Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-7262318-20170119203012/@comment-7262318-20170122151956

“Even after all these years, you two still know how to come in extremely late.”

General Kasio Ancel stood underneath the massive doors to the White-Gold Towers, watching with careful eyes as Dalacon and Hafnir walked towards him. “Report on Fort Dusk,”

“Goriyn was there. But it was just another one of his games. We rescued what prisoners we could and got out of there. He escaped.”

Kasio’s lip tightened. It obviously wasn’t the answer that he wanted to hear. “I suppose it was too much to hope that you would come back with his head in hand,” he sighed wearily. “Two years chasing this guy and we finally get a lead, and… we did nothing with it.”

“Not necessarily, General,” Dalacon shook his head, holding up the vial of black blood. “We have a lead.”

Kasio instantly recognized what was in Dalacon’s hands. He had spent much time effectively wiping out every ounce of the vile creation. Watching over their alchemists meticulously eliminate it, picking it apart and reducing it’s power over the course of hours upon hours, days upon days.

“How on Nirn did you-“

“Goriyn had it, Kass,” Dalacon cut him off.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;">Kasio’s eyes widened in horror. “What?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;">“It seems, despite your best efforts, you weren’t able to wipe out everything.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;">Kasio snatched the vial out of Dalacon’s hands, glaring at it closely. “By the Eight…”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;">“Yes, by the Eight,” Dalacon said. “So what I wonder is, how did Goriyn manage to get his hands on this if you supposedly destroyed all of my notes and removed all of the substance from the face of the planet. And allow me to follow that up with a question, how thorough was your search in my laboratory?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;">Kasio looked up at the Breton. “What are you implying?

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;">“I’m implying, General, that the only place could have gotten any knowledge on this matter was from my lab. A lab that, need I remind you, only a select few of Imperial Soldiers know about.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;">The General raised his head, a frown etching itself of his face. “You think that we have a spy?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;">“I think that someone has had access to my labs, and has given the formula over to Goriyn.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;">Kasio nodded his head, understanding now where Dalacon was going. “And so if we locate this spy… we have a lead on Goriyn, and his plans.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;">“I hope so. But in order to find a name, you will have to give us access to our Lab and allow us to launch an investigation.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;">“We haven’t sent anyone down there in years…” Kasio said.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;">“I know. I had a little visit there recently, saw there was a damn riddle enchantment on the door. Just give me the answer.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;">Kasio sighed. “The phrase is Talos.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;">“Hmph,” Dalacon chuckled. “How traitorous of you.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;">“Indeed.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;">“Dalacon, go wait by the entrance. I’ll be there soon,” Hafnir said. Dalacon nodded and went off.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;">“I still don’t trust him, you know,” Kasio confided in Hafnir as the Breton left.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;">“Nobody does,” Hafnir said. “You trust me though, do you not, General?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;">“Of course.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;">“Then I ask for you to trust me with my next proposition.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;">“Oh?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;">Hafnir turned back to him once Dalacon was out of sight. “At Fort Dusk, I rescued a group of soldiers and mercenaries. And I assure you, very capable fighters. They helped fight through a horde of Goriyns men, and they got us that vial there.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;">Kasio’s eyes narrowed at Hafnir. “Vacenus won’t allow this.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;">“Then we don’t tell him.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;">“Assuming that these mercenaries will need money and supplies, he’ll have to be notified, Legate.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;">Hafnir shut his eyes and sighed. “Then we convince him.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;">“Legate-“

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;">“General.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;">They both remained silent, looking each other in the eye. “I need troops to fight a rebellion, General. And seeing as how we are stretched too thin right now, these mercenaries… they’re our best bet.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;">“I won’t argue with you on that,” Kasio said. “Go and conduct your investigation. I’ll go to the Council. As soon as you’re done, come back here, and we’ll face Macenus together.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;">Hafnir nodded. “Thank you,” he said, and headed off to the Arena district.