Chapter 14 - Test of the Flames

(OOC: Yes, but other than seeing his parma magica fail, Octavian did not have any active spells of his that failed when crossing over and seeing as that switch over was also intimated that time flowed differently makes it so one can't exactly fully assume the boundary itself was the cause.)

OOC: Vares spent a good amount of effort in the Magic Realm "poking around" with the various changes in the effects on magic. The issues with the Arcane Connections were something that he examined early on as he was trying to make a connection back to the material plane, then figuring out whether they worked at all in the Magic Realm. I know that he experimented explicitly on the effects of spell durations in the Magic Realm, and had that running when he crossed over. That's why he was waiting until entering the Magic Realm to cast his own spells.

He should be aware of the "reconnection" of Arcane Connections due to the number he had on him when he went through to the Magic Realm, and then came back. That was part of his original plan, as presented. So the page from Carmen's journal and the imprint from Khyrom should both function once they enter the Magic Realm.

If a die roll is necessary:

invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2482456/

Int +5, Magic Lore +2 (specialisation not applicable), roll +5, for a total of 12. Not counting any bonus for his own studies the last time he was in the Magic Realm.

Esteban: "Sodales, I am somewhat acquainted with Captain Alexandro's plan for the battle. I will accompany him to the tallest tower of the castle, where we believe the Prison of Glass Passions to reside. I shall facilitate his entry and we shall rescue Carmen.

Can I impose on you to share your own plans as well? I overheard something about a glacier?

Marie decides that it won't hurt to tell him:
"Well, I made a little excursion to the Alps and turned a glacier into this little marble here" She shows it. "We are using a magic item to maintain concentration on the spell. The moment we release it, it will change back into a perfectly non-magical glacier, capable of penetrating any magic resistance. It will help us cause havoc in that regio of fire we are going. And should we fail, we'll at least go with a bang."

Rodrigo gathers everyone together to discuss the plan of attack.
As some of you recall, we developed three different plans, and rather than argue about which one is best, I decided to try to employ all of them in a multi-pronged offensive. We shall divide into three teams, each designated by a color for their code name; Blue, Gold, and Red. Team Blue will approach openly, as Khyron is expecting us. They shall engage in diplomatic negotiations with the Malik, and hopefully they can strike a bargain or at least provide a distraction. Team Gold and Team Red will attempt to infiltrate the city. Team Gold is to cause chaos and mayhem to cover for Team Red and provide them cover and backup as needed. Team Red is to locate and rescue Carmen, and as soon as they have they are to withdraw immediately. Remember, Carmen probably has more firepower than any one of us individually. The Malik captured her by surprise. Once you have located her, she can help to fight your way out if worse comes to worse.
As for our enemy. Malik Khyron is likely the only one who is more powerful than we are; maybe his champion or one or two key officers. But the rest will be moderate or weak opponents; possessing Magical Might in the range of five magnitudes or less.
One absolute rule: No one gets left behind, no matter what. No one is to remain behind as a prisoner, no one will be left stranded, no corpse shall be left to rot. If possible, I want zero casualties. And I believe we can accomplish that. But as I said, alive or dead, NO ONE is to be left behind.
I brought some vis with me. Thirty pawns of Techniques, the valuable stuff. A rook will be assigned to each team, as well as an item or two of magical equipment. I didn’t bring much; three pairs of Red Boots of Leaping, a Cloak of Invisibility, and the Ring of Stealth (the cloak works better than the ring, but the ring also grants silent movement). Do Not loose these items!

For now, I want you to break up into your teams; designate who amongst you shall be the team leader and discuss your plans. Choose your team leaders not out of pride or prestige, but instead based on ability and quality. Being the team leader does not put you above your sodales, and you are not the inferior or lesser of your team leader. This is about strategic importance, not ego.

I have drawn up the following team roster. If you have any questions to ask or changes to make, do so now.

