>>6124772The pyramid, the columns, the architecture screams Maduan influence, with its square base and the heavy geometrical bulk.
“Eight hundred years ago,” Sandora Mirari keeps explaining, “a group of evangelists from the Holy Land landed on the shores of what would become the Treviri Throne. They established a small community along the coast, and built a fortress-monastery.” The ink gets fuzzy — some of the pillars around the temple fall, and the structure tilts to the right a bit, but it does not fall. “During the expansion wars, the Throne seized on the momentary weakness caused by the death of Saint Bragia to try and seize this patch of land.”
“And it succeeded,” Soralisa sighs. “Save for the monastery itself.”
the Asterite nods.
“Which has remained standing, if empty, to this day. A memory of Maduan colonisation.”
“One you are not allowed to touch,” Rubida reminds her. “So—”
And then, maybe inspired by Ansàrra’s own insight, you connect the dots.
Sandora’s words on how to kill a mage.
The Crows being useless in this case.
The necessity for diplomacy between your two countries.
You feel yourself deflate.
“So this is Carnaval’s idea of diplomacy—”
The Asterite stops, setting her hands onto her lap.
“Oh my Stars. You get it now, don’t you?”
“What’s going on,” Willow asks, tilting her head. She keeps throwing looks around, and she seems on edge, but for now all you can think about is Carnaval’s words, and her concept of an ‘easy’ mission.
“One of yours crawled inside, didn’t he?” You ask, no — state — pointing at the inky structure. “The Throne is not allowed to walk inside, and the Crows answer directly to the Emperor, so that one is out. Second, any violent solution would risk destroying the Temple itself, and that can’t happen.” Especially, you add to yourself, for something tied to Saint Bragia like that. “Which leaves a diplomatic solution. Carnaval’s kind of diplomacy.”
Sandora Mirari nods. She seems impressed.
“Someone would have described you as much better with sword than with words, Madama Candente. Now I wonder if they were right.”
“Just… a hunch. It doesn’t happen often,” you reply with a faint blush. And what are you even blushing for? Praise from heathen lips! You certainly don’t need that. “So. That means, that the correct way to murder this Asterite is—”
“With four Knights of Ansàrra,” she agrees. “Oh, and an Asterite as well: that would be me! I received special permission from Carnaval to escort you inside the Temple. You are going to need a guide in order to deal with this. Everyone needs a teacher,” she chuckles.
You can hardly agree.
[cont.]
4chan was being extra anal and I had trouble uploading the update. had to switch browser. hope everything is fine. 