Anik headed over to the Hall of The Sun to finally get on with his meeting with Wyrn, though he suspected that the subject might change quite a bit.

Pitcarn

"Ah, yes," said the Fiefmaster. "I'm afraid this will cut our conversation short. You are to take the portal.." She waved a hand to the eastward door. "In that room. The Realm Savage can be tricky, and you have not yet fully composed your theological electrical fieldwork - or whatever the hell it is - so you should speak the name of where it is you need to go before you enter the portal. The name, of course, is, Logthsah. If you wish, I can brief you on the city-state before you leave. Though.. perhaps you are pressed for time?"

Anik

Anik was led below the Hall of the Sun, through the winding, darkened corridors, and finally was beckoned into the private office of Councilman Wyrn. The Councilman wore simple black silk and silver jewelry, and looked up at Anik with a smile.

"Ah," said Wyrn. "It is the Low Lord who has made such a splash. Please, please," he gestured towards a comfortable looking chair. "Sit down. What was it you needed to speak to me before? I must admit I am in a little bit of a hurry, so I would appreciate your candour."

<From valley of towers>

Ruse arrives here, and heads for Laharazed's inner office.

"As you know I will be involved in Valley Defense, and the Conclave is at a critical point in it's continuing history. As I have mentioned to Councleman Roid before. I wish to look into the option of claiming my old tower. This would be of course, in part, a conclave endeavor and any major technological discovers I find will be shared." He wondered what sort of answer he would get... he suspected Wyrn knew more about the towers than anyone else.

"It would cut our conversation short, Feifmaster, if divines were entirely bound by all laws of physics." Pitcarn replied.
"If you'll bear with me one moment, I'll be back and we can continue our conversation, or you can brief me on the realm. Whatever you prefer. Excuse me."

Pitcarn leaves the room, returning to the chapel he had vacated only moments ago. Stepping up to the gate, he calmed his nerves, announced "Logthsah" and stepped through. A moment later, he realised that he had stepped through while still holding the cup that Jonaht had passed to him.

Suddenly struck by inspiration, and more than a little madness, Pitcarn drew one of his vibroblades and checked that his oathblade was in a secure, yet easily accessible position around his neck. Mentally ensuring that his stave was safe, on his person in Bilbligh,  Pitcarn again stepped up to the Methodes Gate, but stepped back. He wouldn't use the gate for this. He composed his thoughts of what he knew of the place, and created a paradox in Tushmuthut without using the gate.

Adrenalin pumping, half afraid of what he'd done, he turned and walked out of the chapel, back to the Feifmaster.

He felt really bad about taking the Feifmaster's cup to the realm savage.

Pitcarn

(Oooh, naughty.)

Pitcarn felt his other presences disappear and enter deadlier, savager places. He returned to the Fiefmaster, who smiled pleasantly at him. She ignored the absence of the wine glass.

"So it is you who is to be waging war against Tushmuthut," she said, finally. "That takes.. some courage."

Anik

Wyrn's eyes narrowed slightly, but his smile did not waver. "Ah, of course," he said, slowly. "You consider yourself - and are in turn considered - to be the, however apocryphal the science on the subject might be, the reincarnation of Anik the Creator. The Tower, then, would be rightfully yours. I will be honest with you," he said. "I have accessed my own Tower, of the long-dead League of Wyrn, and it was filled with nothing but death and the unsolvable mysteries of a time long destroyed. Why do you wish access to this Tower? It is, I imagine, a scientific matter?"

Ruse

Ruse is shown through the labyrinth of corridors and twisting halls until he finds himself beckoned within the inner studies of Honored Councilman Lharazed, Sorcerer-King and the greatest Alkanite magician alive. His hair shows shimmers of red on ancient grey, and he ironically sports neither a beard nor a staff. His torso is bare - he is covered with a plethora of black-inked, esoteric tattoos - and his physique is that of a young warrior. Hios pants are the grey of the Inner Circle. The magic keeps him youthful. His eyes are old, star-specked blue. He is poring over a red-bound text on his desk, written in the strangest pictographs, though he looks up as Ruse enters.

"High Lord, yes," he said. "If this is about the Urge.. I fully understand, and you have my sanction and full authorization. You may leave immediately via the Chapel of Methodes, though I fear you will need to stop by Lost Pnakotus in order to gain access to the Wind-Swept Realms. My apologies in advance," he grimaced, "If I seem abrupt, but I do not expect you to live through this mission. It is madness. Fire with fire, eh? Nevertheless, you have been tasked, and.."

