Meeting at the Residence

It could be said to be a brightest of days, at least in the context of recent rain, fog, gloom, and perhaps even recent events. Beneath the clear bright sky, the mountain remains cool from the breeze, though not harshly so. The home along the road is also similarly more lit than previous, windows unshuttered and smoke wafting from the flue.

Verna is currently seated at the table on the portico, making use of natural illumination for her reading. The size and quantity of tomes upon the table, opened or otherwise, might imply that it is not casual reading. It is certainly not light.

Bright sunlight always suits Dolan, and it improves his mood somewhat as he makes his way towards Verna's place. Thankfully, it isn't far, and a stretch of legs will hopefully help ease his aching somewhat. Still, he takes his time making his way up the hill, a rolled-up parchment tied with a leather thong in one hand. "I always forget how far up Verna lives," he grumbles to his companion.

"At least it's a workout," Andelena says placatingly, her steps matching Dolan's as he climbs. "Kind of a miracle that neither Verna nor Auranar are the physical type. This would make for halfway-decent training."

She squints at the smoke wafting from the flue. "And hey, pretty decent clue that Verna's home, too," she says.

And that is why Telamon, for a change, is not walking the trail. Sometimes, you need to get out a bit. Which is why Tel is flying -- the characteristic sails of light spread wide around him, as he soars smoothly towards his sister-by-bond's house. Catching sight of two people approaching below, he tilts his head, then smoothly glides downward toward Dolan and Andie, the wind ruffling his wine-dark tunic and breeches, his short cloak fluttering behind him like a flag. "Good day, you two. Here for the same purpose, I'd wager."

Travelers on the road are hardly uncommon; it is a road and her home rests down-city of the air station. Thus the group ascending does not immediately draw Verna's attention from her reading and note-taking.

"It is that." Dolan still doesn't sound too happy about it. "One I could use more of, I s'pose." The last comment, though, gets his attention, and he looks up to spot - not only smoke, but a figure sitting out on the portico. "Yeah, probably. Good."

And then Telamon flutters down next to him. "What - oh, brightest of days, Tel. Did you get the message I sent?" All trace of any humor is gone.

Andelena looks up at Telamon and squints at him as he flutters down. "Bull's balls, married man. You always fly around like that or what?" she asks, a small smirk coming to her mouth. "Yeah, we're probably all here to talk about the same damn thing. Kind of the way this shit works out half the time, it seems."

"I did." A simple reply, but it suffices for Telamon, his expression growing a bit taut, eyes glittering. "Well... someone once told me that you can't go through life without making a few enemies. Lana's not real happy, though -- I think she was hoping to take two prizes with one shot." He shrugs. "Can't have it all. We'll just deal with it as it comes."

Verna pauses to sip from a nearby cup of tea and in doing so notices the nearing group. Rather, she notices that one was flying and descending: this is not so common along the road. The most recent person she recalls doing so in the vicinity, in fact, did not land nearly so well. Recognition comes easily enough and she sets the cup aside to lift a gloved hand to wave to the group. Initially, it is in greeting, but afterwards shifts to something more beckoning. "Brightest of days!" she lifts her voice somewhat to call to them.

"No lies there," Dolan agrees, nodding and gesturing to the others to join him as he continues to climb towards the portico. "I'm sure she is, but you do good, you'll make enemies. It's the ones you don't know about that can really ruin your day." He shrugs as well. "Thought you ought to know. It's worth doing another communing just on that topic, but I wanted to focus on that."

Andelena gets a grin for the quip, and he reaches to wrap an arm around her waist. "Yeah - and she's spotted us." He raises his free hand to wave back, gingerly. The man is definitely aching, from the way he moves.

"Sort of how it goes, Telamon," Andelena says in firm agreement with Dolan. "Besides, bet that your wife's got enemies of her own. If you exist and you so much breathe in defiance of evil, then you have enemies, like Bry said. Important thing is to cut them down before they cut you down."

Andelena smirks as Dolan wraps his arm around her. She almost has something to say, but Verna's greeting cuts her off, and she waves back. "Verna! How're you?" she calls back.

