Grauthis the Griever
Log Info
- Title: Grauthis the Grievor
- Emitter: Seldan
- Characters: Seldan, Aya, Cryosanthia, Sabina, Sophia, Braelnoir, Serene
- Place: The Absent Dragon, Newden, North of Alexandria
- Time: Friday, March 26, 2021, 8:03 PM
- Summary: Seldan and associates gather in the Absent Dragon to discuss what they have discovered about Grauthis the Grievor, aka Giggles the Gnoll. Some of their members are missing, Merek in jail on unrelated issues, Mikilos perhaps occupied on another plane, Iskandar having not been seen since he left for Charn. They share their findings with each other, which largely, are that they will have to go further afield. Charn is actively hiring mercenaries, there is turmoil and many houses are changing position in regards to influence. Sneaky, back channels are being destroyed in favour of open subservience. In part, this is why Akoniril has taken refuge in Alexandria. A few suggestions are floated, around reasons for innocuously going to Charn. Serene and Cryo indicate an unwillingness to do so, being notorious for various reasons of profession and race. Sabina suggests a refugee camp, and that might give Giggles a reason to focus there, instead of on others. No clear plan is decided, and everyone breaks up.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing, in Order =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Seldan 5'11" 187 Lb Human Male Ginger-blonde human in armor wearing Eluna's symbol. Aya 4'7" 105 Lb Shadow Elf Female Mul'niessa. Braided hair. Simple clothing. Cryosanthia 6'9" 291 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman. Sabina 5'4" 130 Lb Human Female Tsuran woman of dark hair and green eyes Sophia 5'7" 145 Lb Human Female Althean Cleric and Slayer of Boshter's Father Braelnoir 5'11" 146 Lb Human Female A tall, pale Acanian woman, branded in silver. Serene 6'2" 175 Lb Eldanar/Charn Female Glacier meets granite meets strawberries. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= As the GM =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Whirlpool 5'0" Otyugh I am stinky! -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
A light rain falls from a grey sky. It's cool and there's a mild wind from the east.
The appointed inn is some distance from Alexandria proper, but is a quiet little place, and Seldan has purchased a keg of ale and reserved the common room for the evening. He now awaits other arrivals, sitting at one of the tables and drumming his fingers on the wooden surface.
Aya can be called many things, and punctual is likely one of the more generally positive options. She enters the establishment directly, makes a brief survey of the room, and approaches the seated Seldan. The lack of random diners and/or drinkers makes him both conspicuous and the chance of interruptions far less.
One of the expected travelers appear, a whitescaled sith'makar woman, who slips in through the door, greets the proprietor, then makes her way to the common room. She's alone, her backpack looks a little heavier than usual, and she keeps glancing behind herself.
She takes one of the short benches and pulls it over to the table, and sits, her tail dangling off the end, her forearms folded on her table's surface. "Peace on your AH! Ah... this one was expecting you, Aya. Nests."
"I mean, um hi."
Sabina arrives with familiar on her shoulder. Not exactly inconspicuous but generally she's not the type to skulk about...until she is. She nods to those already present and steps closer, giving Cryo a one armed brief hug. "Greetings to you all."
Sophia steps into the inn, cloak drawn over her head to avoid notice. Eldanar tend to draw attention regardless, but on the bright side, she's aware of it and wanting this to be somewhat discrete as she moves towards the table. She flashes a slight smile to the group, saying, "Althea's peace be with you, and good evening." With that, she takes a seat, letting the hood of her cloak fall back to reveal her silver-blonde hair.
The reality is that much like Sophia, as an Eldanar, Seldan will never not be conspicuous, and so the idea of him being conspicuous does not appear to trouble him in the slightest. He tries, but it never works. "Fair evening to you all, and I am grateful to all of you for making the journey so far, but I thought it prudent to seek a place unknown to those within the city. "
Aya dips her chin to the whitescale, then Seldan, "And on yours. I am all for prudence. That seems to be even more necessary of late than normal." She takes a seat at the table before looking to the others entering. Another chair is pushed out with a foot towards Cryosanthia and rotated.
