Post by Theytrew1 on Nov 19, 2019 12:39:53 GMT 10
From the journal of Alexandra Markova - a small book, bound in battered red leather, that she keeps on her person at all times.
The following entries are written in an extremely complex cypher that incorporates words from what looks like half a dozen different languages and number systems into a near-unbreakable code.
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Thaumont 01, 1017
Fresh logbook. I guess LD takes that whole "Burn after reading" thing seriously. Three years of notes, up in flames. Oh well, I enjoy the new-book paper scent, anyway.
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Thaumont 19, 1017
Shipment 14 to M-6 intercepted by KAF. I don't know how they knew, but they knew. Pause on further shipments for now.
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Flaurmont 09, 1017
Took me a while, but I ran it down. Middleman at T was talking to his mistress across the pillows, and the information was making it's way to TK. Delivered flowers to the middleman and his mistress both - a pity, but it should stop the leak.
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Flaurmont 27, 1017
Just spent the last three weeks restructuring the supply chain. LD is going to owe me a large bonus for this amount of running around.
Replacement shipment arranged from C at R. Had to soothe some ruffled feathers, they are touchy bastards. Helps to speak the language, though. Never been happier to have sat through all those lessons with Father P.
Further shipments to be routed through our contacts in V. Costs increased. Additional 5k needed for replacement shipment. Expenses raised by additional 1k per following shipments for wheel grease.
No progress on side project at V, though I had considered it my best chance. The people there seem to thrive on keeping secrets.
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Yarthmont 05, 1017
Slipping through L is getting harder. Patrol schedule has changed again. Remind L-2 to update us more regularly - I almost wound up with my head on a pike this time.
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Yarthmont 09, 1017
Initial meeting with new contact in 5-S promising. H were interested, but cited problems with BLvH for lack of material support. Set up a line of communication so I don't have to risk this trip every time. Messages through CC for the usual considerations. H gave me some information they had on an IR operation I want to look into.
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Yarthmont 23, 1017
Skirmish with some Iron Ring bastards near S village coastline. We lost five fighters, three dead and two to capture - may Petra protect and guide them. Cell S-4 likely compromised - all other S cells ordered to cut ties and go to ground for a while. Not sure if this was worth it - we recovered documents, but they were in code. Sent to Father P for analysis.
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Yarthmont 25, 1017
Received orders to head north today. Happy to get out of this town. There's something creepy going on here, and no-one will talk about it - even with me.
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Klarmont 03, 1017
Shoes were too tight when inspected. Gate guards at D/S took it badly. Cost me 300 from the slush fund - and a really awkward dinner date - to get out of. Remind me to beat the snot out of P when I see him next - he was in charge of boots for this trip. We need a better cobbler.
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Klarmont 06, 1017
Trip just paid for itself, and then some. Have to lay low for a few weeks, but this should make LD very happy.
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Klarmont 25, 1017
Capua layover in Threshold for a few days. Boy, this town is a dump - all the stories about this place must be lies. I can't wait to get out of here.
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Felmont 09, 1017
Made contact with some of our people in the Nest. They confirm they can get me into target location as staff tomorrow. Ugh - servant-girl uniforms are always so revealing, and the dye I use always destroys my hair. Still, anything that keeps them from looking at my face is a good thing, I suppose. I swear, the things I do for the cause...
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Felmont 10, 1017
Successful delivery of flowers to target M during party at Lord K's mansion. Fish used was secured from supply meant for house V, cannot be traced back to us. Cell Sp-3 member reports KAF & city watch suspect political infighting as cause of delivery.
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Felmont 11, 1017
Found copy of a diary sold in market. I believe it was written by target of my side project. If I'm right, this is the most information I've ever been able to find on the MIR, and it contained his full name. I may have written off Threshold too soon - as a source of information, it could be useful.
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Sviftmont 07, 1017
It's good to be home in D for awhile. Got to see Ma and the cousins. Glad to be inside as it's so cold at night now.
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Eirmont 19, 1017
I know people think of D as dull, but I have always seen the hidden currents under the surface that made this place lively - until now - I've never been more bored in my life! Ma keeps asking me when I'm going to find a man and settle down - like she can talk! I finally broke down and begged LD for a new assignment - any assignment.
