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Winter of Victory: Interlude #30
Twilight Geometry Volmar Al'Morak stomps around the tent, furious at the failings of his family. They and the Il'Korath had been slaughtered like so many swine; victims of the powerful magics of another plane. Volmar is their patriarch and their failings are his failings. The shadar-kai stop moving long enough to look back at the being who leads them all. She is powerful and mysterious and she is definitely not one of them. Though she is shadar-kai, Volmar suspects there is something else about that woman that no one yet has guessed. Volmar doubts he is the only one trying. `Why do we follow this woman?' he asks himself. His eyes scan the room and he sees other powerful shadar-kai there. Korath One-Eye sits with his spike chain hanging limply by his side. His brother, One-Arm, had been killed in the attack on the accursed Llygedn. Next to him sits Thaeda Tir'Avgod. The woman is the embodiment of poison, her every pore reeks of it. The Tir'Avgod are the masters of it and to be their matriarch is to be a queen, deadly to every mate she takes. Finally, sits the patriarch of the Il'Kiroyte. `They Who Have Abandoned the Chains' as they are known. Even though each clan has members who fight using other weapons, the Il'Kiroyte had long ago abandoned the spiked chain for the power of their edged halberds. Together they are the most powerful of families in the Host though many lesser clans bolster their ranks. Only these make decisions for the Host. Volmar walks towards the entrance of the tent and stares out. "We are no closer to an answer," He says, clearly frustrated. "The Brightlings were a surprise we had not anticipated," She Who Leads says, looking over at Volmar. Korath One-Eye snorts, "It is something we should have anticipated!" He sits forward and points at She Who Leads. "You should have seen this!" The being reveals no emotions as she speaks. "A line may fall close to the circle and yet still may not touch it. Is it less a line?" "No more riddles! Please," Volmar moves over to Korath and uses his boot to kick him back in place. "And no more laying blame! Our soldiers failed in their battle with the enemy." Korath glares but says nothing. Beside him Thaeda smiles, "Yes but the Llygedn are finally silenced. This war will go much more quickly and we will find our answers." "Perhaps the new comers are the answer," She Who Leads says, her attention turning to Thaeda. The matriarch of Tir'Avgod looks thoughtful but betrays none of the ideas he harbors. "Regardless, we need new tactics," Volmar says, returning to his place by the tent flap. "Magnus?" The patriarch of the Il'Kiroyte looks up and speaks. "Agreed. There are things we can try, ways we can adjust. Fighting Victor or Havgan is one thing, but these Brightlings deserve a new kind of respect. We should not underestimate them even in small numbers. "A mystery remains in the chains." All turn and look at She Who Leads. "A mystery cannot be properly measured. Much danger remains." There is silence after that as each tries to understand her words. Before anyone can answer however, an Al'Morak messenger arrives. "I seek those who will hear me," he says, looking mainly at Volmar. "I will hear you," She Who Leads replies. The messenger nods. "A creature has approached us claiming it has information that we can use. It claims to want nothing in return." "What sort of creature?" Volmar asks. The messenger's face grimaces with disgust. "Tis best if I show you." "Then show us." The messenger steps around the side of the tent for a moment. When he returns he leads a creature bound in black chains. As each of the clan leaders sees the creature, they let out a hiss. She Who Leads does not seem to react at all. All have seen such creatures before but this one's ruby colored eyes shine brightly even on the Plane of Shadow. "What can this thing tell us?" Volmar asks, his disgust most evident. "Oh I can tell you a great many things," it says, winking at the Al'Morath patriarch. "A great many things about a great many things, sweetlings. All that you have to do is ask." 
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