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Post by Narrator on Apr 22, 2005 15:21:25 GMT -5
Outside the courtyard the two walked along a street for few minutes, in silence, then turned on to another. The street opened into a broad hilltop piazza surrounded by similar mansions, all with their grandest entrances facing center. In a ring around the plaza stood a forest of gloom sculptures, all rooted in urns of polished obsidian with a single ribbon of shadow rising in the ever-shifting figure of a Shadovar warrior or wizard.
The ring of heroes. Escanor said waving his hand at the wall of figures.
Every one represented here died accomplishing some great service to Shade Enclave. Much of our time was spent in the shadow plain defending ourselves from the Malaugrym
Escanor led Challenger through a hundred paces of gloom sculptures and emerged on the far side of the ring of heroes. Directly ahead stood the dusky grandeur of the palace Most High, its seamless walls fashioned of polished obsidian and its shadowed spires vanishing into the umbral haze above. Like so mush in Shade Enclave, it seemed all sinuous curves and exaggerated proportions.
After passing through a short vault way, the entry way opened into a vast hall of glass curves and dusky translucence where every buttress soared into darkness. Shadovar’s drifted in and out of door ways or stood rasping in tight knots of conversations or sat patiently on the benches along the walls their gem colored eyes glowing bright against the murk.
Escanor march his group down the center of the floor tto crowed seating area outside an enormous pair of guarded doors. The detachment commander kneeled and informed Escanor word had been sent of the prince’s arrival. A few moments later, one of the doors opened and Hadrhune slipped out.
The Most High was engaged and would see them as soon as he was able said Hadrhune.
Escanor’s eye’s eyes looked as through they might burn holes through Hadrhune. You informed him that I am here with the elf? Hadrhune looked at Escanor without flinching
He is with-
Did I ask who he was with? Escanor growled stepping towards the doors.
Hadrhune turned to cut him off. I’ll announce you now.
“We will be right behind you. Escanor catching the door before Hadrhune could close it.
Challenger found himself in a room even murkier than the great reception hall. As they marched forward, the voices of unseen whispers rose and fell in the surrounding darkness.
I know how busy the war is keeping you Escanor. My thanks for bringing these to me. The Most High said. His voice sibilant and forceful.
A gloom-shrouded figure was moving around a statue. A cowled head looked up and down the art work. Challenger could only see platnimum colored eyes in the cowl.
Excellent, I shall be proud to display this in the Gallery of Treasures with the city’s finest works.
Escanor turned to Challenger. Have you the power enough to keep a civil tongue elf?
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Post by Challenger on Apr 23, 2005 0:37:59 GMT -5
"Of cource my Prince." Challenger replied formaly.
Challenger
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Post by Narrator on Apr 23, 2005 9:48:35 GMT -5
By your leave Most High. Escanor turned and soon disappeared in the shadows. In a raspy calm but commanding voice the Telamont Tanthul spoke to Challenger
You are an interesting elf. When my princes speak of you to other elves you are not held in high esteem. If you are making an alliance with to Shade Enclave to satisfy a personal vendetta we need not speak any longer. Tell me your reasons for being here now?
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Post by Challenger on Apr 23, 2005 10:12:55 GMT -5
"I don't want to see my adopted homeland turned into a warzone after the Phaerimm are destroyed, nor do I want to see the Western Heartlands destoyed by the storms your mages are unintentional causing." Challenger stated simply. "With the current level of dialog that is the way things are going. I wish to present a plan for your concideration. A plan that should please everyone involved."
"For the record while I'm here at the behest of the Emerald Enclave, I am working with them because currently out aims match up. Normaly I hold a fair degree of neutrality in the affairs of nations, including Evermeet. I only get involved when they insist on involving me."
Challenger
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Post by Narrator on Apr 23, 2005 10:17:01 GMT -5
I am Most High one Telamont Tanthul come with me.
