[Balanor]

It had been an eventful day.

First, the somewhat clandestine meeting of the zulkirs had been held to select a new tharchion of Tyraturos before the Evoker Red Wizards had a chance to select a new zulkir. While waiting for the council to conclude, Ihsahn, his knight Kalinda, the infamous Nikos, and the ever-talented Melody Singer encountered Malythist in the Throne Room of the Redhall - one of the frontrunners for zulkir of Evocation, who made it well known his ‘outrage’ at not being included with ‘his fellow zulkirs’ and the school of evocation having no voice in the selection of the new tharchion.

They were shortly joined by Kote Arna, an arrogant warrior of Kossuth from Bezantur’s Flaming Brazier, who managed not only to insult Ihsahn, but also the zulkir Lallara when she came to fetch Melody after the zulkir council. He left bloodied and bruised at the hands of Ihsahn and the knights, while reinforcing Lallara’s low opinion of how poorly a tharchion Aznar Thrul must have been, and how much free reign he had given to his close allies in the temple of Kossuth.

After the altercation, Lallara informed Melody that on a vote with Kul, Nevron, and Lauzoril supporting, and Tam, Yaphyll, and Mythrell’aa opposing, Melody had been proposed as the new tharchioness of Tyraturos. As the deciding vote in favor, Lallara informed her that Melody had indeed been raised to nobility of Thay and named the Tharchioness of Tyraturos by decree of the council! As Melody began plans for running the tharch and finding the right allies to assist her, Lallara left her with a warning that she hoped the ‘honor’ did not change her from the woman she had become.

------------------------------------------------------

At the same time Melody was being proclaimed Tharchioness of Tyraturos, the returned Tharchioness of the Priador, Mari Agneh, ordered an assembly and inspection of her commanders in Bezantur. Those in attendance included lieutenants Kalis Kurm, Azura, Ardin Riley, and sergeants Anastashia Shadoe and Taraska Traynor.

However, something seemed ‘off’ with the returned tharchioness. Perhaps it could be attributed to her long captivity, but to those observing some of her decisions simply seemed...strange. One prime example was when she was interrogating Azura about her involvement in the Battle of Amruthar. When Azura informed her that she was there and watched Aznar Thrul fall, being unable to prevent his death, Mari laughed like a crazed woman and immediately promoted her to Captain. Then, to see just how her remaining legionnaires performed, the tharchioness ordered a repeat of the War Games in the Bezantur Sewers that she had done long ago before the Salamander War and being deposed by Thrul.

The assemblage itself brought a small crowd to witness the proceedings, including Larson Osirus and Calhoun Mahr, as well as Ihsahn and Kalinda recently returned from Melody’s coronation. As Kalis and Azura were forming up their teams for the war games, the tharchioness briefly, and quietly, spoke with Ihsahn and was pleased to hear him offer his and Maurin’s support for remaining tharchioness of the Priador. Departing to observe her War Games from the Central Citadel with him, the Master Sergeant laid out the rules as the legionnaire Rozz finally came running up and joined.

The end of the games were anti-climatic, and did not impress the Master Sergeant. Kalis’ team swept through the sewers, en force, past the guarding sergeant Anatashia, without so much as a blow being struck by either team until just as the flag itself was destroyed. Kalis’ team was grudgingly awarded 2000 gold each, while the Master Sergeant reprimanded the new Captain Azura and her team. He told her that it would be her responsibility to restore order to the legion and to assemble patrols of Bezantur and the surrounding lands as a way to improve the effectiveness and teamwork of the legionnaires.

The legionnaire Rozz, being as impertinent as always, continually interrupted and refused the new captain’s command to salute when ordered. Venting his frustration at how far his once-mighty legion had fallen, the Master Sergeant ordered him seized - at which point Rozz turned tail and ran. Furious, and promising the tharchioness’ full support, he instructed Azura to organize the hunt against the fugitive and strip him of his standing in the Priador legion - or his life...

