
Originally Posted by
Alusair
Tonight is silent. Or it would be, were there not subtle chirpings in the distance. I'm told these are crickets, but I'm quite certain it's the tumbleweeds, conveying secret communications. I will attempt to decipher these, but lately I've already invested my concentration on trying to make sense of their seemingly nonsensical movements in town.
I've decided their movements actually make the shape of letters, likely the phrases they pass from one to another. After studying one specimen carefully, I have deciphered the following word: sjlurlmn.
I'm not sure what it means. I'm suspecting it's yet another coded phrase. I'm beginning to appreciate the craftiness of my subjects.
Before I could contemplate this further, I received word from a scout that someone approaches the city. I ordered the guards to lower the gates of the city walls. They told me we have no gates on the walls. I asked them how we're supposed to keep invaders out of the city with no gates. They told me the farms built directly in front of the entrance of the city act as obstacles for organized forces (this includes our own armies and even merchant traders, I've learned). I asked what we have to protect the farmers in the way of any invading armies. They shrugged.
Exasperated, I dismissed the guards and went to meet this stranger. I kept a safe distance from him, lest he be an assassin. Because of this distance, and the darkness of the night, I could not identify him.
"Who are you?" I shouted to the stranger.
"Guess who!" He responded.
I was slightly annoyed at this cryptic response, but replied nonetheless. "Guan Xing?" I asked, assuming perhaps it was my former colleague, who I have heard is still active in the lands.
"What?" The figure replied, sounding confused.
"Are you Guan Xing?" I asked again.
"No!" Came the reply.
"Then who are you?" I asked again.
"Guess who!" The figure responded again. I knitted my brows in frustration.
"Artifact?" I shouted, figuring perhaps it was the oldest of my colleagues still rumoured to be around.
"Huh??" Came an incredulous sounding response.
"Are you Artifact?" I asked again.
"No!" Came an almost annoyed sounding response. Peculiar, considering he keeps asking me to guess who he is.
"Then who are you?" I asked a third time, my patience beginning to wear thin.
"Guess who!" Came the response again, sounding almost as exasperated as I.
"Pah, I have no time for these games!" I shouted, and began to walk away. The figure attempted to shout out to me again. I could make out "...is my name...", but the rest was lost to the winds as I put more distance between us.
As the unknown figure left the premises of the city, my scouts tell me he wore the insignia of Virulent on his armours.
It seems my tumbleweed people not only have some sort of connection to Tercio, but they also have dealings with Virulent. My suspicions that this was an assassin sent to infiltrate the city have only been confirmed. The complexity of this plot against me seems to only thicken. This may be a challenge to uncover yet.
As I looked over my city from the castle balcony, I heard chirps no longer. The tumbleweeds have surely realized something has gone amiss this night. Perhaps they've discovered that I am onto their ruse. They may attempt even more wily methods of communication and mutiny now.
I will need to sleep with a knife beneath my pillow this night, it seems.
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