Rushu42

Sounds like a very fun conversation! Aln actually avoided the Dark Alley, generally so she wouldn't know much about that anyway. (A handy coverup for my own ignorance of the specifics...). I'll let you decide when you want to put them in - presumably once we're inside.

For anyone who'd planned to be involved in the hospital plotline, I think that's just beginning in the relevant thread. (Tagging @18th Shard because you seemed interested - Emily's an employee, right? She could easily be involved pretty quickly.)

Aln crept carefully toward the hospital, the glow of her Stormlight now suppressed. She couldn't see any immediate defenses - either a good sign or a very bad one. Her optimistic side hoped for the former, but she couldn't shake the fear that it was some sort of a trap. "They can't be omniscient, these foes," sent Pel. "It's possible that they're truly not expecting you to put the puzzle pieces together." Aln was less than convinced, but there didn't seem like much of a way to check, at this point. She ran a quick, discreet lap around the building, then ducked back to the street corner where the others were hopefully waiting. "We're going to need some sort of a plan before charging in," she said, doing her best to whisper. "I don't see any guards, but that doesn't mean that there aren't any." A moment of concentration allowed her to summon an illusory image of the hospital's exterior. Even with her latest power upgrade, it took her several tries; with Folorian around, using Investiture felt like swimming through syrup. I'll have to measure exactly how much his presence inhibits efficiency, a part of her noted. I suspect the amount has increased, though the swearing of the Third Ideal complicates that assessment somewhat. She ignored that voice. At another time, perhaps, she would have started jotting down observations then and there - but they seemed to have more pressing matters to attend to. "There are several different points of entry, even disregarding windows," she began, gesturing at the relevant parts of her illusion. "The front doors are the most obvious, but there's also a side service entrance, and a door at the back for the staff. I propose that we split up, as my surges will be largely ineffectual in Folorian's vicinity. The most obvious course of action seems to be that two of us - perhaps Poller and Folorian - enter in the front way, and attempt to cause some sort of a distraction, while the third - in the scenario, myself - uses Lightweaving to slip in the back unnoticed. From that point, it's a matter of searching for anomalies. If you prefer, Folorian and I could switch roles, but I'm rather inhibited in the area of inter-personal deception. Ideally, I'd prefer to enter without lying to or endangering any hospital staff, because they're most likely not directly involved with the Dark Alley, but we of course have no way of knowing that, so under the circumstances we'll probably have to do things that I would otherwise consider morally questionable -" Aln realized she was starting to ramble, and cut herself off before too much of her nervousness could bleed through into her speech. "Well, anyway, what do you two think?" @mathiau @Ashbringer

Aln smiled back. "You just took a really big step, Folorian. Don't apologize just because there's still further to go." Stormlight escaped from her mouth as she spoke, and she quickly poured the excess into her gemstones. "Hopefully we'll have a chance to talk about what you discovered once this is over, but right now I think we need to get moving. If there's anyone looking for us, the influx of Investiture in this vicinity undoubtedly alerted them." Aln dismissed Pel for ease of movement, then stepped forward and gestured for the others to follow. "Let's try not to let this end up in a fight, alright? If someone comes at you with a weapon, just run. I'll have Progression if you're injured, but death is far harder to fix." So saying, she stepped out of the Emporium, and headed off toward Eindalung Hospital. @Ashbringer

But Rushu had secretly faked the accident to cover up her assassination of Meta.

"They certainly did not strike me as the trustworthy sort, yes. What exactly do they do around here? I'm not inclined to accept their own explanations."

If you spontaneously got a thousand dollars (in a contest or something) what would you do with it? What's your favorite thing to do on the Shard? If you could have a conversation with one Sanderson character, which would you choose? What's your profile picture a picture of? Congratulations on a thousand posts!

Kodwola immediately gets up and follows him. @AmazingGoob

Aln smiled back at Folorian, but the expression quickly turned to concern as he tapped the metalmind. Knowing Lightweavers, that memory was unlikely to be pleasant. She moved to stand near him, and put a hand on his arm in what she hoped was a reassuring way. Despite her worry for her friend, she couldn't suppress a feeling of exultation. She'd been struggling with that Oath for so long. I'm a true Knight Radiant now, she realized suddenly. She could feel joy from Pel, radiating through her bond. And for Folorian to have tapped that metalmind must mean that he had just sworn his next Oath as well. It was almost enough to distract her from her current situation. At least, it was until Poller's words snapped her back to reality. "Right, yes, we should be off." Aln looked at the Pelstaff in her hand, trying to imagine herself wielding a weapon. "Unfortunately, having a Shardblade is not the same thing as being able to use one." At her unspoken request, Pel shifted, materializing instead as a shield on her arm. "I'll try to make myself useful in other ways."