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Congratulation to Karilynn and Animayhem for your character’s well-deserved promotions! And for our other long-term players...well...the Vengeful haven’t forgotten about your characters either. Finally, for everyone that joined last night, thank you for the great turnout - it was a lot of fun for me and I hope some of you enjoyed it as well! ;)

[Balanor]

Seldom before had the Judge seen such a divided school as the evokers when they met to decide on their new zulkir. The vote had come down to the frontrunners. The cunning Malythist, powerful Maurin Greyhand, and eloquent Ihshan. The votes had primarily occurred outside of the conclave itself, with most already making their decisions long before the frontrunners had a chance to speak on their behalf.

All that remained were a handful of Red Wizards, among them, Vokala Smith and their Red Wizard apprentices such as Alahna.

Speaking as the third-largest vote getter, Ihsahn withdrew from consideration and threw his support behind Maurin and urged a united school to counter the threat of civil war. Maurin spoke on his behalf and, in the style of a true politician, agree with the sentiment - but was critized by Malythist and his supporters for speaking vaguely and presenting no concrete ideas.

After the new votes were tallied, those at the conclave went last with Vokala and several others voting on Maurin’s behalf. Eventually the vote came to Malythist and two of his supporters, with Malythist behind by 2 votes. As Malythist cast his vote in favor of himself, powerful shadows appeaered from the walls behind his supporters and rushed to attack them. Both fell before the other Red Wizards could act, but Maurin, surprisingly, used some of his magic to raise one of the fallen supporters who, grateful for his life, broke his deal with Malythist and voted for Maurin.

The result left Malythist lacking the necessary votes and he left enraged at the brazen attack on the conclave and death of his supporters promising Maurin that if it was civil war he wanted to resolve, then it would be civil war he gets. The result of the conclave spread quickly throughout Thay: that Maurin Greyhand has become the new Zulkir of Evocation, succeeding the late and powerful Aznar Thrul.


---------------------------------

Thessaloni Canos opened her eyes, staring at a pale blue sky. The sound of waves crashing on the shoreline brought the memory back. Her ship. The freak storm out of nowhere that blew it far off course. The cracking of the hull as it hit the reef and here and her sailors being thrown overboard. The dark outline of the island not far off from the doomed ship.

She turned her head to the side and found the shore littered with debris from her ship and the bodies of her sailors. She closed her eyes and thought The Uncharted Land has finally claimed me as I have long feared. Perhaps aid would come, but most likely those who came would never return either.

Her last thought, as consciousness left her again, was that she must leave a message for those who came. The evil was rising, and she knew what and where it was coming. She must warn her homeland before it was too late...

[Balanor]

Chaos. Insanity. Revenge.

The Day of the Purge.

It was a day she had waited 15 long years for. Now, the temples of Umberlee and Loviatar in southern Bezantur were nothing but piles of smoldering rubble for their high priestess’ close association with the former tharchion Aznar Thrul.

Narfel, the thoroughly evil leader of the Bezantur Assassins guild, had served his final purpose well - tortured and conveniently pushed into a meeting of Red Wizards and their allies just before succumbing to his wounds and rising as a Dread Wraith. And the feared and powerful Eternal Flame Mythalanir of Bezantur’s Flaming Brazier had met his appropriate end - well deserved, she thought, for the role he had played in bringing Thrul to power.

Even the tattooist had not been forgotten. She now lay beneath the smoking remains of her parlor - dead before it burned to the ground around her.

It had been a good day.

----------------------------

It started as a simple fire as the blood red sun rose in the east. The calls of ‘Fire’ spread throughout southern Bezantur as people awoke to flames licking at the lower levels of the Tattooist parlor there. Rhuna the Dark had long been well known by the populace, and a favored tattooist of many Red Wizards - even Aznar Thrul himself. Unfortunately, even the efforts of Tharchioness Melody Singer, down from Tyraturos, were not enough to save her or her parlor. Help arrived only in time to be attacked by strange monks screaming ‘Death to the sycophant!’.

Within the hour, the building had burned to the ground under a magnificent blaze.

