C.A.R.P.S.

*Vaellar walks into the Inn, places his empty mug on the bar and begins to speak to anyone willing to listen*

So...last month we got a pretty serious beat down from some underlings. Best as i can figure they were trying to open a portal between the underling world and this world. I know that it took them a lot of resources to organize this and while I don't expect them to have the resources to try it again anytime soon, I think it would be in our best interest to be prepared. They will either lash out in anger that they got stopped, or more likely begin gathering resources to try again.

Right now here is what I know about underlings, it isnt much but at least its a starting point.

1. They come in different colors now. Before we had only ever seen the black ones, to date we have also seen Red, Blue, and Green ones. I dont know much about the differences.

2. They seem vulnerable to silver weaponry.

3. They have magi. In the battle we fought last moon 11 of the 12 ritualist were underlings and at least one other magi was on the battle field casting spells. The one on the battlefield was at least a 4th tier capable caster or had magic items of 4th tier power that he used.

4. They have non-underling minions. For certain I know that in the battle they had a human who was fighting while on fire and wearing a heavy suit of armor. Normally I would say this makes him a beginning elementalist, but something is not quite right we regards to that. They also had a Toevass arcanist helping them with the ritual, anyone know who he is or anything about him? I don't know if these people were charmed, coerced, blackmailed, or just generally evil/greedy people but these creatures have the intelligence to come up with plans.

That is all I know. If anyone else knows anything I encourage you to speak up and share the information you have so that we can prepare as best we can.

Here is what I think we need to do:

1. We need to assemble a team of adventurers to go investigate Delilah's old tower. She was one of 13 tower mages from 8 or so years ago who had dealings with underlings and to the best of my knowledge that was the first time they were discovered in this area. If someone is willing to organize and lead this team I would appreciate volunteers. You will need someone to handle traps, someone with some magical knowledge, and a sage as well as the normal compliment of warriors and healers. Your goal would be to find any information about underlings. Perhaps some books, some notes, anything at all of use. I will offer a word of caution...to my knowledge nobody has been to that tower since Delilah was killed, I have no idea what may have moved into the tower.

2. Silver weapons. Since the underlings seem to have a vulnerability to silver I think it would be a good idea to arm as many of our warriors with silver weapons as we can. I know they are not cheap to make and I don't suggest that our smiths give them away, but perhaps some town funds could be arranged to help those folks who fight for the town to get them at a discount. Edrick, any chance Mandilore might be willing to cut a tax break on the sale of silver weapons from the town smiths to the townsfolk for the purposes of defending the town and thus the kingdom against the underlings?

3. Alchemy. Not everyone will be able to afford silver weapons right away. So I was thinking maybe some of you alchemists can take some raw silver and combine it with a weapon paste to see if you can come up with something that will make a weapon work like silver, even if its only for a short time. Its still better then not having silver and depending on how it reacts with enchanted blades it may be better for those people who have quality or enchanted weapons that are not silver. If the town is not willing to fund this research out of its coffers then I will compensate any alchemist who discovers this recipe AND shares it with all the alchemists in town with 1 BAR worth of magical items crafted by myself or cash (which would unfortunately be taxed) at the Alchemists choice.

4. Defenses. In addition to silver paste alchemy research I think it would be a good idea for people to begin stockpiling defensive potions. I know the underlings we fought last moon seemed to have an affinity for fire slay attacks. Having a supply of triple resist fire, triple resist pain, resist damage and healing potions would be a good idea. I am not sure how the town currently sits for Raise dead potions but that would be another thing to check the stockpiles on and make sure we have enough of.

5. Mages. Any spell weavers who are willing can begin preparing defensive scrolls to aid the town. Resist fire is only a first tier spell so any spell weaver should be able to craft them. Also general toughness and armor scrolls would be a good thing to have on hand so our mages can save energy to aid in any battles instead of using up valuable explosive energy granting protectives.

6. Sages. If you can organize and begin researching underlings that could prove useful. Right now we know very little about them and the more we know about them the better of we will be should it come to war. Maybe you can find some way to prevent them from ever being able to open a gate to the underling world and invading, but right now I will take any information that we can get.