Cryo moves to the chair, leaning on the back of it, "Thanks." She folds her arms across the back, then rests her chin on them. She exhales, "The ride was nice, this is glad to be outside."
"So...Giggles... this one... has no news about him, rr her."
Sabina grins at Seldan, "I am hoping with you that we were good enough at getting out of the city without issues of notice. I am interested in gaining understanding in what we've uncovered." She sits in a chair and relocates Emp to her lap, careful of his feathers.
Another far flung soul arrives, shrouded in a long cloak of dusky earth tones and matching surcoat devoid of heraldry. She gives a soft, "H'lo." to the innkeeper, and ventures toward the gathering.
Brae has few qualms about being inconspicuous, the means are usually lacking, however.
Her sleeves help.
She closes to the bunch and lifts a hand to wave with a, "H'lo, luvs!"
Cryo raises a hand, waves at Braelnoir, patting the bench near her. "This one has red a lot of the Crimson Pen. Sadly, while entertaining, there wasn't any hidden meanings this one could come up with."
She exhales, reaches for an empty stein and fills it from the keg. She passes that to Braelnoir, then fills one for herself, "My library research was less interesting, but also fruitless. The hagiographers haven't written anything relevant, there might be other scholars or books..."
"... but they're likely in Charn."
"No, Giggles," a small smile from Seldan at the name, "has proven difficult to learn more of." He colors at the mention of the Crimson Pen, again. "I have learned naught of either the artifact itself, or its wielder. I had thought to seek knowledge of where it might have been found, and events of local significance at the time."
Aya lifts a hand in greeting to Baraelnoir then looks between those already seated. "I learned very little from Charn directly. However, there was a great deal to learn of events from what was left unsaid. There is more context for Akorinil's visit, and the recent purging of the Charneth underworld."
After a brief pause, she resumes, "As Taara is one to help others who help themselves, Her presence in the shadow guilds is strong. The same fate is befalling the Taarans, and they are, quite frankly, terrified."
Sophia frowns slightly at the mention of Charn, "Enemy of my enemy, perhaps? Not that I think Charn could be trusted any further than I could throw them, but..." She shrugs a bit, glancing around at the group. "Situations like this can make for strange partnerships."
A paladin is never late, nor are they early... at least Serene's expression upon entering the small inn might suggest she believes so. She briefly removes her cloak to give it a small shake before tying it back about her shoulders, giving her time to identify and recognize the small group meeting at the nearby table. So, of course, she approaches it.
"Is she now.. A part of the underworld. Well that's certianly interesting." Bina muses and puts head apon chin, elbow resting apon the table. "I'll have to ask her about that. Oh.. She said to tell you hello, Seldan." ,Bina says.
Braelnoir swings herself into the bench next to Cryo, "M'contacts finally come back with somethin'." She rolls a shoulder, then, "Contacts in th'Stride, an a few other companies are murmurin' about Charn contracts comin' up." There's a glance about the company, then, "Lots of'm, but they're playin close ta th'chest, guys done work for'm, before. Ashcloaks, Frostmantles an' the like. Ports o'call in a few o'their colonies, couple'n the Inmost sea, couple elsewhere." She eases forward to rest her elbows on her knees and spreads her hands, "All I can get without stickin' m'neck out ta ask direct."
Cryo pours a mug of ale for Sabina, and pushes it towards her. She follows up with another for Serene, then Sophia. Old server habits die hard. "Do you want something to drink Aya? Or would you prefer to pour it yourself?"
She listens attentively as Braelnoir speaks, nodding. "Mmm."
Seldan's eyebrows go up as Serene enters, his expression says that he had not been expecting his fellow paladin. "Did she now? Please send her my regards, should you encounter her again. Serene, a fine thing to see you here. Are you familiar with our topic?" His voice is carefully neutral.
