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The chilly autumn winds skate around the edge of the window as you relax in bed. The long, brutal ride wore you right out.

Even the comforts of a shared shower with Jerome and a happy reunion with your family didn’t take the edge off your weariness. The chance to show off your new armor was pretty cool, though, truth be told.

Still. The Brothers are paid, the Shadows are coming home with the prisoner, the spy is dead and Maas is all caught up. As Jerome snoozes on the mattress beside you, you close your eyes, and hope, really hope, you don’t dream of hell. Again, at least. Once was bad enough.

Roll 1d100

>>33498932

That armour is Japanese Ashigaru. Doesn't really fit the theme. Shouldn't it be ringmail, or half-plate?

Rolled 25

>>33498932
roll thing

Rolled 24

>>33498932

You should put the roll in green text so it stands out.

It's just a lamellar. It's the enchanted Shadow armor she got last thread.

>>33499367

That doesn't look like Lamellar. There's too much of a gap between the plates. It looks more like the types of armour made in Japan, where metal was scarce and the armour as a result was mainly made of wood and other materials to save metal for weapons.

Rolled 32

rollin'

The wind is hot. It’s scouring. It’s brutal. It smells like blood and water.

You are Herald Audrey Coulsi, scion of the Sea Tribe, and probably the last of your kind.

The horrible funnel on the water behind you is getting closer. It’s just not escapable. You can’t run, no matter how hard you grip the wheel. The ship can’t go faster, it just can’t.

Hot tears of fear and betrayal sting your eyes as you howl your regret to the stars. The sky is perfectly clear! Clear, with a tornado on the water! What arrangement of Gods, which high noble detachment of the divine, did you enrage to provoke this?

It’s nearly a mile tall, it’s made of fire, it’s teeming with dark magic, it’s heading right for you, and Mai’te preserve you, you can’t escape.

The stolen cutter’s crew lie dead around you, killed by the small pack of rebel Dommen you hired to cut them down. The rebels are dead, too, now, shot to death by the enemy marines. Did the marines do this? Did they spawn this tornado? Is this their doing?

Probably not. The port city of Fenril is already aflame, and you doubt that they would ignite the ocean to kill you.

The cutter’s hull bucks and shivers as something gives way under the deck. You feel the wheel skew to the side and your heart shrinks in your scarred chest. It’s the chain for the port rudder.

A sense of unreality drifts over you as the ship starts circling. “Well.” You lock the wheel to the starboard and release it, sinking to the deck. “That’s it, then.”

You close your eyes and lean back against the rail beside the wheel, watching the funnel draw closer and closer. It’s actually beautiful. That’s wrong. Things that deadly should be ugly. Fearful.


(con’t)

You tap the Gem on your forehead and pray. <Mother?>

[This is Asa. Mother is pre-occupied. What happened, brother?] Asa’s voice responds.

You sigh into your hand and close your eyes. <We succeeded. The port is aflame. The Dommen are cut off. And… there’s a fire tornado after me.>

[They unleashed it?] Asa gasps. [The fools! They’ll ignite the forests on the coast!]

<I know.>

“Brother, I’m so sorry,” Asa says softly. You open your eyes to see her sitting beside you, tears in her gentle, silvery eyes. “I know you wanted to return a hero.”

“Can I still?”

She hesitates. “That tornado is following you, brother.”

You sigh again. “And the teleporters are all gone.”

She slips her arms around you and buries her head in your shoulder. “I can help,” she whispers. “Mother will make an exception for you, last of the Sea Tribe as you are.”


(con’t)

You glance down at her hair. “Hmm?”

Asa lifts her head and meets your gaze. “Here.” She rests her finger against the Gem and your body tingles. “Come with me. Leave this world behind.”


Light. Bright, beautiful light. It’s blue, it’s white. It’s the sky.

Your eyes drift open – did you close them? – and the sight that greets you takes your breath. The tornado is gone, you’re flat on your back now. The ship, the corpses, they’re all gone.

The waves splash against your bare toes as you sit up. The sea – the calm, welcoming sea – beckons you with the smell of salt and sea grass.

“Is this… am I in heaven?” you whisper.

“Yes.”

You turn your head to see… oh.

She’s radiant. Glowing with light that seems to trace through your eyelids. She’s surrounded by wisps, like you. The dead.

“Mother?”

“Life left you, child, by my daughter’s desire,” Mai’te says. The world echoes with her voice. “But you have suffered enough. The loss of the Sea Tribe is too great a burden.” She beckons you with a hand, and you stagger to your spectral feet. “Come. Rest. Be of this betted world, for you shall not leave it except to find me.”


_________


You awake again. You are Elsa Ledren. As dreams go… that was pretty weird.

>Page Asa and ask what the hell you just saw
>Take stock of situation elsewise
>Writein

>>33499757
>>Page Asa and ask what the hell you just saw

>>33499757
>Take stock of situation elsewise
I'm sure Asa is not tired exactly of our dreams, but she doesn't need to be burdened with them every time we have a new one about the old Heralds.

>>33499876

This.

>Take stock of situation elsewise
gotta keep our mind busy with something else

The night is as black as you’ve ever seen it. It must be after midnight. You reach up to palm the Gem and ask what just happened, but stop partway there. Asa’s already said that she doesn’t control the dreams, and you didn’t see anything too shocking in there.

Well, aside from the fucking mile-tall fire tornado! What the hell was that? Was there someone other than Haret who could do that back in the day?

You shake off the lingering feeling of unreality and look around the room. Jerome is still out cold next to you, and the aches of the battle and ride are gone. Asa did her stuff. You can’t make out the little mechanical clock on the tabletop, but if you tilt your head just right, you can see the clock tower in the city square.

It’s two in the morning. Thursday morning. Two weeks since you ascended to Heraldship. Time flies when you’re fighting for your life.

Jerome shifts a bit in his sleep. You snuggle back down next to him and close your eyes, hoping to at least rest a bit longer, even if that power Asa gave you means you won’t be sleeping again tonight.


>Plan which mercenary to pursue next – Soutri or Wind-thief
>Practice your new meditations
>Go see if Vier is in, up on the tower
>Contact (ally)
>writein

>>33500134
>>Practice your new meditations

Not a bad idea

>>33500134
>Practice your new meditations

>>33500134
>>Practice your new meditations
>>Go see if Vier is in, up on the tower
Go up and see if Vier is there, if not do meditations up there.

The dream you had may have been new, but it’s not the first one you’ve had that held information from before – or apparently during – the Collapse. You slip out from under the covers and pull some underwear on as the idea of practicing your meditations takes root.

“Probably better naked, but it’s bloody cold,” you grumble as you find a pare patch of floor.

