"Nothing to apologize for, Beloc. It's only natural for tensions to run a little high, considering all that's happened. Now then, let me get you up to speed".

Sylas recaps Beloc on the details and offers that were extended to Sypher, and by proxy, Shiaran.

Beloc nods. "That's quite a proposal, but first, I have a couple questions."

He looks over to Sylas. "When we first boarded the Widow, we found Oro severely beaten to the point he could barely carry himself. Can you tell me who was responsible for that?" Next, he looks to the rest of the officers. "I noticed Oro and Gazra's pods were recovered, yet we haven't seen neither hide nor hair of them. Where have they disappeared to?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:50, Fri 31 Mar 2017.

Sylas turn's somber. "I take full responsibility for Oro's condition. I took absolutely no pleasure in the act, but I needed two things to happen. Oro was snatched up by one of the gargoyles, as part of my plan. However, true to his nature, he's a fighter. Not all of that blood you saw on the floor was his. He took down four acolytes before the heavies and Ruprict subdued him. The second portion, is that on my return to the Widow, everything had to seamlessly flow as it normally would. I did rough him up some, but only in show. Truth is he was pretty well deflated by the time I got there, but even in his state he managed to stand to try and face me anyway. It would have been completely out of the character of Sylas Be'al to allow insolence from a prisoner. And with Ruprict acting as Gheevorah's eyes, well, that wouldn't have went well for me getting Oro out of there if I was discovered too early. To answer your other question, Oro and Gazra are safe. They've been transferred to a discrete location, where they'll receive medical care and have a chat with some brass that's a decade overdue. I know they won't tell everything they know, it's just how they are, but there are still things we can learn from them that will help up all. Rest assured that above all, like you and your present company, Oro and Gazra aren't prisoners".

"So, Oro and Gazra believed you to be a turncoat and weren't aware that you were eight years deep in a undercover operation?"

"That is correct. The unfortunate nature of the position I found myself in was that I couldn't afford friends like that. All in all, I did more to sabotage the Bleeding Palm than help them. Little did those two know, on numerous times I was the one who left bread crumb trails to follow. On the day Gheevorah lured them in to her trap, what they didn't tell you, what they couldn't have known, is that the trap was supposed to kill them. I may have managed to smudge a few lines of the spell circle before I ran out of time. I knew what they were there to steal. I in my own way made sure they found out".

Beloc takes a moment to absorb what Sylas has said and then nods quietly. "I believe you."

He looks over to Sypher and Sylas. "Who else is expected to be a part of this team?"

"Shiaran."
This message was last updated by the player at 16:03, Wed 25 Apr 2018.

Everyone else in the room whips their heads over towards the door. It's standing wide open. The Marine bard wears a goofy grin on his face. "Admirals, gentlemen, this is my friend Shiaran. I believe you wanted to see her".

Sylas looks at the marine, his bushy mustache twitching. It isn't clear if he's trying not to laugh, or trying not to explode.

"Well then, come on in. We wanted to speak with you as well, but I suppose secret meeting rooms don't fair well against talented and "charming" magi, do they?".

Shiaran wears her leathers again and is geared up in everything but visible weapons.  She ignores Sylas and goes over to Beloc.  After a brief pause, she puts her palms together and bows low.  "My words to you at dinner were cruel and unprovoked.  You have my sincerest apologies."

A range of expressions cross Beloc's face as Shiaran enters the room and speaks. From a grimace of displeasure, to unexpected curiosity, to finally one of acceptance. "It takes a person of substance to say something like that. Thank you."

With the apology accepted, she stands upright again and turns to the Admiral.  "Alright chief.  What's the plan to take out that witch?"

"We travel to the foot hills of the Shattered Top mountain range, on the Western edge of the Argonette Forest, where a Spectral Fault is suspected to be. From there, I will close it, shutting down yet another potential source of our enemy's power".

The wood elf Beloc spoke with earlier now stands in the door, let in by the still charmed marine. He gives a quick salute to the admirals as he enters. Sylas' mustache quivers again. This time a smirk underneath it.

"Ah, Beloc. I had hoped you to be a part of this. Sorry for the cloak and dagger routine earlier. Protocol is protocol though. And who might these fine looking humans be? The.. younger of the four, of course".

Beloc smiles and nods. "Major. No need to apologize. Information like that is best kept close to the vest."

