Riddle78
Four Thousand Club
Three months ago...
Somewhere under Bockrath...
A man wearing a pure white coat over a similar shirt and trousers led a middle aged man,wearing a Distinguished Environment Uniform. The middle aged man's uniform was matte black,with polished black parade boots. His double breasted jacket bore row upon row of ribbons and medals on the left side,with the epaulettes bearing five diamonds,as did the front of his peaked cap,which was also black. The soldier said, "You had better have a good reason for bringing me here,doctor." His voice was hard. The man was walking authority.
The doctor,who also wore armless glasses,nodded,and said, "Of course,General. This reason is the best of them all: Results." The general was intrigued. "It taken three months to get them,doctor. My peers were getting worried." The scientist nodded. "Such is to be expected. But you're different. You understand that things take time. That's why you're the only one with full knowledge." The general nodded grimly. He knew all too well. He was the only general who saw that sometimes,you just have to wait.
The scientist led the general to a bank of monitors,and pointed,quite redundantly,at the only one that was turned on. "Success." The monitor displayed a man and a woman in a cell,both dead,with dried blood covering their entire bodies. "Were autopsies performed?" The scientist shook his head. "No need. We know exactly what the cause was. We had them under observation 30/7."
The general was silent for a moment. "Are they contagious?" The scientist nodded,and said, "Only if you possess the Spark." The general replied immediately, "Take me to them." The scientist nodded,and gestured towards an airlock door. "Right this way." The scientist led the general down a sterile white hallway,with doors and one way glass windows lining the left side of the hall. The cells were empty. All except one at the very end. "Open it." The scientist obeyed,keying in a complicated fifteen character passcode on an alphanumeric keypad. When the door wooshed open,they were immediately greeted with the smell of lilacs. "An air freshener?" The scientist smiled,shook his head,and replied, "A symptom,and the vector." The general smiled a toothy smile,revealing slightly yellowed teeth. "Put it into production." With that,he left the lab.
Tower of the Archmagi,Almaz
A circular table in a gloriously lit room was occupied by seven robed individuals. Their robes were all of different colours,and their sole pauldron bore unique crests. The table was made of a single crystal,with a septagram cut into the top,inlaid with gold,silver,and platinum. One of the assembled archmagi,wearing an ash black robe,whose pauldron bore a crimson ouroborous,spoke. "I believe my department can help. Our members are unfettered by law and regulation. They could easily locate and acquire the required materials." His conversation partner,wearing a royal purple robe,whose pauldron bore the sigil of a septagram marked anvil. "It'll take too long,Grand Inquisitor. We need the materials within the next three quarters." The Grand Inquisitor nodded,then said, "My point still stands,High Enchantress. My agents can help." The High Enchantress nodded. Another archmage,this one wearing a golden robe,whose pauldron bore a septagram of staves,spoke. "Mayhap... Mayhap we could all assist. My department perfected a protection spell of appropriate magnitude." The assembled archmagi nodded in unison. The Grand Inquisitor spoke up. "My agents will not be told the nature of their orders. This should keep our designs afloat should they be captured and interrogated." With that,an archmage wearing a platinum robe stood,and said, "Very well. Our course of action is determined." He traced a septagram in the air,an action the assembled archmagi mimicked. "May magic guide us. May magic bind us. May magic empower us. May magic deliver us."
Now
A man sat at a cafe in Fisherman's Horizon. He wore a black waistcoat and black formal trousers. Hanging from his neck was a grand pendant,inset within was an enormous opal. The braided gold cable which held the pendant to the man's neck was pinned to his body by a pair of thick,leather straps. These straps held a scabbard to the right side of his collarbone,which held a knife. The exposed hilt was plated,or perhaps made of,gold,and the grip was wrapped in sharkskin.
However,what made this man stand out truly was what he wore beneath the waistcoat and trousers. He was bandaged,head to toe,in white gauze bandages. Only his eyes and fingertips were visible,the flesh around them seared,scorched and charred,looking like long overcooked steak. Steel clips held his bandages taut at several places,one of them being at his right cheek.
Currently,the bandaged man perused a menu,pondering the contents with great thought. Finally,he made his choice,and set the menu down. When the waiter came by,the man made his order. "A bowl of cheese and onion soup,please. One large baguette slice as a crouton,please. I'd like Almaz spring water to drink." The waiter nodded,then scurried off. The bandaged man's voice was a low growl,but he wasn't trying to be threatening or intimidating. A side effect,I suppose...
He withdrew a pocket watch from his breast pocket. It was steel,and had an oily sheen. It was galvanized steel. The faceplate bore a septagram,with an ouroborous in the center. He opened the watch,and the time was 15:00. Midday. He closed the watch,and began to trace the septagram with his thumb,and muttered, "Vox Inquisitor Estus." His watch began to grow warm,and vibrate. On the other end,the specified watch began to do the same.
Elsewhere...
Letters arrived at the homes or into the hands of many individuals,all bidding them to come to Fisherman's Horizon,either by rail or airship. They have been selected to participate in an event of great political significance,and escorts will await them at the arrivals terminals.
