IC: The Order of the Diamond

[blackheart]

A faded and tattered handbill flaps in the wind, camouflaged in the layered patchwork of so many other forgotten and abandoned missives, proclamations, and diatribes hastily fastened to one surface or another about Cear over these past four years.

Combat Engineering Ltd. <OD> – Military architecture, sapping, defensive earthworks, trenching, artillery, poisons, caustics, incendiaries, engines of war, munitions, armor, weapons, all manner of devices physic, magickal, and mechanical. Wholesale only. Inquiries: Leave word at the Buck Inn.

[Lanehart]

Having found little in the way of finding formulae to assist himself in the ways of magical item crafting or enchanting, the cleric Lanehart Lightstone reads the parchment with much zeal. He immediately finds a piece of parchment and writes an application.

Esteemed Priestess of Brintha,

I Lanehart Lightstone, cleric of Tharon, do so make my interest in joining the Order of the Diamond known with this letter. I am eager to learn about the ways of enchanting items and creation of magical accessories. I humbly submit myself for tutelage among your Master Craftmen(women).

May the Order Prosper,
Lanehart Lightstone

[blackheart]

A return note is received from the notoriously slow Imperial Mails....

Esteemed Clergyman,

Your letter was directed to me by the Subministry for the Misdirection of Dead Letters, no doubt first by way of the Subministry for the Reading of the Mails. <* Sentence partially redacted in a different ink *>

The High Priestess I'm afraid is unable to answer your letter, having gone mysteriously missing early in the Canite Conflict. And Alas, her esteemed co-conspirator, the Paragon of the Order, is rumored to be hunting some sort of large, subterraenean Canine in far-off Thayad, and has not been seen in Cear for some time. No doubt he has already been sucessfull in his endeavors and is off squandering the spoils of his adventure on further research in some far-flung quarter of the Empire.

As it so happens, Teshalia may be with you yet. Your letter has found its way to me, a card-carrying and sworn member of the Order, with immediate need for an apprentice with a strong back (female, human or half-elven, five foot four, no more than 7 stone, with long blonde hair preferably -- but anyone willing to do my drudge-work and pretend they're enjoying it will do). I have a large order for caltrops destined for his Imperial Majesty's Legions in Lendose at the end of the month, and cannot hope to forge, pack, and ship them all without more unpaid interns.

Know that you will be required to swear certain oaths of secrecy before I am permitted to indoctrinate you in the mystery, as per the laws of our Order. And know that I will not pass knowledge on to the enemies of Mankind. If there is any sympathy for the enemy in your heart, I advise you to look elsewhere, West of the Batttlelands, perhaps.

If you are interested in apprenticing yourself to the Order, leave word for me at the Buck Inn.

Sincerely,

Ash the Sapper

Combat Engineering Ltd. <OD> – Military architecture, sapping, defensive earthworks, trenching, artillery, poisons, caustics, incendiaries, engines of war, munitions, armor, weapons, all manner of devices physic, magickal, and mechanical. Wholesale only. Inquiries: Leave word at the Buck Inn.