Brief for themeday, ((December 14th, brief related posts)) Options

[Netheril]

Imperial sources are starting to put out the word that the time is nearing to deal with, and finally remove the taint of Aviathar from Primus.

Rumours are that multiple strikes will be needed against tactical targets before their leaders can be dealt with. And a considerable gathering of mercenaries will be needed.

There also seems to be some suggestion that the most powerful mercenaries to attend may find themselves helpless and dependent upon protection from their fellows at times. Something to do with a ritual they are planning to undergo.

Details are hazy at this time, seemingly deliberately so. But something big is definitely brewing...

[Netheril]

For those following up the above rumours, in places heavily warded from scrying the following is made clear. It should be made clear that if you are not yourself susceptible to scrying, and cant be found to genuinely wish to aid in combatting this threat, then you would not be told the below. Unless well known to the Imperium or able to prove your good intent, no information is shared. It seems that there is considerable care being made to ensure the best chances for the success of this mission.

In order to rid Primus of this threat, there are a total of five deathwind gates hidden about Primus. The locations of each are now known.

These gates provide power to Dakarian, High Priest of Aviathar, and his brother Za'Karr, general of their armies. Whilst open, these gateways render them almost unkillable.

Groups of mercenaries will be required for simultaneous strikes on the first four of these. Located in Amlas, the Southern Baronies, Ishma and a mobile destination that nonetheless will be known on the day. The final gateway, near the town of Stonehaven in the Empire itself, will then be assaulted by the combined forces gathered. We believe it likely that the brothers will make their stand here.

Meanwhile a group that have been heavily involved in fighting this threat will be undergoing a ritual that is also vital to our success. As a result of this ritual, it is possible that at any time throughout the day their unconscious bodies may suddenly appear near to the conflict being undertaken by the other groups. It is part of the conditions of this hire that all do everything in their power to protect and keep safe any such unconscious individuals. They are accepting this risk, it is up to you all to protect them until they regain consciousness.

The majority of the group partaking in this ritual have already done so once, and know what they are doing. Any who do not, I would ask that you contact me privately as soon as possible if you have any concerns.

And be aware, leading members of the tribes of the broken lands will be in attendance. They have led the fight against Aviathar in recent months.

We gather in just over a weeks time.

Chaszmyr, aide to Lord Yvanderriel.

[Netheril]

*The below is a document circling amongst those who have shown an interest and proven trustworthy. Shown only within specific warded locales as preparations near the end. And word begins to spread that those who intend to attend should gather this coming Starsday at a tavern named "Broken Hearth" on the borders of the Broken Lands, but a mile or so within imperial lands.*

Greetings all,

I have been compiling reports from the first "temporal excursion" and hope that my notes may provide some clarity for the next. I have deliberately not included known or suspected changes that have been made to the timeline so far due to the possible sensitivity of these, I will leave that for those present to share as they see fit.

First of all, the names and identities of those met:

Dakarian. Current high priest of Aviathar. Back in time, a young acolyte to the order of eternal light, believed by some to be the "paragon" for his generation, some form of legendary protector.

Za'karr. Dakarian's brother. Current general of Aviathar's armies. Back in time, also a young acolyte, and seemingly fiercely protective of his brother.

Isaac. Currently best known as the shadowholme assassin, responsible for the slaying of the Commandant, and seemingly working towards his own agenda. Not undead, and claims to hold no loyalty to Aviathar. Back in time he was another acolyte in the same year as Dakarian. And the brother to Lady XXX, heroine of the Order of Eternal Light.

Lady XXXX. Least information known. Reports are she is some kind of hero of the Order. But none of those who travelled back in time could see or in any way interact with her. She does not exist for purposes of scrying. Reports that when first met, she was in a fight, but all our mercenaries could see was bodies of her adversaries being cut down in seconds, but she did not exist to any of their perceptions. Yet others in the timeline thought this all some kind of joke, for they seemingly could see and interact with her just fine. But any attempt to ascertain her name from them was similarly clouded.

Savras. High priest to Savras the all seeing, a god of prophecy. And father to our own Savras, see separate notes for more details of the prophecy, and Savras.

Trixie, exists as a fey world spirit in both timelines.

The prelate, name unknown, leader of the Order of Eternal Light. Seems to be a fair and just leader from reports received.

….

Things learned on the first excursion.

The world of Martheon had experienced a "God War" some time ago. Where gods walked the mortal realms, and were driven back to the heavens by an uprising of mortals. Seems to have resulted in considerable harm, including the creation of the darkborn, but it is spoken of as a historic event that the Order are cleaning up the last vestiges of. The Order of Eternal Light seem to be at the forefront of ensuring it never happens again. And they speak of a divine compact, where gods and mortals alike have sworn not to overstep the agreed boundaries.

The people of Martheon believe their world to be the heart of the cosmos. They do not seem to know of Primus.

The nobility of Martheon all have names beginning with vowels. The common populace are not allowed such names.

The Order of Eternal Light until recently have always been exclusively noble.

Dakarian and his brother are the first exceptions to this rule. Seemingly because of Dakarian's supposed paragon status. As such they were subject to considerable intolerance and struggled for acceptance with their peers.

Undead seem to be completely unknown on Martheon. But were beginning to arrive on Martheon at the same time as our mercenaries first started to interact with the timeline.

Dakarian was a pacifist, and quite timid, though well able to defend himself and others. But upon meeting undead for the first time, he exhibited a very strong abhorrence for them, and seemed able to destroy them with a touch, without really understanding how, or why he felt as he did. Resulting in him slaying a couple of undead sentient villagers that were not aggressive.

Shadowholme is not currently on Martheon in this timeline, but scrying about it was dangerous.

The sword deathbringer was forged as a holy blade, as the result of a prophecy from Savras. Its creation required the freely given sacrifice of vitae from a member of the order of eternal light. Believed to be Za'Karr. The corruption of this blade and it's creation as a sentient "dancing" weapon seems to have been made possible due to the actions of mercenaries of Primus, some years ago now.

….

Mercenaries spoke of black flecks across their vision for the first few minutes upon arriving in Martheon, but these subsided without any seeming ill effects.

They also spoke of an unexpected end to their first sojourn in Martheon. See the notes elsewhere concerning void lords. Little further information known, but these seem to be of considerable concern.

Worth mentioning that, understandably, the mercenaries immediately sought to use their powers to return home and escape the place they found themselves. This was nearly cataclysmic for those who remained. But powerful time magic was used that prevented that disaster. I fear, given what has been learned, that using such magic in that "place" may have had...unforeseen consequences and would advise of great care in future dealings should such events transpire again.

Yours in service...

Chaszmyr, aide to Lord Yvanderriel, and heading the department responsible for dealing with the threat posed by Aviathar.