In Rotan, after spending some time helping the wounded and boosting morale, Damus fetches the Sword of Marinor Dragonhunter. Euvgeni suggests that Ayak deserves more than just the sword and announces that as Ambassador of Outreach and its provinces, in appreciation for Ayak's support, he is prepared to offer the dragon the freedom of the city of Outreach, should he wish it.

But when Damus tries to deliver the sword to Ayak, he discovers that Ayak is no longer in Rotan. The dragon vanished some time after the victory over the green trolls. But only after following Souriin's suggestion, and trampling through several dozen brown trolls to get to the white trolls responsible for ruining his wings.

Damus reports Rotan's victory to the other Manticorum. Jess and Roleen are very pleased with the news, and immediately pass it on to the forces in Simipia and Feroll. They both suggest that Rotan send any available forces to assist their cities. Burr (who is in Griffon Keep) is happy but is feeling very left out and restless. (Thalakos and Thoylin are already in Rotan.)

Euvgeni stands down half of the active troops in Rotan to allow them to get food and a few hours rest. They will be rotated with the other troops later. Euvgeni also issues an order to commence repair of Rotan city walls. Thanks to some stone shape scrolls provided by Mother Nari, the walls are fully repaired well before dawn.

The barbarian lord notices two potentially interesting snippets in the preliminary combat reports:

• Groups fighting single trolls were far more easily able to overcome the trolls when the single trolls were separated from other trolls. Even when fighting individual opponents, trolls near to each other seem to be better fighters.
• Citizens wielding makeshift wooden clubs and spears seem to have proved surprisingly effective against the trolls.
  

Souriin instructs the members of Project Deathwatch to rest and recover their spells. As soon as they have recovered, Souriin teleports them to Lerantu, where they unearth the hidden caches of detonating undead. The members of the circle drive the undead hordes to cause the maximum amount of damage to the trolls and contain them in one part of the city.

While the battle in Lerantu rages, Souriin senses Adara's peril and pain. He panics at the thought that he might not see her again, and teleports to Pirs in time to save her. He takes Adara to his mother to care for her. Seeing Adara again brings many doubts to Souriin's mind. He's certain that she would disapprove of his current actions, but he cannot face her rejection. He leaves to rejoin the circle, before Adara awakens to ask any awkward questions.

Harmony keeps track of the damage reports from the Ivrean cities, and provide Damus with regular assessments of each city's status. She also co-ordinates discussion of successful tactics used against the trolls. In between her busy schedule she finds time to visit the Bard's Own and track down Lerath.

When Harmony finally locates Lerath on the outskirts of the town, the shabbily dressed man claims to have information on a plan to stir up disquiet in New Ivrea. But while they are talking, Lerath launches himself at the halfling and attempts to hurl her over the edge of a gorge. She is faster than him, however, and in the ensuing tussle, it is Lerath who plunges to his death. A search of his body reveals no clue as to his motives, and Harmony is left wondering if his so called plot against New Ivrea was merely a ruse to lead her to the gorge.

Tekuna uses the chain of teleport to get to Meldora to make sure her parents are safe. She arrives on the roof of her parents' home to find them trapped inside by two trolls. Thinking quickly, Tekuna finds an alternative way inside and, using the chain, Tekuna is able to transport her parents (and several servants) back to the safety of Rotan.

Owen retreats to the Druids' Conclave near Rotan for meditation. This is the first conflict of this scale Owen has seen and he is worried that being so close to the action may affect his 'neutrality' concerning the situation.

2705:11:28

The members of Project Deathwatch teleport to Meldora to help battle the remaining trollish forces there. During this visit, Astra of Mistlewood is extremely badly wounded -- most of her face is dissolved by a troll. She is lucky enough to be healed within a few seconds, and there are no visible signs of the wound. However, she seems terribly shaken by this experience. Finnigan Morman remains missing following the battle in Rotan, and the morale of Project Deathwatch is low.

In the wake of Artak's discovery of the trolls' vulnerability to 'organic' weapons, Euvgeni and Artak begin working with Rotan's weaponsmiths and fletchers to produce organic weapons. Experiments are performed with wooden strips strapped to the edges of swords.

