War with Tilverton

[SpiffyMeister]

I will do my best to have the Queen judge you. I cannot promise anything past this.

• Winters

[Cadiz]

Barra the druid witnessed our prescence, i sought to place the onus on me rather than any other.

That i wrote of the Fellowship is because that is what we stand for, but you can cut any ties to me and throw me to the hounds that bay from Iverlusk and his grand selfish ambitions.

You can clean your hands by saying it was an unsanctioned action which in truth it was, you had no part in planning or overseeing it. I will not disavow my part.

Archer

[SpiffyMeister]

I do not condemn your actions.

I condemn you confessing to them.

If you had simply been patient, kept your mouth shut, and accumulated merits that might have allowed this to go overlooked, nothing would have been said.

Or, you could have negotiated for lenient sentence and exchange for a guilty plea.

Instead you bragged to all and did not even appear contrite.

There is a notion in legal circles that the client is always a moron, and a lawyer never represents themselves.

I wish I could have commented faster before you did made this declaration, but here we are.

I Will do the best I can for you,

Sincerely,

• Winters

[TheMinionOfArabel]

@SpiffyMeister @O-louth @Cadiz

I did not agree to this confession. I ain't the smart one around but I know this wasn't the best of idea...

I know there's a time for secrets. I'd have done my best to keep suspicions off all involved, even if I've a terrible game face and can't tell a lie. And If I'd get caught, I'd die before betraying any of you.

Now I'm gonna be wanted, aren't I?

How am I suppose to end the Salt Cultists or fight in the war now that I'll be some criminal in the eye of everyone else?

Lady Winters, if you order me to turn myself in, then I will. If you want to kick me out, then I understand. But I'd rather like to be able to keep fighting evil with the Fellowship...

-SAPPHIRE

P.S. Esvele, there ain't no devils in the marches no more. Illuminated Blade took care of that before they got disbanded. Its just the celestials and the demons now. Just to set things straight.

[SpiffyMeister]

Sapphire,

I will do the best I can.

• Winters

[O-louth]

@SpiffyMeister

In the mean time, I shall do as a bard does best. I shall see if I cannot boost the moral of our poorly equipped troops. Perhaps by showing we are "loyal subjects" of the Crown, and that we will go to great lengths to ensure their victory, we shall find leniency. After all, the best way to ensure our survival, is to make sure the Crown sees more value in our continued survival, than in setting an example.

Esvele Oaks

[TheMinionOfArabel]

The King gave us a choice...

Either we disband, put down our colors and disperse...
or...
Volunteer for the first strike at Griffin Hill, where the fighting is the hardest.

If we refuse, then he sends the Skulls to hunt us down and kill us all.

He said there'd be vampires, devils from Isaacson's infernal soldiers, and Obyn's best Knights. He said the soldiers belong to the Black Chalice, devils in service to Isaacson. They aint from the eastern marches since there's no more devils in there.

It won't be easy. Probably suicide.

Side note... king said he smuggled Talantra and her children out so they don't get butchered or have an "accident".
Also said the main goal is gonna be to kill Issacson and break Tilverton.

What do we decide?

-SAPPHIRE

[SpiffyMeister]

I opened a file to discuss.

I say this with a heavy heart- it's been an honor serving with all of you.

• Winters

[O-louth]

@TheMinionOfArabel @Cadiz
We have been approached by House Cormaeril. They have conjured up a plan to weaken the Tilverton forces, by capturing and killing the infernalist. They intend to lure him into one of the ruins in the stonelands. There, a ritual that will hinder him from summoning devils will occur. Our task is to fight and keep the spellthrowers alive.

Ser Mordecai sees it as a way for us to show our loyalty, but do so on our terms, rather than running up Griffon Hill. It will no doubt be as dangerous.

Only we, the brotherhood and a selunite priestess are aware of the plan. Further questions should be adressed to Mordecai directly.

Rosa will be sharing the file with us n

Esvele

[Cadiz]

I would rather this than killing those Obyn has forced to his frontlines.

Archer

[O-louth]

Introduction to the Operation:
The next logical step, in the campaign against Tilverton, should be handling Isacsson and the Black Chalice. By managing to separate them from the Duke's forces and removing them from the board game, it should have a big hit on moral to the Duke's forces and in turn a big boost to Arabel's forces. Morvin, the dark Siamorphe which the Black Chalice serves, is both Isacsson's strength and weakness and we should exploit such to our benefit in luring Isacsson to us.

