Solomorne"Maive, bring me a cup of amasec — and make sure it's filled to the brim," comes an unexpected order from Solomorne.
Maive"It will be done, my lord judicator."
SolomorneSolomorne waits until Maive is some distance away, then turns to you. "I wanted to talk to you without the observer they have attached to us overhearing." He casts a sweeping glance around the courtyard and lowers his voice. "Do you get the sense that what is happening raises questions that lack coherent answers?"
YOU"This is what they call a persecution complex, Solomorne."
Solomorne"I should rather call it vigilance. Strange situations may seem inconsequential now, but when the time comes for the looming threat to reveal itself, we will realise they were warning signs — or, indeed, warning shouts. Experience tells me we won't have long to wait for proof to emerge."
YOU"This is what they call a persecution complex, Solomorne."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Everyone needs rest sometimes, Solomorne. When one is constantly on edge, one starts to imagine things."
SolomorneSolomorne pauses, then asks with pointed courteousness: "May I conclude that you have observed nothing that struck you as suspicious?"
YOU"This is what they call a persecution complex, Solomorne."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Everyone needs rest sometimes, Solomorne. When one is constantly on edge, one starts to imagine things."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are the most suspicious person here, Solomorne. Take a deep breath."
Solomorne"I take that as a no. Understood. No further questions."
MaiveMaive returns, taking quick careful steps along the paved road, a brimming goblet in her hands. "Your amasec, my lord. I haven't spilt a drop!"
SolomorneWithout a word, the Arbitrator hurls the drink on the pavement. The splash of amasec is like a scarlet wound upon the stone that has been polished by a thousand soles.
end of branch
YOU"If you have suspicions about the Thasserians, why have you not taken any action so far?"
Solomorne"I have been gathering information. Taking any steps before doing that would have been reckless. Now is the time to coordinate our actions and discuss the risks — which are high, considering we are both outnumbered and in unknown territory."
YOU"This is what they call a persecution complex, Solomorne."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Everyone needs rest sometimes, Solomorne. When one is constantly on edge, one starts to imagine things."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are the most suspicious person here, Solomorne. Take a deep breath."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If you have suspicions about the Thasserians, why have you not taken any action so far?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do not forget that the Thasserians have been nothing but cordial to us so far."
Solomorne"An Arbitrator cannot be bribed — neither with gold nor with special treatment. Doing our duty is all that concerns us. The locals' affability is not conducive to obtaining data on the tithe, and that is what matters to me."
YOU"This is what they call a persecution complex, Solomorne."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Everyone needs rest sometimes, Solomorne. When one is constantly on edge, one starts to imagine things."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are the most suspicious person here, Solomorne. Take a deep breath."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If you have suspicions about the Thasserians, why have you not taken any action so far?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do not forget that the Thasserians have been nothing but cordial to us so far."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am uneasy as well, on account of certain unusual circumstances."
Solomorne"Which ones in particular?"
YOU"The governor's strange behaviour. The remarkably lavish gifts, the change in personality... and all of that just before our arrival."
Solomorne"You are not wrong. In particular, I would like to note the governor granting preferential treatment to our attendant. Perhaps he needs her unconditional trust... to ensure that she does something or, on the contrary, remains uninvolved at just the right moment."
YOU"The governor's strange behaviour. The remarkably lavish gifts, the change in personality... and all of that just before our arrival."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The governor barely manages to stay in his saddle, which is odd for a local nobleman."
Solomorne"Not too odd considering Ruoldo's ravenous fondness for food and amasec... but an astute observation nonetheless."
YOU"The governor's strange behaviour. The remarkably lavish gifts, the change in personality... and all of that just before our arrival."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The governor barely manages to stay in his saddle, which is odd for a local nobleman."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The governor is not Thasserian. And yet, he seems utterly clueless about what is happening outside this planet."
