Uicle and Ssarak Dyreackthanose --- Given the severe nature of some of the information Ssarak had uncovered, he felt it would be best to speak to Uicle as soon as possible. Fortunately, he needed only to ask a gargoyle to find him quickly. He was directed to the dining hall, which he moved to once he was out of sight of both Esyire diplomats and their students. To preserve the impressions he had left on them, he wanted to be sure they did not witness him speaking to the College leadership immediately after their conversations. As expected, the dining hall was quite a bit more crowded than usual with the feast coming soon. Strangely, there was a small plume of black smoke emanating from a door on one side of the hall, but there already seemed to be people handling it. Ssarak just focussed on locating Uicle, which fortunately was not difficult, as the large animated suit of armor was easy to pick out of a crowd. Ssarak approached UIcle seemingly casually, but the look in his eyes was quite serious. [color=f7941d]"Greetings, Uicle. Could I perhaps speak to you a moment, privately?"[/color] He requested. Uicle looked over to the Eysire, taken from his irritated grumbling. [color=598527]"Hello Ssarak. Have you already talked to the Scorched Lands diplomats? From what I heard and saw there's two of them."[/color] Uicle's head snapped to a Steel golem, wading it's way towards the fire. [color=598527]"What are you doing you giant oaf!? Get out of the way!"[/color] As the steel golem began to move out, Uicle returned to facing Ssarak. [color=598527]"What do you need?"[/color] He gestured for the Esyire to lead the way. Ssarak nodded once Uicle had returned his attention to him. [color=f7941d]"Yes, I have. I believe we need to speak privately."[/color] He reiterated softly, in a serious tone matching his overall demeanor. His gaze carried a sense of urgency that would hint at the severity of what he had uncovered. [color=f7941d]"Would your office be acceptable?"[/color] Uicle would have raised an eyebrow, if he still had a face. As it was, he looked at the student, growing concerned. [color=598527]"Very well. Follow me."[/color] In a short few moments, the Esyire and the teacher were in Uicle's office, surprisingly intact for today. [color=598527]"Oh look, it's not even a mess."[/color] He commented idly, before a steel golem closed the door behind them and he turned to face Ssarak. [color=598527]"What did you find out?"[/color] [color=f7941d]"I uncovered a good deal of information, though little of it was encouraging." [/color] Ssarak answered as he took a seat in one of the empty chairs. He let out a sigh, the stress of his past few conversations finally showing in his expression. [color=f7941d]"The Scorched lands seem to be entering into a veritable civil war. This faction being led by this Emperor is waging war against the Head Cheiftain and those who support him. On that point, both sides agree. According to the Jev diplomat, the Emperor is an electromancer of such strength that he can outmatch any master, or many at once. They say the envoys they sent to the Emperor have come back changed in some way, but their psychomancers cannot determine how."[/color] Pausing a moment, Ssarak had to collect his thoughts. With all he had learned, it was easy to overwhelm himself with trying to describe every detail all at once. [color=f7941d]"There is much to explain, but most pressing is the purpose that the Emperor's representative has here. The Jev representative said that the Emperor's diplomat seeks to gain the College's alliegance in their war, and if you refuse, they will likely attempt to sabotage the College. I would expect such a statement from the representative of an opposing faction...but I also questioned the Emperor's representative, and he confirmed it. He said he would seek the College's aid, and if he is refused, he admitted to me that the Emperor would act against the College. He did not specify how, but sabotage is not an impossibility."[/color] Uicle sighed. [color=598527]"No one can play nice, can they? Ovak isn't going to support anyone. I assume you have a suspect for me to stick shadow golems on? Otherwise every Esyire student that recently joined will be stalked, and that can't be good for teacher student relationships. Did you learn anything else aside from the Emperor being unusually powerful? And do you have any suggestions from what you learned? You talked to them while we were all busy playing nice with the rest of the diplo-"[/color] Uicle's head suddenly tilted to the side, as if listening to someone. "Gods above Alaira! I would have thought that even you would have more tact then that! No, don't do anything. Stay nearby though." The Necromancy teacher turned his helmet back to Ssarak. [color=598527]"Sorry about that. Any answers?"[/color] [color=f7941d]"Alaira? Did you send her to speak to a diplomat as you did myself and Meirin?"