The crowd gathered around the tattooist included a number of notables and many newer arrivals to the city - Tharchioness Melody Singer, Avrora, Arnd Dohon, Ardin Riley, Zacho Lyonsen, Ichabod, Maurice Chevellier II, and Zach Newman.

It wasn’t long before they were alerted to the calls of fire from the east by the docks, and rushed to the now-blazing Temple of Umberlee. Attacked once more by monks screaming something about ‘sycophants’, the party fought their way through the flames and attackers, only to find the priests within had all been slaughtered. With the structure collapsing around them, they retreated out of the building and watched it burn, trying to figure out what was going on.

Some blamed other temples - the temple of Cyric, the Flaming Brazier, and others... And then, like a bad dream, more shouts were heard from the north as flames could be seen dancing from the roof of the massive Loviatar’s Manor. The crowd rushed there, joined now by Heirarch Kessa Sepret, this time fighting not only the crazed monks but also fire elementals and fire traps. Inside they found the priests of Loviatar fighting for their lives, but were unable to fight through the smoke, flames, and enemies in time to save them. As with the temple of Umberlee - Loviatar's Manor burned to the ground - never again to hold anymore sadistic parties like those Thrul had favored there.

The crowd, now concerned that the destruction so far had something to do with the Flaming Brazier, made their way to the temple of Kossuth. There, a smiling Mari Agneh came strolling down the street to meet them. As was apparent to all involved, she did not seem in her right mind, and demanded the priests of the temple gathered with the crowd - Rhona, Sevik Ascand, and Aze Tam meet with her. Mari gathered Captain Azura to escort her and allowed Melody and Kessa to attend due to their positions.

In the Central Citadel, she demanded the members of the temple kill their leader and replace him with one among them. She gave them a 10 day ultimatum and skipped out of the room, bidding Azura to follow. As they left, she privately informed Azura to rally her troops for an attack on the Flaming Brazier in ten days.

----------------------------

As dusk approached later in the day and the burning husks of the temples died down, an impromptu meeting in the Red Trident included many of the most powerful Red Wizards and faction leadership found within and around Bezantur - Zulkir Maurin Greyhand, Rhona, Ihsahn, Azel, Heirarch Kessa Sepret, Betram Anders, and Aze Tam. As they were discussing a course of action to deal with the threats facing Bezantur, the bloodied and tortured form of Narfel was thrown through the door of their meeting room. Eyes and tongue removed, with the word SYCOPHANT carved into his forehead, he died moments later only to rise as a wraith.

Deciding it was time to act, the powerful crowd made its way to the Central Citadel and demanded an audience with Mari. Shabella appeared informing them that Mari appeared to have disappeared, and her agents were out searching for her after having become ‘even worse’ than she had imagined.

The mob, led by Zulkir Maurin, entered the upper level of the Citadel using the key his fellow evoker Ihsahn possessed, and proceeded to dispatch two powerful Vampires in the entry hall. Strangely though, no other resistance was to be found. As they made their way through the chambers, they finally came to the tharchioness bedchambers, and there found the body of Eternal Flame Mythalanir, throat slit from ear-to-ear with an unsigned bloodied parchment pinned to him that simply stated “If it is war you want, it is war you shall have.”

----------------------------

Mari’s allies had stood observing the new Red Wizard apprentice Betram Anders, in the Sea Wolf Inn through the massive crystal ball in the second level of the Citadel, listening to the discussion of the Red Wizards and tharchioness surrounding him shortly after her encounter with them in the Citadel

“They think *I* did all of this! They mean to betray me,” screamed Mari, balling her hands into fists.

“Well of course they do, my dear,” replied Malythist coolly “We expected they would. Now all that they need is that little extra nudge to send this situation into a zulkir-level catastrophe.” He looked behind him at the man in the red robes. “Well, Eternal Flame Klanak Famouth, it’s time for you to eliminate your rival, since it appears our dear tharchioness wasn’t convincing enough to have others do it. I’m sure he won’t refuse your invitation as the nominal ‘head of the faith’, and we now need him eliminated.”

