Act Two, Chapter Twenty Nine "New Allies!" (18-02-2022)

 Cade’s Log 

It has been a few days since the baby Kraken fight and is the morning of the summit to save the Ulvari Coast.  I caught up with Lotty and Kel during breakfast at the Last Stand Inn and shared with them the news I had heard someone fitting Elric’s description has been seen in the service of Niallah Mishibi.

 Vaughn came over and told us that Remmy had requested a meeting with us that morning before the summit.  Joining us for that meeting was the half elf Lady Latharial, all black Null bearing 2 scimitars, the elf Silas carrying a bladed staff weapon, and a Hobgoblin named Berrik covered in bags that appear blood stained carrying various organs?!?  Remmy says Lady Latharial is an old friend and these were 3 of her associates and tells us that they have agreed to help us with our current problem with the Ulvari Cartel if we help them later with their problem.  It is just like Remmy to sign us up for doing tasks for him without consulting us.

We briefly explained our troubles with the Ulvari Cartel, that they are amassing an army of automated creatures to attack Sierrona and Alya.  I tried to not scare them away with everything that is going on by leaving things out like the dragon that is hunting us, but Lotty later brought it all up.  We were a little standoffish at first, especially Lotty, in worries that one of them may be Vai.  Lady Latharial offered for us to test her Moon Beam but refused to let us test the rest and said she vouched for them.  We eventually let it drop, but I still have my concerns.

 It seems like they have been through a lot also.  Lady Latharial is apparently the second in the choosing for the Earldom of Senmark but they have been “interfered with” by a shadowy collective run by “The Marionettest”.  That was the name Nora, the person who tried to assassinate me before becoming a dolphin and ally, said hired her group.  It seems that a Lady Zaltrax is working for the Marionettest and formed a Coup’de’taut that killed King Hector.  It seems that members of the organization have numbers on their back, Lady Zaltrax is #7, and they have killed someone with #14.  At one point they feel they killed Lady Zaltrax, but she was brought back to life through black strings of energy bringing her back to life “like a puppet”.

 I asked if the help in return was to put Lady Latharial on the throne, and she said no and would prefer the throne go to a normal “choosing” and it was more about getting this shadowy collective out of power and removing Lady Zaltrax from the throne.

It does seem like they have heard the name Allstair Azher before also, so that might confirm that he is the Marionettest.

I am not sure about the experience of these new associates, they could not identify a simple Warforged from a Godforged.  I think might now believe I was made by Aeon rather then made out of gifts he provided.  Silas looked a little sheepish when I brought Aeon's name.  It is ok though, it is at least better then when I joined up with Lotty and she first thought I was bench clamp for her projects.

Silas' hands were bandaged, and I did try to heal them but he declined and moved away.  I am not sure the significance at this time, he called them trophies and blamed his own weapon.   I am wondering if we should get him some training with it before we enter combat together. 

It seems they found themselves for separate reasons in Zanidonia and did some jobs together.  Then fell into the political intrigue and after a few assassination attempts they have formed a tight bond.

Lotty tried to explain to them about the 1,000 or so automatons the Ulvari Cartel by showing her pony.  It came out that it was Arnon, her cousin, who helped make them and that he died when we tried to rescue him due to Vai.  Lotty is still taking that very hard.

I hope they can hold their own in battle as I fear we will be facing some large fights soon.