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"How long do we have until your meeting? I would like to know a little more about Joord, his means and reputation. Q'barra is generally an unknown to me, but we do have an intelligence officer here. She could get a fairly comprehensive picture of the man and his operations if we have time."
Ferez nods towards Haladon and whispers to Gil, "He seems really cheerful all of a sudden." Ezreal grunts in affirmation and adds, "He is not the Rolund you remember, down to the name. It is a long story, but the short of it is his name is Haladon and it turns out he is a Flamer- previously under a curse and false identity."
Ezreal quietly confers with Gil and Marrius, "That is a damned good question. Can you possibly make this good with the charter? Because if not, this port is burned as safe haven regardless. We can get Trinkis back if it comes to that. I have a suspicion these guys will tell us exactly how and help us do it if Gil asks them nicely enough. But I have a suspicion you never intended to lose your ship or its pilot before you ever heard from us. Am I right and how was that supposed to work?"
Ezreal looks pointedly at Marrius. "Tell me you did not bet the ship.
“As Gil says. And it is safer for everyone if we leave it at that. As I said, I will offer whatever influence I have toward a pardon and I am sure Gil would be willing to offer the same. So let us nail down the specifics and shake on it. Whereabout do you rate expenses? And I imagine you will need some time to acquire provisions for the journey. How long do you imagine?”
“My apologies. Once the scrying is in effect there is a limited window of time to make the jump. By all means, take a moment to make yourself comfortable.” Ezreal waits until Marius is ready to discuss the proposition before continuing, “I will be blunt. Forty thousand is outrageous from our point of view, however we do recognize that as passengers we carry considerable risks and your experience with us has been mixed. We are prepared to meet you in the middle, use our considerable magic to aid or improve your vessel along the route, and I am willing to scribe scrolls for your stores in exchange for only the material costs. You may imagine that I have more influence than I do with the Admiralty, but I will absolutely offer testimony on your behalf based on the aid you have given toward missions with Gil, Sir Rolund and I to identify and neutralize threats to our homeland. These are all on the table. Now we need only nail down the specifics and come to an agreement.”
"Yes. Now. And rest assured if we cannot come to terms we will leave just as quickly." Once there people are in the tent and the group joins hands, Ezreal transports the others directly to Captain Marrius.
Ezreal nods at the suggestion and uses a cantrip to forewarn the Captain. “We shall negotiate further in person. We arrive imminently.”
Ezreal studies the image for some time then looks up, confident. "He does not appear to be under duress and the map he has laid out indicates that he is entertaining the idea of our charter. Let us negotiate in person. I can transport five of us. Three will need to wait in the tent. Is anyone able to craft magical items that we might offer at material cost to bridge the gap in his asking price?"
"As I said, it will take an hour to complete the ritual. Be ready to teleport at that time. There will only be a few minutes window to decide on the situation and make the jump." The mage places a detailed tiny brass bowl on the table and sprinkles a thin layer of sand inside before lighting an incense cone inside. Curls of smoke drift up lazily through the cut away pattern on the lid. Before he begins Ezreal replies to Janosz, "I am not so sure. Marrius does not particularly like us and his past encounters have not ended well for his crew. We are asking for a destination few would consider. The simple rate of gold pieces for miles traveled may not apply here. I do trust in his discretion though and if we must shop around naming our destination to other Captains in Sharn we greatly increase our risk. It seems worth pursuing the negotiation at this point. I will reserve some portion to continue my studies but could contribute the remainder of my funds to meeting an agreeable price." The mage places his dragonshard on the table before him, holds both hands open on either side and begins a low chant...
Contact him again. "Twenty-five and Ezreal's testimony and push for pardon. Trip is one way. No need to linger or go ashore. Twenty-five word replies only."
Ezreal waves one hand in irritation, "The distance to Marrius is not an issue. We could be standing on his deck an hour from now if he agrees to have us. Contact the man and make an offer."
"No. As much as I would like to strike the monolith, doing so will alert them that we are still in Sharn and allow the chance for another attack. What little we do know about the monoliths leads me to believe they are well defended particularly against divination which they will certainly counter and must have psychic defenses prepared. I expect scrying may alert them to our presence as surely as an assault."
