Magenta Albatross

"...and finally, we've passed on our findings to SilverPoly. The ball's firmly in their court now regarding how much technology'll be opened up to everyone." Vahal's voice echoed through the room as he finished the debriefing. "You've all done well, but the resurgence of at least four and potentially more shards, including the ever-dangerous Ruin, means we can't rest and reap the rewards just yet. You'll all receive our updated mission statement and your personal instructions before the day is done. Are there any questions?" "Um.. We've all been very focused on Autonomy, but they where helped into power by Survival. Shouldn't we be looking into them as well?" Michael, another Agent sitting to Tessa's left spoke up. "An excellent question." Vahal nodded. "However, Survival has always proven to prioritize its own well-being over all other concerns. This led to his initial alliance with Autonomy. since we've confirmed that most of Autonomy's aspects have in fact been killed, it stands to reason that Survival has retreated out of whatever arrangement they had to protect itself from those hunting autonomy. Certainly, we've seen little sign of interference by Survival, though recent rumors suggest that it might have passed to a new vessel. We'll of coure be following up on those and try to bring them on board with our own endeavors if possible." Vahal left a moment of silence for more questions. "If that's all, then we're done for the day. I'll be briefing all of you in the morning on our upcoming projects, barring any major disasters." *** So, there's something that I'm curious about. My faction has been given the choice of several possible win-cons. Is this something unique to us, or is this an option available to most/all factions?

Tessa DeLoren hurried through the dark streets, Darkside's crowds parting around her without noticing the slight woman. "We just got word from Scadrial. Autonomy's aspect there has gone missing as well. Any news on your end yet?" the voice in her ear asked. "Nothing yet, but the Sand Lord's is remarkably reclusive. I've got a pretty good lead on his current name identity and home though. Shouldn't take more than half an hour." she responded. Autonomy's aspects had ruled from the shadows for the past centuries. Maybe 'ruled' was too strong a word. They let the various governments do as they wanted, as long as inter-world cooperation was never considered, and power on any given Shardworld was never consolidated in the hands of too few. Yet when their edicts where crossed, Autonomy's aspect's reaction was strong, and though they always gave the illusion of choice, none dared oppose the shard after the other Shards had retreated before their power. All that had changed two years ago, or maybe far longer ago, they weren't really sure. One despot had risen on Roshar, and crossed Autonomy's arbitrary line with impunity. And nothing happened. Her group had started investigating soon after, and confirmed that Roshar's Aspect had disappeared. They'd started looking elsewhere after that. Nalthis, New Silverlight, Autonomy's grip on had been loosened everywhere. Or thorn away. Tessa arrived at the unassuming home that her contact had claimed was currently occupied by the Sand Lord. The crowds had thinned, which suited her just fine. she ducked in an alleyway, and once she was out of sight she quickly hooped over the fence surrounding the house's garden. She landed in a garden filled with Darkside's peculiar bioluminescent plants and held still, scanning her surroundings. All was quiet in the small garden, and the only movement was a cat strolling lazily through the garden. After several minutes of watching her surroundings, Tessa stalked towards the house's door. She took a set of lock-picks out of her pocket and set to work on the old and rusty lock. She quickly gave up her attempts to pick it, as the thing was rusted entirely shut, and no amount of finesse would open it. She had several toys with her that could open a lock like that, but all of those where quite.s. foreign, and the aspects disapproved of taking tech like this to worlds that couldn't match it. She looked over the door again and noted that it looked quite old and worn in its entirety. That was unusual for this neighborhood, but maybe an immortal aspect didn't care that much for maintaining their home. She braced her shoulder against the door, and gave it a careful shove. To her surprise, the door immediately gave in, and with a groan of splintering wood and crash of breaking glass collapsed to the ground. Tessa froze like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming vehicle, but all was silent again, and no sign came from the house that anyone was there to notice, so after a moment to gather her composure she headed in. The smell of mold hit her the moment she crossed the threshold. The house was in an extreme state of disrepair, with pain basically falling from the walls, and mold growing on patches on anything that could feed it. 'This isn't right...' she muttered. Her information was reliable, and the Sand Lord hadn't been living here long enough to allow the place to fall into this kind of disrepair. She quickly checked the small home, but saw nothing, and the only sound she heard was the crunch of her boots on the ash on the ground. Curious, she took a closer look, and saw that it was not ash, but black sand. Her thoughts where interrupted before she could process this find by a loud crash, as one of the roofs supporting beams collapsed in on itself, followed shortly by a large section of roof. The entire house was collapsing around her! She quickly grabbed a small crystal from her belt, and threw it on the ground, shattering it. She felt the shock of released investiture, and willed herself through. In a fraction of a second, she'd transferred to the cognitive realm, saved from the collapsing building. Not safe though, as the ghostly version of the house she was now standing in was covered in black, tar-like investiture. She didn't need to ask whose investiture it was, and didn't stick around to find out, rushing out of the house as fast as her legs could carry her. To her relief, the stain of Ruin stretched no further than the one house. The planet was safe, for now. "Vahal." she spoke in her earpiece which had been cleverly disguised as a piece of Darkside Jewelry. "The Sand Lord is gone. And it seems that Ruin, at the very least, is back on the board." *** edit: @Seonid, I noticed that there's no rules for what happens when a vessel that did not invest and is the last person in their faction dies. What would happen in that case?

