Case 3: Supplemental Info

[oneiros]

Here are the long awaited entries from Morgan Sallis' diary that I kept forgetting to post, along with the Forestongue verse. I'll try and put dates on when I've got the timeline sorted out in my head (and got to grips properly with the calendar!)
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13 Descending Wood, 4995
Not for the first time I cursed my bloody luck again this morning. I hate it down here. Seriously, Farhold has to be one of the most uninteresting Guild assignments on the roster. Watching people cut down trees is as boring as watching paint dry. There hasn’t even been a Red Scar attack for a week now. No change at the temple.

14 Descending Wood, 4995
Still no attack. Still no change at the temple – seven shamans went in this morning.

16 Descending Wood, 4995
Raiding party reported to south-east of town, attack on Lexia Logging Company. Good. Smug bastards. Same seven Green Shadow shamans at the temple. Some sort of disagreement between two of them.

17 Descending Wood, 4995
Managed to talk to one of those arguing shamans last night. Couldn’t say no to the old moonshine. Especially not when I used GC013S. Managed to pilfer his pouch – found an odd scrap of paper in there. Lucky me, I seem to have found the one savage who can actually read! Will have to get it translated – seems to be in a weird Forest-tongue scrawl or dialect. Have copied it here.

By brush of fang and flight of hoof
In cloak of night or by twilight cape
Three-score scalps upon the pyre.

One champion consumes five hearts
Calls out for the endless rush to win
Tseny’s song of sable.

Pack mass hunt dear
Turn hope into fear
Raid seek fire seer
Near edge lost mere

20 Descending Wood, 4995
Seems like they’re doing a presentation ceremony at the temple this morning. Ten young warriors, decorated in tattoos and bearing trophy-decorated branches went in. Seven came out in the early evening. I guess three of them were found unworthy. No sign of that traitorous scum Aroon in the week I’ve been here. I wonder if he knows I’m around – he used to be a Midnight Blade too.

22 Descending Wood, 4995
Finally a lead! One of the shamans I know says a hunting party spotted Fered in the company of a party from the Nine Ravens tribe. If Fered is here, Aroon is unlikely to be far away. Time for a bit of action I think.

23 Descending Wood, 4995
What a waste of time! No sign of the boy at all. Torched the village though, so at least it wasn’t a complete loss. I’m pretty sure they’re gearing up for something around here but nothing concrete, just a feeling in the air.

24 Descending Wood, 4995
Heading back with the Verdant guys today – full shipment achieved. Not bad time all told. At least I can get out of here. Maybe Venn can get someone else assigned to the next trip out here.

[oneiros]

Here are the clues from the Embracing Life Method planted by Shroud-of-Mist.
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1. Fortuitous outcomes often come with unexpected benefits to others.
2. Seek out a collaboration yielding rainbows.
3. Love is a great leveller and an especially good lever but would you help someone to find the fulcrum for a new cloud?
4. Communication is a two-way thing but a return transmission could be blocked after a special invitation.
5. Sealed lips of Law find the outpouring of distinguished years a way of slipping past censure.
6. Diametric opposition in patronage does not necessarily mean diametric opposition to objectives.
7. Sabotage when climbing can be fatal to those beneath you.
8. Courting in the woods is a dangerous affair, particularly for those with dreams, and you can’t Count on folk to play fair.
9. Popularity is no substitute for ability, despite what others may hope, but there’s no doubting that it smoothes the way for whispering leaves.
10. Three trees, two months, one common link.
11. Finding the resting place of the last Archome will need three correct answers.

[oneiros]

Here is the list of those present at the trial of Zeran-Dubuth et al, gleaned from the secret memoirs of Xalari, the presiding censor.
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Xalari, judge (lesser elemental dragon of wood, retired censor)
Connaster, Warden-Executor of the Eperopolis
Staring Maw of Justice & August Liberty Defender (celestial lions, both now dead)
Emerald Viper, Prosecutor
Inerist, God of Divine Reallocation (now dead)

Witnesses
Ahlat, Southern God of War
Indigo Mirage Paradox, (ex-)Director of Intelligence, Bureau of Seasons
Mezalarine, (ex-)God of Marshland Mists
Revar-Io, Taimyo of Woodland Precipitation

In the Gallery
Scarazan, Goddess of Justice Enacted
Urien Derapha, Chosen of Saturn
Selaan Marethe, Chosen of Venus
Chejop Kejak, Chosen of Jupiter
Ghataru, Shogun-Regent of Seasons
Nasri, Daimyo of Air & Rainstorms
Sano-Medaro, Daimyo of Earth & Sunshine
Zutaka, Daimyo of Water & Blizzards

[oneiros]

Creation group
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As you pick yourselves up and survey the bodies fallen in the dust, the afternoon sun glints off the matte metal of a long, twisted stave, the head of which appears moulded in the shape of an serpent... though you know better of course.

Deliverance of Storm’s Fury (●●●)
Starmetal and blue jade dragon-headed twisted staff (about 5' long, 3" in diameter), its mouth open revealing the dark, hollow interior of a lightning and concussion cannon. 3m attunement with each blast costing 3m. A hearthstone socket allows power to come from a stone and not the user, so long as the set stone is Level 2 or higher.

General stats: Speed 6; Attune 3; Tags 2, F
Dragon Staff: Acc +3; Dam +8B; Rate 3
Lightning Stream Attack: Acc +2; Dam +12L; Rate 1; Range 40
Shattering Thunder Burst: Acc +1; Dam +15B (automatic knockdown; doubles raw damage vs structures); Rate 1; Range 40

[oneiros]

The following is a letter sent from Revar-Io at the Bureau of Seasons to Sevornar on the Archipelago of the Exiles, presented to Shroud of Mist by Reflected Trident.
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Master Sevornar,

I hope this letter reaches you intact and without interception; it should do, I’ve paid a considerable amount for it to do so.

I think you’re right, there is something funny going on in the Bureau. I’ve noticed there a number of unrecorded meetings going on – conference rooms being booked when I’m trying to schedule briefings, personnel not being where they’re supposed to be. I’ve overheard a few things and I think I’ve figure some things out. I guess that’s why you advised me not to take the promotion in the wake of the trial.

Funny thing is… my suspicion is that the trial is what this relates to. Over the last year or so, I’ve been hearing whispers about something called the ‘League of Stalwart Seasons’ and whilst I can’t be sure, I think that those people involved are linked to the fall-out from those dark days in some way. I’m pretty sure your replacement is in it. I think someone from the eastern monitoring directorate is running interference for something going on in Creation. I even reckon one of my own superiors has to be participating, which leaves only one suspect there.

But as for who’s pulling the strings I cannot say. My intuition says that if we’re going with sympathisers, the obvious ringleader is sitting behind a desk in the Division of Clouds but they probably cannot be acting alone – they must have someone from the Most Excellent Designers of Destiny assisting.

I’ll keep digging since it looks like I’m onto something here. I’ll let you know when I’ve found anything more, though with the Carnival of Meeting in a couple of days, that is unlikely to be any time soon.

Revar-Io