The plan would be to leak to Isacsson that a relic of Siamorphe was forged and is intended to be used to pierce the veil between the Material Plane and the Hells and strip Morvin of its power and by proxy also the Black Chalice's power. As Isacsson is a power-hungry person he is likely to try and stop us. In advance we will prepare the area of the ritual for an ambush and also prepare an ace up our sleeve - The Ritual of Forbiddance to limit Isacsson summoning of outsiders to his side.

The place chosen for the operation is the Ruins of Hlithal, in the Stonelands. It is not be mere chance that this place was selected as it represents the final battleground against the White Witch and the rise of the new monarchs to rule the kingdom of Arabel. Underneath the land itself are also ruins, which we intend to siphon energies from if possible using the Anuria Gemstones in order to empower for Frobiddance Ritual.

Given that both the Obsidian Skulls and the Apprentice seem to support the Black Chalice, we should under no circumstances reveal to them what we plan to do.

Our Allies in this:

• The Transcendence, who seek to end the Black Chalice
• The Fellowship of the Round Table
• House Wyvernspur, which owes us a debt
• If additional aid is needed clear it first with myself, so we can ensure confidentiality is kept.

Leaking the Information:
The information can be leaked to Isacsson in two ways:

• Utilizing Ser Seshores, who still owe us his life for saving and reviving him, to leak this information through his sources in Tilverton to Isacsson
• Carefully discard supplies and a note addressed to House Wyvernspur with the time and location for the operation

It is likely we will seek to use both methods to strengthen the notion that this is more than a bluff.

Goals of Operation Pitfall:
Have Isacsson and the Black Chalice redeem themselves, abandon their wicked ways, accept true Siamorphe into their hearts and surrender to face the King's Judgement
Failure to do so will force us to dispatch them

[O-louth]

@cadiz @TheMinionOfArabel
Fellows,
This is the plan as presented by House Cormaeril. It seems complex enough, and holds merit. That being said, I have this... strange feeling that something is off. I cannot put my mind to it though. Perhaps it is merely the sheer amount of backstabbery which has occured as of late.

Esvele

[SpiffyMeister]

The King has given me the objectives of our operation.

We're to clear out the Scourge tribes in the Stonelands in preparation for the Griffin Hill offensive.

So it's a forced march over mountains, into a desert, and slaying an entrenched enemy force of monsters numbering hundreds.

Joy.

• Tessaril Winters

[Cadiz]

I have not been to the ruins of HIthal but know something of them and the shrine within. I would rather face my foe on open ground than within such tunnels without the knowledge of what resides within but i will go where i am needed, as ever.

The Fellowship is required to travel at the King's order and so we must, should we manage both missions then we do the good people of this city a greater service. However we cannot split ourselves in two, a choice must be made i think.

The Apprentice follows the Black Challice also? This is news to me, are we sure on this. I suppose it was information that came from the trial of the Skull?

I had sight of the forbidance ritual notes before i was removed from the council, it was not in anyway complete and relied upon both the Apprentice and one of the Skull's mages i think for its completion. I can only assume that if they are agravated by the persecution of the black challice then they will not be completing their part in time. Something that is relevant in our planning should we choose to go to aid against Isaacson.

Archer

[O-louth]

@Cadiz @TheMinionOfArabel
Archer, Sapphire,
I was given a few potions by House Cormaeril, and they have informed us, that they will do whatever in their power to give us a fighting chance. Except actually march with us it seems.

That said. I found this weird scroll yesterday in the Stonelands. If I read the runes correctly, it can bring a person back from the dead. I figured it was a sign from Tymora, that at least one of us gets a second chance, if they fall.

If you are short on potions in any way, notify me and I shall order them from House Cormaeril.

I have tried my best to drum up support, but apparently heroes with a death wish are in short supply.

I... It has been the height of my life, finding companions are kind, and bursting with courage, as you two. If there is any chance any of us can survive this, I say we take it. As our poor turn out shows, this place needs people like us, even if they do not recognise it.

Esvele

[TheMinionOfArabel]

Lets make sure some of us survive. You'll have to sing our praises after all.

Completely different subject, about the mines. Been told that crownguard kin called Ash is somehow involved? What's up with that? Someone know anything about this?

-SAPPHIRE

[SpiffyMeister]

Adrian was attempting to get us to desert and I threatened to turn his correspondence over to the crown guard.

• Winters