Act 2: Upheaval III - The Master Weaver and the Arena

Konrad detects no summoner/aspect mental link from Wanda.

The black mage frowns. "Wait, that's it? You are giving up already? We just started talking. You haven't really made a serious offer yet much less told us why you want to be the First. Does the position mean so little to you?"

"I've made no secrets to my clansmen and other Myrzens why I wish to become First. You only need to ask my compatriots, and they'll tell you."

Steve sighs. "Szef Makara, I see where you are coming from but we've been working nonstop all day. We haven't had time to talk to any of your clansmen. And besides, and I'm pretty sure my friends would agree, we want to hear you say it in your own words. We are trying to figure out who you are. What you want. You believe you should be First? Make us believe too."

Szef Makara very calmly sighs. "I am sorry for wasting your time."

"So you don't want to be the First then? Who is your choice and why?"

Deception to see if she is lying. 23

Mihai interrupts, landing his hand on Steve's shoulder - "Steve." - then looks at Wanda - "Madam Szef, you didn't summon us here for just a weak attempt at bribery and then dismiss us out of hand. You clearly wanted something more, and while i won't insult you by pretending i have no idea what it may be about - i assume someone in your position has a fair bit of intel on some of the things we've been dealing with for the past year - you seem to expect us to do all the reaching out. You're not the only one with far-reaching enemies, and you're not the only one taking risks. I'd still rather we made each others' lives easier instead of harder but we'll not betray our people, nor our secrets to you without any kind of reciprocity."

Wanda Makara appears completely disinterested in what Mihai says, although she does frown a bit the more he talks. She stands still and patiently waits for him to finish before speaking again. "Mister Lowick, if you really knew what I wanted, you'd have already revealed your hand before mine. Now unless you have something to say, please leave."

She gestures toward the door.

Kolson:

Konrad stands up. "Then how is this: you don't want the Elementals to have control over their own First and then make a puppet state of Myr - neither do we. It's bad enough that they have the High Chief of the Defenders."

He lingers on the reveal of their cards for a hot second before pulling back the hand and shuffling.

"So, is there something we need to know about Nadzieja?"

Szef Makara betrays her surprise when Konrad mentions the Elementals, but she immediately frowns and peers at the mercenaries.

"Who are you, and where did you hear that?" she asks in a measured tone.

Steve:

Mihai glances at Konrad, but then Wanda speaks up and he gets annoyed - "Hear it? We saw, felt it, and had it force-fed into our heads. A year ago, Marcus sent us off as cannon fodder to stall the Enemy while he readied his own operation, but he didn't expect us to survive and retrieve Anne's Orb all on our own. Since then he's kept us close, and had us assigned to combat another threat, but i'm guessing you don't know about that either."

Wanda Makara stares at the mercenaries for a long time, standing still in a rigid manner. She considers her words carefully and asks, "What do you mean by ‘force-fed’?"

Steve:

Mihai betrays a hint of anger - "You can thank Edward for that. I don't know how it is you people communicate, but he had us ambushed and abducted half our team after shoving Jacob's Orbs into our heads, all the while having no idea we already had our own. I am Mihai Lowick, but since last week i am also Nick Bradshaw."

"I'm Steve Oldturn but also May Brauer."

Renewing Deception check to read mood and see if she's lying 16.

Konrad sighs. "This has been very hard for all of us."

The Szef's eyes fall on Konrad. "And you?"

Steve:

The woman glares at Konrad without any hint of sympathy on her face. She then slowly walks toward him, ignoring the two other men at her sides, and stops one foot away from the red mage. She stares down at him and says, "You three can't even get your stories straight. I bet you don't even know who I am. You're just Marcus' latest pawns, unaware of the workings of our organization."

She turns her back to the mercenaries and sits down on the couch.

"Why are you even here?"

"Fine," he says, reverting to his own disgust and bitterness. He sits.

Mihai glares at Konrad, but shakes it off and returns his attention to Makara, calmly getting up before speaking up - "We don't know who you are. And frankly, i don't care. You can have your internal bickering till the Dome comes down - which it is, while you people vie for power. We came here looking for our Team, but are taking the time to help with the situation since we recognize it's gravity. You want our help, fine. You don't, don't. Between us and Nadzieja, we can stop the Enemy from taking control here."

She raises an eyebrow. "Your team?"

"Yeah. We're operating at about half efficiency now, thanks to Edward. An Endless could even be standing right here with us, and we'd have no way to sense it."

Szef Makara gazes at the mercenaries and listens very carefully to Mihai's words. "And?" she asks. "What do you want from me?"

Steve:

"Where is Edward?"

"You said you were looking for your team. Not Edward."