A Report on the Command Crew of the Blackjack Trading Troupe

The White Wing of the Talon of Tiamat has taken a significant loss over Reaver's Deep. Dirrhaas Nyxekspawn reports that he and the white dragon Coldwing were attacked by the command crew of the Changeling Skyship Blackjack. As a result, the Ballinamore Base is a total loss.

Most importantly, we have confirmed the Blackjack Trading Troupe as a significant hurdle in our planned takeover of the Pit & Zone. For years they have been instrumental in the rise of the two new moons and the creation of avatars. They are not to be underestimated.

Following are our assessments of their Command Crew.

The Dread Baron

The Dread Baron Niamhi Silversång can no longer be considered an asset of Malfador. This (unconfirmed) changeling (unconfirmed) warlock displays great tactical brilliance and leadership. If she could be turned back to us, she could be a great general in the Infernal Forces.

This shapeshifting threat has displayed powers of illusion, deception, and psychic force. When encountered do not engage her directly without mental hardening. She is best fought with automatons, beasts, or mentally warded troops. She is not a physical threat but has proven to be impossible to sneak up on and surprise.

The Celestial Scourge

Lord Lanzo Bass von Razak presents himself as a mindless dilletante and playboy. Do not be deceived by his outward appearance as a foppish noble who wears silly hats. He is in fact a mage who wields significant arcane/divine power generated by his angelic bloodline. The foolish smile and womanizing ways mask a keen strategic mind. His celestial bolts have proven the doom of many loyal devils.

You will not see him coming, but he will see you. He is almost constantly invisible and wears a robe of eyes. He snipes form invisibility and has mastered increasingly powerful magics. Beware his crown of stars! Like the Baron, the Scourge has limited physical abilities. When discovered, first blind him with simple light spells and then engage him physically.

The Mind Goblin

Do not let your predispositions fool you. The goblin Spark hides a vast intelligence behind it's stupid goblin face. A combination of psion and gadgeteer, the Spark will attack you with a combination of telekinesis and advanced weaponry. All while hiding inside it's heavy armor.

The Spark has been producing advanced technology and training an army of goblin upstarts in the slums of the Magister's Enclave. While it is indeed a credit to its race, such uppitiness shall not be tolerated. We have stamped out the terrorist camp, taken its technology for repurposing, and acquired the Spark's cousin for experimentation.

The Spark is heavily armored and hard to bring down. Be prepared to face the so-called "Comet Staff", a gravitational weapon of great interest to our illithid associates. Also of interest is the abomination known as the Xeno-Buster. It is crafted from the divine chassis of the avatar Xeno. Both are to be acquired at all costs.

When engaging with the Spark be aware that it's armor is nigh impenetrable. Focus instead on area of effect attacks and assaults on its ego. It is the rock, it must be smothered by paper.

The Selenelion Defector

Lastly we come to the elf traitor known as Elenwe Heskiloth. Formerly a loyal asset of the Cult of Malfador our attempt to create an elven double agent has completely failed. Perhaps the Selenelion was too fluid and our current attempts will succeed where this one failed.

Since leaving the cult, the Selenelion has undergone may complete transformations of gender, status, and powerset. Regardless of its instability we recommend maximum caution to anyone engaging the elf. In the last encounter, it displayed a massive deific connection to a chaos god by single handedly engaging with the ancient dragon Coldwing and the Highlord Dirrhaas Nyxekspawn.

A paladin of the chaos goddess, the Selenelion causes reality to warp around it without warning. We have detected such effects as: color changing, electric discharge, sudden growth of flora, and random thermic explosions. The Selenelion flies on a broom and its main weapon is an divine chaos glaive. We recommend engaging it with ranged attacks and area of effect spells from as far away as possible.

The Changeling Skyship

Lastly we come to the Blackjack itself. The Changeling skyship has been reported to have at least three or four different forms over the years. The support crew are nothing to be ignored. When last seen, the Darkchilde Diver was seen piloting it! The crew includes an artillerist, a traitorous dragonborn, a shadow elf, and a mechanical dog. Most of them are not as hardy as the command crew and can be engaged at will.

Final Findings

Our recommended countermeasures for the Blackjack Command Crew include:

1. Anti-invisibility precautions
2. Protection from solar/celestial energies
3. Area of effect magics
4. Ranged attacks
5. Avoid engaging directly

Again we recommend extreme caution when engaing with this horrifically dangerous group. Do not engage them without a plan of escape and beware of invisible snipers and mind effects.

All hail the Infernal Three! Ar-Tamak! Malfador! Tiamat!