A meeting in the dark

The room is dimly lit and warded to prevent scrying or cameras. The three figures wear robes an masks regardless, as a matter of habit. Seated around a small table, an argument continues.

A hard, female voice accuses, “You fail again! Why do we continue to follow you?”

Nodding, another figure speaks in a gravely tone. “Ten years we’ve waited in this magic-starved world. First you assured us you could adapt the portal. Nothing. Then you form this organization to build up more magic in the world. Still nothing. You manipulate the demon lord’s daughter into the same plan. She becomes some kind of avenging angel and joins this young mage you meant to use. You plant a collar, hoping to manipulate the mage into doing what you want. He comes back from that idiot Halid with a diviner so strong that we’re scared to spy because she can feel it!”

“ENOUGH!” The last figure slams hands on the table. “Yes, things haven’t gone according to plan. What would you have me do? Attack the mage making insane leaps of power? Who is surrounded by powerful people himself?”

The woman speaks again. “So what’s your plan then, just twiddling your thumbs and leading your little adoption service?”

“My plan is to wait. The mage is doing what we wanted anyway. Once he figures it out, we take it away.”

The woman laughs nastily. “How? We can’t scry on him because of the selkie, he’s too powerful now to attack. Hell, it looks like he even managed to seduce one of your precious council members!”

The gravel voiced man speaks. “Guile, then. We waited till he goes through, and we follow. Once on the other side, our power returns. And this experiment will be over.”

The leader nods. “Essentially, yes. We use his success to get home, and return to our seat of power. Then we gather forces to capture the mage when he visits the old world. Simple enough.”

The three nod in agreement.