Blue: Blue team shall try to engage in direct diplomatic negotiations with Khyron. The efreet Malik treats the Divine with cautious respect, and it is hoped that Sister Ameline may be able to strike a Bargain (or at least distract him). For this reason, the drakes shall stand by her side in case this doesn’t work out as well as planned and the situation turn violent.
Team members include…
Magi
Ameline Ex-Miscellanea
Marie of Tytalus
Viola of Merinita
Companions & Soldiers
Venkath, Maurice, & Simon (the three Firedrakes)
Ronaldo
Elias
Alonso
Bartolomé

Gold: Gold Team shall infiltrate the Palace of Burning Bronze in order to cause distractions via chaos and mayhem, and if possible, they shall locate and loot the treasure vaults.
Team members include…
Magi
Rodrigo of Mercere
Vares of Flambeau
Isaac of Flambeau
Companions & Soldiers
Jehan (apprentice Redcap to Rodrigo)
Armando (Sergeant)
Alberto
Oscar
Jorge

Red: Red Team’s objective is to locate and rescue Carmen, who is (most likely) imprisoned in the tallest tower in what is known as the “Prison of Glass Passion”. Carmen’s greatest passion is for her family, and her brother Alexandro should be able to free her from it.
Team members include…
Magi
Estaban of Jerbiton
Octavian of Tremere
Dimir Taar of Verditius
Companions & Soldiers
Captain Alexandro (Carmen’s brother, who also carries with him the Rod of Transportation)
Father Clemente (former Templar, Carmen’s Godfather)
Moe (Sergeant)
Javier
Carlos
Gabriel

Octavian arrives at the scheduled meeting with his face cleaned up and walking more straightforwardly. The side of his armour is still stained from some wound. Once Rodrigo has spoken and everyone else has split into their respective teams he joins the group that he has been assigned to. Noticing an unfamiliar face in Estaban, he bows politely. "I am Octavian of Tremere, quaesitore of Iberia Tribunal." he says with a soft voice.

Isaac looks from Rodrigo to Vares, and their five companions-to-be.

Had I any doubts about your greater knowledge of the Palace, or the Malik within it, they would be gone now. I'll fight as you direct, and be sure to carry the fallen with us. You should know, though, that my magic is ineffective on things I cannot touch, so a minimal amount of running from one task to another would be appreciated.

Marie aks: "So if Isaac and I are in two teams who gets the glacier, and who gets the staff to trigger it?"

After Rodrigo finishes, Viola shakes her head.

Scott

Rodrigo: Hmmm..., I need to know more about this glacier plan of yours. Where did you get it? Where is it? And how do you plan to get it into the Arc of Fire?

Rodrigo: I take it you disapprove? If you have something to add, please speak up and let us know what you are thinking.

"I think I would prefer Esteban and Isaac with me. Viola's second sight would be more valuable with one of the other teams and I think Marie's skills might serve better there as well. As for magic items, I need no magic items myself and I know seven league stride that I can easily get myself around as needed." Ameline thinks ability to see what is hidden is more valuable to the other groups and she does not need any chance of provoking conflict that Marie might represent.

I need Estaban with Alexandro, but I can put Issac with you. He and Marie have some sort of side plan cooked up, and it is best for them to remain together. I'll take Viola on Gold Team. So then the revised roster would be...

Blue:
Magi
Ameline Ex-Miscellanea
Marie of Tytalus
Isaac of Flambeau
Companions & Soldiers
Venkath, Maurice, & Simon
Ronaldo
Elias
Alonso
Bartolomé

Gold:
Magi
Rodrigo of Mercere
Vares of Flambeau
Viola of Merinita
Companions & Soldiers
Jehan
Armando
Alberto
Oscar
Jorge

Red:
Magi
Estaban of Jerbiton
Octavian of Tremere
Dimir Taar of Verditius
Companions & Soldiers
Captain Alexandro
Father Clemente
Moe
Javier
Carlos
Gabriel

Are there any other adjustments that any of you suggest?

Meanwhile, back at the covenant…

Antonio is getting yelled at by two different women, his wife and his mistress.
To refresh your memory, Rodrigo insisted Antonio remain behind because he is too close to the situation to act rationally, and because we suspect a surprise attack on the covenant (it is presumed that Khyron assumes Antonio would lead this mission, leaving the covenant vulnerable).
His wife is Alexandro’s mother, had kicked him out of the bedroom many years ago (because of the mistress), and he has slept in his sanctum ever since.
His mistress, Golda, is Carmen’s mother.
To spare you the screeching banter, Golda (who just arrived an hour ago) is screaming and yelling about her daughter being in danger. His wife is yelling about her son being placed into danger to rescue “that whore’s daughter”.

