1. Confirmation of Events
Internal take:
- The party’s successes prove momentum has shifted.
- Two dead dragons and a captured wyrmspeaker mean the cult is no longer untouchable.
- The succubus infiltration confirms what Rian already believed: internal threats are as dangerous as armies.
What she brings to the table:
- Reinforces that these are verified facts, not propaganda.
- Subtly reminds the room that success attracts attention and retaliation.
Conversation starters:
- “These results will change how the cult responds.”
- “Success narrows their options. That makes them unpredictable.”
- “We should assume every victory shortens their timetable.”
2. The Matter of Neronvain (Captured)
Internal take:
- A living wyrmspeaker is a resource, not a resolution.
- Justice is secondary to leverage, at least for now.
- Elven grief is real, but grief does not win wars.
What she brings to the table:
- Focuses discussion on utility, containment, and extraction of information.
- Avoids emotional framing entirely.
- Will not argue for mercy or execution, only sequencing.
Conversation starters:
- “He is most useful before judgement, not after.”
- “We should decide what we want from him before we decide his fate.”
- “Custody is leverage. Leverage should be spent carefully.”
Vibe note:
She does not provoke Melandrach directly. She lets others do that work.
3. Metallic Dragons and Concessions
Internal take:
- The deal is clean and necessary.
- Paying dragons first avoids future disputes.
- Public resentment now is cheaper than broken alliances later.
What she brings to the table:
- Frames the agreement as transactional clarity.
- Emphasises that dragons are ancient powers, not mercenaries.
- Sees the festival as optics, not indulgence.
Conversation starters:
- “Clear terms prevent future conflict.”
- “We are buying certainty, not favour.”
- “A promise kept once is cheaper than one broken later.”
Vibe note:
She is entirely unbothered by accusations of appeasement.
4. Allocation of the Dragons
Internal take:
- Where dragons are not placed matters more than where they are.
- Dragons should create pressure, not comfort.
- Visible protection can be bait.
What she brings to the table:
- Highlights blind spots.
- Questions overly symbolic placements.
- Pushes others to justify choices instead of assuming them.
Conversation starters:
- “What happens to the places we leave uncovered?”
- “If I were the cult, where would I strike next?”
- “Protection is obvious. Deterrence is subtle.”
Vibe note:
She does not demand dragons for Zhentarim interests. She observes how others argue.
5. Rey Stormsoar and the Question of Trust
Internal take:
- Defectors are valuable because they are compromised.
- Rey’s timing matters more than her story.
- Trust is irrelevant. Control is not.
What she brings to the table:
- Pushes for engagement with strict conditions.
- Assumes Rey is lying about something and plans around it.
- Treats Rey as an asset with an expiry date.
Conversation starters:
- “People defect when staying becomes more dangerous than leaving.”
- “We do not need to trust her. We need to manage her.”
- “If we do not take this meeting, someone else will.”
Vibe note:
She is the least emotionally invested in Rey, which makes her the most dangerous voice.
Personal Subtext
- Rian is quietly cataloguing who reacts emotionally and who does not.
- She is noting who thinks long-term and who thinks symbolically.
- She is already planning for the aftermath of the war, even if no one else is.
She believes:
- Some alliances will not survive victory.
- The Zhentarim will, if positioned correctly.