There was a sterner look upon her face when Moto and Balen tried to make some bond upon her to not use the Crown. "I have heard your wise words and took them all in consideration. she paused and looked at the two that was trying to make such a oath upon her. "That is not acceptable. then she stole around the table "If anyone else has any issues like out two Arcane casters please speak up now so that it can be dealt with before the mission starts.

It was a shocker to her that the two who would place such an oath/bond upon her was the ones that practice the Arcane.  She gave a slight smile as she looked at the rest of her guest.

"Yes Ash I the item is upon the Lich's head from what I was told.  If Qudy information was correct then they are no more than 10 miles away from here in a abandon temple hidden in the side of the mountain. she paused "I believe there will be a lot of underground traveling so those that are not blessed to see in the dark may need aid in this matter.

Giving a slight sad expression "I can not tell you much about him but I do know more about the corrupted dragon.  Seraphim was its name when it was alive.  I don't know if it changed when it took on a new form of Undead life. pausing for a moment "It was I who defeated her when she was mortal and thought her to be dead.  This is all a surprise to know that she has been keeping safe with a Lich Lord.

Qudy asks "I do hope you have something to aid vision, I have no real way to see in darkness. I possess neither an elf's low light vision nor a dwarf's darkvision. It will be very hard to find the traps if I'm unable to use my vision."

A woman walk forth, slowly and deliberately, towards the table. She is without a doubt the most beautiful creature anyone has seen. She is filled with life and looks different for each individual that gazes upon her. But regardless of looks, she is dressed in the same cloth for all. Gothic attire, skin white as snow, and hair black as night. She is Death, and her visage is based on the beliefs of one's culture. To Lady Q she is the First Drow, to the humans an angel, Balen sees the first Fae, Qudy sees a mixture of entities but entities as one... To the Lich she is no she but an IT with no sex and he feels overwhelming aura of good and evil.... IT is still the most beautiful thing Moto has ever seen. Although, everyone present has seen her or IT before...She is Endless and hasn't aged a day in every aspect since anyone's first encounter with her.

"My favorite customers. Ooooooh, how I've longed for the day when my scissors cut your threads and I finally, and lovingly, take you where you are destined to go after life." She smiles childishly, but with the charm of a Madam. "What dangerous affairs do you happen upon this time?" She asks playfully. Her faces lightens and her smile more sinister..."Wait, don't tell me! I'll guess." She claps gleefully. "You're going to go do something stupid for something not worth one's life? That's it isn't it? I love guessing games..." She snaps her fingers and everyone's favorite drink and food appears before them. "On the house..."

OOC: No skill checks or magic will work on Death. Any result will just be whatever the players want to know but not necessarily true. For who in the world has actual viable knowledge on Death? Nobody. And all present know as much. But she will talk to ANYONE about almost ANYTHING. Unless sacred/profane laws prevent her from doing so.

Lady Quar'ssysn don't say a word yet but looks at the newest being who walked up to the table and started running her mouth on stuff that don't concern her.

"Why have you left your Domains to come to the Material world?  Surely you have other threads to manage.

In reply to Lady Quar'ssysn (msg # 40):

Death just smiles. "I do. I manage them all at once for I am EVERYWHERE!" she lifts her arms for added effect, "and nowhere." She says the last two words with somber as she lowers her arms. "However, just like the servants of the Silver City and the slaves of Dis, I always show up personally for the souls of the Special."

When Kane saw the Angel walk through the door he could immediately sense that she was something altogether different and not joining the group assembled.  When she began talking it was confirmed of course.  Kane had seen her before, not in this form but another, long ago, and he knew then as he does now that what they were about to undertake was something that each and every one of them may not return from in the same manner as they left.

It was okay for Kane though for he had walked along this path many times before and he was getting old.  When his favorite food and drink appeared before him Kane smiled and took up the goblet of white liquor.  Raising it up into the air he said, To death and the game of cheating it.  May we play the game well.

Ash looked upon the face of death, "Been a while, and it will be a while longer I suspect."  He then posed the question he needed answering, "So, are you interested in telling me anything about the Lich Lord that wears the Naga Crown and has an undead cohort silver dragon?  I do hope that is enough information so you know who I'm talking about."  When in his home domain he appreciated such frank questions and he was hopeful that Death would be so kind as to offer a response.