That is all I have. I have shared my ideas and am asking for everyone in town to work together on this. Some people are new to town and may not feel the sense of loyalty that others do. Some are motivated by greed, I assure you the underlings have treasure.

It is my hope that this will at least spark some debate & discussion to help us be prepared.

*Vaellar then sits down, grabs his now filled mug and listens to see what started from his speech*

*Flamyras rubs his brow as Vaellar finishes speaking.
"Of course it's silver they're weak to... Does anyone know how the recovery efforts are going over in Blackwell, or how much ire we still hold from them? I remember last year with the werewolf issue how difficult it was getting silver when they couldn't mine any, probably will be just as hard with their town mostly decimated. Hrmm, maybe we can get the group that went to clean out the mines last year together to maybe do a reminder of past deeds, start working to fix what happened last moon."

If I remember correctly, Delilah was an Underling necromancer. I'd lead a team but I'd need to know who to take, been out of town and I have no idea who makes a good shield wall these days.

As for underlings themselves, other than they are really not from around here and we stole their crown about 8 years ago. The mage leading the battle for the Underlings was fond of charms, and was as powerful as you are Vaellar. Did we kill that one or did he run?

The mage on the battlefield was quite possibly more powerful than either you or I, Vaallar. He cast at least one 5th tier at me and with the way he was just wandering around, and how low I got, he's probably close to true master in spell power. He was also at least a master in both disenchant and sense magic. Should be able to find out some form of information on him considering anything that strong, someone should have heard of.

I'll join in the quest to the tower. You got a trap grand master, searcher, and magic finder all rolled into one. And I can expertly heal folks wounds. So count me in.

And yes, I will work with anybody to lower the tax rate for anyone who is willing to help on equiping the town folks with silver weapons.

If folks are willing to fund, I can see what silver weapons I can find from local merchants. I should be able to get them bartered down to base cost!

"I have the coin to buy myself a couple of silver weapons if you can find them, Edrick. I'll also go to the tower to help find research, and, if someone will be willing to teach me the resist fire spell, I'll be able to memorize it and hand it out to towns folk as needed."

You can count on my shield until I'm dead, or you find someone better.

Hakon is not silver, but Olaf is strong! If Underlings crumple under slaying swings, than Olaf is their bane!"

the zig is willing to provide silvered weapons and alchemies and the like......for a modest fee in coin, jem, or trade items.

olaf wrote:Hakon is not silver, but Olaf is strong! If Underlings crumple under slaying swings, than Olaf is their bane!"

Olaf, we saw a few that slaying strikes did not effect. The smaller ones did seem to fall under them though.

"Olaf is a perfect example of where that Silver weapon paste would come in handy. Hakon is an amazing aid to our side in battle he would be truly devestating if we could figure out that weapon paste."

Stag finally looks up from his book.

"Looking into the Underlings, and will immediately begin work on that weapon paste."

He begins to read again.

"Ziggy, could you find me a spear and a longsword? We could discuss prices later, and, if you can find me an expert quality silver longsword, I'd trade you my master quality longsword for both weapons."

i do believe i can make that happen, perhaps even this coming moon.

Interesting developments indeed. Thank you Vaellar for that summary of the situation as I was away from this area the last moon. I will give you some information that is public knowledge and therefore not valuable for sale, and then offer more if anyone is interested.

Firstly, Delilah was not born an underling but became part underling through some sort of magical or otherwise vile ritual.

Secondly, her minions included many full blooded underlings and she did have some way of 'bridging the planes' to bring them to Phantarra.

Thirdly, underlings do not age, nor do they die of natural causes. They claim the ability to grant this to non-underling followers, which is how they are usually able to recruit humans and demi-humans to help them in their plans.

My services will be available in this endevour and I already have a great deal of Underling research complete and available. In addition, I make this offer. All services against the Underlings will be offered seriously discounted rates if those involved in the effort are willing to share the additional research and information they have or find on Underlings. Underlings are one of my specific fields of interest as they do tend to come in larger groups and it is very profitable to be where the Underlings plan to be with the proper information at the proper time.

There are additional protections and attack methods that prove useful against Underlings in general and specific to their 'type' and I can offer that as part of services rendered, but I will state that Vaellar's initial thoughts include the majority of the simplest and most effective methods of combating them.