Julia nodded to Cirotsis. "I only ask because I've been studying them myself, they're something of a fascination. I've spent time at the Academy and the Tower looking for more information so that we might gain an edge against them."

Finest dwarves of the age indeed... Julia mused, a faint smile curling her lips.  It seemed true, though: the Legion was a bastion of duty and dedication standing in the path of destruction. How else was one supposed to adequately describe such men and women?
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 13:03, Thu 07 Mar 2013.

Dunduin keeps things mostly in order. He is anxious about making plans to help out their brethren. Although it's been a relatively short time it seems like decades ago. His conscious knaws at him continuously because the more time that passes the worst it will be for them. He understands that plans on this scale take time but that doesn't put his mind at ease.

For their hard work Dunduin gives the troops a much easier regiment for now as there is a lot less work and guarding that need to occur. However, daily role-call will still be taken.

       Arctos firmly believes that an idle Dwarf is a useless Dwarf.  Long has it been instilled
within Dwarvenkinds mind that every lifes breath should prove to be industrious and of benefit to
the whole of the community.  The Patre begins to plan out a rigid cavalry training regimine for
the Dwarven Legionaires with the assistance of Heleostars able Captain of the Horse, as well as
for the proper equine care and feeding of their mounts.  The Patre will also ask around about
procuring a stalllion warpony, as well as for several breedable warpony mares . . . with the intent of breeding equines in the near future . . .
This message was last edited by the player at 15:08, Thu 07 Mar 2013.

When Callidus arrives at Lucimburic, he has the items he found on the field appraised.

Is that so? Well what have you found?
Cirostis will eventually share the book, Signs of the Enemy, with Julia, inviting her to study it as he is. And he will show her the copy of the manifesto. He does his best to avoid anything direct about the infernal language. Being that such nasty speach in front of the lady would be embarassing.
Several of the enemies have been beaten that I know of, some do not seem to be working, at least not in the open. Mastiphal is of course in the Dwarven empire and holds sway over the Goths. But someone needs to organize all of this, to develop a strategy of how to match, or better - mismatch our forces to the enemy in such a way that is a complete surprise.

The group is gathered at their camp site in the rugged western lands of Lucimburic, and most of the troops are thinking of the city they will reach tomorrow.  It is Solstice Eve today, though.  Hopefully, Lucimburic will save some festivities for them.

Cirostis breaks out his book- it is well known.

Especially to Julia.  Cirostis's copy is a copy of a copy, the original is in the library at Basilea.


The book attracts the attention of Anakri as well.

"I have been thinking of what was said back at Beda concerning the Demon here, and one the Dwarves face," she says.  "It is quite remarkable how the prophecy given by the Dwarf priests was fulfilled almost perfectly.  The Demon Abigor had led the Hun army in a campaign agaisnt the Elves, and with the aid of the staff, turned the Elven desire for peace into a weapon, subduing the most distant Elven defenses too quickly for word to be sent. If the Dwarves hadn't been there with their fortress, exacltly where a fortress full of warlike Dwarves was not ever supposed to be...

"But now, with the Demon the Dwarves face, we must do the same thing.  We must pitch against it something Dwarves would simply not do.  Something that an opponent of the the Dwarves would think too remote a possibility to bother with.  But we can certainly not simply ask Dwarves "what would you never do" and then not do that. Still, I think this quest will be one of subtle and careful moves, healing and restoring, instead of attacking and defeating."

"And there is the curious matter of Julia appearing in this, who has devoted herself to healing.  Your timing is a gift, and... I have two questions if you would not mind.  Have you any thoughts about healing souls, and minds, and nations, rather than bodies?  Or more likely, in addition to bodies?  And second, what would you think of expunging a most terrible Demon Lord from the Dwarven Kingdom?"

Haakon grinned at Tawna and said, "We know things Dwarves would never do, don't we?"  He winked, "Perhaps we should tell somebody how valuable wereweasels are."

Julia frowned in concentration.

"I dont know what you mean; is there something more I can do than treating injuries and fixing your soup?"

"What else do the prophecies say about the coming conflict? If it has followed exactly to this point it stands to reason that it might happen again." Callidus says, taking a seat beside Anakri.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:22, Sun 10 Mar 2013.

"The elves are a critical part of saving the dwarves and using force of combat is not the solution. Exact details were not divulged as is often the case with these types of prophecies."

"You have a presence here," the Elf noblewoman says to Julia.  "You... reach people.  That is obvious."  Anakri nods in the direction of the the pavillion the troops set up for Julia.  Gnomes could probably use it for a circus tent.  A pair of Dwarves are working on decorative terraced landscaping.  They seem to realize that perhaps they are carrying things a bit too far, and suddenly quite, running off somewhere.

"Even Dwarves," Anakri continues.  "And we all know how difficult..."  The Elf pauses, looks around, sees the Dwarves listening, and decides not to continue with train of thought.  "But from what we know, that, along with talents for healing, and, ah... soup... might be what is needed.  This will not be resolved with shining armor and a mighty sword.  I am getting ahead of things, though.  This should be brought up with the others, back at Lucimburic.  There, the quest against the Dwarves' Demon will be decided.  But I can't put it out of my mind that you would be of value there.  As I said, it is about healing souls, there."

Dunduin has an advantage over Anakri in this matter.  He was actually there for the "prophecy".  He knows that it was less a prophecy than a "divine suggestion"; since the Demons had carefully crafted their plans over eons, anticipating precisely the strategies, strengths and weaknesses of their targets, the solution lay in switching things up, making each Demon face things it had not planned for- Dwarves solving the Elven problem, and now, others helping the Dwarves, with strategies Dwarves would not themselves use.

