The voice range for thie shout does go to 50 paces. No one in Voice range comes into view. 50 paces covers most of the scene. No chalk is disturbed in an unusual way, that can be seen.
((Hopefully, one of the demons disappeared))
Silvana! Look for someone invisible! Jareth is hiding somewhere.
((Can you give me a bit of tactical layout? Are we in the open? In a courtyard, ect??))
Yeah, it's the intersection of the two main paths of Harco, with several buildings around, mostly warehouses and administrative buildings, and the armory and nearby barracks.
Both demons are still present, and are pacing in a circle around a group of grogs who have formed up against each other to watch their backs.
Silviana manages to get her wits together to cast a spell destroying any illusions in sight, but it still doesn't identify a hidden person. ((At this stage it is reasonable to believe that Jareth may not actually be here, you can roll against an ability to get an idea of whether that is true or not.))
Shortly after that, Ra'am appears from out of nowhere, right next to Korvin. The moment he appears, he shouts something in Hebrew, and a white light is emitted from the top of his staff bathing the courtyard for a good 15 paces. The demons scream out as in pain and then quickly take stock of the situation and disappear. "I don't believe that worked." He holds up his hand for a moment to gather his faculties, and once he does, he explains, "I tried to time the trigging of my staff to the timing of my Leap of Homecoming, it was extremely difficult."
Korvin glaces over at Ra'am and gives him a nod of thanks. Perhaps the demon is splitting itself. The one that came with Jareth to Mons Electi was able to enter our 7th magnitude aegis. Korvin scans the roof tops. Jareth could be on the buildings or flying. Silviana, we really need your amazing ability with Intelligo to help us find our targets. It also does not make much sense. What could be Jareth's real target?
Ra'am stops Korvin at mention of Jareth's name, "Wait, bring me up to speed. I came at Abigail's insistence, she came through the portal at the Phoenix Mercere House and I came straight here, when she said there was a demon at Harco, that had had earlier been at Mons Electi."
Korvin moves to check the if any of the Redcaps are alive and treats them if needed as he talks to Ra'am. Jareth came to Mons Electi, through the Harco portal, disguised as Insatella. He had four mercenaries with him disguised as Redcaps. He demanded to know what Celestina was doing. He mentioned she had traveled to Phoenix and Thebes outside of her normal duties. He was very dismissive to Abagail which I remembered he was when we had our meeting. That made me suspicious that this was not Insatella. When I pushed back I was threatened by what I think was the demon hiding invisible with him. I arranged for the guards to help me attack the group while they were within our aegis. The Rabbi you sent with Abagail. He did something that exposed the demon during the fight. We could not prevent the escape of Jareth or the demon who named herself as Jardis.
I was on my way to Phoenix to ask Azura about what was happening and to try to find Celestina.
The redcaps still alive are being tended to. Short of healing rituals, there's not much that can be done, that the Redcaps can't manage with devices.
Ra'am scratches his head. "Celestina carried messages back and forth from Phoenix to other covenants in the Alps and the Theban tribunals. But that wasn't her primary duty. She's working closely with Tria. Tria was working closely with someone else, who that person is, I have no idea, but we should go to Phoenix and discuss this less...publicly."
I agree. But first we need to get rid of this demon, find Jareth and find Insatella.
Are there any more screams or obvious battle to direct Our Heroes™ to the action?
"I can only cast this spell so many times from this device. And now that they have disappeared, it's no telling where they could be." Ra'am says, "And, Intellego magics will be useless in detection. So, what's next?"
Silvana continues to look for an invisible person, to no avail and suggests that there isn't anyone hidden nearby (within voice range).
Then lets go to Phoenix. I need more information. I hope Abagail stayed there so we do not have to search all of Harco for her.
((A general level ability of InIm is to detect illusions. That is what I was thinking of))
Confirming that you're going to Phoenix before checking on Insatella. One shouldn't read anything into that or the other, but I'm asking because Korvin initially stated he wanted to find Jareth and Insatella. It appears Jareth isn't hanging around invisible here, but that still leaves Insatella.
