The Eye of Anubis: Book Ten

[Nathan of the FoS]

"He has the werejackal still," Charles notes. "Remember, Allikhain saw him in the garden with a yellow-eyed man, and there was Carter's weird experience. And the werejackal may provide a means of determining who Cavendish is, if he has alter egos. Where would he get a werejackal servant, anyway?"

[Nathan of the FoS]

"We could just announce it," Charles says. "He can hardly confined us to quarters, it's not as if we're military. And it's not as if it doesn't offer advantages to him."

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Better hurry and tell him before he disappears from the compound, then," Lia opines. "He seem just about ready to go, horses and all."

[Nathan of the FoS]

Charles does so--first pausing to tap his chest, chin and forehead in a way that seems signficant. casting Glibness

"Er...Kommandant!" he says, coming up to where Vedarrak is seated on his horse. "We've decided to visit the temple of Osiris while you're out. Good hunting!"

[NeoTiamat]

Outer Courtyard, Falkovnian Compound, Muhar, Har'Akir
August 27th, 761, 10:14 AM; Day 163 of the Menetnashte Expedition
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"Cert-- May I be so bold as to inquire why you wish to visit a locked-down Akiri religious temple?" The ambassador asked, looking down on Charles from horseback with an amused gaze.

[Nathan of the FoS]

"Well, some of us did come a long way to learn about Akiri religious practice," Charles points out. "I know M'selle Mourneswaith in particular intended to make a study of the temples here. We'll stay together and keep a sharp lookout, and come back quick as we can if we see any sign of trouble."

[lostboy]

"Indeed" Sascha echoes presenting himself alongside Charles, the wind fortuitously whipping his cloak to oneside and displaying the weapons concelaed within. "We shall tred as msieur Martel eloquently puts it, most carefully."

[yalenusveler]

"I have to admit, it would be a delightful chance to check out a personal area of study from something other than merely textual sources." Andre said, with what could almost be a smile. "Though I can't fathom I'll find much, except perhaps more information for a paper I was thinking writing on common themes in resurrected deities. " Andre looked about at the group with him. "Not exactly my graduate students, but If I need any heavy lifting done...eh, suppose I could do worse."

[NeoTiamat]

Outer Courtyard, Falkovnian Compound, Muhar, Har'Akir
August 27th, 761, 10:14 AM; Day 163 of the Menetnashte Expedition
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"I see." Vederrak said at length, still looking down at Charles with a vaguely condescending expression. He was silent for a long moment. Then the Falkovnian commander smiled broadly. "I think that's an excellent idea."

"In fact... Niklas, Luther?" Vederrak said, as two of the Falkovnians strode over. "Escort the good professor and his entourage to and fro the Temple of Osiris and keep them safe."

The two men nodded. Niklas was a younger man, perhaps Dieter's age, with corn-yellow hair and a beard that was somewhat patchy in places. Luther was an older man, a little paunchy for a soldier, but who wore the light crossbow at his side with the air of an old friends.

"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant." Luther said. "There shall be no trouble."

"Excellent." Vederrak favored you with a luminous smile. "Auf Wiedersehen, Professor."

And with those words, Vederrak, Schiffer, and the rest of the search party rode out of the compound.

[OOC: 2 Sense Motive checks.]

===============================================

"I do not like that man." Sarari said quietly, her eyes following the departing Vederrak with an intensity that was disconcerting, and doubly so when one recalled the elf's accuracy with a bow. "He is too polite."

"Um..." Dieter wasn't quite sure how to respond to that. The Lamordian looked about the compound walls as the other Falkovnians saluted the departing commander. "His men like him?"

"That they do." Edmund said, appearing behind the two other guards with decidedly more stealth than his size would general indicate. "Let's go, I think we'll be leaving soon."

"Yes captain." "Yes."

===============================================

"So then, you is wishing to go to the Temple of Osiris, ja?" The older Falkovnian soldier, Luther asked. You guessed him to be in his mid-thirties or so. "Are you wishing to get any supplies first, or should we be off?"

[DocBeard]

Tomas keeps quiet because he gets rocks thrown at him when he talks in these situations.

Once the Kommandant is gone, however, Tomas pulls his shield onto his arm, tugs on his hat, and makes sure his sword is in the right place. "I've got all I need." Tomas says to the soldiers, before making his way towards the gate.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"I, also, have what I require," Lia says, a smile implicit in her tone of voice. She goes to stand at Tomas' side. "You will help me if my tread should falter, will you not?" she asks with a very fake simper.

[lostboy]

"Unless anyone else wishes anything, we should leave whlst the day is still young". Sascha says simply before moving towards the gate, a sour look on his face from not only the notion of their Falkovnian babysitters, but also the ease with which Vederrak acquiesed.

"Am I being paranoid or does this feel like we are walking into a setup?" He mutters to Tomas and Lia in a low voice.

[DocBeard]

"Always, dear lady." Tomas replies with an overstated, rigid formality, falling into the given role quickly and efficiently. Maybe he took some theater classes once upon a time?

"Probably both." He sounds like his old, crazy self when questioned by Sascha, however. "But half the fun of problems like this is making the man behind the curtain regret going to so much effort on our account, nicht war?"