“Finally - it is long past time that bastard die. The *true* center of the Kossuthan faith in Thay -The Burning House of Tyraturos- shall again be the unquestioned center once again. But you just remember our deal,” stated Klanak succinctly as he turned to leave.

Shabella the Pale, guildmistress of the powerful Thieves Guild of Bezantur, stepped out of the shadows as he left. “Serene is already moving what remains of Narfel into position. She will act once I confirm we have Mythalanir here.”

She then turned to Mari and stated “You need to leave with Malythist and head to Eltabbar before Klanak returns with Mythalanir. I have already sent word ahead and your allies are expecting you. Your city will be safe...enough, and your triumphant return with reinforcements will be well received when you return.”

Mari blankly looked at Shabella and nodded looking down at her feet. “Just make sure Mythalanir suffers before he dies. As he watched me suffer.”

----------------------------

That evening, the single candle to illuminate her desk in the temple of Mask sputtered low, casting dancing shadows across the small room.

“Yes, I lied convincingly enough,” Shabella nodded “I only wish that Mari had not told Kessa of her ‘allies’ and knowing about how she received her robes. Should they pick up that Mari is not acting alone, our plans could be in jeopardy.”

“However, I don’t believe they suspected my involvement with our tharchioness’ state...yet. Our informants even say that many in the mob want to put Ihsahn’s name forward as tharchion to replace Mari.”

“Good,” replied the hooded figure “Very good. The Purge has those concerned with Bezantur up in arms, just as we wanted. Your concerns are noted, although evokers led by their zulkir practically storming the Citadel was a particularly nice touch even I had not hoped for. Now the rumors that the evokers are trying to cement their hold on Bezantur by naming a Red Wizard, and not just a noble to replace Mari. There is no way Tam will not lend support to Mari now. Especially since he and his allies voted to put her on the tharchion’s seat. They will most certainly see this as a direct assault on their authority, despite her...condition.”

“How you can be sure Tam will dance to your tune?” replied Shabella sourly “He’s the most powerful -and cunning- zulkir in Thay. What if he just kills her, or doesn’t lend his support as you think he will?”

Victor stepped forward into the candlelight “Trust me Shabella, I know the lich well. While it’s not a certainty he will, there is more in motion here than just the chaos we’ve created in Bezantur. He’ll use this as a further distraction so he can complete his plans of ultimate rulership over Thay.”

“And when those plans fall apart -again-,” Victor hissed as he pulled back into the shadows “There will be war.”

[Balanor]

The leader of the Vengeful watched the events unfold, mostly pleased with the results. Not all was going quite as planned, but the pieces on the board were moving as intended. Should the evokers and their allies in the Flaming Brazier stubbornly hold on to power in Bezantur as planned, the game would be over before it began.

----------------------------

Events began in the Flaming Brazier temple. The succession for the slain Eternal Flame was clear, and the most powerful and next ranking priestess in the temple was Rhona, who quickly assumed the mantle of Eternal Flame of the Flaming Brazier. With Sevik Ascand, she immediately began the investigation as to how Mythalanir’s death occurred.

Finding the General of the Fire Drakes in the Commanders quarters on the first level of the Flaming Brazier, she summoned him to her chambers in the lower level and with Sevik standing guard, interrogated him. The General admitted that Sevik came to him with warning of the tharchioness’ intentions toward Mythalanor mere hours before he abruptly left the temple muttering about a ‘dried up old man’. But since Sevik told him the ultimatum was to give the temple 10 days to remove Mythalanir, he did not press the matter when the Eternal Flame left without an escort.

Nor would I, thought the General during the interrogation, since Eternal Flame Klanak Famouth of the Burning House had promised him command of all Fire Drakes in that temple when the Flaming Brazier was consumed in the flames of Kossuth one final time.

After dismissing the traitorous general, despite her reservations about him, Rhona later discovered a letter in the chest of the Eternal Flames chambers signed by ‘KF’ which indicated a summons to ‘the temple - you know which one’. Bringing the letter to her ally, the evoker-proclaimed tharchion of the Priador, Ihsahn, discussion was held and eventually it was determined they should to visit “The Temple”. There they spoke with Ira the head priest of Mask, in the presence of many others such as Ing Lee, Taraska Traynor, Zacho Lyonsen, Kalin Steel, however she was unable to identify the handwriting on the letter or determine who ‘KF’ was.

