07.12f: Meeting on the Castle

[misfit]

"Yes, well I never said that I thought making an ally of it would be easy, and admit that it might not even be possible. Still if we don't try then it is impossible."

"As for Spellbinder, yes, his insights would no doubt be helpful. Pulling him away from Lane would attract attention though. To the best of my knowledge he is planning to attend tonight's festivities. That will give him an excuse to break off that won't arouse suspicion. We can talk to him discretely then and decide when he have spoken to him."

[Rasanam]

"As I see it, we have two basic options for trying to negotiate. One is to have someone - preferably someone with significant mental defenses - speak to Hivers directly, perhaps using those telephones in its churches. And the other is to decide that direct communication simply isn't working, declare Lane to be an ambassador, and send all communications through him."

[misfit]

"I would say that sums it up rather neatly. As for 'significant metal defenses' I am not helpless, but no doubt there are many stronger than I. Also I fear I have already made a poor first impression. I think someone else would be better suited to take the lead on this. Would anyone care to step forward on that? ...or at least point a finger at someone else?" Harrune chuckles.

[Joshua]

As a minor note, there's an explosion of sorcerous fire and noise that can be seen for miles. This is, in fact, visible from the top of the castle, and those who want, can easily make out Quin and Aibne. Just odd timing really.

[Joshua]

Darnell looks slightly annoyed. "Come on Quin, what's..." He will say something very pleasant sounding in elvish*, then continue. "Well, perhaps it's a test of our ability with pattern that Dworkin set in motion; using trump blocks most magic, and pattern can hedge out trump. He might have even created a shadow that would have worked to make this thing without it being aware." He will grumble and look to Alys. "Is there a specific legend like this? The old fool may have copied one exactly."
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*: All elvin swears do.

[Wyvern]

Alys stares out over the parapets at Quin's demonstration, shaking her head at Darnell's question.

"No exact matches that I know of, though I am sure that Dworkin's knowledge of old legends exceeds my own. The closest tale I can think of..."

"There was a Clan* that prided itself on psychic power and sublimation of self to the greater whole. One of their cities, larger and more powerful than the rest, learned two interesting tricks: the ability to transport itself through shadow, and the ability to detect the use of Greater Powers. And, resentful of the ruling clan, it struck - killing or absorbing those who did not have the Power active, and fleeing from those who did, relying on the combined endurance and psychic power of a hundred million people to outpace and outlast those who pursued it. Of course, it had not shared either of its two tricks with the rest of its Clan, and within a week it was the only surviving city of its kind."

"In the end, it was destroyed not by wielding Logrus against it, but by shapeshifting: one member of the ruling Clan took on a form that was itself legion, and slew the inhabitants of the city in single combat - all of them at the same time, according to the legend."

"Of course, I have my doubts if the legend was entirely accurate... If I had to guess**, I would say that it was destroyed by subtlety more than brute force - a manifestation of Logrus sufficient to protect its wielder from the city's psychic might, but subtle enough to avoid its detection until it was too late for it to run."

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* For some reason Alys is editing this story as she goes, stripping out identifying details like names of Clan, or city, or individuals.
** For those with high psyche: this is not a guess, but something she (thinks she) knows.

[khadjair]

Cameron takes a half-step forward to be more involved in the conversation.

"It sounds like... if this legend is similar to what we actually face... you need an agent who, without invoking a Greater Power, has a strong mind, and a deep ability to endure and survive physical hardships as well. And if it could detect the use of a Greater Power, would it also be able to detect shapeshifters or more... mundane sorcerers?"

[Wyvern]

"Possible; in that particular story, it could certainly detect both of those - it simply did not care, believing that such lesser powers posed no threat to it. This one, however... I do not think Hivers truly understands what it faces; at most it has second-hand descriptions from someone from Chaos, and as yet, we have given it no reason to fear us. I would guess that it thinks the Pattern is another entity like itself, rather than a Greater Power that it cannot directly oppose."

[misfit]

"The Pattern, or the city, or it might not draw a distinction between the two. It definitely thinks there is a higher consciousness here than my own and that I was speaking for it."

"So far it seems that Trump isn't worth its attention. I received several calls from Alaror while I was there and it didn't seem to attract attention. My abrupt departure might change its view on that."

"Cameron, your suggestions sound good. Did you have someone specific in mind?"

[Joshua]

Oberon will interrupt, mostly to observe. "Spellbinder is keeping Lane busy. Not sure how much longer he'll be able to keep that up. So, we should decide soon."
He will look to Cameron for the orc's answer.