The Elders of Torrance sit around a map

[clydesdaleNPC]

In one of the small side rooms of the Barras pub, Lorraine and Peter of Torrence sit around a map of the area that fills the whole table top. Lorraine wears a grey shirt and her Sidhean holy symbol is sitting neatly around her neck, Peter is dressed as a peasant would, chewing his fingernails.

"What's the next move then, Lorraine?" Peter growls, "Lady Ellen suggested that the dwarf's really important or something, but he's right in the tower! Our tower!"

"It's her tower for now," Lorraine mutters, then glances down at the map. "When the adventurers come in, maybe they'll have some answers. I would like to see the dwarf rescued as much as anyone, but not it if means sending the would-be rescuers to their deaths on a suicide mission. We need some sort of distraction or tactical advantage."

Just as she finishes speaking, a short person with a huge bushy beard and red robes walks into the room. "Awrite," she says, and the Elders are both taken aback by the female voice. "I'm Nion, the Dwarf of Crowa."

Atchoo! The Dwarf sneezes, sending the map crumbling off the table. "Sorry," she mutters, as the three of them sort the map steady and all sit down. "I'm allergic to humans. I was told there'd be a meeting about the heretic problem, I take it this is it?"

Lorraine nods. "We're just hoping that some of the adventurers will stop by and make a decision about our next move."

"Well, I've got some news to go wi that. We've 'eard that poor Muir lost his beard to the Heretic a few months ago. Rumour has it she's almost drained him dry- near death he is, apparently. That would be rather bad news for all of us on this side of the war."

[Dragon Claire]

"Then there is little time to waste getting him back."
Elandowyn enters the room removing her hat and letting it droop across her shoulders.
"Elders, Nion. It is good to find you here. From what I've been able to piece together from visions granted by our fae allies to myself and Marcas that Hytalia is leaving to take a quest sometime soon. She will no doubt take a number of her followers with her for support. This will leave Torrence with a smaller force occupying it and possibly be our best chance of a break out attempt. Even then we would still need a distraction or a way to reach and or breach the tower unseen.
However there is the other side of the coin. From what I have seen it is painfully obvious to me that Hytalia is the Primate of Githas. As such I have a strong suspicion that the quest she is about to undertake is for his relic. We cannot let her obtain it as it will grant her even more power. If we wait for her to depart to launch our rescue we would have to be ready to move in quickly, get the job done and pick up her trail to catch up with her before she gets too far ahead. I am largely unsure how to proceed."

[mcbale]

A tall figure stands in the entrance to the room, hood up concealing most of his face.
"Good evening, I was told you were looking for Adventurers?"
He slowly steps into the room, lowering his hood as he moves.

[Dragon Claire]

Elandowyn looks round as she enters the room and stares at the stranger. "Yes we are in need of adventurers." She starts slowly "however you are no adventurer I know of so forgive me if I am cautious. Who are you and what can you do?"

[mcbale]

He chuckles quietly, "Alvarion Northwind, of Glen Moss. Apprentice with the Guild of Scouts." Alvarion scratches behind one pointed ear, looking at Elandowyn. "I have not been in Barra long, so I have not met many other adventurers, although I have some. May I ask you your name?"

[Dragon Claire]

She smiles. "Very well. I am Mother Elandowyn McCrae of Tralda and Journeyman of the Physicians guild. I have lived in Barra most of my life. ((Elvish)) However do not take me for a city spoiled Elf. You have come far from the forest now and if you wish to take on this task it will not be easy. ((Ithronian)) tell me what do you know of Torrence already?"

[mcbale]

"Of Torrance, nothing." He moves over to the map table, nodding to the others present. "Apart from the fact you have evidently have a problem with Githasians, I haven't heard anything." He shakes his head before switching to Elvish ((Elvish))"So far on my travels I was part of a group that encountered several smaller groups of heretics, Kryganites for the most part but at least one Abraxian and a group calling themselves the Black Flame. Do you know if they are linked or are they separate from what is going on in Torrance?"

[mcbale]

Alvarion looks around the room, taking in his surroundings and the other people there((Ithronian))"Sorry, that was very rude of me, would anyone like to fill me in with the details, so I can see if I can be of any use?"