Euvgeni drafts a letter to Damus, responding to a four-month old request for funding:

The bard speaks to Euvgeni later in the day. "The case is probably stronger now than ever for additional funding for New Ivrea. We do however need to be sure the troll attacks are over before embarking on diplomatic fund-raising missions (a far better term than begging). How many diamonds do I want? All of them, of course!"

"You can have the twelve I have on me now," responds the burly warrior. "They vary in value between 200 and 500 old coins. That should represent an immediate contribution of 4000 gold."

Bemused but incredibly grateful, Damus starts looking for somewhere to stash a pouch of diamonds in the wake of a battle.

2705:11:29

Owen and Oorak visit the site where the trolls first appeared through the gate. Much work needs to be done to the area to repair the damage inflicted on the countryside by the trolls.

In the light of the troll invasion, and thanks largely to Belimirar's intervention, the Pirsian Government agrees to suspend its ban on magical transportation.

In the days after the battle in Rotan, Euvgeni approaches Damalanthas to discuss his concerns regarding "certain disturbing behaviour on the part of the Raven Mage".

"Not a lot we can do there," Damus replies, "Even the reigns of Gods, King and country would battle to divert the world's most powerful necromancer from his course. Just be thankful we count him as friend, and that his raising of tortured souls and defiling of graves serves our cause. Do you have any suggestions?"

Euvgeni replies: "Now that you put it that way I suppose I could turn a blind eye to his activities. I though Nesgasp was the most powerful necromancer? It's ironic that you use the term 'friend' for I have probably broken that connection with Sourin for the time being. We had a substantial amount of correspondence regarding his necrotic tendencies and I could not in good faith support it for reasons of diplomacy."

"Suggestions?", the barbarian continues, "Plenty! None which end with us alive or on friendly terms. Seriously though, he really has gone off the deep end. Did you know that he has been digging in the giants' graveyards in the Giantdowns near Outreach? How can he say absolutely that these undead troops will always do what he commands. Surely there are other forces that could control them?"

Euvgeni says, "perhaps we could explore a means of concluding this war with the trolls as soon as possible. Why not take a century of armed men and go to the trolls to confront their king? We could even invite Souriin's 'death brigade' and when we come back conveniently leave them there? It might fly..."

2705:11:30

Damalanthas and Thalakos meet with the New Ivrea city guard, for a final review of security procedures ahead of tomorrow's Council meeting. That afternoon, the bard visits the Lane of Gods, offering a song at each of
the shrines.

"Divorce! What do you mean divorce?" Euvgeni's voice echoes through his apartment in Rotan. Euvgeni crumples the letter up and hurls it at the brazier in the corner.
"Not spending enough time at home? Don't know my own children? Pah! What does she know!" Euvgeni kicks the stuffed lion-skin across the floor. "You never had problems like this did you?" The lion's head just stares back.

Euvgeni stares out the bay window at the milling streets below. The damage-scarred building fronts a testimony to the sacrifices made by the townsfolk.
"Maybe she has a point, Euvgeni..." Flash says, as he leans against the oak table, "you aren't exactly the easiest person to live with."
"What do you mean?" Euvgeni spins around and glares at Flash. Then he glances at the pile of broken wooden beams that used to be his chair.
"Hmmm maybe so," he ruefully admits, scratching his beard. "I have always been faithful and loving. I have given her a good home."
Euvgeni paces across the room.
"Yes, maybe you have, but before you met her was she not a baroness?" Flash asked pointedly.
"Da Da!" Euvgeni nods.
"Well, I for one am the last person to be giving you advice on this so I'll just be getting on with the war effort then." Flash jumps up, feeling slightly self-conscious and suddenly very aware of his previous affair with Euvgeni's
younger sister Sonja.
"Yes, yes, war effort..." Euvgeni nods. "You can go, dismissed!"
"Euvgeni! I don't take orders from you!" Flash snaps back.
"Well, maybe you should! The battle would have been over quicker!" Euvgeni advances on the lithe elf. As Flash ducks out the door, he shouts back.
"Don't take this out on the others!"

Late that evening while Euvgeni is reviewing the reports of the battle he feels quite alone. Finally he understood what Kyra had meant. The loneliness and not knowing if her husband would return on a horse or in a pine box must have been too much to bear for the last few months.

"This is a fine mess I've gotten into. I'll have to deal with this after the war is over." He pulls out a requisition order. "Hmmm, how to get to Outreach and back before the others know... bugger it! I'll ask Sourin to teleport us there."