@Orlok Tsubodai, is there a voting minimum? If not, Jasnah's point about self-preservation is quite valid, and Venli's unexplained vote has the potential to ostracize me. So, it seems entirely fair to return the favor. Furthermore, by process of elimination, the Parshendi or Navani/Dalinar are the only remaining possible groups to have tried to murder me. And I am reasonably sure that Navani and I have win conditions that coexist well for the time being. So, I see little reason not to vote for Venli.

Ah. Understandable. This game is really complicated. Jasnah I have to go now but I will follow this up morelater.

Jasnah, I seem to have caught you in a lie. You told me last cycle you Item Scanned the Blind Beggar, and that the only item he possessed was Violet Wine. But I talked to @SE_Drunk_Beggar, and that was the correct scan for the Drunk Beggar's items on cycle 7. But he passed off the Violet on cycle 7 to @SE_Adolin_Kholin, and did not have it during cycle 7.5, which is when you are claiming to have scanned him. So, you weren't scanning Drunk Beggar last cycle like you said you were. You were free to refuse to say what you were doing last cycle if you wanted privacy, but you instead chose to give me a false alibi. I trusted you enough to contact you privately about this discrepency, and you denied it. It seems highly probable that you were either attempting to murder me last cycle, or doing something equally unsavory. So, those are the facts. Other people can make of them what they will. @SE_Venli why?

"I do not believe you would be the type to try to kill me, Wit. I don't think that's at all your style. Although, I also suspect the hindrance wasn't an entirely random decision. After all, I walked away in the middle of your story "

This checks out with claims I've gotten in PMs. Tentatively, Jasnah. Thank you. @SE_Wit, that was rather rude of you. In any case, if anybody involved in the attack contacts me and explains themselves, it is safe to say that I will not hold the past against them, and that I would even consider repaying them. But, that offer is only extended to the first taker.

A few facts: I was attacked. I don't know by who, but I have some guesses. I was protected. I don't know by who, but I have some guesses. I was roleblocked. I don't know by who, but I have some guesses. A few more facts: Last cycle I explained that I had finished my previous win condition, that my next one was quite difficult, and that I would be gambling soon unless something changed. I wanted to avoid outing my win condition in-thread, because it had the potential to make Gavilar's killer and friends decide to target me. Namely, I am now searching for the Black Sphere, which has apparently been spirited away by Gavilar's killer. However, I did tell some people privately. I told Jezrien, Adolin, Jasnah, and Ivory. Jezrien+Adolin are both working with the rest of the Heralds, and Jasnah+Ivory are closely affiliated, so basically I told two coalitions about my situation. And a few suspects: Jasnah and Ivory. They are one of the two parties I explained my objectives to. Also, it kind of has to be a group of people that attacked me, because I was both attacked and roleblocked, and one person could never have pulled that off. I could very easily see Navani agreeing to help these two, given their collaborations in the past and similar motives. They have strong motives to kill both Gavilar and myself, as it is very possible Gavilar and I would have eventually used the Black Sphere for similar ends (btw, for the time being I have literally no idea why I am supposed to obtain the Black Sphere, and I have no reason to believe that my win condition will be to unleash the Unmade in the Black Sphere once I find it). Also, I am in a doc with them both, and they were talking a lot less in it last cycle. Which makes me think they might have outsourced their planning to PMs to cut me out of the loop. The Heralds. They are the only other people who I told my win condition to, and thus pretty much the only people I can imagine would have any reason to want to kill me. They are one of the only coalitions that is big enough to field the kind of move that was just made against me. I was planning on working with them on something last cycle, but then last-second their plans changed and they were no longer going through with the original plan. So I kind of wonder what they did last cycle instead. An uknown party. I can't discount that there's something completely off my radar. Although given the thorough nature of the attack on me I am also skeptical that it is somebody I am not even aware of. It also probably wasn't anybody who was paying very much attention in the Women's doc, because if so they would have known I had no idea what action to take last cycle, and wouldn't have bothered roleblocking me. Whoever wants me dead, know that I am planning on gambling this cycle, and that this will probably kill me more thoroughly than you are apparently capable of doing. I would also be very interested to know why you wanted me dead in the first place, because I've been trying very hard not to step on anybody's toes in light of the fact that I was given one of the least likeable characters in the cast. And I'm kind of miffed that somebody decided to expend ~5 seperate actions just to screw me over.