Aya holds up a hand to Cryo to decline as she listens. "No, thank you." To Sabina, she adds, "She has always been so, if only because many who follow her tend to be apt at illicit businesses. Theft, assassinations, racketeering, politics..."
Serene shakes her head to Seldan's query about her presence even as she accepts the offered mug from Cryo, though she doesn't lift it to her lips and she hesitations to assume a place at the table. "I am not. I felt to simply exercise the ages old paladin tradition of placing my nose where some might say it does not belong."
'Bina chuckles and nods thanks to Cryo. "So she's powerful as well as powerful. This is good to know. I was being careful before but I'll be even more so going forward." She picks up the cup that's been offered to her and sips. Idle hand stroking Emp's feathered head.
Sophia hrms, "Is that why I do it, then Serene? I know my sister would claim it just comes naturally, honestly." She quirks a faint smile over at the paladin, giving her a slight nod as she seems a bit more at ease by Serene's presence.
"At the moment," Aya clarifies to Sabina, "Taara seems to be on the decline, at least in Charn. Perhaps soon to be routed, even. I can only assume that is why Akorinil came to make the city aware of the problem; they were already losing. From what I've learned, most, if not all have a simple choice: fall in to support the one gaining power and be rewarded richly, or be destroyed and their holdings taken. I doubt that ...someone's hate or greed will end with Charn."
She reconsiders the offer of drink and now pours herself a cup. "In more pleasant news, it seems that House Ropstoavae continues to do what they do well: influence from behind those in power." A sip. "Should enough of them fail to survive while still in favor, I might have claim to some manner of inheritance."
"Giggles the Gnoll and her Glorious Glaive, with her hideous hyena hordes, now hiring." Cryo says, glancing in Braelnoir's direction, then Serene's, "Heading for the Raven Lord's lands, possibly. Someone threw a stick and said 'fetch', for all this one knows."
The whitescale exhales, takes a sip of her ale, "this one has run out of good ideas of what to try next. Mikilos is writing a Spring Equinox update letter, to his family, reminding them of the importance of annual maintenance on adventuring gear, and that it's best done now."
Braelnoir looks to Cryo an smirks, "Well, gonna mebbe see if I can get word o'who they got in charge out there, what kinda tactics they done in the past. Probly gonna be good ta know if a scrap starts." She looks to the others and, "Some o'the other outfits're packed with scrubs; cake eaters and a couple mousers, but Ashcloaks an' Frostmantles ain't no joke." That said, the Korite reaches out for a tankard to fill, and subsequently drain, while she settles back and lets the information flow, fading into the ambiance to absorb it as it comes...
Serene tilts her head to Sophia. "Your sister... was better at it than most," she assures the younger woman, allowing for a faint smile born from memories of the sister in question. The smile fades, however, as she absorbs the information being related by the others.
"Are we perhaps going about this wrong? The delegate is used to dealing indirectly. She might have thought to set us loose and hope we find our own way. Mikilos, for example, went to see the Llyranost Ambassador and warned about the horde. He's also been trying to contact other planes." Cryo says, taking another sip.
"Anyhow, perhaps raising armies, directly supporting Alexandria's allies, without a direction from her, was something hoped that we might do."
Further Digging into the lore in Charn is absolutely possible. Not having gotten all the answers is no reason to feel discouraged. It's simply following through on the hooks there are. Specialists in Charn's culture in Charn absolutely would know. They're simply not in Alexandria. It's necessary to find some, and gain accesss! Same with the other avenues. Follow through is gonna matter here. Persistence and Perservence.
Travel to Charn seems perfectly safe! One step at a time. Very safe! If one believes the advertizing. That said, Charn is a big country and travel there happens all the time. Trade exists, both from Alexandros and elsewhere.
