>>5380489It’s a tough call. Each issue really does seem worth of your personal attention, involving allies and/or enemies of great significance. However, some are less urgent than others. A few rogue bugbears picking at your patrols—assuming that IS all that is happening—is something that can be handled without your personal intervention; you can always address it later, when more evidence emerges as to exactly what is happening. And the Drow… Well, they aren’t going anywhere, either. They’re IMPROTANT, but their importance is not (near as you can tell) time-sensitive.
The dwarves, however, are at your doorstep.
>Dragonborn Antipaladin Quest Volume 4: The Dwarven DelegationYou make the announcement to your trusted councillors the next day, and seek their advice on how to proceed.
“Kill them all,” the Pit-Guard says, quickly and without fanfare. “Or… Kill most, enslave those who remain—ideally not too many, given our current resources. But we should strike hard, fast, and first. Let none escape to tell of what has become of this place.”
“This has worked in the past,” the Thief acknowledges. He is a masked infiltrator and efficient assassin, once shamed and branded for crimes against the Master Race, but he has since found redemption in your service. “However… Assassinating or capturing an official delegate from their ‘headquarters’ will not go unnoticed. Unlike the others, this dwarf is expected to return and report in a certain timeframe.”
Ivno starts to speak up, but the kobold—regarded as a natural-born slave by your fellow higher Reptilians—hesitates. Instead, it is the Bastard who makes the next suggestion—the clanless, mixed-blood warrior who you placed as de facto overseer and wrangler of the kobolds here.
“We could frighten them off,” he says, “using the kobolds and elves as our ‘face’. They need never know our race was involved… Or that we exist… Only that their keeps are lost.”
“They will send reinforcements if we do that,” The Novice Fleshweaver points out, arms crossed. “Trust in my Amulets of Disguise. We can maintain the bluff, that these places yet belong to the dwarves.”
“It did not work out so well last time,” the Thief points out, drawing a glare from the Novice and prompting the Thief to add, swiftly and deferentially, “oh Holy One.”
“All so that this ‘Blackmantle Corporation’ can take the mountains’ wealth?” the Pit-Guard scoffs.
“It’s not ideal,” the Novice hisses in agreement. “But it is better than risking the Great Conspiracy.”
“Why hide and pretend at all?”
This is Ivno, who now draws all eyes.
“W-we serve a Dragon King, yes?” he stammers, turning his gaze down, “I am sorry, SORRY-sorry. Should not have spoken out of turn, but… Why hide from the dwarves at all?”