Time to find Souriin... Euvgeni grabs his favourite weapon from its stand and strides out the door.

The Third Council of War

2705:12:1

Leaders from the Ivrean region begin assembling in New Ivrea for the third Council of War. There is a positive vibe in the city; the fact that the trolls did not attack the town has given the citizens a feeling that New Ivrea is invulnerable.

Flash's Archery College, located near New Ivrea, opens to much acclaim. Visiting leaders are treated to an impressive demonstration of the reclusive elf's archery skills.

2705:12:2

Limuria Zommel represents Lerantu at the Council. She is a pale-skinned human female, bald and dressed in pale colours. She is a soft-spoken woman gentle, yet with an edge to her voice. She is head of the Priesthood of Wiobra in Lerantu.

She tells the Ivrean Council that thanks to the damage caused by Souriin's circle's caches of detonating undead, the trolls in Lerantu have been contained in a six-block part of the city. For five days now, some kind of force-field has been preventing anyone from entering that part of the city. Lerantu has been devastated. The Priesthood of Wiobra is currently running what is left of the city.

The newly selected First Officer of the Government of North Ivrea -- Loren "North" -- pledges the new nation's allegiance to the Ivrean Council. Loren, the former King of Tilloniti, enjoys broad popular support in the northern country. He informs the Council that North Ivreans stood together successfully against the trolls, and that they will stand together as a nation. He also gives special thanks to Roleen Cassandra, for her role in the battle for Feroll.

Meldora's Prince Elryk (a cousin of King Anwell known for his "keen eyesight") describes to the Council how Meldora's paladins lead the city's citizens to victory against the trolls. Although the loss of the massive Church is a heavy blow, the rest of the damage to the city is not as bad as might have been expected. Prince Elryk thanks Souriin and his circle for their aid in the battle.

In private, Elryk tells Tekuna that she is 43rd in line for the custodianship of Meldora. He hints that Tekuna should consider moving her base of operations to her home town.

King Anwell, Fengar the Grey and Annaline Lementiar describe the course of the battle in Rotan to the Council members. Euvgeni also contributes to this discussion, as well as providing a brief update on the status of Outreach.

High Priest of Brador, Sirrian Jandell, brings news from Pirs. The battle there was fierce, but thankfully brief. The trolls were repelled with a limited amount of serious damage to the city. Sirrian also bring private greetings to the Lords from Nirvon Drever and his family.

News from Simipia is born by Marlin Trollarm, head of the House of the Slumbering Serpent, the leading Simipian trading house. He tells the Council that roughly one hour after they were first sighted in Simipia, the illithid left. They left no whole trolls in the heavily damaged western part of the city. The city is beginning to struggle back to life. Nobody has yet answered the question of why the mind-flayers defended Simipia.

Roschilda of the Halfling Produce Consortium, reports on the status of supplies in the major cities. Harmony Sweetsong reports that news of the victories against the trolls is travelling fast, but it is accompanied by a growing sense of fear of the trolls and the troll-king.

Although there are no reports of trolls armies outside of the region's capitals, trolls are beginning to disperse into the countryside. Damalanthas tells Burr to send selective teams out from Griffon Keep to hunt trolls. The bard also begins composing songs of victory. Tekuna instructs the Rotan Merchant Guard to increase the protection on all main transport routes.

Damalanthas and Euvgeni present a review of strategy and tactics used against the trollish invaders to the Council. Various other Lords of Rotan also make presentations to Council. Artak explains the results of his recent research. Souriin also addresses the Council briefly.

Several nations are not represented at the Third Council:

• There are persistant rumours of the Tel all returning to the Tel lands, but no word on the possible reasons for this.
• There is also no word from Queen Allys of Beray. (Some people harbour a secret suspicion that she too has returned to the Tel lands.)
• Outreach intelligence reports that Prince Fen-Reshk has had a run in with Dagaronzie and is unable to attend this Council meeting.
• There is no news from the elves of fallen Miris.

Sunhaven

The Lords' discussions in New Ivrea are interupted by the sudden arrival of Delphinia Greymantle. She is a middle-aged woman,dressed in elegant blues and reds. She has long dark hair and wears a deep purple hat and gloves.