I'm in love with a fantastic band called the Arcadian Wild. They have really nice, impressively executed folk music. My favorite in particular is their album Finch in the Pantry.

"It seems that is the most promising course of action." Kodwola sits for a moment, as if unsure of whether to continue the conversation, then reaches into her bag. She emerges with a book in her hands - a thesaurus, of all things - and begins to flip through it with a disappointed air.

Kodwola sighed, considering. "One can never be positive with these matters. It is possible that Mr. Eben was lying about something benign and unrelated to us. But it is clear that his claims about the owner of this establishment were falsehoods, and the others in this room are hardly regarding the two of them with warm smiles, yes? I believe that the barkeeper will speak to me once the rangers leave - it is at least worth staying to hear what he has to say before accepting the job."

"Ah, well, I may not be subtle, Mr. Usavi, but I am aware of my own areas of ineptitude, yes? If they have not already seen through my attempt, such as it was, at deception, then they are not nearly the threat that I have assumed."

"Could their motivation for this mission not also be a falsehood, though? If we act without information we may inadvertently find ourselves to be co-conspirators in a plot to exploit the residents of this region. Obviously I do not know that this would be the case, but I also do not know that it wouldn't be, yes? It is paramount that we understand all facets of the situation before becoming involved ourselves."

Kodwola gives him a shocked look. "But they lied to us, Mr. Usavi. Could you not tell? And they have the rest of this town quite frightened of them. This is exactly what an adventurer is to do, yes?"

I love it so much, thank you.

(Is this meme entirely based on your username? Yes. Do I regret it? No.)

If someone's bored, it would be fun to have a meme made about me. No pressure, though.

I suppose you could join a team and just watch, if you like. But if your only concern is experience, the hunt is designed for first-time puzzlers! You may be surprised to see how much you can figure out, never having done it before (I know I was).

"Ah, greetings again, Mr. Usavi," Wola says, still watching the Rangers. "I fear that subtlety does not fall within my bailiwick, unfortunately - so you have likely picked up on my feelings, yes? I do not believe that those two individuals have good intentions toward this town, and I intend to discover exactly what their objectives are."

Aln turned her gaze from Folorian to Poller, who was still on the floor. She could see pain and determination blended in his eyes as he spoke, echoing her friend's earlier conviction. It was then that Aln realized a simple, obvious truth. It wasn't just about her. It didn't matter if she was too afraid, or too weak, or if she didn't want to lose what she had. Doing nothing was not an option. The world was living in a lie, and she was a Truthwatcher. Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before destination. The first Ideal, the most fundamental of them. She had thought she'd understood all it meant. "You're right," she said, slowly. "We have to try. Because... because..." I will seek knowledge wherever it can be found. Her second Ideal, sworn long before. It had become the foundation of her life, central to all she attempted. It had never been hard for her to follow. For years, though, the next set of Words had refused to come. Aln took a deep breath. "Because I will use the knowledge that I have for the benefit of all." A far-off rumbling resounded through her mind, like thunder at a great distance. The single, glorious phrase it spoke echoed in her thoughts. "These Words are accepted." And she burst alight. Despite Folorian's presence, hampering with its familiarity, the Stormlight streamed into her from the gems in the room. It surged with greater strength than she'd ever before felt, and radiated from her skin in curling wisps. Like the storm that it was, it begged her to stand, to run, to fight. Instead, she stretched forth her hand, and Pel crystalized within it - not as a blade, but as a staff: long, elegant, and inscribed with intricate glyphs. Without looking, she knew that her brown eyes had just faded to a pale, luminescent green. "I'm ready to go," Aln said, and finally meant it. @mathiau @Ashbringer

Sorry about that . . . . When I picked the username she was a very minor character - I didn't expect Sanderson to actually give her a role in the story.