magicaddict | Another Step Forward... (Reply)

I told them, not really knowing what to expect. In turn, some of their reactions were surprising.

TS Darius was the most unsual in his response. He considered what I had said for a moment, and then responded that he required people who could think, and that he was always on the lookout for ones who want to puzzle out solutions to problems without resorting to violence. I am not certain where he got the idea that what I used to do with my life made me an erudite thinker, but I will do my very best to be worthy of the attention.

He tasked me with making sure Orthae did not go into a ritual on Sunday morning that would likely cost him his life. I was sucessful, but largely due to the actions of others and I am not sure if I have endeared myself or not. I cannot believe that Brand's motivations are benign, and considering what I hear of his last public venture in a circle, I would be willing to believe that anyone doing into one with him would be in grave danger for their life. Brand plans to carry out his ritual at the next gathering in Fir Cruthen lands, but given that he got off a murder charge by defeating their judicial champion in a trial by combat, I can't imagine they will be well disposed towards his trying. My assignment continues.

OS Franchesca appeared to be uncertain what to do with the information, which may stand to reason as it was of the least use to her. She spoke nebulously of triage, though we didn't get much of a chance to use it, so it may be that she simply needs me to show rather than tell so she knows how to best fit me into her plans. Some of the other corporealists have an extremely lax attitude to important issues, however - I do not question their experience or ability, but what is their motivation for such a lack of attention to detail? Such things get people killed, and it's rarely them.

ZS Rosalind responded with a level of understanding, and spoke of incorporating me into her ventures. She seems assured but distracted at the moment, possibly due to her relationship with Orthae and the stress it is putting them both under. Their relationship appears to be at the 'complicated' stage - time will tell if they are close enough to survive it. In any event, I hope that the pressure she is under is the reason for the penchant for the scouts to spend their time attacking the TS with live blades. I have no earthly idea why they would want to do him genuine injury, and him respond in kind, when there are plenty of enemies out in the wilderness just gagging to do so for us. If it were training, it would involve noninvasive, nonviolent methods of one-upmanship. What they do is ridiculous.

Still, they same to be amused by it. I only wish I could rationalise the use of power that could be put to so much better use against someone who actually means us harm, and Maiden above, there are enough of those.

I travelled out on an operation with her and others once. Several of the camp had gone missing, including their treasurer, a goblin named Jangles who was known and respected about the factions. She was tracked to the ritual circle, but no further, and it was only when a second operaton went out later than her body was found. Probably having no idea who she was or what she represented, she had been the target of opportunistic brigands, and they didn't even take her money.

Other nations, notably the Lions and the Hei Raveni, seemed far more invested in finding her than our own people, which came as an unpleasant shock. I had thought that with all shapes, colours and and sizes of individuals among their warhost, such racism wouldn't be prevalent in Teutonia. It turns out I was wrong, and indeed conversations with the Lions (of all people) proved them a lot more tolerant of other cultures than those in our own warhost. I had been led to believe, before coming here, that the Lions were narrow minded and prejudiced; nothing could be further from the truth - I was able to spend time debating theology with their priests. I truly wish such an attitude could be shown everywhere, for there was hatred enough for everyone among the massed peoples.

Most of the peoples present blame Orthae for his part in the weekend's events, believing that giving Brand's amulet back to him was a foolish mistake. The Fir Cruthen were seen to send an assassin after him, the Wolves all but want his head, and the Algaia...well, they've taken to giving me a slow count of ten to leave their presence whenever I happen upon them. I seriously doubt that even such a dubious luxury would be afforded him.

I hope that the leaders of the nations will be able to see the potential benefit in Orthae's actions (I would dearly love for him to have been aware of this, but I fear otherwise) before it is too late. With the amulet in Brand's hands, it may direct the attentions of the lords of fire and earth against an altogether more powerful target. Perhaps all the enemies surrounding it (for I do not doubt Brand is one of these) can be made to fight each other for it, and such enemies are so much easier to mop up later when they've all but destroyed themselves.

It may have been a protective instinct, then, that led the foreign minister, Bowr'aan, to increase the security of the drow in the camp by making them all official diplomats, therefore granting them immunity of office. Such practices are made judicious use of down below, but I never thought they would be necessary up here. Boasting the majority of greater corporealists in the assemblage, we managed to be in the right place at the right time to help the Lions in return for their attempts to find Jangles, which was most appreciated on all sides. It also seems that I have become the official scribe to the diplomatic corps, who are called the Queen's Wordbearers (due to the Queen taking the lead in diplomatic issues while her brother acts as the national TS). I commence to write a report on the machinations of the weekend for the eyes of the Queen of Teutonia, and I have only been here for a handful of weeks. I can only hope my grasp of the common tongue is up to it.

I may be finding something resembling a place among the warhost of this nation, just as Lady Maegera said I would. Perhaps my suggestion was more sensible than I could have fathomed at the time, or perhaps it was her acceptance that demonstrated the wisdom of the piece. In any event, I go to the next gathering with a public job, a private one, and possibly more in the offing if I am successful.

I must never forget how lucky I am to have such opportunities, and to make the very best of them when and where I can.