Toc smiles at Nuzej, "It is excellent having you. I think, our biggest problem in the battle was being out-numbered by spell casters, and so I couldn't get a spell off. Staying close and ensuring between the three of us that we can drive home any magic and stop their counterspells....will be the most important key. If you have it, a globe of invulnerability, though immobile, will allow us to cast with impunity." 

Toc looks at Simaal with a raised eyebrow, "An interesting supposition." 

He goes and sits next to Nuzej and the two of them engage in a hushed conversation full of magical and planar theory. After the short conversation, Toc says, "I believe that we can plane shift from here. This space, though extremely special and with many interesting attributes, is ultimately an extraplanar location. We can therefore exit it, as per normal, using magic, and take us pretty much anywhere. So, as Simaal has supposed, I should be able to take us to the ice caves, where we'll have a bit of a walk, or the city itself...or at least where it last was. The magic that shifts us planes is...imprecise though.  I can not choose exactly where we will show up. It is no teleport spell. I think "within the ice caves outside Ythryn" is as close as I can get, but that may land us in some unknown spot regardless. Or we just take our chances."

Thyrius may be only speaking for himself, but he thinks it is important to lay out the costs of Simaal's proposal: "Given the uncertainty of the spell, the additional strain on Toc's resources which are best saved for the fight, and the fact that we may need to perform that 8-step ritual again if transported elsewhere, I vote for letting Mirica take us back to the same spot as before."

As was typically his want and way outside of combat, Xemnez had remained content to listen and observe the discussion, leaving the heavy lifting to his brother for the most part. Though he'd absently nod in acceptance of cases as they came along, such as the new status of Jezun & Nuzej. Tic and Toc on the other hand... that one warranted a rubbing of the eyes and some squinting it appeared before he eventually gave the new arrival an up nod.

"I am of one mind with my brother. We should take advance of Mirica's means. With good luck, none understood our means of departure well enough to expect so swift a return."

Toc shrugs, "I am good with that. Are we all agreed? Is there any other preparation we should do prior to departure?"

"If we don't want to go blind, I can pray in hope that Moninglord would send the answer whether or not our enemy is still alive - I mean Auril now. Though, the knowledge would change neither the time nor destination of our return. In any case, say the word and we can be back in Icewind Dale." Mirica looked into the morning sky and sighed, saying goodbye to the light and warmth.

"There is a chance the fight will resume as soon as we step foot in that chamber again, but there is also a good chance it won't. Last time, we had to wait for over an hour for all of those creatures to show up. I think I'll risk postponing my own preparations for a while longer as they don't tend to last for very long."

Thyrius sighs. "I may be made to regret this decision, but I'll take the risk."

 (OOC: No Heroes' Feast this time?)

(I asked if anyone wants it, but nobody answered. Let's try again - do we want Hero Feast?)

Simaal mentions "Well anything that lasts for hours will be good and welcomed. Anything that lasts for minutes it's unknown of its benefit."

Toc looks at the feast of food, then over at Mirica, "I believe a special feast is once again in order."

Thyrius nods in agreement with Simaal and Toc on the two separate topics.

"Then lest feast!" Anything to prolong their stay in the sun was good.

Max HP addition 14 (Can we count it only for Mirica?)

"For better or worse, brother, we can never be ready for everything in so unknown waters. The fact that so many had shown up one after the other was a grand spectacle of an example. Nevermind that magical living madness that stripped away so much protections." Xemnez reminded, and if close enough at the time, patted his brother on the shoulder and grinned. "And if a fancier feast is to be insisted upon, then let's feast and make merry as if it will be our last. For after everything to happen before, it may very well be this time around!"

Thyrius smiles back at Xem. Even if he is not the one cooking, the golden lion knows how to invite guests to enjoy each others companies. As the black cat sits to enjoy the magical meal, he asks: "Brother, was the magical vision I provided you useful in the fight? Would anyone else like to benefit from it? Perhaps it would make it easier for Toc to counter the mages?"

Mirica thus begins preparations.  Before long Mirica has combined ingredients off the table into a bubbling magical stew within a gem encrusted bowl. Everyone scoops a good amount into a smaller bowl and digs in.  Laughing and a sense of comraderie between these people who would otherwise be total strangers seems to grow as you sit about and almost look forward to the return to the danger. You feel invincible and any trace of fear or trepidation is gone. It almost seems as if everything that was off about the world is suddenly right. Russel, the very real dark shadow of the group had finally been revealed for an agent and even though he was quickly replaced by the dark Leonin, this Leonin was obviously bound to his brother and for all his darkness had quickly become one of the group. Jezun, and his mysterious split personality seems to have been dealt with, or at least moved along the path of being dealt with, your resident specialist of the mind helping to mend mental bridges. Toc's twin was the only new wrinkle, at least for the brothers, but he seemed quiet, polite, and deferent to the rest of the group, simply happy to help. 