Ezreal observes, dark-browed, looking distracted and uncomfortable. He stands stock still in his dark navy blue pants and jacket, cut in Karrnathi military style and adorned with bits and pieces of necromantic foci. At Haladon's comment he looks irritated and breaks in, "They contain the fractured essence of your lost philosopher and strategist, Goshasanan, ally of Taratai who was thought to be lost in their original journey to Eberron. Havakhad has suggested that the elder kalashtar in Adar may have the mastery to reunite his spirit and the rulers of the five kingdoms have tasked us with doing so as soon as possible." "However, your proposal to take on the Riedran monolith does appeal to me. I am loathe to leave it functional right on the outskirts of Sharn where its effects are being felt even now. There exists a certain scenario where we return from Adar to find it fully operational and having turned the population here into vessels, or tools to be used against us and others. Ideally the leaders of the five nations would deal with them, and they plan to... through bureaucracy. I would prefer something more direct, but at the same time we are supposed to be in the wind even now."
"Sharn it is. Everyone, join hands and we are off."
Throughout the planning Ezreal was intent on that whisper in the dream that led him here. Bring the light from the dark. Clearly that referred to Lightbringer, and if the prophecy wanted him out of the Mournland... well it might take some time. Ezreal is brooding over that before his argument with Gil, but as she breaks off he turns to regard his companions before leaving. Through the gloom a pair of softly glowing green eyes his attention as they approach the others. The mage walks over to hear the introductions and the more he hears the more he begins to doubt his initial reading of the prophecy. Here was another powerful agent of the Silver Flame or the light, ready to leave the dark of the Mournland. It could be that it was never about Lightbringer who truly seemed decided to remain in the dark. "Hmm. Gil, I believe I may owe you an apology. Prophecy is a curious thing and... I was hasty and short sighted. It seems mine may yet be tangled up with you all and the khyber shards."
Surprise. I was down but not out. After checking in with Aubrey he is fine continuing with 7 so I'm back. Hey- look at that! The kalashtar finally decided to send some agents to save themselves from extinction. ;) Although to be fair I think we got the last one killed, so... good luck guys. Welcome. :) Sidenote-
The possessed warforged reaches one hand out at Darkheart's fallen form, lifts it off the ground like a rag doll and sends it hurtling at the dragon.
Ezreal slowly glides in while raining fire down on the dragon.
The warforged sniper throws his crossbow to the ground and extends one hand toward one of the fallen warforged and hurls it at Darkheart before moving around to circle the dragon.
Ezreal glides above the blighted landscape and calls down another fiery explosion on the remaining warforged and their leader. As the flames dissipate the warmage is revealed for the first time as he launches into another spell.
The warforged sniper stops and looks back to his allies while lowering his crossbow. Tendrils of shadow coalesce around him as he draws power from the blighted shadowy hellscape of the Mournland. The sniper leans forward violently ejecting a massive stream of acid from his open faceplate at another forged and their commanders.
The demon hisses in the fiery blast and darts out invisibly seeking a host. Ezreal remains invisible for the time being, but pulls deep to blast the field with necromantic lightning, which arcs out from one target to another. The mage then glides silently away from the point of origin.
Ezreal invisibly glides in closer to the conflict. While passing the shadow demon he calls out low, "Target any of their casters while avoiding my allies."
Yes. We do seem to have his attention now. Lightbringer, are you still sure your troops would not prefer to be teleported out of here? Ezreal tends to be dry at the best of times, but sarcasm seems to be growing on him.
Not yet. But you can assume we have his attention now. Be on guard.
The troops will likely rally before we can get those siege engines around or over the wall of glass spikes. We can reassess after the titan and ballista are down.
The shadow demon vanishes while another living spell canister rockets out of the ammo dump to slam into warforged titan. Ezreal remains invisible, but rises high enough to see the arcane ballista. The mage sets to work razing the siege weaponry and any soldiers near it. The battlefield erupts in an inferno to the east.
As his summoning draws to a close, shadow-like smoke coalesces into a form on the field ahead of him. Wings spread and blazing eyes open amid the darkness. Despite his invisibility, it glares directly at the wizard silently as if it can sense the force that drew it here even if it can't see it. Ezreal's disembodied voice calls out, "Beyond this wall, you will find a stockpile of steel drums. I would have you use them to destroy the giant warmachines, titan first. They should explode on impact.
"Remember, Darkheart is almost certainly here. I will use their ammo to take out any siege equipment or titans left standing. Beware of getting enveloped by any spells unleashed in the blasts."
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