A Matter of Concern to Mr Ordiston
Mr Ordiston,
Hello! I have both good news and bad news. First, the dig, while it is proceeding, is doing so at a snail's pace. The good news is that we have uncovered a new chamber within the structure. It was hidden beneath a trapdoor in the floor of the ritual chamber. Judging from the sealings on the trapdoor as well as the artistic styles in the reliefs and carvings upon the walls, it seems to me that this chamber was unknown to the temple’s last inhabitants. Amazingly, it has also been preserved so well that the colouring upon the reliefs is still mostly vibrant.
Upon the walls are carved intricate depictions of serpents. In the centre of the north wall is a depiction of a large winged ophidian wrapped around a deep green jewel the size of a fist. I have never seen anything like it, and even our mage has been unable to magically identify it, although he has been able to sense some sort of magic radiating from it. This is old magic, perhaps from before the War of Many Suns. This brings me to the purpose of my letter. I am requesting that you send the bronze orb, as I believe this jewel could be what we have been looking for.
-Arthur P. Lange, Head Archaeologist
Mr Lange, I am glad to hear of the progress you and your team have made. It is unfortunate and inconvenient that our current digging has been slowed, but the discovery of this hidden chamber is definitively promising. I will be sending you the orb by ship on the Mulmeda River from the south. Expect it twenty and two days after receiving this letter, as I will not be able to send it immediately. It must first be removed from its secure storage within my vaults in the Ulsterian Empire. Respond upon receiving the orb. Regards, Edmond Ordiston
Mr Ordiston, I am glad to hear of your approval of our progress! Concern has shadowed my mind as to the delivery of the orb, however, as it is nearly a full week past its scheduled arrival as I write this. I am aware that you instructed me to respond upon receiving the package, but worry has prevailed in my mind. Losing it could be disastrous and prevent our research from continuing. If you know anything of its whereabouts or the nature of the delay, please notify me. -Arthur P. Lange, Head Archaeologist
Mr Lange, This is disturbing news. The captain of the ship notified me of its delivery ten days ago. I was beginning to become concerned that something had befallen you and prevented you from responding to my last letter. Thank you for notifying me. I will contact my associates and see if I can determine what has happened. For now, proceed with the dig as you would have. Regards, Edmond Ordiston
Mr Ordiston looked up from his walnut desk. He stood up, carefully folding the letter and slipping it into the envelope and sealing it with red wax. As he left his study, he handed the letter to his butler, who simply nodded and walked towards the front of the house. Edmond turned to his left, entering his bedroom. He would deal with this debacle in the morning. In the morning, he sent a message to his local contact, requesting a meeting for lunch. He wished to meet at a local inn on the outskirts of Kirkport to discuss any news concerning the orb. After a morning of writing and studying, Edmond travelled by coach to the inn, The Loch and Cay Inn. When he arrived, he requested a seat in a private booth in the far corner and waited for his contact to arrive. After around twenty minutes, he arrived. His contact was a middle-aged gentleman originally from Montelermo by the name Anton Martelle. “It’s good to see you, Edmond!” “Thank you. Unfortunately, I’m not here to exchange pleasantries. I have received communications from my friend working on the dig in the Machatun Mountains.” “Oh?” “He never received the bronze sphere, despite the captain that I sent it with stating that it had been delivered. Have you received any intelligence on what could have happened to it? We cannot lose it.” Anton waved over a bartender. “Can we get two mugs of your laris fruit tea?” The waitress nodded, walking behind the counter and into the backroom, presumably to the wine cellar, where the tea was also stored. Edmond continued. “Well, in that case, I have good news for you. I have heard rumours that seem to indicate that a man by the name of Oliver Duncaster had it last. He is an admiral in the Royal Ulsterian Navy, a relative newcomer to military life but one who has quickly risen to prominence. He disappeared a few days ago.” “Is there any indication as to where he could have gone?” “To the king? No. To the Ring, however, there is. We know that he is travelling south by ship and is most likely trying to find a buyer for the sphere. My best guess is that he will try to do so at Ennsmouth. It’s a large trade city just south of the border in Lanador. Granted, this is just conjecture on my part.” At this point, their drinks had arrived. Anton placed a single sugar cube into his tea, glancing up at Edmond. Edmond nodded, and Anton placed yet another cube into his companion’s drink. “Do you know how he came to possess the sphere?” “It seems as though he was personally sent by King Frederic to intercept it from what I can only assume was the ship you hired. A ship of Maenorian mercenaries, wasn’t it?” “That would be the one.” “I can only assume that the confirmation you received from your “captain” was a forgery designed to delay us in realizing that the orb had gone missing.” “Naturally. Would you pass this conversation on to the Iron Ring? Notify them that I will be sending Astren to Ennsmouth after him.” “The Ring will take care of these arrangements themselves. They prefer not to have the job botched as your mercenaries apparently did.” “It is not my fault that they were caught. The king must have had some information regarding these movements. How, I do not know.” “If he had the information, then you were too sloppy. I suggest you remain uninvolved for a month or so. It’s usually best to let the Ring simply cool down before inserting yourself back into things because they are pretty angry with you.” “I know. Thank you for the advice.” “Well in that case, is there anything else you wished to discuss?” “No,” said Edmond, shaking his head. “Perfect. Then I’ll be off.” Anton grabbed his coat from the back of the booth and stood up. “It was a pleasure to see you, my friend. I’m afraid we won’t for a long time now.” “Why is that?” asked Edmond, concern creeping into his voice. But Anton had already left. Later that night, as Edmond was lying in bed, he was pondering his old companion’s final words to him. He was unable to fall asleep but was unsure whether it was due to Anton’s cryptic statement or the discomfort in his stomach. “Laris fruit tea never did agree with my stomach, regardless of how fine it tastes,” he thought to himself. Eventually, he managed to fall asleep. Tragically, it would be for the last time. The poison had taken its toll.
