Cysts on the Ley Lines

Log Info

• Title: Cysts on the Ley Lines
• Emitter: Cesran
• Characters: Cesran, Seldan, Knightmare, Fallon, Cryosanthia, Aya, Merek, Stjepan, Griva (NPC)
• Place: Adventuer's Guild
• Time: Tuesday, April 06, 2021, 9:00 PM
• Summary: Cesran has organized a meeting at the Adventure's guild to give out information about a possible problem on the Ley Lines. Displaying a illusionary map of the Alexandria Region to display the problem, a possible demonic intrusion into the Material Plane, Cesran was looking to inform those gathered and to gain support on organizing expeditions to reach the phenomenon. Cesran was able to gain the support of most that attended and this will be followed up on.

-=--=--=--=--=--=<* A05: Adventurer's Council, Great Hall *>-=--=--=--=--=--=-

As the phoenix is Alexandria's national symbol, so too has its Explorer's Council, often called the Adventurer's Council, risen from the ashes of its destruction.

Guards and mercenaries fill the interior of this huge building, one of the largest in its immediate area. Strong, metal walls divide its interior, crafting halls, briefing rooms and offices. A large space near the front has been set aside for mingling and stocked with comfortable chairs to wait in.

This area is catered by one of the Society of Arcanists' more famous chefs, a small lucht with a predilection for otherworldly cuisine and tentacle soup. Security here is as tight as it is anywhere in Alexandria, even more so now after its recent destruction. Sharp eyed sentinels and guards are ever-watchful and all manner of security contraption is said to be residing within the walls of the building. The walls are pristine for now, though not for long, and artfully decorated with murals depicting heroic adventure by members of all communities and races of the region.

The windows to the Council Hall are now stained glass, artfully decorated to depict famous moments in Alexandrian history, ranging from the death of Altima at the hands of the Phalanx Falcis at the end of the Sorceress Wars, to the city triumphantly emerging from the Mists to a changed world. Many spaces have been set aside for new stories to be added, with numerous tale yet to be written.

No matter how many times the Hall has been rebuilt, the statue in the front remains the same: a lone warrior facing off against what is presumably thought to be 'Cuddles the Otyugh Queen', with the Council's motto, below: Anything for the right price.

It's evening at the Adventurer's Guild and Cesran has sent out a general call for adventurers to meet him here. He's taken over one of the briefing rooms. There is a small table in front of a couple rows of chairs and on the table a map has been laid out. Off to the side a small table has been set up with some snacks, coffee and tea. He beckons those adventurers that have shown up to come in, "Welcome, help yourself to some refreshments and have a seat we'll get started in a few moments. I'm not looking to keep everyone here all night."

The presence of Griva Brassbringer, and a few of her close allies like the gnomish wizard Farland, is notable. She's taken a seat amongst the others. This isn't about her cause, after all, but she's clearly interested in whatever Cesran is intending to talk about.

A call to discuss an issue with the Sea of Mana has Seldan's undivided attention. He has been scarce, of late, but puts in an appearance now, to all appearances clad in his usual shirt and loose trousers, with an open-front blue and silver robe over top. A longsword rests at his hip, a velvet muffin cap in a matching dark blue and silver on his head against the evening chill. He does not appear to have bothered with a cloak, though.

He murmurs a quiet greeting to Griva, a face he recognizes, and seats himself nearby, pausing only to pour himself a mug of tea. "Her light upon your path, my lady."

Knightmare is not commonly prone to diversion from her primary goals, but, in the wake of the last task she'd done, this for the Brassbringer, there was enough curious whispers to indicate she should probably attend. The construct lifts a hand to the gathered with a polite, "Well met." and steps in to approach the provided seats. While unnecessary on its own sake, she's been taught that people prefer if she loom less frequently and so, with some care for the peculiarities of her design, she settles into a chair.

Fallon heeds the call out of curiosity -- as he's wont to do -- and steps into the briefing room, intent on learning something he didn't know before. He greets those present with a silent nod, then quietly slinks into one of the chairs in the back rows. Brooding listening mode activated.