Telamon's eyes flash, but he says in an even tone, "Let them come." That seems to satisfy his thoughts on the matter, at least for now, as he floats along next to Dolan and Andelena, his boots two inches off the ground. Showoff.

At Verna's wave, his expression shifts to a more cheerful one, and he smiles broadly. "Hallo, Verna! Are you doing well?"

"I am as well as can be expected under the circumstances," Verna waits to answer until they are near enough that raised voices are not necessary. "Yourselves? I presume that your current altitude, Telamon, is due to the lack of snowbanks to abate any harsh landing?"

She rises from her seat and moves aside opened tomes to close and stack them in order to open more space on the table. "If you all travel elsewhere, you are welcome to take some respite here. regardless, you are welcome here."

Dolan's features break into a wicked grin that tugs at the scars, and he hugs Andelena close as he walks. "That's the spirit," he agrees, but once Verna is close enough, he turns his attention to her. "Brightest of days, Verna," he greets, now that he can speak normally, and starts to mount the stairs to the portico. That scroll is now visible in his hand. "In truth, I was looking for you. I've learned a few things, but they're not things that a man had ought to stand in the street and talk about. But - wait what? He landed in a snowbank?" Now he turns his face fully towards Telamon, peering at him with real interest.

"Okay, yeah, I need to know the story behind married man here ending up in a snowbank," Andelena agrees with a wide grin on her face. Which, well, it's partially from being hugged by Dolan, too, not just the mental image of Telamon's well-dressed self sticking legs-up from a snowbank.

She looks at Verna. "Let's all get inside and talk about it in there, yeah?" she suggests. "Snowbanks and other less-fun bullshit."

Telamon first moves to hug Verna. That's family for you. Hugs on demand. Once that's done, he rolls his eyes at Verna's remark about snowbanks. "No, I've gotten a little better at flying since then. And I'm wise enough to not try and fly in heavy winds."

He looks at Dolan and Andelena, his expression wry. "I was coming to speak with Verna, and decided speed was important. I'd just mastered my flight spell, but I didn't count on heavy winds that evening, and my landing was... less than graceful. Fortunately, I hit a snowbank, instead of a wall or the ground."

Verna nods to Dolan's note and Adelena's strong second. Her own expression remains neutral regarding her mention of past landings. "Indeed," she gestures to the door inside, "Please, enter and-" She is mildly startled by the embrace from Telamon. Afterwards, she clarifies, "I merely inferred possible present actions based upon known historical data. Any other connotational inference is the purview of the observer. Typically." She then moves to retrieve the tomes to follow the others inside.

Bafflement at Verna's statement overwrites the amusement that Dolan wears, but he just snorts. "Ouch," he remarks conversationally. "You know, Andie, you'll have to stop calling him 'married man' soon, otherwise people won't know who you mean, yeah?" He turns his face fully up towards her affectionately, but lets her go so that they can both get through the door.

"I'll find some other nickname for him, don't worry," Andelena says with a grin as she walks through the door. "Maybe... Oh, I dunno. Twinkletoes. Prince Telamon. Something. Because you're right, you're gonna be my married man, Bry." There's more than an ounce of warmth in Andelena's voice with that phrase, and she makes sure to plant a kiss on Dolan's cheek when he's indoors after she is.

Andelena turns back to Telamon. "Well, you're right--better to eat snow than to eat stone," she says. "Great way to lose some of those pearly whites you've got if you did. Now! Let's get some seats and get to business."

Telamon follows the others in, shaking his head. "So a number of people told me, Andie." As they troop inside, he shuts the door. "Verna, you want me to get anything? I don't know if you've got the tea kettle on but I figure we might all want to discuss this over a cup." He looks over at Andie and Dolan. "Hell, Dolan, she was shocked when she found out I had a fiancee."

Verna trails after, setting the tomes on a table as Telamon closes the door. "I am pleased to receive your company, all, though I presume this is not a simple social visit. Yet, make yourselves comfortable all the same. I shall put the pot on, Telamon," she notes. She then steps to do just that, pausing to glance between Dolan and Andelena, "Whilst you share, as there seems some urgency."