The memory of Ritera tells you all you need to know. You’ve got plenty of physical discipline from the Auxilia, so it should be easy.

She started by focusing her mind away from her Gem. You wouldn’t have thought that would be of much use, but apparently it’s essential, so you kneel and focus.

The Gem tingles briefly, then goes back to sitting there, inert. You take a slow breath, hold it for six seconds, just like Ritera, and focus again. This time, you focus on the brand around it – easier for her than you, since hers was huge. You squint your eyes and focus as hard as you can, still breathing in the same long rhythm.

After a few minutes’ effort, you feel a strange rasp on your forehead. You start at the odd feeling, but it’s what Ritera felt, so you assume it’s good. You focus as hard as you can, and the rasp spreads to fill the center of your head.

What did she do next? You cast your memory back and try to pull the details out. She did something with her hands, next. Ritera has linked her hands together by grasping the opposite wrist, like an overextended handshake. You grasp your arms like she had and focus your mind towards the spot.

The Gem tingles again, more urgently. You hesitate, but Ritera felt it, so it’s working, you suppose. You focus again, and the tingle bleeds down your face.


(con’t)

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You start and pull your arms apart, gasping. The sensation is so weird that it actually broke your meditation. Ritera had felt something like that, but centered around her Gem on her chest, not yours. Humans had them in different spots, you suppose.

Jerome shifts again, shivering slightly. You rise to your feet and pull the blankets up to his chin, and he calms. “Sorry,” you murmur under your breath.

You should be asking an expert about this, and if memory serves, this is about when Vier is up drinking. You pull on clothes and creep out of the suite, up the stairs, up the tower, up to the platform.

You pause just below the spotter ring platform. Vier’s voice is there, sure enough. She’s chatting with a person, probably that guard friend of hers.

Before you can decide what to do, you hear the voices stop, and the guard weaves his way down the stairs, clearly a bit inebriated. You duck back into shadows and he walks right past you. He’s a human boy, even younger than you. He’s obviously slightly sloshed, but he’s beaming a great big grin, so it’s probably not an issue.

You walk up the steps as soon as he’s out of sight, and Vier stops putting the glasses away. “Herald Ledren! Greetings, how are you?” she asks.

“Well, your Ladyship,” you reply. “I just came up to talk to you.”

“Oh? Did Ernest give you trouble on the way down?” Vier asks.

“No, no, he’s too drunk,” you assure her.

She scoffs and closes the compartment. “Bah. I shouldn’t ask him to bring such a heavy vintage next time. What did you want to ask me?”


>”Whom do you think we should pursue next?”
>”What was that meditation that Ritera showed me?”
>”When do you think Soutri will make his move?”
>”Any progress figuring out who that Explorer is?”
>writein

NEW MAPS!

>>33500862
>”What was that meditation that Ritera showed me?”

>>33500862
>>”What was that meditation that Ritera showed me?”

>>33500862
>”What was that meditation that Ritera showed me?”

You look out over the city as you ask your next question. “My Lady, what was that meditation I saw?”

“Ah, the Disconnect,” Vier says knowingly. She straightens up with a rattle of armor. “The technique is an old human ritual, but it works for all Heralds.”

“It didn’t feel very good when I tried it,” you admit.

She nods. “It’s not supposed to feel good. It’s called the Disconnect because it briefly decouples your soul, your Gem, your mind, and your body.” You spin and stare at her. She raises her hand. “Metaphorically. Obviously, it doesn’t kill you.”

That’s hardly reassuring. “But what’s that awful tingling feeling?” you press.

“Ah. That’s the feeling of the God Gem losing influence over your body for a moment,” she says. “It’s supposed to happen. When you reconnect to it, spiritually speaking, your mind and soul align with the Gem as a focus. Think of it this way. Your soul and mind are housed by the body, yes? But when you die, or anyone, all we take is the soul. Ergo, the other parts are superfluous inasmuch as the afterlife is concerned.” She points at your Gem. “But if you actively disregard the Gem, remove it from yourself in a spiritual fashion for just a moment, then actively align your mind and body with the soul that receives messages through that Gem, then ‘reconnecting’ it makes your mind and body alike align with what we, the Pantheon, designed them for.”

Recognition dawns. “And of course, you want us all to be healthy and wise,” you murmur.

“Precisely.” Vier taps the hilt of her sword, thinking back in time. “If it makes you uncomfortable, just knowing the ritual can help a bit, but doing that whole physical process at least once per day can do wonders for your focus, your learning speed, even the rate at which you fall asleep.”


>Ask another question (which)
>thank her and go to bed
>go somewhere else

>>33501455
>thank her and go to bed

>>33501455
>>Ask another question (which)
"Mind if I take a drink?"

“Ah.” You consider that. “I think I’ll decide later if it’s worth doing.”

Vier shrugs. “As you wish. Nobody’s quite lucid at this time of night.”

“Or drunk. Speaking of which, any of that wine left?” you ask hopefully.

She snorts, pulling the bottle out of the compartment. It’s bone dry. “Not really, no.”

“Mmm. Shame. Maybe I’ll join you next time,” you chuckle. “My Lady, I’d like to know. Do you think the conspirators are going to go public with my true power?”

Vier’s face darkens. “I’m amazed they haven’t yet done it. Haret and Asa think they’ll hold back a bit longer, but I don’t. I think Moor is getting nervous, and Kotrick has to be running out of friends.” She tilts her head. “Haret insists that I tell you that he thinks Moor will only reveal the truth if Kotrick allows it.”

>”Do you think it’s safe for me to leave town to chase Wind-thief?”
>”And Soutri?”
>”It’s been suggested that I use the Heraldic uniform Asa’s making to go about the city masked, like a vigilante. Thoughts?”
>writein

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>>33502049
>>”It’s been suggested that I use the Heraldic uniform Asa’s making to go about the city masked, like a vigilante. Thoughts?”

>>33502049
>”And Soutri?”

>>33500862

That map is offensive to anyone who has at least a rudimentary knowledge of geology, geography, plate tectonics, ocean currents or anything to do with making a map that doesn't look like it was scrawled on the back of a napkin by someone with no idea how to make a setting that is at least believable.

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>>33502207
Well, it's a prettied-up version of something that I actually did scrawl on the back of a napkin, and then attempted to reproduce.

In MS Paint. At least the weather machines on the Shrine Islands are still working!

So. Not sure what's to say. I guess you could try to do better.

>>33502286

Well, where do we start?

Given the size of the Ice Caps, it looks like the planet's in the middle of an Ice Age.

The single Mountain Chain seems to suggest that there's exactly two continental plates which meet at the centre, which would make the planet tectonically inactive and thus cause a weakened magnetic field, making life more difficult and prone to mutations.

