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Message: <blockquote data-quote="alsih2o" data-source="post: 808985" data-attributes="member: 4790">Fifteen boys in velvet marked the end of the walk down the long hallway. They chatted idly amongst themselves until they heard the approach, then they stood brightly and made an effort not to make eye contact with the approaching crowd.  At the head of the crowd was Rinney, dressed in his best, with Kolindra, Ry and Finn in close step. As they approached the massive wooden doors wunst, their “handler” addressed them one last time.   “Do not be nervous, just answer their questions as they ask them and do not speak unless spoken to. These are very important men but they respect what you are about to do.”     The tall doors swung open with a grace that defied their size and the massive hall lay spread open before them. The party caught sight first of the 9 robed men behind the table, each had a bearing to hold a room on his own and together they seem to warp gravity itself around themselves. The shock of seeing and being seen by the council began to set in as it became apparent they were not in front of a wall but a huge boat.  The hulking vessel squatted heavily in the center of the room like a contented sow, most people spent quite sometime amazed at its presence in the room before noticing that it hung in the air, less than 6 inches off the floor.  Rinney took in the whole of the scene form the council and their scribes, one for each member, to the massive boat and arching stonework that embraced it until forming a roof high over its main mast and his mind drifted back to his start…..  ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mackson turned the letter over in his hands again. The fine vellum had yellowed from all his handling and still he was conflicted. He had always been a champion of the  Churkey, even as a young man and now, now with the added pressures of the rebellion in the swamplands why would the town call on him?   Perhaps the were trying to embarrass him, trying to prove that he couldn’t put together a team…prove he was just an old windbag who was no longer capable. Each man chosen to represent a town as an elder was required to put together a crew to prove his wisdom. But each man who was called was chosen knowing that he would tip his balance in his choices towards Founders, people who looked like heroes.   Now, with every pure Founder family in the city suspicious of him they had called on him to join them. How was he supposed to put together an expeditionary crew when he had noone of pure race to lead it? Perhaps both Fespa and Kalin were guarding him this day, for a boy of pure race had stumbled into him today. The boy slept upstairs now, glad to be safe from the city watch, but Mackson had plans to send him someplace much more dangerous.   “Surely the sisters watch my hand, and Balcla has delivered this boy to me….it is the will of the luminaries themselves” he said..to noone but the books on his shelves.   The next afternoon he had his manservant bring the boy to him, for if the gods were ever going to guide his hand, it would be now.       “Boy, you are a purebred, a Founder in all your lines, and that is about to serve you well, as I have a task that I believe you can perform that will leave you without worries for the town guard”      Rinney looked he old man over, grateful but cautious as he continued.        “As you surely know, when a man is chosen to serve on his city’s board of elders he must prove himself by securing a force, an expedition, into the wastes. In my…unusual circumstances this ha become difficult, but I believe the Sister have blessed me with your arrival.”   Rinney tried to speak confidently, but the seriousness of the situation was upon him.    “I have enjoyed your hospitality, and will gratefully help you as I can Honorable Mackson”     “Call me Papa Mac, all who know me do. I have these,” he said, drawing forth 6 necklaces “to give to heroes. Each person who wears one will be known as a Hero of Maissen, and will bear the honor and responsibility to breech the wastes and prove himself, and in doing so prove to the Shield my worth. I believe that the sisters have guided you into my hands for this purpose, and I call on you to take up this service. If you do so I may have others who can assist you, possibly making you a rich man in the process.”  Rinney felt flush with certainty and extended his hand as Papa Mac continued.   “Wear the one with the sister’s image on it, and go to Maissen, it is 15 days by road and I am sure the Sisters will yield companions to you on your path, but choose wisely for much depends on it.” -----------------------------------------------------------------------------</blockquote>

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