Solomorne"Precisely. Either he has had an experience so traumatic as to cause him to altogether lose his memory, or we are being played for fools."
YOU"The governor's strange behaviour. The remarkably lavish gifts, the change in personality... and all of that just before our arrival."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The governor barely manages to stay in his saddle, which is odd for a local nobleman."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The governor is not Thasserian. And yet, he seems utterly clueless about what is happening outside this planet."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The sculptor, like Ruoldo, is not a local. But more importantly, he is a sanctioned psyker."
Solomorne"His work with locally mined stone may be a harmless pursuit... or it may not be. In any event, the fact that the governor employs a sorcerer who is working on his own project is enough to raise questions."
YOU"The governor's strange behaviour. The remarkably lavish gifts, the change in personality... and all of that just before our arrival."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The governor barely manages to stay in his saddle, which is odd for a local nobleman."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The governor is not Thasserian. And yet, he seems utterly clueless about what is happening outside this planet."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The sculptor, like Ruoldo, is not a local. But more importantly, he is a sanctioned psyker."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Remember the last mutant from the public execution? Something was off about him, and it wasn't just the physical deformity."
Solomorne"Yes. Mutation is a corruption that seldom leaves a person with a sound mind, but what the madman spouted on the scaffold, and what he had done to himself, was beyond the pale."
YOU"The governor's strange behaviour. The remarkably lavish gifts, the change in personality... and all of that just before our arrival."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The governor barely manages to stay in his saddle, which is odd for a local nobleman."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The governor is not Thasserian. And yet, he seems utterly clueless about what is happening outside this planet."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The sculptor, like Ruoldo, is not a local. But more importantly, he is a sanctioned psyker."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Remember the last mutant from the public execution? Something was off about him, and it wasn't just the physical deformity."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The local beliefs. What is this tripe about 'altering your destiny'?"
Solomorne"The God-Emperor alone knows how many different cults of Him there are. No two planets worship Him in quite the same way. But only a heretic would wax poetic about altering a fate that was ordained by the Emperor once and for all."
YOU"The governor's strange behaviour. The remarkably lavish gifts, the change in personality... and all of that just before our arrival."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The governor barely manages to stay in his saddle, which is odd for a local nobleman."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The governor is not Thasserian. And yet, he seems utterly clueless about what is happening outside this planet."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The sculptor, like Ruoldo, is not a local. But more importantly, he is a sanctioned psyker."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Remember the last mutant from the public execution? Something was off about him, and it wasn't just the physical deformity."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The local beliefs. What is this tripe about 'altering your destiny'?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Have you seen the writings of that madman, Falt? The Chronicle of Fates? It is lunacy bordering on heresy."
Solomorne"Not bordering — they are heresy writ large. But that is not what troubles me. What troubles me is that the madman succeeded in publishing them."
YOU"The governor's strange behaviour. The remarkably lavish gifts, the change in personality... and all of that just before our arrival."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The governor barely manages to stay in his saddle, which is odd for a local nobleman."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The governor is not Thasserian. And yet, he seems utterly clueless about what is happening outside this planet."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The sculptor, like Ruoldo, is not a local. But more importantly, he is a sanctioned psyker."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Remember the last mutant from the public execution? Something was off about him, and it wasn't just the physical deformity."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The local beliefs. What is this tripe about 'altering your destiny'?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Have you seen the writings of that madman, Falt? The Chronicle of Fates? It is lunacy bordering on heresy."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The fact there was a mutant attack during a public execution, with no clear or evident cause."
Solomorne"The attack is unlikely to have been planned. It looked too... messy, shall we say. On the other hand, perhaps that's the best this backwater planet can do when it comes to plotting and scheming."