Sypher gives the newcomer a slight bow.  "I am Sypherion Whiteraven.  Monk of the Order of Rei, Paladin and follower of Iehova God.  Most just call me Sypher."

Shiaran looks the newcomer over and her lips purse in a pout.  She strides confidently over to the major and holds out a hand to shake.  "Shiaran.  Pleasure to meet you."  She gives him her second best smile.  Her voice is feminine, but confident and not filled with the usual coyness she uses on her cast-offs.

Kallium shakes Shiaran's hand. "Pleased to meet you as well" he says cheerfully.

Sylas and Driggs speak amongst themselves while Kallium has his meet and greet with everyone.

Once all the formalities are through, Driggs speaks up. "If everyone will excuse me, I have some other matters to attend. Sylas here will be in charge of this operation as a point of contact, and will be available for questions and supply requisition come morning time. I'd like to thank each of you for your intended service, for your time, and for your willingness to put your lives on the line for our great country and her people. It takes an iron stomach and mithril back bone to be willing to step up in to this mess. Were I a younger man I'd be chomping at the bit to come along".

"Now that we're all friends, let's talk about what we're up against, shall we?"

Driggs exits the room

Kallium addresses Beloc's inquiry. "Yes. I don't know if you were told yet, but you are currently situated in the south eastern region of Fildegarne. To our north is your and my homeland, the Argonette Forest. Between us and there are small pockets of Bleeding Palm irregulars. The mobile and mechanized infantry units of the Fildegarian Army have most of them pinned down. The unfortunate draw back is that they themselves are also at an impasse. Networks of trenches on either side, and our artillery munitions running low are the primary cause of that. There are routes through of course, and we'll be taking one. It isn't without its share of risk, but we should manage. The primary objective of our team is to locate and seal off the Spectral Faults; that much you already know. Your individual jobs will vary, depending on our situation. First and foremost, help me stay alive. I am capable of teaching others how to close the faults, but the magics that must be weaved are complex. The time for tutelage isn't on our side at this point, because as you also may have heard, our front line scouts are showing numerous locations where the PCA are gathering en masse. They mean to make one final push, and if they succeed, they'll have reduced our held territories down to a mere twenty-five percent of the country, with many of us being drove to the seas and cornered. What we do have in our favor, is that the enemy knows they can't get by on mortal troops alone. The undead have been the backbone of their armies for the past decade, and they need the Spectral Faults to maintain that endless supply of troops. What's more, when we closed the fault in thr Argonette, not only did we cap off one of their supplies... something else happened. Those stolen souls, it was almost as if the tethers anchoring them to the husks they were bound to were broken. Scores and scores of undead simply ceased to function. The stronger ones were reduced down to their more basic forms, but the likes of the common troops dropped where they stood".

Kallium pauses for a moment and takes a drink from his canteen.

"Our first target, is the capitol. Fildegarne Walled City. It's been a bastion of hope for our forces since the start of this. About three weeks ago, we lost contact. What we did glean from the reports coming out of the city indicated a likely Spectral Fault. Provided that the city hasn't been breached, we'll be in luck. If Fildegarne should fall though, our monarch and royal family goes with it. It will be one of the biggest black eyes they PCA can give us. Furthermore, it gives them an incredibly fortified base of operations to rebuild and re-center their armies. I suppose it goes without saying just how much we can't have any of that. That is why I need the three of you. Our hold in the Argonette Forest connects to lands held by savages. The only good thing about this war for us elves is that it put a hold on the "aggressions" the Firewyrm Clan and the Canopy Shapers were having. The barbarian tribes hold no true allegiance to the crown, as they're allowed to self govern, but they're wise enough to understand the enemy of their enemy is their friend.  Should they let us pass through their lands, we'll be at the eastern foot hills of the Shattered Top mountain range. From there we can choose to go over the mountains, or beneath them. We haven't had contact with the dwarves under the mountain in around four years if I'm recalling correctly, so I can't say for certain if they are alive and well hunkering in their holes, or if they managed to seal themselves into a tomb. We'll have to make that decision when we get there. Getting in to the actual city of Fildegarne will be a task of its own, but we cannot cross that bridge until we get to it. Now then, I'm sure you're all brimming with questions, fire away".

