"Look. I saved the life of the chief of the Blades of Aaramor in a mission into the Worldwound. Rothgar inducted me into the tribe and owes me a life debt. He will help." Kallant briefs.
Exactly! Kizziar projects after Morvan speaks. Trying to get help from the Blades of Aramor will substantially delay our mission, and even if they do agree to help I don't think a bunch of warriors trooping along behind us is really going to be much of an asset. After all, we do need to keep a low profile if we want to preserve the Order's reputation. Much of the Hellknights' power comes from the fear we inspire, and I'm fairly sure we'll be a lot less scary if word gets out that one of our signifers was kidnapped.
Morvan considers the points being given. On the one hand, the life debt the Blades' chieftain owed Kallant guaranteed aid. On the other, Kizziar was correct that keeping a low profile was paramount. They couldn't reveal to too many people that Vespartius was captive. He also couldn't be sure that Ms. Nought's people appreciated her alliance with the Hellknights, and may be hostile towards them. And then there was the Technic League to consider. Was this Hellion involved with them, and if so, how? They should have asked her in the dream the night before.
Morvan thinks to Kizziar, What is the range on yours and Vesparitus's link? How far away can you be from him before the link will reconnect?
Under normal conditions, our link has a range of about a mile, Kizziar replies.
"Do you think we need to consider the political aspect as well? Lady Nought and the Technic League are in competing factions, and the Blades belong to the Technic League. Choosing to work with the Blades could hurt our influence with Lady Nought, who has the side of the Hell Knights."
You said that you felt your link with him reconnect for a moment when Lady Nought entered the dream. As she entered, I briefly saw around her a brightly lit room full of metal tables with straps. You say the link only works to a range of a mile. Do you know of any way it could be boosted? Morvan thinks to Kizziar.
To Urashu, he says, "Do you know what Hellion's relationship to the Technic League is?"
“Publicly, Hellion, Lady Nought and the Technic League are three separate factions. Lady Nought did say that both Hellion and the Technic League have opposed her, though she did not explicitly state they were working together. We know Hellion despises Unity, and it’s possible that could lead to teaming up with the Technic League but that’s just speculation. ” Urashu winds down, then considers his information for a moment.
“The other thing i learned about Numeria in preparation for this meeting is that the Blades aren’t necessarily happy with the Technic League. They would certainly be willing to break off from the League, but i am unsure of how serious they are with their intentions. Grumblings and rumors abound, but i hadn’t learned of any specific actions being taken.” He trails off for a second. “If the chief is really behind us because of a kinship with Kallant, and the Blades are asked to oppose Hellion, that could be the first step towards a major upheaval for the Blades. ”
No, I have no idea how that happened. I'm hardly an expert on the subject though. I haven't been Vespartius' companion for very long, Kizziar responds to Morvan.
Morvan considers. If they could break the Blades free from the yoke of the Technic League and ally them with Ms. Nought, that would strengthen the Order's foothold in Numeria while possibly giving her necessary support. Morvan looks to Kallant and asks, "If the Blades were to break free of the Technic League, would they be willing to ally with Lady Nought?"
Kallant shrugs. ”We didn’t discuss politics. I can ask. “
Morvan considers only a moment longer, then says, "Very well. We will take the ley lines to the Plain of Ten Thousand Swords. We will tell them there is something we need to retrieve in Sunder Horns territory, and require their aid. We will tell them there is a chance that we may encounter Hellion, so they are prepared. We will see if they would be willing to work with Lady Nought against him and his forces. We do not tell them what we are to retrieve - it would be best if we can keep the fact a Hellknight was captured secret. Once we have recovered him, we then go east, into Brevoy, which should allow either Urashu or, if he is recovered, Vespartius to use the scrolls of teleport to get us back to the Citadel, as we will be free of the magical interference in Numeria."
”Sounds like a plan. “ Kallant quickly agrees clearly happy for the opportunity to see his friend.
Urashu contemplates the plan, reviewing back through everything that it will involve.
“There might be some complications there. I can use the scroll and take two others, but either Melii or Vespartius will have to activate the other one. There’s also the chance that one or both scrolls could fail. It also means that if we have Blades support with us, we will not have a way to get them out with us. Their possible partnership with Ms. Nought might have to State an exit strategy. ”
"Hmmm...true. We may have to play our exit strategy by ear. Heading into Brevoy to teleport out should be our first choice, but we should be prepared to adapt that plan depending on our agreement with the Blades for their assistance. As to the scrolls failing, I don't know that there is anything we can do to prevent that - do you?"
Urashu shrugs, “No, it is just a part of the fickleness of magic. We can try to align things in our favor but nothing will eliminate the risk. I do not see failure as likely based on my own abilities. ”
All right, Kizziar grumbles mentally. As long as we retrieve Vespartius in the end.