A goblet of gold, encrusted with diamonds, appears in her hand. She toasts with Sebastian Kane and drinks.




She smiles at Ash, "I would be happy to answer if Lady Quar'ssysn allows it. For I would hate to take away her moment." She looks, lovingly, to Lady Q.

Moto returned the stern look with indifference. “I can agree to not have first pick. We can negotiate who takes what, if and when that happens. We can have even shares...yet, I will not hand someone a weapon of great power, to have it then be used against me. Balen's suggestion to add 'in unprovoked aggression' should be enough. If you will not swear to that, your motives are clear. We are at an impasse....If you will not swear, we have nothing further to discuss.”  In a way, Moto almost preferred leaving without an agreement. He was now free and unbound, as he could negotiate with this group or the Lich Lord down the road. He would have to keep an eye on them and see how things turned out.

Moto stood up and was about to leave then Death came wanting. The one thing he feared most, so badly that he tore his soul out and hid it away. The rest of the group faded in importance as Moto gazed at Death in awe. He almost wished to ask about his wife and her soul. Would he ever see her again? Deep in his empty, rotted heart he knew the answer. Giving Death a nod of respect, Moto slowly walked towards the door, not wishing to teleport in Death's presence.

Lady Quar'ssysn thought it was a risk to invite a Lich to the circle for the hunt but she also knew that he would have the most to tell about best to defeat a Lich Lord,  But risk are taken sometimes and they do pay off but it seemed that this one wasn't one of them.  Moto was a Power Hungry Lich and now he knew her course of action and was he going to be a risk to share what they plan to the Lich Lord.  Her eyes looked him up and down as he turned to leave.  She wasn't going to stop him but she had ways of watching him.

Kane wasn't quite sure what the man who was about to leave was talking about, so Kane just asked, as he was never known for his tact.  You, might I ask why anyone of us would use any item against you?  Is there a reason why one of us would use any item against you?  Kane called to the back of the man while not moving nor advancing or showing any aggression towards the man about to leave.

Lady Quar'ssysn looked at Death and she had no idea what she was scheming in her wicked mind.  Looking to Ash then to Death "If you are able to appease ones questions, you are not bond by my creed. she gave Death a wicked smile.  She was an Elf and her lifespan was much longer and Death would be waiting a long time for hers.

She gives a curtsy. The smile fades from her face, the tavern trembles and she disappears. The lighting flickered but restored to its rightful state with the space of breath. Within the the single beat of the heart she returns. The smile is once again upon her face. "Sorry for the interruption. Something important came up. However, I've returned." She curtsy's again. "Now then, I take it you held your meeting in my tavern for lost souls to prevent any sort of spying? Well then, let me assure you nothing can spy on you in here." She sits upon a throne that appears, too elegant for a mortal monarch. "Yes, so you are after Seraphim, the Silver Dragon? Once proud and noble now she rots in Ithslyndr's castle. I believe she is more powerful than before. Ithslyndr is backed by a powerful Monarch. Whom, I cannot say. Not that I don't know, I simply cannot say. The Monarch is......out of this world..." She takes another sip from her goblet and her legs flutter about.

Lady Quar'ssysn knows best not to make any sudden deals with Death for she can always contort it to her liking. Something her people had to discover the hard way.

"Well this is interesting to discover.  The inn is in your Domain but also within your Domain resides this Lich Lord and his pet.  And you allow it to be. she smiled.  "I'm sure your scissors and the threads of all the minions they been creating have dulled the tips.

Looking her directly "What is it you want? No games for I don't have the time to play with you right now.

Balen had toasted along with Death and Kane when it was proposed.

He nodded his head at her as if seeing an old friend, "m'lady."

It was more respect than that he'd shown to Lady Q even when he arrived, though still curt and less than Death deserved.

"It has been a long time since we last met. I hope all that I've done and prepared for that eventuality will mean that it is still a long time yet beyond this before we meet for the final time." he said with a smile.

