Blackbog Keep

[Zanaikin]

( Also, it seems that ever since near the end of the Trelling Campaign I have forgotten to add on the +10% XP for Item Familiars. I sure have no intention of redoing ALL my math, but I did some rough estimates based on my log's figures and came up with the following. I don't believe it levels anyone up though. )

REFACTORING XP FOR ITEM FAMILIARS:

Derovarr, Jens, & Dmitri: 1,200XP
Ulrich & Kati: 1,700XP
Teodor: 2,400XP

XP Totals: Derovarr (205,930xp), Jens (200,878xp), Ulrich (189,799xp), Kati (181,338xp), Dmitri (181,244xp), Teodor (175,900xp)

[Zanaikin]

[Mr_Praetorian]

Upon learning of the possible "breach" in the Sunward spell. Derovarr asks the fortress crafters if it would be possible to create some sort of stake that, after piercing the armor/flesh of a vampire, could deliver a Light effect into the foe, through the spike. If possible, he would also like to know if his grenade launcher could be modified to fire them from range, or if a firing mechanism that attaches to his armor could be produced.

Though he's short on funding at the moment, he's fairly certain that the other commanders would be interested in such a device. Perhaps variations could be devised that, for example, could be put into the end of a lance. (Diplomacy 62)

[Zanaikin]

[Mr_Praetorian]

Well, the Light effect is not conditional on a critical strike, right? I thought the point was to simply pierce the skin/armor, and, last I checked, piercing weapons are made for those sort of things. Since making the critical strike is not an issue under these circumstances, could the stakes be made to be iron (unless the Misalinians have access to flametouched iron). Surely that would improve accuracy?

[Laharl]

[Mr_Praetorian]

Instant kills are nice, but I'm thinking more of a distraction type deal. Seriously, which is the vampire more likely to do: keep attacking you, or pull the takes with Light effects out of itself.

Though, I am liking the idea of using wooden tips, since that would bypass Ironguard.

[Zanaikin]

[Mr_Praetorian]

Well, let's give it shot anyway. I'll need something to do while Sir Dispel's Alot works on making my pirmary weapon mean something.
Prototype design:
Metal hafted, wooden pointed stake. On hit Daylight (or whatever spell would appear to work best) triggered by the wooden end enterring the foe's heart. One time use for the sake of cost efficiency.

[Zanaikin]

I forgot this news:
May 19th: Konev sends out the message to the involved Citadel Elites ( Dmitri, Teodor here ) that the information needed for Trias has been acquired, and that they will analyze it before distributing the word to the alliance.
( Dave: I also need to talk to you about your report with Konev ).

Week of May 20th thru May 26th:

May 20th: Lenneth, Kilar, Cary, and Kati takes leave from Blackbog Keep during the daytime. They announces beforehand that they'll be making a trip to Airindale to finalize the proposal of joint command on the Western Front, while Kovis and Derovarr will be in charge of Keep during the meantime. Thankfully, nothing happened much during the day, and the four were back by nightfall. Lenneth immediately calls upon a meeting afterwards to spread the news:
An agreement between the Misalin Guard of the Grand Duchy and the Airindale Gemstone Guard has been forged appropriate. Both sides will be contributing almost their entire force to the Campaign, and overall command will be shared between the highest ranking officers of both sides. Furthermore, the Misalin Guard's forces will form the vanguard and center of the offensive, with the Guard's leader as the Battle Line Commander. Meanwhile all air support ( including the Sky Galleons ), artillery support ( mages & siege weapons ), and rear supporting elements will be placed under the command of the Airindalians, as their air combat mages and war mages have far more expertise in this field. The exact distribution of forces along these two chains have yet to be decided, but it is understood that most, if not all of the Battlemaster forces will be assigned to the Battle Line.
The Airindalians estimate they need another 10 days or so to fully organize their newly created army. Thus the joint offensive with Naralan will begin at the beginning of June. Furthermore, a meeting between Misalin, Airindale, and Naralan has been scheduled on May 27th, in order to make final strategic and tactical planning for the Campaign's launch. Lastly, the Kharvan Citadel has reported that they have confirmed the near completion of Trias Gate, although not in such details to allow us to know whether it may be finished before the launch of the campaign or not. Therefore planning for a joint raid against Trias continues. Lenneth has pushed for the Blackbog Keep, or more precisely, the Retribution parked here, as the place of conference between the strike leaders of all three sides, for it may be the best place to keep any information from being leaked. Fortunately for our political situation, the other alliance members have agreed, and this meeting will take place on the night of May 21th ( tomorrow ingame ).

May 21st: Nothing much before the conference, will write about that whole deal later...

Other news for the week is pushed back for now...

