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An adventuring party recruited from Osirion teleports into Azir on the 8th of Desnus. Rahadoum's recruiting contact in Osirion wrote ahead to note they were expected. Couple of guys he's known a long time - a wizard, a ranger - and a new guy, sorcerer, probably to replace the cleric they usually travel with. They spend two days in Azir getting oriented and head out to the front. The ranger wears an unusually high quality amulet of Nondetection; the sorcerer wears a headband for intelligence, which is a bit unusual as sorcerers usually don't need it to cast, but some variants do; they are otherwise unremarkable. Chaotic Good, Lawful Neutral, no reading, which could mean neutral or 'hiding it'. They work quickly and effectively, manage resources reasonably well, get recommended to higher-ups for a closer look on that account.
"- damn.
Uh.
Does seem like the kind of thing that'd maybe let you clear your way all the way to the Worldwound and have breathing room to close it. Which would be a very big deal."
"I suspect he ought have enough control to at least point it in one direction, too - this is moderately but not absurdly difficult. Meaning that as long as he was in the front, the rest of the forces would not need to vacate the entire area in order to avoid the blast, and it would be even more effective at demon-destruction. ...They would die permanently, I suppose, since they are coming through an interplanar opening rather than being summoned. I am not sure whether or not I ought be bothered by that. If they are intelligent beings, even evil ones..." Sigh.
"Unless Malduoni has a lot of tricks up his sleeve that he didn't have a couple hundred years ago we don't have a way to close the Worldwound without killing demons. I think you oughta be a little bit bothered about that. Lotsa them have probably been living there for eighty years, lotsa them might not be there willingly.
I don't see another way, though. And as long as the Worldwound is open there'll be tons of people dying every day on both sides."
"If we have a way to clear it does Malduoni have a way to close it. He might not have expected to have it clear, so it might not be in the plans, but if he would have worked out the wording for a Wish -"
"He did not brief me on plans but I am almost certain he would have some contingency, just in case, even if it seemed nearly impossible it would be relevant. I would."
"Well, maybe tell him it'll be relevant. If Vanyel agrees. - maybe ask Yfandes how to ask Vanyel."
"That is a good idea." Leareth look thoughtful. "Anyway, the last piece is not one where I need to consult Vanyel, but I do need to think. And I suppose figure out if Vanyel ought be inconveniently elsewhere. The context is that Khemet - offered to help Malduoni with casting a contingent resurrection, and Malduoni is potentially interested, but of course he would need to travel. I am not sure where is reasonable for them to meet, possibly it ought be here."
"I would be pretty surprised if the pharaoh's willing to leave Osirion. Especially when Malduoni totally kidnapped us."
"Reasonable of him. In Velgarth I am generally reluctant to travel to places not under my control, even to meet allies, but Malduoni may feel more secure about his ability to defend himself against almost-arbitrary threats. High level wizards in your world are absurdly powerful."
"They are. And - they're both lawful heads of state, I assume there is some - set of procedures or guarantees that is standard here -"
"Right. Also he is not in a position where the gods have Foresight and wish him dead."
"I didn't even know you could do a contingent resurrection but I guess if anyone would've figured out how to make Contingency more powerful and flexible it'd be him probably."
"I suppose he would not have expected to have access to divine magic for it, but it does seem like him to prepare for the option anyway."
"Contingency is useful for lots of other things. If I'm knocked unconscious, Teleport me back to my base - if I am under the effect of a mind-affecting spell, cast Protection from Evil -"
"That does sound very useful. You can sometimes set up that kind of thing with artifacts in Velgarth, but not with very complex spells."
"I'm a bit surprised he doesn't have some way to access divine magic anyway - no, I guess I'm not. If you kidnap a cleric and use mind control to make them raise your dead, that maybe works once, but then their god stops giving them spells and you have Their attention.
Do we know yet who - betrayed him -"
"No. I asked Khemet and he answered a different question; he thought he might be able to learn more from Abadar, but it seems he has not succeeded in that yet."
He nods.
"I assume, if you're moving your whole army through, then the plan for us mostly involves travelling with them as people who know the local magic and geography?"
"That would seem to make sense. Malduoni may have his own plan for logistics there, though."
"My current plan is to transport my army tomorrow, with overflow the next day if necessary. It is quite a number of people."
"Presumably we're not supposed to stage them here...I guess I should make sure I've gotten everything I want out of the pharaoh's library."
