Assault on Aldera Campaign

[Mirgalen]

The team continued to raid the island sometimes by accident but other times with a purpose. The group wanted to return deep down perhaps to take a break, resupply and prepare the next raid. It was not to be. They were given a new mission while in a cave connecting the surface to the under world. Rogha did not like that. Perhaps there was something fishy about this.

Rogha needed time to think about the future. Not the Future and the prophecy and how to undo it although somehwere down the road she would need to face that burden. The more immediate future seemed murky at best. First they had to find a way to survive both surfacers and the Underdark people who would certainly betray them as soon as possible. There was a also the risk of division within the team as the bond between the members was perhaps not strong enough to prevent internal conflicts not to mention that it was certainly possible to manipulate some of them to create mistrust, envy, jealousy or any strong feeling leading to possible murder.

Before making a plan Rogha would need to know their desire. Did they want to go their separate way “after” assuming they could survive what was coming next?
Would they stay together and control a part of the island and a part of the Under? Was there a way for the team to control all the insectoids? Or even learn how to make them?

May be she had to plan to walk alone. But how? This island was foreign to her. She would need a boat to leave the island or find a way to fly away. But how? The “backwater” creatures of the area did not have magic broom or magic carpet. There was no djinn to grant wishes and she did not see a friendly enough dragon, griffon, wyvern or bird large enough to take her away from that forsaken place.
Perhaps she could find a way to hide on a boat but where was the nearest harbour? Was it even possible to take or hide onboard a ship for as long as needed?

No… They would have to stick together and claim their share of the spoils. They would have to carve their dominions above and below at all cost...

[Vanya Mia]

Watching as Zau’lann, typically, corrected her map from their ‘improved intelligence’ of the island, Tian’ith pondered on the past night. The separation from him when most of them walked in the wrong direction had unsettled her beyond what she had thought possible. Then not being allowed to return to the stronghold had unnerved her further. As she sat she reflected on the parallels between their current position and the crisis that resulted in them being where there today.

“Alarm! Alarm! Intruders in the compound! They have opened the gates!” The alert had brought her back to fully conscious and to action instantaneously, and dressing had taken but a minute more, but the enormity of it had not sunk in. How? How had they been breached? Outside her door she had encountered her sisters. Both, like her, had dressed hastily and seemed equally caught unaware. A myriad of questions had flashed through her mind but the sounds of a battle outside in the household courtyard had left no time. They knew their places in such an emergency, hers to secure the escape of her mother, and separated with a nod. It was the last time she had ever seen either of them.

“They came by the tunnels then collapsed them,” the captain of the elite guard had informed her as she arrived at her mother’s apartments. “There is no escape.” Orders were unnecessary, each knew their role and purpose in quickly putting in place the magical and physical defensive features aimed at securing the person of the Matron Matron and hurried to do so. Yet then, as now, there had been as feeling of loss of control. On the back foot and, for all if the planning they had made against such a scenario, unprepared. Her anger had risen as she considered what might have gone awry. Back then she laid blame at the feet secrets and isolation.

The meetings with Zau’lann had long since become an opportunity to come together rather than a means of exchanging intelligence. Shared intimacy while constantly expecting to face the consequences of their sacrificial status. Yet it had never come. The intention was not in doubt, so that it hadn’t was significant. Whatever they had meant to happen when they laid the plan her family had been deceived. Enemies could never have entered the compound through their own tunnels unless there had been a deeper betrayal. If only she had brought her awareness to her mother’s attention, been invited in on any plan. If only they had kept her in control of the intelligence unit. If only they had used her skills instead of pushing her outside. If only they had trusted her to do, as always had, her duty by her House. It could all have been different. If.

Back then there had been a resounding crash and the sound of battle growing louder, signalling their assailants were in the household apartments. With no way to follow the plan Tian’ith had prepared to give her life in the defense of her Matron Mother, as was her duty. But now? Now there was no duty of honour in play. Now there it was the two of them and a personal desire to protect and survive. She watched Zau’lann for a moment or two longer and then regarded the rest of the company. Her mind was made up, this time there would be no ‘if’. She stood up to draw attention.