[/color] Ssarak questioned. Normally, he would not be so easily distracted from his explanation, but news on Alaira's mistakes in particular had a habit of capturing his attention. [color=f7941d]"We informed Lucilia of Alaira's repeated lapses in judgement during our mission. Her actions placed us all in jeopardy on multiple occassions, including igniting a forest fire and an unprovoked attack on a group of guards. Did Lucilia not inform the rest of the staff of this?"[/color] Ssarak had to force himself to stop and refocus on the task at hand. It was important that Uicle and the others know about Alaira's poor judgment, but much more important, and pressing, was the information he had uncovered. [color=f7941d]"Um, regardless, I do have more answers, yes. The Esyire have only sent two new students this year; one from the Chieftain's faction, as usual, and the other from the Emperor. They were both formerly bethrothed to one another, but are now sworn enemies. The Jev diplomat's student is an electromancer of clan Dyre, and is likely to attempt to persuade his former fiance to betray the Emperor. If she does not, then he expects that his student will do something drastic against her. For the student from the Emperor, she is a vitamancer, and is the most likely agent for sabotage. The Emperor's representative could of course also act against us, but he naturally would have more attention on him at most times, so the student would be a better candidate. I would not recommend underestimating the possibility that this vitamancer may be able to bring serious harm to the College. The Jev diplomat suspects that the Emperor may have given her something with the capability of weakening the College considerably, and I am inclined to agree."[/color] Pausing a moment, Ssarak had to think on how to present his next point. He was starting to move into conjecture, but he felt his fears could be nearing truth. [color=f7941d]"This Emperor...he worries me greatly. That he was able to rise to power, seemingly from nothing, after only a few years seems suspicious, does it not? The Jev suspect he came from clan Dyre, but do not know for sure. Even the Emperor's diplomat claims not to know his origin, only that he came from the wilds. How is it that one with the power to outmatch any master on Tiien could have existed entirely unknown until only two years ago? I do not know if it is possible for such power to simply be granted to an individual, but it is what I suspect happened. As well, the Jev's numbers are diminishing for reasons they cannot understand. Their eggs are simply not hatching. Add to that all of the chaos rising aound Tiien, and it seems all too unlikely that it is a coincidence. The demons who attacked the College last year...do you believe whatever force drives that army could be driving these events as well?"[/color] Uicle ignored Ssaraks' comments about Alaira, instead focussing on the students. It didn't take long for two shadow Golems to find them and be bound as eternal watchers. [color=598527]"The students are being watched, subtly."[/color] Uicle said, before turning his attention to Ssarak's other point. [color=598527]"There is something behind this all yes. We suspect Kudd the 'driving force' behind that army. Alas, without investigations ourselves we can't prove anything and simply have to prepare and stomp out the fires as they arise."[/color] He stood, preparing to leave. [color=598527]"Was there anything else, Ssarak? I have to get back to the Dining Hall lest this entire operation fall apart and I have to pick up the pieces. A word of advice, don't take any jobs that involve organizing a lot of people, most of whom hate at least one other faction who have also been invited."[/color] Ssarak nodded. [color=f7941d]"Yes, as I said, I learned quite a lot. I just wanted to convey the most pressing matters at the moment. Also keep in mind that the Emperor intends to act against the College if we do not ally with him, even if we remain neutral. So...I would fully expect some kind of action from his representatives. I told both of the diplomats that I intend to attempt to help them, so I have a plausible reason to speak to both of them again, if that is needed. If it helps, I will write a report including all important, but not quite as time-sensitive information. Honestly, I do not believe we will be able to ignore the situation in the Scorched Lands, not indefinitely."[/color] [color=598527]"Oh, we're not going to ignore it. But we can't exactly march an army down there and force them to play nice. Don't quite have the resources, I'm afraid. We'll get to them soon enough, but we need to deal with the diplomats now before we begin sending off teams to hopefully stomp out fires and keep the peace."[/color] Uicle began heading towards the door. [color=598527]"I'd suggest you don't stay in here Ssarak. My bad luck might just rub off on you."[/color]