The lack of Biodiversity. Seriously, only one area of proper forest/woodlands, and no jungles? how do people breathe? There's not enough plantlife to sustain a viable oxygen cycle. A full quarter of all the oxygen we breathe comes from the Amazon.

The map is just bland. Most of it is empty. Are we supposed to expect most of the world is just desert or steppe? No thought was put into it. It's a half done idea. You need to sit down and actually think about things like climate, terrain, tectonics. Even Tolkien took those into account when he did his maps. Hois world is believable. Yours isn't.

“And Soutri? Will he wait?” you ask.

She ponders that. “Harder to say. To be honest, I don’t even know why he’s still in the city. With that teleporter, he could be almost anywhere on Tarsh by now.”

“Maybe he wants to steal more artifacts from somebody, like that Explorer,” you say.

“Hmm. Maybe,” she admits, “but I doubt it. He could do that, if he wanted, too. I think he’s just looking for something else. Or perhaps he’s still on Kotrick’s payroll.”

You think back to an earlier idea. “Maybe I should be more public, then,” you suggest. “Take away their initiative.”

“How do you mean?” Vier asks.

“Well, Asa is designing a new uniform for me, yes? I could… I don’t know, use magic to conceal my face, then appear in public with the King a few times, let the people see me,” you offer. “Reassure them. Turn them against Kotrick.”

The demigoddess in armor taps her chin contemplatively. “Not a bad idea, actually,” Vier muses. “Haret and Asa are neutral on it, but I like it.”


>Any other ideas, or is it nap/working time?

>>33502438
Pump your brakes, friend. The map is brown because that was the color in the Fill tool in Paint. In fact, I've given quite a lot of details about how the mountains aren't the only geological features around.

>>33502530
The land is delicious chocolate. Just like Elves.

>>33502469
>>Any other ideas, or is it nap/working time?
>Uniform where mask is ONLY clothing.

>>33503008
anything but this is all I can think of.

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>>33502530

If you want a supercontinent that actually looks believable, then you should go to the source.

Pangea. The last time there was a Supercontinent, and a good place to start. Note the positions of deserts, mountains and the like. Pangea was made up of seven continents, whereas yours seems to only have two, unless the North and South Pole are also continents in their own right with the mountains caused by convergent boundaries buried under the ice.
You did get that large bodies of water are caused by the withdrawal of Ice Sheets and the melt of glacier water (the inland seas, similar to the American Great Lakes) so kudos for that, but the rest is uninspiring and unrealistic.
You need to give some long, hard thought about what this setting is supposed to be. Do some research. The effort is worth it.

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>>33503063

Do a map like this. Show what the climate regions are. That is a big step to making the climae not just believable, but habitable as well.

>>33502469
>nap work

and watch this penalize us somehow.

>go nap until sunup

>>33503063
SomeoneElse has stated this is a world that is bits of pieces of the original taped together with divine spit and tape.

The idea has some obvious drawbacks, but if none of the Triad seem to mind it, it’s at least worth considering. “I’ll sleep on it, at least, my Lady,” you say. “It’s just an idea.”

Vier nods. “As for the tast before you, I’d focus on Soutri first and foremost. You could sit down with the King and Governor tomorrow to figure out where in the city he might be.”

“Good idea, my lady,” you say. “In the meantime…”

“Of course.” Vier bows slightly. “You’re doing well, Lady Ledren. Just focus on the task at hand, and I’m confident you’ll succeed.”

You return the gesture, pleased by her faith. “Thank you, my Lady.” When you straighten up, she’s gone.


Downstairs, you strip back down and slip under the covers, already planning tomorrow. You won’t sleep again tonight, but you can ruminate, and maybe just enjoy some peace and quiet.

What should you be doing? No matter what, you have to check in with your various allies.

>What’s your agenda?

>Drop in on Garren
>Ask Arisa what she’s learned
>Ask Darril if his questions have returned anything useful
>Sit down with the King AND/OR Dietrich AND/OR Governor Ekrine and plan your next move
>writein

>>33503405
>Sit down with Dietrich
>plan to go after wind-thief

>>33503405
>>Ask Darril if his questions have returned anything useful

>>33503405
>>Ask Arisa what she’s learned

First off, you should contact Arisa and ask if her Circle is in any more danger of fragmenting. If it is, you may need to step in, by some means. Garren should be kept informed as well, and her note was intriguing. You can always use her help. Darril’s offer to have his clients look out for Kotrick could bear fruit too.

Plenty to do. A few hours of darkness between now and then. You rest your head next to Jerome’s and close yours eyes, feigning sleep to delay the hard work a little longer.


[TEMPORARY END OF THREAD]


>All right, we have an agenda for tomorrow. I’ll pick up the thread as soon as I get out of bed tomorrow. Please, keep it alive overnight for clutter’s sake!

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I am posting some new arts people may not have seen yet!

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And that's it. Night owl bumpers, I'd appreciate it if you kept this afloat so I can pick up tomorrow.

>>33504216
I guess I'd try but that's easier said than done.

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bump

bump

>>33507048
might as well try bumping this as well.

>>33508754
bump

bump

>>33511258

Ibid

thanks. I'll be running for most of the day.

>>33504186
Elsa needs a power to scratch back through armor. Perhaps Garren can teach her?

The courtiers in King Maas’ waiting room don’t even look up from their papers and reports as you walk past them into the Royal Audience chamber. That’s not actually encouraging.

Maas looks up from a huge map of the southlands as you shut the door behind you. “Herald, I sincerely hope you bring good news,” he says flatly.

You shift your stance to snap off a salute. “I do, Sire. Is something wrong?” you ask.

He slams a hand down on the map. “That spy you captured didn’t destroy all the things in his pockets, and among the things that we recovered was a map, showing just how deeply the secessionists have infiltrated the cities to the south,” he growls. “I mean, better to know, but it’s still dire. I may well have to ask you to help me out after you’ve finished off this conspiracy.”


>”Cender is my homeland. I’ll do what I can.”
>”The Triad hold mastry over me now, Sire. I won’t pick a side.”
>”Only if they come after me directly.”
>writein

>>33511995

>”Cender is my homeland. I’ll do what I can.”

>>33511995
Why does the king think we would even be useful, it's not like Asa would help

“I swore an oath to serve Cender, Sire, and I haven’t forgotten it,” you assure him. “I do have other masters now, of course.”

Maas nods. “Of course, your Eminence. I will try to refrain from placing competing burdens on you. In the interim, do you have a plan for rooting out these six remaining conspirators?”

