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Message: <blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 4663831" data-attributes="member: 3285">Nug's Farm: Part 3 – Livius’ Letters and a Decision“I married Livius Carbo years ago,” said Hillary. “We shortly moved to this farm and had a daughter.  It was the same year Livius left me.  I have lived here ever since.  When Livius left, Atkinson came to the farm.  He told me that I was special, that this place had been waiting for me, and that he would train me and make me his priestess.  Despite my revulsion, I was drawn to his power and secrets.  With the knowledge he passed on, my own love of this ancient countryside grew; I could not bear to be apart from my farm, the bleak wood—they are beautiful, and they speak to me.”Beldin nodded.  “I can understand the appeal.  It’s much the same way dwarves are drawn to the Heartstone gems of their enclaves.”“For four years, that’s how it went.  I learned fast and grew in stature in the cult.  Though I would not submit to Atkinson’s advances, the two of us and Sarah made a family.  But Atkinson presumed too much.  One day, I came upon him teaching my four-year-old daughter about Tizzhet.  Later, I saw her moved her hand in a clumsy approximation of the Yellow Sign.  I said nothing then, but I knew I had to stop him.  I could never forget how Livius had abandoned us—I was determined not do the same to my daughter.”Sebastian looked at Kham, but the val refused to return his gaze.  They both knew what it was like to lose a father.“I smuggled Sarah away.  When Atkinson raged and demanded her return, I stood up to him.  The old man couldn’t face me.  Humiliated, he crept back to Lower Clotton—the power had already moved on, even before his death.  I knew I didn’t need to risk a fight in front of all, for Atkinson is old.”“Making you the high priestess of the Tizzhet cult,” said Sebastian.Hillary nodded. “Now that the cult is almost mine, I have half a mind to destroy it. I’ve had almost no contact with Atkinson for more than a year.  What little there was happened through Atkinson’s emissaries begging for me to reconsider and reconcile.  The cult themselves are too scared to question the old man openly.”“I met Gresty in Freeport,” said Kham.  “He led me to Michael Coombs as well as Elijah Quelch.  I think there was some falling out between the two cults.  Gresty talked a lot about taking over some sort of power.”“As Atkinson’s position weakens, I suspect he now wants Wilfred Gresty as his successor,” said Hillary. “By his appearance today, I was right. I know that the Unspeakable One is close to Onara—some of the cult feel that he will arrive here in Goatswood to copulate with Tizzhet—and that Livius is probably right in all he says.”A clock bonged three times.  “I recommend you leave now.  If you choose to stay, you must agree to do what I say.  If you listen to me, you should be safe…but if not, it could be that none of us will survive.” She raised her voice a bit, obviously tense and scared. The dogs growled.  “Your help may be hard, but it will be necessary.  Atkinson and Gresty will come around midnight.”“We’re staying,” said Kham.  “I haven’t crashed a wedding in awhile.”</blockquote>

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