"Are you thinking a night time strike into the heart of the enemy encampment, assassinating the necromancer, then sneaking out before anyone knows what happened?" Shinami grins
"We should buy some potions of invisibility. It's our turn to not be seen."
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"No, nothing so easy as that. The Grand Necromancer will be in Gadston, the capital of Odalisk. It is there I suggest we go: kill him and their Queen."
"If that wasn't hard enough, the word is that this lich, yes, lich, dwells in the heart of the mountain of holingar upon which sits the high palace of Odalisk."
"Are you truly the Dragoons of legend? Will you undertake this task for the sake of your country?"
"Since you can't pledge physical support.... are you saying that just we Dragoons should invade Gadston, kill the Grand Necromancer and the Queen in the middle of their fortress, and attempt to survive this entire ordeal?"
"Sounds like fun."
Not even trying to hide his losing track of the conversation, Brynn slowly starts in, "Umm...lich? What's a lich?"
Not even trying to hide his losing track of the conversation, Brynn slowly starts in, "Umm...lich? What's a lich?"
"A powerful undead who keep It's soul in an object separate from it's body. If you destroy the body it regrows near the object. Nasty things."
"It sounds like a death sentence." Cecil adds "Without very impressive Intelligence or some sort of backup, preferably an arch-cleric, it sounds like a fools errand. I'm not saying no, but Legendary dragoons or not we shouldn't be stupid about this."
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"I did not say you'd have no help. I cannot go because I am too well known. Some of my men, however, are not."
"I have already sent a man in the guise of an ambassador of Pollexia to the court of Odalisk. As is tradition, the queen is obliged to hold a grand party to receive such a dignitary. The noise and commotion of that gathering will be your cover."
"Moreover, my daughter, a priestess of Sarenrae will accompany you."
"If you desire more man power, you may hire any willing man or woman in my holdings. If they be from my guard, I ask that you ensure their disguised so as not to identify them as Pollexians."
"Lastly, I have a single scroll of mass teleport that will get you, my daughter, and up to 10 others into the fortress. My wizard will scry for you."
"For the record, you have, at most, 36 hours to prepare before the party will being and you must go."
"Any questions?"
"Since you can't provide us with troops, can you perhaps provide us training to prepare us for this venture?"
"So you're saying I get to kill something that can't be killed? Does this mean I can kill it over and over again? Sounds tiring and entertaining to say the least. I'm in."
"I'm not sure about our chances of success, but I'll accept the mission. Who's next in line for the throne? I'd like to know if the person who will be taking the throne next will be any improvement of their current Queen."
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"Since you can't provide us with troops, can you perhaps provide us training to prepare us for this venture?"
"What sort of training do you mean?" Turning to Kayla, "There is no heir to Odalisk at present. This will likely lead to civil war and take any threat of invasion off our minds for a long time."
"Perhaps training in our respective crafts? Brynn could work with your military drill trainer, Kayla could sit down and review some spells with your cleric, etc"
Armen's grin widens throughout the discussion.
"A suicide mission? Regicide and undead wizards? You are all absolutely mad."
He stares hard at the general.
"And you're going to miss all the fun. But worry not, they'll be singing the songs of our victory in every court across the land for centuries. Songs I intend to write."
Armen's grin widens throughout the discussion.
"A suicide mission? Regicide and undead wizards? You are all absolutely mad."
He stares hard at the general.
"And you're going to miss all the fun. But worry not, they'll be singing the songs of our victory in every court across the land for centuries. Songs I intend to write."
"Huzzah." Cecil says in a sarcastic monotone at Armen's words
Back to the duke. "Only one scroll of mass teleport? That will get us past most of the minions on the way in, but how do you presume we get out again without wading through an undead army?"
Almost as an after thought Cecil adds to the Duke, "Do you have any curative wands? Such a thing could keep us going for a much longer time. Especially with so many people traveling."
Kayla shrugs. "I guess we can always hope that the undead army won't be much of an issue without the necromancer to order them around. Or when in doubt we can just set fire to something?"
Osslend's face wrinkles as he speaks to the Duke. "I'm more pleased than ever that politics mean little and less to me. I don't know how you sit on your hands while such a thing happens, though I respect your restraint in doing so. We gladly accept any help you offer."
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"My daughter will get you in Cecil. Never worry for that. And the army is not undead. They are possessed and enslaved men and women who likely want nothing more than to return home. I believe that if the necromancer falls, the army can be easily persuaded to help you or simply go home."