"I may be speaking on too little information, but I do not feel it likely that Alexandria would raise armies on what you have gathered so far," Serene states. "Though I am not an authority. It does sound like it may be time for a little bit more direct a method of information gathering. Scouting, perhaps infiltration."
Aya considers the news of mercenary units. "If they are moving for other lands, then ...Giggles may already be expanding. Either key parts of Charn are already secured, or the aim is to conquer, first, and consolidate, second." Her drink is set down with a sigh. "Unfortunately, it seems the most accurate information may only be found within Charn, itself. That is not a light venture, even less so now that tensions and activity are high." She dips her chin to Serene, as they possibily come to similar conclusions.
Aya wonders if anyone would agree to her suggesting that they only need a fine carriage, fine robes for her, and manacles for everyone else. A carriage pulled by Paladins would be a mark of high station...
But not all dreams may come true.
"Well, sooner or later the Raven Lords are going to ask for help, and later might be too late." Cryo says thoughtfully. She takes another sip, then refills her mug. Aya and Serene have her attention, after which she says, "Well, Mikilos went, and I thought Malik inteded to, and also Iskandar was going to make an attempt? Has anyone heard from Iskandar? Mikilos and I chatted some, I think I shared what he told me. Did Malik discover anything Seldan?"
Aya acknowledges Cryosanthia's words with a nod. "We could intercept or infiltrate their forward advance on those Eastern Borderlands, or venture into the belly of the beast. Both have their risks, but which path needs decided so that preparations can be made."
The Raven Lords rule the lands east of Charn. Not too much is known about them beyond that they are Bird people.
"Extreme risks," Serene warns. "The kinds where even if you do everything correct, you may fail. The kind where there is no coming back from some mistakes."
"That's a 'we' that does not include this one," Cryo traces a small circle in the sweat of her mug. It freezes over after her touch, leaving a slick little coaster of ice, "Giggle's... glaive, cuts through magic disguises, which ruins the one I have. This one could disguise herself as some other Sith'Makar, emminently useful in a place where the only protection against being killed for fun or because of a 'misunderstanding' is being the property of someone important. It's not a risk I see as reasonable."
"I'd be safer offering to be Giggle's privy slave. She's unlikely to give me a second thought if I grovelled enough."
The whitescale takes a sip, sets her mug down. "That was not a serious suggestion, to be clear."
Aya arches a brow at Cryosanthia's description. "You are not wrong; a house servant -would- give excellent access to a great amount of priveleged information. Slaves of all blood are common and readily overlooked. It is not the most ... comfortable of options, of course."
Serene watches Cryosanthia as she explains her dilemma, eyes without judgement, and she nods with the Sith finishes. "There is no need to borrow more trouble than is absolutely necessary. "
Cryo looks at Aya for a while, a slight shake of her head. The Tower looms large in her mind still, and has not been fully conquered, "some alternative ideas should be explored."
She looks around, "Sabina, any thoughts?"
"I'm still trying to get information from those entering the city as refugees. They're tight lipped so far. Earning their trust is hard. I do not blame them as they came from Charn." Bina shrugs lightly. "Going there is an idea. But magic sight that reviels everything will not allow us to be or get close. Even close enough just to gain information. I'm still thinking that being a 'spider' and webbing in outside information is our best and safest bet. If frustrating."
The exact limits of Grauthis' power are unknown, it is believed he still has to have a REASON to reveal something. If he has no reason to look your way, he won't. He doesn't have the time to 'look' at every being on the planet, and doesn't know everyone by name... but if he learns that 'Serene' or 'That formerly-Charneth Sliverguard' is looking for him...
Well then, ther would be some danger.
"I was only noting one possible option," Aya explains. "I fully support any option with the lower possibility of failure and death."
Serene settles a bit with a quiet grunt. "I assume magics to detect such scrying have been considered and dismissed," she states. "I would suggest drawing his attention so that others might be able to slip in close might be an idea, but I recall that plan working... poorly last time."
