Recollections by Jeroy
Receiving our Orders
Amon has reached out to me to assist in stopping the Dreadhorde that Marches towards Aethelfirth. What follows is a summary of our mission to stop the Dreadhorde at a Pardor Pass in hopes that it provides the citizens of Aethelfirth additional time to evacuate. We begin by finding Warden in his makshift druidic Grove within his chambers of the newly constructed Magistery.
Wadren: Amon. This information is helpful. What else do you know?"
Amon: "I don't know this for sure, Warden, but we suspect their objective in Aethelfirth may be tied to an artifact kept there since the home of Lord Aethel. Our Order's own records on past missions indicates it may tied to the Seal and the Ring Magic that presumably powers our magistery rings. Their objective at Windy Bluff we're still trying to determine, but it's likely their choice of target is equally deliberate. Based on what I can tell from their marching speed both armies will strike at roughly the same time, a little over two weeks from now. Something in the makeup of the army is obscuring them from scrying accurate counts of their troop sizes, and it's a natural occurrence that blocks even true sight. As such I can estimate the total size of their force to be roughly 10,000 strong split between a large garrison at the former Folcom Keep and the two, smaller armies on the march, but I don't know exactly how big those armies are. This is all from reconnaissance by scrying over the past several days, and everything but the last part has also been passed along in a report within House Blue."
Amon hesitates uncertainly, but then continues, "Military matters are outside of my specialty, but my understanding of the geography of the area suggests we might be able to delay the army marching on Aethelfirth if we collapse the Pardor Pass, which might buy us the time needed to meet them in the field at full strength in both places."
Jeroy: Could we collapse the Pardor Pass onto them? Kill one army with many stones as my mother use to say"
Warden looks at us both as though this is all new information. "I.... The Magistery has a chapter in windy bluff. We should defend that city first...." He pauses. "but yes.. Pardor pass... Good idea Amon. Yes go do that." He mutters to himself for a moment and then turns back to you "that will be all. Jeroy since you're here go tell Kord."
Jeroy makes his way to Kord's chamber, knocks and enters to see Kord looking over a massive map of the Pardor range with a vast amount of lines and annotations all over it. Without even turning to address you Kord speaks
Kord: "Soldier, Report"
Jeroy: "The eternal army marches to windy bluff and Aethelfirth. We informed Warden who prefers to defend Windy Bluff. A fellow magistery by the name Amon has a plan to slow the army approaching Aethelfirth by collapsing Pardor Path. Warden ordered me to provide a report to you. The Eternal army leaves a large force in what remains of Folcom Keep. They have split their forces in unknown quantities but their total strength is believed to be 10,000 men. Amon has attempted to scry upon them to learn more but heavy fog, either natural or magical, blocks his vision.
Kord turns to face Jeroy, appraises him for a moment and then depends to the map.
Kord: "Right here" he points to one of the lines going into the mountain range. "This is my ancestral home. Dwarves haven't lived there for a few hundred years, who knows what lies in the caverns now" he turns back to you and sees your puzzlement. He turns back to the map and traces the line, you see it leads you to the Pardor Pass. He turns back to you looking for understanding in your eyes.
Jeroy: "Sir, Do you want us to investigate the caverns to see if we can use it to take down the Pardor Pass? I can lead an away team. I'll make sure no one random from the red join us, for their own safety."
Kord: "take whomever you like. I'm sure you can find a large enough contingent willing to go." He turns to face you completely "and Jeroy. Whatever happens... Do NOT take that blue axe from off my shelf" he turns back to surveying his map "Dismissed. You have your orders."
Jeroy: "Yes sir." As he leaves Jeroy makes a sign appear on the wall above the axe in big crayon looking letters that reads 'NO TOUCHING'
Jeroy returns to find Amon standing the hallway
Jeroy: "Oh you haven't moved. Seems with so much going on you would go to do something but anyway." Amon scowls at hium. "Kord ordered me to lead an away team to the abandoned caverns that lead to the Pardor Pass. I'll assemble a team."
Amon nods.
Amon: "Gods be with you, if we fail to delay them the consequences for Aethelfirth will be dire. If our suspicion of their motives is correct, the consequences for the world could be more so."