Something occur to Anakri.  "Mastiphal... Demon of discord and distrust... Peace, and healing.  Exactly the opposite of his Infernal throne."

meanwhile, Tawna and Haakon catch a part of it, and discuss among themselves...

"You mean we should talk them into hiring us?"  Tawna says.  "But the... we were going to... hmm.... I suppose we could.  My brother Wylshir would be in, if the price was right.  And Randolph would have been great at this... but Randolph... poor Randolph.  We have a score to settle with Demons, you know. Randloph and Wigzam would still be with us if it wasn't for that Demon, getting us all hooked into its scheme.  Yeah, I think I would help."

Julia nodded to the elven noblewoman.

"I thank you for saying so, and if you've any ideas, I'm happy to help.  Just let me know what I can do."

Haakon frowned.  "You would talk me out of it if I was being crazy though?  What am I saying, I am being crazy but I guess we need to do it anyway. Let's talk to your people first though.  I want to meet them now and let them know my intentions toward you."

He grinned sloppily and then said, "Maybe I do get to slay demons after all."

       Growing tired of sleeping atop wooden kegs within the confines of his Dwarven supply
wagon, the dour Dwarven Patre ambles over to and finds an out of the way cot within 'Julia's
Pavillion', and decides to nap for a few hours in order to sate his wearying wounds ~~ armored
and all.

       Afterwards Arctos shall amble over to where the Dwarven war ponies have been stabled,
so as to begin his plans of carrying out a training program for Dwarven Cavalry under the
guidance of the 'Captain of the Horse' . . .
This message was last edited by the player at 15:31, Mon 11 Mar 2013.

Cirostis watches the discussion, feeling no desire to interrupt. It feels good to see them volunteering to come to their aid.
He starts thinking about the logistics of return, now in the winter - yes it is cold, but - they won't be at war, if there are wagons the troops could be dressed in warm furs and stay to the roads- they can have a shelter with wagons and ample fire wood, or one wizard might do them some good, who could - with magic, help keep them warm enough - they could be home In a month or less.

Anakri doesn't know yet what strategy would work against Mastiphal.  In fact, speaking to her, Julia realizes she knows more about Demons than the Elf woman does.


Anakri has gone as far as she can without taking it up at Lucimburic.  The elves have always been an aloof people, but the past season of battle has taught her the value of alliance- the Humans, Elves, and Lycanthropes... and presumably others... bring things the Elves do not have, and the whole is greater than the some of the parts.

"It is the future of things," she says.  "In Lucimburic, a daughter of one of our noble houses will wed the Frankish king, and that will tie our peoples together in a way that has never been done before.  It is a new country, the future, and I am hopeful for it."

The group is camped for the night in the wilderness of Lucimburic, northeast of the city.  It is Solstice eve.  A tranquil and cold night with clear skies and bright stars.  In the warmth of cities, people are spending this night with feasts and wine, and friends and family.  Here there are the fires of the camps, and the little tents.

But in the morning, the troops pack up, and they are full of excitement- today is Solstice Day, and they will finally get a chance to relax- Lucimburic city is a half day's journey ahead.

A thought occurred to her, and Julia looked around uncomfortably. Catching the glances of both Anakri and Cirostis, she spoke.

"I wonder if I could have a moment with you two; there is something id like to discuss related to the Demon and the upcoming decision, but iIwould rather not do so here."

Cirostis spends the evening with the troops, laughing and dreaming about the next victory, remembering their lost brethren with humorous tales that both lampoon and exalt. The it is fitting to tell stories over the long night and to keep friends and their memories warm.

*******

To Julia:
Sure thing lady, at your service they wander off to the command tent, which is likely empty as there are no plans to be made.

I'm going to leave this thread open for continuation of the conversation, but we're going to do a little time skipping to get everyone together.  Assume the conversation is a flashback!

On the day of the winter solstice, everyone arrives back in Lucimburic.  There is cheering, chaos and pomp with the arrival.  Texxor dismisses the Lucimburic troops, and others set up their respective camps.

  The Solstice is an important holiday everywhere, even here, although the Lycanthropes consider the Lunar New Year a more important occasion, as their goddess, Diana, is a moon goddess.

Still, all the shops are closed on the Solstice Day.  This seems mostly because the city needs a rest.  Day after day of noise and festivity...and it will start right up again when the solstice is over, and go on for at least a week.  Everyone needs a day off.

Even the characters.  They spend the rest of the day resting.

The Elves settle in a camp along the slope on the south side of the city.  The Dwarves set up camp in a military practice field in the main Lucimburic fortress, on a promontory overlooking the river, reachable from a causeway near the palace.

(If needed, both will get sub threads)

There is a lot of reuniting.  A lot of people are here.  Assume all the characters have a chance to meet and greet whoever is here.  You can handle individual conversations with PM's. If you want a specific subthread for something you wish to do, let me know.  A lot of the "characters get their next missions" stuff is going to happen here.

Julia regarded Cirostis and Anakri.

Cirostis speaks with the lady and the elf in his straightforward and simple style, he keeps nothing hidden.

Julia frowned.

The Dwarf considers what the lady says ... Obviously she is not just a pretty face.

Julia nodded to the dwarf.

Callidus enjoys the festivities and takes part in the revel. "What is a Festival without fun?" he thinks.