You cross the room to stand beside him at the map. “First, I need to check in with my informants to see if they have located Everett Soutri,” you say. “He’s the bigger threat of the two lingering mercenaries. I should also pursue Asa’s theory that they aren’t communicating any more, either for security or a falling-out of some sort. Then, it’s off to destroy the invisibility amulet.”

The King nods and straightens up. “A good start, your Eminince. When do you intend to reveal your identity publicly? Or would you prefer to never do so?”


>”Ideally, never.”
>”When I’m done. The people need to know the Triad still cares.”
>”Very, very soon.”
>”Whenever I can most pre-empt Kotrick or Soutri doing so.”
>”Immediately.”
>Tell him about the plan with the costume and mask.
>writein

>>33512349
>”When I’m done. The people need to know the Triad still cares.”

“In all fairness, Sire, I should stay covert as long as possible,” you say. “But I will go public when I’m done. The people need to know the Triad still cares.”

Maas peaks an eyebrow. “You think they don’t show it otherwise?”

“Not well, sometimes,” you admit.

“Hmm. Well, I can respect that.” The King sits down behind the table and looks up at you. “Then is there anything you wish of me before you go about this business?”

>”No, thank you, Sire.”
>”Yes.” (what?)
>writein

bump`

>>33512755
>”No, thank you, Sire.”

“No, thank you, Sire.” You tap your brow again. “This armor is perfect. How do I enable the enchantment?”

“It’s reactive,” Maas informs you. “The faster you’re moving, the harder you are to see. You can will it to be active at all times if you’re a mage, but since you aren’t, it won’t work that way.”

You tap one of the lamellar squares with your finger. “Good to know. By your leave, Sire.”


Below, you shuck your new toy and pull on your normal civilian clothes. Jerome catches your eye as you leave the room. “Elsa, is your brand changing?”

You put a hand to the Gem and wince. “Yeah, it’s getting bigger. I won’t be able to hide it soon. Does it look creepy?”

“No, it’s just different-looking,” Jerome says. “What will you do if it gets any more obvious?”

You shrug awkwardly. “Just not get seen in public as often, I guess. I don’t see an alternative.”

“Well, just stay safe out there,” he says. He finishes tying on his boots and stands up. “I’m leaving, too. I’m looking for work at the cargo depot at the north side of the barracks.”

“Lots of armories and such there,” you remark. “Good call.”

“Thanks.” Jerome pecks you on the cheek and heads out. “See you tonight.”


(con’t)

The streets aren’t very busy in midday, and the crowds are slow. You walk through the throngs of people in the markets, making your way to Arisa’s house. As soon as you come within range, you see a small cluster of four or five young people in traveling cloaks – bot no rucksacks – emerge, looking cheerful. Arisa appears at the door behind them, and she’s not cheerful – she looks downright haggard.

When she spots you, though, her face lights up. “Ah, Elsa. Good to see you, do come in.”

“Arisa, my friend, hello.” You walk in to see a circle of chairs at the center of the front hall, with a little array of fresh cookies on a plate. “Am I interrupting?”

“No, we’re done,” she sighs. She drops into a chair and snatches a cookie, biting it viciously. “Keeping the faith a complex thing, you know.”

“More trouble in the ranks?” you ask carefully.

“Ah, just a disagreement over who does and does not deserve to rise to the ranks of the Precepts,” she says disgustedly. “Those being the people who recruit and solicit donations, and get a vote on my replacement. I favor a friend of mine, with whom I’ve worked for decades, the new people prefer one of their own I barely know.”

“They can vote you out?” you ask in surprise.

“No, but I’m not a young woman,” she says tiredly. “I can’t run this forever. I’m not interested in family, per se, so I have no other real demands on my time, but I’m pushing fifty five, and I don’t have the strength to tap the Well.”


>Straight to business – ask if she’s heard anything about the conspirators
>Make conversation about (topic *)

Ducking out for yardwork. I will return when able. I won't be gone more than an hour, hour and a half.

>>33513758
>Make conversation about (topic *)
>"What is the barely anything you know about their candidate?"

>>33513919
Find out more about this other candidate.

This doesn’t sound like the kind of talk you need to hear from your ally. “This other canididate, who are they? As best as you can tell,” you ask.

She sighs again. “Elf, young man, minor merchant family scion. Nice enough guy! He’s just overambitious. He thinks we should recruit openly. Now, of all times.”

“Does he have a name?”

Arisa grabs another cookie. Has she even had breakfast? “Oromer. Oromer Kendal. Like I said, nice guy, he just can’t see the big picture.”

“Then he can’t be a very good merchant,” you quip. You file the name away anyway. “Have you heard anything about this conspiracy? See anybody showing interest in old relics?”

Your hostess pour herself some lukewarm tea. “Well… actually, yes.” You straighten up in your seat as she leans towards you. “A man in a very expensive robe was spotted snooping around the warehouse facade, looking for something. When Roland went to ask him something, he walked away quickly. Then, when Roland got back in the building, he heard somebody walking around in the building. He went to look, but there was nobody there and nothing missing.”


>Ask if you can go to the warehouse for a description from Roland
>Ask something else

>>33515337
>Ask if you can go to the warehouse for a description from Roland

>>33516155
>>Please.

You feel your heart sink. If that was Soutri… “May I drop in and inquire about this intruder?” you ask urgently. “I may know who he is.”

Arisa blinks. “Oh? One of your conspirators?”

You clench one hand. “One of their leaders. Everett Soutri. He has some relics already.”

“Then by all means. Shall I accompany you?” she asks. “I have no more meetings today. I can help identify if anything was taken, and he won’t suspect you’re there for other reasons if I’m with you.”


>Please.
>No thanks.

>>33516194

>Please.

“Then let’s go,” you say. “With any luck, Soutri was just scouting it out.”


The walk is brisk and quiet as you try and remember which items in there he might have wanted. The weapons, maybe? You doubt he’d be interested in the books… unless he wants to know more about what he bought.

The warehouse isn’t too far, and the two of you walk in. Roland looks up from his desk, fingering his club, but he relaxes when he sees Arisa. “Priestess. Back already?” he asks.

“Well, yes,” Arisa replies. “I thought Elsa, since she was here last, might be able to see something we didn’t.”

“You think he took something even though I didn’t find anything gone?” Roland asks politely.

Arisa shakes her head. “No, but I want to be sure.”

“Hmm. Well, all right. You know where to find me,” he says, and he sits back down.

You both make straight for the archive, and start poring over the collection there. There’s a lot of stuff, and there’s no obvious signs of things being taken.


Roll 1d100+12 for Perception.

Rolled 73 + 12

>>33516625

Rolled 14 + 12

>>33516625
Here goes

You look over the weapons first. Arisa doesn’t show any sign of recognition, and you don’t see anything obviously amiss.

