After staring off into space for a moment, Ari says: "High Cleric Steelsmyth just sent me a message similar to King Oliver's. He says several council members do not seem like themselves. And that Sir John Toppin is in charge of the council."
Nisoru says: "This is ill news. We cannot take Arion and Lira into the Castle, if there is even a way in, not knowing what we face. If our enemy controls all of the defenses, or Stasis forbid, they have access to the armory, then we have no hope of prevailing. There are many things here that do not make sense, for one Sir John should have no role in the council. Another, the servants of evil should not be able to set foot in the Palace as it is holy ground, blessed by Stasis and Falan. "