Dolan grins at the kiss on the cheek, and returns it with all the warmth in the world, still chuckling. That's it, at least, and he returns to his focus, fairly flopping down on the sofa and patting the seat next to him. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't. Got my arse kicked on a Guild job the other day, I still hurt. I sought a communing to see if I could learn more about Jal'goroth," he waves the scroll in the air, waggling it at the room in general. "We need to move, Verna. Wanted to know what you'd managed to learn."

Andelena takes the seat next to Dolan's, her hand automatically going to rest on his leg by his knee. "We got... some pretty fucking heavy answers, to put it one way," she says. "A lot of it has to do with the identity of the fiend that Telamon's been looking for and what Jal'goroth's connection with my mother is, exactly. As well as what's happened with my baby brother."

She sighs, her steel-gray eyes already dark at the mention of her brother. "The good news is that my brother isn't in a cell with a demon in the Hells. The bad news is that my mother appears to be his captor and she's going to cross the line over into becoming an absolute fucking monster if we don't get him out soon."

Telamon nods, his expression tight. "I saw that last bit. Look, Andie, Dolan... I know Lana and I are putting out our own fires. But that doesn't mean we're going to sit back and let you deal with this by yourself." He gestures with a hand. "If you need help, let me know. Even if it's not something we can directly help with, well... we both have our own connections. Maybe we can set up something."

With the pot on, Verna steps from there nearer the others. As Andelena shares, her frown deepens. "The fiend seems to be targeting and/or colluding with a number of our families. Your mother and brother; Dolan's parents as I recall; my mother and Auranar; Aryia and her sister... Jal'goroth seems to be in many places affecting all of us. This seems far too encompassing to be coincidence."

She moves to take a seat. "This brooks two possibilities: either he orchestrates an extremely broad and orchestrated endeavor the goal of which we do not yet understand... or its goal is very simple: to distract us from taking other action against those plans we do know of."

When Andelena seats herself, Dolan snakes an arm around behind her, snuggling close, his focus laser-sharp on the other two. "Jal'goroth isn't the same one harassing Daechir," he responds crisply. "That was one of the questions we asked. It's not the same one harassing Tel and Lana. If I understand, that's a demon, and Jal'goroth is an ice devil. They are different entities, and maybe we're dealing with three different entities, or maybe more, but it's likely that they all work for V. V's not liking being opposed." His grin is feral, and really quite nasty when the scars and furrows and the expressionless artificial eye are taken into account.

The grin fades, though, when he turns his attention to Telamon. "Are you sure? I know some of what Lana is up to, although I've got a feeling I don't know all of it. I'll help you all I can against demons, but I don't know how much use I'll be against fey shit. I know just enough about the fey to know I'd be a fucking liability tangling with one. That said-" back to Verna, "you've got a good point, there. If they all work for V, and V's got no more reason to take an interest in this plane, some of these entities might just fuck off. Jal'goroth, though, I'm betting we'll have to handle. We've got a lead on the cult summoning him."

"My Mother is working with the cult," Andelena says with extreme distaste. She glares even though the woman she speaks of isn't here but is all the way back in Selentia. "According to the servant, she's giving aid to them. Bet it's money and resources in exchange for having a pet demon doing her bidding."

She sighs deeply and looks at Dolan in a gentler gaze. "Bry here wants to bring her before the Tribunal and do it the proper way. Which means we need to find her and bring her back."

Telamon looks at Dolan. "I'm not going to spin moonbeams and promise the world. I feel like the proverbial washer-woman trying to get everything out on the line at once." He steeples his fingers. "Hence why I don't think I can directly assist you -- but that won't stop me from sliding letters of introduction and credit into your pocket." His eyes glint. "I mean, what good is 'knowing people' if you can't help your friends with it?"

At the news that Dolan and Andie have a lead on Jal'goroth's summoners, Telamon sits up. "Now that is useful, Dolan. We start hacking away at their support structures here, it gets a lot harder for them to call up fiends. Calling isn't cheap, after all."