When you get to the books, it’s the same story. You sort through the ones that are safe to touch, but there’s nothing wrong here, either.

“I guess he really as just looking,” Arisa remarks as she closes a cabinet.

Your eyes narrow as you look over the translations. “Wait. There’s a book missing here,” you say. You reach out for the shelf and brush away dust. “Yeah. One of the transcriptions of the damaged books is gone.”

“So this Soutri fellow wanted the contents of the book, not the book itself?” Arisa asks. “He’s not interested in selling.”

“He wants to know what the Circle knew,” you mused. “I mean, if it is Soutri. It may not have been.”

Arisa palms through the list of books at the end of the shelf and glances down the shelf. “Huh. He took two books. ‘Fall of the Crowns,’ a Spireling book of history, and ‘Pre-War,’ an acient elf record of the last peace confrerence before the Imperial capital, Solium, was destroyed.”

“He’s researching the Spireling artifact he has in his possession,” you decide. “He has to be. He hit the Circle because you can hardly go to the Guard.”

Arisa sighs heavily and puts the manifest away. “So what now?”


>”I’ll inform my other allies.”
>”Asa has to know.”
>”Did he take anything else?”
>”I should meet with anyone else in your group that you think can keep my existence a secret, to prepare the ground for my public revelation.”
>writein

>>33517301
>”Asa has to know.”
>”I should meet with anyone else in your group that you think can keep my existence a secret, to prepare the ground for my public revelation.”

“Nothing to be done here,” you sigh. “He got what he came for. I’ll just try to get them back when I take him down.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” she asks

You look over at her and grin. She’s as earnest as a schoolgirl, even at her age. “Yes. While I inform Asa, I’d like it if you thought over which of your group’s members might be trusted with… well, me.”

Her eyes widen. “Really? You’re going to go public?”

“I’m worried I may not get a choice in the matter,” you say grimly. You tap the Gem and pray to Asa. {My Lady, it seems Everett Soutri has robbed the Circle of two books: a history tome and a political archive. He’s researching the Spirelings.}

[Troubling, but not unexpected. What will you do?]

{I’m going to let a few more Circle members know what I am, so they can start preparing the ground for if Soutri or Kotrick goes public about me,} you inform her.

[I will be ready, should you desire any of the classic accoutrements of office,] she reports. You hold back a sigh Arisa wouldn’t understand. [Have you decided to pursue Soutri before Wind-thief?]


>”He’s the greater threat, but we know EXACTLY where Wind-thief is. I’m chasing her first.”
>”Yes. I’m diverting all my attention to him for now.”
>”No, I’ll pursue whichever target I can reach first. I want to speak with Garren and Dietrich before I make that call.”
>writein

>>33517913
>>”No, I’ll pursue whichever target I can reach first. I want to speak with Garren and Dietrich before I make that call.”

>>33517913
>”He’s the greater threat, but we know EXACTLY where Wind-thief is. I’m chasing her first.”

{I’m inclined to kill Wind-thief while we have her located, especially since I promised Wind-thief she could come to try to talk her down. But, still, I want to talk to Dietrich and Garren first. See what they have to suggest.}

[That is wise. Go safely, my beloved daughter. Keep me informed.]

As you look back over at your hostess, you see she’s jotting something on a piece of paper. “Here, your Eminence, these are my most trusted colleagues,” she says. “I have their names, titles if they have them, and addresses as well.”

“Good.” You accept the list and hold it up to the light to read. There are four names, and include the group’s treasurer and archivist. “Who are these two without titles?”

“Hermes is a close friend, and de Casse is his employer, who is also the man who recruited him,” Arisa informs you. “Shall I assemble them, or do you wish to meet them individually?”

>Assemble them, AFTER meeting Garren and Dietrich
>Assemble them, BEFORE meeting etc

>Individually, AFTER meeting etc
>Individually, BEFORE meeting etc

>>33518430
>Assemble them, AFTER meeting Garren and Dietrich

“I need to speak to my allies in the military right away,” you inform her. “I can talk to your friends when I’m done.”

“They’ll be ready around dinner-time at my house,” she promises. “Thank you for trusting us, your Eminence.”

“Right now, I trust you.” You put special emphasis on the ‘you.’ “I’m sure you wouldn’t introduce people who can’t keep a secret.”

“Never,” she says solemnly.

You shake her hand farewell. “Excellent. See you tonight.”


You take your leave of the building and make for the barracks, to retrieve the amulet and meet with Dietrich. The castle is quiet, for a week day, but given the size of the force on the roads right now, it’s no surprise. Dietrich’s office is a short hassle from the Guard away, and as soon as your clearance is confirmed, a Guard elite ushers you right in.

The Captain-General looks up from his map – a copy of the one the King had – and salutes. “Your Eminence.”

“Sir.” You return the gesture and sit at his invitation. “Thank you for seeing me.”

“You wouldn’t come see if it weren’t urgent,” he says. “What do you need?”

You lean forward and point at Margent on the map of the country. “Sir. The mercenary Caliso Wind-thief, as you know, is hiding on the road to Margent. She’s probably in the city itself.”


(con’t)

“Indeed.” Dietrich taps the map, where a small red flag with a boat on it is stuck into the paper. “I have a small flotilla of troopships and supply boats in the port to supply the Guard, but nearly all vessels in the military are under the express control of the Navy, with only a tiny percentage of its assets falling under the purview of my Army and Guard forces. That port is full of Navy ships resupplying, for the battles in the south are spreading to the ports there, and I wanted the ships of the Navy to be resupplied in friendly ports. Admiral Dar is in the city as well, coordinating the forces there for transfer.” He opens a letter with the Royal seal on it in cracked wax. “The King ordered me to send a message by fastest courier to the port and lock it down, expecting rebels to try to infiltrate it while they resupply the fleet. I only found out about Wind-thief a few days ago.”

“So did I, sir,” you report. “What steps are being taken to catch her by the local troops?”

The light catches the gold filigree on his epaulets as he leans back in his seat. “What few Legionary forces there are outside my jurisdiction in theory, but they know the need of defending the port has never been stronger, Dar has ordered all marine and specialist units in the city to sweep for anyone behaving suspiciously. Beyond that, we can’t do much. We don’t know what she looks like.”


>What do you tell him?

>”I need to go out there in person and kill her.”
>”Her sister may be of some use.”
>writein

>>33519598
>Give him her description
>Her sister might be of some use

>>33519668
this

“If I may, sir, there is a way to solve this,” you inform him.

He looks over the map at you with curiosity in his eyes. “Oh?”

