Nights of Steel and Fire (D&D)

[Cynical Cat]

"They are, unfortunately, quite comprehensible. They are a race from a distant and inhospitable world who plunder the universe for knowledge and magic. They create portals to other realms and infiltrate them by means of their ability to wear flesh. Mak Thuum Ngatha, a terrible, and from a human point of view insane, god is their patron. Their leaders are frequently powerful sorcerers or priests."

[Rogue 9]

"Wear flesh?" Gaheris shuddered. There were a few different ways to take that, none of them good. "All the other information we have is that the cultists sent against us were dispatched by one Zrem Hadar of Elturel, who they called the First of Nine and Last among the Speakers, and that the cultists can presumably control or at least wield influence upon powerful devils. The Abbey of the Blinding Truth in Westgate was attacked this morning by pit fiends, and last night we were set upon by cultists. It's possible that could be coincidence, but I don't think so. The cultists were trying to capture us, specifically, and the fiends kidnapped the Abbot. They must know we'll attempt rescue."

[SirNitram]

"We return to the initial question. What the hell do these flesh-wearing abominations want that we have?" Malkamar frowned a bit. "What can you tell us about these things? Sounds like the the Neth only without the fashion sense."

[Cynical Cat]

"The symbol of their accursed god is nine squiggle lines arranged in a fan shape. This Zrem Hadar is probably one of their leaders, perhaps the leading noble or sorcerer of their cult. Last of Speakers leads me to believe that he is probably not a priest. The tsochar have nothing to do with devils in their normal dealings, but that does not mean that powerful individuals will not bind or bargain with fiends. I would tend to look at such incidents carefully. Powerful fiends will attempt to subvert their master's orders. Distinguishing their summoner's goals and the fiends malice may prove difficult."

He paused for a long moment. "The tsochar are a gestalt organism that is formed by a tangle of serpant or worm like tendrils coming together. Their intelligence is collective and the tendrils are then altered to act as specialized limbs or organs. The tsochar have the ability to enter another creature and rest within the their flesh. In some cases they devour the brain, in others they leave their victim alive and at their mercy. Through this way they infiltrate society's and steal their secrets."

[Rogue 9]

"We've learned that the Nine are the heralds of Mak Thuum Ngatha. We got that tidbit through questioning the spirit of a slain cultist, though, so it might be worth taking with a grain of salt." Gaheris paused. "The same spirit informed us that what they wanted was, to quote, 'you,' referring to us. The question is, why us? Not that you could know that, unless I greatly miss my guess," he added ruefully.

Privately, his mind was working furiously. There were several possibilities, but now that he knew of the wearers of flesh, the most likely possibility to his mind seemed to be that the tsochari had some form of plot going on that they were afraid the Vara'Dome or the Tyrran monks might incidentally uncover. What that might be, if that was indeed the case, was still anybody's guess.

[Cynical Cat]

"Heralds could refer to many things," said Cass. "Cults tend to grandios titles that are do not make sense without the proper context. I would refrain from jumping to conclusions without more information. As for their interest in you, do you possess or have access to interesting magic or lore? That is their primary interest, although the recruitment of humanoid cult followers suggests they may have more elaborate aims."

[SirNitram]

"I guess I'd be the one with unusual magic and lore." Malkamar frowned. "Though with a Tyrran knight who sticks his nose into strange happenings and a dragon along, that is a rather package deal."

[Rogue 9]

"Unless they're interested in knowledge of various criminal elements, no, for my part. Though one of our companions who isn't here with us has knowledge of more esoteric lore than I could ever remember, as well as some unique abilities. But I don't think that gives a good answer; all their actions that we know about so far have been aimed either at our group as a whole or at the Tyrran church."

[Cynical Cat]

"And you are a paladin of Tyr, correct?" said Cass. "Were you taking refuge in the church of Tyr when it was attacked?" He was pretty sure he already knew the answer, but a lot of warrior types tended to need to be lead by the hand from point to point. Gods he couldn't wait until his term here was done.

[SirNitram]

Malkamar wasn't quite as slow as his compatriot. "Yes, we were. And I'm sure even Tyrrans have nice stacks of esoteric, occult lore stacked somewhere. It's practically what temples do." The Shadovar commented dryly.

[Cynical Cat]

"They've been to a lot of churches," said Cass. "I couldn't possibly comment on the likelyhood of them being after you instead unless you are more forthcoming about the nature of your abilities."

[Rogue 9]

"Yes, we were, but that isn't what I'm driving at, since the fiends focused on maximum damage to the abbey while nearly ignoring us. Both our group and the monks of the abbey make it our business to investigate and root out Westgate's thugs and thieves. If they have an unrelated scheme involving the city's underworld, they could simply want those who might uncover it out of the picture. Unless you've a better idea," he said almost testily. Did this monk think him stupid? Of course he knew they were inside the abbey when it was attacked, but the attack clearly hadn't been aimed at them.