YOU"The governor's strange behaviour. The remarkably lavish gifts, the change in personality... and all of that just before our arrival."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The governor barely manages to stay in his saddle, which is odd for a local nobleman."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The governor is not Thasserian. And yet, he seems utterly clueless about what is happening outside this planet."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The sculptor, like Ruoldo, is not a local. But more importantly, he is a sanctioned psyker."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Remember the last mutant from the public execution? Something was off about him, and it wasn't just the physical deformity."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The local beliefs. What is this tripe about 'altering your destiny'?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Have you seen the writings of that madman, Falt? The Chronicle of Fates? It is lunacy bordering on heresy."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The fact there was a mutant attack during a public execution, with no clear or evident cause."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not like the way the governor is using every means possible to stall our enquiry into the tithe."
Solomorne"Indeed. At first, one could mistake it for sycophancy and an attempt to appease the 'celestial guests,' but the longer it goes on, the more apparent the criminal intent behind this stalling of the inevitable becomes."
YOU"The governor's strange behaviour. The remarkably lavish gifts, the change in personality... and all of that just before our arrival."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The governor barely manages to stay in his saddle, which is odd for a local nobleman."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The governor is not Thasserian. And yet, he seems utterly clueless about what is happening outside this planet."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The sculptor, like Ruoldo, is not a local. But more importantly, he is a sanctioned psyker."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Remember the last mutant from the public execution? Something was off about him, and it wasn't just the physical deformity."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The local beliefs. What is this tripe about 'altering your destiny'?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Have you seen the writings of that madman, Falt? The Chronicle of Fates? It is lunacy bordering on heresy."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The fact there was a mutant attack during a public execution, with no clear or evident cause."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not like the way the governor is using every means possible to stall our enquiry into the tithe."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What is your conclusion?"
Trap"I have a theory, but I would like to hear yours first, lest my opinions influence your reasoning."
YOU"The tithe is a ruse. The governor is fully aware that with every hour that passes without him providing a report, his sentence only becomes more severe. Which means he is not even trying to account for the shortage. I suspect that there is some goal he is pursuing in trying to keep us here on Thassera."
SolomorneSolomorne chuckles. "Expertly noted. It somehow slipped my mind that you collected tributes from just as many worlds as I have in your time. I do not have a strong hypothesis for why the governor is stalling us, but I would like to propose a plan: let's not give away the fact that we are aware of his ploy and wait for an opportune moment to strike — we do not know the territory, so we should act suddenly and take no chances. Now let's decide on a signal we will use when the time is right."
YOU"It is how I want it done."
Solomorne"I see. Then I will not initiate combat, but neither will I stand back if the other side initiates."
MaiveMaive returns, taking quick careful steps along the paved road, a brimming goblet in her hands. "Your amasec, my lord. I haven't spilt a drop!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"When I say, 'Lovely weather,' we attack."
Solomorne"Understood."
MaiveMaive returns, taking quick careful steps along the paved road, a brimming goblet in her hands. "Your amasec, my lord. I haven't spilt a drop!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"My words will be 'The Emperor knows.'"
Solomorne"Understood."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will shout, 'ATTACK!'"
Solomorne"Thus forewarning the enemy as well. What would be the point?"
YOU"It is how I want it done."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"When I say, 'Lovely weather,' we attack."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"My words will be 'The Emperor knows.'"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will shout, 'ATTACK!'"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will take a drag on a lho-stick. That will be the signal to strike."
Solomorne"Understood."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"No. We are going to resolve all issues peacefully."
Solomorne"I see. Then I will not initiate combat, but neither will I stand back if the other side initiates."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will take a drag on a lho-stick. That will be the signal to strike."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"No. We are going to resolve all issues peacefully."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The Thasserians have failed to gather their tithe and are now distracting us with smoke and mirrors."
Solomorne"That is possible. But how can they ever expect it to work? Tithe evasion cannot be covered up, especially not by eliminating our delegation. It is as though the governor is painting himself into a corner..."
Solomorne"My hypothesis is that this is not about the tithe. That is merely a pretext to keep us here long enough — but what for? We should play along for now. Let them think we've taken the bait while we wait for an opportunity to seize control of the situation. For that, we need to agree on a signal to launch a coordinated attack."
