Watching his colleagues read through the evidence, Clais had a seat and a sip of bloodwine. Not for the first time, he marvelled at the workings of the concoction - this very instant, he needed something sharp and sour to focus his thoughts, and the wine provided. While they were reading, Clais elaborated a little further on the stance of things.<span style="color: #BFBF00">"To further elaborate, the Mad Monk was once a catholic monk from Siberia. He was an extremely skilled practitioner, especially in regards to the summoning and binding of demons, and was the first - and last - man to make the mistake of bargaining for immortality. His body is now nigh invincible, his life preserved by the imprisonment of his soul. A painful existence to be sure, but he cannot disobey the fountain's orders. He also has a way with words that can bend all but the most resolute to his will. To make matters worse, communication between the fountain and Rasputin goes by way of Nevermore, Death's own messenger raven. Cannot be shot down, cannot be confined by any prison - not even the chains of Mephistopheles can hold him, for he is Death's own, and can use Death's power to break it."</span>He leant back in his chair.<span style="color: #BFBF00">"We can conjecture that the stone is extremely well hidden, for not even the Bloodfountain can locate it easily. If the mythological trail through history is to be believed, it was hidden in such a manner that it cannot be found by anyone who does not already know its location - and the only way to learn said location is to intercept it, should it be moved. Most likely, the Mad Monk is trying to find hints to its general location, and incite some chain of events that will force the stone's protectors to move it. This, however, will take moths, if not years."</span><br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: red;background:red;"/></div><br/><br/>Blackvein heard Clais speak, smiling. After his little monologue was completed, Blackvein turned around to address Dr. Fleshmelder's concern. He assumed a grave facial expression, but could not contain a hint of a smile.<span style="color: #008040">"Indeed. Beyond the timetable Clais just told you about, we have one other advantage."</span>He gestured to the sea of evidence before him, the correspondence and historical documents that proved the Bloodfountain's intentions.<span style="color: #008040">"Our would-be nemesis has yet to learn that we know its plans. And I hardly think it could ever fathom the possibility that we would dare defy it. Its confidence in its own authority is absolute, after all. And I do indeed have a plan. Somewhat more... flashy, perhaps, than you'd prefer, but it's a flexible plan that gives us three seperate ways to disrupt the Bloodfountain. Clais?"</span><br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: red;background:red;"/></div><br/><br/>Clais nodded at his lord and friend, and removed some of the documents from the table, revealing the map underneath. Using his rapier as a sort of teacher's stick, he outlined the rough idea of the plan.<span style="color: #BFBF00">"The various nations of Maeceria, although religious, are very aware of the magnitude of the Bloodfountain and its ambition. Consequently, with the evidence you have before you, a number of them may be convinced to assist us. Old Zendar can never be fully taken, for the Bloodfountain shall sap the life of any enemy too close to its citadel, but with enough resources, the city can be encircled. It matters not how strong Rasputin is - he cannot fly, and neither will he be able to break through a siege line by himself. In other words, what the good doctor has thought out is nothing less than a full-scale war on the Bloodfountain. With assistance from mortals - any any necromancer with a strong survival instinct we encounter - we can ensure the Bloodfountain shall not be able to destroy the Lifestone, even if Rasputin was to find it. For while we can use our skeleton keys to enter Old Zendar at any time, only our souls are transported - and Rasputin's is locked in a cell in Old Zendar. The Bloodfountain will not yield his prize to any servant but he, for Nevermore cannot carry burdens that heavy, and all others are too unpredictable in their loyalties."</span>Clais pointed to the icon of Old Zendar with his rapier, and drew a small circle around it.<span style="color: #BFBF00">"While some of our allies encircle Old Zendar, others can go in pursuit of Rasputin. In order to find the Lifestone, he will have to make some noise, and while he cannot be slain, he can be captured. We can then pick up his trail and give chase to the stone ourselves."</span>He looked up at the necromancers around the table with a small smirk.<span style="color: #BFBF00">"So it's not so bleak as all that. My initial analasys is that we have at least a seven in ten chance of keeping the stone out of the Bloodfountain's clutches for the duration of our lifetimes, and a slightly smaller chance of keeping it away permanently - for example by giving it back to the pagan gods to which it is rightful property."</span>He sheathed his rapier and looked to the rest of the party.<span style="color: #BFBF00">"The plan is no more elaborate than this, for it needs to be flexible in the very likely event of unforseen circumstances."</span>