After all, my superiors will be rather irritated if our investment is lost this quickly, he continues to himself.
"It will be difficult for me to activate the scroll. I wouldn't count on it succeeding," Melii says.
"Then hopefully Vespartius will be in a condition to do so. Let us gather as much supplies as we can carry." Once they have done so, Morvan turns to the druids and says, "We are ready. Send us to the Plain of Ten Thousand Swords."
Lord Vezivo and the druids arrange your group to their satisfaction, and begin walking around you and chanting, occasionally tossing a bowl of water up in the air to fall down like rain. As the ritual progresses, you feel a strange taste in the air, metallic but also cloying, like decay. It grows stronger and stronger as the ritual continues and grass begins to rapidly grow up around your feet. At the conclusion of the ritual there is a giant rush, as if a great mouth is inhaling and your vision tunnels to the point of blindness. When your vision returns, your environment is entirely changed. The late afternoon sun shines down brightly on the desolate plain. The only thing that grows are tall but sparse grasses and the occasional shrub. Until you take a closer look and realize that you are surrounded by thousands upon thousands of swords and spears, each impaled into the ground.
Aside from Melii and Urashu feeling a slight listlessness, you seem to have arrived at your destination with no misfortune.
Morvan blinks to clear his eyes as he looks about the area. Seeing all the impaled weaponry, he says, "Well, that appears to have worked nicely."
Urashu feels a feeling wash over him during the transport and is disappointed when the feeling remains. He distracts himself from the feeling by looking around. He had never been to the Plain of Ten Thousand Sword, but is reasonably sure they arrived where they intended. He wonders if there are really ten shots and weapons here, and starts counting. He gets to twenty before turning his attention back to the matter at hand.
“Yes, sir. Do we know where we are?”
Kizziar floats a few feet above the thicket of weaponry, surveying the landscape. I must say, I didn't expect the name to be literal, he remarks, But now it seems like a bit of an understatement.
Kallant stretches, sets his bearings, and leads the troop to the home of the Blades.
"Now that we are here, let us find the Blades. Kallant, I'm giving you the lead on this - you know them and their chief best. Keep that we are trying retrieve Vespartius secret, but answer other questions that pertain to our mission. I'm also making you my second - if I perish in this mission, you will take command."
Morvan sets out with Kallant taking the lead.
Urashu follows Kallant, thankful that his lack of knowledge about the geography here won’t be an issue. He looks around at the others after Morvan names Kallant his second. Third. He nods to himself at the thought and begins the march.
Melii shrugs listlessly. For some reason, her heart really isn't into the mission right now. She follows along, the champion spirit inside her alert and ready to fight at a moment's notice.
"Aye, aye, sir." Kallant answers affirmatively and briefly. He turns and heads out. After three steps, he adjusts the supply packs on his shoulders to remove the pinch and continues without breaking stride. He sets a three mile per hour pace for seven hours and a 6 mile per hour hustle for one hour for a total 27 mile daily pace. It would take two camps to get there unless they were closer than he estimated.
He had magic to make a 45 mile daily pace using Tireless Pursuit, but he would lose the others.
Kallant was quite a bit shocked at being named Morvan's second. The Gate was quite spell-caster focused, so he assumed one of the others would have been named. It probably is due to his connection with Rothgar. Morvan will probably rotate his second after the connection to the Blades passes.
After two minutes, it becomes painfully obvious that his squad can at best make a 18 mile daily pace. Kallant stops and asks, "Can you magic users have any way to walk faster? Summon mounts? Maybe remove your armor? At this pace it will take us three or four camps to get there."
Kizziar flies invisibly above the party as they walk, scanning the horizon for threats or deviations in the landscape.
Morvan raises an eyebrow at Kallant's request, then says, "I can cast a spell to summon armor to myself, so I can remove my armor for the moment - provided the others are willing to do so."
Urashu shakes his head. “I don’t have magic that can help over long distances, but this pack is weighing me down. If someone is able to carry some of my gear i think i could speed of the pace. ”
"Hand something over here - I should be able to take it."
Urashu hands over his bedroll with a quick, “Thank you, sir”. The interaction didn’t embarrass him, but it did stiffen his resolve to be a productive member of the team at the next need.
"Melii, that just leaves you now." Kallant looks to the armored medium.
"My spell of haste only lasts a few seconds. It won't really help with marching. My armor is light enough that it doesn't slow me down."
"Right. Good." Now that everyone can keep pace, Kallant restarts his 27 mile daily rate.
Kizziar swoops down to hover over the party, still invisible. It looks like there's a campfire up ahead, surrounded by six people, he informs the others. Should I take a closer look?
"Aye, listen to them awhile. If it seems that we can share a campfire, ask them using your telepathy while out of sight. We'll wait here." Kallant replies. He kneels down. If Kizziar can see them, maybe they can see Kallant.