He stopped.

"You have been tasked, yes?"

Ruse shakes his head, and replies,

"Well...that is sort of correct, councilor. As you probably know, I am very closely connected as a special operative for Embalmer's Reach, which means part of my official duties are to tackle anything dealing with Osiria-Ra. I think that you and I can help one another though quite a bit, given your connection to all things Alkan. What I'm about to propose to you is highly sensitive, which is why I needed to see you in person."

Ruse then had a momentary fit of coughing, but after about 10 seconds regained composure.

"You see councilor, I am actually a dying man. Even now, my own magic seeks to undo me. I did actually head to Alkan to try and stop the chalybis attack. Unfortunately I was a moment too late and everything had come to pass - Chalybis was killed but the flood was unleashed. However, as I have an appreciation for magic like you do, as well as the tree of life, I tried to use my power to reinforce a mysterious ward that was the only thing holding the urge back entirely. It did work a bit, although in doing so i had to drop my guard and the urge entered into me in a way most profound. I thought I was a goner, but somehow my body adapted enough to survive, and instead I was able to escape Alkan. However, I contracted entropomagical poisoning as a result. It would seem that while the urge spared my life for the moment, that it would not let me go so easily. I made a sacrifice of my own health to buy Alkan some time."

He coughed again, and sighed,

"I have since learned that my poisoning is a form of magical cancer, but it is no ordinary cancer. It is less a true cancer and more like I'm being eaten slowly by spirits of the urge that are inside of me due to my high connection to magic - I'm a Grand Magus after all, so must be making for a fine meal indeed."

He looks at Laharazed whimsically, with a hint of opportunity in the twinkle of his eye.

"But this is where the interesting part comes in. Most individuals who are directly touched by the urge like I am are killed outright - the 100,000 deaths in Alkan should be proof of that. Man, sorcerer, and god alike usually cannot stand up to the urge's touch. However somehow I survived. This means that technically, I have one of the closest connections to the urge out of just about everyone there is. I am aware, due to my job duties, of a certain crown you have recently acquired. I know you wish to ultimately use it against Osiris-Ra, which is where I come into the picture. I know the crown is dangerous, and even someone as learned as yourself is risking much by using such a thing. I do not want you to die, councilor, so instead I volunteer myself to use the crown instead. It would be a sad day if you were to die - you are one of the more upright councilmen and your death would be a terrible loss to us all."

Ruse smiled, and added,

"You see, with me using the crown, not only would you not be at risk of death, but with my connection to the urge there is an increased chance of our success. If I fail, then I will die and you will still have the crown. If I succeed, I may be able to save Alkan while also assisting you against Osiris-Ra. Either way, you will survive as the risk will be on my head - literally."

"Feifmaster, you're too kind. The situation seems to be more complicated than to allow for simple courage. I will be attacking the strongest fastness of one of the Conclave's greatest foes, yes, but I will not do it alone, for I will have 200,000 men at my back, and another 200,000 fighting by my side.
"Yes, I face one of the deadliest generals of Osiris Ra; Sura of Desolace who almost destroyed the Hall of the Sun in an unprovoked attack, but he also showed his weakness as a coward first. Without declaration of hostilities, he placed his own life above the importance of his mission. I believe that should he be seriously threatened, he will chose to flee and allow Tushmuthut to fall instead of fighting to the death to protect his Lord and the city under his charge."

"Well I know for certain that a surplus of rare raw materials in my last life, a vision I had some time ago. And yes, accessing the tower would be in attempt to recover any lost technology. I would willing go with, and in fact prefer for my own protection, an accompanying detail from the conclave. Perhaps another High Lord you deem trustworthy and a Silver Shambler." Anik emphasize the trustworthy part. "As I suspect some things found would be better left in the past. This is a new age, and a new life for myself, and I don't intend to dig up old bones. But if you knew me... security would be one of my top priorities... and so some protection might be needed." Anik didn't trust Wyrn completely... but hoped the offer would gain his trust. Truth be told, Anik needed political allies if he was going to survive the tides of politics.

Pitcarn

"I see," said Jonaht. "And you are wise, to know the nature of monsters such as Sura. Are you sure that you can face him? He is known for his cruelty, his violence, the potency of his curses and his fates. He is a deeply cunning figure, General. Tread lightly. A coward follows no rules in combat, as you and I know."

