>>5507812“However, the so-called ‘Bugbear Boss’ has returned,” the North Merchant notes. “He was retrieved by the Hunter a little over a week ago, and has been recovering ever since. He may have insight into the Necromancer… And how it is he plans to go about this.”
“The Occult Researcher who you recruited when last you were in contact with the northern forward base could be of some use, as well,” the South Merchant proposes.
“Or we could request help from the Chaplain and the High Priests of the Dark Light Beyond and the Secret Flame,” the Translator says, raising his voice slightly to assert his primacy over the other two. “With everything that is transpiring… It is high time we sought the help of those closest to the Dark Gods, in accordance with the Grand Design.”
This phrasing catches your attention, and so you ask: “What do you mean, ‘with everything that is transpiring’? Is there something else?”
The two merchants exchange a meaningful look, and allow the Translator to take the lead.
“The Great Conspiracy is breached,” he explains gravely. “In the northern human city of Hawksong, one of our operatives was captured and exposed, publicly.”
You freeze up instinctively, as if in the gaze of a predator. That is an unfamiliar sensation, especially of late—you are not used to thinking of yourself as a hidden prey, a slinking serpent beneath the rocks and dirt, wary of exposure to the sun. yet here it is: that reality, that reminder of your race’s sorry place.
“How highly placed was this operative?” you ask.
“The Operations Chaplain.”
It gets worse and worse.
“How did this happen?” you ask.
“We do not know,” the Translator replies. “This is exactly why we must make formal contact with the forward base’s Chaplain, to coordinate a response. As it is, we have only rumours, which the Thief overheard in his infiltrations of the settlement called ‘Undershadow’. Some sort of green-armoured human ‘adventurer’ was responsible, allegedly, but now the Paladins of the Silver Order have begun to move against us.”
