Very shortly after Ezrin joins the group, while they are traveling Alexis asks him.
“What is the news in Sutheron since we left? Have the dwarves truly been fully cleared from Mt Sutheron? What is the state of the occupation? Still violence in some of the districts?”
“I’ve heard nothing of the Dwarves since I first joined the Collegium, but I heard enough then to suspect that I had attracted their attention around the time of the Dwarven Job I told you about.”
“The unrest in Northbrook continues, the watch was raided by traitors a while back, something about a skull… The Broken Shield and Regal Rampart are still doing decent business, but there are more Redcloaks and more bouncers than ever.”
“The Hoodites are mostly gone, their Library is locked down, guarded by Redcloaks. Last word was that they, like many in Collegium, are mobilizing to the North, here… and to the North? To prepare for the march against the Hordes to the North.”
“Joining with Aegier has been great for The City in so many ways.”
“The Assassins Guild has been totally wiped out, and there is no new Player for the job. Any would-be’s disappear.”
“The “King’s Lights” and Redcloaks keep The City very safe, anyone who messes with the lights disappears.”
“The Collegium has been very busy helping Aegier, it’s great for Humanity for their to be such an Alliance. The Esteemed and Colleagues are so busy there is very little time sharing of knowledge these days. Things are busy enough for me to leave for Aegier and join you simply by telling Esteemed Sage Virinya and Esteemed Magus Aminajahnobf that I was doing so. Or at least leaving them letters…”
“The rumors that the Westlander rebel army occupying Yamar are all undead or that their supposed “King” Lecero, is undead, are hotly debated throughout Sutheron right now. With the idea that it is just Westlander superstition and the idea that it is a ruse meant to frighten the Aegierains being the most believed and hotly debated topics. I think it could be both, and I do think it is possible that their shaman’s have started using necromancy. The Westland are controlled from Sutheron to Gahnil, but pockets or rebellion and scare-tactics abound. The Erana claim that lizard people are rising up from the swamps, maybe they are, but I don’t really think there’s an army’s worth to be worried about, it’s clearly a variation on what they say at every festival about what fierce warriors they are.”
“The Mirthful Lord remains a topic of those who follow the drama about nobles… and of those that seek to spread the wealth.”
Alexis seems to take mental note of ‘King Lecero’.
“The ‘Mirthful Lord’?”
Ezrin smiles,
“A bit of rhyming slang I suppose. The story is his seat is ‘made of’ mithril… so Mirthful…”
Ezrin shrugs.
Alexis shrugs acceptance and moves on.
“Tell me about Esteemed Sage Virinya and Esteemed Magus Aminajahnobf. And also why you only left letters for them rather than talking to them in person. And after that, where is Magus Aminajahnobf from? That’s a very un-Sutheron name.”
Ezrin looks at Alexis oddly, somewhat surprised that he would ask such questions.
“Esteemed Sage Proclus Virinya is a Learned Arcanist, both deeply skilled in the theory and praxis of The Arts. I have been fortunate to study with The Esteemed Sage for several years and have learned much of what I know from them about the theories of magick, weaves, warrens, incarna, incantations, rituals, aether, pholgiston, sigils, runes, omens, sympathy, homeopathy, astrology, arithmancy, schools and spheres… And a few practical applications of these theories. Much more than I’ve every really been able to understand, but I picked up a lot from them.
“Despite remaining one of my Sponsors, The Esteemed Sage, like all of the Esteemed, has been very busy and I was not able to make an appointment however before leaving, their personal library has also been closed to those not currently working on anything in particular with the Esteemed Sage, which I was not, not am I currently.”
“Similarly, I am not, nor have I recently been, working with my other Sponsor, Esteemed Magus Zarif Amina-Janov.
“Esteemed Magus Aminajanov was Sutheroni as far I know, his accent certainly is that of a very learned Sutheroni lord or gentry. Like many in the Collegium, his clothing was simple and of an old style, but very finely made. He rarely used any slang at all though… and did nothing but study and teach… how to defend against dark magicks, especially necromancy, but protections in general, especially against xeno-aurics, abhorrations, demons, the undead, etc. I learned a lot from him, most helpfully how to stay focused on my incantations and sigilsigning when things get rough, but also some protection incantations and some way to harm and divine undead.”
“I have been… underutilized by the Collegium of late, it is somewhat odd to me as well, but it also seems to be part of my… work… at this stage. But in general, many of us have ‘gone to North to help win the War, and my Sponsors deserve to know from me, verifiably, that I had chosen to do so on my own.”
It is clear that Ezrin views his Sponsors as mentors, but also is in awe of them, and owes them a debt that can never be fully repaid.
After a significant time together as a group, Alexis picks up the conversation. After a little while getting back to where they left off Alexis asks some questions that have been on his mind.
“Previously you talked about some at the Collegium being sent to the north. Who are they sending to the north? Novices? The Esteemed?”
“And what had your sponsors been working on? Given your inquisitive nature, I’m confident you had been successful in your snooping before you left.”
Ezrin looks at Alexis with a mix of confusion and disappointment.
“Do you really believe that it is my place to know such things? And that if it were I would be liberty to speak with you about them if you do know already know yourself ?”
“Or that I would want to when you have withheld so much of your own story?
“When you are ready to share more with me, about Telosh perhaps, but especially about… your own Sponsor since you are asking questions about mine, I will be be able to more fully evaluate if I can share my speculations and what little I know with you.”
Alexis gives a slight chuckle “my sponsor. Hm.”
“Funny, I didn’t even consider him my sponsor until this conversation. Not sure if I do after this conversation. But good to know that’s how the rest of the world sees things. Quite helpful actually. Thank you for opening up my eyes to the possibilities.”
“And I look forward to telling you more about Telosh when the time is right.” Alexis gives Ezrin a wink.