[Zanaikin]

on May 21st, at dusk, Lenneth ordered that the Sky Galleon Retribution take off to a height of 2,000ft above the Keep. Both the Sky Galleon Radiance and Vindicator also came alongside, each maintaining a distance of 500ft away and in broad formation. The three ships the proceed to flying a half-mile radius circle around Blackbog Keep. The reason for this? the troops were told that the three airships and their full complement of warforged crew are having a training exercise.

Of course, the major commanders knew better, for the guests were just starting to arrive, teleporting directly onto the Retribution's front deck, where a lockdown suppressor from Airindale had been brought in just a day before and is now positioned and active.

The Misalinian attendees included Lenneth, Cary, Kovis, Kilar, Derovarr, and Kati.
The Archeronians included Dmitri, Teodor, and several new people: Kharvan Citadel Command High-Captain Grigoriy Konev, Kharvan Field-General Viktor Pritbor, Kharvan Warmage Commander Artyom Radetzky, and the dragons Aurixsveargith and Haurachlorsvek, both in human form.
The Airindalians included their new Escort-Marshal, Arvitor Aelisar Arinydeth, as well as High-Marshal Daetherlar Berothar, apparently the only remaining member of the Gemstone Guard high command from before the war's start.
Lastly, the Naralanian group consisted of only warforged - the Field Commanders 'Marshal' and his officers 'Banner' and 'Cipher'. It seems that the gnomes are handing the command of their armies to the warforged which, by this time, already dominate their forces by nearly 90%.

One of the main cabins in the Retribution's extradimensional living quarters had been converted into a large conference room. After everyone sat down and exchanged introductions and pleasantries, High-Captain Konev announced that there two pieces of information he'd like to share first before heading into the main topic of the meeting.

First, it was apparent to everyone at the meeting that the only Archeronian representatives all came from Kharva. Konev explains that unfortunately, Archeron was already fracturing under the strains of the war. Despite the decisive defeat dealt to the Fens forces in Archeron in the Trelling and Arcandia campaigns, the barbarian tribes that have situated themselves in Palmira province are still resisting the Archeron forces' advance. The nobles of Palmira, being shortsighted as they are, appear to have no intention of diverting forces in aiding the alliance's efforts until they re-establish full control over their lands. The halflings of the Southern Coast, never having a particularly strong military since the start, also declared their inability to help due to the tremendous losses they've taken through the war. There was still no response from the half-elves of Haven. But the worst news is that the dwarves of Darion, whose forces currently constitute for the bulk of Archeron's available military strength, had gone behind the backs of the other provinces and signed a non-aggression treaty with the Imperials, one which even granted the Imperials surface access to Darion's lands. This was no doubt an effect caused by veiled threats issued from the Imperials, along with the probably bribery they presented as an incentive. Disheartened by these events, Governor-General Gant ordered a full withdraw of Kharvan forces from Palmira, which only met accusations from the other provinces.
Aelisar then revealed to the table that the half-elves of Haven have been working with the Airindalians in the recent weeks, and the Haven duskblades have been instrumental in extending full control over the new Battlemaster forces. Unfortunately, the ranking officers of the Haven forces were currently busy presiding over preparations for the Western Campaign to attend this meeting.

Second, Konev tells the Misalinians that in the past few days, rumors have been spreading across the Misalin Capital that the Misalin Silver Knights which occupy Blackbog Keep under their banner of restoring the Grand Duchy, have been working with Airindalians in forging a new army to attack the Church of Misalin and seize control of the nation. While Konev cannot be completely sure, he believes it is likely these rumors were started by Norinth and Imperial infiltrators in provoking Archpriest Anstrun into making a preemptive attack on Blackbog. Unfortunately, Konev has no information on how Anstrun is reacting to all this.
Lenneth confirms that she also just received this information today, although she believe there is also the possibility that Anstrun is spreading this news around to be used as an excuse to launch a new offensive.

(to be continued later... attendees who have input or suggestions now may voice them)

[Zanaikin]

[Zanaikin]

( The handing over of this actually takes place after the conference )

( Apparently Lenneth forwarded Derovarr's thought on anti-vampire weapons to the Airindalians, and they presented the Misalinians with a present - twenty enhanced Ironwood shortspears, wooden tipped but as sharp as any normal spear. Six of these are assigned to Derovarr's squad [the party] ).

( +1 Distance Ironwood Shortspear, releases Lucent Lance (CL 15) on impact but destroys spear )

[Mr_Praetorian]

Derovarr accepts the Spears from the Airindalians, and vows to do his best to make sure they are put to good use.

Before the unsettling thought of targeting civilians could fully set in, Derovarr was quick to rise from his seat, and offer his perspective.