“Caliso Arla Wind-thief’s sister, Everi Wind-thief, sir. She has volunteered her service to capture her sister alive.” You lean forward too, tapping Clen on the map. “She’s a Sister in the local chapter.”

“Truly? Interesting. Does she not know the penalty for what Wind-thief has done is death?” Dietrich asks bluntly.

“She does. She thinks she can help anyway.”

Dietrich straightens up and brushes off his hands. “Done. Bring her with you.”

You were expecting more resistance. “Ah, yes sir.”

“Don’t mistake me. Whether she dies there or on the headman’s block is irrelevant,” Dietrich says dismissively. “But I’d rather she not try to take my ports with her.”

“Of course.” Pragmatic and compassionate alike, you think cynically. “I have a description of her here, sir, provided by Lady Asa.”

“Very well.” Dietrich accepts the information and tucks it away. “It’ll be on the road to the city by nightfall. Dar and Governor Ceci will be shadowing her when you arrive.”


>Anything else to report, or do you get that talisman and give it to Garren to destroy now?
>writein

>>33520158
>Get that talisman and give it to Garren to destroy now

Take care of business, also inquire if Garren knows anything about Spireling artifacts, particularly the banned ones

You climb to your feet and snap off a salute. “Then I shall depart, sir. Thank you for your help.”

“I wish you the greatest success, your Eminence,” Dietrich says, and returns to his maps.


Upstairs, you pause long enough to grab the money Maas gave you for Garren’s fee, then head straight for the Guildhall. Miracle of miracles, Giselle isn’t there to embarrass you as you arrive. You make your way through the lovely building and up to the penthouse suite.

As you arrive, you note the abundance of empty trays in the hallway on carts, being pushed off by porters. A pair of Companions, gorgeous young women both, are heading the same direction as you, already primping and preparing one last time.

The doors swing open, and a Companion – male this time – in an elegant formal robe bows. “May I have your name, please?” he asks.

“Sergeant Elsa Ledren, I’m here to deliver something to Traveler Garren,” you inform him.

His face brightens. “Ah, yes! Do come in, her Ladyship is expecting you.”


(con’t)

And paving the way with Companions and food? Interesting. You nod to the young man and walk into the huge suite. The first thing you see is a huge crowd – easily fifty people. They’re all in fancy robes and dress, and all have plates of hors d'oeuvres, goblets of wine.

Garren is holding court in the slightly elevated platform that connects the rising stairs from the reception area set into the floor to the second floor of the huge suite, all of which is contained inside the marble penthouse’s walls. She’s dressed in her Dommen armor, but her cloak is absent – burning flesh not being appropriate for high company – and a beautiful gold and red robe over it.

She spots you and shoots you a wink, jerking her head slightly towards the kitchenette, where even more porters are cooking something in addition to the trays of food on the tables. You acknowledge the nod and make your way over, feeling a bit out of your depth, but determined to make the most of your unexpected welcoming to the luxurious surroundings.


>Grab some food and wait for Garren
>Mingle a bit
>writein

>>33520755
>Mingle a bit

>>33520755
>>Grab some food and wait for Garren

If you’re an invited guest, you should behave as such. You snag a few pieces of food from the table and place them on the nearest empty plate, then wander into the concentrations of guests.

Going about the room and munching, you note a few things. First, the crowd is almost exclusively mages. Second, they’re all unarmed, even the ones in uniforms, which means this is a social gathering exclusively. Third, they’re all bloody rich. Fourth, there are Companions everywhere – the good kind, the elegant and well-educated kind, not the ones the lower clas buy for an hour when they need to spend some protein. Finally, they’re all older. Some are looking like Well-tapped eighty years, which means they could be centuries old.

You finish your orbit of the room and wait. After a few more minutes, Garren disentangles herself from the crowd and walks over to you. You set down the plate and start to say something when a look silences you. “Your Eminence, I’m so glad you could make it,” she says quietly. “I thought you didn’t get my invitation.”

“Invitation?” you ask, confused.

She blinks. “Oh. Not here. Side room,” she says, cutting her eyes to the right, at a closed door in the side of the main halls.

You nod once and head over. The door is shut but unlocked, and inside, you find a small but well-appointed laboratory – all of it covered with Firesouls insignia. Garren must have brought it here and set it up in a guest room of the suite.


(con’t)

She follows you in and shuts the door. “Lady Ledren?” she asks courteously. “No invitation?”

You half-smile. “I haven’t been in for days, save a few hours last night.”

“Bah. I sent off the invitation this morning. You must have left already,” she grumps. “Well, you’re here.”

“Harldy my company,” you remark.

“Nonsense! We’re acquaintences, I’m in your debt, you live here, and you’re a Herald. You outrank all those other guests,” she says with a wave. “So what did you really come here for?”


>Show her the artifact immediately and explain
>Explain the King wants her to destroy an artifact and then turn it over after relating the whole story
>writein

>>33521358
>>Show her the artifact immediately and explain

Entirely without ceremony, you pull the invisibility talisman from your pocket. “Do you know what this is?” you ask.

She stares. “It’s… it’s praun magic. It can’t be… a personal invisibility screen?”

“It is.” You pocket it again. “The King wants me to, in essence, pay you to destroy it. The Sister I was with when we ‘found’ it said something very bad happens to people who wear these.”

To your surprise, Garren scoffs. “Ludicrous! What happens is that a concentrated field of mana starts moving around the wearer, silently and quickly. Anybody with sufficient mana control can easily prevent personal injury!”

“Well, perhaps the King didn’t know, but neither did the Sister,” you remind her. “And she was a mage. Will you destroy this?”

“Of course not!” Garren says. She sounds as surprised as you did. “Do you know how hard to find these actually are?”


>Demand destruction of the talisman
>Refuse to hand it over instead
>Use a speech power (which?)
>Ask Asa for help
>writein

>>33521693
>Don't hand it over
>Report back to the king, provided we have enough time to do so and not miss the Circle members

>>33521693
>Refuse to hand it over instead

Breaking for dinner. Voters, please cast votes and discuss if there's disagreement, and I'll pick up when I get back.

>>33521358
>>Explain the King wants her to destroy an artifact and then turn it over after relating the whole story

>>33521973
That one's come and gone. If you want to vote on the current point, you can, I won't be back for a bit.

>>33521693
>>writein
>ask her intentions if she has research access to the artifact and further elaborate on the nasty injuries observed. Also explain access is rather difficult, given the order to destroy it.

>>33521693
so you need enough control to stop the mana from slamming into you killing cells, fun

>keep it

>>33522066
this

The awkward silence between you is thick. The gaiety and music of the party may as well be out among the stars. “Traveler, I don’t care if it’s rare,” you finally say. “The King expressly ordered me to have you destroy it.”

