Discussion on the Dragon Priest Assault

436-03-09 - Discussion on the Dragon Priest Assault - conversation log - Lenaea's Point of View

Yraggahh says, "Then let us begin."

Yraggahh says, "To give a brief overview, in recent months, the Dragon Priests have once again taken an interest in attacking the Ru'atin Peri'el."

Sircha says, "That can't be good."

Qihhth quietly says to herself, "Those Priestesses of Peri'el who dedicate their lives to supporting Her in keeping the World Dragon quiescent."

Yraggahh says, "At a gathering organized by my smolgan and myself, we met a Sister at their home on Aesry. Near the conclusion of our discussion, Dragon Priests opened a magic gateway to our location and flooded the gates with assassins."

Yraggahh says, "A potential Ru'atin recruit was gravely injured, and a couple of my smolgan were captured by the Priests and sacrificed to the World Dragon."

Qihhth quietly says to herself, "Smolgi is how we say 'friend' in S'Kra Mur."

Yraggahh says, "A large group of us retaliated a few weeks ago, attacking the Black Spire and bleeding many of their forces."

Qihhth exclaims, "A mighty blow was struck! The scent of their blood still clings to my garments!"

Yraggahh says, "It was a good battle."

Yraggahh says, "But the Priests now seem to be lead by an ancient Crone. During the battle, we heard and witnessed mechanical movement in the Spire."

Jycanth says, "I didn't know anyone saw something."

Yraggahh says, "Many of you may have read this in the local newsletters."

Yraggahh says to Jycanth, "We saw walls shifting, panels moving about."

Yraggahh says, "We could hear gears, something changing within the Spire itself."

Malykai says, "Nothing emerged of it though but their fighters and assassins."

Jycanth asks, "What area of the Spire was that in, if you don't mind my asking?"

Yraggahh says, "We saw it within the first floor, where the Juggernauts train."

Maintain says, "The sounds came from the inner keep, though."

Jycanth says, "The Halls of Insanity."

Yraggahh says, "As far as we know, the Dragon Priests have been quiet in recent days, we have not heard anything new. But no one believes they have decided to stop attacking the Ru'atin."

Malykai says, "Thats a pretty big deal."

You say, "I am keenly interested to hear of the Crone."

Maintain says, "It is fortunate the Spire merely echoes with laughter, rather than the works of war. Crossing and Riverhaven have barely pushed back this dead tide."

Yraggahh says, "The Crone mainly gave orders or issued threats. Other Priests attacked at her command, and whatever mechanical devices were in the Spire were activated at her word."

Casari asks, "Another Dzree, do you fear?"

You ask, "Does she wield magical power? Or merely influence?"

Yraggahh says, "Possible. The Dragon Emperor was not heard from. The whereabouts or status of the Red Beast is unknown."

Vikhhran softly says to Casari, "That's a reasonable assumption."

Jycanth says, "The crones generally use Lunar magic, I believe they answer to the intercessors though."

Yraggahh says, "Many of the Crones wield magic, it would be surprising if she did not."

Eyst says to Maintain, "Very fortunate. Possible Yraggahh's attack interrupted whatever they had planned and saved us fighting two fronts currently."

Malykai says, "Poorly use Lunar magic."

Yraggahh says, "It is not too poor, what they did on Aesry was not typical magic."

Casari asks, "Poorly that we see. But who knew there were such fearsome Adan'f hiding in the Wood until they came in force?"

Casari asks, "Likewise, who knows what their elder crones can do?"

Maintain says, "Laugh, for certain."

Hanryu asks, "Do you have any more information on the sacrfice thing? Did it tie to the power of the DPs or where they just interested in some killing?"

(Qihhth's tail twitches briefly.)

Yraggahh says, "Two smolgi lept through the magic gateway to confront their congregation, they were overwhelmed."

Casari says, "It was a... sorcerous moongate? On the other side was what appeared to be a war camp. Those who went through were cut down."

You say, "What color was the gate, if I may ask."

Yraggahh says, "Green, if memory serves."

You say, "And what shape did it take, if any."

Qihhth says, "These numbers were not evident when we attacked directly, most recently, however."

Vikhhran softly says, "Odd color for a gate."

Casari says, "It was tinged with green. Beyond that, I don't remember. I had something more pressing to address."

Sircha asks, "A green moongate?"

You say, "Not unheard of, but certainly not common."

Sircha asks, "Are you certain it was moon magic? and not maybe some odd combination of life magic as well?"

Asherasa says, "The fact that there were so many on the other side makes me believe that the sacrifices were more for their pleasure than anything else."