Mr Lange, I am glad to hear of the progress you and your team have made. It is unfortunate and inconvenient that our current digging has been slowed, but the discovery of this hidden chamber is definitively promising. I will be sending you the orb by ship on the Mulmeda River from the south. Expect it twenty and two days after receiving this letter, as I will not be able to send it immediately. It must first be removed from its secure storage within my vaults in the Ulsterian Empire. Respond upon receiving the orb. Regards, Edmond Ordiston
Mr Ordiston, I am glad to hear of your approval of our progress! Concern has shadowed my mind as to the delivery of the orb, however, as it is nearly a full week past its scheduled arrival as I write this. I am aware that you instructed me to respond upon receiving the package, but worry has prevailed in my mind. Losing it could be disastrous and prevent our research from continuing. If you know anything of its whereabouts or the nature of the delay, please notify me. -Arthur P. Lange, Head Archaeologist
Mr Lange, This is disturbing news. The captain of the ship notified me of its delivery ten days ago. I was beginning to become concerned that something had befallen you and prevented you from responding to my last letter. Thank you for notifying me. I will contact my associates and see if I can determine what has happened. For now, proceed with the dig as you would have. Regards, Edmond Ordiston
Mr Ordiston looked up from his walnut desk. He stood up, carefully folding the letter and slipping it into the envelope and sealing it with red wax. As he left his study, he handed the letter to his butler, who simply nodded and walked towards the front of the house. Edmond turned to his left, entering his bedroom. He would deal with this debacle in the morning. In the morning, he sent a message to his local contact, requesting a meeting for lunch. He wished to meet at a local inn on the outskirts of Kirkport to discuss any news concerning the orb. After a morning of writing and studying, Edmond travelled by coach to the inn, The Loch and Cay Inn. When he arrived, he requested a seat in a private booth in the far corner and waited for his contact to arrive. After around twenty minutes, he arrived. His contact was a middle-aged gentleman originally from Montelermo by the name Anton Martelle. “It’s good to see you, Edmond!” “Thank you. Unfortunately, I’m not here to exchange pleasantries. I have received communications from my friend working on the dig in the Machatun Mountains.” “Oh?” “He never received the bronze sphere, despite the captain that I sent it with stating that it had been delivered. Have you received any intelligence on what could have happened to it? We cannot lose it.” Anton waved over a bartender. “Can we get two mugs of your laris fruit tea?” The waitress nodded, walking behind the counter and into the backroom, presumably to the wine cellar, where the tea was also stored. Edmond continued. “Well, in that case, I have good news for you. I have heard rumours that seem to indicate that a man by the name of Oliver Duncaster had it last. He is an admiral in the Royal Ulsterian Navy, a relative newcomer to military life but one who has quickly risen to prominence. He disappeared a few days ago.” “Is there any indication as to where he could have gone?” “To the king? No. To the Ring, however, there is. We know that he is travelling south by ship and is most likely trying to find a buyer for the sphere. My best guess is that he will try to do so at Ennsmouth. It’s a large trade city just south of the border in Lanador. Granted, this is just conjecture on my part.” At this point, their drinks had arrived. Anton placed a single sugar cube into his tea, glancing up at Edmond. Edmond nodded, and Anton placed yet another cube into his companion’s drink. “Do you know how he came to possess the sphere?” “It seems as though he was personally sent by King Frederic to intercept it from what I can only assume was the ship you hired. A ship of Maenorian mercenaries, wasn’t it?” “That would be the one.” “I can only assume that the confirmation you received from your “captain” was a forgery designed to delay us in realizing that the orb had gone missing.” “Naturally. Would you pass this conversation on to the Iron Ring? Notify them that I will be sending Astren to Ennsmouth after him.” “The Ring will take care of these arrangements themselves. They prefer not to have the job botched as your mercenaries apparently did.” “It is not my fault that they were caught. The king must have had some information regarding these movements. How, I do not know.” “If he had the information, then you were too sloppy. I suggest you remain uninvolved for a month or so. It’s usually best to let the Ring simply cool down before inserting yourself back into things because they are pretty angry with you.” “I know. Thank you for the advice.” “Well in that case, is there anything else you wished to discuss?” “No,” said Edmond, shaking his head. “Perfect. Then I’ll be off.” Anton grabbed his coat from the back of the booth and stood up. “It was a pleasure to see you, my friend. I’m afraid we won’t for a long time now.” “Why is that?” asked Edmond, concern creeping into his voice. But Anton had already left. Later that night, as Edmond was lying in bed, he was pondering his old companion’s final words to him. He was unable to fall asleep but was unsure whether it was due to Anton’s cryptic statement or the discomfort in his stomach. “Laris fruit tea never did agree with my stomach, regardless of how fine it tastes,” he thought to himself. Eventually, he managed to fall asleep. Tragically, it would be for the last time. The poison had taken its toll.
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