YOU"It is how I want it done."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"When I say, 'Lovely weather,' we attack."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"My words will be 'The Emperor knows.'"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will shout, 'ATTACK!'"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will take a drag on a lho-stick. That will be the signal to strike."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"No. We are going to resolve all issues peacefully."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"We are being led into a trap of some sort."
Solomorne"Likely so. But while we are ignorant as to the nature and purpose of this trap, we have nothing concrete to go on and can only stay on our guard."
Solomorne"My hypothesis is that this is not about the tithe. That is merely a pretext to keep us here long enough — but what for? We should play along for now. Let them think we've taken the bait while we wait for an opportunity to seize control of the situation. For that, we need to agree on a signal to launch a coordinated attack."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I would wager that this is a cult. The predicaments I get into usually involve a cult of some description."
Solomorne"Heretical cults are not the only threat by far. But there is enough heresy on Thassera either way."
Solomorne"My hypothesis is that this is not about the tithe. That is merely a pretext to keep us here long enough — but what for? We should play along for now. Let them think we've taken the bait while we wait for an opportunity to seize control of the situation. For that, we need to agree on a signal to launch a coordinated attack."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Thassera is not what they are making it out to be — not a feudal world with a primitive populace but a forge world. Or else, an industrial one. The point of the deception is to pay a smaller tithe!"
SolomorneSolomorne looks at you, his doubt evident. "Certainly a bold theory, but I would be wary of such far-reaching speculations."
Solomorne"My hypothesis is that this is not about the tithe. That is merely a pretext to keep us here long enough — but what for? We should play along for now. Let them think we've taken the bait while we wait for an opportunity to seize control of the situation. For that, we need to agree on a signal to launch a coordinated attack."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"There is something in Thassera's atmosphere that alters the human brain. Sooner or later, anyone who lives here becomes a clumsy idiot."
Solomorne"Believe it or not, I have seen worlds like that. Colonies do not tend to last very long on them, so I cannot second your hypothesis."
Solomorne"My hypothesis is that this is not about the tithe. That is merely a pretext to keep us here long enough — but what for? We should play along for now. Let them think we've taken the bait while we wait for an opportunity to seize control of the situation. For that, we need to agree on a signal to launch a coordinated attack."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You tell me! You're the sleuthing Arbitrator!"
Solomorne"Fair enough. It is my direct duty to draw conclusions and pass verdicts."
Solomorne"My hypothesis is that this is not about the tithe. That is merely a pretext to keep us here long enough — but what for? We should play along for now. Let them think we've taken the bait while we wait for an opportunity to seize control of the situation. For that, we need to agree on a signal to launch a coordinated attack."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What is your conclusion?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not like the way the governor is using every means possible to stall our enquiry into the tithe."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What is your conclusion?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The fact there was a mutant attack during a public execution, with no clear or evident cause."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not like the way the governor is using every means possible to stall our enquiry into the tithe."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What is your conclusion?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Have you seen the writings of that madman, Falt? The Chronicle of Fates? It is lunacy bordering on heresy."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The fact there was a mutant attack during a public execution, with no clear or evident cause."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not like the way the governor is using every means possible to stall our enquiry into the tithe."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What is your conclusion?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The local beliefs. What is this tripe about 'altering your destiny'?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Have you seen the writings of that madman, Falt? The Chronicle of Fates? It is lunacy bordering on heresy."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The fact there was a mutant attack during a public execution, with no clear or evident cause."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not like the way the governor is using every means possible to stall our enquiry into the tithe."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What is your conclusion?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Remember the last mutant from the public execution? Something was off about him, and it wasn't just the physical deformity."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The local beliefs. What is this tripe about 'altering your destiny'?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Have you seen the writings of that madman, Falt? The Chronicle of Fates? It is lunacy bordering on heresy."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The fact there was a mutant attack during a public execution, with no clear or evident cause."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not like the way the governor is using every means possible to stall our enquiry into the tithe."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What is your conclusion?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The sculptor, like Ruoldo, is not a local. But more importantly, he is a sanctioned psyker."