Why did it have to be Politics?

Calanthia squats on the battlements before their planned siege. Scanning the field of battle, she reflects on the days events.
 
Why did it have to be Politics? This town will burn while the council mulls over political decisions. I was so worried about insulting, and the response was tepid at best! It's like they don't even care! They're just going through the motions.
 
An Army of Chaos Warriors and Demons with a portal open to one of the 9 hells is at their gates, 16 siege engines. We come with news of a Mole on the council and we the reaction is, well no reaction!
 
Calanthia sits, crossing her legs. Committing to memory, locations, enemy count, watching the tents incoming and outgoing, timing patrols. She hasn't lost focus, on her job, she is just reconciling the long day.
 
The council was filled with everyone the party had met. She had an advantage. No interactions allowed her to judge based on information. In the end, the advantage didn't help
 
Kemurial held himself honorably. Honor, what is honor. The Lord of Praag puts on an air of honor, but is he honorable, or political?
 
Kemurial informed the council of the great evil Kishina. The Council brushed her aside. Kenurial shared how the constant attacks against the city would continue. The Councils response was tepid. The council seemed happy to deal with a Chaos army every hundred years of so. They seemed okay with this cycle. They seem to have succumb to this history, not willing to break the chain of events.
 
I asked Kemurial if I could speak? He nodded. I climbed on the table to address the Council. Being 3 feet tall, I could not see them from the floor. Sometimes, my height is a great advantage, then there are times like now when it is hard to be taken seriously when you look like an 10 year old human girl.
 
Ignoring the Councils obvious entertainment, I related the information I had gathered. I reminded them of the disease spreading through their citizenry. I shared a potential cause. A brand that had been defunct before the raids, was now supplying the citizens with food.
 
I also shared that there very well could be a mole on the council. I shared what I heard when I investigated the Brand supplying the food. Cultists talking about their plant on the council deflecting resources from discovery the sabotage. The councils reaction was tepid. The Duke asked a few meaningless questions and accepted the answers.
 
I brought up the assassination attempt of the party. Duke Enrik asked if it could have been just a random attack. We shared the information that the evidence pointed to a well funded attack from numerous assassins. He said nothing more of the event. This even struck Rory as odd. Freya had us all mind linked. Rorys needs to learn how not to scream telepathically, but his intuition was spot on. Why wouldn't the Duke react? Did he pay for the attack?
 
We shared that the attacks every century or so were not random. When we met with Gotrek and Felix, Gotrek spoke up about Kishina being a centuries old threat. She is evil and attempting to ascend. We shared with the council that there must be an item somewhere under the city that Kishina needs to ascend. Being as old as Gotrek says she is, she must be undead, probably a Lich. Maybe she once controlled Praag and her Phylactery is located here somewhere.
 
I suggested we find it and destroy it. Villem spoke up and said that if it is here, and has been hidden for centuries where nobody can find it, what kind of Hubris would it be to believe we could.
 
I asked the Duke to apply resources to the library to see if Kishina is in the history of Praag. I also asked for investigation of the food supply.
 
The Duke agreed to these investigations. He also said the most immediate threat are the siege engines outside the city and asked us to take care of the biggest one. I felt our time before the council was a waste of time. I do agree with the priority. Destroying the siege engines will buy precious time. I will confront Kemurial about finding it is what Kishina seeks, without permission if necessary. That was the goal of the party in the first place, to stop the siege. If we destroy the object, or turn it over to The Iron, we end centuries of sieges against Praag. I believe The Iron has better resources to deal with Kishina.
 
So here I sit, scanning the field, casing out the engine to be targeted. Current set up might get us 4 total engines. We have 3 elementals we could summon for assistance. Fire, Water and Air. The largest engine seems bathed in fire. The other 3 seems to be simple wooden builds. The plan is I take flasks of oil and distribute them on each Trebuchet. Upon completing the task, release the fire elemental who will quickly ignite each Trebuchet. This will draw attention so the rest of the party can use the water and air elemental to take down the demonic siege engine.
 
The plan seems solid enough. Wouldn't be the first time I was used in guerilla warfare. The only hiccup would be magical defenses that would spot me.
 
So I sit here, waiting for the go ahead. I also sit here with zero faith the council can be trusted. Are we wasting our time? Has Kishina already won? Politics ruined my life as a child. A corrupt council killed my father, eventually selling out our town to the Drow. In retribution of my fathers death, I killed the corrupt council members, their wives, parents and children. 22 lives was not enough to pay for my fathers life. After my retribution, I took my mother and we headed for the surface. Over time, I was employed for my ability to kill and leave no trace. Over the years, the money I earned allowed me to set my mother up for very comfortable life. I tell her I am a treasure hunter for hire and that is how I earn so much. I am not sure if she believes me. Most of the time, she sits on the porch in her rocking chair staring out over the hills. I know she misses the underdark, and my father. Life left her eyes that day, raining out of her body as her tears washed the floor of his blood. I hope life finds it way back to her.
 
I am not willing to let this town suffer from an inept council like my home town did. I stand steadfast. This is the start of me cleaning a ledger covered in blood. Who am I kidding, my ledger is drenched. A lifetime of murder for money, ends here. Here I draw the line.
 
Changing oneself starts with one decision, one action, one step, and I am taking that step, now!
 
Why did it have to be Politics......... *sighs*?