Nights of Steel and Fire (D&D)

[Cynical Cat]

[The level of evil is so shockingly high that Geharis's eyeballs catch on fire and burning liquid trickles down his cheeks-oh wait, sorry, that's the Zhentarim council meeting results. Just a second]

Gaheris's scan reveals no evil presence. "What can you tell us about these chokular?" asked Justicar Krelben.

[Rogue 9]

Gaheris ceased his check. "They're body-snatchers, so to speak. They inhabit the bodies of other creatures and control their actions. From what I understand, they seek to gather as much magical lore and power as possible. If the pit fiend attack was related to the tsochari, the abbot is probably already under their control," he added grimly.

[Comrade Tortoise]

"These creatures contain power enough to breach the mythal of Silverymoon wthout being detected by the Spellguard and their superiors. They are capable of melding the essences of the plane of shadow and limbo into one creature and sending it through the mythal. They can also find one's exact location through the mythal of silverymoon in order to send said creature. Something that should not be possible with normal spells without being detected. Unless they have an agent within the city to relay information back to the obscenely powerful spellcaster who got the creature there. If all of that is not the case, they have a powerful ward token which would almost have required the ability to do all of that anyway in order to accomplish

Additionally they are capable of putting up defenses against divinations that are either difficult to breach for Mystra herself, or can be breached by a Discern Location spell. That I will know in the morning but I am fairly certain it is the former."

Astinius left out the part about the world infiltration intentionally. He did not know how much these individuals already knew, if they were his foes or not. His friend could detect that, and he glanced over to Gaheris with a questioning look in his eyes.

[Rogue 9]

Gaheris gave a barely perceptible shake of his head when he caught Astinius' glance. He waited for a response from the assembled ranking churchmen.

[Cynical Cat]

Krelben glared at Astinius. "Hyperbole does not aid the situation." He then turned back to Gaheris. "Clearly the creatures represent a grave danger. Do you have some means for testing for their presence?"

[LadyTevar]

Torma was really starting not to like the Justicar. "Are you saying you do not believe Astinius was attacked while at Silverymoon, as he described?" the little dragon asked smoothly, her wings folded loosely against her back, her head low, looking up at the justicar with just the barest challenge.

[Rogue 9]

Gaheris stopped short of answering the justiciar's question as Torma broke into the conversation. He knew that look, and it was a dangerous one. He gave her a warning look before continuing; he might outrank Krelben, but this was the justiciar's temple.

"There are a number of magics that could do the trick. Their evil must be palpable for instance, but we all know how easy that is to conceal," he answered, remembering the spell of concealment that he was under at that very moment. "They literally live inside the hosts' body, and from the description aren't very small themselves; there may be physical outside signs of them, but checking for them would be a dead giveaway."

[Cynical Cat]

"No," said Krelben, addressing the dragon, "I'm saying I don't care for blasphemous comparisons of abilities to the goddess Mystra," said Krelben. He turned back to Gaheris. "If you have any tests to perfom, go ahead."

[Comrade Tortoise]

Astinius stood and took the abuse. There is no possible way the Justicar, he who had several immovable rods firmly implanted in his rectum could, or would if he were able, understand what he felt when he assayed the ward. And he wasnt about to inform him that even Mystra in her mortal form had been overpowered by human mages before. When she was training Elminster for example. Granted it was a long time ago. And it was the old mystra

[Rogue 9]

"I don't know all the specifics," Gaheris confessed. "I checked for wicked intent when I walked in the room, but as I said, soulsight is easily tricked. The best magical means are more likely to be at Astinius' disposal than mine." He paused. If only he knew these men better, he would start a series of questions designed to root out an impostor, but he spent more time out in the city than here in the abbey, and didn't know most of them well enough to attempt it. "We could also try physical examinations. I imagine a parasite that large living in one's body would leave some form of sign of its presence," he added dryly.

[Cynical Cat]

"How big are they?" Krelben asked.

[Rogue 9]

"Hard to say. The sage we consulted described them as gestalt creatures, composed of a lot of independent snakelike tendrils sharing a hive mind. If the individuals are about the size of snakes, the composite has to be pretty large."

[Comrade Tortoise]

"Unfortunately I dont have many of the spells necessary for such detective work prepared. On the morrow however it would be possible to check rather extensively. In fact I have just the spell."

[LadyTevar]

"So why not just have everyone strip and check for something big and snaky crawling under their skin?" Torma asked drolly.

[Comrade Tortoise]

"Well that would certainly work... " The wizard remarked. "A good number wouldnt go along with it though... Of course the ones that do not would be immediately suspect."

[Rogue 9]

Gaheris glared at them for being so blunt with the people they were talking about sitting right there before them. "I'd rather we tried other methods before I give that order," he stated flatly, both telling the others to back off and obliquely reminding the council of his rank.

He turned back to the assembled senior churchmen. "What's happened in our absence?"

[Comrade Tortoise]

Astinius chuckled inwardly at the Paladin asserting his rank and kept his trap shut

[Cynical Cat]

"Healing the wounded, categorizing the damage, and sending messages to our sister churches," said Krelben.

[Rogue 9]

"How many have we lost? And has anyone else responded?" Gaheris figured he'd best get the grim business out of the way as soon as possible, and steeled himself for the answer.

[Cynical Cat]

"We lost seventeen," said Krelben. "Our brethren in other cities are considering what they can spare to aid us."

[Comrade Tortoise]

"Unfortunately, each one will have to be checked and their home churches appraised of the situation. Have you sent anyone out for any reason who has not returned or returned too slowly?"

[Cynical Cat]

"We sent no one out," said the Justicar. "We wouldn't have been able to reach anyone if we did. It's only been a day. We used magic."

[LadyTevar]

Torma lowered herself to her belly, curling her tail around like a cat. One foreleg rested on its elbow, her head resting on her clawed forehand in an almost human posture of boredom as she listened to Gar and the Justicar posture.

If the toschar were worms, just wearing the skin of their hosts, would they smell like humans or like worms? she wondered absently. Could a dog sniff them out, be a warning? Could she, with her superior senses, mark one out of a crowd? It was something to consider trying. She should ask Gar first.

Her brilliant green eyes studied the gathered monks and clerics one by one, wondering if any of them could be Tsochar in hiding.

[Rogue 9]

"May their souls come swiftly to the Court," Gaheris intoned, half to himself, as he heard the number of the fallen. "It could have been far worse." He paused to consider his next move. "I'm open to suggestions," he said to the council as he looked for an empty chair.

[Cynical Cat]

"We were rather hoping you had some," said Krelben. "You were sent out ot acquire information on the enemy. Is there nothing else you can tell us, no course of action you can suggest?"