Toc raises a hand when Chen says he wants it repeated and opens his mouth, about to start speaking....but then luckily Chen interrupts him. 

To Fianna, "Well, actually, we have a spot of good news there. The Baelnorn has only been here for....maybe 2 years?  That's how long ago this place crashed here into Myth Drannor, and the Baelnorn must have found it then. He certainly wasn't under the Warlock's control for all that time. As far as I can tell, it was only in the past maybe three months that...he hinted in his journal that Larloch may have started his hunt.  It seems like it was the Baelnorn's intimate connection with the Mythal...and his sudden exposure to the Mythallar that he began experiment and seemed to garner Larloch's interest. So...we're actually not that far behind, but...yes, make no mistake, we are behind....and yes, they have more forces....and they know what they're doing, whereas we...do not." 

All good things tend to end fast - like vacations, for example. And it was more of a preparation to the fight anyway (or so Mirica was telling herself to stay sharp).

During the meeting she listened intently and even with some understanding - all that intense reading paid off. When Toc finished his introduction to the situation she nodded. "More questions than thoughts so far, and a lot of them. But to answer yours first - yes, of course we are doing it, and the stakes here were known to all of us long enough to make up our minds. If Larloch is after Mythallars it does seem like the best idea is to get to them faster, though some things might be better to know before we move. Like do we know how many Mythallars he already managed to drain? And does each Mythallar contain all eight - how did you call them? 'clumps'? - all eight clumps of magic? If the Mytallar is drained completely what would happen? May be this is the way to shut them out? Can it be done?" (Spellplague simply could not be the only way to destroy these things! Nothing is indestructible!) "Say we do find all of them (though 35 - or even if it is "only" 25 it seems... problematic), we can not guard all of them. What is stopping Larloch from just following us around, waiting until we are done clearing the path and leave and then taking what he wants? It seemed he could not - or did not want to - come here himself and needed an avatar to interact with Mythallar. Who can he possess? Any creature, or does it have to be a lich?"

"Guess some answers we can find in Nhalloth, though if the city was re-discovered so long ago, is not it looted clean by now?" She asked enough but you could tell it was only the beginning - one must be prepared even to the hopeless battles (one especially to them).

Toc grabs what appears to be a small flat cracker with a slice of seared whitefish on it. Pea shoots are sprinkled atop with a small bit of some sort of sauce.  He jams the whole thing into mouth and munches down on, nodding his head in agreement with the taste. In a muffled voice he says to Chen, "Thssss isss mammmzzing..."

He finishes up the little bite and smacks his lips, shaking his head at how good it tasted.  "Right, yes, many questions. I have some answers, but don't have other answers. First, about Nhalloth, I agree, it's well known to treasure seekers. The chances it's not looted clean in the past several years is not high...but....who knows what sort of magical protections keep it safe. It's a long shot, but maybe worth checking out anyway.  Uh, just to be clear though....I don't think, even if Larloch...steals the uh....hmmm..no......" Toc wiggles his fingers around trying to find the right word.... 

Nuzej interjects, "...subverts the thread connections?" 

Toc nods in agreement, "Yes.  Even if he subverted the thread connections from all eight schools of magic from a Mythallar, it wouldn't destroy it. It would just...turn it into a big old very powerful magic artifact, instead of a....mythically powerful magic artifact. It'll certainly be less a monstrous freak of nature, and just a powerful thing instead. It may not consume any creature that touched it...as the one out there may....but...it will still REALLY sting....probably still disintegrating most creatures. You see? He's....stealing the part of their magic that....breaks the normal rules." 

He leans back against the wall, tapping his fingers on his lips as he often does, "So...we have no way of knowing how many Mythallars he's already ..subverted..., or how many he knows about. But, I'm hearing how daunting you all think this task is alone, and I've....made some inquiries, and I'll tell you now, we're not alone.  We don't have to do this all ourselves. I've been speaking to senior members in elven society from the sword coast to Semberholme. They are willing to send contingents to locations. Once we leave a location, they are willing to have high ranking members of the military forces take up station there, with strict orders and abilities to remotely, and quickly alert their superiors if something comes along. I anticipate that we will do a lot of work ourselves...and it will certainly be the case that some may be found by other groups, but protections can't be broken except by some terrible power, such as Mirica's temper....which is when we would show up. Coordinating all of this will be a massive task on it's own, and one I wouldn't leave to anyone but myself....which is why Tic will do it." 

Tic looks up with a questioning look, and then just shrugs and sits down with a glass of wine in his hand, "As you say." 