Cryosanthia is late, for reasons. The whitescale Sith'makar slips into the room, oddly pausing at the doorway. The layout of the room, then its occupants, seem to be a larger concern for her than anything being said. Or even the food. She's paying particular attention to the ceiling. After plotting a course that appears to avoid obstacles on the ground and hanging off the walls, she heads over to a spot near one of them, and stands with her back to it.

Aya is not especially knowledgeable on magic, aside from the generally detrimental, in her opinion, effects of those who wield such carelessly. This does mean that any troubles that cause concern amongst said wielders is of some interest.

Cesran waits for everyone to grab their refreshments and have a seat, "Thank you all for coming. I've asked you to come here tonight to discuss a problem that was brought to my attention by Madame Griva Brassbringer." He inclines his head politely to her. "I would hope that everyone here has some passing familiarity with what the Ley Lines, but if you aren't they are the rivers of magical energy that flow from the Sea of Mana into our world." He turns towards the map and with arcane gesture of his free hand, the other is holding his staff, and a word in the spidery arcane language, he casts a spell of Major Image

Instantly the air above the table is filled with an illusory map of Alexandria and the greater regions surrounding Alexandria. There are blue lines that crisscross the map, some thicker, some thinner, much like a spider's web. The major blue lines though flow into Alexandria. However it's also easy to see that along some of the blue lines there are inky black splots. "As you can see there is a growing problem with the Ley Lines. These black dark spots to be precise." He does make the map a bit bigger so that people in the back can see it."

Merek looks to be about, taking the time to dress up in his disguise while he makes a way along in the place. He doesn't offer any words, the man wearing his long coat with a hood up.

"Uh," Cryosanthia stares at a map of Alexandria with dots on it. A different map, but still unsettlingly familiar. "Cesran, Hello, Peace on your Nest. It's Cryo. Can you overlay the sewers and the giant summoning circle beneath Alexandria on that, to see if it's somehow related?"

She exhales, "There were a few concentrated kidnappings and demon appearances before, especially around the Temple Area, and this one wonders if a weakness was left, or if She was exploiting one that already existed."

Seldan's eyebrows lift into his hairline, first at the image, and then at Cryosanthia's response. He sits up a little straighter in his chair, but doesn't speak yet, seeming intent on hearing the wizard out.

Fallon blinks when the illusory map is brought up -- he's going to have to get used to these things -- but it seems he understands the explanation Cesran offers. He continues to simply listen and watch how the others respond... he might actually be the only one who -didn't- know what the ley lines were, but they didn't have to know that.

Knightmare listens to their host's opening statements, steepling her fingers as her focus sweeps the room before her. As he pauses for breath, "I've seen evidence of this. An arcanist we met in Rune discovered... 'gaps' in the sea of mana that be believes are deliberate, a 'poisoning'." she explains in a steady, hollow tone.

She looks to the talk of kidnappings, and whatever horrors 'She' set in motion. Perhaps there is more than Heth to worry about?

The alarm is very, very real. The khazadi woman folds her arms across her chest, glances worriedly towards Seldan, and then whispers to her gnomish companion.

Stjepan slips in, and leans back to prop up the wall beside the door. Folding his arms across his chest, he studies the map with interest. Finally, he asks: "Are the black spots indicative of Taaran influence, or just gaps?"

"Now I have done some preliminary research into what these for lack of better term 'cysts' are. They appear to be concentrations of demonic energies. I have not yet visited one of these sites because to do so alone would be foolish. I've all ready wasted a bit of time being the power source to a Crystal Golem. I'd prefer not to be a tasty snack for a legion of demons. Which is why I've sent out a call for adventurers and am glad to see so many have answered. I wish to plan expeditions to these sites to study what's happening at these sites and to hopefully find a solution to get rid of these cysts before they become a major problem." Cesran explains.

