Something Strange is Happening in the South...

Oma Salie opens her eyes after attuning to the crystal, looking around for any familiar faces. Not seeing anyone she gets up and asks the first person she sees if they know where her companions are and she gets directions to the great hall. Upon arriving there she sees it's mostly empty and she raises an eyebrow, seeing Aetoris lean lazily in the chair at the head of the table. Liking that position of power a bit too much, aren't we? Would it be helpful if I reminded all of us of some of your less accomplished moments to bring you back to our level? She snickers, moving around the table to sit in a chair next to him. All silliness aside though, the steward and clerics weren't very helpful with the crystal. The steward wanted to send it to Lyn's Ascendence, he suggested it twice, so I declined, twice and then took my time to attune to it again. What did you find investigating the pyramid, anything interesting? She rolls her eyes heavily at the mention of the steward's plans.

You know me Oma Salie, I rarely like positions of power, though there are times it is beneficial. I'm sorry to hear they weren't helpful. Eventually, getting it to the academies in Lyn's Ascendance wouldn't be a bad thing, but right now it would definitely be folly to lose the benefit it does provide. I'm glad you are reattuned. Hopefully we won't have to repeat this rigmarole of attuning and unattuning all the damned time just so we can move around. he says with a breath of minor exasperation, rubbing his hands over his face and through his hair, tousling it.

As for the pyramid, it has some concerning features, which I was getting ready to explain to Lord Byron here so we may plan our next moves wisely. The three biggest concerns are that it is clearly unnatural. Nothing naturally has sides that smooth. Secondly, is the big castle atop the peak. Someone or something is in there, plotting something and I don't like it a damned bit. Finally, and most concerning, is that they have a crystal like yours, but massive, floating over the structure. My guess is that's what's masking the magical power there. More worrisome is that if we can't contend with it, so much of our magical power will be utterly useless as soon as we're in range. Not sure if you'll have more luck with that shard or not. We need more information about the structure if we're to assault it. Magical transport seems like it would fail, many of our enchantments would cease to work. You mentioned that your carefully bonded items and your innate magics still functioned with the crystal. Considering that, it's not an unlikely conclusion that whoever is in that castle is quite the accomplished mage themselves. Think of the effort it would take to make something like that appear, now make it still function with that big crystal interfering. It's a bit terrifying to consider. he says, talking as much to Byron as he is Oma.

Lord Byron's bannermen and bannerwomen are currently assisting the guard here with fortifying the outlying areas of the fort with earthen barricades, so we can break any troops that may come. I need to spend no small amount of time with you Lord Byron, so you can fill me in on all of your contingent. I need to know musterable troop strengths, their general abilities and history, how many horses they can provide, what kind of experience they have working alongside magical combatants. All of it. We may need to break and divvy bodies differently than they are used to so we can make effective lines. For example, if any of them have intelligence experience, Sola here will absolutely need to coordinate their efforts. She is - well - she is exquisitely good at her job. So, let's not waste any time, there is plenty to do. he finishes, looking about the room. We need food and drink for this. We'll meet for some hours and then break to rest before setting out for the first forays of further intelligence gathering.

With a modest nod of thanks in acknowledgment of Aetoris' compliment, Rolana/Sola says to Lord Byron, Yes, anyone with experience in intelligence-gathering will be of critical importance to conducting a quick and effective investigation into this situation. Also, I'd like the names of anyone you feel seems to be unusually interested the mountain or what's taking place in Southwatch, including anyone who has been discussing theories and hypotheticals. Does anyone like that come immediately to mind, my lord?

"Me go give example. I, King's Champion, go dig with knights and noble. They see we not only give orders, we work hard too. Maybe they feel less..." looking at Rolana, "what's word for diminiukhed, ukhamun?"

Oma puts a hand on Aetoris's arm, smiling her grandmotherly smile. You're doing a great job, dear friend. The pyramid sounds very interesting, in a slightly worrying way. Knowing the location of that big crystal is good, I'm sure you can create battle tactics to lure our enemy outside of its range so we can fight them with magic. I understand that, in the end, we have to face the pyramid, the castle and whoever is in it, and move or destroy that crystal on top. We could try to find out how to do that with mine, but for now I rather keep it and test it's abilities some more. She sighs, getting up from the chair and glancing around the room once more.
If you don't need me here while you discuss our next steps, I trust you to make wise decisions, I would like to go to the edge of the big crystal's reach to test it's effects on mine. I would like some help, I'd ask Fah'lin or Tinwë myself but I don't know where they are. Would you have an idea where to find them?

That's an excellent idea, Champion. Certainly, we don't want the nobles to think that we are above the work we're asking them to do. If Commander Aetoris approves, I think your example would be quite politic. Sulj wiuke, mausan friend.

In answer to Oma Salie's question, Rolana/Sola replies, I believe they are out doing reconnaissance on the pyramid's anti-magic field boundaries, aren't they?

Pyrrha watches curiously on as dozens of well dressed and armored nobles troop into the great hall. She keeps pace with them a few yards away, scanning for any faces she might know, but finding none. The parade passes by her with a cacaphonous clanking and chattering. She slinks in the door just as it begins to close behind the final member of the gaudy procession. Immediately, she stops dead as she finally spies a familiar face, the illustrious Lord Byron. She remembers him both from before and after her leave from the capital. They are not fond memories. Only ever did he appear to her as a miserly coward - at best, a sycophant and at worse an intolerable bully. Her disgust is plain even in her feline features. Repressing the urge to surprise him with her presence, she perches herself on a barrel in a shaded nook under the window. From here, she watches statue-like as Aetoris, Rolana and Kuz slowly strip away the flimsy posturing that serves as his resolve. A coy grin creeps its way onto her face all the while. Eventually, the nobles all scamper off to their new duties, grumbling all the while about the injustice of it all. Pyrrha stalks smugly over to Oma as she arrives, and follows her to Aetoris' side.

Ryestro watches the man, hidden amongst the trees, for but a second before uttering an incantation.

Seeing the halfling appear, as soon as crosses the threshold of the anti-magic, Fah'lin swoops down on her broom letting her invisibility fall away. Dropping to the ground next to him she says, "Hop on. Can the thing chasing you fly?"

Fah'lin leaps into the air, focusing on flying and keeping out of reach of the alien creatures.