"Comrades, the hour is dark, and there have been many causalities both civilian and military amongst the populaces of this alliance. Capitals have been shattered, provinces torn asunder, and entire cities laid to absolute waste by an Extraplanar guided Norinth. For my own part, the insanity of this war has caused my very nation to turn upon those who would serve it until death, and cast them out as traitors. The destruction has been great, so, do not take these words as an attempt to downplay the horrors that we have all seen.

But, comrades, are we prepared to sink to the level of enemy? Are we prepared to put our selves on the same moral playing field at the Norinthians? As those who push their warriors to death, and then RAISE them again? Who's generals extend their vile and covetous lives by unnatural ways, and whose masters were too greedy for their own home world? Are these the kind of virtues that that we march under. Maybe my Misalin upbringing makes altruistic, but I did not take the oaths of a Paladin to go forth a slaughter the innocent!" Derovarr paused a moment, realizing that that not only was loosing his composure, but he also wasn't in a room of Paladins and Devotees. Obviously, is was time for a change of pace.

"Tactically, it is a sound plan. I understand that there are clearly varied views on what is moral and justifiable between the various parties in the room. Each shaped by different experiences. But for my part, I cannot lend myself to cause that points the sword at civilians. I will neither commit myself to an attack where the innocent will be present, nor shall I step aside and willingly watch as others do so." (61 diplomacy)

[Zanaikin]

After Derovarr's speech, Lenneth resolved her mind and stood up next, firm in her belief to support the same view.

"I agree with High-Captain Rothwyn. Norinth may have chosen to wage total war against us, slaughtering our civilians and razing our countryside, but that does not mean we should descend to the same level of brutality and immorality. If we were to take advantage of such a thing, not only would we show the world that we are no better than they are and thus no more deserving of support or victory, but we are also expressing in our own way that as generals, we also condone such despicable acts. It would as if we announced to the world that the despicable acts Norinth utilized yesterday were reasonable, acceptable, and that tomorrow any other commander can do the same, so long as it justifies the concept of 'tactical advantage'."

"But they are criminals and exiles," said Marshal Daetherlar Berothar, "and not only do they refuse to atone for their past sins, but they seek to bring further death and destruction to our world. Such a people do not deserve to be given the same treatment as our own citizens."

Kovis then interjected in a somewhat annoyed tone, "And what would be the difference between that claim and declaring that prisoners are not worthy of food? or that the dead are not worthy of honor? They are still people are they not? Or would you claim any Airindalian captured by the enemy deserves to be executed?"

Daetherlar: "Is that not what they did regardless?"

Kovis: "Are you lowering your actions to that of a common criminal then? or does being wronged by another grants one the right to break laws in your country?"

Before the two could glare at one another anymore, Field Marshal Viktor Pritbor broke up the conversation. "Gentlemen, this is not the time to be arguing amongst one another over the concepts of morality, that should be left to the philosophers who have far too much time. While the advantages of Konev's purposal are sound, I would like to point out one major disadvantage he missed. Norinth declared total war against us, bringing together our nations and peoples to the common interest of survival, of fighting back, no matter what differences in opinion we once had or still had now. However, we have not declared war upon the Norinth people..."

(sense motive 20 - you're sure Kovis just had to suppress a snort across the table).

Viktor: "The views amongst the people in any nation are divided, and Norinth in particular after the takeover of these so-called Imperials. If we start a mass slaughter of the Norinthners now, we only push them together into a unified effort against us, both now and in the future..."

(sense motive 60 - both the Airindale officers looked at Viktor suspiciously, as if they suddenly had some revelation about some scheme...)

Viktor: "...Therefore I believe we should restrain ourselves to only what are considered acceptable amounts of collateral damage, as far as war goes. Furthermore, I'd like to point out that massacring the Norinthners may cause their Shadow Raiders to become even more inhumane in their attacks."

Konev: "...as if they had any sense of morals now. The hearts of those scum could not be tarred any blacker."

(sense motive 40 - you're pretty sure Daetherlar was about to say something offensive back at Konev before he managed to hold back).

The Airindale Arvitor Aelisar then spoke. Despite the fact she easily looked the youngest around the table (and her real age was indeed quite young for an elf), her voice showed not a single trace of hesitation or doubt. "Nevertheless, they need no more aggravation from us. Besides, I believe Marshal Tiriel and Captain Rothwyn already made it clear where the Misalinians stood on this perspective, and we could hardly afford dissension amongst our own ranks. Whatever advantages that could possibly be gained by attacking on the night of 23rd would also be easily lost if our own allies could not fight their best."

Aelisar: "Also, I believe I have an even better proposal. After the night of the concert, would the city's guard forces not be fatigued by their work from the night before? A trade town as Trias cannot rest during the day, especially the day after such an event when travellers are making last purchases before they journey home. I believe these conditions would make the night of the 24th our best option for a time to strike."