"There /are/ refugees arriving. Perhaps not in great numbers yet but I imagine they will soon. Could we perhaps follow in footsteps and form a camp for them? Gather info and give..er.. Giggles a thing to focus attention on? I'm sure the government is aware of the growing troubles. Perhaps we could gain their backing as well?" Bina asks.
Cryosanthia stares at the back of her left hand. She's wearing a whitescale glove, which blends well with her own white scales. Debossed on the back is her Arcane Mark, a stylized dragon-eye, spelt with her name. "This one has often wished for a scrying alarm, even lately, but the efficacy is dubious. Knowing when one is watched is not that consoling, it ends up feeling like it's all the time, and it's best to act as if that is true also. Spells fail, and the 'anti' spells and devices are not that effective."
She bites her lip and looks at Sabina, "that... could be useful. Have them camped somewhere we never go?"
She exhales, "It does sound as if we're looking for plausible reasons for people to go to Charn, that wouldn't arouse suspicion."
Serene slowly and quietly raps her fingers against the side of the mug in her hands. "For that to work it would have to be done by those for whom it would be in character to do so." Then she mulls, staring into the contents of her mug.
"I may be somewhat less conspicuous there than some," Aya notes the obvious, "and I am familiar with the land. however, I expect much has changed in five decades."
"This one hasn't been there in ei... oh. No, it was last year, for everyone else." Cryo says, correcting herself, "We raided a Noble's house and stole back a stolen artifact and freed all her slaves."
"This one wouldn't mind going back and finishing the job. That's the only reason I can think of that would be in character. It's not far in though, just down the coast." The whitescale adjusts herself on her chair.
Sabina nods. "A small group, perhaps seeking information direct from the source as to why so many refugees were headed to us. Seeking diplomatic means to take care of them and assurences that we're nto stealing them or focing them to stay with us."
"It is unlikely my presence in such a mission would be beneficial," Serene admits. Creaking leather accompanies her movement as she rises. "But I believe I have something to try. It is best I get started tonight. May her light shine on you all."
"Well... Akoniril could perhaps arrange something like that, or suggest a sufficiently bland reason for some parties to show up." Cryo speculates, exhaling, her breath visible. It's a little colder around her, as she names the delegate.
"One would owe her, most likely. Rather effective Favour Asking on her part, one of Seldan, which we then assist with, which to complete we must ask favours of her. She should owe us, though, this one would not trust being owed a favour by one of Taara's favourites either."
"Still, another option, for some."
Sabina laughs softly. "Owe her? I think she would help us because it goes along with her plans and if she would try to 'charge' us for a favor I would quickly remind her we are already doing her a favor."
Cryo laughs also, the sound of Sabina's melting some of her tension, "Well, you are her 'friend'. This one is her too talkative table companion, so I should avoid her, I think. Is that something you'll ask, a cover for a diplomatic mission to Charn?"
"I will speak to her about it or something like that. If she'll see me that is. It's not as if I hold any control over her. She's far too shrewd for such a thing." Bina sips again and shrugs. "I'll see what she says."
"This one hasn't seen Pelka in a while. He would be a good one to send to the Raven Lords. This one hears they are some sort of Egalrin. That could be done without her." Cryosanthia muses aloud, nodding to Sabina. She purses her lips and thinks further, "Might be something I could do."
Another sigh, another sip, another wet ring on the table carefully frozen, "Get the plane hopping house, fill it with soldiers, drop it on Giggle's head, kill whatever crawls out from under it. Perhaps that can be 'Plan C'."
Cryo finishes her ale, as the table descends into contemplative silence. Her tail sways slowly behind her, and she stands. "This one would not mind meeting the Raven Lords at all, upon consideration. But for now, this one must get back to Alexandria."
She pats Braelnoir on the shoulder, "I'll be outside." Slips on her mask, and concentrates. Her scales turn blue, her clothes more like something a cold-sensitive reptile would wear, with dark colours and a hood.