Somewhere under Bockrath...
A man wearing a pure white coat over a similar shirt and trousers led a middle aged man,wearing a Distinguished Environment Uniform. The middle aged man's uniform was matte black,with polished black parade boots. His double breasted jacket bore row upon row of ribbons and medals on the left side,with the epaulettes bearing five diamonds,as did the front of his peaked cap,which was also black. The soldier said, "You had better have a good reason for bringing me here,doctor." His voice was hard. The man was walking authority.
The doctor,who also wore armless glasses,nodded,and said, "Of course,General. This reason is the best of them all: Results." The general was intrigued. "It taken three months to get them,doctor. My peers were getting worried." The scientist nodded. "Such is to be expected. But you're different. You understand that things take time. That's why you're the only one with full knowledge." The general nodded grimly. He knew all too well. He was the only general who saw that sometimes,you just have to wait.
The scientist led the general to a bank of monitors,and pointed,quite redundantly,at the only one that was turned on. "Success." The monitor displayed a man and a woman in a cell,both dead,with dried blood covering their entire bodies. "Were autopsies performed?" The scientist shook his head. "No need. We know exactly what the cause was. We had them under observation 30/7."
The general was silent for a moment. "Are they contagious?" The scientist nodded,and said, "Only if you possess the Spark." The general replied immediately, "Take me to them." The scientist nodded,and gestured towards an airlock door. "Right this way." The scientist led the general down a sterile white hallway,with doors and one way glass windows lining the left side of the hall. The cells were empty. All except one at the very end. "Open it." The scientist obeyed,keying in a complicated fifteen character passcode on an alphanumeric keypad. When the door wooshed open,they were immediately greeted with the smell of lilacs. "An air freshener?" The scientist smiled,shook his head,and replied, "A symptom,and the vector." The general smiled a toothy smile,revealing slightly yellowed teeth. "Put it into production." With that,he left the lab.
Tower of the Archmagi,Almaz
A circular table in a gloriously lit room was occupied by seven robed individuals. Their robes were all of different colours,and their sole pauldron bore unique crests. The table was made of a single crystal,with a septagram cut into the top,inlaid with gold,silver,and platinum. One of the assembled archmagi,wearing an ash black robe,whose pauldron bore a crimson ouroborous,spoke. "I believe my department can help. Our members are unfettered by law and regulation. They could easily locate and acquire the required materials." His conversation partner,wearing a royal purple robe,whose pauldron bore the sigil of a septagram marked anvil. "It'll take too long,Grand Inquisitor. We need the materials within the next three quarters." The Grand Inquisitor nodded,then said, "My point still stands,High Enchantress. My agents can help." The High Enchantress nodded. Another archmage,this one wearing a golden robe,whose pauldron bore a septagram of staves,spoke. "Mayhap... Mayhap we could all assist. My department perfected a protection spell of appropriate magnitude." The assembled archmagi nodded in unison. The Grand Inquisitor spoke up. "My agents will not be told the nature of their orders. This should keep our designs afloat should they be captured and interrogated." With that,an archmage wearing a platinum robe stood,and said, "Very well. Our course of action is determined." He traced a septagram in the air,an action the assembled archmagi mimicked. "May magic guide us. May magic bind us. May magic empower us. May magic deliver us."
Now
A man sat at a cafe in Fisherman's Horizon. He wore a black waistcoat and black formal trousers. Hanging from his neck was a grand pendant,inset within was an enormous opal. The braided gold cable which held the pendant to the man's neck was pinned to his body by a pair of thick,leather straps. These straps held a scabbard to the right side of his collarbone,which held a knife. The exposed hilt was plated,or perhaps made of,gold,and the grip was wrapped in sharkskin.
However,what made this man stand out truly was what he wore beneath the waistcoat and trousers. He was bandaged,head to toe,in white gauze bandages. Only his eyes and fingertips were visible,the flesh around them seared,scorched and charred,looking like long overcooked steak. Steel clips held his bandages taut at several places,one of them being at his right cheek.
Currently,the bandaged man perused a menu,pondering the contents with great thought. Finally,he made his choice,and set the menu down. When the waiter came by,the man made his order. "A bowl of cheese and onion soup,please. One large baguette slice as a crouton,please. I'd like Almaz spring water to drink." The waiter nodded,then scurried off. The bandaged man's voice was a low growl,but he wasn't trying to be threatening or intimidating. A side effect,I suppose...
He withdrew a pocket watch from his breast pocket. It was steel,and had an oily sheen. It was galvanized steel. The faceplate bore a septagram,with an ouroborous in the center. He opened the watch,and the time was 15:00. Midday. He closed the watch,and began to trace the septagram with his thumb,and muttered, "Vox Inquisitor Estus." His watch began to grow warm,and vibrate. On the other end,the specified watch began to do the same.
Elsewhere...
Letters arrived at the homes or into the hands of many individuals,all bidding them to come to Fisherman's Horizon,either by rail or airship. They have been selected to participate in an event of great political significance,and escorts will await them at the arrivals terminals.