Verna nods to Dolan. "That Jal'goroth arrived here in the guise of Daechir cannot be coincidence. While different entities are involved, they must be colluding." She looks to Andelena at further explanation of her mother. "If it any consolation, we have that much in common in the context of our matrons, and I agree that action should be taken."

She pauses briefly before looking to all. "Under other circumstances, I would wholly support removing the funds and means that bring the fiends here and further their goals. However, I believe that time currently stands against us. Do we have enough information to act immediately to confront Jal'goroth, or this V, and utterly one or both of them? If not, I propose a shift in focus. One that I realize is difficult."

"Don't talk down to me, Verna." Dolan sits up straighter. "If you're proposing going after the portal first, I'm in, but that isn't going to get rid of Jal'goroth, if he's got summoners. Even if you take him out, the summoners means he comes right back, and he'll most likely continue to do so. The enmity is personal, at this point, and they'll still be looking to settle scores."

He sits back, just a little. "I'm fine with disabling the portal and slaying the Maw and then going after Jal'goroth, if it can be done quickly enough, but I want the evidence to have Andie's mother in a dungeon on charges of consorting with demons."

"I'm with Bry here," Andelena says, gently squeezing her hand below Dolan's knee in a supportive gesture. "Whatever's best in our fight against evil--but I have my brother at the mercy of my mother, and when we asked the servant if she was torturing him, it replied, 'Not yet'. We also asked if there was any evidence about my mother's pact with fiends and it said no. Meaning..."

She sighs heavily. "Meaning the best evidence might be my brother in peril. As much as I don't want to admit that."

Telamon doesn't initially speak up, his eyes hooded and his expression thoughtful. But finally he stirs. "Verna, while striking at the portal, and the Maw, would be a worthy goal, Dolan and Andie have a point. If Andie's brother Seb is in danger... I don't think it's right to leave him there. I've seen enough of people being tormented. Not again, not if I can help stop it."

"However, Verna, if you've an insight that might change our minds, I am listening." He flicks his gaze to Dolan and Andie. "That being said, you won't want to wait long. If your mother decides she needs more from the cult... Seb may be her payment."

"Yes, closing the portal permanently and removing the maw are what I propose as a priority above all others," Verna confirms Dolan's comment to all. A nod. "Yes, Jal'goroth and the fiends have made themselves a personal matter, perhaps intentionally so."

She exhales a breath. "I have no new information concerning the portal, only great concern. It yet appears semi-dormant, but is regaining its power. We know that The Nightmare's minions arrived over time in singles and pairs. Now that it is and has been dormant, those minions may well gather on its other side. When it does re-open, they could emerge as an unstoppable tide that would make all else irrelevant."

Verna then admits flatly, "I could be mistaken, but I cannot deny the great risk to all upon Ea, to The Cycle. I believe that all present, and many others, would risk or sacrifice themselves for the good of the larger community. It may be that we must allow others that risk for the same. I believe that we must act and I intend to do so with all who would accompany."

Clearly, from the stricken look that pulls Dolan's entire expression - both sides - taut, that wasn't something that the Redeemer had considered. "No. No, Verna. I'm not leaving someone in the hands of fiends. I don't give a shit." There's a waver in his strident tones. "I'm not leaving anyone in the hands of fiends if I can help it. I'm not doing anything else until Seb is at least safe. If that means I need to being him back here, fine. Make sure he isn't found."

A deep shudder ripples down his spine. "I'll help you when Seb is safe. Not before. I can't just abandon him."

"Seb isn't like Bry or I," Andelena says flatly, eyeing Verna with more than a little discontent. "He's just a person. He's not a mage, not a knight, not an assassin, nothing. Just a person. His only experience with a blade, if you can barely count that, are the fencing lessons that mother put him through as a child and he begged to quit them. He was a good boy. He's a good man now. And I hoped like hell he'd never have to deal with an ounce of anything I've ever seen--because he's not like any of us."

She sighs deeply and looks back at Dolan, squeezing below his knee again comfortingly. "I don't want to abandon him. He's my brother. The only member of my family I love, and the only one who's ever given a shit about me. I think we can make this work--because I think we have what we need to go and get him. We just need people in our corner."

