The Summit Road Campaign Thread

"Y-You said the in-in-information on the Elan will b-b-be at a dr-drop in the c-c-city. W-Will w-w-we h-have an-any other c-c-contacts, c-c-codes, p-p-people w-we can tr-trust?" Taran asks, "A-And wh-what o-ther th-threats sh-should we w-w-watch out for? Th-There is a l-l-local Inspired at the P-Port, c-c-correct?"

Ishhareths nods. "The drop will be carried out by a team that will leave the area immediately, you'll never see them. This is a solo mission for your team, the information is the only additional support you'll be receiving from us once you arrive in Dar Mirn. Diamond knows more about the city itself."

Diamond nods. "Dar Mirn's Eidolon, or leader, is an Inspired named Katesh. There are also Chosen and Inspired throughout most of the city's administration. You may have to evade them, depending on where 8925's body is. Don't draw attention to yourselves, and they likely won't pay any attention to you - elitism at work."

Taran nods and files away the information.

Then he looks around the room, and starts nervously sweating and fidgeting.

"U-Um, Tr-Trailblazer Ish-Ishahareth, s-s-sir, um, i-i-i-i-if that i-is th-the end of th-th-the br-briefing, w-w-we, w-w-well, w-w-w-we w-w-w-ere hoping you c-c-c-could aid us w-w-w-with s-s-s-something?" Taran powers through, keeping his eyes on the ground. "M-M-Miss R-R-River w-w-was tr-tr-trying some m-m-m-m-mind space th-thing, and sh-she w-w-w-was h-having tr-trouble c-c-c-connecting t-t-to Es-Es-Esteemed V-Vishal, c-c-c-could you h-h-help, um, pl-please?"

Ishhareth nibbles his lip. "I'm not particularly psychically skilled," he admits with a faint smile. "My talents run more along the lines of infiltration and investigation."

"Oh hey Murephan, is that the thing you did when you told me to leave you alone a couple days ago?" Kelki asks innocently. "I thought I overheard someone saying something about a mindscape through the crystal."

Murephan heaves a sigh. "Yes, Kelki. And when I tell you to give me time alone to focus, that doesn't mean you should sneak back and eavesdrop on my conversations."

"Yes, sir," Kelki says irreverently before turning to Taran. The dromite is grinning. "Murephan would be delighted to assist you," she says cheerfully.

Taran bows quickly, a little too tongue tied and terrified to say anything in response. Asking the Trailblazer was one thing, but... He started breathing deeply... Quickly. 

Caelius puts a hand on Taran’s shoulder, steading the boy.

Vishal grins and says, "Perfect. Just a quick thing please. I'm sure we all have places to go." Eager to see this minds cape thing in action so maybe he'd have an idea of how works for the future in case River wants to do it again. 

"I am sorry...Murephan...Thought I could do it...Myself...Can't yet...Want to tell everyone...What happened...No more...Lies."

Druhdaar says nothing but his eyes rove slowly between everyone present. As he focuses on River he lingers on the kenku a moment too long for comfort... then gives her an imperceptible nod.

"Yeah, yeah," Murephan grumbles. "Not like I had anything better to do."

"By which he means he's happy to help," Kelki says cheerfully before sitting up suddenly. "Oooh! Can I come? Pleasepleaseplease? I've never seen a mindscape! It'll be a good learning opportunity!"

"No," Murephan says flatly. 

Kelki gives him big pleading eyes, which look a little weird on the dromite. "But you're always talking about how it's important to learn when we can and this wouldn't be dangerous but it would be a good experience and pleeeeeease?"

Murephan crosses his arms. "It's private to them. No. I'll show you how it's done later."

Kelki sighs and flops back in her chair. "Fiiiiiiiiiiine."

Murephan rolls his eyes and nods at Ishhareth and Diamond. "You two kids can go now, I think. Diamond, Teysa wants a word with Naray later, if you've got time."

Diamond nods, a slightly amused smile on his lips. "Dinner?"

"Sure," Murephan says with a shrug. Kelki opens her mouth, and he fixes her with a glare. "No, you cannot come. No, you cannot threaten me with setting things on fire instead. No, you cannot try to eavesdrop. I'm giving you to Luunkashtai for the evening, she'll keep you occupied." Kelki closes her mouth, looking petulant for about two second before her grin returns.

River drops her head and cowers at Murephan's response.

Taran's thoughts skitter around like frightened insects before settling on a detail. 

"Y-You c-c-can t-take all of u-us? E-even if w-we d-don't h-have an-any m-magic or t-talent?"

“Taran you have talent. Stop selling yourself short.” Vishal then smiles and his eyes flash blue for a moment as he sends something to Kelki. 

"Yes, I can take everyone, even people who actually have no talent and didn't make it through the extremely rigorous process to become a member of the Road and then complete four successful missions in a row," Murephan says pointedly.

Kelki rolls her eyes. "By which he means yeah, he can take you, and he agrees with Vishal that you should stop selling yourself short," she says cheerfully before winking at Vishal.

“See Taran. Murephan says you’re talented and a good member of the Road.” Vishal tells him while giving him a gently pat on the back with one hand and giving River a head pat with the other. “Now let’s go see what our little armored friend wants to show us. I’m feeling good today and I’m ready for this mission.” Vishal replies with a grin as his eyes flash blue again.

The world slows to a crawl as Taran tries to remember how to breathe

Caelius reapplies his hand to Taran’s shoulder.

River doesn't react to the head pat from Vishal in any way, which is odd for the little Kenku. Instead, she keeps cowering with her eyes on her feet, kicking the dust on the floor nervously.

Murephan sighs and sits at the head of the table. "All right, Vishal, right? You and River are helping with this. Makes a world of difference if there's already a connection for me to build on, and River's done it before. Kelki," he adds as the dromite opens her mouth. "You can watch from the outside, but I'm not bringing you into an unstable mindscape with half a dozen other people when fire is what's on your mind sixty percent of the time. It's going to complicated enough keeping this together, neither Teysa nor I need to play psychic fire extinguisher too."

"It's fifty five percent at the most" Kelki objects, although she does subside. But not without a snarky, "But whatever you say, oh great and noble mentor."

Murephan grunts and turns his attention to the group. "Right, Vishal, link with River. Then I'll link with you, and River, you'll help me make the mindscape the same way you helped Chanaakar few days ago. Oh, and no acts of creation, just talking," he adds briefly. "This is a lot of minds to hold in limbo, and I'm no Speaker. I rely more on the sheer mental power of a quori then finesse and craft for this kind of thing."

“This might be easier in a meditation chamber but I guess we’re doing it here.” Vishal says, some concern showing as River didn’t react to the head pats like he thought he would. Taking a deep breath he allows his mind to open and establishes a telepathic psychic connection to River.