"Fighting alone tends to be foolish, but you are with The Sun, Moon, Shadow, and Mind. Being respectful of other's when you do not know the full extent of their powers is idiotic."
He pauses for a moment.
"And considering the three youngest of our group have... powerful bloodlines, I do not think you should underestimate them."
Something flashes in Arielle's eyes. "You overestimate yourself," she said flatly and turned her attention away from Erus.
She whispers something into her cupped hands before setting it free.
Aidan, Oroth, LK (Tristan too but he seems a bit busy now) ** spoiler omitted **
Aidan, Oroth, and LK smile and nod.
"Fight alone tends to be foolish, but you are with The Sun, Moon, Shadow, and Mind. Being respectful of other's when you do not know the full extent of their powers is idiotic."
He pauses for a moment.
"And considering the three youngest of our group have... powerful bloodlines, I do not think you should underestimate them."
Erus sighs and turns to Oroth. "Do you jest? The girl took out an entire troop! Admittedly, most of them were inexperienced, but there were three very powerful mages there. I do not underestimate her, not in the least. I underestimate none of you. But your problem is that you underestimate the Servants."
"Do you wish to prove we underestimate you? I'm sure we can arrange a sparring match after this is over. Wouldn't you like challenge the former Champion of Fire?"
"Do you wish to prove we underestimate you? I'm sure we can arrange a sparring match after this is over. Wouldn't you like challenge the former Champion of Fire?"
Erus sighs. "Unfortunately, my orders are to leave immediately after target is annihilated or captured. I don't have time to play."
"Some other time then."
"Some other time then."
"There will be no other time, I can assure you of that." Erus says icily. "They won't want a repeat of what happened today."
After listening to both sides go at it, Devlyn raises his voice.
"ENOUGH."
"Look - I think we can agree that there aren't going to be any long-standing friendships built out of this alliance (at least at this rate), but if we're going to work together to stop Zhalail, we need to actually work together and stop taking pot shots at each other when we clearly have something more important to accomplish. If neither side can do that - if we can't put enough trust in place to watch each others' backs until this is finished - then we need to split up right now and hit these guys from different angles so we each at least have a chance to take some advantage of the chaos Solmyr here caused them. Can we agree on that? Yes or no?"
After listening to both sides go at it, Devlyn raises his voice.
"ENOUGH."
"Look - I think we can agree that there aren't going to be any long-standing friendships built out of this alliance (at least at this rate), but if we're going to work together to stop Zhalail, we need to actually work together and stop taking pot shots at each other when we clearly have something more important to accomplish. If neither side can do that - if we can't put enough trust in place to watch each others' backs until this is finished - then we need to split up right now and hit these guys from different angles so we each at least have a chance to take some advantage of the chaos Solmyr here caused them. Can we agree on that? Yes or no?"
"Very well. But if you ever expected any friendship to form of this, then the Goddess's servants are more delusional than we thought.
"Very well. But if you ever expected any friendship to form of this, then the Goddess's servants are more delusional than we thought.
"I'm cursed with eternal optimism, Erusin. Be careful - hang around me long enough, and it might rub off," he says with a sly grin.
"Very well. But if you ever expected any friendship to form of this, then the Goddess's servants are more delusional than we thought.
Aidans rolls his as he thinks to himself "And there he goes degrading us again. Jerk."
"Fine by me Devlyn."
He walks back the chariot and begins muttering to Brightwing, who seems to snort and agree with whatever he is saying.
"Placing Tristan on the ground, he turns a stern gaze at the gnome and the other assembled heroes.
"Tristan is not out of danger yet, and to you, pointing at the gnome, the threat of Decca is greater on a scale than you can grasp. You think Zhalail is operating a simple cult? Sadly, you are misinformed."
He kneels and grasps his staff.
"If you have any questions regarding Tristan, Decca, myself, and the gemstones, yes gemstones, now is the time to ask them."
"Not that I don't appreciate the offer, but is right here the best place to have a lengthy conversation? Or did you already kill every living thing in there?" Devlyn asks, pointing to the flaming ruin that all around them in the streets.
"Let's go then! The longer we talk, the less time we have to get to Tristan's gem. Come on Tristan, Arielle, let's go."
He makes another wolf for Tristan and waits for him to hop on it.
"Placing Tristan on the ground, he turns a stern gaze at the gnome and the other assembled heroes.
"Tristan is not out of danger yet, and to you, pointing at the gnome, the threat of Decca is greater on a scale than you can grasp. You think Zhalail is operating a simple cult? Sadly, you are misinformed."
"Um, no, we don't. You are misinformed about our knowledge base." Erus shrugs.
I haven't flaunted my power unprovoked since I withdrew from the main plot.
"Let's go then! The longer we talk, the less time we have to get to Tristan's gem. Come on Tristan, Arielle, let's go."
He makes another wolf for Tristan and waits for him to hop on it.
::Kiba. Wait. Let's hear what my uncle has to say.::
"Um, no, we don't. You are misinformed about our knowledge base." Erus shrugs.
Your knowledge base, this is not a cult your fighting, but something larger. Do you think your servants have a clue or even a shred of evidence. Tell me puppet, what do you know?
"Um, no, we don't. You are misinformed about our knowledge base." Erus shrugs.Your knowledge base, this is not a cult your fighting, but something larger. Do you think your servants have a clue or even a shred of evidence. Tell me puppet, what do you know?
Devlyn starts looking around for the bad guys' reinforcements to start showing up.
Corona sits atop a building, kicking her feet and watching the cookie-man fidget down on the street below.