"I do have a wand or two lying about I think. I'll have someone fetch them. Are there any other questions, or items you require?"
"My daughter will get you in Cecil. Never worry for that. And the army is not undead. They are possessed and enslaved men and women who likely want nothing more than to return home. I believe that if the necromancer falls, the army can be easily persuaded to help you or simply go home."
"I do have a wand or two lying about I think. I'll have someone fetch them. Are there any other questions, or items you require?"
Cecil ponders,
"Well, I don't know what type of resoruces you have available, but any and all weaponry that is harmful to the undead would be useful. Such things would be a loan, of course and returned to you when we return alive and unscathed. ... At least that's the plan."
Brynn's eyes widening and his familiar grin coming back at the mention of fighting, he says, "All this magic stuff is confusing to say the least, but as long as I've got you all to trust, I'm in. Duke, I've been looking for the option of smashing things rather than slashing, would you happen to have a crude -- or quite possibly a better-built -- heavy flail? I wouldn't mind paying for either option."
"Sanctified maces would go a long way to achieving our goals."
"You know, if we're talking undead, sanctified maces sound like a wonderful thing to have."
Cecil ponders more and adds,
"Do you have a scroll or two of Identify? That would be useful. "
Then adds
"If no body has anything else we can be off in a few hours. I'd prefer to attack an undead during the day. It just makes me feel better. How long will it take to assemble your men at arms who will assist us?"
Osslend holds his two-handed flail, then seems to mime holding a mace with his right hand. Then suddenly seems to realize something and says, "Duke...would you have a shield I could borrow?"
"I'll be missing the healing that I did earlier. Other than that I should be ok to go."
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"I think you've missed a piece here VonSpirito."
The duke rubs the inner corners of his eyes in frustration.
"I 'cannot supply aid'." You have to talk to my men, hire them, and disguise them. I cannot have a hand in this: officially."
"If I were to try and hire some Duke's troops without his knowledge, I'd try the Dirty Dragon."
"I will ask my mage about the scrolls."
"What kind of shield would you like to borrow Mister Abenier?"
"Oh, just the toughest thing you can spare that's not too big," the houndmaster says, using his hands to approximate a shape in the air before him. "You know, tough but mobile."
"I suppose we could go "recruit" some men out from under your nose then. On an unrelated topic I believe I could use a drink. Off to the Dirty Dragon then. "
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The duke bids you farewell with directions to the Dirty Dragon and instructions to meet in the yard when you're ready to go.
________
Upon entering the pub, a strange sight meets your eyes. The bar is relatively quite, very clean, and there are several soldierly looking men and women in homespun clothes and emblemless armor. They all look up expectently as you walk in.
A familiar face saunters over and you can't shake the feeling that you've met this man before...He looks just like Bryce!
He wears oft' mended leather breeches and supple, tall black boots. A crimson cloak hangs off one shoulder revealing a polished breastplate and a pair of bastard swords. The man has a certain wildness in his expression that seems ill-at-ease in such seemingly easy service that is the guard of Ryn.
"I'm Brom Rosewood. I'm your first unofficial recruit and I'll be comanding the other 9 volunteers for you. Ask around and take your pick, or I can recommend a few candidates for ya."
"As you know your men and I do not I think it would be best if you picked the most competent to watch your back. Your life is on the line as much as ours. Though my more martial compatriats may want to judge or test the men you choose. "
Eyes wide, Osslend says, "...gods be good...you look just like him."
Armen searches for a bartender desperately. He keeps an eye on the poorly disguised soldiers, sizing them up.
"Oh bartender-- I've never needed a drink as badly. Your finest ale."
"That's uncanny.... we welcome your help!"
Shinami extends a hand to Brom.
"We had a member of our group... Bryce... One of the finest men I've ever met. He looks a lot like you. An accident however... separated him from our group."
Kayla wanders over and looks Brom over closely. "He does resemble a younger Bryce."
Shaezon waits politely, as he never met Bryce.
Shaezon waits politely, as he never met Bryce.
Kayla places her hand on Brom's arm. "Perhaps you should have a seat and a drink first?" Kayla will try to guide him to one of the barstools and motion to the bartender for a couple of drinks.
"Bryce served with us until recently. When was the last time you talked to Bryce? I'm guessing you to be related to him somehow, your likeness is too remarkable to be coincidence, plus you have the same last name. And by the way, my name is Kayla, sorry I forgot to introduce myself."