They passed the statue and vanished into the darkness, then emerged a dozen steps later on what felt like the mezzanine of a very high, very large atrium. Through the hole in the center, Challenger saw what looked like half the continent of Faerun lying spread out beneath him, from the Sword Coast in the West as far east as the great Shoal of Thirst in the desert Anauroch, from the ruins of Arabel in the south to the High Ice in the north. At the moment, most of the land west of Anauroch lay hidden beneath storm clouds, while all to the east was brown and parched with an uncharacteristic drought.
You wish to speak about the melting of the high ice and the trouble it brings for the surrounding areas. Speak freely. Telamont urged. In the war room, no opinion is dismissed lightly.
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Post by Challenger on Apr 23, 2005 10:51:30 GMT -5
"I think the map gives a better demonstration than I could have hoped for." Challenger replied
"Melting the high ice has caused a shift in the weather pattens and systems. Normaly both these regions..." he pointed both east and west of the desert. "...are fertile regions with fairly stable weather. Now the Western Heartlands are looking to be washed away and the Dales are looking to join Anauroch in desert status. Even if melting the ice would restore Anauroch to its former glory you'd be creating a new set of wastelands all arround it. As it stands Anauroch won't be renewed either. To my understanding when the Phaerimm created Anauroch they did so my sucking the life out of the land. My best quess was they did so by magicaly draining the neutriants and minerals plants require to grow. Once the plants were gone there was nothing holding the earth together resulting in the dust and sand wasteland you see before you. Simply throwing water at it won't work. The lands exhausted mineraly as well, its similar to why farmers always let a field go farrow every 3 or 4 years it allows the soil to recover so increasing productivity next year. To be honest beyond the fact it is possible to restore a desert to its natural state and that water alone won't cut it I don't know how to do so. However I do know that its a feat not impossible on a less grand scale or atleast a larger time frame, if your mages were to work in concert with Druids from the Emerald Enclave."
"And that realy continues into the plan I mensioned. May I continue?"
Challenger
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Post by Narrator on Apr 23, 2005 12:18:11 GMT -5
You may continue. said Telamoth
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Post by Challenger on Apr 23, 2005 15:59:00 GMT -5
"As you've probably noticed your arrival hasn't been exactly welcomed. Beyond gross stupidity on behalf of a few individuals I'd imagine the majority are scared and posturing rather than maliciously hostile. This part of the realms hasn't seen a truly powerful nation for a good two or three centuries with Eveska and Waterdeep making up the two most powerful states. Both however are city states and neither have an aggressive tendency towards expansionism. In general the status quo has been maintained here for a long time."
"Your return came with all the grandeur of Nethril of old has come as a bit of a shock and together with your claim to such a vast swath of territory has probably convinced the majority of them that not only are you an aggressive power but you have the military might to back it up. To them it appears that your going to simple step in and reduce both Waterdeep and Eveska to minor states, maybe even annex them. In short they have panicked and fell back on the old fail safe of posturing and hoping to warn you off. Unless something’s done this tension will almost certainly in war. One faction or another will be convinced a preventive strike is their only mean of survival and then I guaranty there will be alot of bloodshed."
"Unfortunately it is unlikely that the first move towards sorting this mess out will come from Waterdeep. Which means you will need to. So here is the plan of action I humbly forward for your consideration."
"Firstly reduce the size of your territorial claims. Unless I miss my guess you are a city state, a powerful city state but a city state none the less. You don't require the entire desert only a relatively small chunk. If carefully chosen you should be able to avoid angering the scattered local and avoid conflict with them. With skill you should be able to trade with them and maybe even add them to your realm peacefully in places assuming the second state works well."
"The second state is to turn your claimed section of desert into land that you can live on. To do this you'll want the help of the Emerald Enclave. In general few people ask the druids for help so doing so should earn you a fair amount of respect from them. If you work together you can both restore your lands and earn the trust and friendship of a respected organisation with branches and alliances throughout these lands."
