Nights of Steel and Fire (D&D)

[Comrade Tortoise]

"Thank you... now the question is how to find their names so they can be tracked..."

Knowledge: The planes

[Cynical Cat]

The answer is that one needs to talk or interrogate a being that would know their names. Either a being exceptionally well informed about the activities of the great fiends of Baator or the summoners.

[Comrade Tortoise]

"Which means finding someone who would know their names, finding the summoners wouldn't work, but they had to find the names as well. This gives me a place to start"

knowledge: the planes (do I know where to start?)

(provisional, if I do not)

"Do you have any idea where to begin the search?"

[Cynical Cat]

"Don't be a fool," the old mage said testily. "There are, at the minimum, thousands of pit fiends. Tracking the summoners would be by far the best option, as even a skilled diabolist will only know a handful of names and that will narrow down the list to something managable. If you insist on tracking these names in total ignorance, then you must travel to Hades, Gehenna, or Avernus. I would advise strongly against such a course if at all possible. Not only are such locals dangerous, bargaining with the beings that would possess such lore is morally and physically hazardous."

[Comrade Tortoise]

"You are right of course. Of course that puts me back at the beginning. I have almost no information on the summoners. However the number of people that could have done the summoning is small and they have to learn the needed spell from someone already capable of casting the spell."

He started thinking internally now. His mind racing.

Moreover they must get their names from somewhere. That means either extradimensional communication, or books. The communications I cant track, but any tomes I can. They must either be found or purchased.

"If I can track their mentors and their sources of information I can track them... now all I need is a starting point" he finally finished, thinking out loud. "Of course, that is making things sound much easier than they will be"

Knowledge Arcana: for information on practitioners of the dark arts of demon summoning

Knowledge religion: for information on religions and cults that deal in the information I need

Knowledge The Planes: for information on tomes of lore that would be useful

"If you have any information, or advice I would appreciate it. I have never had to track a diabolist with this sparse information before. Chances are I am going about it all wrong"

[Cynical Cat]

"You assumptions are flawed. There are simply too many human mages in too many nations and too much lore left in ancient ruins and too many new spells being developed in modern schools and by ambitious mages. I certainly could not name all the mages in Calimshan alone that could be responsible. Add to this that your suspects may not even be from Faerun and your task becomes even more difficult. You need to track them by another method.

"While you are at it, you should read Hingles The Netherese Diaspora. It should correct your misinterpretations about how widely distributed magical lore is in the Realms. And perhaps Vurthen's treatsies on the Nar and Rathuman wars as well."

[Comrade Tortoise]

"Alright. Then what method would you recommend for tracking them? Because I am at a loss. Should we simply wait for them to strike again and interrogate the living hells out a prisoner? Simple way being best, afterall..."

[Cynical Cat]

"I do not know your enemies so I cannot recommend a way of tracking them. I can tell you if you are ignorant about them, you must search for more clues."

[LadyTevar]

Torma backwinged, coming to a landing in the open courtyard of the battered abbey. She needed to find Gar and Malk.

[SirNitram]

Malkamar was in the courtyard, having assisted with the repairs somewhat, before raiding nearby shops to find a map and information. Now he stood in the centre, trying to puzzle it out. "Zrem is in Elturel... Alright. This is unique." He murmured, stroking his chin. "I wonder who we pissed off in a militant paladin's citadel... Still, only one way to know." He looked up as the dragon returned.

"Torma! How fast can you go? We need to investigate this Zrem person, and I've finally tracked down the little town he's from." Only a Netherese could call Elturel a little town....

[LadyTevar]

"Torma! How fast can you go? We need to investigate this Zrem person, and I've finally tracked down the little town he's from." Only a Netherese could call Elturel a little town....

"As fast as the wind," Torma replied, folding her wings along her back as she paced closer, tilting her head to try to peer at the map in his hand. "Where is the town?"

[SirNitram]

"As fast as the wind," Torma replied, folding her wings along her back as she paced closer, tilting her head to try to peer at the map in his hand. "Where is the town?"

"Western Heartlands. I can mark it on a map." Malkamar replied. "I think Gar better go there.. It's ruled by a paladin. He can find this Zram. I'm heading for Candlekeep." The Shadovar said simply.

"This Way Made Flesh isn't a God or a Tanar'ri Lord or Baatezu Master. But don't kid yourself; men worship worse all the time. I need to find catalogues on beings from the Shadow Realms.. And the worse places." He shuddered. "And Candlekeep is less likely to kill me than returning home."

[LadyTevar]

"As fast as the wind," Torma replied, folding her wings along her back as she paced closer, tilting her head to try to peer at the map in his hand. "Where is the town?"

"Western Heartlands. I can mark it on a map." Malkamar replied. "I think Gar better go there.. It's ruled by a paladin. He can find this Zram. I'm heading for Candlekeep." The Shadovar said simply.