Alice Blackstone, one of the rising members of the Temple, was tasked by Ira to assist the tharchion in any way possible, and determine who this ‘KF’ was and to what temple the letter was referring. Speaking in cant, she also made sure that anything she found would be reported back to Ira immediately.

Before leaving though, Ira pointed the group to one of the Bezantur message boards. There they found a new ‘order’ from the zulkirs posted by a minion of Szass Tam proclaiming that the decision of the council placing Mari as tharchioness as the Priador overrules any decree by a singular zulkir trying to remove her. Further, to enforce her claim, return order to Bezantur, and bolster the forces of the depleted Priador legion, she is returning to Bezantur at the head of troops provided by Zulkir Tam himself and supported by Red Wizards of Necromancy, Abjuration, and Divination. The last line contained a thinly veiled threat to ‘Oppose them at your peril’.

----------------------------

As the events surrounding the Flaming Brazier and allied evokers unfolded, Captain Azura and sergeant Taraska, with other legionnaires surrounding them in the legion barracks, had an encounter with Elder Vampire Warrior who told them the same information as would later be posted on the Bezantur Message Boards.

They were instructed that any in the legion who followed the commands of the foolhardy Zulkir Maurin and usurper Ihsahn when Mari returned would be considered a traitor and dealt with accordingly when the city was back under her control.

Later in the day, Ihsahn banished Azura from Bezantur for instructing her legionnaires not to inform him of the encounter and showing no remorse for not doing so when questioned by him about it. This action by the tharchion immediately began to cause even deeper divisions in the legion among those who had grudgingly come to follow, if not respect, their newest captain in her efforts to bring the Priador legion back to greatness, and those who thought she was an incompetent leader like the tharchioness marching toward them.

----------------------------

Sirien Ilphukiir had his own agenda. The powerful Assassin’s Guild of Bezantur was not to be trifled with, and the gruesome death of their leader -whom none of them mourned- could not go unavenged.

Speaking with Zenak of the guild, Sirien had been charged with finding out who, or what, could have some completely and secretly taken and killed him without leaving much, if anything, of a trail to follow. Second though, and much more importantly, he was to arrange the lethal test to see if he who was next in line to lead the guild, was worthy of the title...

----------------------------

Szass Tam stood studying the bound demon lord Eltab deep in the Chambers of Twin Burnings in The Citadel of High Thay. He knew now the other zulkirs were too weak and preoccupied to oppose the final piece of his plan here.

Little more than a tenday remained before the moon would be right and the final rune created which would give him ultimate control over Eltab - and the hordes of demons he would summon. With the most of his undead forces moving to southern Thay to ‘enforce’ Mari’s claim on Bezantur, and the tharchs of northern Thay loyal to him and the other zulkirs aligned with him, they would be perfectly positioned to launch attacks from northern, central, and southern Thay.

There would be legions from Eltabbar and the northern tharchs, Demons from Eltab from the High Thay, undead from the south in the first strike coming soon, and death, and more undeath, to follow everywhere. And ultimately, he would finally rule Thay without interference from others.

----------------------------

Victor slipped through the shadows in the assassin’s guild to find Zenak, the assassin’s recruiter and task-giver. There remained something needed only a master assassin could accomplish. One the Vengeful had known would rise to the power he had finally achieved.

“You will give one final assignment to Azel. Tell him it is for leadership of the guild or simply because it is needed - I don't care which. But he’s going to make a zulkir here in Bezantur 'disappear' because we cannot risk stalemate at this juncture….”

Zenak could not hide his surprise as Victor spoke the name. And by the time he realized he had been holding his breath, only the darkness and shadows remained to hear his trembling gasp.

[Balanor]

Thugs roam the streets of Bezantur in ever-increasing numbers, even brazenly attacking legionnaires stationed at the city gates if a target of theirs runs to them for help. Houses have been set on fire after being looted. And some fights, resulting in several deaths, have even broken out among members of the legion who claim one or the other secretly working for the tharchioness approaching the city.

