Open note left in the Council chamber: Threats to the Realm

[Prof. Misclick]

Their majesties wish an assessment of what the council deems the most dire threat to the realm so that they may allocate resources to support the membership's efforts. There are many priorities that each councilor holds but given the many worthy projects and demands on the Royal coffers it should be limited to one or two that demand immediate attention and focus of this Twelve. Once the list has been compiled the council will call a binding vote and begin.

Dame Saga Drakebane
Marshal of the Realm
Royal Advisor

[V-Rage]

I would say one of the most pressing threats is the rising number of infernalists in the region, There have been infernal circles found in the sewers and other areas of the region.

The main file on it is here.

https://nodebb.cityofarabel.com/topic/53981/case-file-demonic-circles

Bryce

[Merne23]

Looking at the opened "case files":

The Infernalists, from the "Demon Circles". Naresh and the Precept have been dealing with them primarily, and they seem to be doing well enough about it even if they're being quiet about the whole affair. Whenever they go out of the City they typically attack another band of infernalists. It appears to be their primary interest.

The Black Dragon, who is supposedly going to tear the Council apart as if they can because we're rebels from Cormyr. There was the fact they stole an artifact from the Precept, which the Precept still has yet to comment on other than to lament who once had it. I doubt any of us care to focus on this.

My report on Kalil has garnered no response whatsoever so that clearly doesn't interest this Council.

The Shield of Arabel doesn't seem openly seditious so much as openly spreading truths, which Pinwell already does when asked by any passerby in the lobby. The difference is that the Shield is made of adventurers and other such peoples, and while not elected, still aims to tackle the issues faced by the people. Bryce and yourself, Drakebane, would likely enjoy focusing on them.

Adrienne has brought up several issues surrounding the City itself, such as abbaritions in the Kingswood. This has similarly garnered little response, but as she brought it up I wager it's her primary interest. She did put up a bounty for the removal of such things.

There are older files and reports but I wager that none of us hold those as our focus anymore. So there you have it, a list.

-Councilor Grurec, son of Torunden

[HellzYeah]

I can probably clear up a few things in regards to these issues.

The infernalists seem to be... Exceedingly amateurish. Almost as if someone is disseminating information regarding the practice to less practiced spellcasters in order to keep us occupied. Capturing these infernalists alive has proven troublesome, and there never seems to be any identifying marks of note on them. I'm not convinced they know much either way, but efforts are ongoing and we probably won't see much progress until one of them is actually captured alive and questioned.

The Black Dragon is annoying because I genuinely don't know how we practically root out this person without catching them in the act. Everything Naresh told me about his investigation seems to make it clear that this person is quite good at covering their tracks, and any credible information we have on them doesn't seem to narrow down the suspects even a little. I'm not a proficient enough diviner to attempt to magically find out who it is without something emotionally important to them or some of the humors. Even then, as I said, I can't guarantee a straight answer because of my relative lack of understanding of the more complex divinations required for such a thing.

I've inspected the rod in question. Yes, it's necromantic in origin. That does not mean, however, that it is used in the animation of the dead. It is a soul shard, a piece of the late Sorcerer's soul that she split off into the piece. It's not evil magic, though it can be used in such a manner (like any magic) I don't believe from my limited contact with the woman that it was her intent. She might not have even understood entirely what she was doing, from my limited interaction with her upon her presentation of the staff to us. She was innocent, and it breaks my heart to hear of the abuses she suffered due to the ignorance of others. Jadzia, if you read this, I'd very much like to see what can be done with this rod with the help of the Church and the Precept. There's a chance she might still speak with us, or even live, albeit a slim one.

Kalil is a Sharran. That's reason enough for me to dislike him but so far I haven't seen any compelling evidence that he's actually doing anything wrong. Which is more annoying than anything, really, since they're almost always up to something. I've only met him about twice though, so I don't really have anything to add to this beyond the fact that I don't like him very much.

If the Shield wants to do as adventurers do and go fight beholders I really don't see any reason to stop them. I've fought one undead Beholder this month and I think I'll make that my limit for Beholders for the foreseeable future. I like being alive very much and Beholders tend to make that a fairly short term prospect.

There's also the vaguely ominous threat rising out of the Stonelands, but since my meeting with the Queen and her daughter Dawn I have learned Netherese at their request and even visited the Ruin I saw in my vision but have learned absolutely nothing about why I had a vision of that place or what could be coming from it. Despite several trips out to the ruins in the Stonelands I have yet to meet this being made of dust and shadow (frankly I am unsure I want to, he sounds very spooky) and I really don't know what else to do about it. I have another trip in the works to visit some of the more hard to reach ruins, but I've become quite busy as of late and have yet to find time to properly get my Crew together.

The Dreams are also of some concern but again I am unsure how we proceed. The cryptic mumblings of the beings within the dreams are either so vague they could not be considered helpful under any circumstance or are deliberately misleading. I'm sure it might make sense if we knew what they were about or what is causing it, but since we don't on either front, they are literally just random mumblings with no value. I don't really know what to do about it, since as far as I can tell none of the phrases that I or anyone I have talked to have uncovered are actionable, so I will continue to ignore it until something I can actionably work with happens.

-Levi

[O-louth]

Councilor Levi is a wise and intelligent man, and speaks truth.
From the perspective of the Wildwalkers, the Slaad issues in the Hullack, and the continued rise of undead in the north is of great concern to us. These ghouls, which I imagine many of you have faced, are powerful, rise in abundance, and within the heart of the kingdom.

The Slaad the oathtakers are handling efficiently, so the Council offering resources would be welcome, but likely ill spent.

If you ask me personally, the division amongst Eveningstar, Tilverton and Arabel is the greatest issue currently. No Tilverton raven sits on this council. No diplomatic ties beyond what the King and the Prince are doing themselves, seem to be happening. Will either village offer aid, actual aid, if Arabel comes under attack? And if they are not welcome on the council, would Arabellans be brought north to bleed and die for people we barely tolerate?

Additionally, this council has since his majesty put on his crown, been at constant war with each other. Greywatch nagging at the Precepts, Wildwalkers being hunted like evil witches, not to mention what can be read in these files regarding Eveningstar and the Dawnlord.

If I was a sembian merchant prince with a mercenary army, I would be half way through the Hullack Forest by now, seeking to claim a divided nation.

Adrienne

[V-Rage]

To move this forward I would say the most pressing threats are the Infernalists and fiendish orcs,. The Emerald Lord and shadowy undead and The Rogue Legion which is blockading trade routes.

Bryce