Garren’s neck twitches. “You don’t answer to the King,” she says coldly. “That relic is over three thousand years old.”

You flinch, torn between your loyalty to the King, the higher authority of the Heraldship, and your growing friendship with Garren. “I… Garren, please. I’m not going to give this to you if you’re going to use it.”

Her eyes narrow. “What a shame,” she says darkly.

“What does it do? What do those ugly welts all over his body mean?” you ask, hoping to bring her about.

She stares at you for a moment before answering. “The mana field is bending light around you, and ensuring you don’t leave a shadow. Because it has to extend between all your organs, all your clothes, all of you and what you’re wearing, the shearing effect is horrible, even if you’re nude. In armor, it’s almost unbearable. The mana whorls can rip at the skin. If you’re moving a lot, it’s even worse. What was your man doing?”

“Fighting for his life against me and a team of Brothers,” you inform her.

“Ah, the battle at the north docks?” she asks. “Hmph. I heard about that. Thought it was you, too.”

You try and reach a compromise that won’t leave the emotional Firesoul angered at you. “Listen, Garren… Traveler. Could I convince you to simply break the talisman? Render it permanently inoperable? You know, instead of completely annihilating it?”

She tilts her head. “Hmph. You mean remove the Aedre mineral core? The praun artifact that bends light?”

“You can keep it, as long as it’s never put in another talisman,” you say, hoping she’ll agree.


Roll 1d100+12 for Pursuade

Rolled 47 + 12

>>33523258
Here goes.

Rolled 77 + 12

>>33523258

Garren glares holes into you for a long few moments. “It won’t be easy, it won’t be cheap, and I won’t like it,” she finally says, an act of petulence you didn’t expect from the hardened Traveler.

“All I ask is that it happens, and that you don’t ask me not to darken your door again,” you say, sagging in relief.

The Firesoul lets out a ragged sigh and holds out her hand. “Just… let’s get it over with.”

You produce the artifact. Garren takes it and gives it a long, sad look, before a spike of incredibly bright light emerges from her fingers and impales the device. With the *shink-CRACK* of hyper-heated metal cracking, the device falls apart in her hand. She looks away as the pieces hiss in her palm. She seems to be quite unaware of the molten metal on her bare skin.

“What… what did you do?” you ask, rubbing afterimages away.

“Something really, really stupid,” Garren says dully. “I destroyed an irreplaceable artifact because a friend asked me to.” She flicks the cooled scrap onto a heat-treated table bearing her seal and the Firesoul insignia and drops one chunk – a small scrap of pink metal – onto a desk by the door. “Well. There’s the core. I can study that, at least,” she sighs. Before she can even ask, you take the whole stack of bills from your pocket and place it on the table next to it.

“For services rendered,” you say. “Thank you, Garren.”

She shrugs listlessly. “Mmm.” She opens the door and walks out, holding it open for you. Some guests look at you oddly – they must have heard the crack – but nobody says anything. “Help yourself to whatever nosh you’d like,” she says.

“Of course. Thank you again.” You bow slightly as she walks back to the partygoers and puts her hostess face back on, leaving you alone.


Welp.

>Now what?
>Go straight to Arisa’s home
>Stay and try to pull Garren aside to tell her other things
>writein

>>33523789
>Stay and try to pull Garren aside to tell her other things
Ask if there's any word from Sun on blowing up that flying city.

>>33523789
>>Go straight to Arisa’s home

I think she'd rather relax and if there was anything more she'd have mentioned it.

As bad as it will look, you have to know. You follow Garren up the stairs to where she had been before. She turns to look at you, her face briefly filled with genuine anger, before you lean in and whisper. “Did you hear about the airborne… place?” you ask.

Her frown doesn’t fade, but she shakes her head. “No. Not for another few days at minimum.”

“Then I should go. Thank you for your help, Traveler,” you murmur. You turn on your heel and walk right out.

“Well, that sucked,” you mutter under your breath. Still, it’s done, and now for some hard work.


Back at Arisa’s house, the Priestess has clearly been hard at work. The unpleasant earlier meeting’s remains are gone, and in their place, you find a tidy little conversation circle, with five full steats, and one empty one awaiting you.

Arisa rises to her feet and nods as you enter. “Ah, Sergeant Ledren. Welcome back. May I present my guests? Archivist Jonah Farrier,” she says first, indicating a short elf man with deep green eyes, “Treasurer Dieter Zimmer,” she says, and a very tall, lean elf woman tilts her head, “Journeyman Garn,” a man in a Masons’ Guild uniform waves jauntily, “and Master de Casse,” she finishes. A much older man with a ragged mod of white hair and stately robes slowly rises from his chair.

“We five represent the longest-serving members of the Precepts,” de Casse says without preamble. He coughs a bit as he says it. In fact, he looks dead on his feet. “I understand that Priestess Arisa wishes to add you to our number.”


>Wat say
>Play along at first and gauge them
>Reveal quickly and get it over with
>Let Arisa decide what to do and when

>>33524465
>Play along at first and gauge them

>>33524465
>>Play along at first and gauge them

You smile and sit. “Oh, so I’ve been told,” you say modestly, feeling the effortless powers of speech Asa has given you. “I’m only here to do the good work of Lady Asa.”

“Aren’t we all?” Garn asks with a chuckle. His skin tone says ‘light elf’ to you. “So. What do you wish to discuss, then, Priestess?”

Arisa looks at you oddly, but doesn’t say anything to you specifically. “Well… my friends, as I’m sure you’re all aware, the recent shock of the tornado above the city has frightened the people,” she begins.

Over the next ten minutes, you watch carefully. Arisa’s considerable power of oratory holds the others’ attention well enough. Garn is rather energetic fellow, and listens attentively only when he’s being watched by the speaker, from the look of it. De Casse just looks tired. Old and tired. He’s listening well, though. Farrier is sitting patiently, even taking notes. Zimmer is reclining, one hand on her chin, and paying close attention.

After the ten minutes pass, you give Arisa a meaningful look. She takes the hint. “My friends, I have invited the young Sergeant here because she has something she thinks you all should know.”

“Do tell,” de Casse says.

You clear your throat and lean forward in the circle of chairs. “What I am about to tell you is constrained to only a small group of Cender’s elite, and those who actively oppose them,” you say quietly. “The information is not to leave this room without my permission.”

That catches the attention of all involved. Farrier raises one eyebrow, while Garn peers over at you, ceasing his fidgeting. “Oh?” he asks.


(con’t)

“The Triad is most concerned about the destruction of the eight hundred men and women of the Second Home Guard battalion, as you all know,” you say. “What you do not know is that I was one of those eight hundred people.”

