communication. “We also have what we thought was a greater demon who possessed a bunch of priests and then somehow broke into Tiernon’s illumination stream.”
That made Elraith gasp. “That should not be possible!” the druid said.
“It should not, and it’s going to annoy Tiernon very much,” Trevin said.
“So that is what you are concerned about? Tiernon’s people coming to Astlan and interacting with the Nyjyr Ennead again, and various demons that have apparently been sitting on our doorstep and making threatening noises?” Elraith asked.
“I am, but again, not so much,” Trevin said.
“My dear, you are drawing this out too much. I am an old man. I can’t take too many more interesting things, each of which is worse than the last.”
“This is it, then. A sorcerer who works for Councilor Lenamare and a senior fellow from the Society have both had visions of a great war, perhaps several.”
“That sounds probable, given what you’ve said,” Elraith pointed out drily.
“Yes, and that’s the level I am working with them on, or plan to. It is certainly dire enough. However, in more offhand remarks they mentioned a few other visions, which they made less of than I do. The first was of armies of orcs and armies of alvfar.” Trevin could sense Elraith’s shoulders sinking. “Further, visions of smiths—two smithies, in fact. At least one located under a volcano with large channels and floes of metal. However, they could see only one of the two smiths; the other was hidden from their Sight.”
“Oh, dear,” Elraith breathed to himself.
“And one odd note: this was not clear to them, but they mentioned having a sense of orcs attacking from the skies,” Trevin said.
“Orcs attacking from the sky? They don’t have that kind of magic; at least, not on any large scale,” Elraith stated.
“I know. It means a very sophisticated orc army,” Trevin said.
“And the smiths? The volcano, a smith hidden from the Sight? You think this portends the god Hephaestus?” Elraith paused and added, “Who, as I recall, is also known as pêTah among the Nyjyr Ennead.”
“And one of the preeminent gods of the Modgriensofarthgonosefren,” Trevin said.
“I don’t suppose they saw Hephaestus making alvaren steel by any chance?” Elraith asked.
Trevin could not shake her head in this form. “They did not See that.”
“We have orcs versus alvar, and Hephaestus involved.” Elraith sighed.
“That may mean a bit of tension between the alvar and the dwarves,” Trevin said.
“It is a peace that is not easy to keep,” Elraith said.
“This is why I want to keep this quiet. I want to take the Nimbus near to Jotungard and see if the orcs are rising, see if there is any sign of these visions, or if we can trigger more visions. We will head to Murgandy and Ferundy and see what the situation is.”
“A sizeable portion of your crew is alvaren,” Elraith noted.
“Hence I intend to say we are hunting Bastet,” Trevin explained. “Our visit to the border regions will be but to survey the territory around Najaar; our first stop in looking for signs of Bastet. We have had no major ventures in that region for nearly a century or more. It has been very quiet.”
“Too quiet.” Elraith shook his head. “I don’t know. It seems rather risky. You will have both dwarves and alvar on the ship with you.”
“I know, but can you think of a better plan? The sorcerer and seer are confident that their visions are imminent.”
“You will be bringing the sorcerer and seer with you?” Elraith asked.
“Unquestionably. I will also discreetly ask them to not mention the orc or alvaren armies,” Trevin said.
Elraith snorted, shaking his head. “I think that may get taken from your hands by fate.”
Chapter 84
DOF +1
Predawn 15-18-440
Hilda was running late, but she figured it was worth it. There was a meeting scheduled two Etonian hours before local dawn in Freehold. She’d
That made Elraith gasp. “That should not be possible!” the druid said.
“It should not, and it’s going to annoy Tiernon very much,” Trevin said.
“So that is what you are concerned about? Tiernon’s people coming to Astlan and interacting with the Nyjyr Ennead again, and various demons that have apparently been sitting on our doorstep and making threatening noises?” Elraith asked.
“I am, but again, not so much,” Trevin said.
“My dear, you are drawing this out too much. I am an old man. I can’t take too many more interesting things, each of which is worse than the last.”
“This is it, then. A sorcerer who works for Councilor Lenamare and a senior fellow from the Society have both had visions of a great war, perhaps several.”
“That sounds probable, given what you’ve said,” Elraith pointed out drily.
“Yes, and that’s the level I am working with them on, or plan to. It is certainly dire enough. However, in more offhand remarks they mentioned a few other visions, which they made less of than I do. The first was of armies of orcs and armies of alvfar.” Trevin could sense Elraith’s shoulders sinking. “Further, visions of smiths—two smithies, in fact. At least one located under a volcano with large channels and floes of metal. However, they could see only one of the two smiths; the other was hidden from their Sight.”
“Oh, dear,” Elraith breathed to himself.
“And one odd note: this was not clear to them, but they mentioned having a sense of orcs attacking from the skies,” Trevin said.
“Orcs attacking from the sky? They don’t have that kind of magic; at least, not on any large scale,” Elraith stated.
“I know. It means a very sophisticated orc army,” Trevin said.
“And the smiths? The volcano, a smith hidden from the Sight? You think this portends the god Hephaestus?” Elraith paused and added, “Who, as I recall, is also known as pêTah among the Nyjyr Ennead.”
“And one of the preeminent gods of the Modgriensofarthgonosefren,” Trevin said.
“I don’t suppose they saw Hephaestus making alvaren steel by any chance?” Elraith asked.
Trevin could not shake her head in this form. “They did not See that.”
“We have orcs versus alvar, and Hephaestus involved.” Elraith sighed.
“That may mean a bit of tension between the alvar and the dwarves,” Trevin said.
“It is a peace that is not easy to keep,” Elraith said.
“This is why I want to keep this quiet. I want to take the Nimbus near to Jotungard and see if the orcs are rising, see if there is any sign of these visions, or if we can trigger more visions. We will head to Murgandy and Ferundy and see what the situation is.”
“A sizeable portion of your crew is alvaren,” Elraith noted.
“Hence I intend to say we are hunting Bastet,” Trevin explained. “Our visit to the border regions will be but to survey the territory around Najaar; our first stop in looking for signs of Bastet. We have had no major ventures in that region for nearly a century or more. It has been very quiet.”
“Too quiet.” Elraith shook his head. “I don’t know. It seems rather risky. You will have both dwarves and alvar on the ship with you.”
“I know, but can you think of a better plan? The sorcerer and seer are confident that their visions are imminent.”
“You will be bringing the sorcerer and seer with you?” Elraith asked.
“Unquestionably. I will also discreetly ask them to not mention the orc or alvaren armies,” Trevin said.
Elraith snorted, shaking his head. “I think that may get taken from your hands by fate.”
Chapter 84
DOF +1
Predawn 15-18-440
Hilda was running late, but she figured it was worth it. There was a meeting scheduled two Etonian hours before local dawn in Freehold. She’d
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