Now with three powerful wizards amongst the group the sense of taking on so many Lichs or Thayan agents seemed somehow less daunting. Even Auril, for all her demi-god status, seemed like merely a distraction to the group during the battle.  The always serious elven Wizard, Toc, seems to be caught up in the energy as well, a smile dancing on his face, looking a bit out of place but not unwelcome. Perhaps upon their return any one of these enemies may prove to be more than they were, but for the moment the confidence, high spirits, and positive energy the group seemed to be feeling was exuding from everyone. 

Toc smiles at Thryius with a warm smile but shakes his head, "Thank you. It is a powerful ability. I will make due with a lesser ability for now, but thank you for the offer. Help your brother if he wishes it, he needs to be able to know the truth of things and not let any targets fool him or slink away." 

With Water Breathing, Heroes' Feast, and with Tic ritually casting a Rary's Telepathic Bond, the group was perhaps as prepared as they wished to be, not knowing what they were about to land in.  

Ready, the group exits the cabin, more to get one last look at the idyllic lake and mountains...their feet crunching on the stony shore, before one and all giving Mirica a nod.  She reaches to the rod secured on her side, and activates it. 

Everyone reappears where they were last standing, in the room with the sphere. The Mythallar continues it's lazy, off-axis rotation. Around you the room is littered with rubble. The stone chunks that are the remains of the tomb tappers are scattered about the room. The bone scattered bits of destroyed Lichs lay all near each other off to one side, though the powerful items they'd wielded are missing. The bits of bone of the other skull creature lays there.  The bodies of two Thayan wizards lay crumpled on the floor, their bodies now frozen solid and covered with a thin layer of frost. The same goes for the warriors who both lay to one side, dead. One's helm has fallen off revealing a skin with terribly pale flesh as if it had never seen the light of day. Their longsword are stuck in a death grip. Otherwise, you see no sign of the Thayan Lich, of Russel, the mullet wizard, half-orc, goliath, or tiefling. The only sign of Auril is a few spiky formations of ice that were left behind by her icy attacks. As for the strange magical storm, there is no sign of it. The chaos and unleashed magic in this place seems almost as if it never was, except for the scorch marks across the floors, and the splatters of blood from the living wounded. 

But then the keen eyes of Thyrius pick out a figure, which moves forward into the room as soon as he is noticed.  The figure is wearing black leather armor, studded with black iron spikes, underneath a black fur jacket. He has jet black hair, strung back in a ponytail. He appears to be human. He has pale white skin. Mirica and Toc recognize this person....he was there, in the Shade ruins of Nhalloth in the southern edge of the Sea of Fallen Stars. He appears to be approaching without imminent malice. 

"Oh...hello there. This Mythallar is now controlled by the New Netheril Empire, though we're happy to entertain.....allies."  He grins a smug grin. 

Slow to answer as usual, it wouldn't be until after Toc spoke his piece that Xemnez finally nodded in at least partial answer. "It made easier discerning the limits of the barrier about the Mythallar in the begining, so that I had not wasted too much time in seeking an egress... But I should not have need for it this time around. Save it instead for yourself. For with this-" He taps the bejeweled leather helmet at rest atop his head. "I can expand my senses enough to see most unexpected peril in a pinch."

With the mattered settled there as far as the golden Leonin was concerned, there'd be little else out of the him. He would patiently wait for final preparations to conclude with all the stoicism of a leonin twice his age. And when it came to the final moments before their transportation, it is not Nezmos but rather the recently found blade in hand in anticipation of an ambush on the otherside. What came about however left him yet on guard and sending to the group 'I sense only one, but there may yet be others lurking about... Another 'friend' of yours, Tic? Mirica?'

