>>5882379>>5882393>>5882431>>5882440>>5882452>>5882462>>5882481>>5882765With knowledge of the Star Serpent's involvement, our people's most ancient and persistent enemy, the Rex goes about devising a plan, but he knows that he must stack the odds in our favor as much as possible. To this end, he summons the eldest dragon, and asks him to fly to the Isle of Exile and speak to the wardens, whom he is close with. He asks for their assistance. For the ones born between this age and the previous, it would be their first time being allowed to travel to the mainland.
The Rex summons his most trusted advisors and Warrior-Priests and sets them to the task of devising a means of using our knowledge of abjuration to expel a possessing spirit from a host. Ancient knowledge passed down orally through several generations will be required.
Next he gathers his most trusted generals, warriors, wolf-scouts and royal guards, and tells them of the importance of not letting this man escape once he is brought to the capital. He must have eyes upon him at all times, but must be made to feel welcome, that his deception is being believed. To this end, the eyes on him must be seen as little as possible, ideally not at all.
In private, the Rex speaks with his wife, whom he asks for help, using her enchanting beauty to help the cause. She agrees, knowing well the fate of all of civilization may be at stake.
And finally, the Rex approaches the red naga and asks for his assistance and any final guidance he can offer. The naga expresses some despair at the scenario; the incredible strength and resiliency of the host means that if he catches wind of the plot, much damage could be done to those he is nearest. However, he also sees little other option; the nature of an abjuration ritual such as this necessitates preparation and luring him into a trap. He wishes there were some way to strengthen the prison that binds the Star Serpent, perhaps even at the cost of his own life.
The Rex implores the naga to not go through such a course of action, but the naga assures him that even if he would be capable of such a thing, he does not know if he would have the strength of will to do so. He confesses in a quiet and ashamed tone that he selfishly wishes to live, and such an action would doom him to an eternal fate of holding back the Star Serpent. Even so, he admits, perhaps it would be worth it for the sake of the people, whom he has ever sought to do only right for.
The notion of the naga sacrificing himself for the sake of the people upsets the Rex, and he resolves to ensure that such a course does not come to pass.
