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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Rel" data-source="post: 2120128" data-attributes="member: 99">Here's a rather short update to set the stage for the next phase of our story.  I'm in a bit of a "writing mood" today so I might post another later this afternoon.Speaks returned by midday and gave his report:There was now a gaping rift in the caldera wall of The City of Endless Summer.  The magnitude of the magic that would be required to cause this was terrifying all by itself.  Through the rift flowed a river of blood as it continued to well up from beneath the City.  This river flowed down the mountainside, generally following the path of least resistance and…things…swam in this river.It was moving quickly and was already nearly two days march from the City.  Whether this was because of the steep slopes of the Blackpeaks or simply because Bale was that fast was as yet unknown.  Either way, he would almost certainly exit the mountains sometime later today and enter the Fodor Valley.  If this pace continued then he could be as far south as Hrongar’s Hill in no more than three or four days.Speaks had not attempted to get close to the forefront of the advancing river of blood but his eagle eyes had been able to pick out the huge form of Bale as he crossed a meadow further down the mountainside.  He rode the foremost edge of this bloodflow or it somehow flowed into and out of him.  Either way it had the effect of leaving a trail, not unlike that of a snail or slug.  If only he moved so slowly…Moving along the edges of the River of Blood were the hordes that answered Bale’s call.  Perhaps a couple of hundred primitive looking Orcs, a few dozen Ogres, Trolls, and what Speaks thought may have been some Dwarves all moved down the mountainsides, hastening to catch up to their new master.  The slopes of the mountain were alive with movement as more streamed toward the River to increase these numbers.The fate of the world was racing ahead of them and the party reeled as they tried to puzzle out what they were going to do.What was clear was that they needed to bring as much force to bear against Bale as quickly as they could.  That meant spreading the word to their allies and trying to stave off any additional enemies.It was decided that the entire group would Teleport to Hrongar’s Hill.  From there Lazarius and Marius would go on to Emor and martial whatever reserves they could from the Imperial War Wizards and Senator Gracchus.  Marcus, Rhys and Scar would move south to intercept Lucius Capito and the Legions that he led northwards, hoping to dissuade him from attacking the Fodor Tribes and attempting to kill him if he would not relent.  Speaks would travel east to Great Root in the hopes that the mighty guardian of the Dark Wood could send aid to meet Bale.  Magdar, Ilrath and the remaining Orcs would presumably stay at Hrongar’s Hill and help assist with whatever fortification could be done in the short time they had left.It was agreed that they could spare no more than a couple of days for these errands before they needed to reunite in Glynden and ascend the Dragonmount.  Now that they had decided on their course of action, each man gathered his belongings in great haste.  It now seemed that every second that slipped by was a precious thing that demanded to be used in some way that might be meaningful.They were ready in a handful of minutes and were gathered outside the cave entrance.  Speaks used his Feathers spell to transform them all into avian form and they fluttered to perch on the arms, shoulders and even head of Lazarius.  The Wizard rolled his eyes.  What a way to travel!He spoke the word of power that would carry them hundreds of miles in an instant and they left behind the cold, dark desolation of the Blackpeaks for the desperate uncertainty of the south and east.</blockquote>

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