“They do indeed.” Morok Deathstealer nodded in agreement.
“I prefer gravity rifles for zombies. One-stop pulverization, brains and all,” Zog replied.
“Neither of which work in Nysegard,” Arg-nargoloth interrupted, trying to keep the planning session on topic.
“Vespa Crooked Stick and the nineteenth are in the process of deploying to the Nysegard Doom,” Targh informed them. “We will want the most experienced Unlife fighters with us at the Citadel. Vespa’s people, along with our mortal forces, will be on high alert during the expedition to the Citadel.”
“How are our magical defenses on the Isle of Doom?” Tom asked.
“Not what we want,” Völund responded. “We’ve been focused on getting the transportation and communication systems online.”
Phaestus spoke up. “I can assist there. While my wife will not go to the aid of the followers of the Five Siblings, she is more than happy to help Doom resist any potential treachery on their part. She will be bringing in two companies of sphinxes. We will place them all in key strategic locations. They will not let anyone pass; it’s one of their specialties.”
Tom nodded. “As to our advance party, Arg-nargoloth,” he said, looking to the commander, “you are to be in command of Doom itself. Your first is going to Nysegard in command of the second regiment, correct?”
“That is consistent with our practices for the last ten or twelve thousand years.” Arg-nargoloth said, nodding in agreement.
“So you have your hands full here. Darg-Krallnom and Targh, will you join me in the advance party?” Tom asked. “You both have great experience with the Citadel.” The two D’Orcs nodded in agreement.
“Talarius, you are the one pushing for this.” Tom smiled at the knight. “You also know the most of the modern Church. Will you join me as well under your oath?”
“I will.” Talarius nodded.
“Is there anyone else who should join us?” Tom asked.
Talarius spoke up. “I might offer a suggestion.” Tom nodded for him to continue. “I have made the close acquaintance of Sir Stainsberry, Knight Magus of the El Ohîm. Given all that has transpired between Doom and the Five Siblings, along with the oddity of this interdiction, it might be advisable to bring him along up front.”
“Very good idea!” Arg-nargoloth exclaimed. “I had no idea one of the El Ohîm was on the Isle of Doom. That will work in our favor.”
Darg-Krallnom chuckled. “Yes, that will give the avatars at the Citadel pause before committing any perfidy.”
Tom shook his head. “What are the El Ohîm?”
“It translates literally as ‘of the gods,’ ” Talarius informed him. “So Sir Stainsberry is a Knight Magus of the gods.”
“Which gods?” Tom asked suspiciously.
“All of them!” Talarius grinned. “Or at least all of them that have sworn to uphold the Concord of Conciliation and the Balance.”
Tom just looked at him curiously, not really understanding.
“They are representatives, in a sense, marshals, of the Tribunal,” Phaestus explained. “The Tribunal is something of a governing body for inter-pantheon affairs. Each signatory pantheon has a representative on the Tribunal. It is their job to keep order between the pantheons.”
“Interesting. So bringing Stainsberry is like bringing a sheriff to ensure everyone agrees on the rules?” Tom asked.
“Yes. Although I would say that Doom’s interactions with the Tribunal are… complex,” Arg-nargoloth said.
Tom looked at him questioningly, but Phaestus explained, “Doom, and the Tartarvardenennead, are not signatories to the Concord of Conciliation. This is for a number of reasons, including conflict with the Courts of Chaos, as well as the fact that the Tartarvardenennead is not technically a pantheon in the traditional sense.”
“It would be rather against our mission,” Darg-Krallnom said.
Phaestus shrugged. “In any event, Tartarus also complicates things. The Tribunal very much wants to control Tartarus; however, the Tribunal as a whole does not know that we are the ones running Tartarus — for our own protection, of course. Some do, or some in the representative pantheons know, but the actual Tribunes may not know.” The god shook his head. “Tartarus’s secretive nature complicates many things.”
“We should really consider doing an Oubliette session on the whole administrative and political aspects of Tartarus at some point,” Tom said.
“I will put it on the list. All of Doom’s relationships are going to have to be reviewed and re-evaluated,” Phaestus said.
“So,” Tom said, shaking his head to clear it. “Back to planning!”
Barabus looked up as Chancellor Alighieri entered the bridge looking rather perplexed. Heron noticed as well. The chancellor had sent word for them to assemble on the bridge. It was getting to be a tight fit with not only their standard group, but their two new passengers as well.
“What have you found, chancellor?” Heron asked him.
“Well, I believe I have restored the link to Talarius…” Dante said, sounding less than certain.
“Why, that is excellent news! I was sure a man of your talent could succeed!” Melissance practically gushed at the chancellor, who smiled less confidently than Barabus had ever seen him behave.
“However, it’s a bit odd,” Dante said.
“What do you mean, odd?” Heron asked.
“Well, the link does not go anywhere in the Abyss,” Dante told them looking up and around at the others.
“Where does it go?” Captain Cranshall asked.
“To Nysegard,” Dante replied.
“Nysegard?” Barabus asked. That was one of the last places he’d have expected Talarius to be.
“Yes, so it appears.” The chancellor nodded.
“Are you sure it’s Talarius on the other side?” Heron asked.
“Pretty certain. It is someone associated with Tiernon; I can now recognize that signature fairly easily after the last several days,” Dante explained.
“This is so bizarre.” Barabus glanced at Tamerlane, who was wedged into a corner behind him. The Diocate shook his head, indicating it made no sense to him either.
“You are certain that it goes to Nysegard?” Captain Cranshall said.
“Yes, as I have said a couple of times,” Chancellor Alighieri replied sternly. I have triple-checked the coordinates against every tool I have. Nysegard, being in our own localverse, is not that difficult to identify. It’s not like he was wandering around a random Earth or something.”
“What the…?” The chancellor suddenly exclaimed, staring at the locket intensely.
“What is it?” Heron asked.
“The link just went dead.” Dante began moving the locket around in order to stare at it from multiple directions.
“It went dead?” Barabus asked.
“Yes. It was there just fine, and now the link is simply broken!” Dante exclaimed.
“Did he plane shift?” Sir Samwell asked.
Dante shook his head. “Not unless he went to the Outer Planes; the link should follow him to any other world he could travel to.”
“Well, that would be rather disconcerting,” Melissance said suddenly.
“What do you mean?” Barabus asked.
“Well, you said he is with this mana-stealing demon, yes?”
“Yes.” Barabus nodded. “As far as we know.”
“Well, if Talarius went to an outer plane — the only way he could break such a link, as I understand the chancellor — then he most likely went to Tierhallon,” Melissance said with a shrug.
“And the demon with him,” Salvatore added.
Chancellor Alighieri frowned. “Well, that would not be good.”