Apostles of Doom

An opening in the tent wall behind Elgrida Far Eyes parted, revealing another room of the very large tent. Zargvarst, Tal Gor, Lob Smasher and Didar An Sep, all in formal gear, entered the tent. The orcs at the edges of the tent came to attention with their entrance.

Jenn saw both Maelen and Elrose start beside her, almost rising, or perhaps jumping back. She glanced out of the corners of her eyes to see their shocked expressions. She noted that Trevin’s back stiffened in surprise, but otherwise the enchantress maintained her composure.

“And also, what about his land patrols, scouts and soldiers of all other natures?” Zargvarst asked.

Trevin shook her head gently. “I am sorry? I do not believe we have been introduced?”

Zargvarst gave the enchantress what Jenn suspected was meant to be an amused nod of appreciation, but which she herself found a bit ominous.

“I am Zargvarst El Crooked Stick, of the Astlanian Crooked Sticks. While you and I have not met, Ariel and I have met several times. I spent my mortal life combating his many crimes against the orcs, and after my death, I continued to defend our lands from the barbarous incursions of the vile alvar. I have led troops against him on over a dozen occasions, I have personally fought him to a standstill as a mortal, and once defeated him in combat as a D’Orc. He has never prevailed over me,” Zargvarst said with a fierce pride. “I know both him and his sister quite well,” he continued sternly. “If they have agreed to remove their sky patrols around Jötunnhenj, that means there are troops elsewhere in our realm that he is not withdrawing. If he were to say that he was removing all sky patrols from our realm, that would mean he was leaving ground troops, or other forces that he can conveniently claim are not sky patrols.”

Jenn could see the tension in Trevin’s back as Zargvarst gave his speech.

“I understand his treacherous tricks all too well to be fooled,” Zargvarst stated. He suddenly smiled and changed the subject. “As to the rest of my immediate party, allow me to present one of my fiercest warriors, Didar An Sep.” He gestured towards the female D’Orc, who nodded.

He gestured to Lob Smasher. “This is Lob Smasher, an Elder of the Crooked Sticks of Astlan, the tribe that first contacted Mount Doom.” Lob Smasher nodded to them.

“Finally, may I present Lord Tommus’s Shaman Commander in Astlan, Tal Gor El Crooked Stick — the first shaman to journey to Mount Doom in over four thousand years. Tal Gor, you should know, is also the shaman that blew Ariel’s cowardly wizard out of the sky, forcing the pusillanimous pig to abandon his soldiers. Craven, as all alvar are, he fled when confronted by his superior.” Zargvarst was practically spitting his contempt for the alvaran wizard.

Tal Gor, carrying an insanely large pole arm-slash-magical staff, bowed his head to Trevin in acknowledgement. Did that staff have a mana pool? There was a very large sapphire embedded in it, along with some other sort of metallic stone mounted in a complicated setting.

Jenn quickly made the motion to activate her wizard sight. “Holy…” she whispered to herself in surprise. That staff was extremely magical! And the odd stone had a link going off-plane. Carefully brushing it with her mind, she was able to get a sense of someone she recognized as being the demon Tom. This shaman could have Tom in the room within a heartbeat!

She glanced towards Maelen and Elrose, who were also plainly staring at the staff. Gastropé seemed to pay it no attention; he had most likely seen it before.

Trevin nodded. “I am Trevin D’Vil, Enchantress of the Grove and Councilor of Wizardry in the Council States. With me are Maelen of the Society of Learned Fellows, Elrose of Lenamare’s School of Wizardry and adjunct of the Council, as well as Jenn Rean and Gastropé Al-Ghayrani, also from the Council.”

Tal Gor and the D’Orcs gave all of them brief acknowledgements. Amazingly, and to Jenn’s great relief, they pretended not to know her and Gastropé.

“As I conveyed to Elgrida Far Eyes yesterday, Prince Ariel conveys his regrets regarding this attack,” Trevin said.

Didar An Sep snorted. Jenn noticed Tal Gor giving Didar a quick glance and a short smile.

Zargvarst nodded. “Prince Ariel? So his father continues to refuse to die? Please convey to Prince Ariel my deepest condolences on that subject.” Several orcs suppressed chuckles at this. Zargvarst continued, “I am certain Prince Ariel regrets — his losses. What remains unspoken is his regret for his unprovoked actions.”

Zargvarst looked around at the others within the room. “All should do well to remember that at least one half of everything an alfar says is found in what they did not say. Their purposeful omissions speak as loud as, and often louder than, their actual words.” He looked at Trevin. “Enchantress, go back to Prince Ariel and tell him who he is dealing with, so that he may know the truth of what I shall tell you.” The D’Orc commander paused to allow Trevin to nod in agreement.