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Kaldmont 02, 1017
Arrived at training Camp X. LD wants me to polish tradecraft of new recruits from V-cells while we're snowed in. This may take a while. I've never seen a more ham-fisted bunch.
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Newmont 01, 1018
Happy new year, logbook.
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Vatermont 26, 1018
DK just arrived to replace me here. Sounds like the negotiations with HF are in trouble. Good thing the roads are finally clearing up enough to travel again.
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Thaumont 13, 1018
Arrived at HF. Cannot believe LD sent P here to bargain. He has spent the last three months preaching the cause to the HF Council of Elders, and made no progress. Idiot!
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Thaumont 15, 1018
Offered weaponsmith's guild 30% over asking price to ask no questions and forget to mention the deal to the town council. First shipment leaves next week.
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Thaumont 21, 1018
Wanted to use the V corridor for new HF source, but too much risk putting shipments from C at R and D at HF through the same pipeline. Instead will ship through K openly. The shipments will be listed on paper as KAF supplies, but diverted to M at transshipment point just north of Sp. From there, they will be split up and units smuggled to cells as needed.
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Flaurmont 09, 1018
Recently decoded IR documents - recovered at S last year - leaked to KAF enforcers. KAF think they found the documents in a raid, poor naive souls.
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Flaurmont 22, 1018
KAF announced destruction of IR base in Gulf of Halag. Classified reports list seventy-eight Traladaran slaves freed.
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Yarthmont 07, 1018
Just spent a week in R village spreading coin around and buying drinks. Didn't learn much, but it's good to touch base with your contacts every now and then.
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Yarthmont 09, 1018
I was ambushed by bandits along the Eastron near Dymrak today. They picked the wrong traveller to try and rob.
I put the bandits down quickly, but the biggest brute caught me across the face with his blade - I'm lucky I didn't lose the eye. I think the wound is going to scar, too - not good for someone in my profession. Dammit.
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Yarthmont 24, 1018
I'm being sent to Threshold. LD wants me to investigate some ridiculous story he heard about an army of dragons - doubtless yet another one of the lies these Thresholders tell about themselves - but I should have plenty of time to work on my side project, too.
Thaumont 13, 1018
Arrived at HF. Cannot believe LD sent P here to bargain. He has spent the last three months preaching the cause to the HF Council of Elders, and made no progress. Idiot!
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Thaumont 15, 1018
Offered weaponsmith's guild 30% over asking price to ask no questions and forget to mention the deal to the town council. First shipment leaves next week.
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Thaumont 21, 1018
Wanted to use the V corridor for new HF source, but too much risk putting shipments from C at R and D at HF through the same pipeline. Instead will ship through K openly. The shipments will be listed on paper as KAF supplies, but diverted to M at transshipment point just north of Sp. From there, they will be split up and units smuggled to cells as needed.
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Flaurmont 09, 1018
Recently decoded IR documents - recovered at S last year - leaked to KAF enforcers. KAF think they found the documents in a raid, poor naive souls.
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Flaurmont 22, 1018
KAF announced destruction of IR base in Gulf of Halag. Classified reports list seventy-eight Traladaran slaves freed.
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Yarthmont 07, 1018
Just spent a week in R village spreading coin around and buying drinks. Didn't learn much, but it's good to touch base with your contacts every now and then.
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Yarthmont 09, 1018
I was ambushed by bandits along the Eastron near Dymrak today. They picked the wrong traveller to try and rob.
I put the bandits down quickly, but the biggest brute caught me across the face with his blade - I'm lucky I didn't lose the eye. I think the wound is going to scar, too - not good for someone in my profession. Dammit.
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Yarthmont 24, 1018
I'm being sent to Threshold. LD wants me to investigate some ridiculous story he heard about an army of dragons - doubtless yet another one of the lies these Thresholders tell about themselves - but I should have plenty of time to work on my side project, too.
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Klarmont 05, 1018
Finally, I have come back to Threshold. The local town council accepted my D village deputy Sheriff's badge without question - although it felt odd to use real identification for once, it was the quickest way to get the information I needed.