She introduces herself as a friend of Nesgasp's, and also tells Damalanthas that Hastarr sends his regards. When questioned, she says she hasn't seen Nesgasp lately; she thinks he has gone to try to find out what happened to the Troll King. (She mentions something about the Troll King vanishing around the same time as the recent invasion.)

Delphinia explains that she and Nesgasp "keep an eye out on different places". She has been watching Sunhaven (and other nations around the Living Sea) and recent activities in the city have driven her to approach the Lords for help.

Queen Lenqua and High Priest Aran and their ruling "Verost" (an elven word meaning 'roost') have been troubling her for sometime. She describes the Verost as paranoid and meticulously thorough. She has been unable to gain access to their inner sanctum. Delphinia has observed their accumulation of magic items during the last year, including more than one Magic Dampening Sphere.

Delphinia explains to the Lords that that there are ways to influence the relationship between psionics and magic. She also reveals that she helped make the Magic Dampening Spheres, and that they were made from psicrystal. The spheres exploit the interaction between psionics and magic to supress magic. Delphinia suspects that the network of now-dormant blight crystals could also be used in this way.

For the last hour, Delphinia has been unable to teleport to Sunhaven at all, but she was able to make contact briefly with a well-placed source in the Palace of the Sungod (Rukar, one of the True Believers). Rukar told her that a barrel-sized psicrystal has recently been obtained by the Palace, and that High Priest Aran plans to link the crystal to the Magic Dampening Sphere "using resonance".

Delphinia is gravely worried that the result of such a link could have more than just a localised impact on magic. What happens if someone somehow discovers how to turn the dormant blight crystal network into a magic-dampening field? Lady Greymantle asks the Lords to travel with her to Sunhaven, to take the psicrystal and magic dampening spheres away from the ruling Verost.

Deeply concerned by Delphinia's revelations, Souriin, Damalanthas, Euvgeni, Artak and Tekuna all agree to accompany her to the distant and mysterious city of Sunhaven. It has been almost eleven years since the five companions last adventured together, so their preparations for the trip are filled with an odd sense of nostalgia.

The Lords teleport to Delphinia's private chambers in a house in one of the 'better' districts of Sunhaven. But less than a minute after their arrival, Delphinia screams and collapses. Damalanthas and Souriin also immediately feel the change, someone or something is supressing magic within the city!

Delphinia seems to have aged ten years instantly. While the Lords place her gently on a bed, she explains that -- like Nesgasp -- she has cheated death, and that without the enchantments keeping her alive, she will be dead within a few hours. As Delphina loses consciousness, she instructs the Lords to find Tuvor of the True Believers, and tells them than Manni will know where to find him.

The Lords leave Delphinia's chambers and begin to explore the city of Sunhaven. The city is filled with life and dominated by large temples and towers, of which the Palace of the Sungod is the most impressive. Signs of the Sungod are everywhere in the city, from the tithe boxes operated by every merchant (into which a mandatory 10% share of each transaction is placed), to the ritual greeting used by the citizens ("May the Sungod be with you"; "And with you").

The bright market areas tend towards opulence, but yet the art works on display are of poor quality and meagre in number. Throughout Sunhaven, two things are rarely out of sight: well-tended plants and shrubs; and the yellow-sash wearing Templars.

Following Delphinia's advice, the Lords make their way to the main market, and track down Morik the Trade. Morik is a short, balding man who wears thick glasses. His mouth twitches when he gets nervous or excited. Morik seems to be wary of the Lords, but does share with them some information about the Verost. He refers to them as 'elves', but describes them as horribly twisted in appearance. Morik tells the Lords that the inner sanctum of the Palace is guarded by three stone golems, and that it is totally sealed off from the rest of the Palace -- there is no physical entrance to the sanctum.

With Morik's slightly reluctant help, the Lords set up a furtive meeting with the 'gentle giant' Tuvor. They learn that the True Believers believe that their Sungod is real, but that the established priesthood is a sham. Tuvor has recently been able to heal and create light, and the burly man is worried that word of his newfound abilities has reached the Verost. This could explain High Priest Aran's current efforts to establish a magic dampening zone in the city.

Tuvor tells the Lords more about the Palace routine, and about life in the city. Out of deference to the Sungod, nothing happens in Sunhaven after sunset. A strict curfew is enforced by the Templars, and during this time, all of the Verost retire to their chamber for private contemplation and prayer.

