audio | user name: raven master

[pulvisetumbra]

( White sound, fragments of murmurs. Two men and a woman drowned by the tinny crescendo of a strained musical instrument. The music rises shrill and shrill, until it nearly deafens — then all is inexplicably quiet. At last, a man’s voice: )

...good afternoon. Following your... discoveries in Serthica, it appeared only prudent to reinforce every measure that protects our conversations. Our discretion is your survival.

You speak to the Merchant. We number a wealth of new... associates. I bid you welcome. Know this: whatever trials await you in your travels, they are as nothing before the ruthless undead enslavement the warlords would have intended you.

( A pause, then carefully: ) You are in Serthica. My initial recommendation was for you all to investigate which of the citadel’s halves houses undead and unnatural creatures. Since, Karsa has relayed the results of your efforts.

If I follow well, then you have unveiled the Remembrance insurgent group whose mannequins gain human likeness. I hope we have not chosen to bring home cursed dolls. ( His gritting teeth suggest otherwise. ) You have found that the old sickness that once splintered Serthica remains... alive. To that end, I salute the sacrifice of Master McCoy. We shall aim to recover your health, sir. And there is the matter of dragons, some living, some... troubled.

( A long, deep sigh rip from him. ) I fear Eidris and Minaras may have both been compromised. I first urged you to keep your head bowed and await the yearly opening of Serthica’s Neutral Zone beacon. We can no longer afford this passiveness. We must know what we protect against and how deeply the rot of Serthica runs.

The great Neutral Zone clock of Vassarizhia is the old heart of Serthica. Its beats regulate the rise and fall of Eidris and Minaras. Before the sundering, it was Serthica’s foremost watchtower, with vantage across the citadel whole. Karsa toils to finalise magical instruments that will allow us to forcibly but briefly reveal the state of this world, if you can reach the topmost levels of Vassarizhia and its enhanced telescope and watch monitors. I understand security will ease within the week, when Eidris and Serthica hold further summits.

( And now, a sprawling silence: ) As for the... white wanderer. I thank the consummate professionalism of Master Constantine and Mistress Pitts in delivering the uniforms of Ellethia. I understand one such garment was worn by the man who visited you during the Unwinding. The same intruder who haunted Ke-Waihu.

Let us be candid. I believe we speak of a former member of the institute of technology and magic of Ellethia, where the undead first surfaced. If this is correct, I can only recommend caution. I cannot say if the white wanderer is friend or foe. I know my preference.

Irrespective of this: onwards, upwards. To Vassarizhia. I leave this with you.

( ooc: threadjack away! You will get further details on the tower infiltration and our Halloween event mid-week for your plotting purposes. )

Comments

[littlemimic]

Guess we won't know for certain until we put it to the test. [ Not that she's about to run off to do that before they're ready. They'll lose the element of surprise if they move too soon. ]

Have any intelligence on individuals that might have clearance up there and if they ever make an appearance in public places?

[pulvisetumbra]

Speak plainly. What are your requirements?

[littlemimic]

[ Plainly. ] A guard, janitor, a fix-it worker, whoever the fuck goes up there that could give us the means to walk right in with the right incentive. You said there were telescopes and watch monitors up there, that usually means that someone is up there working.

[pulvisetumbra]

A sound thing for you to learn.

[littlemimic]

Great, thanks. I suppose everyone has multiple duties around these parts. Since you've got an eye for fashion, how about pointing a lady in the direction of some more local uniforms.

[pulvisetumbra]

I've spent enough on securing all of your passports. If you are bereft a wardrobe, kindly resolve your conundrum, and do not incriminate me in the process.

[littlemimic]

Wow, calm down, mate. It was a simple request, you could have just said "no can do" and we'd be done with that. Someone got your knickers in a twist?

[pulvisetumbra]

I assure you: this is my good humour.

[littlemimic]

I'd hate to find out what your bad humour is like. So I guess I've got you to thank for my new job.

[ It's not sarcastic or bitter, she feels it could have been a lot worse than sad music tuner. ]

[pulvisetumbra]

You dislike it.

[littlemimic]

It could be a lot worse. I'd rather be playing than tuning, but I'll probably get to test some of them this way.

[ Never piss off the guy who assigns the jobs. ]

Honestly, I'm more curious about how you pick jobs for people you haven't really met yet. Just assign one and hope it's a good fit, or do you get some kind of intel that helps you decide?

[pulvisetumbra]

Hardly. Your passport papers are forged, typically to match citadel records of individuals of passably similar build and likeness. I'm afraid you're stuck with the luck of your draw.

[littlemimic]

Sounds like a shite ton of work, so it's appreciated you put yourself through all that for us. You ever need any more favors done in the future, I'll give you a hand.

[ Truthfully, he reminds her a little of Herb, though less skittish. ]

[pulvisetumbra]

Thank you. I am not indifferent to the fact that this is not a situation any of us has desired ourselves in. I appreciate it is difficult to envision, but please trust that we have had some success in delivering many of your fellow arrivals to their home worlds.

We shall persevere.

[littlemimic]

It's the same thing with the job, "it could be a lot worse". We've got enough wiggle room to make it better or fight for what we want most, that's enough for me. Only difference is that eventually, we get to go home and all of you are stuck here.

I'm no bleeding heart ready to solve all the problems here, but since I am here and you lot are helping me, then it's only fair that I do something in return. [ Lila's no hero, but doing better... she's ready for that. ]

[pulvisetumbra]

A credit to your character. Thank you.

[littlemimic]

Yeah, sure.

[ "A credit to her character". Is that what he thinks? ]

audio | un: manic marbles

[saintclaire]

[Kim speaks firmly.]

My job might be able to get me somewhere on that. No promises, but I'll ask around.

[littlemimic]

[ Thanks mystery speaker. ]

I'd appreciate any help you can give. I'll look into other ways in case that doesn't pan out.