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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Greppa of Tartwater" data-source="post: 1023909" data-attributes="member: 10191">sorry for any typosWe were running again, our interference in the affairs of the town of Jarrol having ended with Amalan's arrival. Bellos had went looking for the dragon of this land and could not find it. Somehow, with his new connection to nature, Bellos sent a "message" through the wilderness. It wasn't directed to anyone in particular. It was just a cry for help. Amalan heard the alert. "Thank you for what you've done here," The Dragon said sending the message directly to our minds. "Return to Theralis and when I return, you will each be awarded additional lands in your name in the valley." He fixed each of us with a large eye, "Thank you." Then he hulked off, fading into the forest. A group of his Kobolds remained with us.Several heartbeats later, we turned to Bellos, "What's going on?"One of the Kobolds stepped forward, "Your knowledge of the situation is very limited. Allow me to elucidate. There was a somewhat powerful arcanist in the town and he sought to grow his home into a bona-fide city-state. He summoned the Greater Lightning Elemental and they struck an accord. The Celestial creatures would provide the means for greatness and he had to kill the dragon of this land. The dragon who dwelt here was one of the oldest dragons and he was very powerful. Unfortunately, he also liked do sleep a lot. The arcanist gathered a powerful troop of mercenaries and with grave loss of lives, managed to slay the dragon while he slept."It took us several moments to re-assemble something resembling composure. "So, what's going to happen next?" I asked.The kobold smiled a toothy reptilian grin. "It should be starting just about now."It clapped its hands near its feet and brought them out and together above its head. An illusion globe appeared showing the center of the town in the area at the base of the arcanist towers. People were still lying the streets from the cloud of dead air I'd set off a day earlier. Amalan materialized in the middle of the town square and roared. The people who were unconscious awoke instantly. The fearsome dragon's words were terrible,"Did you believe that your crime could pass beneath our notice stupid humans? The Compact was for what you needed. You wanted more and now you will have nothing."The people present in the image started screaming and groveling. There was no sign of the spellcasters who were so valiantly defending the city earlier. The people there were mostly crying, "It wasn't me! It was the leaders!"The dragon blew a disdainful gout of smoke, "Is that so then? Alright. You will collect all of your leaders who were involved with the conspiracy and set them out in in front of the mine for me. You have one day to do this. If this is done, you will be allowed to leave before I destroy this town and its mine. If you fail, I will destroy you as well as this town, no matter how far you run."We left the area soon after that. That night we gathered by the fire, waiting for sleep to take us. The end of the events surrounding the town of Jarrol had left me questioning the wisdom of allowing Bellos to run about "playing dragon." The people of that city had been doubly screwed over. It was a guess, but I believed Xeras had been grooming that town for conquest by the Bukenahk. With an endless supply of that metal and skilled metal smiths in their service, the orc's ability to wage war would be increased several times over. The wind wall, while very impressive, would have been very useless against the Shaman-Arcanists of the Broken Knuckle. They would have been crushed easily. It was a hunch, but the right one, it all fit together too easily. Xeras and Allas had all the subtlety of a sunny day.As I was drifting off to sleep, a shadow appeared on the edge of the firelight. We were at battle-alertness in a blink, but the figure did not a make any sudden movements, or have any weapons present. "Come into the light," I called. He advanced slowly. He was wearing a long black Theralis style tunic. His hair was a mass of dark curls and his face was beautiful, almost celestial, with a dead-white pallor. "Hello stranger," Chatham said with typical aplomb, "What brings you into the wilderness tonight?"He smiled and looked at me, "Hethas has told me that you are going to die. I am supposed to keep it from happening.""Oh great," I exclaimed, "Now Hethas is involved.""I am called by Hethas," he replied, "You will be killed when you return to Theralis. I will stop them."What do you say to something like that, "What does Hethas have to do with the conflict between the gods?""I am called by her, but I am not bound by her," He said. "I set my own goals. However in this thing, she asked this of me and I will do it."I thought I felt something wiggle loose in my brain. It was probably an errant piece of sanity. "Alright then. So you are not here to cause mischief?"He shook his head."Then come, sit, talk," I said gesturing to a spot by the fire. "Oh no," he said with sibilant smoothness. "I can keep a better eye on you from out here." He turned back to the forest and disappeared. "Oh just great!" I said, losing my temper. "Allas, Xeras, and now Hethas!"                 *************Theralis was only a few days away and we soon found ourselves in the foothills outside of the Theralis valley with a dread standing over us. Someone was going to try to kill me and we busied our selves with the useless task of watching out for the killer. Uripedas and his army of sunhawks scouted ahead while Bellos checked things out on the ground. I kept stoneskin active constantly. Anyone intent on killing me was going to have to work for it. We reached to he outskirts of the city and dismay sliced over us. Signs of recent fighting pervaded the area and guard patrols, usually only present in the summer, were out in force. The rest of us took cover in the woods, while Bellos scouted. While he was gone, I decided to send Uripedas to find Agina and let her know we were here. Uripedas returned before Bellos."We found her," he said excitedly. "She said you should wait here."Bellos returned several minutes later saying that he didn't see anything unusual in the city, but a group of troops was headed in our direction. I turned to Chatham and Ffutkuhg, "I don't know if you want to go into the city. A mixed tribe has settled in a valley not far from here. I'm sure you'd be welcome there while we make arrangements to talk to the council.""No," the old orc responded, "We will all go into the city deal with what may come."I nodded and we turned to await the arrival of the troops. The soldiers turned out to be a corps of Theralis Elite led by Agina. "We received your letter," she said with no preamble. "Come with me."We set out at a military hustle, but did not head for the city. I thought it was unusual, but I trusted Agina. Hell, it was why I sent the letter to her."Why are the patrols out in the winter?" I asked trying to get up to speed. Agina snorted, "They changed the rules. Another tribe attacked while you were out. They had armorcats with them but they were not Breaking Cat. They waged a skirmish campaign but we fended them off.""Anything else?" I prompted."Wait 'till we get where we're going," Agina said. And we jogged along until we reached Phitios' tower. Phitios' country abode wasn't so much a tower, but more like the ossified stump of a tremendous tree. White tunicked guards patrolled its perimeter. I was jumpy at this point. Akeros wasn't visible, but, as we found out a few times on the last leg of the journey home. He could be seen when he wanted to. He just chose not to be seen most of the time. We were escorted to a windowless circular room at the heart of the tower, finely  appointed with chaises, couches, bowls of fruit and bottles of chilled wine. With another detachment of guards inside, Phitios lounged on a couch sipping a from a cup beaded with droplets of water. He was very calm and smiled warmly when we entered."Please, relax you've caused quite a stir," He said. Everyone took to a seat while the servants offered food and watered wine."We got your message a month ago and were waiting for you to get back." Phitios said. "We've been busy here, even with the winter campaign, we've been making lots of preparations." He paused and looked into an empty corner, "Hello Akeros. It's nice to see you again."The tall pale man appeared from a shadow smiling. "Phitios," he said in greeting, "Perceptive as always."Phitios turned back to me, "So, can you tell me what you saw."I told him and Agina every thing...except about me possibly getting a chance to shag Belial. If I didn't tell Merideth, there was no way I was going to tell Phitios, Agina and a room full of guards.  After several long moments of contemplation, Phitios asked, "Do you think that mine is still there?"I just looked at him. Didn't he hear what I said? The gods are going to war and he's worried about a fool's-gold mine."It should be, although it won't be open," I replied. "The ore wasn't natural anyway."Phitios had stopped listening after I said "It should be." "Chatham," he said, "How many people can run with you?"Chatham thought about it for a few moments and gave him a fairly large number. Phitios eyes began to cloud with thought, "I'd like for you, all of you, to stay here for at least a week while we sort things out," he said. He was my commanding officer and member of the council so I agreed.  In a way, I was glad to have finally sloshed all of this business into the council's hands. All of this business with the gods was in the hands of people who made the decisions. Okay, I kept telling myself that, but I knew I was involved up to my neck.  A day later, Agina informed us that Thelanna was coming to Phitios tower to speak with us. Great, another complication I didn't need. The next day, accompanied by a contingent of guards, I met with the Therali High Priestess of Allas in an isolated alcove off from the large center room. Now, don't get me wrong. I did not dislike Thelanna, I didn't trust her. Being in an enclosed space, with my death coming at any moment, with no where to run (Teleport and Dimension Door not withstanding) left me feeling more than a bit nervous. So nervous, I could barely engage her in conversation.We spoke in Celestial. No I don't know the language, but Thelanna did and through her I understood. She said it was to keep the conversation away from those who would not understand. She spoke of the conflict between the gods. She said that Theralis must prevail and in order for us to prevail we must spread out. Expansion was supposed to be our best hope for beating Broken Knuckle and Xeras. And the best way to ensure our victory is if Allas is with us. She said if the people of Theralis choose Allas over Dianas as the patron god, Allas will provide military support while Dianas would only supply blessings. I nodded and asked for more details, but she remained vague. Then the skin on my neck tightened. Almost casually, Thelanna said she heard I was having a crisis of faith. "And who told you this?" I asked genuinely surprised."A passing Celestial," She said."Which one?" I asked. I wanted to have a slow, torturous conversation with it. "It doesn't matter. What matters is that I am here if you wish to talk about your feelings."I paused pondering for several minutes. I wasn't good at confiding, not when a Chosen of the Goddess of Death, pops up to tell me that someone in Theralis is waiting to kill me. In the end, like her or dislike her, Thelanna was not going to be the receptacle for my doubts. "So," I finally said, "what we want is the best for Theralis?"Thelanna nodded, "Yes."What I thought was "I need to find out what is best for Theralis." What I said was "Okay."</blockquote>

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