Aesudan inspected the note. Wine had obscured most of the content... But she could make out that it was signed "the Weeper." Her eyes widened fractionally. Aesudan had heard of the Weeper, who hadn't? The assassin who cared not for the color of your eyes, that supposedly carved the eyes from his victims. Frustrating. She couldn't decipher the rest of the note. And yet, Aesudan couldn't shake the feeling that this servant knew a little more than she let on. Was she trying to protect the Weeper, for some reason? "May I fetch you anything in the mean time? I see you have run oit of violet wine?" "Yes, please," Aesudan said gratefully, holding out her glass. She would take the delay to think things over. If this servant did in fact know anything, Aesudan didn't want to say something rashly and make the girl clam up.

Aesudan noted the ink showing through the wine-soaked parchment, and raised an eyebrow. Curious, seeing as Dalinar couldn't read. Perhaps it was just a piece of trash, and yet the servant seemed ill at ease. It probably didn't hurt to double check, right? "May I?" Aesudan reached out for the paper scrap.

Aesudan wandered off towards one of the servants' corridors, relieving a passing attendant of a glass of quality blue. For some reason, all the violet wine seemed to be missing from the party. She meandered down the corridor, and came face to face with one of the servants. Aesudan couldn't remember the girl's name; she couldn't be bothered to keep track of the hundreds of servants that milled about in the party. Although that business with the Shin servant had been strange in a lot of ways. In any case, there was something strange about this particular servant as well. "What was that note you swiped off uncle Dalinar's table?" she asked sweetly.

"I agree; trying to be you would be singularly difficult. Truly, I don't know of any other who has attained such profound depths of disgrace as you have."

"@SE_Wit, I'm bored. I think you might be, too. Or at least, I haven't recently seen you pull any of the childish pranks you usually amuse yourself with, and I very much hope none of the recent happenings are one of your tricks. And so, Wit, I challenge you to a battle of wits! Whoever is first left speechless is to be the victor, or alternatively, ties can be decided by bystanders. I'll wager you an emerald broam. The first move will be yours, as I am sure you will need all the help you can get. Do you accept?"

“Elhokar, I’ve been looking for you. We’re in a difficult spot, with Gavilar dead at this juncture. You understand better than most how very fragile this new kingdom is. The highprinces need a strong leadership, else I fear the kingdom will not survive as a united whole... And that is not even speaking to the scores of diplomats that are watching all of this unfold. I find it distasteful to do this so soon after Gavilar’s death, but it may be necessary to coronate you with all haste. Perhaps even tonight, while everyone is still gathered here, and nobody has had time to get any ideas about declaring independence or any such rubbish. With your assent, I will begin contacting the various princedoms to rally support for your leadership. What do you think?”

Aesudan read the note with her lips pursed. "What do you think, Lhan?" she called out, waving for the portly ardent to inspect the note. "Do the heralds themselves call upon us for aid?" "Obviously not, Brightness. As you know, the heralds have gone to fight for the tranquiline halls, and your job is to elevate your calling in this life. Which, you are doing an excellent job of, Brightness. In my professional opinion, whoever is making these allegations is obviously an impersonator." "Well, that's a relief. Thank you," Aesudan said, biting her lip with concern. "You're sure about this?" "Truly, this is a crass imitation, and whoever dares claim the office of herald is the most base sort of person. Pay it no heed. You are already doing so very well. None could impeach your piety and devotion." "No. No, of course not. You're right, Lhan. This is nonsense. I have a storming kingdom to help salvage, and Almighty knows where Elhokar's run off to. Have you seen Elhokar?"

