[02.11]

Tarvek was seated away from the 'action' as it were, the wedding of the local orc Warchief and human Mage Lord-Lady taking place within this city. All while guards of both, and their advisors, likely sought to avoid a battle break out amongst guests from two sides that hated each other. He, himself, ensured he sat near to Janet and Mayuko, who were behind and to his right at a table with some female humans, gnomes, and two elves, of the medical and healing minded sort. Dreadfully dull for Mayuko most likely, though Janet best take the opportunity to learn based upon her efforts of late to do just that Tarvek viewed. Such conversations were preferable than others they could endure.

In part such as his own, as he sat as a 'guest of honour', at a table of others such, clearly established to either keep such as these away from the others in the vast hall…or here to question Tarvek himself. All understandable, and in vital need of him doing so to enable his, and therefore Janet's and Mayuko's, journey from this plane to the next. These were the learned of this plane, such as Archmage present, an elf, who was clearly like many elves – in that he clearly had strong glamours upon his self. Likely as much to make him seem as impressive and such, as elves were wont to do. Tarvek wouldn't mock though, as there were several here under such things, himself included, as it was normally at a mating ceremony to wear the formal best in most humanoid cultures of this plane's type.

As soon as it ended, the ceremony, row, and various threats given, there was the feast…and the questions as the Archmage and others could unleash themselves upon Tarvek all their many, many, queries "….concerns over such a being as a dragon appearing"

"Aye, one found it quite disturbing to be faced with" Tarvek answered "Twas a mage and dragon of grand power to appear so. The second such appearance of such beings. Chronomancy and dragons of different colours, metallics at that"

The elf gave a curt nod, as he was allowed to speak uninterrupted by the others present, or perhaps allowing the senior most of them to take the lead in such questioning. Tarvek was glad of the drink, and food, before him to allow distraction as he'd had to spend time beforehand ensuring he knew the table manners of these particular cultures. While no longer in disguise, it was best to remaining in the mindset that such minor mistakes could catch you out in realms they had yet to visit if carefulness was not invested even in places such as this. It was also best not to make some 'social faux pas' that might lead to violence as could happen on many a plane.

"Ah, classifications of dragonkin on other….planes as you have called it. It is a fascinating, and concerning, subject I'm sure you have grasped?"

"Aye, hard not to, mage Krasus" he answered back "Though not so much as the other threats this world seems to face in this….Scourge"

The elf nod "You perhaps might find such a bland name, foolish mayhap, but they are a true danger as the assault here and elsewhere has proven"

Tarvek shrugged "Ah, such naming conventions is common of such foes amongst other realms. The Darkness. The Angry Night. The Others. A host of other such naming when dealing with such foes. Still, one cannot disagree the danger such pose. My people know of worlds entirely subsumed by such intelligent, and unintelligent too, undead, very unpleasant, and ultimately self-destructive in the vast majority of such cases"

Or it brough the attention of things far worse once the spark of life was extinguished as his distant lilac skinned gnome friend would have told them…

Worlds dominated by necromantic lords tended to slip into stasis at best, and generally into collapse once the source of living died off….and then time whittled down non-reproducing numbers, alongside the fact such beings often had 'problems' mentally to get the 'immortality'. This Lich King seemed to be a maybe unwilling Lich, and that was a bad combination with demonic elements mixed in too. Tarvek couldn't exactly predict for sure, not being an analyst by profession, but the indications were here, and bad ones at that. He could only hope they won this battle against undead and demons before full on civilianisational collapse kicked in. whatever the ending, Tarvek did not intend to be here to see it.

"Indeed, you have seen this?"

"By sight, and training" Tarvek admitted "One such plane is….course for our training, of unintelligent undead, and the dealings with such places. The dangers of such things mostly"

Well, it was also a scavenging spot as well, and a prominent training course in ensuring awareness for Pathfinders in how to deal with viral undead situations. It was a Firebreak dimension, and the quarantine afterwards had been unpleasant and boring, even if granting plenty of time to study. But being trained in 'safe salvage' was a vital thing, as well not transmitting such plagues from plane to plane, was the primary. Tarvek's House Lord was quite concerned about such things, even without the League's own efforts to ensure such stupidity never breached into the founding worlds.

"Yet, advise is not the top of your gifts"

Tarvek shrugged "We do not know this Scourge, beyond what has been told to us un tales and tomes, and what is known of other planes may not impact here. On some planes shoot them in the head is the method to slay certain undead, on others such destruction of the brain, head, merely is sufficient damage towards destruction…or not enough at all. Best not to say advise that is unwelcome or misinformed. Rather, instead, discussing the matters caused by magics and events one understands is preferable. Even when restricted by ones Oaths"

The Archmage nodded, as did several others, as the murmured amongst themselves, Tarvek taking a drink as the next words followed from the elf "Hmm, this dimensional anchor then? Such has caused concern, especially with the word of the great blue dragon taking direct interest as was revealed? And other dragonflights too. The nature of your tool…"

"It is, as the name suggests, a dimensional anchor" Tarvek answered, then rapped his knuckles gently off the table for emphasis, before other others "Think of reality as….variable. Sometimes it is hard and unyielding, such as this table here. Others it is malleable, in the way of this butter, in others alive such as with yonder warhound. This realm seems more…malleable in terms of time, of Chronomancy as mine own folk call such magics and artifice. When attacked, one is trained in the use of such devices as the anchors, which serve to harden reality against manipulation so to speak. Active manipulation of timelines is…well, rare in most planes. Till we have left this plane, then not being attacked by time travelling dragons is best avoided, yes?"

"Yes, I can imagine that is a desire" the elf answered a faint frown on his brow "Having seen this anchor I can see of such effects, though it is not purely magical I'm led to believe?"

"Nay, tis as you say. It is not solely of arcane means in design, though the full details are not for revelation as, well, time travelling dragons" Tarvek admitted as they began to discuss more technical matters with these mages at the table. Gathering resources, and in this case magical contacts, was vital to the coming investigation of exit-portals from this plane to a, hopefully safer, realm. That the elf was being helpful, unusual for his kind, as was the access to a table with mages that might offer forth scenarios and knowledge of this plane greater than the average citizen of either this Alliance or Horde.

Such as how the Horde arrived in these lands, and descriptions of this Dark Portal and associated phenomena that might reveal more. There was a growing 'pulse' in the ley-lines, which was concerning as that wasn't a thing to these mages, and one being investigated alongside so many other things. In truth Tarvek couldn't help but note that this world wasn't in great shape as the conversation shifted, after perhaps and hour and several drinks, onto that of the state of this world and his travels. Or, rather, his knowledge of other planes of existence to contrast against, and to learn of threats beyond most likely.

Something that Tarvek was plenty willing to share, at least in less than total detail, in exchange for local knowledge and histories. There were greater dangers out there than these, and, as he told them, the Horde had been 'lucky' in the plane they had opened to. Unlucky too of course, in that they could have opened to an empty, paradise, world instead, but lucky as well in not some hell realm. Still, conveying such opinions was sufficient over the night that Tarvek, and by extension Janet and Mayuko, were now quite wealthy by the local standards it seemed. Certainly enough to be able to begin hiring guards and purchasing materials to achieve his aim of leaving this place…