“I don’t believe any of you unaware of our status as potential sacrifice,” Tian’ith began, “but we have never formed a true acord.” Looking at their faces she continued. “We all have different reasons as to why we are here, and perhaps will never be true companions, but we all have something in common. We have lost what we were and need help to become something more." She paused for a moment. "I am prepared to commit myself to ’us’, to put our fortunes ahead of immediate gain until such a point in time as we agree to part. Even against our employers should it prove necessary.” She drew a breath, glanced briefly at Zau’lann and smiled grimly.

“Who is with me?”

[Karvon]

The group was back in the Underdark having completed the objectives of the raid and egg laying mission. Darsin couldn't help but wonder about the insectoids they were unleashing. Would they be able to control and direct them effectively down the road? Would they be fast breeding and overrun the surface and then the Underdark as well? Or, would the surfacers be able to call upon strong enough magic and heroes to turn back the threat? Where would the group end up in all of this?

[Ayram]

Well they cut it pretty close last night. Two humans nearly made it back to their city with word of the crew's dastardly deeds. In fact, the one made it within shouting distance of the walls. If he hadn't panicked and botched throwing a big fireball that caught himself in the blast, the whole thing might have been over. As it was they had to avoid a search party that had seen the blast. They managed that by the skin of their teeth too. Lucky thing humans don't see so well int he dark.

Awhile after that they managed to find the right spot to plant the queen egg and they were gone, racing against the sun to get back before their drow friends were immolated by the sun or their skin got super itchy or whatever happened when they got caught in it. But they were intercepted by the sneaky derro goon and given another task before they could even catch a breath.

So here they were making camp at the edge of the sinkhole. As Vot made some juicy kebab skewers using the meats and vegetables he had on hand ( some crab and leftovers he had on hand mostly) One of the drow, Tian'ith, the bossy lady drow, made a speech about their sticking together. Vot had been thinking about it for awhile, and it was obvious they needed each other, because no one trusted the derro as far as they could throw them. So he was the first to pipe up.

"Yeah. I'm in. Aint got anything to lose at this point anyway."

[Shadani]

At Tian'ith's words, Miiq grinned, flashing sharp teeth.

"Derro *always* need us more than we need them," he said. "Only take time to realise. We strong, yes; strong enough to conquer. Why take what others give when can just *take*?"

"Question is... extraction selves from current situation. Delicate matter. Island about to become war zone; do not want to rule as scavenger in wasteland bugs leave behind. Need new hunting grounds, and way to reach."

[Vanya Mia]

"Xas," Tian'ith replied with a small, hollow laugh. "I do not know how rivvil travel over this {I]sea[/I], though will presume they use boats as we do upon lakes. Perhaps larger? If so would they have cover from the light of their sun and would we be able to take possession?" She mused a moment then shook her head returning to the matter at hand. "We are our own masters, and this pact would be to ensure that remains the case."

[smartalec]

Zau'lann looks astonished, at the very idea. Something that seemed to have not occurred to him, in his most bewildering dreams. Yet, the idea seems to take root in his head, and he's clearly chewing it over. Thoughts flit through his head, a-whirling. He wonders where the humans of Aldera keep their ships, how best to make sure that such a vessel is supplied, what approach would be best suited to them - to come from land or sea - and, indeed, where else there is to go on the surface world. A moment of horror at the thought of sailing under the sun. A moment of fascination at the thought of sailing under the stars. But then, something crashes into his thoughts, leaving all others floudering like fish.

"Do any of us know how to sail?"

[Klasa]

"Sail? Doubtful, as none were having need to before, xas. And where would go with boat? Sea is supposedly large, xas? Stuck at mercy of /sun/ as well. Usstan hoping dos will have better plan by time are deciding to leave Derro." Ravillion said as sole response to the inquiries. She knew what she implied, and she knew those who understood would take it for what it meant. She still had her pride and mannerisms which became her, even in her current state, and she was not about to ever start acting otherwise.

[Lazybones]

Session 23

Full-party IC posting bonus.

+900xp for Rogha, Zau'lann, Vot, Ravillion, and Tian'ith
+1350xp for Darsin
+1800xp for Miiq

EDIT: Math.

[Vanya Mia]

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