The scout reports
Subject: The Lady takes charge
Ran also attacked and hit the giant.
From: Mark
Subject: The scout reports
As the meal continues other dwarves show up from time to time reporting on the status of the fortifications. One dwarf shows up and is introduced as the Forces scout, Kandal. "Force Leader, Scout Kandal reporting." The dwarf's voice is harsh and husky, his dark beard starting to turn grey. "Good" says Daral "but before you start let this mage fill you in on what they saw." Daral points at Allistair and the mage repeats his story. The scout asks a few questions and then seems satisfied.
"Here is what happened" he says "as best I can figure. We know from the bat signal that the garrison had warning of the giants approach. Giants by themselves would not have caused the garrison too much problem." Daral breaks in at this point "That was one of the reasons we did not hurry faster to the garrison's aid." The Force Leader motions for Kandal to continue. "The presence of the mage answers many questions. For example the doors to the stairs were not forced or broken. My guess is that the garrison gathered at the walls to watch the coming of the giants and that the mage struck then."
"Kandal looks at Ally "You say this mage could make him self invisible and fly? That makes sense. If he cast some type of sleep spell on the warriors and the giants had fly spells on them as well, the defenders would have been woefully underdwarfed to hold off four hill giants. Once they were asleep it would have taken the giants seconds to kill the defenders. They would never have had a chance. Who ever organized this put a lot of effort into it. Sir." Kandal looks at Daral to see if anything else is needed. The Force Leader dismissed the scout and turns back to the party.
"Mage, I think you are right in that his was directed at her Ladyship." Daral turns to Lady De Blum and Maximus "How many people knew you were coming and what your schedule was?" Maximus thinks "Quite a few. The Lady' appointment to the post was not secret. Neither was our leaving Freng. It would not take much effort to figure out when we would make Backbiter Pass. Lady, do you or your husband have any enemies?"
The Lady laughs "You do not get to be in my husband's position with out making enemies. However, this seems a bit elaborate for the usual court intrigue. Flying giants and invisible mages? Those are things that happen in epic stories and in far away lands. No Centurion, Force Leader, I have no idea who might be behind this attack."
OODM: Any other questions for Daral, Maximus or Kandal before I move things along.
From: Jason
Subject: The scout reports
Not from Ragnar.
From: Kevin
Subject: The scout reports
Harp has nothing to add. He's just curious as to why someone would want to kill the snooty bitch.
From: Mark
Subject: The scout reports
You mean beyond the obvious. Personally I think Harp is in love. Again.
From: Porter
Subject: The scout reports
This time Mund's not jealous.
Oh, and he has nothing to add.
From: Derek
Subject: The scout reports
Allistair raises an eyebrow at the the Lady's response. Was her laugh a little forced? Does she know more than she is letting on? Unfortunately Ally is no good at reading people, maybe someone else has better insight. He does have a spell that would let him know what the Lady was thinking, but he is unwilling to consider such a forceful intrusion of privacy for just satifying his curiosity.
Allistair briefly speaks up. "I have some magical ideas for the Lady's security arrangements for the journey, but that can be discussed later. In the meantime I would like to try and identify this wizard who seemed intent to kill the Lady de Blum. If I may be excused?"
The party makes a search outside for any scrap or wisp of clothing from the wizard, but nothing was found. "Well, I'll just have to do the best with what I have," thinks Allistair.
Allistair goes off into a corner and begins to prepare the spell. He takes out his magic bag of holding and reaches deep inside and pulls out a beautiful, elaborate silver mirror. At 2' by 4' it's quite large, and Allistair is able to set it against the wall. The Lady de Blum's eyes go wide at seeing such a valuable and ostentatious mirror, and starts to ask about it when Allistair raises his hand signaling silence.
He takes a deep breath. Even though he had learned this spell several months ago, this is the first time he's actually tried to use it. Unlike most spells where the magical energies are woven together upon memorization by the wizard, waiting to be released at a moments notice, the complexity of searching across the world - even other planes - for one specific individual meant that the spell did not lend itself to such a formulaic usage.
It takes Ally longer than he thought it would, almost a full hour. At last the preparations are complete and he is ready to cast the spell. "All right, I'm ready to try the spell. Don't keep your hopes up too much though. Due to us not really knowing his identity and a natural resistance to such magic that any strong-willed individual has, there is a high probabilty that I may not be able to locate him. However, there is no loss in trying, and I can attempt this every day if I like."
With that, Allistair releases the magical energies into the mirror and concentrates, trying to tie the cosmic forces together to converge on the location of the enemy wizard.
From: Randy
Subject: The scout reports
I was just going to suggest that we turn this into an evil campaign by having Ran kill her himself but then I thought that might not really be so evil after all.
From: Kevin
Subject: The scout reports
Harp has no interest in the Lady. He just does not understand Court politics.
From: Josh
Subject: The scout reports
mmmmHHmmmmm.