"Hello Cryosanthia. Unfortunately do to the limitations of the spell I can't alter the image once it's been cast. This map does have the magus points on them. As you can see there are no cysts inside of the city itself thankfully. There are two that are of immediate concern within the region that we should look to deal with." Cesran answers. "This could be a result of the poisoning of the Sea of Mana or a demonic intrusion or both. It could be that the poisoning of the Sea of Mana are demonic intrusions. It doesn't seem likely that this is the work of the Shadow Sorceress, but I can't say for sure just yet. Honestly I just don't know what is causing these 'cysts', but I would like to find out. Right now I have just as many questions as the rest of you do. The only way to find out is to travel to these sites and investigate ourselves. Which brings me back to why I've asked you all here. We have 2 sites that need to be investigated. We can either go to them one at a time or send teams to both to report back their findings."

"From what I understand," Aya shares for the benefit of Stjepan and others, "Taara's influence is rapidly waning and Her supporters are being subverted or dying in droves. I doubt She is a cause."

"Well I..." Cryosanthia reaches into her backpack, which seems stylish and oddly empty. It's not her usual white scale leather haversack, "... I didn't bring my maps of the city. They're in three of the expedition ledgers here, which I can get for you later. It doesn't look like they're in the city, so perhaps it's unrelated."

She straightens and lets the backpack drop to bump against her legs. A brief glance, at Griva, then Seldan, but she says nothing about their behaviour. "Is it possibly related to the back blast shockwaves of the Spell Cannon? Aren't they the cause of the Felwood." She peers, "Is one of those in the Felwood? This one doesn't remember the borders."

Aya's information draws a long look from the whitescale, and an "Oh."

Stjepan clenches his jaw towards Aya. "At whose hand -- Heth? Asumit?" He laces his fingers together, and cracks his knuckles comprehensively. "There's work to be done, then."

And then Aya speaks and Griva turns and stares at *her*. Say what now?

Clearly, she's not plugged into the goings ons of Taara's followers and that too is news to her.

"I will accompany you." Seldan speaks up for the first time, sitting up a little straighter, his teacup cradled between his hands. "I think it unwise to speculate on what manner of demonic influences might yet be at work. It may yet be one and the same, Cryosanthia," he nods to the sith-makar, seeming to be well-familiar with what speaks of, at least if his timbre and demeanor is anything to go by. "But, I would not miss the truth of the matter, and thus the chance to seek a cure, lost in a wish to prove my suppositions correct. Let us seek these out, and learn what we may."

Aya's news, too, draws his attention, and he nods slowly. "We know not if that be only in Charn, or elsewhere as well. This much is clear - much is amiss, and it grows worse."

Fallon lets his gaze flit from one speaker to another, letting their words and implications sink in even if he may lack the proper context to connect dots himself. They linger on Griva for a second longer. He reads the confusion well.

To hear the name of the Deathless Dragon makes the construct Knight straighten reflexively in her seat, and her visor is turned toward the mouth that spoke it. She stares for a moment, then looks to the others as they speak of the False Hope losing ground. Still, there is a flick of tail, then another.

Cesran smiles at Cyrosanthia, "I do have other maps with me and if you like I am more than happy to work with you after the meeting to see if there are any possible connections that I may have not considered." He nods to Seldan, "I was hoping that either you or Serene or both would accompany me on these expeditions." He looks around, "All are welcome to join us that wish to of course. We do need to get organized though. That is what this meeting is partly for, to inform everyone that came about the problem and to organize expeditions to go out and solve the problem."

Cryosanthia nods, smiling at Cesran, "Yes, I'd like that. I had something I wished to ask you in private too."

Followed by a glance towards the Silverguard, "I'm not wishing Her back, Seldan. Only suggesting similar trade winds, different boat. I know very little about Heth, Asummit, demons beyond the ones I've met, nor magic moving through Ley-Lines from the Source to here. Cesran wouldn't know what we do either, now he's aware and can consider it."

The whitescale says, waving a hand somewhat obliquely, "Information doesn't always move in the Guild. Mikilos knew about the sewers months before Faran and I looked into it. It was filed and forgotten."

Cryo exhales, hunching forward a little in a posture unusual for her, "Anyhow, it's mentioned, and we're on to hunting demons it appears. Do you have a team in mind, Cesran, an order to check them out? Or will we be self-assembling? This one... may not be available. Personal reasons."