Korvin should gather more intel. He just had an idea of where he would find her and has zenned that into it must be.
Lets stop by Insatella's office first. We need to see if there are any clues to when she disappeared and Jareth took over.
Korvin will lead the way. He wants to ask Insatella's assistant where she went before she went to Mons Electi.
At Insatella's house, there are an array of grog's out front. The door to the house is open. Grogs are going in and out.
Be cautious Ra'am. If Jareth has spread more lies this could turn bad quickly. Korvin will head to the house and ask a grog that he might know if Insatella or Maria is in.
One of the grogs stops Korvin, "Insatella is getting a report of what happened, but with three magi here, two of them Mercere, she'd probably prefer the report come from you." The grog mutters something about Korvin always bringing trouble with him to one of his friends, just well enough for Korvin to make it out. Before they go in, two Redcaps come running behind.
Korvin whispers to Silvana. If you can quietly detect illusions when we meet Insatella, that would be most helpful. Korvin enters and waits to be called. Once in the office he will cast, No words or gestures a spell to cover the room with a very light chalk dust. CrTe 5 (Base 1 +2 Sun, +2 Room)
Cr27 + Te6 + Stam 1 + aura 2 + 1d10=7 -15 = 28/5 = 5
Silvana nods her head in acknowledgement. The falling chalk doesn't outline anything unusual, and Silvana is constantly on alert for an illusion. She doesn't indicate anything that suggests Insatella before her is an illusion. "Korvin, I expect your arrival here is not a coincidence?" She also acknowledges Ra'am and Silvana's presence, but it's clear she thinks Korvin knows something of what's going on here.
I was coming to deliver this report (He hands over the report he prepared before he left Mons Electi). I must also instruct my apprentice on being a Redcap for a season so we were preparing to travel further. Korvin pauses as Insatella scans the letter. I have several magi who will testify to the validity of that report, including the Chief Hoplite of the Normandy Tribunal. I heard the laughter of the demon ( or Jareth. I was not sure) and knew it was here. Abagail went to fetch he father to help and I found Silvana. Ra'am was able to drive some of the demons away but we could not locate Jareth.
It seems that the anti-demon weapons that can handle the power of this Jardis are missing from the armory. So I would conclude that this attack has been long planned out.
((It was Jardis's laugh, Korvin is certain of that.))
Insatella reads the report. ((It doesn't appear to be written out, actually, so it covers the events before Korvin left)) She looks aghast when done. "She looks at Korvin and Ra'am both. I suspect you both know more about this than you're willing to tell me." She looks out her window and sighs, her age showing, "Do you know how difficult it is to be a primus of a House of magi in name only? Where the true magi of the House prefer not to be involved in the day to day activities? I'm planning to resign as primus, soon. Let Maria take over." A deep breath, "And now this. Is this a family squabble? Or is it more than that Korvin, Ra'am? Jareth consorting with Demons. It's so hard to believe."
She stands up, "The Magi of House Mercere, she says that in such a way that she means the ones who can work magic, the Gifted members of the House, "have long separated themselves from the House. Separate and apart, and more than equals. Every Redcap knows this, and every Redcap curries favor with a particular Merceris magus over time. And the magi think that they are doing their part in a service to the House, and they are, after a fashion. But now, this could split the House wide open, Korvin!"
Only if we do not act to bring everyone in. I had the meeting with all of the Gifted Mercere several years ago to try to bring them together. To have a sense of our House. I think many were receptive. If the Gifted Mercere see a common goal, set by the Prima, then the Redcaps will see it as well.
I have sent this report to all the other Gifted Mercere. Perhaps you should call them to Harco to root out this corruption. I will help but I must get to the bottom of this. Korvin glaces over at Ra'am. I plan on going to Phoenix to follow some leads. Jareth was after Celestina. Or at least what she was doing. I would also call on our allies in the Flamebeau to help. Go to Ariel. She will send magi she trusts to help. Or I can carry the message since I'm going to Iberia soon.