Aesudan stared at Gavilar's broken form. It was a shame; he was a great king. A mind as sharp as a shardblade, an astute and naturally talented politician, and a true visionary. It took a special kind of person to draw in the likes of the Blackthorn and Torol working under the same banner. Elhokar would be a good king as well, but for different reasons. He was a genuinely good person. He could get along with virtually anybody, and he was well liked by practically all of the highprinces. Those skills might even be what Alethkar needed most, with the treaty in such dire straits. Perhaps he could mend the divide that was starting to appear. And, of course, Aesudan would make a fabulous queen, obviously. A political disaster waiting to happen? She would prove Wit wronger than wrong on that count. She was the most brilliant political mind ever to grace this earth, and she knew this to be fact, because all her ardents insisted it was true. Repeatedly. She could probably do a fantastic job of tending to the city of Kholinar singlehandedly, if for some reason Elhokar was busy elsewhere. What could possibly go wrong? But she was getting ahead of herself. Gavilar's death in such a public setting was problematic. There were scores of foreign dignitaries, not to mention the Parshendi, and they could not help but see this as a sign of Alethi weakness. This would require a careful hand. Aesudan would no doubt need to discuss with the other princedoms. She made her way towards Ialai. "What do you make of all this?"

I unfortunately haven’t been as active the lately, but I’m going to be spending more time on the game now. Last cycle I attempted to redirect Amaram’s action to himself. I did this to fulfill my win condition of doing 2 successful redirects, and because the GMs confirmed that this would not prevent Amaram’s gambling from succeeding, if that was in fact what he was doing. I failed. However, Adolin can confirm that I redirected his action to Tearim the cycle before, and Dalinar can confirm that I reached out to him asking for help redirecting somebody. I still need to redirect one person, and if anybody is willing to assist me then I will let them choose who the redirect targets. Also, Gavilar contacted me last cycle and asked if I was qualified to help him study the sphere. I told him I didn’t know if I was or wasn’t qualified, but I that I would try to help him anyhow if he in return helped me redirect somebody the following cycle. Gavilar said he didn’t have the spare actions, and that in any case Navani had agreed to help him in the meantime, so we did not end up making a deal. But, I can confirm that Navani’s story is truthful, and by extension the Parshendi are probably not to blame. On the bright side, I guess my husband is now the king of Alethkar...? Congratulations, Elhokar.

“Gambling? How impious of you Meridas. Bwahaha perhaps you and Jasnah have more in common than either of you would ever have thought.”

“Please report all instances of temporal distortion to your nearest Alethkar authority. Thank you.” Aesudan wandered off looking for the fabrial responsible for all of this. It would be an incredibly interesting research find.

“I am generally supportive of it. It fosters cooperation, and potentially profits the Kholin family. So far however it does not entirely seem as if it has seen much use... Hm. That is food for thought.”

“Well, the eyes of the Almighty are less clouded than human eyes. But I would agree that some of us certainly are chull in the eyes of the Almighty,” Aesudan observed.

“Something seems to be wrong with the timespren. It’s almost as if we were in an alternate timeline of these events, and nothing is happening like it is supposed to. But of course, such an idea is preposterous. Who’s messing with the fabrial now, then? The chulls are all gone, at least literally speaking.”

“Very well, er... Lizgiz. Please tell your story, if you would be so kind.”

“With all due respect, lady Venli, I believe the death of Alethi is of at least equal to concern to us as it is to your people. However, your concerns are also understandable. Would you suggest a particular course of action?”

Aesudan sipped a glass of blue, observing the discussion. Dalinar was a drunken fool, but she still felt pity for the man, waking up to find his son murdered like that. “In light of the recent events, maybe we should do something to cheer up the feast? I would rather not leave the Parshendi such a bad impression of us Alethi. Some music, perhaps? I am sure that we have some capable entertainers (as opposed to Wit) prepared for the festivities. I am also told that the Parshendi brought drums.”