Once more leaning against the wall and trying to ignore my strong desire to slide to the floor in a tired heap, I half close my eyes and take a good look at my companions.

They look seasoned, except for the sullen young human. The dwarf appears eager to be part of a special mission. I try not to let prejudice suggest to me that he hopes for treasure, especially now, when truly gold is my own motivation, or I'd be back home with my feet up, listening to the winter birds squabbling over scraps. Palatinate is sharp, perhaps a bit cynical, and why not. The elf Corporal now - handsome (I'm old, not dead) and knows it. I've caught Astra stealing glances at him. Hope that doesn't interfere with our mission. On the other hand, a bit of romance can be quite motivating. I smile at Astra, no intimidation this time. She likely wouldn't believe it, but I remember being that young.

My hand brushes past my wallet again, and I can definitely feel the slight chill emanating from the key within. Right, the sixth member of the company. An invisible prankster.

"Of course I volunteer, General. I love these missions."

The general nods acknowledgement, and, after fixing the entire group with a weighty look, goes to the map table at the side of the room, unrolling a large map of Karrnath and stepping to the side slightly in an invitation for the team to approach.



He taps a location.  "Here," he says.  "In the Icetop Mountains, north of Lakeside.  The objective is reported to be at the source of the  Iceflow River, but I expect it will not be so simple to locate.  You are to recover an artifact from an ancient site there."  He grimaces.  "Yes, it sounds like archaeological nonsense better suited to those Wynarn pixies, but the nature of the artifact makes it something our army has a special interest in obtaining exclusive control over."  He draws out an additional paper, what looks to be a recent hand-copy of a much older text. 



He points to the sketch in the center of the page.  "It has the usual array of fanciful names, but to us, it's just Object 17.  The intelligence our researchers have uncovered is reliable enough to make an expedition a valid expenditure of resources.  Your primary task is to obtain it.  Failing that, if you locate a site of interest but not the object itself, you are to return a full report for our researchers to follow up on."

One of the coldest places in Karnath. In winter.

Aloud I say. "I hope we are able to requisition sufficient quantities of wool, General."

Something niggles in my memory. "Sir. As I recall, you said earlier the mission involves the recovery of personnel and materiel. Object 17, I presume, is the materiel. And the personnel?"

One of the coldest places in Karnath. In winter.

Aloud I say. "I hope we are able to requisition sufficient quantities of wool, General."

He gives the major a sharp look.  "You will not doubt my commitment to properly supporting your team after I tell you the secondary objective."  He continues, in chill tones, "Three months ago, we dispatched a team with the same orders.  The last report we had from them was at Irontown.  After that, they went silent.  We have, however, indications that they advanced at least as far as the alpine tundra north of Lakeside; after that, the trail is lost.  Your secondary mission is to locate and extract the original team, or failing that, discover what became of them."  He pauses, then says in a hard voice, "The leader of the first expedition was my son."

One of the coldest places in Karnath. In winter.

Aloud I say. "I hope we are able to requisition sufficient quantities of wool, General."

He gives the major a sharp look.  "You will not doubt my commitment to properly supporting your team after I tell you the secondary objective."  He continues, in chill tones, "Three months ago, we dispatched a team with the same orders.  The last report we had from them was at Irontown.  After that, they went silent.  We have, however, indications that they advanced at least as far as the alpine tundra north of Lakeside; after that, the trail is lost.  Your secondary mission is to locate and extract the original team, or failing that, discover what became of them."  He pauses, then says in a hard voice, "The leader of the first expedition was my son."

Military form be damned. I offer the general a deep bow. "You must be very worried, sir. Trust that I will act to the best of my abilities to fulfil the mission, of course, but with the further thought in mind of restoring a son to his father. It is an honourable quest."

Military form be damned. I offer the general a deep bow. "You must be very worried, sir. Trust that I will act to the best of my abilities to fulfil the mission, of course, but with the further thought in mind of restoring a son to his father. It is an honourable quest."

ir'Dulinch gives her an odd look - perhaps this reaction was unexpected - and says, "Thank you, Major.  I pray you will succeed.

