Marantis sighs at Aminah. "You clearly were not listening. Sara told us that they were brainwashed, but NOT BY MAGIC. These Knights see what they are doing as the right thing to do. They have not been coerced by magic, have not had their desires supplanted by magical suggestion, have not had their mores twisted by some arcane ritual. They are taught, of their own free will, that what Ariakin and therefore his Queen wants is for the good of all of Ansalon. Bring them to a wizard to "untwist" whatever you want, there is nothing magically twisted for them to untwist.
Going after Ariakin himself is plainly a suicide task, but feel free to undertake it if you wish. The ranks of Paladine will mourn for your passing.
Now, I will spell this out slowly, and carefully once again, so you can understand it. It seems Quentus knows what I mean, already. If an army is going to make war, they gather information first, if they are smart. Since we already said Ariakin is smart, we can naturally make the deduction that he will be gathering information. The information on how best to take the cities are going to come from people inside thse cities. To get those people to talk, you have to promise them something they want. He stops to see that what he's saying is being followed, and ticks off on each slender finger his next points, "Money, power, or station are the three obvious choices. If we find someone that is giving information back to these Knights, we can follow it back to where the Knights, or the Knights' agents are, and gather more information from them about how large an army they have, where they have that army, who the commanders are. Also, any person that is convinced to betray the city they live in is going to be much more easy to coax information out of than a zealous Knight, that believes wholeheartedly that what they are doing is the right thing."
The black robed figure speaks up/ Interesting that a cleric of Paladine would resort to the magic of enchantments and compulsions so hastily. Perhaps the Church did not learn the lessons of Beldinas Pilofiro. This is why the Conclave of Wizards has sent me on this mission. As a member of the Black Robes I am not afraid to do what must be done in order that the Magic be preserved from these renegades.
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Aminah looks to the Black Robe and says, "Lessons were learned from the past Black Robe. I am merely considering the options we have at our disposal. We need intelligence to provide proof of the Dark Knights existence to Solamnia and the other free nations so they can be prepared for war. If nothing is done the Dark Knight victory is assured."
She looks to Marantis, "Perhaps you are right Marantis. Your method seems the most prudent at the moment. My judgement has been strained by the circumstances I have learned this day and I apologize for my rashness. We should seek out where their army is forming. Let us start our search in one of the large cities in this region. They will be prime recruitment grounds for the enemy."
Jakun shrugs, "Very well elf. Let us try it that way".
The black robe laughs You have a fundamental problem here then, there are no knights among us but we do have minotaurs and wizards and rouges and elves. And a khur! Truly people the knights of Solamnia will find trustworthy, don't you agree?
"Bah, if we bring proof to this Female Cleric, it will be her job to provide the evidence. If they do not believe us, it shall be their own folly. So long as these Thorn Mages are slain by the score what do you care anyway?"
If Storm's Keep is in the Turbidius Ocean perhaps the best course of action is to head there and investigate along the way? offers the Black Robe.
LVL to 3rd
Jakun considers all of the options laid out. "I think attacking Ariakan is foolish even for the Minotaur three. Seeking out the Keep is akin to that. If following this Sara is not going to amount to anything as our elven friend has pointed out, that leaves the best answer to gather information about their recruiting methods and then follow those leads. Quentus seems to be skilled in that art. Do we let him take the lead and then back him up with force of arms as necessary? Do we begin in Palanthus or somewhere closer to the heart of enemy lands which it seems could be Neraka. Perhaps then we seek out the Storm Keep".
"Well, I do know some people in Palanthus and of course they have connections here and there. I might be able to fish something out."
Quentus ponders as he thinks about the options while taking a gulps from the mug front of him
"We could get back to Palanthas and see some of their recruits there and see how far they have infiltrated. Would make sense to me to know what my enemies would be doing in the most important city regarding Solamniacs and temples of good"
"Palanthas makes the most sense. It's a larger city, and the Knights would need more information, and allies in the city to do what they need to do.
