Episode 2, Scene 4 Sneak Peek #2

Hi friends, 

Another snippet from an ongoing WIP dialogue branch. Conditional statements that control flavour text have been removed for the sake of clarity. In this preview, the player character trained with Varyn. 

“I heard it in passing,” you say. “Do you know how much information you can glean simply by walking through a room at a party? A little drink, a little comfort, and the sweet pleasure of boasting will make anyone’s lips loose.”

The elf smiles darkly. “Must be delightful,” they say, twisting their ring idly around their index finger. “It’s so difficult to come across information with ease these days. Most mages and nobles are accustomed to raising a dampening ward to prevent unwanted eavesdroppers. But if garnering intelligence is as simple as walking through a room, I wonder how long it will be until magianis becomes tantamount to spy?”

You swallow hard. Though the rest of the table has bought your explanation, you’re certain this mage doesn’t believe you. “I can’t answer that,” you say. “Espionage was never part of our training.”

“You were trained by Brissa Varyn, Wayfarer. You even carry her name. I doubt the topic was never broached during those long winters at the Spire

You pause. There’s something about the elf’s tone… “I see you’re familiar with her reputation. Did you know her?”

They shrug. “Briefly. I’ve been stationed in the Erenvor court for nearly four decades. I was there when she plead Avennor’s case to the emperor.”

You exchange fleeting looks with Aeran. You always knew Varyn had ties to Rhesainian courts. She was the Wayfarer Order’s ambassador, after all; you accompanied her on various diplomatic missions during your training, sitting in on conferences with anyone from local Artanisian mayors to high-ranking Rhesainian politicians. But you never thought much of the depth of those ties or how many Guild mages she made an impression upon.

“Enough, Veyer,” Umbria says warningly, her voice cutting through your thoughts. “I see no reason for $lastname to lie about what $heshe overheard. Perhaps this is a rare moment of luck; I wouldn’t shun it when such moments are few and far between.”

“Luck or not, this news about the Brightblade is a rumour at best,” Oshiro says quickly. “Are we willing act on unsubstantiated gossip? I don’t think so. Regardless of what $lastname heard, we have time to consider our actions thoroughly—”

“Time?” Zenaida snaps. “What time? Have you forgotten Nova? She was by all means abducted by Quirinus today. How long will it be before his truthseers pull the truth from her mind?”

Behind her, Malsara’s posture turns to stone. Though she observes the arguing mages with respectful silence, even she cannot hide the dark look seeping into her expression.