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So it had finally come to this... All his years of labour and general compliance, outweighed by stating the truth?
Well, it wasn't surprising. Not really.
Cairn Brackenridge heaved a sigh as he reclined against the smooth stone wall of the Council Building. It was not, he'd been reminded, to be confused with the Grand Council Building that was located in Ironstead's high district. No, that wasn't a place for people like him. He might track lower-class dirt onto their carpets. He was not, however, terribly concerned with the condescension. It had, of course, been delivered behind a mask of politeness and a very false sense of grandeur, and it was a thinly-veiled attempt to make this entire situation seem voluntary.
Mr. Brackenridge,
It has been brought to our attention that you would make a most excellent candidate for Ironstead's new and exclusive Exploration Programme. We are searching throughout the city as part of an ongoing effort to expand our newest Programme, seeking well-qualified candidates who will be undaunted in the face of the unknown. Given your history working as a Collector of the Dead, your unique lineage, and several well-trusted referrals, we believe you would be invaluable in this undertaking.
As it is of the utmost importance that we discover what the surface world holds as soon as possible, we kindly request that you report to the Council Building* on Friday, the fifth of September at six o'clock in the morning. You will meet with the Exploration Officer who briefed you on this Programme upon delivery of this message, as well as your partner in this grand and exciting adventure. You will receive supplies and instructions before being escorted to the exit point. We advise you to wear comfortable clothing and sensible footwear.
Any questions concerning reimbursement and reward will be answered prior to your departure. If you fail to arrive for your departure, Exploration Officers will be dispatched to collect you. Nothing is more important than discovery!
Best of luck on your exciting new career as an explorer-- adventure awaits!
- High Chancellor Valor
*Please note that you should report to the Council Building in the Common District, not the High District.
The letter that started this disaster had been given to him three days prior, delivered by a surly city guard. Currently, the letter was rolled into a loose scroll and tucked into an inner pocket of Cairn's dark cloak. He wasn't sure if he needed to bring it with him or not, but he was bordering on reading it again simply for something to do. He'd made the mistake of arriving slightly before six. It was now slightly after six, and no one had yet appeared to do as the letter had indicated.
He had briefly considered not showing up-- giving the guards a merry, week-long chase around all of Ironstead, but in the end, it seemed like too much of a hassle.
Stifling a yawn, the lanky man stretched a hand up to cover his mouth before rubbing at his eyes in attempts to better wake himself. Not that it would help. He had a perpetual look of fatigue, emphasized by the dark rings below his eyes, which never really seemed to fade. It likely had something to do with a poor diet and lack of sleep, but that was a staple of the common district.
Overcrowded, overworked, and underfed.
Exactly why he was here now-- he couldn't be content to just keep his damn mouth shut.
But perhaps the surface wouldn't be so bad... Maybe death would be quick. Maybe he'd even get to see the sky first.
An approaching figure drew his attention, rousing the man from his thoughts. Straightening, he adjusted the worn canvas pack on his shoulder as the "Exploration Officer" slowed to a stop in front of the building. He gave Cain a somewhat quizzical look, as though he'd not expected to find him here so early—or at all. The guard also looked somewhat disappointed. He, no doubt, had been looking forward to "collecting" him.
"Mornin'." Cairn drawled the word in a low, accented voice as he moved away from the wall.
The guard simply nodded and unlocked the door, motioning him inside.
Silently, Cairn ducked through the doorway and looked around. The entry foyer opened into a large and excessively decorative space. Lanterns were already lit, and Cairn was somewhat surprised to see that there were already several people present, many going about various tasks that involved staring at the surface of desks. Why no one had answered when he knocked, he wasn't sure.
Not that it really mattered.
Scanning the room more closely, Cairn tried to identify the poor sod who'd be accompanying him up to certain death, wondering what they'd done to earn the same fate.
Well, it wasn't surprising. Not really.
Cairn Brackenridge heaved a sigh as he reclined against the smooth stone wall of the Council Building. It was not, he'd been reminded, to be confused with the Grand Council Building that was located in Ironstead's high district. No, that wasn't a place for people like him. He might track lower-class dirt onto their carpets. He was not, however, terribly concerned with the condescension. It had, of course, been delivered behind a mask of politeness and a very false sense of grandeur, and it was a thinly-veiled attempt to make this entire situation seem voluntary.
Mr. Brackenridge,
It has been brought to our attention that you would make a most excellent candidate for Ironstead's new and exclusive Exploration Programme. We are searching throughout the city as part of an ongoing effort to expand our newest Programme, seeking well-qualified candidates who will be undaunted in the face of the unknown. Given your history working as a Collector of the Dead, your unique lineage, and several well-trusted referrals, we believe you would be invaluable in this undertaking.
As it is of the utmost importance that we discover what the surface world holds as soon as possible, we kindly request that you report to the Council Building* on Friday, the fifth of September at six o'clock in the morning. You will meet with the Exploration Officer who briefed you on this Programme upon delivery of this message, as well as your partner in this grand and exciting adventure. You will receive supplies and instructions before being escorted to the exit point. We advise you to wear comfortable clothing and sensible footwear.
Any questions concerning reimbursement and reward will be answered prior to your departure. If you fail to arrive for your departure, Exploration Officers will be dispatched to collect you. Nothing is more important than discovery!
Best of luck on your exciting new career as an explorer-- adventure awaits!
- High Chancellor Valor
*Please note that you should report to the Council Building in the Common District, not the High District.
The letter that started this disaster had been given to him three days prior, delivered by a surly city guard. Currently, the letter was rolled into a loose scroll and tucked into an inner pocket of Cairn's dark cloak. He wasn't sure if he needed to bring it with him or not, but he was bordering on reading it again simply for something to do. He'd made the mistake of arriving slightly before six. It was now slightly after six, and no one had yet appeared to do as the letter had indicated.
He had briefly considered not showing up-- giving the guards a merry, week-long chase around all of Ironstead, but in the end, it seemed like too much of a hassle.
Stifling a yawn, the lanky man stretched a hand up to cover his mouth before rubbing at his eyes in attempts to better wake himself. Not that it would help. He had a perpetual look of fatigue, emphasized by the dark rings below his eyes, which never really seemed to fade. It likely had something to do with a poor diet and lack of sleep, but that was a staple of the common district.
Overcrowded, overworked, and underfed.
Exactly why he was here now-- he couldn't be content to just keep his damn mouth shut.
But perhaps the surface wouldn't be so bad... Maybe death would be quick. Maybe he'd even get to see the sky first.
An approaching figure drew his attention, rousing the man from his thoughts. Straightening, he adjusted the worn canvas pack on his shoulder as the "Exploration Officer" slowed to a stop in front of the building. He gave Cain a somewhat quizzical look, as though he'd not expected to find him here so early—or at all. The guard also looked somewhat disappointed. He, no doubt, had been looking forward to "collecting" him.
"Mornin'." Cairn drawled the word in a low, accented voice as he moved away from the wall.
The guard simply nodded and unlocked the door, motioning him inside.
Silently, Cairn ducked through the doorway and looked around. The entry foyer opened into a large and excessively decorative space. Lanterns were already lit, and Cairn was somewhat surprised to see that there were already several people present, many going about various tasks that involved staring at the surface of desks. Why no one had answered when he knocked, he wasn't sure.
Not that it really mattered.
Scanning the room more closely, Cairn tried to identify the poor sod who'd be accompanying him up to certain death, wondering what they'd done to earn the same fate.
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