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

[bravelyrunsaway]

( a sort of snorting scoff, and you can guess what he thinks of that; minimally, he finds the merchant's statements amusing. )

What a mind wonders would paint irresitible to you.

Yes, and. Did your Karsa relay word sent along by Cain?

[pulvisetumbra]

The boy-soldier. Yes. You believe he spoke sincerely?

[bravelyrunsaway]

I believe he spoke in loneliness. I believe his means of tracking us down were spoken plainly. And I believe there were results made plain to his searching. Have you asked the four who went?

[pulvisetumbra]

Yes, and how else should I waste my time? If you have something to say, by all means, speak it.

[bravelyrunsaway]

Seen through a dragon's eye, the disease that killed years past. The dragons are dead and made to act and seem living. Magnus knows. Those who traveled with him know.

[pulvisetumbra]

...tell your man Magnus to take that creature's eye to the tower.

[bravelyrunsaway]

In what nonsense world would we not?

[pulvisetumbra]

Forgive me if I do not suspect you of great wisdom.

[bravelyrunsaway]

"Here's an eye that sees true forms, let's not bring it to a dangerous tower in a citadel where we cant tell what's true or not?" Wisdom has nothing to do with crippling stupidity.

[pulvisetumbra]

Less wit, more ocular delivery.

[bravelyrunsaway]

You are a greedy one, aren't you?

Tell Magnus. You're imposing sounding enough, I'm sure he'd enjoy the experience.

[pulvisetumbra]

I've tired of fools and games. Do not tell him, then. I could not be more indifferent. Good day, sir.