Toc nods, "Now, to your last question about Larloch. I am sure he has servants of all nature. But....as we've seen from our encounter with his central servants, the undead Aldlas, and the Lich Baelnorn, he seems to have particularly powerful sway over undead. In everything I've seen or heard, Lich are his dominion...he IS called "the first Lich".....but we would be foolish to not think he can recruit other creatures of all nature to work for him. As we've seen, he had...or continues to have Verdant Cloud doing his bidding, demons, and....even a normal Lich could have an army of other creatures working for it. Our task is not for the faint of heart. Any other questions?"

Chen raises his hand. When called on, he asks with a hint of tension: Now that you've found all this out, do you still need Ver... the dragon? 

Toc shrugs, "I don't know. She's been around a long time, she may have some hints about where to find these ancient cities...and she may know more about Larloch, they've been alive together on this world a long time." He makes a sour face, "I have a sneaking suspicion she's going to know something, and string us along with bits of information as long as she can..."

     “So no research on how to nullify these things is being done?  We’re just accepting that we need to find them and then have elves come and, more or less, claim them?” Fianna asks.  “Not saying I’ve a better idea.  Just thinking these things are all but all powerful, so much that the First Lich wants them so he can... what? Become a god? Control reality? Invent a better Kobold trap?”

     “Whatever.  But should all this power just be handed over to the elves?  They kind of lost them in the first place and created this mess, no?”

"Not them, humans". Mirica learned enough by now about Mythallars to understand the difference between them and elven creation. "Not that it matter, of course. And the question is important too - you trusted those baelnorns completely, Toc, yet, one was easily manipulated by Larloch. Even if it happened because that sad thing was a lich, you just said it yourself, he can compromise anyone. Not to mention that with the things this powerful at their grasps, would the elves be able to resist the temptation?"

"Barring the unstoppable forces of nature," Mirica narrowed her eyes at Toc - yes, she got the joke and did not find it amusing, "what can be done with Mythallars at all? Both drained (subverted?) and intact? Burying somehow that it can not be unearthed again? Sending to the Outer Planes? Or may be we have to find some incorruptible guardians, that can not be influenced no matter what?"

     "Force of Nature..." Fianna says wistfully.  "I doubt it but..."

     The half elven girl shrugs and looks to the rest of the party.  "I did it just quickly in the dragon's lair to just bring a little air into the dank place, but I could do a more intensive version.  I doubt it would work, and it wouldn't work quick...  But nature does tend to break down everything eventually.  I could spend a better part of the day casting Plant Growth on our big ball of fun and see if perhaps nature can run it's course?" Fianna offers.  "Wouldn't it be a kick if the major danger spheres of doom just needed to be well planted and watered so nature's own roots could rip them apart?"

Toc nods encouragingly, "Yes, absolutely, we should experiment with them, try to find a way to...undo them. They were created when magic was...different....but, we can certainly try. Just...guarding them for all time...seems like a poor plan. But, we should try to find them, sooner rather than later...and start securing them. It may take years....so that if we find a way to destroy them...then we can end the threat.  As for why elves...well... I know and have good sway with the elven community. I care not if elves guard them, or humans, or anyone else. Fianna, if you can recruit Fey folk to the cause, then excellent. I only mentioned elves, because...that is who I know, and I know they will help me.  So, securing them, trying find ways to destroy them, finding others who can help...which probably means some sort of...political road show...all of these things that seem important. The question is, what should we do, in what order. I also wish these books contained some insight into the locations of some other Netheril ruins, but there is little mentioned."

     "You don't want to give the Fey this kind o...." Fianna spurts, but her voice abandons her before she even realized she should shut up.

     "The offer shall be passed along to my Patron, the Archfey.  She will be most pleased to consider the request," Fianna Malloyd says in a prim and proper tone.  The voice is hers but not like what has been heard from her before.

     Fianna turns to leave.  Pauses.  Turns back and starts to say something but then reconsiders it and turns and walks out after all.  Fianna goes to the big ball of concern and just takes a deep breath and starts considering what comes next...

Russel who had been keeping himself busy preening his feathers, which looked odd considering he looked like a human at the moment. Suddenly looks at Toc and holds out a scroll case towards the elf. As he does so he states simply, “my payment for finding verdant cloud. Should help with these... mythallar. I think”

Great! They did not even begun but the thing already was of interest to several parties and was about to divide even the group. "With all due respect fey do not sound reliable in this case - their mischievous nature can turn just another "joke" into a catastrophy backed by the power of Mythallar. I actually meant something less ... politically inclined. Say, golems?" She sighed, "though they would be created and controlled by someone too. I wish we had a few sphinxes laying around."

"May be different Mythallars to different nations? Though, until we find even another one the point is mute. Right now we have Nhalloth, that is close enough and should have contain its own Mythallar. Even if looted it has to be checked and it's close enough. Besides, there were no rumors of something so powerful found there. May be we will get lucky."

