Rask approaches Alexis with a piece of parchment in hand, the parchment has several things written on it, many of them crossed out. Rask’s hand-writing is rough, bur the all caps simple style is readable, where not blotted or marked out.
“I want to send a message to Captain Blackwood, my old CO. Cedric Ironjaw is still alive, Maris Bloodbane is too, if Mavon’s intel is correct… Ironjaw said the Captain still believed in me…
“I’d like to see if I can get him to back off, maybe sow some dissention, and warn him about the corrupting influence of the Dark Hand… I’ve been trying to remember the ciphers, but I don’t have a Code-Book…”
“Anyhow, here’s what I was thinking.” Rask hand the parchment to Alexis.
STAT-REP – CIPHER 3-BLACK – TS/NTN
FROM: SGT. FELMAR TO: CPT BLACKWOOD
GLAD YOU ARE ALIVE. CHAOS-FIRE-CURSE BATTLE RESULTS UNKNOWN.
I HOPE LT. E.N. SGT K.S. & CPL. L.S. ALSO STILL LIVE.
NTN/TS: I AM ON A MISSION FROM RAIDEN THE HIGHEST AUTHORITY
THE DARK HAND HAS CORRUPTED COMPROMISED THE KINGS DOGS.
CPL CI FOUND ME OBSERVING OPS OF WORKING TO INFILRATE SUTHERON SHADOWBLADES LOCAL MOCKERY OF OUR UNIT *sHADowBLADE THAT HAs pROPERTY
VORTIGERN IS CONECTED TO THE DARK HAND IN SUTHERON. sEEkS
NORTHBROOK IS CENTER OF KI-DARK HAND’SG GS DOGS IN SUTHERON
^ DO NOT TRUST ^ WALDER – LIKELY COMPROMISED INFEKTED
DO NOT TRUST ALTHORIN – LIKELY COMPROMISED
I WILL FIND YOU WHEN THIS MISSION ENDS. PRAISE RAIDEN. FOR AEGIR.
“I want to try to let him know that the Dark Hand has corrupted the Raidensblud and to not trust Warder or Allthorin. If we do it right, maybe we can see if he tells them something or not? Maybe get them to focus on Vortigern?”
There are several notes, and a rough cipher, but sections seem to missing.
“Can you help me with the cipher?”
Rask is also clearly asking for permission and help crafting the message as well.
“Wait, what if… ” Rask crosses a bit out and adds a rough edits, “I share that Vortigern has an item the Dark Hand wants? And we ask the Bloodfangs to keep an eye on Vorty’s warehouse? See who rolls up on it? Maybe even we could get Marcellus to raid it with not-us…”
Rask looks at the red uniforms Mavon procured, signature outfits of the of Crimson Calling.
“and signal that we are going to be there to Cap, and if they or the Red Cloaks show up, I’ll know where I stand with my old unit.”
Alexis can tell that Rask means he will know how many of his old friends he might have to kill.
Alexis nods along along as Rask explains his plan.
“For Blackwood to have gotten where he is, he’s almost certainly learned to rely on his assessment of situations. Saying he should distrust Warder or Althorin might not be as effective as saying why they shouldn’t be trusted.”
“… and from his perspective, I’m not sure why they shouldn’t be trusted. It seems plausible that both these soldiers could be very loyal soldiers to King Ædelfrid. Raising an accusation against them that’s a lie could backfire on anything in the future with your Corporal.”
“Putting Blackwood on the trail of the Snake would be something concrete, if he cares more about agents of the Dark Hand than he does about you. But it means we have to reveal the secret entrance in that old temple, and after that vision I got, I’m tempted to revisit and see what she wants me to find.”
“As for the cypher, I don’t have a lot of firsthand knowledge, but there are some stories I know about from the past…”
Rask nods appreciatively at Alexis’ comments, and crosses out another line on the note.
“I will leave out info about the old temple. What about Vortigern? Cedric saw us casing his warehouse, does it makes sense to try to point them towards him? Shadowblades versus Shadowblade…”
Rask clearly thinks Vortigern is less deserving of the moniker.
A bit later, Rask returns, with a new draft.
STAT-REP – CIPHER 3-BLACK – TS/NTN
FROM: SGT. FELMAR TO: CPT BLACKWOOD
GLAD YOU ARE ALIVE. CHAOS-FIRE-CURSE BATTLE RESULTS UNKNOWN.
I HOPE OTHERS ALSO STILL LIVE.
NTN/TS: I AM ON A MISSION FROM RAIDEN THE HIGHEST AUTHORITY TO ROOT OUT AGENTS OF THE DARK HAND IN SUTHERON.
CPL C-I FOUND ME OBSERVING OPS OF LOCAL “SHADOWBLADE” THAT HAs ROPERTY THE DARK HAND IN SUTHERON SEEKS
I WILL FIND YOU WHEN THIS MISSION ENDS. PRAISE RAIDEN. FOR AEGIR.
“So, what I remember of the ciphers is that they are each a set of substitutions, usually something like…”
“If this is what you think is best. Perhaps the Corporal will think you should prioritize seeing him. Perhaps he trusts your judgement.” Alexis gives a shrug.
“Either way I get the sneaking suspicion we’ll be seeing more Shadowblades soon.”
“Erhm. Captain.” Rask grunts, then he follows up.
“Thank you, I think I have the cipher sorted out, or at least close enough, I’ll work on it and have Mavon send it.”