Chapter Eight: Crescent City (A Message)
On the evening of April 14, around 7:00 pm Seebo feels the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Someone is watching him from afar. A moment later a whispered voice speaks clearly to all of the Starborn (except Lorelei and Dinah) who are within ten feet of Seebo at this time. It is the voice of Lady Arigane of Saragost:
"My friends, we have only a few minutes. My magic is not so powerful that I can continue this conversation indefinitely.
"The Duergar army and their drow leaders have thoroughly mastered Saragost. On the night of the battle many hundreds were slaughtered by the marching soldiers. Anyone that served in the active defense of Saragost, particulary the city watch, was cut down mercilessly. Everyone was forced into their homes and told to stay there.
"The next morning Count Crastic appeared and announced that he was the new governor of the city. The Council would remain intact, only the membership was changed significantly. Grandlord Yomah retains his seat on the Council, but now must defer to Crastic. Michel Dunsany advises the Council, but he has been confined to the Hall of Echoes. My seat on the Council has been given over to a drow wizard named Xandrik Arakh and Sir Talos Greykeep's seat belongs now to a drow commander, Captain Tzanvine, who commanded the Duergar army during the battle.
"Later that evening hundreds of 'insurgents' were executed, including Sir Talos Greykeep the city watch commander. Count Crastic named them as traitors to the well-being of Saragost; had they not fought the Duergar there would have been peace with the Duegar and Drow . . . people would not have died.
"A curfew is in effect from dawn until dusk. The Duergar and Drow do not want to deal with people during the daylight hours. A fairly large handful of the people of Saragost have joined in with the invaders, taking posts as informants and daytime police.
"The Sanctuary of the Seven Archways still stands, but we are confined to the towers. The Drow cannot muster the strength to overcome our magic, but we cannot exit safely. I fear that we will soon grow weary of the fight and we must fail.
"Please give me news of your exploits. I see that you have reached a place of safety . . . are you in Crescent City now? What happens with you?"
Successful spellcraft checks indicate that Lady Arigane has cast scrying on Seebo and is using message to speak to all of you through the magical sensor.
Any of the Starborn that were in Saragost before and who are with Seebo at this time may speak to Lady Arigane.
posted by Brent Nall at 9:55 AM
2 Comments:
I'm glad to hear you still withstand. We are in fact in Crescent City. A ship of Drow attacked us during the voyage but we beat them back and seized the ship they stole. We have a few leads on the Ragged Man which we will be following up on. Two more Starborn have joined us, Lorelei Zandros and Dinah Murphy. We are well and optimistic about what lies ahead of us.
Lady Arigane replies:
"We will hold out as long as we can, and we hope that we may somehow defeat the invaders. It is a tenuous hope at best.
"Stick to your path. Your fight is not in Saragost. You must face and defeat the Dark. Any aid you might provide in a battle for Saragost would be lost if you fail in the war.
"The people of Churney-on-the-Green and Hockton Barrow are still free. They harry the Duergar as much as they can. It is possible we may win through in the end with their help . . . but I am not sure.
"Know this: your destiny is to face the Dark in battle. It does not ensure that you will survive the conflict. This first blow, while terrible for Chillhame and Saragost, is likely not the greatest threat the Drow and the Dark will throw at you or the world. May the gods be with you in your struggle."
The scrying spell ends along with the message.
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