Anik

"I see," said Wyrn. "Of course, if I allow you to access your Tower, it would have to be secret. Off the books. I can guarantee a lesser patrol about your Tower, and protect you against persecution, but until any amendments have been made.. hmmm. It is an interesting case. Provided you share anything you find with the Conclave," he said, "And, while I trust you, I will need your Oath on that - you can access it freely."

Ruse

"Of course, of course," said Lharazed. "I know of your knowledge in regards to the Crown, and I understand your predicament. My own theories regarding the subject of your entropomagical poisoning differ, however. I believe that you were poisoned and not killed because by the time you arrived in Alkan the Flood was already leveling, neutralizing to a point, while those caught in the Fort Seal tragedy had it crash upon them. I do not believe that it was originally a matter of choice on the Urge's part.. and yet, strangely enough.."

He lit a wooden pipe, smoked thoughtfully.

"I am the Sorcerer-King of Yggdrasil," said Lharazed. "Regardless of my politics, my machinations, my Oath and my allegiance to the Empire of the Conclave.. there is one object of my loyalties which will never waver and which will come first always. Magic itself. Yes, I have spoken to the Urge, and you have been mentioned.. despite being relatively neutral towards you in the beginning I believe that it has began to enjoy you. Regardless, it has spoken to me of your task, which I only now realize you have not been informed about. It will be .. dangerous. But the Urge believes that, against all odds, you alone," he smiled, "A God who has slipped the Oath of the Conclave utterly, who harbors illegal powers, who peddles in lies and disinformation can assist it in reclaiming the former glory once associated with the Urge."

He puffed thoughtfully.

"In return for this single service it offers two things. First is a complete cure for your malediction, and the ability to cure similar conditions in others. Second is .. it will allow you to walk the inner sanctum of Alkan. What that possibly means I cannot know, but it is an invitation only I have received. I can tell you the details of the mission now, or otherwise.. you have full permission to wear the Crown and find out yourself."

This was a dangerous game Ruse was playing - the urge probably tipped Laharazed off about the truth behind his capabilities. Yet, the man before him seem to take that knowledge with a grain of salt. Almost jovially - like a friendly old man inviting a youngster to sit and play a game of chess, or perhaps talk about the good old days. Really, truth be told, Ruse had a very odd relationship with the councilors indeed. Heck, at least 3 now know about his manipulation of the conclave, and yet decided to work with him rather than against him. Perhaps he was just simply that amusing to them. Yggdrasil knows at least Wyrn would think as much.

Ruse grinned, and without affirming or denying anything, simply replied,

"Ah, I would expect no less from the sorcerer king of the Alkanites. You are, my good sir, very well informed. Well-informed indeed."

His eyes twinkled whimsically as he continued,

"And of course the Urge would like me. I mean, come on now it's lately been getting a really good taste of me, if you catch my drift. Even now, it's giving me love-nibbles."

Almost as if on cue, but actually due to a magical cancer, Ruse coughed a bit and, after a good wheeze, regained composure.

"As a dying man, one must have a sense of humor in cases like this, lest you fall into despair. But as you can see, it is savoring me slowly. I must be succulent after all."

He grinned again, but became more serious.

"I hear what you're saying about the urge. I am basing my own theories about having a connection to it from the very fact that I've heard it speak to me before, above and beyond the fact that when I use my magic it becomes worse. Of course, it's only ever told me how much it wishes to eat me, but hey communication has got to start somewhere. Either way, as you say it is a most peculiar situation I find myself in. But if the Urge is willing to extend benefits to me, I am willing to reciprocate. Also, since I believe it is in both of our interests if I can build a stronger rapport with it as soon as possible, I will take you up on your invitation to put the crown on and speak to it directly."

"Will I need a Callisti or would on the Oathblade suffice?" Anik said, happy that they could come to an arrangement.

Pitcarn sighed.

"Sadly, Fiefmaster, you speak truely. His magic is something that I fear greatly; I have no knowledge of it myself. I have a plan in place that may mean that he is distracted from the main thrust. I intend for Sura to have to deal with an additional threat, one made directly to his person that will distract him from the combined attack by the legions."

Pitcarn

"Oh?" asked Jonaht, curious. "And what would that employ? Understand that I am simply curious; if you cannot tell me, do not feel bad. I am sure it will be common knowledge soon."

