[center][h2][color=#b3ccff]Esben Mathiassen[/color][/h2][/center]
[hr]

As Ferdiad stopped chasing, Esben stopped running, spinning on his heel to face the demonic jester as he came to a halt and waved at the others to keep moving. In a moment, he ran through his memory of each time he'd summoned in either of the Eidolons—Ramuh against Famfrit, Leviathan against Reisa, Ramuh again against the Behemoth. Unless there were more of Valheim's eyes watching, then the only [i]obvious[/i] witness was Sigursdottir. 'Threat estimation,' however, didn't quite line up with what Rudolf and Miina had relayed to him earlier from what she'd been saying about him, unless things had entirely changed on that front.

Still, he didn't want to leave any more to chance if he could when it came to his former tutor. [color=#b3ccff]"In the interest of fair play—name your patron, please."[/color] Not that he particularly expected Ferdiad to answer easily, but it was worth a shot.

[b]"Fair play? You've not even made an offer yet! Half-measures will get half-answers. You're acquainted, mayhaps?"[/b]

[color=#b3ccff]"Offers? Call your patron here, let the others go on, and I'm offering you a better show than this jog behind us will give—assuming your interests go into drama."[/color] Precious few others he could consider himself acquainted with that might think to unleash such a creature, or might have any grudge to bear against Solitude in particular. [color=#b3ccff]"Other than that, these undead—your doing, some stolen Valheimer experiment that your patron unleashed alone, or just a happy accident? They don't seem to care you're there."[/color]

Ferdiad leaned in, fixing Esben with a leer.

[b]"Oh? Heroic self-sacrifice, is it? Well I do so love a [i]tragedy!"[/i][/b] It tittered, body waving back and forth in its amusement. [b]"Very well. Hold up to your end of the bargain. Stay right where you are, just in my sight, and you'll get to MEET mine ever-so-effusive contractor!"[/b]

An obvious trap, and one he intended to spring. [color=#b3ccff]"Sacrifice? Your words, not mine."[/color] Should this patron be as he expected, he had a semblance of a plan for dealing with what he may be getting himself into, to cut himself a way back out of the net. Should they be otherwise...Improvisation was a skill he prided himself on. Especially lately, given how rarely any of his plans could survive contact with his own allies, let alone the enemy. [color=#b3ccff]"And only if [i]they[/i] come [i]here.[/i] No transporting myself, no trickery, no magic that tries to draw my sense away from my body, I intend to converse with them on this particular rooftop. If that can't be guaranteed, there's no deal."[/color]

In lieu of words, Ferdiad snapped its fingers, sending a pulse of blackened aether up into the air. [b]"Done! Now scurry and scatter, the rest of you. Lest you wish to [i]waste[/i] your compatriot's noble gesture here. Gehehehehehe!"[/b]

Esben nodded at the rest of them, utterly unperturbed. Events would transpire as they would, one way or the other. [color=#b3ccff]"Ah, Ferdiad, while we wait—the undead?"[/color]

[b]"Yes, yes. They've nothing to do with I or any other denizen of the deep. No, no, this horror is soley of man's making!"[/b]

[color=#b3ccff]"Mmm. Alex did always like to be showy, once she got her chance."[/color]