A Most Urgent Missive.

[Guillaume]

I, Giscard Guillaume, Lord of Lothbury Estate, Councilor of the Myrken Wood Judiciary In Regards To Commerce and Trade Etc., to His Honour Altias Bromn, Governor of Myrken Wood; to His Honour Suede Roschen, the Councilor of Agriculture; to His Honour Kerrak al'Nerun, the Councilor of Defence and Civil Security; to His Honour Aloisius Treadwell, the Councilor of Administrative Sanctions; to Thomas Daniels, Captain of the Myrken Wood Guard, Order of Straka; to 'Cy' Proxemus, Representative of the Myrken Militia Etc,: Greetings.

Firstly: my congratulations to Governor Bromn and Captain Daniels on their recent recoveries from prolonged illness. Myrken Wood is the better for your return to its service.

An apology is in order. I am informed that the illness which befell us was not limited to our Estates, nor that it has gone unnamed; we have suffered beneath the ravages of this Bloody Flux, and have only recently begun to put our House and affairs in order. It has been a challenging month for all of Myrken Wood, and I regret that I have not met this challenge with the foresight or forthrightness that I had wished.

Gratitude is also in order: in a time of chaos, confusion and despair, I am informed that the Order of Straka was good enough to provide us with aid; the Estate walls are cleaner, thanks to Straka's diligence. As we continue to recover from this disaster, as we bury corpses and rebuild what was lost, not a man ofus intends to forget Straka's generous assistance during this time of significant need.

Would that all of Myrken could say the same. The reports which reach me this bright morning are of the most dire sort. Our Governor set upon by unknown assailants; fires raging unchecked across our fields; murder; massacre; treason. Myrken citizens are dying, it is said, in the very streets that they call home, and I cannot -- will not -- in good conscience permit this to continue. An emergency meeting of the Judiciary, the Order of Straka, and the Myrken Militia's selected representatives is called for this evening. Those who fail to attend will be presumed incapacitated, and the Coucil will rule as deems fit in their absence, without regard to the numbers present. Under such circumstances as Myrken Wood faces this day, our greatest imperative is surely that we act decisively and with haste. Given the extraordinary nature of the rumours now rampant in our town, the Order of Straka is given leave to guard the Meetinghouse's exterior with no more than five of its men. The Myrken Militia is permitted to provide a similar number of its members. None from either faction shall be permitted within the Meetinghouse. An assembly of my personal guard will attend, and two will remain with me in the interior; I advise my fellow Councilors to seek similar protection.

Meantime, I recommend to you resolve, good Gentlemen; I recommend to you calm, in the face of hysteria and disaster, for Myrken Wood has known both in the past, and we have not yet failed to meet them adequately. I intend that we do so again, this night.

Done by my hand at the Estates of Lothbury, this 27th day of May,

Giscard Guillaume.

[Treadwell]

To Giscard Guillaume, Lothbury Estate, Myrken Wood
From Aloisius Treadwell, my lakeside cottage, Myrken Wood

Giscard,
We're needing a meeting, hmm?
I will, of course, be present.
Now, sir, I'm running quite out of ink. Blasted heat.
Treadwell

= = = = =

That is, indeed, where the letter ends, the last letters a little scratchier and lighter than the others, and the underline below his name fading fast. Poor Tready. Either way, Tready pays a young runner to walk his way over to Lothbury and deliver the note.

[Altias_Bromn]

To his Lordship Giscard Gillaume:

I will be an attendence. I have an urgent matter of treason to present to the Council.

It pleases me that you and yours are recovering in the wake of the Flux. Thank you for your well wishes in my regard, it is appreciated.

Yours,
Altias Bromn
Governor

[Vanidor]

"Sir. This just in. From Lothbury of all places." The aide that had entered the room looked nothing like an aide at all. A face a mass of scars, one which bisceted a blurry orb of an eye. Shoulders like a treetrunk. He was as much an aide as a mushroom was a fruit. But in this place, with these people... Everyone took a turn.

Except, of course, for Kerrak. "From Lothbury. Interesting. I wonder if it's Giscard complaining about Ericson and his men poking around where they're not wanted." And so, the militant Councilor shifted enough to accept the letter, break the seal and take the moments needed to cover what was written within.

"Ah. So he wants an emergency meeting, does he? Makes sense, and it's no surprise it'd be him calling it. Phaw. I should have done this a long time ago, Tyrian." A rueful shake of the head. "Send a quick response back. I shall be attending, of course. Oh. And get a hold of Jons and tell him to form his patrol up. I'll take them to the meeting. Only five in armour, mind. The rest can disperse into the crowd and watch for any trouble. Straka and the Militia seem to be at each other's throats."

And so, the Captain-Councilor leaned back and closed his eyes. He'd attempt, once Tyrian was out the room, that one trick the old man hat tried to teach him. It didn't seem to work all that well, for he didn't notice any decrease in air temperature... Ah well, he figured he'd nap a few before going to this meeting. He was sure to need the strength.