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[Swordstar]

A few hours later, the group was summoned into the throne room they had so recently defeated assassins in. Upon arriving, they found the King sitting with a few people around him. He waved them in.

"Welcome. It appears that the Council was as interested in the situation as I am. This is an emissary from the Council. He has already explained to me some of the decisions that have been made and I am satisfied with his reasoning. As such, I will allow you all to continue on your mission. The Council apparently needs a few of you back at the city, but they have sent others in their place. I also believe that there is a letter from your leader, and the emissary will answer any questions you might have."

Belenus, Bomrek, and Miki may now post

[Blade Master Model 42]

Kaltsar made his way to the emissary, and held out his hand. "I would see this letter immediately."

[Solymr]

Edgar did a short bow of appreciation and turned to the Emissary.

: Mr Emissary, can we get a general explanation too? After the letter, of course.

[CrimsonEon]

Kaldach crossed his arms, irritatedly adding onto Edgar's question.
: "Yeah. If we're being all chummy and cooperating with each other now, we're going to need to know where the Council's aiming their suspicion next."

[Chevaleresse]

Belenus offered a polite bow. "Hello, by the way," he said rather dryly.

[Swordstar]

"Ah yes, the letter. Here you go. As for your other questions, given the response the king has had, plus other... unsettling rumors, the Council has decided to admit that they were perhaps too hasty in sending you all to attempt to find the Emblem here. There have been rumors instead that the Emblem may be found in Verwar, where it caused all that chaos so many years ago. Any messenger that the Council sends there is returned either with bruises and broken bones or... in worse shape if they are alive. The Council obviously feels there is something amiss with their refusal to talk, so they are sending you as an... unofficial approach. I'm sure you can understand. The other news which is most relevant to you is that you are no longer obligated to go. If you desire to continue this job, you will be paid, half upfront and half upon completion. Your leader has already agreed to work for the Council which I believe he stated in the letter. Any questions?"

Spoiler: The Letter (click to show/hide)

Talons,

Dar here.
Obviously, you must all be wondering why I've decided to work with the council.
Not exactly my normal way of working, I get it.
Tell you the truth, I wouldn't have thought I would end up here either.

So I guess I'll explain the how
You see, they've be talking to me a lot and I've been doing some thinking too.
About all our jobs and how small we are and how we lack power.
And how now there might be a war?
I always knew there would be a time when I needed to get out and I think this is the day.

Too many risks, you know?
Right now, we've got a chance.
Understand, this isn't easy for me.
So many things I still wanted to do with our crew.
Though I guess we still have our crew, even if it's a bit different.

But what we were doing was getting a bit cyclic.
And pretty risky too.
I couldn't keep risking all of you.
So I've made my choice then.
They can't make their attachment with a thief group public.
So we need to stay separate for now, you and I.
But I promise you, this isn't farewell.

Dar

PS: We always seemed to flip flop, didn't we? Beginning to end, end to beginning. Never stayed the same... Maybe now we'll finally get some stability.

[GiglameshDespair]

-

"'Eeeeey, ni' ter mee' yer, Elfy. 'm Shilleka, der mos' 'mpor'ant mem'er o' der grou'."
She grinned winningly.

-

Shilleka, unable to read the letter, raised an eyebrow.

"So iffn we ain' slaves an'more, where's der boss?."

[CrimsonEon]

Kaldach, ignoring the letter, looked somewhat surprised at the Emissary, furrowing his brow on hearing the terms being made.
: "..." After a brief pause, he sighed and eased the tension in his face, "Finally, a decent offer."
: "So. Are we under orders to get your answers on the Emblem by any means necessary? Or are we just on to find out why they're so intent on being reclusive arseholes?"

[Blade Master Model 42]

Kaltsar scowled at the letter, and the post script in particular. There was something off about it, but he'd be damned if he knew what it was. "...It says he can't move with us for now. Political issues, you get it." His tone did not betray confidence.

[Chevaleresse]

One eyebrow rose slightly at her rather unorthodox manner, but no more. "And good to meet you too, Shilleka."

[Swordstar]

"You are to originally explore only. Find out why they are not responding, etc. If, along the way, you were to discover the Emblem... I'm sure you can understand, no?"

[Solymr]

Edgar read the letter next to Kaltsar.

: Hmm. Let's discuss this with the rest.

Edgar led Kaltsar a bit further away from the King and the Emissary and lowered his voice a bit.

: Doesn't this letter seem a bit weird to you? Maybe Dar's saying more than it seems. Check the first letter of each line.

[Blade Master Model 42]

Kaltsar's eyes moved up and down the paper, his lips silently forming letters. "...It says 'don't trust', and there's some garbage letters in there too. To throw off spies in the mail, maybe?"

[Solymr]

: I don't think that's the whole message. Beginning to end, end to beginning.

Edgar checked the letter, moving his fingers across the different lines.

: Check the last letters of every other paragraph. It says... "don't worry trust council". That's very different from "don't trust".

[Blade Master Model 42]

"...Yeah, that is pretty different. What do you figure the chances Dar actually wrote this?"