[Cynical Cat]

"To understand a fiend's behavior you have to understand both its power, intelligence, and the binder's intent and instructions. If you want the fiends to capture something intact, you have to give orders that prevent it from subverting the spirit of those instructions and 'accidentally' killing you. A fiend is not a reliable servant. Ordering it to kill and destroy an obstacle is easier than ordering a capture, at least if you want your expectations met."

"As for Westgate's crime wars, I doubt they are interested. There are easier places to set up shop, if they have interests along those lines."

[SirNitram]

"Relax, Gaheris." Malkamar chided lightly. "This is a Pit Fiend. If it was told to get our attention or get the Abbot or even just cause a diversion, it could have more reasons than you can count to attack the temple and do as it did. Pit Fiend, remember? Temple of a diety who is at least nominally good, rmemeber?"

[Rogue 9]

Gaheris glanced at Malkamar. "I know that, but they don't just come out of nowhere without a reason. The inescapable fact is that they kidnapped Gregor Khazar and in the meantime did what pit fiends would do to a temple while looking for him to come out. Their instructions obviously involved taking him alive, since that's the first thing they did when he presented himself." He took a deep breath. "As far as I know they could want anything, including a diversion to keep us out of Westgate. I know I'm out of my depth; this is far beyond figuring out the Masks. I've got no idea," he admitted. "That's why we're here, after all."

[Cynical Cat]

"The abbot is a powerful man," said Cass as if speaking to a small child. "The church of Tyr, whatever its properly called, is well fortified and well defended. Think like someone who is planning a smash and grab of targets within. What do you do? Send in expendable shock troops to wreck havoc and give them ironclad orders not to hurt the valuable ones. After the defences are shattered, you send in the real grab team."

[LadyTevar]

"Or maybe they just wanted the Abbott's body for their new home," Torma finally said, making the leap effortlessly. "Why plunder what they can inflitrate, and the Abbott would have unhindered access."

Things were making far too much sense to her now that she knew the creatures wanted magic, and stole bodies to get it. "It also explains why they want us. Astinius' spellfire, Malk's Shadows, maybe even my own draconic heritage, would be highly tempting targets." The lack of a thank-you for the spell led to the next insult. "They're just after Gar because he's with us, not because they want anything of his."

She looked straight to Malkamar. "Astinius went to Silverymoon alone. He's probably in danger."

[Rogue 9]

Gaheris inwardly cringed when Torma mentioned Astinius' spellfire. Didn't she know how dangerous it was to go around openly admitting you had it? At this point he was beyond caring that the monk was obviously patronizing him, as long as he got answers.

[Cynical Cat]

"One of you has spellfire and you think they're after a priestly library?" Cass exploded. "Are you brain damaged?! You think the dusty contents of some clerical library are even half way comparable to that? Of course they want it. If they have enough power they won't think twice about burning the whole continent to get it."

[Rogue 9]

"I did think it," Gaheris said sullenly, "but spellfire isn't something you go about openly proclaiming. To anyone," he said, resisting the urge to raise his voice. Torma would just continue to ignore him if he did.

[Cynical Cat]

"To them your abbot would be nothing but an obstacle," said Cass. "Clerical magics would be an area of secondary interest at best, but with spellfire at stake there is nothing they wouldn't do to take it. My best guess is that they would wear the body as part of their study process. This whole line of questioning is ridiculous. Its like asking if the thief was after your grandmother's silver comb when he broke into the king's treasury."

[Rogue 9]

"This line of questioning was an attempt to not add to the list of people wanting to kill Astinius in hopes of taking his talent, just like every time I avoid bringing up the subject," Gaheris said through gritted teeth. "I know good and gods-damned well that creatures interested in obscure magic would want spellfire."

He had to wonder, though. Why hadn't the fiends grabbed Astinius while he was stunned, rather than the abbot, if that was all their masters wanted?

[Cynical Cat]

"Once I told you they were interested in exotic magic, you already had your answer," said Cass. "You didn't need to waste anyone time with this 'temple library' nonsense. As if what priests new about magic could fit into a thimble. And you were the one who just mentioned the spellfire wielder by name."

[Rogue 9]

Gaheris was tempted to argue, but no. Yelling about the ways of obfuscation in the halls of this fortress of open knowledge was pointless, and probably a bad idea at that. And he wasn't about to argue with a probable wizard about the merits of the divine. "One last thing for my part, then, before we go," he said in a practiced neutral tone. "If we find one of these creatures... wearing someone, is there a way to get it out without killing the victim?"

[Cynical Cat]

"They can kill their victims within seconds," said Cass. "They're quite intelligent and value their own lives, so I imagine that you could bargain with one to leave the body alive. The appropriate magics will, of course, also work."