"Good luck and good planning. This one will help out how she can, preferrably more 'spider' than 'web'." Or fly, recalling one of Edinaz's earlier comments. Fare-wells given, she saunters around the tables and slips out into the night. It will be a long ride, but she will have a companion, and a destination she's eager for.
The Legwork
================================| View Job 17 |================================
Bucket: QUERY Due On: OVERDUE!
Title: Grauthis the Grievor Assigned To: Whirlpool
Opened On: Fri Feb 05 15:19:11 2021 Status: Yellow
Opened By: Cryosanthia, Iskandar, Merek, Mikilos, Sabina, Seldan, Caim, Sophia, Aya, Thurid, Malik, and Braelnoir
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Whirlpool added on Fri Feb 05 15:19:11 2021: Queried Cryosanthia, Iskandar, Merek, Mikilos, Sabina, Seldan, Caim, Sophia, Aya, and Thurid:
I have included everyone who participated in or showed a desire to participate in the scene Seldan held last night.
Sledan, can we recall your relevant descriptions of Grauthis here to the job for everyone to get on the same page?
I will establish ground rules for thow this will function later as a shared legwork tonight or tomorrow. :)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seldan added on Sat Feb 06 01:32:37 2021: I have this log and I really ought to post it but here is what is known: He is a warlord within the court at Abyss'a, the capital of Charn. He possesses a gauntlet in which is set a shard in the palm that allows him to see the truth of anything he looks at, laid bare. He uses it to assassinate those who oppose him and is supposedly building an army to march on the eastern lands of the Raven Kings. His range as far as Akorinil knows is worldwide, so the only way to avoid him knowing what we are up to is to not realize we are there.
The shard in the palm is probably a Shard of Animus.
Seldan has agreed to undertake this for Akorinil - Taaran or not, his goal is to wrest the shard from Charn and keep an army from deciding to march on Alexandria.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Whirlpool added on Sat Feb 06 03:49:26 2021: Mail sent to Cryosanthia, Iskandar, Merek, Mikilos, Sabina, Seldan, Caim, Sophia, Aya, and Thurid:
Okay! The rules: r
Each person will get TWO legwork actions in a 'round' of them.. I will go through an answer all of them. It's important to make sure we leave space for each other to contribute andn there's a lot of us, so I need to make sure to keep this somewhat orderly. :) IF you have things you wantn to do, please submit them here, and I will answer them!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Whirlpool added on Fri Mar 05 10:20:57 2021: Mail sent to Cryosanthia, Iskandar, Merek, Mikilos, Sabina, Seldan, Caim, Sophia, Aya, Thurid, Malik, and Braelnoir:
Merging Brael's inquiry into this: Hello, Brae was going to try and track down her old mercenary unit, the Brazen Stride. Her intent is to discretely poke about after potetial work (contracts/rumors out of Charn, some indication that the Griever is planning some kind of action, without specificaly asking about it.). She's been apart from the band for a couple years, and doesn't know they've had a run at banditry. (PRP that fizzled) Her other plan, while she's waiting for her feelers to come back on locations for finding what's left of the Stride, is to hit the collosseum and maybe the fire lodge, expecting the Warriors, Vanguards and Heralds may have gotten wind of something. Again, mostly discrete, sifting gossip sort of thing.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Whirlpool added on Fri Mar 05 11:35:37 2021: Mail sent to Cryosanthia, Iskandar, Merek, Mikilos, Sabina, Seldan, Caim, Sophia, Aya, Thurid, Malik, and Braelnoir:
A little behind on this. Answers will be forthcoming this weekend. I still need to talk to Malik and Kravar independently. :)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Merek added on Sun Mar 07 14:11:50 2021: I need to add more to this, but for now Merek will be looking to who's funding things back in Charn by looking around quietly and a bit subtly in Veyshan.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seldan added on Mon Mar 15 15:22:44 2021: Bump.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Whirlpool added on Thu Mar 18 07:38:30 2021: Mail sent to Cryosanthia, Iskandar, Merek, Mikilos, Sabina, Seldan, Caim, Sophia, Aya, Thurid, Malik, and Braelnoir:
Okay! As you all know, RL had some twists and turns for me, so I'm going to go ahead and move on this while I have a free night.