----------------------------

In the chaos, the Zulkir Mythrell’aa watched the small pillars of smoke rise from northern Bezantur. She imagined she should do something, and would probably need to show up at the parley north of the city tomorrow. She scowled as the especially loud screams of the city reached her ears. Szass Tam can rot in hell, I’ll not see my city overrun by undead, she thought, And the evokers too. They have failed to keep the peace. It’s time I take control of matters myself...

Suddenly she noticed a black shape appear on her summoning rune and immediately knew it did not belong. “What is this? Intruder!,” she yelled and immediately began casting her defenses wondering how someone was able to penetrate the magical defenses she had placed on her tower. Her Golem of the Void rushed forward swinging at the quick-moving figure as it began pummeling her with its bare fists so quickly she knew that this was an assassin-monk sent specifically for her.

She cast a Time Stop spell to try and buy her some time, but it was not enough even with her being able to get up more magical defenses, and even with the Golem taking down many of the defenses on the assassin. The last thing she thought before her neck snapped was We are all doomed. Then the world went black.

----------------------------

Azel, now the guildmaster of the powerful Bezantur Assassins, had dumped the body of Mythrell’aa at Zenak’s feet with instructions to make sure it would never be found. Surprisingly, an assassin had attacked Azel immediately after doing so - causing Zenak much anxiety, but ultimately Azel had either believed him or decided it wasn’t worth the effort to find out who the now-slave had been.

[Balanor]

The opposing forces met on the High Road north of Bezantur. Lallara, Mari, and Mari's new Tribune Azura at her side representing 'the zulkir council', or more specifically - Tam, Yaphyll, and Lallara herself. Riding out to meet them from the city was Zulkir Maurin Greyhand, Tharchion Ihsahn, apprentices EdhereI Quagmajr and Sabel Aerlian, priestess Elliana Sendry, and Maegor Umrathos.

Remaining back to protect the city with the on-edge legionnaires were the dutiful forces that included Melaa ShadowRaven, Indigo Piesnatch, Ardin Riley, Kalin Steel, Aze Tam, Gaheris Steelsworn, Taraska Traynor, Malark Greycastle, and strangely, the Eltabbar legionnaire Khalida Senka. Many were as jumpy as the legionnaires who still held their position, wondering what would happen and when -not if- the attack would come.

At the parley, the words exchanged were many and often heated. Zulkir Nevron himself even appeared to intervene, falling in with the evokers and backing their claims that Mari was unfit to rule the Priador as well as the fact the an undead army of Szass Tam's would not be allowed in the city. Lallara insisted that the evokers must leave the city and allow Tam's forces in as the city needed stability. As talks were nearing a point where they were about to break down, the zulkir Samas Kul also made his appearance and proposed a compromise. Through further debate, the following decree was decided upon by the zulkirs present:

1. To restore the peace in the city, Tam's undead reinforcements and Nevron's summoned demons would move into the city.
2. No Red Wizard, Apprentice, or Thayan Knight is allowed within the city for a one month period ((one week real-time)) under pain of death.
3. Maegor Umrathos is hereby named Heirarch of the city of Bezantur and is charged with uncovering the cause of the disturbances that resulted in this near catastrophic confrontation.
4. Mari Agneh may not step foot in Bezantur until the investigation is complete. At this time she will remain tharchioness of the Priador, however she will rule from Thasselen attended by her Tribune Azura who will be allowed in the city on her tharchioness' business.


Back in the city, after the compromise had been achieved, a large mob of angry citizens and thugs began to form and chant "NO DEMONS! NO UNDEAD IN OUR CITY!". Very quickly the mob turned violent and had to be put down by the combined efforts of the forces at the north gate and the leaders returning from the parley.

Despite any reservations about leaving Bezantur, Red Wizards and their minions prepared for their temporary exile from the city of a thousand temples, leaving the new Heirarch, the few remaining human and humanoid legionnaires, and their allies in the guilds and temples of the city to restore calm and order to the city.

