In the Night

[Bjorn]

"Because he's harmless and useful," Bjorn says coldly.  "The other two are not."

[Ginrai]

"Harmless?  He tried to seal Radagast's power!  He also has the ability to communicate with those outside of the castle.  And, as Radagast mentioned before, it is rather suspicious that he would suddenly appear in the area where Eske was trapped before."

[Brian]

That wipes the smile from Ashton's face.  Neil looks unimpressed.  "Your bluff means nothing to me," he growls.  "The only crime here is your betrayal.  There is nothing you can do to avoid word reaching Solariat.  And when he finds out about this, he'll convene the collegiate to have you all destroyed -- every last one of you."  His glare leaves it obvious that none of the lorekeepers would be spared this wrath.

Mirallia shakes her head, and tends to Mattias.  Or tries to.  After a moment, she shakes her head.  "I cannot heal him," she says, looking confused.  "It as if though something in him rejects the power of Hammar."

Radagast nods thoughtfully.  "I thought so," he murmurs.  "He's not a lorekeeper after all.  He's a ... a runic."  Eske blinks at this, and looks at Radagast with a raised eyebrow.  "He uses runes exclusively," Radagast explains.  "Power is channeled in many ways.  A true Lorekeeper takes an image of his power, and then describes it in words, runes, symbols, and gestures.  For a Lorekeeper, the power that effects the world around them comes from within, and needs only to be described to the world to work its effect.

"For ... ah, as an example, yourself, Madame Mirallia, your power is given to you by Hammar.  You don't need to express it except to ask for Hammar's aid.  Archonae consider a Lorekeeper's working of will to be inferior to their own ability, which is expressed without words or symbols ... they need no ritual.

"In an effort to emulate the Archonae, a Lorekeeper from long ago sought to eliminate his symbols and work his will plainly without speaking.  He found that it was possible to tap into a ... will that was not his own to work what he wanted.  And it could be influenced with only symbols.  There was no need for words, gestures, or tools, except those used to make a symbol.  Unfortunately ... this was also more limited than true Loremastery.  But.  This explains what Mattias is."

"It's his connection to this ... will ... that was found that prevents Hammar's power from healing him?" Mirallia asks, frowning.

"It's more complicated than that," Radagast says, shaking his head.  "Healing is a gift, but it requires trust.  Mattias has undertaken to seal himself from any power touching him, I'd wager.  Luckily, I'm not exactly an orthodox Lorekeeper myself.  If we examine him, I'm certain we'll find tatoos or markings on him.  Those are what protects him."

"We must discuss this will later," Eske says.  "To the task at hand, however.  What should we do with him?"

"A conventional healer will have to do, I imagine," Radagast says, shrugging.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn listens, abstractedly, to the discussion between the loremasters, and then turns to face Neil with a steady gaze.  "Threats of destruction," he says coolly, "have become rather frequent.  Yours is by far the least compelling.

"Tell me, loremasters," he says, clinically, surveying Ashton and Neil.  "Can a loremaster work his craft without hands?"

[Brian]

Radagast blinks.  "It becomes less convenient, but still possible," he says.

Eske looks mildly horrified.  "I know of an island near Soth," Eske says.  "It's not very large, but large enough for a few people to live on.  We could just exile them there until we've time to leave.  I doubt either of them would know how to craft a boat, and even if they did, the island is surrounded by a series of dangerous reefs."

"A lorekeeper of the Path of Water would have little trouble with that," Radagast counters.

Eske scowls, but nods.  "This is true," he admits.

[Ginrai]

Ginrai gives a nasty smile and imagines his large pipe appearing in his hands.

[Brian]

You cannot get a good image of the pipe, for some reason.  The knife is hard enough, but it's like the pipe isn't even there.

[Bjorn]

"We have no time to exile them, regardless," Bjorn points out, and then shrugs.  "Well.  They will be useful, or they will be executed."

[Ginrai]

"Removing their hands can at least make it harder for them to consider any possible escape."

Moving to Rez he whispers, "Is there any chance you have my pipe with  you?"

[Rezantis]

"We don't want harder, we want impossible, or we want useful. What are these people's areas of study?"

Rez blinks, rolls his eyes, and shaking his head replies equally quietly:

"Yes. Man, you're obsessed with that thing, it's not healthy."

[Brian]

Ashton is scared, Neil is still unimpressed.  Mattias is unconscious.

"It's a thought," Radagast says.  "What is your plan then, Warden Bjorn?  As the acting captain of the guard, we administer the justice you see fit...."  He trails off, and looks at Ashton and Neil.  "Just in case you thought he didn't have the authority to back his claims," he adds.

Neil looks a bit unsettled at this, though Ashton's expression doesn't change.

"I'm not certain which paths they follow," Radagast says, frowning.  "Ashton is a follower of the path of water ... but used flame.  And Neil, the opposite."

[Ginrai]

Ginrai looks excited at this.  "Can you give it to me now for a bit?"

[Rezantis]

Rez blinks and hisses back: "Not the time! Later!"

[Bjorn]

Bjorn steps closer to Ashton and Neil, one hand resting on a sword hilt, eyes half-lidded, ignoring the byplay between Nathan and Parthipan.

"They have information that would be useful," he concedes.  "But we've caught these.  We will catch the rest.  And the risk that they present is too large to take chances."

He turns his head to face Radagast.  "Lord Kevin will be here soon," he says, calmly, "and he will hear the evidence."  Gripping his sword a little harder, as if to emphasize his point, he continues, "Then they will be executed."

[Brian]

Neil looks up at Bjorn cooly, recovering his calm demeanor.  "As you say.  I'll rest easy knowing your own demise is still inevitable," he says in a fatalistic tone.

Ashton stares at him, and then starts trying to wriggle away, as though proximity to Neil could quickly become lethal.  "I don't want part of your madness!" he yells.  "I want to live -- please don't kill me!  I don't want to die!"

Neil yells at him, "Get a hold of yourself, man!  Can't you see it's a bluff?"