Malik: Asking obliquely is the best way forward, as you know. You're not able to gain anything particularly useful on the artifact itself. There's no historical records pertaining to it, which makes sense given its nature as something tied to the shards, and it's definitely only known to you through AKorinil's statements. This isn't wasted time: you're able to confirm that this is the case and that she ain't shining you on. You ARE able to discern legends of *similar* artifacts, as Truth Sight is the kind of legendary power that's bestowed to figures of great wisdom in the past, and some of those legends are tied to Animus, interestingly enough. Perhaps the fallen divinities could be modeled around, or molded from, Animusite legend and scripture? As for your second question, this is the big one. Consulting with Akorinil on what they know so far is possible, and, and she will mention that her undestanding of the artifact is admittedly limited, but it seems to unveil truths and connections based on them when his and its gaze is turned upon someone. The best way to fool it is to play into his preconceptions or never give him a reason to look at you with its gaze for a reason. It's possibly, even *presumable* that an artifact of that power will have blind spots, but learning what those are will be difficult without having the artifact itself or a legacy of research to lean into. In the stories mentioned above, its blind spots tend to be reflective of the flaws of its carrier in some way, presumably karmic in nature as fits the story. It is also presumable that things that fool true seeing, such as mundane disguises and more, might work well.
There is *one* other option: the veil of Llyranost, a powerful enchantnment that has fooled even the mightiest of True Seeing spells and even confounded the demon armies of the Demon Wars, but acquiring a way to be cloaked similarly would be incredibly difficult, and the elves are not likely to part with its secrets. Still, it is an artifact of some kind itself, and it may be your best lead in confounding the God's Eye.
Aya: Taaran channels are pretty tight lipped at the moment. You have the distinct impression, even from opening them, that they're *terrified* over in Charn right now on a level you've never seen before amongst them. It's not so much in what they're saying as in how they're acting. The Church of Taara is scared. Several contacts of your's have gone missing and the others are talking up 'final vengeance' against the Raven Lords for their 'meddling in our affairs'. They're mouthing a party line, by and large, because the ones that haven't have been ... made examples of, vanishing into the night, presumably, at the hands of Grauthis and his friends as part of his plan to seize power. It's very difficult for an organization that works based on narrative, deception, and social control to operate when all those things are being stripped from it layer by layer to bring them to heel, and right now, that's exactly what's happening to the Church of Taara.
2) Your former house appears to be doing well, actually. They are alive, and in fact, doing better. It seems some of the wealth being usurped from those falling out of Grauthis' subtle favor is being redistributed into the aristocracy, for example, and that's filtering down from there. It's all part of the build up to war, patronizing the right people. No doubt this patronage is part and parcel of buying loyalty, and if you don't miss your mark, encouraging those who might want to dig into it to do so and exposing them to the Eye. Fortunately, you're subtle enough that your questions and reaching out shouldn't make too much of an issue for you.
One can hope.
Cryosanthia: So, here's your problem: alexandria's library does not have a large selection of literature belonging to the indigenous populace of the pre-Charn locale. Moreover, Charn may have that, but it will be difficult to get at. There may well be something interesting there for you, but you're going to need to gain access to someone who might have that lore, and that means dealing with Charn's nobility or scholarly class. Tell me more if you want to follow up on this like that. ... you have also now spent entirely too much time in the torrid affairs of the Crimson Pen. I'm sorry to report that they are actually quite talented at writing Alexandrian hero fan faction and slashfics, thinly veiled all around. It's trash, but it's WONDERFUl trash. And that may be just why Akorinil likes it. It is quite open about what it is. Part gossip rag, part recap of adventures, and part trashy erotica.