New Sea and the town of Refuge might also be an option. However, if we go to Tarsis we must pass through the mountain dwarven kingdom of Thorbardin. Or even the elven country of Qualanesti states the black robe.
Refuge might be a place to start. If it lives up to its name, it sounds like it would be a spot for the.... opportunist. Qualinesti would most likely not be to our advantage. I doubt I would even be looked on positively at this point, and our Minotaur friends would find it extremely difficult." Marantis looks down on the black robed wizard, barely hiding his contempt, "And you would not be allowed entry, I am sure.
He shakes his head a bit, "I do not know much about New Sea."
Which way are you guys deciding to go?
"Well, lets try our luck in the New Sea. Might as well take a move there and see if we can pick something up" Quentus ponders as he finishes his mgu
Go ahead and get what you need.
The Church, via the Inn of the Last Home will provide 200 stl.
You do have a walking map with you with the Goodfellow!
Only Lunitari! :)
"What do we know about New Sea?"
Know geography check
Knowledge Geography
The cleric is correct.
Red Horn listens to them talk and the like but he honestly never really bothered to learn the names of the cities and places that the...lower beings settled. The planning and the talking was best left to the others, his job in the whole scheme of things was to help tell them how best to take care of the enemy and since they have yet to find and identify them his skills were currently not that useful.
"Hm, that does wonder me, since I met with your group or rather people traveling together?" Quentus asks as his eyebrows raises up to question this particular thing "Nevertheless, this is a quite interesting composition. What does wonder me is why one of our friends does not speak so much, I mean that smaller minotaur there" Quentus points to Tallen "He seems quite the intelligent one but doesn't really speak much. It would be useful to have more opinions to be heard and as I see, he seem to be serving Kiri-jolith?" and with that his eyes goes through all "Any other suggestion? Or its Newsea then?"
"Newsea makes sense, I am sure these Dark Knights would choose to recruit in any port town for ease of passage of their new recruits. Plus it is a closer trip by land, if we must we can always sail to Palanthus again".
Having spent what time you needed in Solace you make your way to the New Sea. You have many miles to cross through various terrain. As you pass through the Plains of Abanisinia it begins to rain and pour. As you continue on your journey you come across a tiny village of only 4 huts. It looks like the rain is only going to increase and the shelter might be welcome.
Red Horn snorts and looks over at Quentus "Darkened male human, our friend Mittens is perhaps intelligent for your kind but he is a bit simpler in the eyes of Minotaur society. But, where he lacks in intellect he can make up for brute strength and cunning. Were it not for that, he would not have passed the trials of youth" he said finding humor in how the lower born races seem to place intelligence.
"Ah my dear friend, I have no idea who is how intelligent if I dont hear them speaking so much or taking part. You do know that silence is golden." Quentus retorts back at that as he smiles "Nevertheless, intelligence does factor many things in it but rushing all around does not amount to it" adding dryly to end
"Ah, we might as well rest here for a while. I do feel a bit wet and taking a shelter against this weather would be most welcome"
Marantis will take the opportunity, and the help of the rain for cover to scout ahead, and see what he can from the huts.
Marantis you notice that there are depressions around the hut and other areas that normal eyes would not see but yours picked up.
Jakun turns to his Raven Kossel, "Kossel, give me a bird's eye view of this village if you please..."
Jakun will stay in place waiting for the report from his trusted familiar.
The raven does a fly over and sees off in the distance, another glade so to say, there is a bonfire that cannot be seen from where you are at right now and a construct in the middle of the glade. There are a few forms around the construct.
Jakun relays the information to the group. "We should investigate before bedding down for the night".
Marantis inspects the depressions more closely trying to get a better idea of what could have made them. He will then make his way back to the group and relay that information.
"Hmm...could be that the construct made those depressions near the hut.
reflex save Marantis.
You barely avoid falling into a pit trap.