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Remember the last mutant from the public execution? Something was off about him, and it wasn't just the physical deformity."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The local beliefs. What is this tripe about 'altering your destiny'?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Have you seen the writings of that madman, Falt? The Chronicle of Fates? It is lunacy bordering on heresy."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The fact there was a mutant attack during a public execution, with no clear or evident cause."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not like the way the governor is using every means possible to stall our enquiry into the tithe."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What is your conclusion?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The governor is not Thasserian. And yet, he seems utterly clueless about what is happening outside this planet."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The sculptor, like Ruoldo, is not a local. But more importantly, he is a sanctioned psyker."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Remember the last mutant from the public execution? Something was off about him, and it wasn't just the physical deformity."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The local beliefs. What is this tripe about 'altering your destiny'?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Have you seen the writings of that madman, Falt? The Chronicle of Fates? It is lunacy bordering on heresy."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The fact there was a mutant attack during a public execution, with no clear or evident cause."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not like the way the governor is using every means possible to stall our enquiry into the tithe."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What is your conclusion?"continues where this line first appears above
Trap"The fact that the court fool is Maive's brother only adds to the suspicion, as do the alleged changes in his behaviour. There is some connection between the governor and these two — a buffoon who is permitted to run wild and a minor noblewoman who has unexpectedly been given an important role in the festivities."
YOU"The governor's strange behaviour. The remarkably lavish gifts, the change in personality... and all of that just before our arrival."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The governor barely manages to stay in his saddle, which is odd for a local nobleman."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The governor is not Thasserian. And yet, he seems utterly clueless about what is happening outside this planet."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The sculptor, like Ruoldo, is not a local. But more importantly, he is a sanctioned psyker."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Remember the last mutant from the public execution? Something was off about him, and it wasn't just the physical deformity."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The local beliefs. What is this tripe about 'altering your destiny'?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Have you seen the writings of that madman, Falt? The Chronicle of Fates? It is lunacy bordering on heresy."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The fact there was a mutant attack during a public execution, with no clear or evident cause."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not like the way the governor is using every means possible to stall our enquiry into the tithe."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What is your conclusion?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The governor barely manages to stay in his saddle, which is odd for a local nobleman."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The governor is not Thasserian. And yet, he seems utterly clueless about what is happening outside this planet."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The sculptor, like Ruoldo, is not a local. But more importantly, he is a sanctioned psyker."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Remember the last mutant from the public execution? Something was off about him, and it wasn't just the physical deformity."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The local beliefs. What is this tripe about 'altering your destiny'?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Have you seen the writings of that madman, Falt? The Chronicle of Fates? It is lunacy bordering on heresy."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The fact there was a mutant attack during a public execution, with no clear or evident cause."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I do not like the way the governor is using every means possible to stall our enquiry into the tithe."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What is your conclusion?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am uneasy as well, on account of certain unusual circumstances."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do not forget that the Thasserians have been nothing but cordial to us so far."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am uneasy as well, on account of certain unusual circumstances."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are the most suspicious person here, Solomorne. Take a deep breath."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If you have suspicions about the Thasserians, why have you not taken any action so far?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do not forget that the Thasserians have been nothing but cordial to us so far."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am uneasy as well, on account of certain unusual circumstances."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Everyone needs rest sometimes, Solomorne. When one is constantly on edge, one starts to imagine things."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are the most suspicious person here, Solomorne. Take a deep breath."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"If you have suspicions about the Thasserians, why have you not taken any action so far?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Do not forget that the Thasserians have been nothing but cordial to us so far."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am uneasy as well, on account of certain unusual circumstances."continues where this line first appears above