As the Ashen Company and their new found allies drink and talk in the Last Stand Inn, preparations below are being made for the meeting of the day, the purpose of why they have all come together. They trade stories and resources and try to get to know each other as best they can in these strange circumstances.
Lotty managed to catch a word with Rhone before the meeting to find out how Nora is doing; Rhone says that so far so good, she is well and proving useful. Rhone also gives Lotty some advice on their new allies, she feels reassured that Rhone doesn't have any bad feelings about them and agrees that when it comes their version of fighting on the shield wall their new companions will prove themselves in battle.
As they head down to the hidden staircase behind the bar to join Remmi and others for the meeting some of the group are reminded of how the first meeting they had in this place was very different, the structure itself in a hot hell-like state under Morrow Massani's rule, now a place where the heads of free organisations along the coast are coming together to try to stop an invasion. In attendance at the meeting are:
- Remmi Remmington - head of the Remington Syndicate, controlling organisation of Sierrona.
- Rhone - Remmi's head of security, a half-elf barbarian that hails from Zanadonia who once travelled with the Asehn Company. Attending today in a more formal military dress.
- Mira - Elven advisor to Remmi and powerful mage. Dressed, unusually for her, in blue and white light armour.
- Commander Finneas - Acting Devine for the Devine Pansophical who are based in Alya. Attending by magical means of projection.
- Fallah - representative from the Broker of Secrets, also attending by magical means.
- Luther Strand - red tiefling representative of The Wardens of Balance
Cade enquires as to Ezra's attendance and Mira explains he is still chasing Vi, when Lotty asks how Ezra is holding up, Mira just says that "he's alive". To allay any fears of Vi being present Mira & Remmi both cast "True Sight" and thoroughly inspect each attendee, Mira also provides Kel and Berrick with a scroll so they may cast the spell themselves in the future.
After Cade recaps the situation and explains the danger threatened byt the Ulvari cartel the gathered begin to make plans for the expected invasion. Whilst Commander Finneas is at first reluctant to work alongside organisations like the Brokers of Secrets the insight of Sextus and Seppias' plans that Fallah brings to the table convinces him otherwise.
Fallah explains that the intel the Brokers have been able to obtain suggests that Alya will be the first target of Sextus and Seppia, Remmi will send the guard he can spare to reinforce Finneas defences and the Ashen Company and Company will act as a strike force to combat any large threats as they arise. With the knowledge that Nassandrial has been seen associated with the Cartel the threat of a dragon attack is a very real one.
After the meeting has wrapped up Luther hangs back to give the group some additional advice about the sibling fiends Sextus & Seppia. He explains that he had previous sent a group of adventurers after the two; they managed to defeat them (around the same time the Ashen Company took down Morrow) but were unable to follow and default them on the Abyssal plane and so they regained their power and strength and returned to Ios. Luther also explains that they are his brother and sister, they are all the product of assault from the demon Prince Azreal. Luther warns the group that:
- Sextus is a great swordsman and powerful warrior.
- Seppia a fierce spellcaster.
- Immune to non-magical weapons.
- Resistant to cold, fire, lightening and poison damage.
- Can fly
- Can shape change
- Can travel between the ethereal plane
- Can charm and dominate and well as absorb the life-force from those they have charmed.
- Best combat is to boost wisdom to reduce chances of being charmed.
The name Azreal is familiar to those who knew Elric as it was Azreal's book, the Demononicon that Elric read and started to become indoctrinated by it's power. Azrael is the Demon Prince of Domination, known as the Breaker of Wills. The tenets of his fait being that all beings are meant to dominate or be dominated, that the will of mortals were meant to be broken and that all should bow before his glory.
As Luther leaves Silas follows to ask about joining the Wardens of balance. Luther asks Silas two questions "what does he know of the Wardens?" to which Silas explains he hears good things about the work of the guild and they seem honourable in their intentions. To Luther's second question "Why do you want to join", Silas explains that be believes the guild can make a real difference in the world and the he want to be a part of that difference. Luther explains that first Silas must obtain the components for a ritual; the blood of a fiend, a celestial and a humanoid, once he consume the components and undertakes the ritual; providing he survives he can undertake the training to join the wardens.
Knowing they could be about to face constructs, fiends, a dragon and who knows what else the group head out for supplies, convening at McFini's shop the newcomers experience the McFini family welcome for the first time as they stock up on Aunt Ella's potions and continue to discuss their plans and what supplies they may need.
