A Disturbing Letter|Malagard, Khelek

[Kender Bard]

A messenger, Ice type but not a native, wandered around nervously clinging to a scroll. He kept asking for directions on how to find Master Haukea.

[aivea]

A woman in the uniform of an officer watches the messenger with a mixture of curiousity, and slight suspicion after hearing what the man was asking. After a few moments, though, she decides to see what she could find out about what the man wanted, and maybe even help his search if he answered.

"What are you seeking from him?" she asks. "I might lead you to the Master, if you tell me what it is you want..." I have a feeling that scroll is involved, though."

[Kender Bard]

"I have a letter for him," the messenger states, holding it up. "Could you take me to him please?"

[aivea]

The officer considers the reply, then nods. "Aye, I did say I would, didn't I?"

Without waiting for a response, she leads the messenger to the palace library, motioning to the palace guards not to stop the man with her.
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"Go ahead and deliver that letter now, just this better not be a trap," the officer says flatly.

Sitting one of the tables farthest from the door, Haukea is reading silently, and enjoying the decrease in matters requiring his attention.

[Kender Bard]

"Of course not," the man says simply, irritated with how hard this was becoming. He approached Haukea, clearing his throat and making a little bow. "Master?" He held the parchment out to him.

[aivea]

"Hm? A letter for me? Thank you..." Though I'd rather your timing was a great deal different, it wouldn't do to seem bothered by a mere note... Haukea accepts the letter, and glances over the contents.

[Kender Bard]

Master Haukea,

I regret to inform you that your time in ruling over Khelek is coming to a close. While I will allow you to remain in your seat of power as a figurehead, I must ask you to succeed rulership of Khelek to me. Since it would be imprudent of me to reveal my nature at this time, I will have spies posted outside of your current location. I will give you a week to get your affairs into order for this shift in power, and then you must place two white flags outside of your residence. My spies will confirm these sightings. If you do as asked, then I will send a messenger to pick up a five thousand coin donation of charity, after which time I will be sending an liege lord to act in my stead.

If you do not comply with these instructions, a series of violent and bloody confrontations will arise, starting with random peasants and working up to the assassination of your loved ones, and finally - if necessary - you.

Have a nice day.

[aivea]

Haukea glares at the letter before looking up, and asking tersely, "Who sent you? Whoever it is, they are more arrogent than someone making a first impression, or for that matter asking anything has a right to be."

[Kender Bard]

"I honestly don't know," the messenger answered. "This message has changed many hands; I highly doubt the person I took it form was the original composer."

[aivea]

"How clever yet needlessly time consuming of them to place as many others as possible between themself and those who are to be threatened," he mutters in annoyance, looking away to hide a scowl. Looking back toward the messenger, he adds in a barely calmer tone, "You do have a way of relaying a message back to the original composer without revealing the identities of the spies, even if through the chain of messengers, do you not? I have a reply which the way to convey is not expressed in this letter."

"I should not be so worried or flustered by the actions of one man, however... what if the one who wrote this turned out to be another Mirza or another Damien? Can I afford to risk letting them strike by trying to draw this out until more complete details can be received? There are only so many routes to a certain place and the routes of those coming from the same point would have to be at sort of crossroads, even if that is unwanted by the planner... However a trap made of my people's blood would likely raise suspicion from outside and unrest from within."

[Kender Bard]

"I will try," the messenger said with uncertainty. "For a fee; though I cannot promise the message will reach the receiver. That's beyond my knowledge."

[aivea]

Haukea sighs, and almost wishes he isn't aware that if he wants the message delivered there is no choice. However there is a limit to what the attempt to gather a bit more information before time ran out is worth to him. "Tell me how much the effort is worth to you... I will pay before giving my reply if the price seems closer to what is reasonable than what would be an attempt to make as much profit as possible."

[Kender Bard]

The messenger gave a shrug, thinking of how he had been paid by the person who had him on this particular run. "Fifteen copper sounds good, and a chance to replenish my supplies."

[aivea]

"Very well." The leader searched through the various things on the table, quickly finding a piece of paper and a pen. After writing a quick letter, the reply note is folded neatly, and handed to the messenger along with fifteen copper coins. To the officer who'd lead the messenger there, Haukea says simply, "See to it that this man is able to acquire whatever he will need for the return trip."

"Yes, sir." The officer then asks the messenger, "Are you ready to go now?"

[Kender Bard]

The messenger nods and even gives a little salute, somehow thinking that might be the more proper thing to do. "Aye, I'll pick up my supplies and go."

((I think this topic is done, though I warn you that the letter's not going to reach it's final destination.))