"Yes, well, as you say. Fianna's ArchFey Patron....I will need to look into. I think the point is, we should think about this, and try and figure out what we all think is the best solution. Elves, Fey, human empires, both, golems. We should continue to try and research if they can be destroyed...or disabled.  And we should certainly begin finding more."  He glances at the scrolls that Russel hands him, "What's this now?"  He pulls some scrolls out that have scribbling on them.  He flips through them as everyone watches. Then he glances back up at Russel...and surprisingly, places his hand on the hilt of his rapier, while placing the scrolls down on the desk. Tic immediately responds as well, placing his hand in his pocket, and facing Russel as a threat.

Toc says, "This is information about a Netheril ruin in the desert. But...before I informed you of this information today you had no way to know we should be searching for more Netheril ruins. And yet, you had this information sourced from the Hillsfar scholars at the university. You've avoided telling us of your story, why you are here, and your motivations. Why did you know we'd be looking for Netheril ruins. Do not be brief sir, you are now being judged....it is entirely possible you are an Lich servant and this is some attempt to have us find Mythallars for the enemy...who do you work for? FIANNA? COME HERE."

(If you attempt to deceive, even by omission, please roll Deception (even if your lowest will beat Toc's insight).  Toc Insight roll:  5    Tic Insight roll:  8.) 

(Anyone else may 'judge' the Kenku's response with an insight roll as well. If Fianna returns to the room, she can as well.)

     Fianna was just beginning to consider which plants could survive and thrive so deep below the surface when she heard her name shouted.  She stopped what she was doing and hurried back.  Not ran, it didn’t sound like a life and death shout, more just a get here quickly shout...  so she walked.  Quickly.

     Getting a sense that something was up with Russel, for all eyes were on the cute little Kenku, Fianna also turned and scrutinized the bird person.

insight: 10
     “Uh oh, are they now Lessur and a bard?” She asks.

Aaand division continued. Mirica did not start the day particularly suspicious but now felt like the general mood around the table is getting into her too. Her features sharpened, eyes flashed with animal-green (Shifting).

Insight: 23

Perception: 14

(Rare time I’m glad I rolled bad. I suspect Fianna would have a soft spot for Russel anyway...)

Russel looks highly affronted and reaches quickly into his bag and pulls out... ink, paper, and a quill and begins scribbling furiously. After a few minutes he hands the paper to Toc. It reads as follows:

“My home was attacked by a Lich. Many of my people were slaughtered. When asked why, he said only Netheril and Mythal. I’ve been trying to gather information about those two things as I at the time had no idea what they were. Clearly *you* are not the only one to have noticed the an evil scheme is afoot and as *you* said moments ago... You need all the help you can get.”

Russel watches Toc and whomever else reads the note to judge their reaction to what he has written. Since he has to explain himself and his being present ... again.

Deception (min 25):33

Insight (min 23):33

Reading Toc's emotions is not particularly challenging for the Kenku. Russel sees a variety of emotions cross Toc's face. There is the initial reaction of 'well, that actually make sense', followed by a 'wait, this could still be fishy...' followed by a 'couple things still not adding up here' finishing with a 'best not let on i'm still that suspicious'.  

Toc puts on a thoughtful face, and smacks the paper against his hand, then proceeds to read it out loud to everyone. He glances up at Russel a few times as he reads it. 

As everyone listens to Toc read the paper and watch Russel's face....and find it practically impossible to read his body language or face....being a Kenku, you struggle to get any sort of read on him. If he's lying, he's not showing any clue and seems to just be standing there completely relaxed and waiting.

He then glances at the rest of the group, "Does anyone else have any questions for Russel or anything to say?" 

"We do not need all the help here - this is true. But Toc is right that the timing is quite bad, and that part about "the lich cared to answer"? Sounds off. Not to mention - why on earth would some lich attack some random home of random kenku in relation to Mythallars? (Never knew your people actually have homes, by the way) Did you knew some particular secret the lich wanted to erase? Then why there were survivers who could ask "why"? When did it happen, by the way? The attack? Because when we met you did not seem to know the words "Netheril" or "Mythallar". Not that you used the last one either." Mirica smiled encouraging. "Just curious."

Russel begins scribbling furiously again:

”Apparently our home was built on top of ruins with information about them. Presumably the Lich that attacked my people is working for Larloch. As for when the attack happened... it’s been difficult tracking time being so far from home for so long. But at least a year ago I would guess at this point.”

To Mirica’s last sentence he says, “I knew of them just not much about them.” Using borrowed voices you’ve heard around hillsfar.