PeaceKeepers of Northmorrah

The bard and the spider continue their conversation through the last leg of the journey, keeping somewhat to themselves as Gewyn probes the old ward of the Fae land of winter for information connected to his destiny. The group as they approach are headed off by a patrol of griffon riders wearing shenohan garb. Hector flinches a little, his time being a wanted man working on stealing resources for the shattered isle seems to have built a bit of muscle memory into him as his vampiric claws momentarily show as the guard approaches. They fly along side you all and identify the group for who you are, the djiini having at least the forethought to have warned of your return.

As you are escorted to the hall of the elders upon the mount of the shattered isle, you find that the meeting of the djiin is still going on. Upon the table, Daudi has conjured small tangible shadows to act as pieces on the war table. Hector embraces Serafina. Ginro and Duun look somewhat saddened by your return. Kohso is asleep on a pile of two Xorns who are also snoring away in stark contrast to Akiin who stands by the table looking like he has never felt tired in his life. Vinghov, Sol, and Shenoh are all leaning in the table going over tactics and plans for more efficiency and minimal losses. Everyone quiets as you all enter.

Surprised to see the meeting still going on, Elthana enters, but walks to the side a bit, letting the others go before her.  She doesn't feel she should be the one to report anything as she feels there is always a shadow over her, always disbelief lingering around her and her words.  She looks to Ginro, the one she almost murdered and immediately looks to the floor.  She can't help but feel ashamed and helpless all over again.  She so misses being in control, the way she had led her entire life.  Sighing, she waits for another to start the conversation.

Vin steps into the hall, and looks around. He notes the shadow-pieces, the sleeping Xorns, and the sadness in Ginro and Duun. He assumes due to the lack of their brother Gojiin in the returning party.

As Elthana moves to the side, he keeps his focus forward as he leads the massive fae spider into the room.

"The meeting is still going, I see," he says, gesturing toward the silken bundle the giant spider carries. "We have Wren Cloudhop. And this is Lady Urchin, of the Fae. If you're looking for an edge against the frost, perhaps she is it in the absence of your brother, Gojiin. I am afraid his madness proved fatal. I am truly sorry for your loss", he says, his voice tinged with empathy mixed with pragmatism.

He waits to see whether the others will add more, or for the response from the room. Beside him, Neferox moves to his flank, her embers-bright eyes fixed on the Djinn.

Urchin makes use of the large doors of the mount made for Ömertyr to comfortably walk through. The assembled leaders look up with a mix of confusion and awe as the giant spider enters and crawled up to the ceiling to make sure everyone still has enough room around the table. "I am here to assist" comes the clacking greeting from the maw of the ice spider. 

"Good, we're gonna need all the help we can get" Shenoh responds, not looking up all too much from the war table.

Ginro steps forward to the group with a compassionate look on his face, "we thank you for doing what you could for our brother, we felt his presence a few hours ago and knew he had gone. This will make the plan a little more difficult but it also gives us another reason to succeed... Once Ömertyr has passed the rune of vox onto Lumithor, then we may be able to bring the latent spirit of Gojiin back. It won't be him, not like we knew him, but it will be a djiin of the elemental spirit and they will be our sibling." 

Elthana listens to Ginro, and appreciates his matter of factness.  Yes, his brother is no longer, but then again... everyone seems to lose someone at some point.  Life is like that.  Her thoughts start tumbling down as she waits for the rest.  She takes glances at Urchin.. she can't help it, the giant spider almost commands it.

"He was frozen with grief it seemed...We did what we could. Apologies to you all for your loss. Where he ruled is chaos now....groups fighting for control....What plan have you come up with while we were checking on your brother?"

"we have" Shenoh states drawing everyone's attention to the war table. She closes a book she has had out and clears it to give a better view. Glancing warily at Elthana for a long moment before starting "Sol will spearhead the first wave and shine radiant light upon the undead guarding the spires. We are hoping this will draw attention so that us djiin can do our jobs in lowering the shield, once the shield is down we engage ground troops first from a distance we have 30 hafgufa that clerics will bless the waters of and duun monks to force it upon the enemy. This should weaken a great swathe of them."

At this point Daudi speaks up her rasping tone vibrating through the crystal room "I have convened with the raven and they are willing to forgo offerings at cost to the selves in order to bless such vast quantities. But gods being as they are, a price must be paid."

Shenoh sighs and presses on, "Once that is done we engage on their level. We have several group leaders who we are hoping can be taught to cast a radiant light spell. They will illuminate specific areas and make the undead less resilient.

Whilst this is happening you all enter the castle. Daudi and Ömertyr will accompany you, and once the djiin are finished with the spires half will help outside, the others will enter.

Once Nivara is dead we withdraw all troops. Without the lich holding their souls we hope that their commands will leave them and they will become listless, a problem to be dealt with once we have rested our troops and cremated our dead. Speaking of such things this battle is going to happen far away from anywhere that we can take our injured for treatment. This is an issue we need to address. 

Either way we need a three day minimum to prepare everything. We have the rocks and a Spier for your travel as well as Mori's wyvern for Elthana. You should all rest before we launch. Get your own preparations and affairs in order" Shenoh leans back off the table and looks to the group. Urchin chitters eagerly above but says nothing, waiting for the response or some direction of her own.

Vin listened to the plan, his eyes tracking the movements on the war table. It was a solid skeleton of a strategy, though the meat on those bones looked a bit lean in places.

"The bones of it are good", he said, his voice neutral. "But Daudi - about this 'price' for the Raven Queen. I’ve found that they rarely give anything without an angle of their own. What is this price and when is it to be paid?".