"Why us?"  Shiaran's question is casual, but below the surface there is a cauldron of suspicion and something more.  She leans back in the comfortable meeting chair at the head of the table and examines her fingernails as if the answer to the question is trivial, a mere curiosity.  "Sypher and I are barely out of the monastery.  We were back from our first major trip to the main continent.  While there we heard stories of great heroes, powerful men and women, and even met one.  Has word not been sent to them?  Surely this threat would affect them eventually and they would see that cutting off the Bloody Noses now would save them even more effort in the future.  I don't now about Beloc's skill - that tree her wears is certainly powerful - but if I were Academy trained, I'd barely have graduated from my apprenticeship."

She looks up, leans forward with her elbows on the table, hands folded in front of her face under her chin.  "So.  Why us?  Are you so desperate for champions here in Fildegarne that you rob the hero cradle?"

"Shiaran."  There is warning in Sypher's tone, a firm 'back off'.  "I have already volunteered to help however I may."

Shiaran raises and eyebrow at Sypher.  "Of course you did brother.  The eternal champion and martyr for Iehova and the forces of good with no thought to the costs and consequences."  She shakes her head and folds her arms flat on the table.  "Look, I'm not saying I won't go, but this situation sounds waaaay above our pay grade.  I don't want to be bait or cannon fodder in some misdirection while the real action is elsewhere.  I just want to know what I'm getting into, all cards on the table."  Her look goes from nonchalant to deadly.  "And if you're lying, you'll be lucky if I just am not there one morning."

Sylas takes a seat directly across from Shiaran. "You want me to validate choosing you? Fine. We don't have some heroes emporium that we can just send a carrier pigeon to and mail order some muscle bound lunkhead. Those heroes you've all heard your fairy tales about? The ones who aren't elderly by now are out there on the front lines, leading their own teams of men. They take the fight to the enemy daily. The live and die with their men if need be. Extracting them isn't an option". Sylas cracks his knuckles. "Look, if you're wanting to hear some "chosen one" destiny hocus pocus, you're fresh out of luck. I've personally witnessed they way you all operate, and it isn't like soldiers. And to answer your question about cannon fodder, I think my record on the aft of that ship you were on speaks for itself. I don't deal in treating people under my command as pawns. Every life is valuable, and has a purpose. I chose you all because I have faith in you. You selflessly boarded an enemy vessel, without any real training or tools, to recover someone who you barely knew, and to take the fight to an enemy. That's the guts of ten soldiers each bound up in you all. And don't think I didn't get the hint that you, Miss Shiaran, wanted something a bit more than to just lend a hand. You help get these infernal faults closed down and I'll have you sitting behind the wheel of the biggest gunship you could imagine, full crew under your command. The bottom line is that I'm willing to trust you all with this, but you're going to have to trust me on my word as well. I want my homeland back, not just for me, not just for you. I want it back for the wife who thinks her husband is a turncoat. I want it back for the two children who were told "daddy died and isn't coming home". Everyone has a role to play in this war, whether as an active combatant or a bystander. Every single piece of this puzzle counts, because without them, the puzzle isn't complete. That's why I picked you. I've been in command of other people's lives for 20 years now, not counting our stasis, and I can see the potential in people. You have that potential. You, your brother, and Beloc are those pieces that make this section of the puzzle complete".

Sylas drains the remainder of his whiskey glass.

"Your...family?  I-I didn't know.  I'm sorry."  Tears well up in her eyes and she gently wipes them with a slender finger.  Her voice is quiet, small.  "I'm in."  She leans back in her chair, arms folded around herself like a hug as she listens in silence.

Sypher finally sits in a chair.  The tension melts out of him.  He pats Shiaran on the shoulder in a show of solidarity but turns his full attention to Sylas.

Beloc's eyes dart back and forth between Shiaran and Sypher. "Siblings. That explains alot.", he thinks to himself.

"I haven't exactly agreed to this suicide mission either, but if it's my time to return to the earth, then I can't imagine a better cause. The ley lines, while forces of nature in their own right, are being desecrated by this foul necromancy. If you have a way to seal them off, then I will be glad to help you. I served as a soldier back home, as well as personal guard to the leader of the Canopy Shapers. As long as there is breath in me, you will close those faults."

He takes a breath. "As for questions. Assuming the Firewyrm allow us safe passage, how long of a journey to the foothills? If the dwarves have sealed themselves off, what sort of enemy presence is there going over the mountains?"