"Given the classified nature of this artifact and its location, you will not depart  through the usual egress.  Lieutenant Zecklin will escort you to the caverns under the fort, via which you will proceed to a lookout point on our northern perimeter.  There, supplies and mounts are readied for your departure, and maps with key locations indicated.  You are also to be issued funds to resupply in Lakeside if necessary.  You will leave immediately from here.

He looks them over.  "You will leave your uniforms and insignia at the lookout point, and travel in the guise of civilians.  While I expect you to observe the spirit of martial propriety and maintain the chain of command, this will, of course, require you to suspend military etiquette and refrain from addressing one another by rank.  I leave the details of this to you.  Logistical inquiries may be directed to Lieutenant Zecklin; at this time you may ask me any mission critical questions you have."

He looks hard at the group.

I eye the general carefully as he starts talking about his missing kid, wondering if there's more to it than he's saying.  Probably not that far off the truth if the little lord was on assignment too, even if half the time it seems like "my kid's gone missing" actually turns out to be "my kid's run off to marry that floozy from the next village over."  Or got eaten by Nightwood monsters, either one.  Any case, it's getting to be pretty clear now why they wanted me for this job.

[Insight check: 17+5=22 for if it seems there's more to his son's disappearance than he's telling us]

"If people took your son, m'lord, you just want him back, or d'you want who did it dead too?" I ask practically.

"If people took your son, m'lord, you just want him back, or d'you want who did it dead too?" I ask practically.

"Live captures are preferable for intel gathering purposes," the general replies, then adds, a chill humor in his eyes,  "but in your parlance, yes, they are wanted 'dead or alive.'"

I review the map and raise an eyebrow in interest.

Well ... that's familiar territory.

"Sir!  Permission to ask a question, sir!"

I'll be damned if I'll forgo proper etiquette, even on the eve of my undoing.

He already said we could ask questions now, you giant arsekisser, I think, rolling my eyes behind the hair falling forward over my hastily ducked face.

I don't mind killing people, I just hate being told to kill specific people. Takes away my agency.

"Sir!  Permission to ask a question, sir!"

"Granted," ir'Dulinch replies.

"Sir!  Thank you, sir!  Does Object 17 require special containment?  In the event that Object 17 is in the possession of hostiles and recovery is impossible are we to terminate Object 17?  With extreme prejudice?  Sir!"

[Insight check: 17+5=22 for if it seems there's more to his son's disappearance than he's telling us]

You can tell there's more to the story, but you don't pick up on any of the shame or disapproval that might accompany the sorts of untoward scenarios you were imagining.

"Sir!  Thank you, sir!  Does Object 17 require special containment?  In the event that Object 17 is in the possession of hostiles and recovery is impossible are we to terminate Object 17?  With extreme prejudice?  Sir!"

"Special containment, no," he replies.  "Not that we are aware of."  He considers the second question.  "The artifact's value in protecting Karrnath merits tremendous risk and sacrifice to recover it," he emphasizes.  "But if recovery is truly impossible, then yes, it would be preferable to see it destroyed than to fall into other hands."

"So then, sir," I ask, "why send such a small squad? Why not a legion? There are plenty of those lying around. And why do we have so many officers, begging your pardons sirs, with just one soldier."

I finish with a winsome smile at Astra.

I blush again.

Ha, and here's us going to a cold climate. My little petal over there will be getting cold at night.

"So then, sir," I ask, "why send such a small squad? Why not a legion? There are plenty of those lying around. And why do we have so many officers, begging your pardons sirs, with just one soldier."

"A squad can move covertly.  A legion cannot.  And you were chosen for your skills, not your ranks," the general says, in the tone of a man making a conscious decision to be patient.

"Well, we have a lot of ranks here sir, we're going to spend half the day saluting each other, up and down sir."

"Well, we have a lot of ranks here sir, we're going to spend half the day saluting each other, up and down sir."

The general has shown a few previous hints of possessing a sense of humor, but they are entirely absent now.  He stares unblinking at Valenae.  "Was that a jest, Corporal?" he inquires, as though out of clinical interest.

"A jest sir? I don't know what you mean," I reply, equally unblinking. "I'm merely pointing out that we have several officers here, and Karrnath military regulations call for saluting a superior whenever you encounter them. Sir."

Oh hells.