Anik


"Neither. You have already sworn on the Callisti, yes? Simply swear by the Callisti, and on the Conclave, that you will not renegade on our agreement," said Wyrn. "That will be enough."

Ruse

"Well-informed indeed," said Lharazed, smoking his pipe mysteriously. "Well, I thank you for your visit, High Lord, and I wish you the best of luck in your sacred mission. My prayers will be with you. But as I am very busy, and you have a Crown to wear.. I will see you again, later, perhaps," he said. "Goodbye, High Lord, and good luck."

Ruse grinned, and nodded his head in acknowledgment.

He turned to leave, but stopped and asked one more thing.

"Oh...um, by the way...where exactly is the crown located? You mentioned using the methodes gate to go somewhere, but the places you described are unfamiliar to me. Or do you have the crown here and the mission itself involves using the chapel?"

"The plan is still in its infancy. I would not wish to damage it, or make any guarantees, before I can be sure that there will be at least some point to it. I may have spoken too soon, in any case."

"I swear by the Callisti to share my findings with the conclave." Anik swore. "Thank your Wyrn, I shall go prepare for the journey, and leave you to your business." Anik bowed, gave his farewell and then left the office, and the hall of the sun entirely. He headed over to the market place.

Pitcarn

"My apologies," said the Fiefmaster. "How are you finding Fort Sah? It is pleasant, there, I find."

Anik

"Very well. Good day, High Lord," said Wyrn, going back to his own business.

Ruse

"It is currently held in the deepest vaults of the Babilu," said Lharazed. "Go to it now. When you find a Babilu official of sufficient rank, tell them I sent you, and if that does not work, speak the pass-code: Dezrahla. They will obey you."

Ruse gave him a curtsey, and replied,

"Ah, I see. I will get to it then. Thank you very much, councilor..."

His face lit up figuratively as he almost forgot something, and added,

"By the way councilor, I wanted to take this opportunity to ask if you would please pledge your political support for a new operation I am directing. Operation HIEROPHANT. I believe that the conclave has made an error in maintaining its current policy towards psychics - it is the result of an outdated and biased system that did not fully understand the phenomena. It's like saying that since mad gods are also adept at sorcery, that magic is somehow the tool of the old ones, which you and I both know is false as the urge - and thus magic itself - was birthed by the tree of life. But as for HIEROPHANT, it would be the psionic equivalent to Babilu for magic and Drachenorden for combat skill. We would have conclave-allied psychics as an elite arm of the conclave, just like Babilu's mages are prodigies and Drachenorden's warriors are fearsome on the field of battle. Incidentially, it would also be the strongest asset we have to fight against mad forces and cultists, but just as Babilu occasionally reinforces normal troops and missions, HIEROPHANT would too."

"As for the credibility of this operation, we are currently in our first project phase and raising funds. I acquired a highly talented high lord to be a finance manager - we already have a small but renewable budget and are currently working on increasing the operation's investment portfolio to make it self-sustaining. Already, two councilmen support it (Roid and Wyrn) and a high lord from Babilu thinks it is a good idea (although I need to meet with Crowley still to get its official support).

"Any councilors who pledge support will - I guarantee - get access to at least 1 actual HIEROPHANT psychic per year to be used in their operations or however they'd like REGARDLESS of anything else. In actuality, I pledge 1/5 of my personnel across all categories besides high lord to the conclave directly, to be shared among all councilmen who pledge to the operation. The math projects this to be about 29 or 30 people that will be devoted full-time to councilmen. Each councilor who pledges is guaranteed at least 1 psychic, and there will be a competitve process where councilors can jocky for more positions by essentially "bidding" on them, and favors and concessions are viable barter at the application phase, not just conclave stones."

"I believe that this operation would be a huge boon to one such as yourself, especially if we get psychics working together in teams with Babilu."

"Nothing to apologise for, Fiefmaster. Yours is a military mind, I would be surprised if you didn't ask. Your interest is also appreciated.

"Fort Sah, what little I have seen so far, has captivated me. I feel more alive there; it is as if Perigo, my initial talks with Highlord Ruse, the plotting and scheming that is Conclave politics, has just been washed away. Even in the assault on Tushmuthut, I may not leave the Realm Savage, and simply maintain my presence there while the attack progresses."