"Really, you'd think he'd just move on already. Such a sad thing to be missing the pain and suffering when it is so close by."
Corona sits atop a building, kicking her feet and watching the cookie-man fidget down on the street below.
"Really, you'd think he'd just move on already. Such a sad thing to be missing the pain and suffering when it is so close by."
"Um, no, we don't. You are misinformed about our knowledge base." Erus shrugs.Your knowledge base, this is not a cult your fighting, but something larger. Do you think your servants have a clue or even a shred of evidence. Tell me puppet, what do you know?
Erus frowns. "What we know is this: the demon has a very large organization. It threatens the balance of the Board. Ergo, we have decided to exterminate it." However, some of his men seem surprised by his answer.
Aidan and Oroth begin to listen to and watch Erusin more closely...
Erus frowns. "What we know is this: the demon has a very large organization. It threatens the balance of the Board. Ergo, we have decided to exterminate it." However, some of his men seem surprised by his answer.
Decca is not the only one. There are five working in an alliance. And its not the Board they threaten. What and who, I do not know.
Decca is not the only one. There are five working in an alliance. And its not the Board they threaten. What and who, I do not know.
Erus frowns. "What we know is this: the demon has a very large organization. It threatens the balance of the Board. Ergo, we have decided to exterminate it." However, some of his men seem surprised by his answer.
Erus shakes his head at Solmyr. "This time, you are the ignorant one. Whenever there is danger in the land, whenever the safety of innocents is threatened...the Board is threatened. And The Servants will be there."
"Not that I don't appreciate the offer, but is right here the best place to have a lengthy conversation? Or did you already kill every living thing in there?" Devlyn asks, pointing to the flaming ruin that all around them in the streets.
Turning his attention away from the gnome, he turns to Devlyn again.
I've made an example of Zhalail's minions and I'm afraid I've tipped my hand in anger. The owner of the warehouse will soon inform his clients. Where do you suggest?
Turning his attention away from the gnome, he turns to Devlyn again.
I've made an example of Zhalail's minions and I'm afraid I've tipped my hand in anger. The owner of the warehouse will soon inform his clients. Where do you suggest?
We can either go to the Inn of the Golden Sands, or maybe the Blue Antelope, since it's closer (but a little less clean). I've got a contact in the mercenary community who's keeping her eyes out for unusual 'activities' - if anything else is going on since you started your attack, she might be a better source than the Watch now, as some of them seem to have been compromised by Zhalail's minions."
Turning his attention away from the gnome, he turns to Devlyn again.
I've made an example of Zhalail's minions and I'm afraid I've tipped my hand in anger. The owner of the warehouse will soon inform his clients. Where do you suggest?
We can either go to the Inn of the Golden Sands, or maybe the Blue Antelope, since it's closer (but a little less clean). I've got a contact in the mercenary community who's keeping her eyes out for unusual 'activities' - if anything else is going on since you started your attack, she might be a better source than the Watch now, as some of them seem to have been compromised by Zhalail's minions."
We can either go to the Inn of the Golden Sands, or maybe the Blue Antelope, since it's closer (but a little less clean). I've got a contact in the mercenary community who's keeping her eyes out for unusual 'activities' - if anything else is going on since you started your attack, she might be a better source than the Watch now, as some of them seem to have been compromised by Zhalail's minions."
"I'm for the Golden Sands. It's a better neighborhood and I can keep an eye out for unnecessary entanglements. Also, I need a large table."
"I'm for the Golden Sands. It's a better neighborhood and I can keep an eye out for unnecessary entanglements. Also, I need a large table."
"No problem. Let's go before we have any more unscheduled entanglements."
The group makes its way to the Inn of the Golden Sands. Devlyn gets a private dining room for them to use.
"No problem. Let's go before we have any more unscheduled entanglements."
The group makes its way to the Inn of the Golden Sands. Devlyn gets a private dining room for them to use.
Once inside, Solmyr gestures his hands in the ways of the arcane. Tiny motes of magic leap from his fingers. They replicate exponentially and scatter in all directions. They impregnant themselves in the walls, windows, floor, ceiling and doors, like rain in exposed wood. In a light show envious of a starry night, they sink and merge in everything, then flicker away.
"Tristan, I'll teach you that spell someday. Now where was I?"
"Be at ease. I've warded the area against scrying magics and telepathic invasions. Any attempt to ease-drop on our conversations will be redirected towards the local privy. Now, if you have questions, please feel free to ask."
With that, he gestures into the cuff of his thick wizardly robes and brings forth six flat golden disks, each bears a sigil of some sort. They float towards the table and lay themselve out in a pattern of a six pointed star.
Suddenly, Erus goes rigid. "Excuse me for a moment?" He mutters. "Telepathic message."
We're calling you back. The dragon is invading.
You have said that many times. I have seen reason to believe that Decca and her allies are a threat.
And you are right. But they are more powerful than we anticipated.
So are these people. We need men on this!
I am sorry, but we can't spare anybody. Give them the sword, if you must. The replica, please. But you have to come.
Erus sighs. "I have to go. I am ordered back." He pulls out a sword from his pack. "I am orders to loan you this. It is a lesser artifact of significant power. It is highly effective against demons, devils, and daemons, or any evil outsider." He hands it to Devlyn. "Use it well, shadowdancer." He signals to his troop, and they all start teleporting out. "Oh, by the way..." He calls back. "You had better return it when you are finished with it. Otherwise, it's theft, and we would really have to open hostilities. That would be bad." He vanishes.