The others all recoil or pale. “You’re a survivor?” Farrier asks, aghast. “Oh, Sergeant, you have my heartfelt condolences.”

You incline your head to the older elf. “Thank you, sir,” you say. “However, I would not have survived without the direct and personal intervention of the Triad.”

The room goes silent. “I beg your pardon?” de Casse asks.

“I am charged with tracking down and killing all of the people responsible for those murders,” you say. “Endowed with the power and authority of the Pantheon itself.”

Abruptly, Garn shoots to his feet. “You blasphemer!” he snarls. “You have the gall to invoke the Pantheon in your personal vengeance?”

Arisa gasps. The others rise as well, looking surprised and uncomfortable. “Journeyman, control yourself,” de Casse scolds.

“Hermes, sit down!” Arisa barks, flushing bright red. “Would I have brought her here if her words were false?”

You start removing your bandana and hat as Garn whirls to face her. “It’s a lie! There haven’t been any people like that since the-”

“Since the Heralds?” you ask. You part your hair to reveal your brand.

Arisa crosses her arms and glares at Garn as the others gasp in unison. Zimmer sinks into the nearest chair, white as a sheet, while Farrier nods slowly, as if a mystery had been solved. Garn raises one hand to cover his gaping mouth, while de Casse’s eyes widen.


>How break silence

>Imperious (give orders)
>Forgiving (accept apologies and move on)
>Don’t do anything (let them react at their own pace)

>>33525201
>>Forgiving (accept apologies and move on)

They didn't know.

>>33525201
>>Don’t do anything (let them react at their own pace)

>>33525201
>Don’t do anything (let them react at their own pace)
rekt

>>33525201
>>Don’t do anything (let them react at their own pace)

You sit back down and stare at them, one at a time. Arisa smiles slightly and sits as well. Garn just sits and lets his head sink into his hands. Interestingly, de Casse doesn’t seem to do anything, just staring at you in silence with eyes wide. The other two exchange a look and both start talking at once.

“Herald…” “But the…”

Their mixed voices trail off as Zimmer raises a finger. “You… that is a Heraldic stone, right?”

“It’s a God Gem,” you inform her.

Her voice goes reedy. “It’s… real?” she asks.

“It’s real,” you say. “As my spirit rose from my body in the forest by the highway, Asa’s Avatar appreared to me with the others of the Triad. She drove it into my flesh and made me the living conduit of her will.”

Zimmer drops heavily into the chair.

“Oh,” Garn says, very quietly.

“…I lived to see it,” de Casse whispers.

Farrier, however, just nods again. “I knew it,” he says confidently. “Lord Haret backed off for a reason.”

Garn suddenly starts. “Oh! Oh, my Lady, your Eminence, I’m so sorry,” he says, tearing up. “Please, please, forgive me.”

You wave a hand. “You didn’t know.”

Arisa clears her throat. “Now, the bit about total secrecy?”

“I swear it!” Garn says feelingly. The others echo it in varying states of shock and solemnity.


>You have their attention, now what?

>Give actual instructions (what)
>Ask questions (which)
>Page Asa and let her do the talking since this was her idea
>writein

>>33525729
>Page Asa and let her do the talking since this was her idea
oh god I don't know what to ask these people to do

>>33525956
Ditto

You tap the God Gem and think. {Lady Asa, the core of the Circle is assembled. What would you have me do?}

She chuckles. [Well, meeting you is probably more of a shock to them than meeting me, given that all meet me and my friends at the end of their lives. Just command them to reach out to their disciples and prepare them for your public appearance, and to stay strong and loyal to the King until this is all over.]

{Thanks.} You break the link and look over the group. “Well. Lady Asa says that your path is best laid out here. I won’t stay hidden forever. I need you all to do your best to prepare the people for my arrival. That means that you all go about your lives as normal, for now, and make it clear to them all that the world is still spinning, despite the chaos of the tornado, and that the Triad are still very much in control. Make sure that all understand that the people have not been forgotten.”

“How should we do this?” de Casse asks shakily.

“By being… well, smug. Tell people in your lives that it wouldn’t surprise you if there were a Herald active somewhere, given the recent tumult,” you suggest.

“I see.” de Casse looks at the others, and collects several slow nods. “We… we can do that, your Eminence.”


>Anything else to say, or do we break for dinner?

>>33526455
Maybe ask them about the young people faction and their suggested leader?

“Before I depart, my friends, I’d like to hear about this increasingly schismatic faction of yours,” you say, glancing around the room.

Arisa shakes her head. “They’re good people, Elsa. They really are. They’re just so very young.”

“They think they can force the laws of the Triad on people,” Farrier says. “In the old days, before the Collapse… maybe. Now? The laws are gone.”

“Yes, I know, believe me. What I’m asking is why their leader doesn’t appear to be present,” you remark.

“Because he would take your appearance here as an endorsement of his cause,” Arisa says wearily. “Even if you told him otherwise. Hearing it from us as well as you will overcome that. I’ll tell him, eventually, and with your permission.”

“When did this factionalization occur?” you ask.

“Over the last few years, your Eminence,” Garn says, perhaps seeking to make up for his mistake. “There are about forty of them, total.”

“And your faction?”


(con’t)

“I dislike the word ‘faction,’ but… perhaps as many and a few more,” Zimmer says hesitantly.

“Are they dangerous?” you ask.

“No!” Farrier protests. “No, they’re just overambitious.”

The clock tower in the center of the city chimes five in the afternoon as he finishes speaking. It’s as good a time as any. “Well. I must be going, my friends,” you announce. “Thank you all for coming.”

“It was the honor of my life,” de Casse assures you, rising with some difficulty.

“No, the honor of your life will be watching me – or an Avatar, perhaps – announce that all is well in Cender once more,” you say. “I was not given Heraldship for peaceful purposes. To that end, I will need your help.”

“You’ll have it,” he promises fervently. The others all chip in to agree.

Arisa shows them all out as you crick your neck and refasten your headgear. “That went well,” she says.

“As well as it could have,” you grunt.

“Please forgive Garn. It hurts him deeply that the King thinks us all criminals at heart,” Arisa says softly.

“Nothing to forgive. All he wants is to live like Mai’te made us,” you say. “Well. I should be going. I need to chase one last lead on Soutri.”

“Best of luck, your Eminence,” Arisa says demurely. “Farewell.”


[END OF THREAD]

FOR THE FAITHFUL: I will NOT be playing until the week after next at the earliest, thanks to events. My twitter feed (see OP) will keep people updated in case that changes.

>>33527144
Thanks for running! Will faithfully wait.