• 13/5/1027 (continued)

We convene in my quarters.

We get healed up by my priests.

Lani and Grey go to get a scroll of scrying, to get Hari back. Unfortunately, by the time we get the spell cast, Hari has been captured. HeÕs being interrogated by a female wearing armour similar to the female priest we just killed, and a human male with greying hair. They realise theyÕre being scried upon, but since they canÕt do much about it, decide to just continue the interrogation. Hari had realised we were undead.

They ask him about our capabilities and the like.

Grey goes to bed. The undead continue to chat.

• 14/5/1027

We rest. We rememorise.

We discuss what to do. We query Zim and get a debriefing. They said they only have two priests. The death of the phoenix reincarnated the people we killed. For example, the ranger came back as an eagle.

The operation seems to have ballooned. When Zim was released, Zim saw several thousand more people turn up.

Our interrogation of the prisoners has revealed two things: they both have tattoos of blue eyes on their upper arms. They appear to belong to some kind of organisation. Unfortunately, they have had it drilled into them to not talk under any circumstances.

We expand the meeting to include GreyÕs advisors. One of GreyÕs senior military advisors has heard of a mercenary band called the Warriors of the Blue Eyes Ð it is said each of their members has blue eyes tattooed on their body somewhere. The band is based somewhere to the west. I try to organise Tess to go to Slagovich, to see if he can dig up anything about them.

Grey gets some researchers in Serraine to look up PhoenixÕs. The party goes to visit the sphinxes to see if they can be enlightening as well. We have to answer three riddles before theyÕll impart their knowledge to us.

Before Mount Du Glace was discovered in Glantri, what was the tallest mountain in the world? Mount Du Glace, of course.

It wasnÕt my sister, or brother, but still was the child of my father and mother. Me.

In your drawer, you have six pairs of black gloves, and six pairs of brown gloves. YouÕve left your goggles of night somewhere, so itÕs completely dark. How many gloves must you take from the drawer in order to be sure you get a pair that match? The answer is 8 gloves.

PhoenixÕs are rare creatures, the sphinx says. TheyÕre not normally found on the prime material. They do occasionally come here for various causes of their own devising. They are most famous as symbols of rebirth. The sphinx doesnÕt think thereÕs a limit on that. They also have powerful fire-based spell abilities. Their melee abilities are quite weak. They are often viewed by some cultures as sign of prosperity Ð the sphinx thinks this not true, although it could be true if they really are messengers of the gods. They supposedly are not supposed to get along with ice creatures. When they do deign to involve themselves in mortal affairs, they are basically doing it for their own inscrutable causes. They particularly hate undeath, because they are so associated with rebirth and life. They view themselves as good. It would be difficult to bind one against its will.

We teleport, using Nemon, Tess and Grey to Slagovich. Tess goes off scouting, Grey studies the place carefully.

Grey returns to Sind.

We convene in Sind. Lani scries upon the grey haired man who was interrogating Hari. The scrying reveals a tent that is half collapsed, with several people with scimitars rammed through them. Lani casts message anyway, but thereÕs no response. Shortly after, they trace the scrying, and teleport in, to my palace, battle ready.

The combatants who have teleported in:

Female, human, mithril plate Ð Annabella Covas Callas di Galen

        Male, human, knight - Astar
        Grey haired guy - Jishnu
        Female Halfling - Chada
        Male human archer Ð Chico
        An eagle - Gallomir
        An elf in elven chain Ð Cuarto Lopez Martos
        A robed mage guy Ð Shansar
        Phoenix - Beren

Lots of them go before us. Actions are readied, and dispellings cast.

No hostilities actually commence, although the distrust is literally palpable.

We start chatting, in the palpably distrustful environment.

We manage to vaguely start a dialogue.

They canÕt say much to us, as they are oathbound to be silent. Grey speaks under a detect lie indicating his regret, and wish for an open dialogue.

We trade hostages Ð Roland goes with them (along with the prisoners we had), and their knight, Astar. HeÕs not a knight, but he captains a company.

Grey organises food and some accommodation for him.

He used to live in Darokin, but had a falling out with the government. He sold herbs, and other not necessarily healthy substances, all legal though. Unfortunately, the families objected to the damage caused by the selling of the substances, and he got sued for civil damages.

We notice that Arni and Minora are not with us. Annoyingly, when we think about it, we havenÕt seen them since we left the falcon, a long time ago. A sending fails.

We do a commune. We ask various questions. Krikk is the employer of this outfit. Krikk is not related to the invasion from the void. Arni is still a ghost, but a while ago Ð the last time he could find it out. They did leave with us to Sind, from the falcon. But they were not with us after we left Baratpur.

We decide to go to a temple of Petra in Karameikos. We manage to get there, despite a misteleport. Turia goes in. They couldnÕt help much, but Petra gave a clue: she is in some place called PetraÕs garden Ð heaven? Turia goes in, and gets more divinations done. Apparently, she is not dead. Hmm.

WeÕll look for them after this Sind business is sorted out.

We will return, and await for the message from the mercenaries.