"It does seem more prudent to have a small team of people with the right expertises on hand, over a large group of the merely curious," Fallon adds, the only potentially helpful suggestion he can think of. He leans back in his seat and glances ceiling ward in thought.

"We'll sponsor these," says Griva, quietly. "Speaking for the Parliament of the Magi in Rune, we'll sponsor these missions."

Oh. Well. That explains things. She's apparently involved in the government of Rune. Great.

Knightmare leans forward a little more, "Are there any immediate threats presented toward Dragonier?" she asks. She shifts slightly, then, "I will also be returning there, soon, so I can try to track rumor for potential aspects there as well."

Merek nods a bit, "I will assist in any way you all need," he notes.

Cesran nods, "Of course. We'll speak after this meeting. Thank you, there has been much that I have missed since my absence from the area and I'm happy to learn all that I can about what has been happened since I was gone. Even now that I am back within the city I can't be in all places. I am always happy to exchange information." He nods to Griva, "Thank you. Your support as is that of the Parliament of Magi is most welcome." He turns to the rest of the assembled adventurers. "To answer Cryosanthia's question I don't have specific groups in mind, but I'm happy to lend my aid and knowledge to any and all groups that we to go. I can have copies of the maps made for any that wish it. Right now we are just going to gather information about these sites. Hopefully there won't be fighting, but I can't make any promises. I would suggest as a matter of course that you not go alone and if you are going to go with a group of at least 4. I understand with all that's going on in the city right now that this might be one thing too much for some of you. Please if you do not feel up for it for any reason there is no shame in not participating. This meeting was to give out the information that I knew and to gauge the interests of others to go get more. I don't know of any immediate threat to Dragonier from these 'cysts'." Cesran admits.

The whitescale sith nods, listening, and straightening up. She ends up leaning in an odd way, a posture where her shoulders seem to be resting against the wall, but are a couple feet distant from it. Mentally, she's taking notes. Griva is part of the government as well. Four, would be the best. Fighting isn't expected. She exhales again, bobbing her head slightly, "This one is almost certain others would be better, I will consider the information. It's good to be aware, at least."

"This has been an instructive meeting for me, at least. For that, I am thankful," Fallon confesses. "There is still much out there that I need to learn." That's likely the reason why he's not committing his own participation.

Knightmare nods in acknowledgement of the man's explanation, "I see, thank you. I must return, but my offer stands." The construct rises from her seat, then and, "I will send any information I come across here if I cannot bring it with due speed."

"Of course I'm glad that you found it instructive. We have to share what we know, it is the best way to organize so that we can work to solve these problems." Cesran comments as he gets the feeling that the meeting is winding down. "Thank you all for coming and meeting with me. It was informative for myself as well. Thank you to those that have committed to coming with me as we investigate. I'll be in touch to organize these expeditions and if any that are still interested I will keep the adventure guild up to date so that you may join me if you wish. I'll be around for a bit to answer any questions." He says as he lets his concentration on the spell go, so that in less than half a minute the illusionary map fades.

"Yes, thank you Cesran." Cryosanthia says, remaining in her spot. She glances around, "I'll wait until everyone has asked their questions and cleared out. Mine is somewhat ley line related, but not in any way that matters to this discussion."

That said, the whitescale seems content to wait, and rub her thumbs together while she holds onto her backpack.

Stjepan looks around and announces the following: "If anyone needs security for an exploration, let me know."

Fallon nods, and stands from his seat. With a flourish of his cloak, and a brief visit to the snack station, he absconds with all the cheese.

Knightmare salutes the lot, "Well met, you all. Safe travels." There's a little bow, and she steps over toward the snack table, snatching up a rather plump, colorful apple and clop-clops her way out. Cysgodawyr should like be happy with this one. Best he be in good spirits for the ride.

Cryo blinks, first as the cheese vanishes, then as the horse-golem leaves with an apple. She was rather certain they didn't need to eat... very good simulation of life in that case. She makes a small wave and nod at Stjepan, lingers where she is.

Merek nods a bit, a little content to offer assistance, though making his way to a place to relax.

Stjepan nods, sketches a mock salute, and ducks out through the door himself.