Antonio is in the middle of it, ducking as objects are being thrown at him. He sometimes regrets having made longevity potions for these women.

Viola seems agreeable to that.

Scott

Vares has his own reservations. Before expressing them, he presents--once again--the results of his trip to Verdi. "Ameline, you may want to take the Jar of Solomon with you. It is reputed to be a Holy artifact, and, if so, it may respond better to you than to anyone else. The Verditius Magus who lent it to me said that it does not seem to have a limit for the strength of the Djinn or Efreet that it can contain. Getting him into the container is another matter. I have promised that we will do all that we can to return the Jar within a season, if at all possible; we have only the use of it."

To the "Red" Team, he offers the incense. "You may need to stave off attacks by the Efreeti of the Palace while you are working to free Carmen. Once released, the magical incense will act as a Ward effective on Djinni and Efreeti up to the tenth magnitude. It is persistent and controlled by the item, protecting up to a full Group. "

Now to the question of the tasks and disposition of their teams. "I understand why I have been selected for the Gold Team, though my expertise with moving unobserved and searching from afar might work better with the Red. There is something that must be said: if Ameline's attempt at negotiation is to have any chance of success, we must act with good faith. We cannot make any attack on the Palace until Khyrom rejects the attempt to negotiate or otherwise acts in bad faith against the delegation or threatens to harm Carmen. Gold and Red can still enter and infiltrate, moving toward their respective goals. We have been instructed to present ourselves--the instruction did not say all at once, or prevent us from exploring." Expecting a rebuke, he states, strongly, "When it is time to act with aggression, we shall, but to do so before the negotiation attempt has failed will only doom it. It may also undermine any...special contribution which Ameline's presence might bring."

The distribution of the items you have obtained is indeed wise. As for how we are to conduct ourselves, I must admit that I do not think that the negotiation tactic will be successful. But yes, we should at least give Ameline a chance. However, Team Red should go forward as directed and try to rescue Carmen by whatever means are required. Gold Team can hold off on causing havoc initially, giving Ameline an opportunity. Hmmm..., if only we had some way of communicating with each other...

Rodrigo's faintly sarcastic(?) musing causes Vares to sigh and reiterate his earlier offer--and request.

"I can maintain an observational link to everyone who carries one of the parts of the stick, or to those who allow me to use one of their Arcane Connections. I must ask my sodales permission to communicate so. You know that I may be watching and listening at any time during this mission, that we might better coordinate our actions. When we cross through, I will attempt to contact and to locate Carmen. The prison which holds her may prevent direction magical communication; I should still be able to identify her approximate location through the Arcane Connection Antonio allows me to carry. I also have one that should reveal Khyrom's location, though that may change. Given time, I can observe more and more of the Palace, and move others about it if there are no inhibiting countermagicks in effect. While Ameline leads the negotiations, we can move deeper into the Palace, avoiding contact wherever possible. Although it is tricky, I may be able to dull the senses of the Palace's lesser guards so they do not notice our presence. Each attempt will have to be made on a specific subject or group. I may be able to gain further information about the Palace and its inhabitants from some of them."

He adds, "It may be easier for me to send some of my communications through to the minds of the grogs in each group, but I can also attempt to speak through the connections be carried."

"Everyone remember that the Duration of spells cast in the Realm of Magic will NOT expire on their own if they are greater than Momentary. Experimentation when I was there last revealed that all others will last for a full Season, even if it is normally a Diameter! Concentration Duration spells can be allowed to lapse in effect, but the spell can then be resumed when one focuses on them, making them renewable without further effort."

Excellent! This is why I wish to keep you with me on my team. Choose a soldier from each of the other teams (we don't use the word "grog" around here, some consider it demeaning). Make that soldier the "communications officer" for their team. You can be the central hub, and through you I can coordinate our efforts and we can keep a constant flow of communication.

Esteban says, Vares is right. We should either negotiate in good faith, or not at all. Our cause is just. Let us put our faith in God. (wryly) Though of course it is prudent to be prepared to strike instantly, should God see fit for negotiations to fail. :wink:

What is the signal for Red Team to begin its assault?