Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 2028485" data-attributes="member: 143">Thanks, Neverwinter Knight! I saw you post a lot in the JollyDoc Shackled City thread... I read his for a while before he pulled far ahead of where I was in the story. * * * * * Chapter 325There was a pregnant silence, but while most of those present were shocked by the news, the companions could see that almost all of them appeared to expect it, or something equally serious.  The nobles, particularly Taskerhill and Aslaxin, wore faces that might have been chiseled in stone, but a fiery passion burned in their eyes.  Whether it was concern for Cauldron and its people, or for their own private interests, was impossible to determine. “The rumblings under the volcano,” Premiach Vanderboren said.  “They are linked to these efforts, I presume?”“Who is behind this plot?  And what can we do to stop them!” Omar Tiskinson exclaimed. Jenya nodded in answer to both questions.  “From what we have learned, these enemies are part of a cabal who call themselves the Cagewrights.  Their plans have been dealt a setback by the revelation and destruction of Vhalantru, but we have not been able yet to track their leaders, or uncover the location of their secret headquarters.”“The population... they must be notified of this,” Tygot Mispas said. “Don’t be a fool,” Taskerhill said, cutting the merchant off.  “What do you want to do, start a panic?  The city’s already a tinderbox, and you want to splash oil upon the smoldering flame?  Imagine your shop looted, people stampeding each other in the streets...”“Yet we cannot stick our heads in the sand and hope the threat goes away,” Aslaxin added.  “I think we should prepare a contingency plan for the evacuation of the city.”Jenya nodded.  “That was one of the suggestions that I brought to this gathering.  The Temple of Helm will lend whatever aid it can to the planning and execution of that plan, should it become necessary.”“Evacuation?” Aeberrin Vanderboren said.  “Shouldn’t we first seek help?  I mean, if what you say is true—no offense, priestess—then this danger threatens the entire region.  What of the good churches, the guildlords of Almraiven, the magnates of the city-states on the Lake of Steam... or even the pasha, in Calimport?”“I believe you will find that most of the powers of the ‘Shining South’ would consider troubles in distant Cauldron beneath their notice, lady,” Meerthan Eliothorn said.  “Those who might be able to help have already been contacted, but aid may be slow in coming.  We must be prepared to act on our own.”Maavu Arlintal stepped forward.  “It would seem that, if belatedly, Cauldron is awakening to the depths of the danger that I have been warning of for months.  What course do you propose we take now, High Priestess?  Can your divinations reveal how this threat is to be overcome?”Jenya met the merchant’s eyes with an unflinching gaze.  “The people of Cauldron will need strong leadership, to face the inevitably darker days that will follow.  I have called this meeting, to propose election of a new leader to replace the former mayor.”“Election?” Taskerhill said.  “An odd concept if you want a strong leader.  Do you intend for us to vote, then?  Cast secret ballots into an urn and draw out the man—or woman—with the strength to save us?”Jenya’s mouth tightened.  “I’d hoped we could come to a consensus, actually.  We represent different elements of the city—church, trades, nobility—and it is vital that we present a united front to the people of the city.”Taskerhill did not hesitate. “Then that leader should come from the ranks of those already recognized as leaders by the people of the city: the nobility.”Aslaxin laughed, a deep, rich sound that echoed in the domed chamber.  “Subtle, as always, Taskerhill.“ “If you have something constructive to add to the discussion...”“Oh, just shut up, the lot of you,” Arun said, stepping forward between the two men.  “This is pointless.  I don’t know you men, but I’ve been here in Cauldron for nigh on a year now, and I’ve never heard of either of you.  But I have seen first-hand someone who has given everything of herself for the sake of this city and its inhabitants.  She has already shown initiative, bringing you all together, acting while others talked and dithered.  If it’s a proven leader you want, you could do a lot worse than Jenya Urikas.”Everyone turned to the priestess, who’d suddenly grown pale.  But Beorna had moved up behind her while Arun spoke, and now she stood at Jenya’s side, whispering something lost in the general noise of activity that followed Arun’s declaration. “I’ll not support a theocracy in Cauldron, and nor will the people,” Taskerhill said bluntly.  But many of the other comments were positive, with the other two priests offering guarded support, and the merchants generally favorable. “High Priestess Urikas has been my friend since she came to Cauldron, ten years ago,” Ophellha Knowlern said.  “She is up to this task.”“Your recommendation comes highly valued in its own right,” Meerthan Eliothorn said to Arun.  “You and your friends have fought hard for Cauldron, and the people respect your judgment.”“I do not doubt the worthiness of the High Priestess; she has proven her mettle,” Aslaxin said.  “But she is young... not yet thirty?  Perhaps we should consider tempering the vitality of youth with the value of experience.”   Taskerhill responded with another cutting barb, and several others joined in the exchange.  As the debate continued, Mole leaned over and said to Dannel, “Do you think any of them would notice if I turned invisible and snuck out of here?”Dannel shook his head.  “Don’t do it unless you can take me with you,” he muttered.  But he frowned, turning toward the abandoned bar on the far side of the room.  There was something, unusual... “What is it?” Mole whispered. “Something...”Mole looked in that direction, and while there was nothing unusual to be seen there, her attention did come just in time to detect a faint, “WHUMP” of air, a sucking sound that was accompanied by a hazy shimmer that hung in the air for just a heartbeat before dissolving. The disturbance hadn’t gone entirely unnoticed by the others in the room.  “What in the blazes?” Taskerhill said, annoyance etched on his features at being interrupted from a point he’d been making. But Dannel and Mole were already surging to action.  The two had shared an instant’s glance, confirming what each had sensed, the subtle clues that revealed the truth of what had just happened.  Then the gnome was flipping her rapier out of its scabbard as she leapt forward into a twirling somersault.  In mid-leap, she abruptly vanished.  At the same time Dannel’s longbow slid out of his enchanted quiver at his command, along with an arrow that jutted from the magical container, ready to draw as soon as the archer strung the bow.“Someone’s here, invisible!” Dannel shouted in warning, but before the rest of the occupants of the room could overcome their initial confusion, a cackling voice barked out a phrase in the language of magic, and a pinpoint of bright flame appeared out of thin air before erupting into the familiar and deadly conflagration of a fireball.</blockquote>

Verification