"While this is going on your unfortunately living on a patch of unfarmable land. So you'll need to ship food in. Now the big industry in the Western Heartlands is agriculture followed closely by trade. Both Waterdeep and Baldur’s Gate in particular are trade cities. If you trade with these cities buying food from them until your lands are readied then you will earn alot of goodwill and forge links that will be useful once your established. Even if as I suspect you don't actually need to buy in food it will help to make the people and rulers see you as people they can do business with. Believe me that helps alot round here."
"If it works as I believe it will you will now have your birth right, along with the friendship of two out of three local powers and at the very least the co operation of a global organisation. There is however one last thing that will cement your position among the nations. By nature of where you want to live your going to end up winding up two group of people who like to run slave caravans over your old empire. The Black Network and Red Wizards are both nasty pieces of work north east of here with more fingers in more pies than I care to count. Thankfully both make orc tribes look unified and organised so that while they cannot be dismissed as a threat its worth noting that the Black Network has been attempting to capture the Dales for as far back as I can remember and to date has captured only one of these little countries with populations that rarely exceed 2 thousand a piece. They will probably plot against you but your too far away for either of them to launch a serious attack and from what I've seen you've the magical firepower to repel any strikes they may think to make. If they had the ability to do you any serious harm they would have conquered the world by now frankly. Anyway I digress. By interfering with this convoys you will earn the respect of just about everyone including grudgingly the elves. The risk to your nation should be low and the goodwill you build up by taking on this worlds most hated groups and freeing their slaves....it will be practically immeasurable."
"The only group I haven’t figured out how to gain positive relations with is the elves. But to be honest you can probably do what the rest of the world has been doing for a half century. Ignore them and leave them be. Evermeet aside they will return the favour and Evermeet is 100 nautical miles off the coast if not further."
"I don't believe I have missed anything though I admit the plan isn't as detailed as I would like. Are there any questions I could answer for you?"
Challenger
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Post by Narrator on Apr 24, 2005 15:37:27 GMT -5
A cloaked sleeve rose and pointed at Challenger.
You are a better ambassador than you give yourself credit for.
Telamont’s raspy voice came out clear and understandable. He lowered his arm and slowly walked around the world window.
I am not familiar with the different factions of druids, they have changed since the time of Netheril. I will send a prince to gather knowledge of this. On the subject you present, we have approached the druids of this area on changing Anauroch; they have remained mute with their response. The elves state they can handle things themselves. Hopefully better than they handle the phaerimm’s. The humans from Waterdeep have shown my prince’s accusations, insults, hostilites and veiled threats. It is refreshing and reassuring not all is lost in meeting one as you. It shows a mark of intelligence if one is willing to discuss before you accuse and threaten.
We have the abilities to reverse the dead magic that created the Anauroch. If the druid could help, one would ask why haven’t they done so already. The Anauroch is not natural so they should not agree with it.
Telamont walked in silence for a few moments
Would the elves leave Evermeet or the Humans leave Waterdeep, if it would benefit the majority of citizens of Faerun. We both know the answer.
Lift his hand to make a point
I am not suggesting it. Yet we know they will not even consider thinking of what they want the Shade Enclave to do. The area known as the Netheril Empire belongs to the Shade Enclave, by birthright. We were here before many of the cities were even thought of. The Shadovar are not unreasonable orcs. We claim the area within the Netheril boundaries, I know the Anauroch has expanded pass the borders of Netheril. We will show the original borders and discuss this, in a civil manner. As for being a single enclave, that is true at present. We have Mythallar and the knowledge to create more enclaves. I believe you will find humans willing to return and live among the clouds once again.
As for Waterdeep and Evereska.
Telamont let out a sigh.
We hear the words from the leaders of Waterdeep. Anger, fear, hostility and mistrust. Evereska has brought the current trouble on themselves. I receive knowledge that it was a tome guardian from Evereska that release the phaerimm, which is waiting to attack Evereska. We offer our assitance in ridding the area of phaerimms and we receive scorned and insults. We are the least of Evereska troubles. From what I have seen, themselves and their arrogance are their enemies. If Evereska falls, it will be of their own doing.
