn’t paying attention to the conversation. He was later told that Kanor and Persenex decided that the decision to join the Overkingdom should stand. Maxilio agreed more reluctantly reflecting the city’s feeling towards Tarkane. Zalindra would go to Tarkane with the decision and negotiations would start as soon as possible. Fjorent and Raven went to see Kardus before he left and then came back with the offer that Kardus was willing to talk to Kanor. Kanor however felt that they had little to talk about. Leo feared that warlord was doomed. That left the matter of what had been described as Kanor’s “little local difficulty” namely the cambion Heracules and the Frost Giants. Now that the League was allied to the Overkingdom there was no reason why Ulfius and Clarendon couldn’t help in this matter. A Sending was quickly made to Clarendon and both these powerful individuals agreed to meet the group later that day. Ulfius and Clarendon arrived and were quickly brought up to date. Ulfius was wearing his new armour and was as bluff as ever. The Bloodhammer gleamed dully over his shoulder. He didn’t quite say that he met cambions every day but the intimation was there. He was told of the group’s previous experiences with the cambion, and the plan of the complex as they knew it. The known powers of the Frost Giant Jarl, the presence of an ogre magi, the amount of giants there could be inside and the possible presence of the Red Dragon which had destroyed the Fort at Dendridi. Xiang then invited Ulfius to go drinking when they would no doubt share war stories. Leo retired with Clarendon to discuss the magical powers of the inhabitants of the complex and what spells they should take to maximise the abilities of the group. They talked deep into the night getting to know each other a little. Leo had always been in awe of Clarendon after hearing some of the deeds the archmage had performed but he now found him to be a very pleasant companion. He hoped Xiang was having as good a time with Ulfius. The next day preparations were made. The plan was to teleport on to the ledge in front of the main gate to the caves. Then the group would rapidly sweep towards the main hall of the Jarl moving as fast as possible. As soon as the cambion was spotted the main priority was to cast a spell on him which would stop him from going ethereal. Some of the major fighters of the group would also be made to fly as that was another of the cambion’s powers. Fjorent would be able to protect some of the group against the cold power of the ogre magi who would no doubt be lurking, waiting to use his cone to its best effect. Sprinkling some diamond dust on most of warriors of the group, Leo could make their skin as hard as stone, so that weapons would do much less damage to them than normal. Clarendon could make everyone faster. Leo also cast various other effects on himself. Finally, Fjorent drew the group aside and explained to them that she had had a vision, in which she saw the group facing the cambion and a Red Dragon. The group was casting cold spells on the dragon but these were literally bouncing off it and rebounding on to the group causing massive damage. She said that it could be one possible future. So, the group was ready. Leo cast his spell and he and four others appeared on the ledge. A moment later, having cast a spell learned from Dovistar, the other three members of the group appeared. Leo noticed Clarendon widen his eyes. The White Way did have some secrets, even from the archmage. Ulfius strode up to the massive gates and promptly smashed them with the Bloodhammer. They splintered, leaving them barely hanging on their hinges. As the group swept forward, Leo mused that it would be good to get one of those hammers for Xiang. Most useful in certain circumstances. As a spare for the Spear of course. He couldn’t see Xiang giving up his spear even for that hammer. The entrance hall was no different except that this time there were two frost giants standing guard. Stealth was not the object of this mission while speed was. The warriors sped forward, engaging the giants. They made short work of them while Leo blocked one of the two exits, which led to another large room. He could see other giants rushing forward to his wall of force. He then put another wall in front of the force knowing they would need as much time as possible to deal with the opposite side of the complex. The warriors had by that stage dealt with the two guards and moved into the dining room. There they were confronted by a group of orcs. At this point, the orcs were hindrances more than anything else and lasted only a few seconds. Xiang then moved forward through the narrow cave passage. He was quickly followed by Fjorent in the shape of a bat when a door opened and a female giantess strode forward. Prudently Fjorent flew back and the giantess was engaged. Again she lasted only a few seconds. The party regrouped and made their way down the twisting passage. Leo shivered as he remembered that this was where the cambion had ambushed them last time resulting in so many deaths. Nothing like that happened this time. The group quickly moved forward and Ulfius smashed the makeshift gates to the Jarl’s chamber. The smashed doors revealed a semicircle of giants including the Jarl, several of his guards and Heracules. They were ready for Ulfius. Leo winced when he saw the Archduke taking hits. Even though he was impervious to some damage, Ulfius was still being wounded though not seriously. Leo though had other concerns. He took out a scroll given to him by Clarendon and cast it. A beam left his hand but it hit a rock instead of its intended target. Leo cursed and hoped that Tarquin would have more luck. Tarquin, rose up from the ground and took careful aim. A beam again left his hand and this time struck the cambion enveloping him in a green light. The group knew what that meant. The cambion could not now escape ethereally for quite some time. Then Fjorent cast her fire spell, knowing how vulnerable frost giants were to that element. Suddenly there was a blast of freezing cold. The ogre magi had struck. Fortunately, Fjorent had protected several individuals and herself from this effect and Raven’s axe was also able to help some people resist the cold. Then it was Ulfius’s turn. Blindingly fast, he struck the cambion four times with the hammer. The fourth blow collapsed Heracules in a bloody mess. He was finally dead. Ulfius was in trouble however. The Jarl and his guards saw Ulfius’s power and they concentrated all their attacks on him. Possibly due to his lack of armour, most of the giants, including the Jarl struck him, several more than once. By the end of their attacks, Ulfius lay twitching on the floor. The group saw their opportunity. Fjorent cast her fire spell again while Leo cast a powerful lightning bolt at the Jarl, which also branched out to hurt his guards, the ogre magi and the last of Heracules’s fanatical orc bodyguard which had moved forward to engage the warriors. Xiang moved in, adopting a peculiar defensive position with his spear. Due to his movements, many of the attacks of the giants either missed him completely or hit the spear instead. Leo was about to cast his lightning again but he found he had company. The ogre magi had flown through the battle and was virtually beside him. That was a nuisance. Another annoying peculiarity of the creature was that while it had been hurt by the lightning, Leo could see its wounds literally healing before his eyes. It rushed him, screaming: ”Now you die” but somehow missed with its sword. Leo stepped back and three beams of fire sprang from his hand. They struck the creature and smoke rose from its torso. These wounds certainly did not look as if they were going to close in front of Leo’s eyes. The ogre magi slumped to the ground. In the meantime, in the main hallway Leo could see that Xiang had run the Jarl through. The Spear seemed to gleam and sing at having slain such a powerful opponent. Then the other guards were being mopped up. Ramu and Raven were working well together with the dwarf charging the giants who were having difficulty hitting him due to his small size. Finally the conflict in this room was over. Fjorent, now in human shape, strode forward and decapitated Heracules. Leo however warned the others that his wall spell was almost finished and that the stone wall spell would only hold the giants for a few minutes so they needed to get ready for more battle.</blockquote>

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