[h3][color=lightcoral] Mar[/color], within Uicle's office[/h3]

Mar noticed Uicle pause when his eyes noted her stroll in. Her mind focused on her feet’s pace and monitored their direction, her head raised upright then turned into his direction. She knew why he stared and likely the thoughts pulsing through his mind over her appearance here. He likely wondered why she wanted to be here after everything that happened. Unlike most sane creature, she didn’t focus on survival for herself but her whole race. So Mar needed to know the situation of her race within Yarsomere with both her own experience and what Uicle was about to say. She braced herself for the shock while leaning against the wall, relieving the pressure on her booted feet. 

She picked uncomfortably at her tunic’s neck line, borrowed from Athalus and tailored for her figure, with several semi-long ties starting from her underarms and down along her waist to end just above her hips. The bottom draped in triangular shapes, the front was shortened at mid thigh and back just barely touching the knees. It was sleeveless to allow better mobility and stop overheating, her scales able to prevent sunburn from the harsh rays of the Yarsomere desert sun. A belt cinched around her waist to hold her primarily weapon, a white, cleaned arm bone from a mission in place. On the bottom half she had a slightly loose harem pants, a garb native to the region which both provided cover and protection in sandstorms. 

Her attention returned to the task at hand when Uicle spoke. [color=1a7b30]" Most of you know the situation in Yarosmere. For those of you that don't, I'll give the briefest version I can."[/color] 

He didn’t even bother to be gentle about the truth, the news hurting Mar than she expected. 

[color=1a7b30]"Yarosmere has undergone a violent and fanatical coup. The old social order, and nearly all of it's nobles, has been violently displaced. It's all under the rule of 'The Prophet of the Sand God'. The Prophet has disposed of the King, executed almost the entirety of the upper class, and rules Yarosmere with an iron grip. The people there are fanatical for him.

"In addition to his brutal rise to power, The Prophet has deemed that Naga are an impurity to be cleansed. He has commanded his armies to eradicate all the Naga in his domain, and has had great success. As far as we know, Mar's tribe is the only one to have escaped. Even then, they were severely depleted and on the verge of annihilation. He doesn't have as much control as it appears, however. Before the diplomat killed himself, screaming about how The Prophet knows all the secrets men try to hide, he revealed that there is a resistance movement in Yarosmere. 

“They call themselves the Shadows of the Kingdom. They launch constant hit and run attacks. Killing soldiers, burning granaries, assassinating mages, so on so forth. They're generally doing their best to be a thorn in the side of the Prophet, and seem to be doing a well enough job.  Despite all this, The Prophet is cordial to new diplomacy and relations. That's where you all come in." [/color] Uicle then gestured to them and continued. 


[color=1a7b30]"Your job is to go into Yarosmere and find out exactly how bad it is there. You're to establish a basis of relations between the College and The Prophet. If you can do so without being executed as spies or traitors, establish contact with these Shadows as well." [/color] The armor teacher turned and seemed to stare down each one of them, a hint of warning in his gravelly voice as he spoke each word. 

[color=1a7b30]"Let me make one thing perfectly clear. You will see horrors in Yarosmere. Fanatics mutilating themselves. People being slain for not believing in the Sand God. Nagas tortured and made to go into their Malice mode for pure amusement. Your job is to report, not intervene. Do you understand? No matter what you see, no matter what happens right in front of you, if it is not in the aid or defense of the current government, do not get involved. You do not have diplomatic immunity. You are guests, walking on very thin ice with them, and we will not be able to protect you. 

"If any of you have been to the human parts of Yarosmere before, discard all that you know of them. It has changed entirely. Some things may still be familiar, but for the most part it is an entirely new country. Act like you're new and unfamiliar with their customs, and you may be given leeway for any transgressions, real or imagined, that you make."[/color] Uicle’s words seemed centered on Mar when he pointed out the torturing of Naga, a mention that made her stiffen and glare back. Anger heated her eyes causing Mar’s head to turn away, clearly understanding but not sure she could carry it out. It was hard to imagine them torturing one of her kind and her merely walking by to let it happen. Thankfully children were born in the desert itself, in places where humans almost never travelled to because they often died on the trip. Still, she couldn’t fully promise she would be able to stop her emotional side from getting the better of her. 

However, she didn’t reveal this for fear Uicle would prevent her from going on the mission. 

[color=1a7b30]"The cart will be ready to take you to Yarosmere in two hours. Grab what you need, and I suggest you pack clothing appropriate for extreme heat, extra water containers, and food. You're going to need it. Good luck."[/color] With those last words, Uicle waved them off. 

Mar was among the last to exit the room as she caught Aramir’s words complaining to Myrn, both heading out of the door. 

"How did I ever let you convince me to do this..."