"This Way Made Flesh isn't a God or a Tanar'ri Lord or Baatezu Master. But don't kid yourself; men worship worse all the time. I need to find catalogues on beings from the Shadow Realms.. And the worse places." He shuddered. "And Candlekeep is less likely to kill me than returning home."

"So... you want Gar to go to this town Elturel, and you go to Candlekeep?" Torma clarified, and she had to wonder why everyone felt like they had to up and leave.

[SirNitram]

"So... you want Gar to go to this town Elturel, and you go to Candlekeep?" Torma clarified, and she had to wonder why everyone felt like they had to up and leave.

"We could sit around and wait to get another assassination attempt, if you'd like." Malkamar replied. "But we need information. And I'm hoping you'll go with me. Dunno if I can actually ask you for a ride, but.."

[LadyTevar]

"So... you want Gar to go to this town Elturel, and you go to Candlekeep?" Torma clarified, and she had to wonder why everyone felt like they had to up and leave.

"We could sit around and wait to get another assassination attempt, if you'd like." Malkamar replied. "But we need information. And I'm hoping you'll go with me. Dunno if I can actually ask you for a ride, but.."

Torma's eyes widened in shock, giving Malk a brief, unique view into the inner workings. "A... ride?" she asked "As in you on my back?"

One reason for the shock and dismay, of course, was the fact that while she was 12ft long, she was far from her adult girth. Her serpentine body barely equaled Malkamar's own mass. In addition, like the Brass and Gold Dragons, her wings were continuous down to her tailtip, supported by flexible back spines, leaving very little room for riders.

[SirNitram]

"Probably not going to work, unless I literally tie myself to your back and hold on." Malkamar sighed. "And even then, I'd need to use all the magic I can to decrease my weight."

[LadyTevar]

"It. Won't. Work." Torma stated with finality. "Now if Astinius had thought, he might have teleported you to Candlekeep before running off to Silverymoon. But somehow I don't think he considered Candlekeep as a source of information...." Was that a touch of sarcasm in her voice?

[Rogue 9]

"Perhaps he considered Candlekeep's price of admission a little steep," Gaheris said as he emerged from the makeshift burn ward, washing his bloody arms on a wet cloth. "I've done all I can here; the wounded are as well cared for as we can arrange. Now we must turn all our attentions to solving this riddle." He rubbed his stubble-covered chin with a now-cleaned hand. "I'll head out and check the markers, but I think you're right. Elturel is the best bet."

[LadyTevar]

Torma looked from Gaheris to Malkamar. "So, shall we leave after Gar returns? While I don't think your markers will have more information, it would give us time to prepare for travel." And to herself, she cursed Astinius for leaving. An "Enlarge" spell cast on herself may have allowed Torma to carry someone with her as she flew, while Gar followed on his griffon.

[Rogue 9]

"Percival won't recover until tomorrow. I cannot summon him until then," Gaheris stated. "There's nothing to do until tomorrow but pick up the pieces and try to find out as much as we can about the assailants here in Westgate." He paused, shaking his head slowly as he thought of the chaos that could ensue as it dawned on the Night Mask street-level cells that the monks of the Abbey had larger problems than attempting to stop them now.

[Rogue 9]

Gaheris decided to go out undisguised this time. He wouldn't be making any direct contact with his agents, barring something unforeseen, and it was important for the face of the Tyrrans to be seen still about in the city in the aftermath of the disaster. He made sure his badge of office was securely in place and readjusted his sword belt before moving towards the ruined gate.

[LadyTevar]

Torma followed Gar, just because she had nothing better to do. "So, what will you do until then?" she asked as she paced beside him.

[Rogue 9]

"Well right now, I intend to show the flag," he answered as he loosened Bright Edge in its sheath. "If we hide behind the walls now, everyone will think we are beaten, which would be a disaster. If we didn't have so many wounded, I would probably lead a detachment of men, but they're needed more here."

[Cynical Cat]

Things were very quiet on the street. Gaheris got respectful nods and quiet deference. Thugs and toughs were conspicuous by their absence.

[Rogue 9]

Gaheris took a circuitous route through the city, taking standard procedures to check for tails... and also carefully wandering by various signal points. The alley behind the Jolly Warrior here, the west wall of Fortuneboon Hall there, looping back past the postern of Thalavar Castle after that, and over a dozen more places besides, looking for the telltale chalk marks, dropped junk, window curtains set in a certain way, or any of the other covert signals designed to convey meaning while looking innocuous.

He also took many dead end routes that had no meaning to anyone in the Vara'Dome, specifically to throw off pursuers. At these he took much less caution in seeming to look for signals, making a point of acting furtive without quite making it look like an act. He occasionally took an interest in a meaningless mark so that any unseen watchers might think he had seen something of interest. He also gave Torma no indication of what he was doing, so that she could not inadvertently give away which markings were real and which were ruses.

Barring an indication of dire emergency, he would take no action now, unless the marker was left by an agent that he could credibly be visiting on Abbey business... which meant almost exclusively his agents in other temples. Other follow-ups would be made later, in disguise, after taking active measures to discourage pursuit.