Seldan: You and Cryo are running into the same problem. The best place to gain more in depth history is through the scholars of CHarn itself, and not the kind written by its hagiographers. If you want to get into more information on Charn's history beyond generalities about the Crown Wars, you're going to need to find the place to dig deeper, and someone who will help you with it. Maybe this is something you two can work together on? Akorinil may have an in for you if you want to ask her, but you'd owe her one and you know she'll collect.
Braelnoir and Kravar: both of you have poked at potential contacts for mercenary work in Charn. You find that Charn is definitely gearing up for something big and are hiring big, but you're going to need to do this from afar rather than directly. Akorinil would cor rectly point out that Mercenaries reaching for work in Charn, despite obvious and long standing hostility between Alexandria and Charn, would result in some raised eyebrows and skepticism from the hiring agencies unless you were operating under a different company itself like the Frostmantles or Ashcloaks who've worked for Charn before -- but they are DEFINITELY gearing up mercs and subtly positioning them to secure vital Charnese interests in their colonies in the Inmost Sea and elsewhere.
Merek: There are several merchant houses, as we disclosed with Seldan and Malik's earlier legwork, that are getting involved. It is quite possible that some of that wealth is in the form of Veyshan banking interests, as Tashraan is FABULOUSLY wealthy, but the only way to verify more of that would be to get a look at their accounts and they're not sharing. Maybe you can figure out a way to get access to their documents or accounting? It's also possible that the Myrrish espionage agency, the Kingfishers, could have access that you do not. Of course, getting THEM to open up is another story entirely.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mikilos added on Thu Mar 18 08:24:00 2021: First, trying to make a habit of refering to 'Giggles With The Glove' to avoid name dropping in the wrong time and place. That ship may have sailed, but making the effort to be indirect.
As for tasks, worried about the Homeland, Llyranost. Do they have insight as to what's going on, or are they about to be caught off guard? Begin with a polite meeting with the Llyranost ambassador, voicing my concerns that Charn appears to be moving towards a war that may impact the entire world, including Llyranost. This an observation made as an active Adventurer in the Guild. Polite, offical, indirect. I expect nothing to come from it, but can say with a straight face that I tried.
real effort is in contacting the extensive network of cousins and kinfolk. Crouch it as a slightly personalized Spring Letter (Sorta like a yearly Christmas letter, but for the Equinox). The majority of family news is going to be irrelivant, but cast a wide enough net and might pick up something intresting. Include a indirect but firm warning. "Things are starting to move here in Alexandors. Nothing offical, but those of you in the Adventureing business, make sure your gear is repaired and up to date. you might not have time to shop around later."
Second big task, have been working on a lot of assumptions, like to get some assurance. Since my divine information source of choice is currently unadvailible, will be using Contact Other Plane to speak with a few demi-gods. Well aware such a source is not fully reliable, so ask around and see what answers are told the most, can be pretty confidant they're the truth. Will @mail the specifics.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seldan added on Thu Mar 18 16:37:05 2021: I have added an event for Tuesday, March 23rd, to IC meet and talk about this. Akorinil is not informed of this meeting.
===============================================================================
You paged Braelnoir with 'Braelnoir and Kravar: both of you have poked at potential contacts for mercenary work in Charn. You find that Charn is definitely gearing up for something big and are hiring big, but you're going to need to do this from afar rather than directly. Akorinil would cor rectly point out that Mercenaries reaching for work in Charn, despite obvious and long standing hostility between Alexandria and Charn, would result in some raised eyebrows and skepticism from the hiring agencies unless you were operating under a different company itself like the Frostmantles or Ashcloaks who've worked for Charn before -- but they are DEFINITELY gearing up mercs and subtly positioning them to secure vital Charnese interests in their colonies in the Inmost Sea and elsewhere.'