Vikhhran softly says, "Doesn't actually sound like a moon gate or necessarily tied to lunar magic, although I am not by any means an expert."

Yraggahh says, "They proceeded the use of the gateway by using a magic sky mirror to observe us."

Casari says, "I've heard similar moongates used by the likes of Talorc in the north, and others in wars past."

Maintain says, "It sounds like the sort of result you could expect from mixing Elemental and Lunar magic in sorcery, which the Dragon Priests are known for."

You ask, "You saw their faces appear in the sky?"

Yraggahh says, "Yes."

You say, "It sounds as though they may be using some spells with common elements to those used by my guild."

You say, "That sounds like Shadewatch Mirror."

Qihhth says, "It certainly resembled one."

Sircha says, "Aye I am a bard."

Qihhth says, "I personally am concerned by the lack of strong resistence to our attack."

Malykai says, "They're scouting."

Malykai says, "Probing."

Vikhhran softly says, "Qihhth That also bothered me. It makes it seem that their forces are split elsewhere.."

Maintain says, "We didn't exactly press them to defend, despite my attempts to consecrate their altars."

Yraggahh says, "Yes, there was some commotion in Cragstone Vale that we never found."

Qihhth says, "Given the result I found when I went through their 'moongate' on Aesry, it's not clear where those massive numbers of Priests were, if not defending their Spire."

Jycanth asks, "Did anyone check where the Purifiers roam during the attack?"

Qihhth says, "I checked the Vale, but not the thicket."

Qihhth says, "A concerned citizen also journeyed to Aesry to confirm we were not being deliberately pulled out of position so that an attack could happen on Aesry."

Eyst says, "My thought is that they hide something. Possibly they were reserving their forces in defense of whatever it might have been."

You say, "Where did the Moongate lead? Or is that where the uncertainty lies."

Qihhth says, "It led to the Spire."

Yraggahh says, "To the Altar of the World Dragon."

Yraggahh says, "Near the top of the Spire."

Sorhhn says to you, "Unknown. I was rather preoccupied with being torn apart at the moment."

(Qihhth's tail quirks through a brief half-circle.)

Qihhth says, "Well."

Qihhth says, "I am not satisfied."

Qihhth says, "I am concerned that we have not identified their true motives, their plans. I do not believe the threat has abated."

Sircha says, "I dunno, it's in jute."

Qihhth says, "I believe we must push harder."

Vikhhran softly says to Qihhth, "Agree."

Qihhth says, "Your notion is a good one."

Qihhth says, "We must more explicitly threaten them."

Yraggahh says, "Right now, there have been no further plans made, and I hear there are a lot of concerns about the Island people, but it may be worth it in the future to send a scouting party to find out what they are hiding."

Hanryu asks, "Another attack?"

Jycanth asks, "The vision Miskton shared with us mentioned a tome on a pedestal, was anything like that seen during the attack?"

Vikhhran softly asks, "Would it be worth taking one or two as hostage?"

Sircha says, "Not elegant enough."

Vikhhran softly says, "I doubt it would prove beneficial, but it may help..."

Yraggahh says to Vikhhran, "It might."

Yraggahh says to Jycanth, "Not that we found."

Qihhth says, "As Yraggahh says."

Yraggahh says, "We did find traps, but no tomes."

Qihhth says, "This meeting was in the way of a status update, and a means to confer information that others might find useful."

Qihhth says, "But the next course of action, as Yraggahh says, remains to be determined."

Maintain says, "Find some way to actually threaten their position in the Spire, it seems, is something of a priority goal."

Yraggahh says, "I also spread this information as means for other adventurers to plan their own actions if they wish, as my smolgan and I have numerous concerns and may not readily plot another assault for some time."

Qihhth says, "We must above all be ... listening."

Qihhth says, "With all of our senses, supernatural and mundane..."

Qihhth says, "So that we might notice *any* further threats against the Ru'atin."

Sircha says, "So I have a question now."

Malykai says, "The Ru'atin Peri'el must be protected."

Asherasa says, "Seek the wisdom of Peri'el."

Sircha asks, "I recently saw a Dragon Follower in town, should i have attacked him?"

Sircha says, "He had a small dragon upon his shoulder."

Vikhhran softly asks, "A dragon priest?"

Qihhth exclaims, "Some of you may recall what befell us all when Peri'el was forced into an unnatural sleep by Dergati. This may never happen again!"

Sircha says, "I didn't catch his name, it didn't seem important at the time."

Qihhth says, "We must do all possible to sustain and bolster her in her task."

Yraggahh asks, "I doubt it. There is a difference between a mage with some form of pet and a Dragon Priest, was he even S'Kra Mur?"

