Ely edit 6 June 2023:
1-6 qps, depending on length and quality.
Potential +1 qp: if part of a series: x
Total: 3 qps x 2 rpqp Bonus
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Sleet tapped on the glass of the window in a small room within the Queens Blessing. A single candled flickered, it was nearly spent as Chloro continued to put quill to parchment drafting the same letter over and over again. Developments were still progressing in the world, and even those not of their organization had started to comment on it. Perhaps this was the creator’s way of responding to it, making the world more watchful of the Darkone’s designs on chaos. Either way it was time to begin operation “Purge”.
A wonderful play on words given by a mentor many years ago, she would not openly say Black Ajah, but purging the ranks did the same thing and carried the same weight. Some were younger to the shawl, others could not channel which put them at greater risk, they all knew this though. No one on this list did not know that they might not survive combating the shadow as it attempted to weave its plight on the world. They had lost so many in the past, Tamara’s own group, though little was known why had been systematically wiped out.
Her dry eyes looked up, the inkwell and been emptied again, it felt as if all she did was write these days. Morgase would have to be investigated further, well what her view on this was would at least. Then there was the troubling news from Tear, two names that seemed to be influencing the nobles there. A Hand of the light had gone so far as to request a pardon in order to combat the shadow they felt was growing in the world.
Strange times and yet only so many hours in the day to deal with them. She had sent Carter via Gateway to his family, an upset to their balance had compromised his resolve. She did not blame him, and wondered how she would take it if the same happened to her own. Either way perhaps it was best he was not here. If her thread was cut short perhaps distance would soften the blow if the bond was severed.
Slowly she rose from the hard wooden chair, her back cracking as she stretched. Perhaps Basil could persuade the cook to make something so late in the night. She had not eaten the past 2 days, to consumed with the hunt and checking on their youngest operative. The wheel was spinning on a knife’s edge, such trivial things as food could wait until she was sure it would not slip to the dark side. Grabbing a blue woolen shawl she wrapped it around her arms, the weather was still cold, winter had not yet yielded to spring.
Closing the door to her room she walked down the narrow hallway on the main floor, past private dinning rooms, to the kitchens. Her dull butterscotch colored dress swaying as she walked, it was hard not to glide as she did in the tower, but her cover would be blown if she did. Basil knew what she was, and asked very few questions, chances are another sister had him in her pocket for just such things. Her eyebrow raised as she saw the cook deep in work leaning on a rolling pin as the dough beneath it spread further. Was it so close to sunrise already?
Giving a warm smile she lower her head slightly in greeting to the cook and hurried out into the stable yard where a girl, well a girl to her stood waiting. Medira was just shy of thirty, a former novice without the strength in Saidar to become accepted. In her brief time she had uncovered two former tower initiates that had turned to the shadow. After her last incursion she had been placed on pigeons, the scorch marks on her left arm reminded both woman the price of what they were involved in. Pulling a stack of sealed envelopes from under her shawl she handed them to the girl. “They must go out within the hour. It is time you leave Caemlyn, to many know you by your scars, the Two Rivers may suit you better.”
The girl didn’t speak, she seldom did, with a quick turn of her heal she disappeared through the gates out into the city towards which ever place she had chosen to settle down this time. Chloro had always disliked the way field operatives had to move so often, but it was a small price to pay to keep from notice. Midera would be compensated and more of course, for her need to move quickly.
Chloro lost herself in though as she walked back through the kitchens, not all the operatives knew one another. Soon they would all know each other, and the territory they covered. A step taken to ensure, should one fall, the others would carry their burden. One more day seemed like eternity as she listed to the tick and toc of the clock on the mantle piece in the main room of the inn. Soon she would not be the only one with certain information.
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A Gray Pigeon with Seven Different Colored Stripes
A shadow now seems to stretch of the land, we may shine as candles apart but together we shine like a bonfire. It is time we come out of the dark halls and light the way. Operation “Purge” is now in full effect, anyone under suspicion of turning must be fully investigated. I will see you all soon at the meeting point. We will be the Guardian against that which could be among our ranks.
-Chloro