After considerable in-fighting the city is finally on the move. While it’s citizens may decide to move ahead to the Dell in the hopes of securing treasure, or even go back to Civilia’s Ruin to inflict justice upon Sorrah Nikos, there is still much within the city itself to contend with.
From within, the House of Vermillio is aggressively pursuing any that stand in their way of controlling the city in the manner they deem fit. Goods, and thus profit, from the Svlind may be moving more easily now, but the family has been thwarted right within their own home, and have not taken lightly to the threats. There is blood on the streets, while words are used as weapons within the Council. It is because of the family’s actions that the city moves at a slower pace, as they continually put roadblocks up for the College of Engineers. Navra ven Alcassar, currently the headmistress of the College, has been calling for ever-increasingly harsh measures put on anyone that would stall the city’s advance towards the Dell, calling for both the the Navigators Guild and other influential members of the Council to “do what must be done”.
From without, the city itself is actually being eyed by Ka-rokk and his Choppas. Infuriated by the massive loss on the Att, Da Choppas are looking to destroy the city, and in particular drive it into the Dell in revenge. The city itself is not defenseless though, and should a direct attack occur, it is possible the city ceases its infighting to focus on repelling an assault.
A Unlikely Team is Formed
Along with increasing House of Vermillio’s influence within the City of Khardihr (and encouraging them to travel to the Mountains of Maraz), the Inquisition of Umberspire itself has now come into possession of a great artefact of power during their investigation in the Temple catacombs. The captive gheists informed Castellan Malenkon that this key, thought lost until now, is but half of a mechanism that connects the Temple of the Storm with it’s twin, found somewhere else within Rondhol. When the key is activated a gateway forms – connecting the two Temples together and allowing for quick travel between the two locations. But, the gheists tell the Inquisition, both keys need to be set up in order for it to happen, and you have no way of knowing if the other one is set up, or where it leads.
With the staggering development the realmgate in the Temple of the Storm in Maraz bursting open into another one in the Furyoth Dell, with the further complication that a Seraphon shipwreck is now apparently stuck in the space between, the Inquisition had its hands full. Castellan Malenkon’s agents have been sent to secure their side of the wreck, and prevent the forces of Irox Bloodhand and other agents of Chaos affiliated with Blackmaw from pushing further through it and into their stronghold at Maraz.
As the Marazian gheists are pressed into service with Lady Olka’s necromantic bindings, to carry and escort the giant voidcannon secured at Wavemeat by Lord Carminnion, the Hounds of the Inquisition are split between this trip and securing the Seraphon wreck. Inquisitor Voidwalker petitions the House of Vermillio to re-route Khardihr to approach the Dell from the position of the Mountains of Maraz, where their forces are strongest and the city can be better protected.
It is at this point that a missive from Judge Voranul himself, of the Council of the Inquisition, reaches Inquisitor Voidwalker in Khardihr. A strike team of Templars is coming from Lendu with him, where they will personally oversee the exploration of the Furyoth Dell. Voidwalker frowns at this hasty development, wondering what the old Judge could be eyeing that is so important that he will come personally from their expedition to Lendu. This Furyoth Dell projects a lot of foreboding, and the Inquisitor is wondering if he’s being kept out of the loop… He will send Belimir with them. He knows the ghurian knight has no love for the Templars, and this will likely cause strain on the mission, but he needs eyes and ears in this expedition.
His mind made up, Vollastor Voidwalker meets with the Lords of Vermillio to update them on the situation. The city and and House Vermillio had already dispatched advance scouting warbands to the Dell, in the form of the Scarlet Crusade, the court of The Wild Hunt and Recto’s Soul Snatchers, and their scant reports have outlined some potential ways in and likely landmarks of interest. They also witnessed the explosion that wracked the Temple of the Storm there and opened the gate. This is their goal: to secure the other side of the realmgate that leads to Maraz and secure the Seraphon shipwreck fragment in a pincer movement. It is at this point, where the strategy for the expedition is being drafted, that the nobles of Vermillio inform Voidwalker they would have company on their expedition.
The Stormscale Covenant’s representative, Thelan Razorbolt, steps forward, and the sight of a Stormcast-forged draconith stuns most of the onlookers. This most unusual of Stormhosts would be the Council’s eyes and ears on this expedition, teaming up with the Inquisition’s strike force to the Dell. Voidwalker warily engages the stormcast, laying out who and where they will be meeting, and measuring up their intentions. Was the House of Vermillio losing influence in the Council, for them to be saddled with this team-up? This could, however, help mend the rift that has been growing in the Council between the House and the rest.. or at least allay their suspicions so that the House gains the upper hand.
Voidwalker chuckled. So the Inquisition is the one saddled with the work and a bunch of minders, in return for whatever concession the House managed to squeeze out of the Council. So be it.
A week after, in the outskirts of the ridge of mountains lining the edge of the Furyoth Dell, the meeting finally takes place. Belimir, knight of the Hounds of the Inquisition, has met up with the Keeper Zindimir and Judge Voranul, with their retinue of Men in Black, ready to march on the Dell. Standing across them, the strike force of the Stormscale Covenant stormhost, Knight-Vexillor Thelan Razorbolt warily listening as the Inquisition’s Lawgiver Amondenora reads the terms of their contract and alliance, and following the text on his own copy in search of any mistakes. Judge Voranul’s cadaverous face grins as the legalese rolls off, his well-honed skills finding sufficient exploitable holes that the House purposefully built into it, to suit their purposes later.
Follow the full storyline here.
Final Chronicle of Grey Company:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sKlPi5Hwl1oT3VGGz36zXHxsr5N2hmEwqIo1vacZbeI/edit?usp=sharing