The Battle for the East, Defunct

[MARS]

Dridyn nodded at the approval of his plan and proceeded to the next subject.
"Do we have information on their numbers? Their strategy?" he asked.

[Jingles]

Voryn turned to Duruza. "The lizards have us at a disadvantage. To us the river is impassable, but for them it may as well not exist. Could not the Telvanni conjure some kind of magic that would make it a suitable barrier to their advance?"

[OblivionDuruza]

"My information is scarce, but I have Hlaalu agents and scouts across Narsis District gathering reports. As time goes on we shall learn more of these dark times. All I may say for certain at this point is that the Argonians are too numerous in the Deshaan Plains for us to attempt to meet them in pitch battle. But as more warriors come, we shall soon muster a force worthy of a great battle.

Indoril, I had hoped to broach that matter. Can we not again meet with the Dreugh King to broker a deal once more?"

[MARS]

"I have something in mind concerning that." Dridyn replied to Voryn's question. "The Shock effect is multiplied in combination with water. The river would be made a lehtal danger. However it would require much magicka to achieve this. Continious shocking of the entire riverbed. Rough calculations show a result of at least three hundred wizards. Each consuming all of their magicka reserves within minutes if not seconds. To make this possible a mass production of potions with a magicka restoring effect is required."
"Then again, the Dreugh may help us as well." he added taking Duruza's words into account.

[OblivionDuruza]

"It is of little consequence as I doubt that they would help us. Unless ... no, we could never even find them.," Duruza mumbled, "for now we must consentrate on stemming the tide of the invasion. House Redoran must send more troops to aid the warriors of House Hlaalu here and you Telvanni should send aid to the Indoril in Necrom so that you may rally your forces in the Sacred East."

[MARS]

"What of the Thir river, Hlaalu? Have we agreed on a strategy there? We must analyze each area of interrest to the fullest and decide on our course of action before we proceed to other territories." Dridyn said.

[Jingles]

Voryn nodded. "Perhaps charging the river bed may provide a temporary solution, but to seek out the Dreugh King?" He chuckled. "Maybe it would work, but a risky business is it not? He answered only to our lord Vehk, and he has abandoned us."

He took another sip from his glass. "The Telvanni would be most welcome in the east," he chuckled, "although I'm sure we both appreciate the irony of the Telvanni marching to aid the Indoril of Necrom." He nodded to Dridyn.

[OblivionDuruza]

"Yes of-course, you are right brothers, I'm distracted that is all. I can't help wonder where Llemetha Dres was going when she stormed out of the Hall.

But I digress, it seems clear to me that we must send a band of warriors to the Thir to seek the Dreugh and, failing that, put your plan into action. They should then travel to Narsis to prepare for the impending attack on the city, to ensure that we retake the city without delay."

[MARS]

"The problem is, that the brewing of such a large amount of potions would take some time. More time than we have. We must decide immediately." Dridyn said, his voice reflecting the direness of the situation.
"As for irony, Indoril; I could not care less right now. But perhaps, if we learn something from all this and become allies in later days we will be able to laugh about it. However, if the plan of assaulting the river is put into action then I won't have many more troops to spare."

[Jingles]

"Then it would seem a quest to find the Dreugh King is in order." Said Voryn, coming to terms with the odd proposal that faced them. "But I must stress the need to somehow deal with the An-Xileel. Until we do, every victory will be merely a delay."

[OblivionDuruza]

"If we can attack the Argonians in the far south, they may withdraw from the Thir for long enough for us to make preparations and seek out the Dreugh King. Perhaps we should consider this corse of action?"

Spoiler:

Is the new colour easier to read?

Edit:

Spoiler:

Just a minor change in colour, the other looked like a tangerine. Is this one okay?

[Eltee]

Spoiler:

Much-so, thanks.

[Jingles]

Spoiler:

yeah, much better.

"How would we go about doing that? And would this not weaken our forces yet more. We are stretched thin as it is." Voryn sipped more water anxiously. "I apologise for my scepticism, Councilor, but the Hlaalu are not reknowned as war leaders."

[OblivionDuruza]

"That is true Indoril, and your concern is merited. I suggest we send an additional specialised and well trained mission into the southern swampland. The Argonians have an outpost of sorts somewhere in that region and it acts as their only settlement in our land other than the cities they have taken. It is of tremendous strategic value to the Argonian armies and could be of great use to us, if it where gone."