----------------------------

Very seldom had Lallara seen Szass Tam truly angry. This was one of those times.


"So despite the fact you could have put the city under siege and starved them out with an army of undead who need neither rest nor food -practically BEGGING the commoners to welcome in my reinforcements- you make this terrible 'deal' where now my forces are held in check by Nevron's demons. What in the hells were you thinking?," snarled Tam.

"I was thinking of Thay," snapped Lallara "This deal saved the lives of many Thayans we have no good reason to kill at the moment. And now your forces are in the city - just as you wanted. Next time, if you want something done your way lead the damned army yourself. Why in the hells weren't *you* there Tam? Why won't you leave your chambers in in The Citadel. You tell me that. NOW."

Tam's demeanor returned to his normal 'pleasant' self and he stared at Lallara with cold, hard eyes. "Because I have devised a way to put an end to this incessant bickering. Something that would have been much easier without your damned actions. Soon, very soon, you will learn all. Until then, we have nothing more to discuss."

----------------------------

The leadership of the Vengeful were gathered yet again. Samas Kul was looking ever larger than normal he was so full of himself. "I told you I could convince them!," he practically shrieked with delight. "Demons and Undead both in the city, hardly a normal legionnaire to be found anymore, AND all Red Wizards exiled from the city! There's no way they'll be able to interfere now."

Kul's master did not, however, share his enthusiasm. "This is the final stage of our dangerous game before we reveal ourselves. We WANTED them to fight amongst themselves. And now because the zulkirs are not technically at war, they are not as weak as we intended. We must be careful not to give them a reason to unite yet."

The master's harsh voice turned toward the Old Man. "Ensure that your agents meet with the Simbul as planned. Now. We have less than a tenday to foil Tam's plan."

"Maligor," the master turned his attention to next "Prepare what is needed for immediately after his agents act. You must be quick and convincing. We need...him...on our side, at least to begin with. It shouldn't take much work given the incentive of fighting Red Wizards, but you must succeed."

Finally the master directed his attention to the leader of the temple circle. "You will work with me directly here in Bezantur. We have an undead army to deal with..."

And then, for the first time in centuries despite his resolve, the terrible laughter of the Master of the Vengeful rang through the Bezantur City Tombs.

[Balanor]

The adventurers Balanor, Janet, Moiren, Sirien, Taygete, and Ardin had done it. Tam’s attempt to enslave the archfiend Eltab to his will had failed, and Eltab had escaped.

Aided by the magic of the Simbul, the party had been transported to The Citadel and through many trials and horrors they had traveled - and bled. In the end, they faced down the archdemon and had resolved to destroy all but one of the Runes of Chaos and alert the zulkirs and enemies of the Zulkir-lich as to his plan. How the then-alerted Tam would have responded with increased security measure would never be known. For in the process of destroying the runes, the powerful sword of Balanor, paladin of Hoar, seemingly guided itself to destroy the last rune immediately after destroying the second-to-last rune.

Balanor paid with his life for his mistake, as did others, in the conflagration that occurred when Tam arrived immediately afterward and he and Eltab faced off against each other. In the end, only Tam stood standing in the smoking ruin of the chamber that now mirrored his plans for ultimate rulership of Thay.

------------------------------------

Eltab himself stood on the highest peak of the Thaymount mountains, gazing south across the land he now intended to ravage. He was free at last, and now the land of Thay and the Red Wizards, which both only existed because of his aid on the plains of Thazalhar centuries ago, would pay their due for the power they had held since that time.

Next to him stood and old, frail-looking man in red robes. However Maligor was anything but frail.

“Do we have a deal then Eltab?,” the old man asked “A momentary deception on your part to start the civil war, and then outright destruction of all. When all Red Wizards are dead, you move on with your horde and what remains of Thay goes to the Vengeful.”

Eltab said nothing for a moment, then turned his hateful eyes to the insignificant mortal. “I do this only because it was your agents, as you stated, that freed me from Tam’s plan once-and-for-all,” his rumbling voice growled “Thay will burn, and what ashes remain when all is done shall be yours.”