Believer Tuvor introduces them to Hisina, who is one of the 'Gelshan' (elven for "one who has seen"). Hisina is badly scarred. She used to work as an acolyte in the Palace and has witnessed some strange events. She has seen High Priest Aran drain the life from someone who questioned the Sungod's faith. She has also witnessed the Verost using the plants to transport themselves into and out of the inner sanctum. According to Hisina, this process sometimes destroys the plant used.

Abruptly, their meeting with Tuvor is terminated -- his scouts report unusual Templar activity nearby, so the Lords flee the area.

As they return to Delphinia's home, the Lords fight a rising sense of panic. Analysing the available evidence, they reach the conclusion that the city of Sunhaven is controlled by a family of elven vampires. Souriin researched elven vampires after his encounter with Forestbane twelve years before. He believes that the vampires are draining the creativity and life from the people of the city, and the Lords begin to suspect that the vampires have been in control for centuries...

The Lords discover that Delphinia's condition is deteriorating rapidly, so they decide to try to smuggle her body out of the city with Tuvor's aid. They place Delphinia inside a large box bought from Morik, and Artak and Euvgeni begin carrying it towards the city walls, with Souriin nearby. Less than halfway to their destination, Tekuna and Damalanthas, who are acting as scouts, warn them that a large group of Templars is approaching.

As the Templars reach the Lords carrying the chest, the magic field once again reactivates, but only briefly. The Lords are concerned that this mean one of the Verost has left the inner sanctum, but they do not want to abandon Delphinia. A confrontation with the Templars starts to get ugly, but Souriin realises that Delphinia's body is no longer inside the box. Assuming that some sort of contingency spell has transported her to safety, he signals to Artak and Euvgeni and the Lords disappear into the crowds.

A short while later, with most of the Lords hiding in one of Tuvor's alleged safehouses, they receive a visit from a cowled figure, who identifies himself as Quarimol. He tells the Lords that he is an emissary from the Palace. He tells them that the Verost have no quarrel with the Lords. He asks that they leave Sunhaven immediately, and says that should they do so, there will be no further consequence. After delivering this veiled threat, Quarimol leaves.

Realising that the magical field will need to be restored for Quarimol to return to the inner sanctum, the Lords decide that they must make the most of this opportunity. They arm themselves and prepare spells. As soon as they feel the magic field restored, all five Lords teleport first to a spot just outside the Palace and then immediately inside, into the uppermost portion of the Verost's inner sanctum.

They find themselves in what seem to be resting chambers for the vampires' human servants, the Gelshan. The Lords split up, and quietly move up and down the stairwells to survey the rooms immediately above and below them. The upper chamber seems to be Queen Lenqua's study, while the chamber below houses four magic dampening spheres housed on top of four pedastals. In the center area, between the pillars, High Priest Aran stands over a large psicrystal.

The Lords make the most of the element of surprise, launching an simultaneous assault on both of vampires and the delicate spheres. Within moments, all four spheres have been destroyed, and the Lords full range of magical abilities and spells are restored. Unfortunately, the vampires' full range of magical abilities and spells are also restored, and a mighty volley of spells is immediately hurled backwards and forwards inside the Palace Tower.

Amidst the chaos, there is a frantic race for possession of the psicrystal. The instant the Lords have it in hand, they teleport out of Sunhaven and away from the vampires.

Once back in New Ivrea, the Lords order the psicrystal to be sealed in some sort of protective container. Nervously, they wait for any sign of retribution from the vampires...

After nightfall, several of the Lords return to Sunhaven. They discover that the Palace tower has been ransacked, and that Verost have fled. They spend some time with Tuvor and the rest of the True Believers, discussing the fate of the city.

Damalanthas creates a massive illusion encompassing most of the Palace tower. Messages apparently written in blood appear, decrying the rule of the Verost, and proclaiming to the citizens of Sunhaven that the day of the true Sungod has finally arrived.

2705:12:3

The Lords finally return to New Ivrea, having freed Sunhaven from more than four hundred years of vampiric control. They cannot shake a feeling that they have not seen the last of Aran, Lenqua and the other members of the Verost.

Heavy snow falls in New Ivrea.