And I have had great success with my side project. My target is remembered here by Marshall Nassus and I have found several mentions of him in the town archives - though there are many, many records I have not been able to read yet. What I have found so far is promising. The MIR was apparently in residence here from approximately 985 to the year 1000. He was a Ylari exile, possibly a nobleman, and notoriously vague about his past.
I am told members of the Arcane Alliance might know more - but I have been unable to secure an audience with anyone there, due to the crisis - and it appears that yes, there is a crisis.
The town is preparing for a battle, and I've heard this "army of dragons" mentioned several times. Perhaps there may be something to the stories after all; I know there are white dragons living at the tops of the Altan Teppes, and the locals make mention of a mighty green wyrm named Verdalith that lairs in the nearby Black Peaks. Perhaps one or two of these beasts have banded together to attack Threshold.
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Klarmont 07, 1018
Threshold is being evacuated. I'm not sure what information the town council has, but they seem to be taking this extremely seriously. Marshall Nassus has requested my help as a fellow lawkeeper to help with the evacuation. I couldn't refuse; there are so many of my countrymen among the evacuees. I'll do what I can.
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Klarmont 08, 1018
I'm standing here on the walls of Threshold, and I see them coming, logbook, I see the dragons, arriving like an oncoming storm.
They tell me that this will help, this thing we are doing. I didn't understand it all, but I caught the highlights. They say it will help save the people, my people, and that they need a hundred of us for it to work. Every able person to the battlements, and I am able.
I feel the wand in my hand, powerful like no magic I've ever felt before; lightning in a bottle; A frozen moment of time. I see others, along the battlement, wizards and witches, archmages and sorcerers all, and me.
Should I have kept silent?
But if I hadn't spoken up, hadn't agreed to stay behind, maybe they would not have found their hundredth member. Maybe they would be standing here, one person short, and watching the approaching dragonstorm with no hope at all.
But we are here, logbook; we who are the last century; and there is a slim hope, not for us - because we will die - but for the people who will escape as we do.
There is no time left, logbook, there is... no... time... at... all..
Klarmont 05, 1018
Finally, I have come back to Threshold. The local town council accepted my D village deputy Sheriff's badge without question - although it felt odd to use real identification for once, it was the quickest way to get the information I needed.
And I have had great success with my side project. My target is remembered here by Marshall Nassus and I have found several mentions of him in the town archives - though there are many, many records I have not been able to read yet. What I have found so far is promising. The MIR was apparently in residence here from approximately 985 to the year 1000. He was a Ylari exile, possibly a nobleman, and notoriously vague about his past.
I am told members of the Arcane Alliance might know more - but I have been unable to secure an audience with anyone there, due to the crisis - and it appears that yes, there is a crisis.
The town is preparing for a battle, and I've heard this "army of dragons" mentioned several times. Perhaps there may be something to the stories after all; I know there are white dragons living at the tops of the Altan Teppes, and the locals make mention of a mighty green wyrm named Verdalith that lairs in the nearby Black Peaks. Perhaps one or two of these beasts have banded together to attack Threshold.
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Klarmont 07, 1018
Threshold is being evacuated. I'm not sure what information the town council has, but they seem to be taking this extremely seriously. Marshall Nassus has requested my help as a fellow lawkeeper to help with the evacuation. I couldn't refuse; there are so many of my countrymen among the evacuees. I'll do what I can.
~~ -------------------- ~~
Klarmont 08, 1018
I'm standing here on the walls of Threshold, and I see them coming, logbook, I see the dragons, arriving like an oncoming storm.
They tell me that this will help, this thing we are doing. I didn't understand it all, but I caught the highlights. They say it will help save the people, my people, and that they need a hundred of us for it to work. Every able person to the battlements, and I am able.
I feel the wand in my hand, powerful like no magic I've ever felt before; lightning in a bottle; A frozen moment of time. I see others, along the battlement, wizards and witches, archmages and sorcerers all, and me.
Should I have kept silent?
But if I hadn't spoken up, hadn't agreed to stay behind, maybe they would not have found their hundredth member. Maybe they would be standing here, one person short, and watching the approaching dragonstorm with no hope at all.
But we are here, logbook; we who are the last century; and there is a slim hope, not for us - because we will die - but for the people who will escape as we do.
There is no time left, logbook, there is... no... time... at... all..