Events of the 8th of Slate, 1091The day was halfway open when Captain Ironblood awoke, half-panicked. At once he was both aware he was on
for the night patrol, and that he'd just spent a week trying to prevent the end of the world.
"Xotes!" he growled, throwing off the sheets. "Not this time, bitch."
Xotes stopped in her tracks as a chill went up her spine. She suddenly knew that something was wrong with a
dread certainty.
Setting aside her tasks, she headed directly to her room to pray. Surely the master would know more.
Kodor startled as his brother slammed open the office door, and raised an eyebrow and the grave expression
on his face.
"What is it?" he asked, not wasting time with pleasantries.
Captain Ironblood closed the door behind him and stepped fully into the office. "It's Xotes. She's the
Acolyte. We need to kill her right now."
Kodor looked at him uncertainly. "You're certain?"
Captain Ironblood nodded, pulling back a sleeve to reveal the mark that had appeared on his wrist.
Kodor frowned. "I see. Very well, we must do what we must. What else do we know?"
Captain Ironblood sat down. "Let me tell you a story about a pit."
Xotes prayed, communing with her god. Moments later she stood, panicked. Her master had told her that she'd
been discovered. Probably something to do with the blasted Progeny. He could only see the vagaries of a
shadow future that no longer existed.
"No time to lose..." she muttered. She had been intending on tricking one of the miners into cracking
open the pit. Now, though, it looked as though it would have to be her.
"Doesn't matter." she told herself. Time was of the essence, Ironblood would be looking for her and if he
found her... all would be lost.