01: A thought (voice: TheOtter)

[of_bokthersa]

I find it interesting that ever so suddenly things are beginning to become unraveled. Suddenly, once people who are new and different arrive. Perhaps I've been around nobles too long, but it seems to me as if someone was waiting for just this moment to do whatever it is that they're doing.

The local's darker turn is interesting too. It takes a good bit of charisma to cause so many to defend one's honor so. I'm certain I could never do it. And yet, forgoing coin out of loyalty, or so one would suspect. After all, to many a merchant, coin is coin no matter who is offering it.

It should be very interesting to see where things go from here.

Comments

[customplates]

It would make the most sense, right? Their lives, like you said, were pretty undisturbed until we showed up.

[of_bokthersa]

It's something you could make a compelling argument for.

[Seregil can't help the pleased hum in his voice. It's like when he drags a logical conclusion out of Alec. There's something very satisfying about it all.]

Do you think it's common for them to be so organized about it though?

[That is the key, in Seregil's opinion. So many of them at the same time. Not one here or there followed by others, several at the same time. That takes malice and organization.]

[customplates]

Honestly? Probably. These people have built a community here. We're the outsiders.

[of_bokthersa]

A transient community where people disappear without a moment's notice.

[customplates]

There's still a system in that, though.

[of_bokthersa]

And your explanation for the speed of their gathering forces?

[customplates]

It may be simple. Allying against what seems like a common threat because it's the only identifiable variable. We're new, bad things started happening. It must be our fault.

"Get them."

[of_bokthersa]

Meanwhile leaving us to pick up the investigation. How noble of them.

[customplates]

Well, from their perspective, they may not think there's a reason for one.

[of_bokthersa]

Do you think there's a reason for investigation?

[customplates]

I do. I think it's a little odd the Council is increasing our stipend when the people they lead are blaming us.

[of_bokthersa]

From what I understand, the vote wasn't unanimous.

[If he knew anything about these sort of things (and he made it his job to) that in and of itself was telling.]

[customplates]

That's what Alex was able to find out, yeah, and considering it was Annie who didn't agree...that's odd, too. She's the youngest, and she came here the most recently. You'd think she'd be on our side.

[of_bokthersa]

She's the one involved with this world's technology, yes?

[customplates]

As far as I know, yeah. Which...is pretty suspicious already.

[of_bokthersa]

It is a rather convenient position of power.

[He knows this game. He's seen it played a million times over in Skala, and hadn't realized it at the time, but seen it in Aurenen too.]

[customplates]

Given to someone who came in so much later.

[of_bokthersa]

And someone who seems less invested in those that are coming than those that came before.

There's a question in that, don't you think?

[customplates]

Yeah...but I'm still really working on exactly what it is.

[of_bokthersa]

Perhaps she is not capable of doing something with new people here - or perhaps she has been waiting.

[customplates]

Waiting for what, though?

[of_bokthersa]

Another good question.

And here's another; what can be gained from pitting the established against the new? What can such fighting do for her?

[customplates]

Cause a distraction?

[of_bokthersa]

Exactly. Now, what could she want to cause a distraction for?

[customplates]

So we don't pay attention to the man behind the curtain.

[A beat.]

Sorry, that's...probably not a reference you get. Basically, so we don't pay attention to the puppeteer and continue to fall for the smoke and mirrors.