With that the enormous demon spread his wings and, in a great blast of air and snow that caused Maligor to shield his face, began flying south toward Bezantur. He had a demon army to deal with...

------------------------------------

In the Thasselen Central Citadel Dungeons, surrounded by all the horrors that Aznar Thrul had made in the place, Mari Agneh finally realized her utter madness. Her crying and sobbing, followed by outrageous bursts of laughter moments later, echoed through the now-empty dungeon. She had not slept in days. Her entire body shaked. She was dying.

Without understanding how, a huge purple-black creature with a scaly hide, a lupine muzzle with great fangs, and red eyes stood before her. Tsagoth glared at Mari with those pitiless eyes and stated “The great archdemon has decreed you shall no longer be afraid. You will have your revenge in full. You will know more power than you have ever imagined. You will see the removal of the last remaining symbol of power of your hated tormentor at the head of the creatures that inhabit Bezantur. You will lead the destruction of the Flaming Brazier. You shall say it is done ’in the name of Szass Tam’. And then...you will know peace.”

Then the undead blood fiend's red eyes engulfed her and only his words remained.

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Shaballa, guildmistress of the once-powerful Bezantur Thieves Guild, had made a conscious effort to sit with her back to the door. She had hoped it would come swift, silent, and without words. But she should have known it would not. She had been with Victor for so long, she knew her replacement would need to gloat.

Her guild numbers had been decimated - all employed to stir up dissent in Bezantur without her knowing until it was too late. All of the guild officers who had been with her for years, in some case decades, were dead but for a small handful. The assassin’s guild had somehow determined she was the cause of the death of Narfel, and her association with Thrul after the tharchioness’ imprisonment had been revealed to Mari herself.

She had realized, too late, that just as her god she had been caught in her own web of intrigue and deceit. There was no escape, because she knew just how far Victor’s reach extended. The thieves’ guild no longer operated for gold and profit, it had now become the shadowy dagger of Victor and his masters in Bezantur - and its traditional activities, and traditional leaders, were no longer required.

Her ever-alert ears caught the sound of quiet footsteps moving up behind her. She tensed for a moment, contemplating whether or not to fight back, but then her resolve crumbled again. There was no escape from the Vengeful.

“It is time Shaballa,” the voice of Serene whispered in her ear “I have come to fulfill my purpose as guild leader which is why they brought me to Thay years ago. You have now served your purpose and Mask awaits you.”

There was no escape from the Vengeful.

[Animayhem]

Azura quickly returned to Thasselen to the Tharchioness side. Her heart broke at the sight of Mari and the state of Thasselen. She did not know what the future would bring.
The dice were cast and she knew she had no choice to follow what date had dealt her. She was resigned to being a pawn in this struggle but she would still be herself.
She softly whispered to the Thrachioness, " I am here."

[Balanor]

Throughout Thay, attacks by undead and demons are become more commonplace. Nethjet, for example, had multiple demons rampage through it killing a large number of citizens and legionnaires. Eventually they were put down by the Legionnaires of the Priador and the priestesses of Chauntea in the area who were able to use the power of their goddess to cause the demons to flee in confusion.

Survivors of the attack state one of the demons was proclaiming itself in the name of Nevron and the school of Conjuration.

In Bezantur, now infested with undead and demons, several adventurers were attacked by skeletons claiming death to all who oppose Tam. Additionally, isolated fights have been observed between some of the undead and demons there - although both sides are still supposedly controlled by Red Wizards of the school of Necromancy and Conjuration.

Thayans begin to wonder if these occurrences are the start of a full-scale conflict between the two schools whose zulkirs have long opposed each other.

[Animayhem]

The Tharchioness looked briefly at Azura, her face more calm and serene than she had seen . Quietly Mari speaks,

"You will travel to Bezantur and warn the Flaming Brazier of an impending attack. Work with them to gather all human legionnaires and other defenders of the Kossuthan faith to the temple, and then assist those there against the attack. "

Azura nodded and made haste to Bezantur.