Masquerade

[Brian]

Alec nods at Nathan wordlessly, and looks between the two, curious about their conversation.

[Rezantis]

"Yes, I-wait, you think someone actually did that?"

[Dracos]

"It's a distinct possiblity.  If I was running the other side, I'd make arrangements for it to happen.  Suddenly finding the 'gods' abandoning us in the middle of the siege would be a brutal blow to morale on top of suddenly catching us unexpecting of the manuever.  I think we should get the squad off to Lienne now.  Not waiting for you to come back, but right away."

Dracos

[Rezantis]

Nathan's eyes widen.  "NO!  This stops being dangerous and starts being suicide if they know we're coming, and what you're proposing will make them guard it better!  It can damn well wait, or you're going to blow this whole thing sky high!"

[Dracos]

"I'm proposing that you go right now, Nathan, and the Lienne group goes as soon as they can, preferrably at the same time."  Dracos shakes his head.  "I understand what you are saying.  But realize if they DO have spies among the Lienne temple and they are taking/hindering the crystal there, where will they likely take it if they can communicate quickly at all?  Either way, you should get moving and this possibility needs to be voiced to the rest of the keep leadership.  Preferrably...  I think I'm going to hunt down Radagast quickly.  You go get whoever you want for your spy and get the rest ready.  I think I should get more information quickly so we don't delay you getting moving."

Dracos

[Rezantis]

"I'll go and get organized.  But I'm going to warn you of one thing, Drac.  If you move to bring the Liene crystal here, they may well clue in to the fact that we'll be trying to take the one they hold, too.  And they realise that, they'll start looking at us suspiciously.  If you break our cover before we're back, we all die.  You'd better understand that."

Nathan pauses to let this sink in.

"Anyway, I'd better get moving.  I need to talk to some people before I get moving . . . hey, Alec, can you come with me for a few minutes?"

If not stopped, Nathan will head to the library.

[Dracos]

Dracos shook his head.  "I understand Nathan.  Good luck."

Dracos turned himself to head off to find Radagast, assuming he is in his tower.

Dracos

[Brian]

Phil now moves to Cloud Age Symphony.

Nathan quickly finds his way to the library, which appears to be empty except for the librarian, who nods as Nathan enters.

[Rezantis]

Nathan nods to the librarian, and wanders over to ask him a question.

"Sorry to bother you, but do you have any books about the archonae, or the archonae city?"

[Brian]

The librarian looks thoughtful at this question, and then points to the farthest corner of the library.  "I believe they'd be in that corner," he offers.  "If we've got any.  Really, I'd suggest asking the Lorekeepers.  They tend to spend a lot of time with Archonae."

[Rezantis]

"I think I will; I'm just curious to skim something qiuckly so I have a better idea what questions to ask.  Thanks."

Nathan wanders over to the aforementioned area and tries looking for an appropriate book - which he will take and start skimming, if he finds.

[Brian]

Nathan grabs a hefty looking book and flips through it.  OOOH!  Pictures!  A city with massive walls, all aflame.

Neat!

"Hey," a familiar voice whispers.  "Nathan -- it's me, Durant."  No one can be seen in this room except for Nathan and the librarian, who is absorbed in a large tome of his own.

[Rezantis]

Nathan, after not seeing anyone, goes back to his book and doesn't look up.

"Paul? What the hell happened, I was worried you were dead," he hisses back, outwardly still bent over his book.

[Brian]

"Eh ... someone came in, killed the guards, gave me a magic knife, and let me out.  Couldn't really stick around with a magic knife and all those corpses around these execution-happy people, you know?

"Anyway.  Now that I've got invisibility and a magic knife, I'm going to spend all my time trying to find more assasins.  And I'll tell you.  I think Bjorn would just toss me back in the prisons, so, eh, I'll let you tell him," Durant replies humorlessly.

[Rezantis]

"Jesus. Any idea who, or why?  And . . . well, he's not that bad, he just a little too focused and a little too much of a hardass.  Either that or he sat firmly on a stick."

Nathan sighs.

"Dammit, this is all going to hell.  Just be damn careful if you're going to do that . . ."