You say, "I believe that is Voranos."

Yraggahh says, "Voranos assisted us with the assault."

Maintain says, "I generally have no strong feelings for the S'kra peoples, but I agree with my pack brother. The Ru'atin Peri'el deserves our best efforts to protect it."

Asherasa says, "Peri'el is worthy of worship by all peoples, and the Dragon must remain in slumber."

Sircha says, "Okay, I have one other small matter to bring up."

Yraggahh says, "While the Dragon Priests are my kind, they are not within our circle. They are Hav'roth's children led astray by generations of terrible beliefs and decisions."

Sircha says, "But it's not related to this one so, it can wait."

Qihhth exclaims, "Foolish Khozh, honorless curs, who worship lizards. Hst!"

Casari says, "Well, if nothing else, your kind do have the best curses."

Qihhth exclaims, "Let them repent, else perish and be renewed in the Spiral!"

Malykai says, "Aye, we dislike them as well."

Maintain says, "We reserve special enmity for the Dragon Priests on M'Riss. Beyond even being the enemy of all in creation."

Qihhth says, "Let us be united in this, then."

Qihhth asks, "Does anyone have anything to add, or questions that have not been answered?"

You say, "Their use of the Shadewatch Mirror spell is concerning, truly. It does not surprise me that some variation of Moongate would appear among their spells, but knowledge of Shadewatch Mirror was reserved by the Council and the Goldcaps for the privileged few."

Yraggahh says, "The Priests captured many libraries during their Imperial reign."

Asherasa says, "These foul 'priests' favor the undoing of our world and spurn the gifts of Peri'el. Well that we should all crush them, into dust if possible."

Yraggahh says, "Knowledge lost, knowledge gained. Who knows what else they found."

Maintain asks, "I do not understand Lunar magic that well, but wouldn't some understanding of the matrices for other spells like Distant Gaze lead one toward the matrices for Shadewatch Mirror in time?"

Vikhhran softly asks you, "Is it possible this is some imposter form of that magic?"

Qihhth exclaims, "Let their flesh enrich the soil, in death!"

Malykai asks, "They've shown...some talent....for shadow magic. Perhaps they discovered a variant?"

Sircha says, "I was thinking about something yesterday, and this may relate later on."

Qihhth exclaims, "Let them return forever the gifts bestowed upon them!"

Qihhth exclaims, "May Ushnish scour them from this plane!"

You say to Vikhhran, "Perhaps some mathematical equivalent, I suppose. A different means to the same end."

Vikhhran softly says, "I am ignorant, so just guessing if it is possible..."

Sircha asks, "You see I was told by a Cleric that death spirits are always sent along on the starry road by clerics, and I thought why not give them the chance of redemption in the service of Peri'el after their souls have been cleaned of corruption?"

Qihhth says, "Let them be made clean in the Red Spiral."

Casari asks, "Isn't the end of the starry road where redemption is found?"

Qihhth says, "If any goodness may be found in them, after their wrongness is undone."

Maintain says, "Oblivion is the kindest fate awaiting the undead, for only after it can they be redeemed."

Yraggahh says, "I would think Peri'el would have to offer that chance, but I am no cleric."

Sircha says, "I thought that perhaps offering the chance of service upon this world, Elanthia, that they would do so."

Sircha says, "Maybe not all of them, but I'm certain if you give something a chance it might happen."

Asherasa says, "Yes, they must be killed and their spirits cleansed in the Spiral. Our mortal realm is not the place for it. Though I would be willing to hear the confession and repentance of any who want to return to the light of Peri'el."

Qihhth exclaims, "Between the Kra'hei and the Dragon Priests, there may be no comparison. The Kra'hei know what the have lost -- they mourn it, they pine for rightness. But the Priests -- hst!"

Maintain says, "Undead are a corruption of this plane. The Red Spiral is a kindness to them and to us."

Qihhth exclaims, "They glory, they gloat, in their error, in their sacrelige!"

Maintain says, "But this isn't the forum for a theological discussion of the undead."

Qihhth says, "Perhaps not."

Jycanth asks, "I was curious what traps were seen during the assault?"

Sorhhn says, "They spurn the gifts of the Three in their worship of their lizard. We should spill their blood and help them shuffle off that flesh that they value so little and send them to the spiral."

Maintain says to Jycanth, "The bombs normally used by denizens of the Spire."

Jycanth says, "Thanks, I wasn't sure if it was something new or not."

Yraggahh says, "We seem to be finishing up, so I will pass the floor to Eyst who has another gathering later tonight, regarding foul old works of the Priests."