Pitcarn

"Ah, yes," smiled Jonaht. It was obvious this answer pleased her immensely. "I worked as a Priest of Methodes for much of my career, adn the place has a hauntingly beautiful feel to it. And the Realm Savage never grows boring, or overly complicated.. everything is as slow as you need it to be and as fast as you'd like it. I was born in the ruins of Sah, you see, and.." She smiled. "It is my Fief. I am, however, not in charge of the Fort - not at all."

She glanced at Pitcarn and there was wonder in her eyes.

"And yet.. it is a deadly place. Do not allow your guard to fall, Pitcarn. The fiend-squids of the undersea would be the least of your worries, in that deadly place." She examined him. "Would you care for another wine?"

Ruse

"I..." Lharazed's face fell, and he grimaced. "Forgive me, High Lord, but I can only assume that you are ignorant as to my role in Conclave legislation. I, along with several others - none of which are still Councilmen, mind - created the laws that made psychic use illegal." He tried to sum up a smile; Ruse saw that he obviously felt some guilt at his own past. "It was a mistake, I will admit, but I cannot abolish the law - it would be an act of weakness that could destroy me," he sighed.

"That is not to say I won't pledge support. I support your endeavors - I have woken up since then, let me tell you," he said. "But.. firstly, you would have to overturn my misinformed, bigoted little law. But I do not suggest that you even think about that, or about Operation HIEROPHANT, until you go to Babilu and seek out the Crown of the Forge."

Lharazed smiled sadly.

"You might find that what you see of the Urge might change your plans entirely, High Lord," he said.

Ruse merely looked on unemotionally, although inside he was disappointed but as expected, he controlled his reaction with the poker face of a true expert liar. He wasn't expecting a Sorcerer - whose powers were themselves also associated with the mad gods - would be the one to help make such a law. Yet, on the plus side the man did support Ruse's endeavor in the present, despite what the man did in the past.

Basically, he was still a definite potential supporter of the operation, but Ruse would have to work on it a bit more. He would go hear the urge out first though.

"Well councilor, that is most interesting indeed. I would like to say that creating this operation would be, in a sense, a form of overturning the law. Psychics would have to register with us, but potent magic users already do that with Babilu with no other discrimination or repercussion. It is a move in the right direction, and politically since Wyrn supports it, it also nominally had the emperor's support too - which would make any councilman's support legitimate and hardly weak."

Ruse gave a curtsy, and added,

"But as you wish, I'll not proposition you again until after hearing out the urge. I do kindly ask that until then, you at least "chew the fat" on the matter. Even if you originally made the law, after all you do have a valid excuse of there not being a set system in place like HIEROPHANT would be, which would at least partially justify a guarded approach to psionics. I guess what I mean is there are ways around looking weak - but again, just stew on it for now. I do thank you for hearing me out, councilor, and I do hope we can talk again about both psionics and magic in the future. I am off to Babilu - wish me luck."

Ruse ended with a bow of his head, and departed in a stream of mist.

Ruse headed to the meeting area where Pitcarn supposedly was waiting.

"I shall not allow it, Fiefmaster. I have no desire to become victim to the dangers there.

"I would highly appreciate another wine. The effects of that last draught were amazing, and I feel that another would do me good, thankyou."

Pitcarn and Ruse in the Chapel of Methodes

"Of course, General," said Jonaht. "Tushmuthut is the deadliest of places.."

Both of them felt a presence in the otherwise empty antechamber. Ruse became present.

"High Lord Secretary," said the Fiefmaster. "It is always a pleasure. I imagine you have met our brave General, Pitcarn?"

Ruse appears and materializes, his image walking forward confidently.

"Ah Feifmaster, how nice to see you. I am indeed familiar with Pitcarn - he is my direct subordinate, although I allow him to conduct his own machinations unless I or the conclave need anything from him. Oh, and speaking of machinations..."

Ruse snapped his fingers, and a Callisti orb appeared at his side. He looked at Pitcarn, and said,

"Low Lord Pitcarn, you are required to take a callisti oath in order to retain your low lord status. Due to the...distasteful results of the Apotheosis circle interfering with Gumbra and all that, you were made a low lord in a rushed manner without the callisti process. However, I have been asked to rectify this by the conclave. Do know that you can refuse to take the oath, but that if you do I will be forced to demote you back to an associate. Are you prepared to swear the oath, Pitcarn?"