[OblivionDuruza]

Duruza was about to continue when suddenly, the doors of the Great Chamber where flung open and a cool breeze filled the room as a messenger hurried forward. Duruza watched the visitor closely and beckoned him come. The messenger looked nervously around the room and leaned in to whisper in Duruza’s ear.

The room feel silent as all eyes turned to the hushed conversation that was taking place at the head of the table and all minds wondered what tidings he could possibly bring.


"I am sorry brethren, but I must retire to consider this news. Please remain and have patience. I shall not be too long in my contemplation," Duruza announced after an extended silence.

Spoiler:

I'm off to bed, it's getting late, I'll be back tomorrow though. Feel free to continue, but don't progress the plot too much. Chit chat and general reflection would be great. Speculation about the news would also be merited. See you all later .

[JVElEven]

Spoiler:

Oh, Duruza, was your wondering a subtle way if implying you want me to continue my little trek? Or just genuine despair over the unwillingness the Dres have to cooperate? They only were of use with slavery and ancestor worshipping after all. We feel a bit useless now.

Meanwhile, outside, on the outskirts of the secret city of the council

Llemetha Dres was wandering down a narrow street, filled with houses of soemwhat tumbledown appearances. Still casting wary glances backwards as she went, she eventually stopped at a house, much like every other house in the street. She knocked.

From inside, a voice sounded: "Mysterious grace."

Llemetha cast another look around before leaning towards the door, answering the voice: "Mysterious night."

The door opened silently, and Llemetha went in. As the door closed, nothing showed that anything out of the ordinary had just happened.

[Goblin voice]

Back in the council chamber

Edril followed the dark figure, watching through a window, as it entered a building, how dared, a low ranked imbiciel girl speak in that fashion to her elders and superiors?

"This message seems ergant, alas, house brother, I agree with you." He faced Indoril. "There should not be one of the Hlaalu to lead such an operation. For there is only the Indoriil and, perhaps, the Redoran to whom I would rely such an important key." He continued.

[MARS]

"You underestimate the Telvanni's intelligence?" he asked Erdil. "Have we not proven countless times that our minds are of the best?"

[Jingles]

"Take his words not as an insult, fellow Councilor," said Voryn, "He simply alludes to the fact that of the houses present here, only the Redoran and Indoril have met the Argonians in open battle before. During the Arnesian crisis your own House remained neutral."

[MARS]

"True. Forgive my pride." Dridyn said, feeling stupid about his outburst.

[JVElEven]

Meanwhile, in a mysterious house

Inside, Llemetha nodded hello to the doorman, who nodded back, before entering the door to the basement. Once down there, she donned the burgundy colored robe she had been wearing, revealing another robe beneath it, made of silk, and kept in a completely black color, completed with gold along the rims, and a pair of overly wide sleeves. She pulled up the hood of this new robe, and went to a bookcase in the back of the basement. She knocked on the rear wall of the case, prompting another voice coming from behind it: "Shrouded are mysteries!"

"So is our mother." answered Llemetha, prompting the door to open, revealing a large cave beneath the house. Turning to the second doorman, a young dunmer in a simple grey robe, she pointed down towards the main chamber of the cave: "Get everyone out of there. I need the shrine to be deserted. Now."

[Goblin voice]

Spoiler:

@Jingles: Thank you!

Back to the War Council

"Keep in mind that it was Indoril, not Telvanni, who served the living gods as guards." Edril resumed talking after the short silence.
"I speak not words of ill meaning, merely the truth. It would be madness, I admit, to send a smaller army consisting of Indoril alone.
Telvanni mages, and assistance from the other houses would be needed." Edril looked at the fellow mer in the chamber.

[MARS]

"Nations have never prospered under one ruler." Dridyn said. "I believe that leadership should not fall to one house alone. Four minds are better than one."

[Jingles]

"Though ironically we were once brought to our knees by Tiber Septim alone, when led by three man-gods." Remarked Voryn. "Although such discussions are hardly our concern at the moment."

[Chaos the N'wah]

Ko cast aside his moment of apprehension at the thought of working within Argonian territory and stepped out of the shadows, taking his position at the wall behind his master. He was glad to serve and if that let him strike at the heart of the lizards, so much the sweeter.
A slight smile broached his feline lips, 'That Telvanni councilman was worried for a good reason after all, but war is clawing at the door, it cannot be ignored and this one has new orders' he thought to himself
He purred lightly, thoughts of purging Morrowind of argonians danced through his head