He turned to Lady Quar'ssysn, "I don't care too much about the oath, though I'm unsure why you're so set against it. It is at the end of the day, not a binding magical contract, just simple words. My suggestion was just trying to give language that would satisfy Moto's request and yet also give you free rein to use the crown and your forces against anyone in defense of yourself and your realm."

"Qudy, if you need aid seeing in the darkness, I can help you with that. Do you sleep? There will be some time where the enchantment won't help you."

Balen sat still on his floating disk of force, the stones that circled his head faded from view, anyone with the ability to see things invisible could still see them though, so they were not gone, merely invisble.

Ash laughed at Moto’s posturing. It was soft with a bit of gravel in it. Not something overly boisterous.

She looked at Balen "My words have meaning and honor.

Moto paused at Kane's question. "I would ask why you are not worried about betrayal. Let the fools laugh as they may. As to the great lady of elven kind, I know your words hold weight, which is why I asked for them. The fact you won't, even when asking us for help speaks volumes."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:24, Thu 05 Mar 2020.

"I know they have meaning and honor, which is why Moto is asking for them." Balen replied. "They're still just words"

"Look, I'm not your enemy here. I think the oath is a healthy thing that we would all respect because your words have meaning and honor. But I'm not planning to walk out the door if you don't give one."

He looked at the others, "for my part, I vow that I won't use anything that may come into my possession from this endeavor against any of you in acts of preemptive or unsolicited aggression."

"See? Easy. I'd like to move past this and see what we can do as a group to learn more of our enemy before we engage hi... it. I don't have much in the way of divinations prepare today though I could potentially help with that tomorrow to a degree."

Qudy had listened back and forth to the banter, and posturing. It was somewhat amusing to him that these people were posturing. He himself didn't like oaths, they were limiting and in his travels the majority of people only kept oaths so long as it benefited them. There were exceptions for example Paladins and the like, but the average individual no matter of what make or deposition typically only kept oaths as long as it benefited them. Thus oaths were mostly meaningless.

He though thought he'd have some amusement with the others assembled "Should not the others also take oaths not to act against her or the others gathered here now and in the future as well?"

Her eyes fall upon Moto “I do want to thank you for your good will in showing up on such short notice. I do hope that the sensitive information shares here will remain that and not be shared with any. taking a glance at all present There is a lot of lives placed in my care

In reply to Lady Quar'ssysn (msg # 57):

Moto look dispassionately at the elven lady before walking out. Once out he teleported home.

OOC: I would like to hang out on my own thread for a little bit if possible. If not, I guess I'm out. I wish all of you luck with the adventure. My character should not have to agree to an unfair arrangment just to advance the story. Nor should he. That said I would like to stick around in my own little thread for a while. GM, just let me know over PM. Cheers everyone. Good roleplay.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 00:53, Fri 06 Mar 2020.

Qudy looks as Moto teleports away.

"Well I guess he didn't want to give an oath such as he suggested. I mean oaths are only as good as the person who takes them. So what is our plan folks. We still have this crown to find. I guess everyone else is in. Hopefully Moto changes his mind later as the Lady thought his talents were needed, hopefully in time for that part. I do have low light vision through an item and I have a ioun stone long burned out but with continual flame on it that should help with lighting" he says after Moto disappears.

Balen had looked briefly at Moto's form as it ported away and shrugged his shoulders. He nodded at Qudy's comment but didn't make one of his own.

"Light gives you away," Balen replied. "I can let you see in the dark like a dwarf or other creature accustomed to dark caves for many hours a day. No color though, so if that is an issue with your trap finding and such, then you should keep your lights handy."

"As to our plan, I would ask what information do we have on this Lich's lair or stronghold? Have we captured any of his servants to find a layout of the location or locations? Has any effort been made to use arcane or prying eyes or such divinations to spy out the locale? Or Scrying of any level?"

"None of us have survived this long going into a situation blind... at least I would think."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:14, Fri 06 Mar 2020.

Turning to Balen "I must admit that he has wards up to prevent that from happening or maybe its his powerful Monarch that placed them there but they are powerful. she added.  "The mission is very dangerous for I have not been able to take one of his minions. she paused and looked Balen in the eyes "I have heard that a Lich Lord is capable of seeing through the eyes of his minions.  Now if I took one I surely wouldn't want him to know who I am or where I'm attacking from.