As I see it now the Anauroch is inhabited by but a few and use by criminals. This will be changed for the better. Yet, we meet with resistance, how many have claimed rightfully Anauroch. For the people that live in the Anauroch is there not a desert to the southwest? To gain allies will requires time. Citizens of this area are rather aloof and mistrustful of different people. This is understandable. The Shadovar are different and difference breed’s mistrust and fear. We are patience.
Will the melting of the high ice cause disruptions, yes, we have stated this. We offered help but was refused. I posed the same question to you as I my princes did the leaders of Evereska and Waterdeep. Would you have a lush green fields and forest instead of a hostile desert? What is the life span of an elf or a dwarf? In the blink of an eye, the area would be changed. Humans have a shorter lifespan, future generation would be grateful for their sacrifice.
Telamont walk silent for a few moments.
This is interesting but a moot point. Leaders from different areas are not willing to talk, only demand. We will rid the area of the phaerimm and only ask for what is ours by birthright. Present elf excluded, since the Shade Enclave was brought here we have been meet with hostility and mistrust, but we are still willing to listen to others.
Telamont noticed the expression on Challenger.
You did not know of this. The same elf that released the phaerimm joined with a prince of shade that was here on Faerun and summoned the Shade Enclave. The Shade Enclave was brought here to Faerun to correct an elven problem, yet we are scorned. Knowing what you know now. Is our claim to our birthright unreasonable, considering we are doing what few on Faerun can? Think about this Gibson, we will talk later.
Escanor appears next to Challenger Come with me Elf.
You will address him by his name Prince Escanor.
Yes Most High, follow me Gibson.
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Post by Narrator on Apr 24, 2005 15:55:39 GMT -5
A few minutes later Challenger was standing in the courtyard and Escanor left.
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Post by Galadon on Apr 25, 2005 9:53:13 GMT -5
The sun had just went below the horizon. Galadon was sitting on the balconey of Jastra’s bed chamber, enjoying the night air and peace. Jastra and Selinah were busy talking on Jastra’s bed, Catching up as they put it. Galadon was puffing away on his pipe. He understood now why Elminster puff away so much, there was something calming about it. He noticed Escanor and Challenger return from the meeting with the most high. Challenger looked a bit troubled, but then again when doesn’t Challenger looked a bit troubled.
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Post by Challenger on Apr 25, 2005 10:14:41 GMT -5
With a few words and a gesture Challenger levitated up onto the balconey.
"I think the term is we're royaly screwed is applicable here." He reported grimly.
"Its not their intentions per say we have to worry about its their methods. And thanks to those prats before us I'm too short on leverage to actual shift them. I've got one card left to play but I don't see it winning the hand never mind the game. We're on one hell of a sticky wicket."
Challenger
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Post by Galadon on Apr 25, 2005 10:28:00 GMT -5
An interesting way of putting it. What do you suggest would be the best course of action, everything concidered?
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Post by Challenger on Apr 25, 2005 10:46:31 GMT -5
"I'm going to try and turn the situation round on them tomorrow. With luck I can get them to see why their actions are going to spark off another war. If that fails we need to decide which side we're going to fight on."
"The problem is they believe, and I care to agree with them, that they have been as reasonable as possible and had it thrown back in their faces. All they intend to do is re-establish the old Netheril and frankly its such a grand dream they should be at it for the next 100 years at the least, presenting no threat to anyone else. They claim to have asked the druids for help and were refused so they came up with their own destructive plan insteed. They offered aid to overcome the grief their plan will cause and that was thrown back in their faces as well. They are well aware they are going to destroy the area arround Anauroch and nolonger give a damn because the occupents of that land give them every reason not to."
"Unless we can figure out how to make them care there isn't a lot we can do."
Challenger
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Post by Galadon on Apr 25, 2005 10:59:18 GMT -5
They will be looking for more allies. Mere words will not change anyone's thought that don't have direct evidence what they are doing.
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