Telamon grits his teeth. "...A world versus a life. I hated these problems when I was taking that damn ethics lesson Father insisted on." He closes his eyes again, leaning forward. "We need to split up anyways. We can't bring an army to Selentia; Baron Valence might not take it well. A small strike team to hit Andelene's old home and grab Seb, while Verna and everyone we can pull in takes out the portal or at least damages it enough to put off this invasion."

He opens his eyes, looking at Andie and Dolan. "What I want to do is teleport to Selentia right now and carve my way through the house till I find your brother, Andie. But I know it's never that easy."

Verna looks to Telamon and clarifies, "The risk to a world versus the risk to a life, or even several lives... yet you are correct, brother. It is not a desirable situation, yet it is the circumstances all the same." Her expression softens briefly before head and eyes pan back to Dolan and Andelena. "I only wished to make my concerns and focus known; no offense is intended upon any. I would prefer that I were able to aid you more directly in the future, and shall yet offer all previously agreed to."

"You really don't give a shit about anyone but Auranar, do you." It's not a question, and Dolan's stare when he looks up is hard, hot, and angry. "I told you. I'll help you. I just need him safe first. I actually give a shit about innocent bystanders, and I know from personal experience what happens when an innocent is handed to a demon cult. What Telamon wants to do is fine, too. I haven't fucking forgotten about the portal. Don't act like I don't give a shit about the world. I do. But I said I'd never abandon someone to that fate, and I am going to fuck well stand by my word."

At this point, Andelena looks over to Telamon. "Sounds like you and I are thinking the same way," she says. "Because we need to get my little brother out. We need to save him before the unthinkable happens. They tried to grab me--and they failed. So they keep my little brother as a pawn and an obstacle. To throw as a wedge in between Dolan and I participating in the raid on the portal."

She looks at Dolan. "And we're not about to take that lying down. We need to do this. We need to save him."

Telamon clears his throat pointedly at Dolan, and fixes him with a look, before speaking. "We're on borrowed time. We need to--" and then he stops. His expression becomes focused, his brow furrowing. "...maybe we can be."

Tel smiles at Andelena, before looking at Verna. "Sister, do you know the simulacrum spell? I admit it'll be expensive, but... maybe we can be in two places at once."

"I do not, Telamon," Verna answers the simplest comment first, albeit curtly. Her attention remains upon Dolan. Her brow furrows to match her deepening frown in response to the man's statement. She is quiet a moment as she considers her response, her countenance returning to neutral before she speaks.

"Were that the truth, Dolan, I would not have made the proposal upon which you judge me. I believe the issue is the reverse of what you believe, and that I care for all. I hold every wish that Seb is retrieved and unharmed. I shall do all I am able to aid you in that endeavor. I certainly do not hinder your efforts now."

The the frown, nay scowl, returns, though her tone remains even. "You are correct, certainly, that I care for Auranar. Yet I have had no choice but to temper even that that with reason. for a time, I nearly capitulated to Jal'goroth's demands, for her sake. We can all presume that such would have only hastened and empowered The Nightmare's plans. She dissuaded me. Now, she is elsewhere. Our last words to one another were ... unpleasant, and I accept the distinct possibility that I shall never have the opportunity to amend those words. Thus, I have already risked, and likely lost, who you claim is my sole concern, all for the concern of bystanders."

Just then, the pot decides to whistle in signal it is ready. Verna glances to it before inquiring flatly, "Did all still wish tea, or were there other urgent matters to attend to?"

Dolan stares unapologetically back at Telamon, but takes a deep breath when Andelena backs him, and at the ideas presented, but turns that stare on Verna. "Fine," he says finally. "We're going to have to work together on this. All I need you to understand is that I've given my sworn word that I wouldn't abandon anyone else to the fate I damn near suffered two years ago." He gestures to the artificial eye and the scars on his face, a forceful, stabbing thing. "To the deepest, darkest corner of the Hells with that."

