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"The Knife's Edge Pays a Visit"
Ashan 88, arc 718
There was a satisfaction like no other to see all hope of life and liberty drain from a face the moment its eyes were laid upon you. Better still, since the woman in question had a reputation for a short and swiftly escalating temper.Chief Adviser Karnos Vuda would have even stood by passively and allowed the woman her uncontested attack against him, had she the impulse to do so. He'd prepared so many replicative layers of his robe upon itself that her well-known ether missiles could not have sufficiently punctured his essence to do so much as allow a needle to be threaded for a new button.
It was more a matter to see if she'd hold back, given the probability that she felt that his presence must herald her death. In truth, he would not deny the temptation. There were a number of issues slowly creeping to the point of spinning out of control, back in Etzos, that the necessity of leaving them in less-capable hands, while he was forced to address this buffoonery was an unbearable nuisance.
He'd heard there's been a falling out between she and Gangui. Torvyn had greatly disappointed him by letting the mercenary jabber him into a far greater loan than was ever supposed to be on the table for consideration. The hairy fool had had the ten thousand nel bounty right in his hands, when he'd hacked the bandit chieftain's hand off right in the street. And then he'd somehow allowed him to slip away. That bounty would have embodied a full TWO THIRDS of what should have been an entirely unnecessary loan!
Instead, Noth was free and this Munzorig fellow had practically been rewarded for it! And this 'Zipper' sorceress had had her chance to nip this trouble in the bud as well; when she and Gangui had allegedly fought each other in these same streets. Rumors spoke of it being a challenge to the death, Yet clearly, common sense had NOT won the day, and some foolishness akin to mercy had raised its infuriating head!
The anger that seethed within him was slightly mollified with the look of stark terror on the face of his captive audience, as well as the conspicuously empty hall he'd left in his wake as he made his way up the Foster's Bay Garrison facility. Any one in the army or the Black Guard knew his presence in this town meant trouble, and no one wanted to reap the benefits of some stray casting. Equally vent-worthy to him, and startling to Miss O'Connor was the blast of Abrogation that flung the door open to crash and crack against the wall, with hinges warped.
"Alright! How much of thi-...sss..how....what the-...?" he stammered, as the anticipated stacks of records and reports were freakishly dwarfed by the ranks of tiny 'Dorans' populating every spare inch of horizontal surface space. Doran's arrayed in groups, titles scrawled on parchment to name the heroic event they represented.
Stately 'Ambassador Doran', standing beside noble Marshall Parhn at his appointment to the station. 'Slayer of False Hope', with Doran swinging aloft the severed head of none other than Xiur himself. 'True-seer Doran', thrusting an accusing finger at the cringing minion of some foul Immortal, in this case, an aukari, judging by the eruption of flames. 'Captain Doran', asail upon the Orm'del Sea. 'Saint Doran' complete with fawning, well-endowed devotees at his holy feet. A crowned 'King Doran', wearing the emblems of Rynmere.
Vuda's eyes stopped taking in the details as he finally closed his jaw. A snort escaped him. One would assume it was borne of disgust. Then another, in a slightly lighter tone. Then a further trio followed, as he sagged back against the door. The mystery of whether he was choking on something in the air, or if he'd been poisoned was solved suddenly as he burst into full-throated laughter.
He turned and hobbled out the door, back into the hall, as eyes peered cautiously to see what madness had assailed the dread mage, who was now leaning over, hands upon his knees in debilitating mirth, face red, eyes watering as he roared uncontrollably. It may have behooved Zipper to make whatever attack she may have been considering right then.