[clydesdaleNPC]

Peter scratches his head at the exchange and then shrugs at Alvarion.

"Long story short, this heretic wifey came in to our town an' took it from us. Hytalia she's called. She was a wean last time we saw her, but since she came back she brought these heretics with her. She's powerful, can do things that I don't think even normal heretic priests can... I've seen her killed more than once but... She just never dies."

He shivers. "When they moved in to our tower, they did something to the town. Something that steals away all your energy and your life. Makes you feel worn, old, and then your skin ages and your bones crumble. Lots of the older folk from the town are already dead. And now the young ones look like they're nearly dead from old age. The town can't hold out much longer..." He sighs and Lorraine puts a hand on his shoulder comfortingly.

"We need all the help we can get."

[mcbale]

Alvarion shakes his head, obviously confused. "Is she being resurrected? I am told there are means of legal resurrection. However she is doing it there must be a way to stop her for good." His eyes drop back to the map, "Who are the Army of Salvation? and what do the Dark Elves have to do with this?"

[clydesdaleNPC]

Lorraine sighs, "The Army of Salvation are a group of Kharachians. They aim to take down the Githasians also but I don't agree with their methods. They would let those the Githasians are draining die in order to take away the life they give to the Githasians. But the whole reason we need you is to SAVE the people of our town. I don't care, really, about what happens to the Githasians, so long as our people are saved. They disagree, of course."

"Dark elves, why, I believe someone spoke of her allies in the dark elves, I believe they reside somewhere in the mountains. Heresay only, as far as I'm aware, but it was worth pointing out on the map anyway."

[mcbale]

"Everything possible must be done to try and save the people. The Githasians must be dealt with one way or another." Alvarion looks back to the map, "The way I see it, trying to retake the town now would only cost more lives. Personally, I think we need to look into what the Dark Elves are doing and how they are involved in all this. If we can remove their support, it may prove easier to retake the town."

[Dragon Claire]

Elandowyn nods slowly. "I'm afraid the alliance could be more than here say. Dark elves were seen in the visions granted by the Fae. I agree something should be done to cut them off from Hytalia however I myself can take no offencive action against them. I also believe adventurers would be best placed in a smaller scale mission and we should look to our allies of the same to hold off the dark elves. That said it is a task I can only hold them to once if there is a better placed task I will gladly hear it."

"Rescuing Muir is of vital importance. It is only with all seven of the Dwarven priests with us that we shall be able to suceed in stopping the draining of the people of Torrence. I have been in the tower before it will be guarded with heratics and Harpies. It would be to our advantage to enter Torrence once Hytalia has left and if possible find a personal effect to track her with later however time may not allow us that option. What we need is a distraction. As much as I hate to admit it, the Army of Salvation have proven themselves more than adept at cutting off the supply lines so much so that Hytalia was desperate enough to call in adventurers to fix it. There must be some way to get word to them and gain they're assistance."

[mcbale]

"I understand that rescuing the town's people is of vital importance, and I agree that it must be considered a priority. I do not mean for a group of adventurers to hold off the Dark Elves off, we are too few and it would likely result in the deaths of all present. Why not do what adventurers do best? To pass unseen where a larger group could never go, to try and speak with whoever leads the Dark Elves." Alvarion suddenly looks very grim, "That could be very dangerous though." Turning to Elandowyn, he asks, "How would know if this, Hytalia, left Torrance? Unless she is prone to wandering, then I would assume that she is unlikely to leave often or at all, therefore she must be given a reason to leave and what better reason than to investigate the loss of an ally?"

[Dragon Claire]

Elandowyn gives an exasperated look. "She does not need to be given a reason to leave she already has one. We know she has been making preparations to leave on a quest. As the Primate of the church of Githas I assume for their church relic. It is a boost to an already powerful enemy that we can ill afford however liberating Torrence from her grip comes first. She may have one set of allies but we have more and perhaps we can then then, as you say apprentice, we may pass unseen with the pressure and diversion that can be raised against the heratics and give us a chance to end this curse."