He takes another deep breath. "Fine. I'm willing to do both. I have to do the one." He looks between Telamon and Verna again, turning his entire head to do so. "If we need to split up? Maybe that makes sense. I'd suggest some misdirection, so they won't know which one we're doing, or make them think we're doing something else completely."

Andelena squeezes Dolan's leg again, gently, and she turns her gaze only onto him. "And I don't want you to have to go back on your word--especially when it's my brother that's in danger. That's why I'm with you and what you decide all the damn way, baby. You, me, and the Knight." Those words that tie them together and are held almost as sacred as the vows they swore to the Knight are spoken with a gentle voice that she really reserves only for him.

Then she looks back to the group. "Splitting up's a good idea in this case," she says. "Make them have to divide their resources. I think Bry's on exactly the right fucking track there."

Steel-grey eyes settle onto Telamon. "... Okay, I'll fucking bite. The fuck's a simulacrum and why does it mean you'd be in two places at once?"

Telamon exhales at Verna's words. Still... he looks at Dolan with a certain amount of empathy. "I don't think anyone here is eager to leave Seb to his mother's tender mercies. Particularly since she's consorting with the powers of the Hells. The problem is we need more people to toss at this problem. And maybe disguise and illusion can keep the bad guys off balance."

At Andelena's question, Tel chuckles. "It's a powerful spell -- seventh circle -- that lets you construct a duplicate of someone. They have some of the original's skills and abilities, though not as good as the 'real thing'. What's more, it... it's not like a mindless construct. It has enough awareness to act, though it's under your control." His lips quirk. "I was thinking Verna could construct a simulacrum of herself, and maybe me as well, and send them off with you to help while we bring the hammer down on the portal."

Verna moves to retrieve the pot,steep the tea, then take time to set the tray. During the course of this, she is in earshot and attentive, and her expression calms. "I do not currently possess that particular spell, but it could be acquired, and shared," she notes as she brings over the tray. "It could be helpful with the divided focus, and allow for ease of coordination. While a Simulacra does not innately possess a telepathic link to its creator, one could be readily added." A pause as she considers. "If misdirection is the goal, such could also be used as diversions."

This is arcane magic, not Dolan's specialty, so he just listens, and squeezes the arm around Andelena's waist tight. "How far away can it be from you and still be controlled? Can we put it in a third place, maybe send them to the camp?" At this, he shrugs. He, too, seems to have calmed down, some. "Where exactly is the portal, and where is what's controlling it?"

Andelena listens to Telamon's explanation. She looks thoughtful, nodding, and she listens to Dolan's question. And then a wide, wide grin blooms on the Sunguard's face, something that's got a wicked edge indeed. She turns to Dolan as he squeezes her. "Babe, we could get one of you. I could think of so many things I could do with two of you."

Telamon sits back, glad that people are talking again and not snarling. "It doesn't have any kind of range. Of course, there's the danger of having a copy of yourself wandering around -- it's not like a war golem, but it does have a sort of sentience to it." He looks at Verna. "Let's discuss it a little later. We may want to go with that, or try something else."

At Dolan's inquiry, Telamon nods. "The last I had heard, the portal was being held by the Red Maw. Zinskas was helping guard it, but I've not seen any sign of him since we mugged him and stole his totem." He smirks. "I doubt we're that lucky, but it would amuse me if that failure meant that the Red Maw ate him."

When Andelena says what's on her mind, Telamon just sighs, and stares at the ceiling. "Oh boy," he mumbles.

Verna nods to Telamon's explanation and mention. "The portal is-" she pauses at Andelena's comment of two Dolans, then glances briefly between them. It requires a brief moment, yet a brow arches. Some silent thought or consideration follows before she resumes.

"The portal is located in The Vast. Its location is known and fixed. It is, or was, guarded by The Red Maw. Presuming there is only one," and we should all hope this is so, "it is possible it might not be present. Alternatively, as closing the portal makes It mortal, in a sense, it may vehemently defend it. We do not yet know what object empowers the portal, nor where it is located. It is logical that it would be in the vicinity, however."

