un: ut malum pluvia | audio

[somebadnews]

[ Five has, maybe predictably, not yet shared the information he overheard when he and a few others followed Sairen some days ago to his secret gambling arena. When he decides to in the middle of the night, it really sounds like he's just postulating out loud while he's pacing around a room, because... that's exactly what he's doing at two in the morning. ]

What do we know about the Beastmaster? The village has ties to him, and the Hok-Shinn's offering didn't satisfy him the last time he came. How often does he come, and what were they offering? I'd assume either bodies or weapons, but they seemed purposely vague about it.

Then there's that chemical that the clan controls to make the land fertile enough to grow on. Supposedly they withhold it from farmers who rebel against them, but where does it come from and where do they keep it? Without it they wouldn't have the same hold over their people. And who is the white wanderer that gave it to them the first time? Is that related to their deal with the warlord, or is it something we can exploit?

[ He just says these things like they're already public knowledge. Be useful and fill in the gaps for him, he'll appreciate it. — The next part comes out more direct, because he's really getting sick of spilling hot drinks on himself whenever a pair of gossiping ghosts wander through the wall. (He gets it, Klaus. They might have driven him to drugs too.) ]

Also, I need to borrow an exorcist. If one of you knows how to dispel ghosts, we've got two who don't know how to mind their own business.

[ He's absolutely looking directly at them when he says this. Take a hint, ladies. ]

Comments

un: ut malum pluvia | text

[somebadnews]

[ That would make sense, but he still wants to know what that transaction is. He can't be interested in their crops, so what does he want?

Weisi might be next on his list. ]

Any idea where they are on that schedule?

[blackscales]

Soon. Typically, children disappear weeks before the Beastmaster appears.

Children have already gone missing.

This is unlikely to be a coincidence.

[somebadnews]

[ ...That's not what he thought their offer would be. What good would a child do? ]

I don't remember him going after children before. Are they sacrificing them?

[blackscales]

Under investigation.

[somebadnews]

I'm assuming by you. It shouldn't be too hard to find out if they go missing and never return.

How many?

[blackscales]

Not returning doesn't always mean dead. The detail is important.

Three so far.

[somebadnews]

[ ...He really doesn't know who he's talking to. ]

How did you get involved? Were the families looking?

[blackscales]

The families appear to have accepted the children will not return, as they have not before. I've been investigating regardless. Blame is currently being cast on some naga-like creature who is in the area, but nobody has actually seen her take a child. I'm hoping she'll know something -- either because she knows who is taking the children, or because it is her and she works for the village patron.

[somebadnews]

[ It's possible. It's also possible that saving a few children might only speed up the Beastmaster's arrival. ]

And if she does work for him, what's your plan?

[blackscales]

Make her talk.

[somebadnews]

You don't think that will get back to him?

[blackscales]

Several options.

One, she attacks us and escapes. We learn nothing.
Two, we interrogate her, she escapes. He's on his way anyway, but now annoyed he lost a pet.
Three, we interrogate her, we kill her. She doesn't report in, but he doesn't know why.
Four, she has some mental link -- a variation on the previous two. She informs him but we're not as aware the warning has gone out.

I'd prefer to risk learning something rather than waiting around for the patron to turn up and recognise us.

After all, she may not work for him and we'll not learn where she fits in this puzzle without addressing her.

[somebadnews]

[ Five isn't against killing her on principle, but that's one hell of a risk they're taking. The consequences of getting rid of an ally might be more disproportionate than he realizes. ]

Were you around the last time he invaded?

[blackscales]

Yes.

[somebadnews]

[ He could go on, but... he had his own part in what happened at Taravast, and he'd rather not highlight it more than that. ]

Just wondering if you knew what was at stake. I'm sure we'll all hear how it goes.

[blackscales]

Any useful results will be shared.

[somebadnews]

[ At least he's got a warning this time. ]

I can hardly wait.