"Oh, you can be sure about that. Those "new netheresians" are like cockroaches - where is one, there are many. Biting cockroaches, though. Another threat to the world outside, though, of the military sort, not existential like our dear Larloch." She studied yet another netheresian - whoever he was in the empire's hierarchy - with the appropriate to the moment expression of disdain. "Are we supposed to believe you convinced the previous owners, some of which are still alive, to share the ownership? That is highly unlikely." The presence of Netheril here was surprising but just slightly, the impenetrable glacier ended up to be a heavily trafficked place anyway. Mirica just thought the group got rid of the netheresian spies before coming here. Oh, well. However, before even considering serious talk, there were a few questions needed to be answered.

"Toc? Would it be possible to bring now some of your elves here? Though the portals maybe?"

Thyrius nodded to show agreement with both Toc and Xemnez, but still had others to check with regarding his True Seeing offering: "Mirica, Nuzej, Simaal, or perhaps even Tic, was it? If you feel you ability to counter our enemy spellcasters would benefit from improved vision, I am happy to bestow this temporary gift onto you. Just say the word."

Then, after spotting yet another new face claiming the Mythallar, Thyrius points at the many bodies at the ground, be them human or lich. "I see you dispatched many of the other claimants and have taken possession not only on the Mythallar but their personal effects as well. Why not be thorough and throw their bodies onto the Mythallar as to be sure they are not coming back for you, especially those liches?"

Simaal pipes softly enough to be barely heard by those around him ..."With everyone speaking differently it truly reminds me of this story about a king who asked for a never heard of before musical symphony for the queen's anniversary. While the reward was so great an entire kingdom could be bought, should the band displease his queen, death would be fall them most horrifically. The temptation was too great for many, so many tried and failed and the worst met their fate in the expected unfortunate way. Months passed and the decline in attempts was noticeable. Another band showed up one day, and though the king and queen felt less and less excitement as time passed, they nonetheless welcomed them. The band set up and soon started playing. The king slapped his face with his hand for this was by far the most musical discord he's heard in his life. He was about ready to signal the hangmen with their hooked poles to drag the musicians away he glanced over at his queen and noticed tears trickling down her face. She was truly happy. So one has to wonder... is this the king or the queen."

After others pause talking. He says loudly enough for the other to hear "Should you want allies, the Ten Towns are nearby and suffering from the unnatural cold, should you reverse the weather and bring it down to normal, they will likely welcome you as allies."

There is a lot of mental chatter amidst the light responses. Regardless, before the man can respond to questions, Toc steps forward, "Dastanyar I believe? We bonded to this Mythallar before you arrived and this place is claimed by the elves of Cormanthyr." 

Dastanyar makes wide eyes, though the mocking tone to his surprise is obvious, "Oh...did you, we didn't see you around when we'd arrived and bonded to this sphere."  He glances at the bodies, "Tossing these bones into the Mythallar will do nothing to stop these beings from returning I'm afraid. You'd have to track down their Phylactery's, and find a way to destroy them....and within a ten day, or they will return. Their bond to the Mythallar at least was broken. As for ownership of the Mythallar, I'm afraid we now outnumber you four to one."  He glances at Mirica, "You are quite right though. There is the small matter of the angry demi-goddess who is yet still bonded to the sphere. She seems rather focus'd on finding someone or something in this city though. Is that you? Has your delicate diplomacy failed you? We are amiable to working together to solve this problem." 

Toc responds mentally, "I had intended to get elves here in small groups. A handful at a time, no more. I have no way to .... gate in... large numbers. This Dastanyar is a warlock and works for General Saragon. They can communicate over distance, since Dastanyar's familiar is in Nhalloth. There are obviously at least three more Shadovar around here...somewhere." 

"A handful could be enough if there are indeed only four of them here and ... Thyrius, you were talking about True Sight if I remember correctly. Could you check that man? If this is indeed flesh and blood, we might get ourselves a perfect hostage for further negotiations." Outloud she continued to talk with cold contempt ("delicate diplomacy" as shadovar put it, was not her strong suit). "It was our find and we were first to bond. The Mythallar belongs to us. But that little problem aside..." (Mirica's smile looked more like baring teeth) "I think I can see a possibility for "amiable work together". How about a collective visit to our friend Larloch? With your army? We might even convince some more friends to join us there. And after that, it would be easier to resolve less pressing issues. Like angry goddesses and old claims."

The thought about a big battle that would include all involved parties - elves, should they join, Viridian Cloud, hopefully, some forces Harpers could convince and Shadovar - was boiling in her mind for a while now. The sudden appearance of Dastanyar here just reminded of it. "I am with you on helping Ten Towns, Simaal. But first things first. With shadovar army another order is possible too, though." Added she mentally.