Dolan's laughter is immediate, and reflects Andelena's wicked look. "It doesn't have all the skills of the original, though, baby," he warns, that grin splitting his features from ear to ear, crinkling the scars.

He turns away, doing his best to refocus towards what Verna and Telamon are talking about. "Let's see if we can find it," he offers.

Andelena snickers a little, shaking her head. "Damn. The skills are all of the fun!" she says, squeezing Dolan's leg again in affection. But she regains her composure enough to comment on the matter at hand.

"Let's find the object," Andelena agrees. "The quicker we get that thing out of their hands and that portal is closed--the quicker we get to be done with the werewolves."

"The speculation we've had is that they're using one of the totems," Telamon adds. "But, I will emphasize that's purely speculation." He picks up his tea, sipping at it. "Verna, the best way to handle this is definitely to keep the Maw out of the fight. Do we have any idea on a way we could lure it off?"

Verna frowns. "I have no thoughts as to what might lure it away, aside from possibly a totem. I do not expect that anyone has access to bones, meat, or tree trunks of appropriate size, nor that such inclinations apply to wolves. If the source is a totem, the last known locations of the remaining totems were Jal'goroth and the lycanthrope camp. The latter has moved to an unknown location."

"So the portal and the camp aren't anywhere near each other." Dolan sits back, declining the tea for the moment, instead staying right where he is. "That's probably better for us. Let's start with the portal and see what we can. See if the object is there. It's probably still got guards."

Andelena doesn't take the tea on the sheer notion that Dolan's got his arm around her, and it's really hard to disentangle yourself from that when you're cozy, comfortable, and happy. "We ever figure out who all was holding the last of the totems on their side?" she asks.

Telamon hmphs. "Time to do some research. I hate the idea of using a totem as bait, but if needs must..." Another sip of his tea. "Of course it'd have guards. If they're dumb enough to entrust the whole of security to the Maw..." He pauses. "Then again, they might not have a choice. It'd be inconvenient if the Maw was eating their additional guards."

At Andelena's question, he looks thoughtful. "I have an idea. I am certain one is in the hands of Marsward Seraquoix. That leaves two others. One might be anchoring the portal. And the third..." He pauses. "I wonder if Zalgiman had it, and he turned it over to Zinskas or Seraquoix before he came after me. He was... without hope. He expected to die regardless."

"The lycanthropes hold two, the devil one," Verna notes, "when last we were aware." She nods to Telamon. "Dace Zinskas likely holds at least one. There is every indication that he is the Chosen of Caracoroth amongst Its followers in the camp. I believe Zalgiman's was taken from him on our prior visit."

She exhales and puts fingers to the bridge of her nose. "If the totem is in the newly relocated camp, we have no knowledge of where that may be. The portal should be investigated, regardless, as scrying is unreliable upon it. I was able to discern the portal and its status, but nothing outward from it in any detail."

"Do you have enough of a read to find the portal, or did they move that, too?" Like Andelena, Dolan is entirely too comfortable and cozy to move. Especially not for tea. "That's what Tanith said. Two are in the camp - probably Seraquoix and Zinskas - and Jal'goroth has the last one somewhere in the Hells. I don't know if we'll need the one in the Hells."

"I don't think we will, either," Andelena replies to Dolan. "Fucking weird for it to be in the Hells, though."

She looks at Telamon for a moment regarding his words about Zalgiman. But she ultimately decides to not press, looking instead to Verna. "Scrying doesn't work on totems. We know that much. The portal..."

Andelena's face scrunches up in thought. "Sounds like a scouting trip's in order at some point," she says. "That's the only thing I can think of."

"Let's hit the portal first. The totems can be scooped up a lot easier if the Maw is sufficiently weakened and things aren't wandering out from the portal." Telamon sets his teacup down. "But we definitely want to move quickly. Don't give them any chances." He thinks hard. "I need to look into something. But trust me, I'm going to be around for the festivities." His eyes glint. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."