[lostboy]

"But half the fun of problems like this is making the man behind the curtain regret going to so much effort on our account, nicht war?"

That seems to hit a spot with Sascha and his weatherlined face creases further into a grin. Its not a wholly comfortable expression to behold on the knight however, as for a second there is a look in his eye that indicates Sascha is only too pleased to "help" others regret their actions.

But then its gone, and he's just an old man with a wry grin. "Oh I most certainly agree, herr Eisenwald" he says clapping Tomas heavily on the shoulder.

[NeoTiamat]

Outer Courtyard, Falkovnian Compound, Muhar, Har'Akir
August 27th, 761, 10:19 AM; Day 163 of the Menetnashte Expedition
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"Then let us be going, ja?" Luther said with a rather apathetic shrug. This was his duty, he'd do it, but there was a decided lack of enthusiasm about it.

In front of the Temple of Osiris, Muhar, Har'Akir
August 27th, 761, 10:27 AM; Day 163 of the Menetnashte Expedition
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The Temple of Osiris was just across the square from the Falkovnian compound, and it was certainly an intimidating building, though possessed of all the architectural grace and style of a tomb. It actually rather looked like a tomb.

Essentially, it was a huge block of stone, wider at the bottom and tapering at the top, with a large pair of stout doors in front. On the front of the Temple of Osiris a handful of religious images and hieroglyphics had been inscribed, most showing the green-skinned King of the Afterlife in all his glory. Despite that, it felt a little run-down.

Niklas went up to the temple and pulled the doors open. Or attempted to, rather, the Falkovnian jerking at the handle and coming up short. "It is stuck."

"Locked?" Edmund offered.

"No, not locked." Niklas said, moving towards the center of the doors and peering through the gap between them. "I am thinking that they are barred from the inside."

"That is odd." The older Falkovnian, Luther, said. "They should not be..."

===============================================

Sarari, meanwhile, was acting even more strangely than the elf usually did. She was watching Niklas and Luther with an intensity that was downright disturbing, though it turned out that (this time at least) it wasn't for any thoughts of violence. Once certain that the two Falkovnians were too distracted to pay her any notice, she slipped a folded piece of paper from her arm-guard and moved towards Andre and Charles. "Read this, but attract no notice."

On the outside of the folded paper was a short note in the handwriting of Professor Carter:

• The Falkovnians won't be able to read it, but don't let them see it if you can help it. Vedarrak will recognize the magical script.
  • • • • • -Prof. TC

The inside was rather more informative.

• Andre-
  
  It should rightfully be to all of the expedition that I write to, but it is you who has the most personal stake in the matter, so I address myself to you. Professor Devereux told us about your missing heart, and what he surmised to be the cause. He apologizes for taking the liberty of doing so, but given the current situation, it seemed pertinent. You can trust me when I say he would not have done so otherwise.
  
  We have often been unkind to each other, have we not? I know you have no love for me, but I hope we can come to some manner of reconciliation with each other, for our student’s sake if not for our own. I say this because you may find you have to trust me, and I you, to get each other out of this alive. For when you retire to your quarters for the night, you will not find us there. Doubtless if you asked, the guards would have an excuse for you as to our whereabouts. They may even believe it to be the truth, given the strict chain of command they operate under, but the simple fact of the matter is, Vedarrak has imprisoned us. We are under guard in the main building of the compound, confined to our rooms and sealed behind the inner courtyard wall. It seems you were not secure enough insurance for him. He is scared of you all, I think, and with the other authority figures out of the way, he can attempt to exercise complete control over the expedition.
  
  Whatever his rationale, this is not a situation that can maintain itself. Once we have outlived our usefulness, I do not think Vedarrak intends to let us live. I may be wrong. I often am, indeed, I hope that I am. I fear that I am not, however, and that we must prepare ourselves for a confrontation. We do not think now is the time for it. Vedarrak currently holds every advantage over us, and he is the only thing standing between us and the angry people of Muhar. I urge you strongly against any rash course of action. No matter what our personal feelings may be, to confront him now would only put us all in grave danger. We must ensure our own safety before we rid ourselves of the Falkovnian. If Cavendish is out there, he must be your top priority.
  
  As for ourselves, we will remain where we are for the moment, in the hopes of undermining Vedarrak’s defenses for when the confrontation does occur. You must not give him any inkling that we have contacted you, or that you intend to act against him. Vedarrak has confiscated Kuzan’s sending stone, so do not use it if you need to communicate with us. Likewise, if we discover anything critical, Carter will attempt to reach you via magic. We will not be sending anyone out again if we can avoid it. The chances of detection are simply too great.
  
  There is one final thing. I hesitate to say it, but I feel that I must. If you have received this, then Remy, despite my concerns, has proven that he can escape from Vedarrak’s care. Professor Carter, I have no doubt, can do the same, and Professor Devereux has his own talents. Still, no matter how well we prepare ourselves, something can always go wrong. We are all four agreed that Samael’s expedition must be stopped at all costs; at least, we are in principle. In practice, I fear we will find ourselves not quite as willing to do what must be done, and so I say this to you now. If any one of us jeopardizes the safety of the entire expedition through our captivity, then they must be left behind.
  
  • • • • • -Professor Sebastian Marchand-Renier