He glanced toward Shenoh. "As for the injured, if we can't move them, we bring the healing to them. We should designate a rally point, somewhere protected by Sol’s light or some other anti-undead magic. Even if it has to be atop a Hafgufa or something. If that is any way possible".

He straightened himself, a faint, determined spark in his eyes. "Three days to prepare, a lifetime to wait. And remember we have the sending stones to co-ordinate once the battle commences. We go for the throat, we kill the Lich, and we end this. Simple enough... in theory".

Muir listens to the plan...seems sound enough...what could go wrong besides everything. "We have to be nimble and able to change tactics on the fly. Who knows what preparations Nivara is making. These sending stones will come in handy. Each tactical leader should have one to coordinate. In the meantime, over the next 3 days is there something we can do to aid in your preparations?

"bones is right" shenoh answers a little abruptly, "but bones is all we can plan for when so many variables are at play, with a general framework we can more easily adapt whilst remaining steadfast to the things we know will work, you're right, communication will be key, which is why those who we cannot communicate with in the heat of battle need to rely upon these bones."

At the point of discussion about the medical need, the chittering above seems to speed up, excited. "I could make a faerie circle, it acts like a gate of sorts. Weave a web between two points. How close together are these spires that you speak of?" 

Daudi doesn't answer when vin asks about the price, shenoh sighs a little in frustration and Duun steps forward placing a hand on her shoulder before addressing the group. "The price is yet to be worked out but we have made sure none of our people will be on the hook for it." 

Gewyn perks up at the mention of the faerie. So many mysteries yet to unravel about how his kind works. He hopes he'll the opportunity to witness it in action. Or is he just trying to distract himself from the impending battle? He's not the same as he used to be, but... he still can't deny the creeping anxiety he feels in anticipation.

Vin’s eyes narrowed as Duun spoke. The phrasing "none of our people" stood out like an alarm bell. He cast a quick, protective glance toward the hellhound at his side and his other companions.

"None of your people", he repeated, his voice dropping a register. "An interesting phrasing. I’ll keep that distinction in mind when the bill comes due", he added with a short, humourless sigh.

Leaning over the table to look at the distance between the spires, he muses, "The faerie circle is a strong play. If we can extract the wounded instantly, they are at least of being turned. Same goes for the bodies of the fallen I suppose". He turns to Lady Urchin, "If you weave this web, how easy is it for something unintended from the other side to crawl through it? I’d hate to give the Nivara or her minions a back door into our rally point".

He straightened, his mind already moving to the next three days. "As for preparation, I don't intend to sit idle. We need to scout - perhaps with the crystal ball again. We need to know if she is moving her pieces or fortifying the spires. Three days is a long time for a Lich to get creative".

"you and yours are included in that. Though I'm not guaranteeing your survival since you're heading off the lich." Duun states stoic in response to Vin's concerns.

Urchin twists her head in curiosity, "rally point? Hmm. I do not know. I was going to open a warren hole into Harpy Hare's burrow. If she is still alive after all this time she will protect the wounded..." 

With the meeting down to the vague details which won't become solid until the actual day, the general planning seems to be over, with kohso and the Xorns still snoring in the corner, Sol excuses himself and leaves, going to begin his preparations with the death clerics of the shattered isles. 

Shenoh also begins packing her things, again flashing an odd book that Elthana recognises before making for the door. 

Ginro looks to Vin, "you guys are our spearhead, let us handle reconnaissance, you all need to be on top form and are at a disadvantage with this time dilation thing. I would offer to do the same as I did last time with the orb but I am going to need use of it in the coming days. I'm sorry."

Griff looks to Elthana and ushers her to one side wanting a bit of a private conversation.

Muir tries to temper Vin's eagerness "I agree Vin that sitting idly may not be a good use of time but we need all that time to be fully rested...We need a full 32 hours in order to ebat full speed....We cannot be tired going into this."

"It has not been long since my last rest, Muir. I will be fine after a few hours, I am sure", Vin replies with a shrug. "I didn't exert myself that much looking for Gojiin. Neither did Neferox", he explains.

"Survival was always a bonus, Duun. At least we don't have to worry abut what happens if do happen to walk away from this, though. So thanks", he says with dry humour, giving Neferox a brief, grounding pat on the head.

He looks over at Ginro, acknowledging the news about the orb with a short nod. "I don't intend to sit idle, Ginro. Once we've had our few hours of down time, Neferox and I will want to be useful. So what can we do?", he asks, genuinely not sure what he can do to be of greatest assistance.

"If you have no ideas, I will give the crystal ball a try, but I am not the closest to Nivara so it might be best for someone else to drive that", he adds.

Muir nods "Indeed I just worry if you exert yourself too much, you won't be your full self for the fight...But alas you know your abilities and such better than I. Just try not to overdo it."

Elthana stays quiet as the conversation wanes, but walks over to Griff as he motions for her.

Vin considers Muir's words for a moment, realising that although right now he felt fine, the battle was not happening right now. And if in two days time he started to tire, he would not have the luxury of enough time to rest.

"You make a good point, Muir. I don't want to get to the start of the battle and start to yawn, I guess", he replies with a smile.

With that, he determines to take rest the same as the others.

As Elthana gets into conversation with Griff, Ginro gives the group a nod, "three days from now is when we attack. That's 72 hours. Only 36 of them you need to be resting. I'll be on my isle seeing to enchantments and potions during that time of you need me, but you four and the other djiin have free access to my teleportation gates" With that Ginro readies to leave and Duun steps forward offering in his deep and precise voice "I'll facilitate as much as I can before you rest. What do you all need to prepare?"