"The portal has not moved," Verna confirms. "I scried upon it again only days past, in preparation for precisely this." As she recombines the recounted known facts, her lips purse. She is quiet a moment before she states, "If a venture to the portal can confirm there is no source of power for it present, there would be no reason to linger." Another pause and her lips purse. "If that proves so, a totem is the most reasonable object. With no knowledge of the camp, that leaves Jal'goroth as the only potential target. The current best path to him would be to retrieve your brother and detain your mother, Andelena. We may not need diverge as much as I believed. My apologies."

"Huh?" Dolan scratches at his hairline beside his neck, brow furrowing in confusion. "So - you can't get enough of a read on the portal to teleport in?"

"Sounds like it, babe," Andelena replies to Dolan, looking at Verna. "And it also sounds like we just got Telamon and Verna fully on board with us to take down Jal'goroth and put an end to him. So..."

She smiles. Just a little. "When, and how, are we getting my brother from my mother, and how are we going to destroy Jal'goroth along the way?"

Telamon looks thoughtful. "How noisy do you want to be when we collect Seb? I mean, we could roll in like a wrecking ball, or go for something that might catch her off guard." His eyes glint. "Either one works for me, though I admit rolling in with the Selese authorities at our back makes me smile. Plus, less likely we'll become wanted there."

"I can teleport to the vicinity of the portal," Verna clarifies, "and did so, before. I simply cannot view all that occurs about the portal from afar. We will not know what awaits us until we arrive."

"As for Jal'goroth," she adds, "destroying him faces the same challenges you previously noted. It would likely delay the fiend, at worst, until the cult is removed. This could lead us to them, as you also noted."

"It's not likely to delay them for long. He tends to show up every time we send him back." Dolan taps the still-unopened scroll in his free hand on his knee. "We have a lead to the cult. One of the mother's maids has given us a name to track."

Telamon suddenly frowns, and nods to himself. "Sorry. Lana's calling on me." He rises, nodding to the others. "When you have a target, and a time... let me know. You know I'm willing to help." He heaves a sigh. "I remember Lana and I having to put off our wedding till after the damned wight invasion was pushed back. I hate thinking other people might be in that situation."

Handclasping with Andie and Dolan, and giving Verna a hug, the half-elven sorcerer slips out to head home.

Verna is slow to return the hug, yet does so, still acclimating to such. After bidding Telamon farewell, she turns back to her remaining guests as she reseats herself heavily. "The scouting venture should be brief. Even should we close the portal, we need not confront The Red Maw immediately. In truth, it may be wise to instead assault it later with a larger force. Even weakened, it will yet be formidable." A pause before she adds, "Again, my apologies."

Dolan returns the handclasp, watches Telamon go, then returns his gaze to Verna. "It's fine. Before we go after Jal'goroth, we need to disrupt his cult. If I can prove there's a cult, I ought to be able to turn them in to the Selese authorities. Maybe her mother goes free, but she'll be long enough explaining herself that we'll have time to get Seb without making ourselves wanted."

After Telamon's parting, Andelena returns her attention fully to Verna and Dolan. She nods. "Sounds like all of us are going to be rooting for cults," she says. "And given that Bry and I are attached at the hip lately--we have plenty of time to do just that."

She looks to Dolan. "Speaking of which. I think it's time we hit the streets and start looking and asking."

Verna nods to them both. "Indeed, we shall be seeking them out. At this moment, information obtained from them is nearly as valuable as disbanding them. Nearly." Andelena's follow-on comment draws a mildly inquiring look. "I was under the impression that your hips were in contact more often than not for quite some time... so I will presume it is the metaphorical vernacular to which you now refer. The moment we are able, we shall reconnoiter the portal."

At that, Dolan throws back his head and laughs, the bright sound completely easy and good-natured. "Not quite, Verna. Not when I've just had the shit beaten out of me by a demon tree." He sobers, a little. "Let's start by tracking that cult," he offers. "Get them out of the picture, and then we can deal with the portal."

Andelena rises up, helping Dolan up with her as she does so. She gives Verna a wicked grin. "Yeah, I wish, but some jumped-up wood's preventing me from getting wood," Andelena says. "Let's get out of here, baby. Information on what we want is out in the world."