Invasion

[*Midnight]

Word filters through the Factions and from them to the more general chant that The Godsmen have discovered a way of combating the Far Realm creatures.

The following letter finds its way into the hands of the Factions and Chant brokers.

The invaders seems to be fairly resistant to most elemental energies, cold seemed to work against a few of them though. Divine energy was fully effective so I'd strongly advise using weapons imbued with pure raw divine energy as I'm not certain blessed weapons might actually be effective.

But most importantly, the invaders are weak against an old evocation spell known to most spell-casters, including Paladins and Rangers called the Invocation of the Cerulean Sign, that works effectively against any kind of aberrations. While the sign can't kill them, it allows to partially daze and push them back and also helps in the detection of potential possessed people. We haven't found a way to push them away from a possessed person without killing him or her.

For now, I strongly recommend the use of the sign and with a conjunction of weapons enchanted to be effective against aberrations.

[*Taurus Daggerknight]

A postcard arrives in the mail for Hograth. It depicts sunset at a waterfall pouring into an enclosed pond with scantly clad nymphs waving at the viewer, and the caption "Wish you were here!".

[*Rainbow Prism]

Somewhere in secluded room of Foul Olde Spirit, in room number five, there was a lot of murmuring and scrutinizing.

Somehow, the young drow could not throw away the idea given by the mage Rond Undt.

Namely, the connection of the famed Mnemur Scrolls and the Far Realm.

Could there be a key to saving the city in the scrolls?

Having one scroll in hand, Sillxhistraja carefully looked over the artifact spread on her table. She was not a sage, but she was budding prodigy when it came to uncovering the mysteries of magic.

And how magic of one scroll could be different?

[*Taurus Daggerknight]

Coincidentally, another soul was starting to settle into a spot in the very same inn.

Up in Room 3, Dace carefully prepared a magic circle. The mind fortification runes would probably not be necessary, but he'd had enough experience with foreign beings playing around in his skull to take any chances.

Satisfied with the setup, he sat in the center and closed his eyes.

Now then, he "spoke" in his mind to his companion of the last few weeks. If you're done complaining about the Sign ward, I have some more questions....

Assuming the entity is co-operative, he would ask the following questions:

- Who or what is leading the invasion force in Sigil? Even if these things are chaos incarnate, something is guiding their actions beyond sheer instinct. If identified, he'd ask where the "leader" or closest thing to is.

- Which worlds are being targeted first after Sigil?

- Are the Dabus also being targeted for possession?

- What beings are NOT vulnerable to possession by them, or just not interesting enough targets?

-Are there any places in Sigil where they will not tread, and if so, why?

- Do they have any allies they do not need to possess in Sigil? Cultists, factions, creatures of any sort?

- Is there any way to rescue someone from possession or infection without killing them?

- Dace remembered seeing the invaders war room when they possessed him the night of the carnival... but no one else has reported seeing such a place or such details after being taken. Why would he have seen it? What was different? Is it something that happens to everyone, but most simply do not remember?

- Is there anyone in particular being identified as a specific threat to be arrested and sent to the Gatehouse by the invaders that he knows of, and if so, why?

- Are there any portals or rifts to the invaders world besides the one in the Gatehouse? If so, where? And how can they be closed?

[*Midnight]

He finds it, lurking on the edge of his mind. Always there just beneath the surface. It responds to what it asks.

The idea of a leader confuses it. The creatures act upon the will of the whole.

They have little desire for Sigil it is the many many rich prime worlds they can reach from it that interest them.

The Daubus scare them. They do not know where The Lady has gone but worry possessing them might cause her return.

Creatures without minds of their own, undead and constructs cannot be suitable hosts. Nor can other creatures of the Far Realm Abberations.

As far as it knows they can go where they like in Sigil.

It does not know but doubts it

Again it does not know it has never had to free anyone before.

It does not know what Dace saw or how it is for him or other hosts.

It does not know names but the plan was to use possession to neutralize Sigil's leadership as well as those organizing a resistance.

It came from the portal in the Slags, it suspects based upon what it saw with Dace's eyes that one also exists within The Gatehouse.

[*Taurus Daggerknight]

So there isn't any special one among the invaders that's guiding the others, or that's maintaining the rifts on this side? He responds.

And yes.... we know about the Gatehouse rift. Where else? Where else might there be a rift?

[/I]


He pauses, then asks:

So...you're saying that they will not, under any circumstances, attack the Dabus?

[*Midnight]

The presence lingers with the surface thoughts in his mind.

"There are creatures of power amongst us but..."

It trails off trying and failing to find a way to explain


"The Gatehouse, see what is in The Gatehouse and you will understand. There are portals within your city, portals to everywhere, but I know for sure only the one I came through, though I do not doubt there are others. As for your last question, would you under any circumstance attack a Dabus?"

[*Taurus Daggerknight]

No, but I'd also not walk into Sigil claiming the Lady's been neutralized. He pauses. How do they identify beings? Vision, or some other sense? Because we know invisibility magic works on them...so I assume they aren't just magically detecting things? Can glamours and the like work to keep them from attacking one?

He frowns at its refusal to elaborate on the creatures of power. Well? Go on... what about these creatures of power? Are they in Sigil? What's the dark on them?

[*Rainbow Prism]

Several hours of studying scroll felt like they were useless. The runes of the text were as familiar to her as human thoughts.

Simple examination the scrolls was not successful...

Drow activated the magic of the scroll and started analyzing the dweomers' work. With glow of hieroglyphs there was distinct pulse of energy, that searched for other scrolls, calling for them.

Drow pulled back, trying to feel the flow of arcana...

[*Midnight]

The creature elaborates.

"Right now I see what you see, hear what you do. Illusions will fool me as much as they fool you, that is to say some of the time. As for creatures of power you have met one. The Uvuudaum called by the illthid. That one did not come with us, but more will follow once your world is made suitable to support them. Ask yourself this though; if The Lady of Pain was going to save you, why hasn't she?"