A report in An's neat handwriting is left for Gogonji at his safehouse.
Master Gogonji:
I regret to open this report with an account of failure. As I communicated to you the other day, my surveillance of Ala Mhigan Resistance members Mamluk Kabir (alias) and Ornh Wolfheart was detected.
I did learn some interesting information on both men prior to the detection. They are, as suspected, leading agents of the Embers of Rhalgr cell led by the so-called Sandfox. They appear to be partners in an operation given to them by the Sandfox in order to assess, develop, and possibly recruit two individuals they referred to as their "marks" - known only as "Warsong" and "Blackroad." These marks seem to be Highlander adventurers of some renown, and Mamluk and Wolfheart indicated they wanted to sway them to their cause.
However, Mamluk detected my presence before I could learn more and although he did not directly confront me, he warned me away in the strongest possible terms and threatened to kill me if he detected me again. As I was aware Wolfheart had skills as a sniper, and was brandishing a firearm at the time, I took the warning to heart and withdrew.
The recruitment of Warsong and Blackroad seemed to be part of a larger effort. Mamluk referred to it as "Operation Heavensfury". Wolfheart pressed Mamluk for details on this operation, indicating that Mamluk had been privy to the planning stage, and while Mamluk mentioned the plans were not yet finalized, the operation seems to be a bold strike by the Sandfox's cell into Ala Mhigo itself utilizing an elite, small strike force targeting the Garlean garrison stationed there.
Given what we know about Mamluk being compromised by Cato sas Longinus's own intelligence efforts, either Mamluk is also running a double agent operation against Cato, or Cato will have information on this Heavensfury operation from the door - meaning it will result in catastrophe.
I must deeply apologize for my failure and I submit myself to any punishment you deem appropriate.
Per your direction, I met with Erwin and a few of his most trusted men to determine a suitable agent to infiltrate into the Embers. I selected a young man named Kelar, a half-Highlander, half-Midlander who grew up amidst the refugees. Although he is too young to remember Ala Mhigo, he was raised to revere Rhalgr and seems as though he will assimilate well into a Resistance cell. He is also fiercely loyal to Erwin and therefore Khamja. I gave him a clandestine means of communication to give his reports to me directly. (I feel that is preferable to filtering them through Erwin for both promptness of receipt and clarity.) And I have instructed him quite strictly to remain safe above all else, especially if their cell has been compromised by a Garlean traitor.
Interestingly, Erwin reported he and some of his men were aware of the Embers' reputation and the Sandfox in particular. The Sandfox has a certain repute in the Ala Mhigan ex-pat community as a firebrand preacher out in the desert with unusual charisma and passion. Some consider him to be an extremist, and others a patriot; he is known to be virulently anti-Garlean and preaches against the occupation in overtly religious terms. It will be interesting to see what firsthand information Kelar can provide for us, and if he can obtain any more information on Operation Heavensfury. Whether it is a success or is doomed to failure, I feel it will be important for us to monitor.
Yours faithfully,
An
* * *
Mamluk knelt on a thick layer of carpets in the shaded tent, his hands balanced on his well-muscled thighs as the Sandfox continued his devotions before a crude altar to Rhalgr crammed in the back corner of the tent. He wasn't sure how much the Sandfox had been listening to his report of their first encounter with Warsong and Blackroad; sometimes he thought the Sandfox began praying simply to fill the silence, or perhaps to make him wait. Bowls of wind and ice shards circulated a slightly damp, cool breeze in the confines of the tent but did little to dispel a heavily perfumed, incense-like scent. The Miqo'te woman who was ever by the Sandfox's side lay in a pile of blankets and pillows that served as their bed, naked save for a silk sheet wound around her body, her heavy-lidded eyes fixed on Mamluk with the usual undisguised hostility. He waited.
At last, the Sandfox straightened and turned, his long black robes open to reveal his dark-skinned, scarred chest with a smattering of silver hair. "So, Warsong was hostile to you both when you approached?" he asked in his strident, masterful voice. It was that voice - and his eyes, burning above the loose veil that covered his face - that had first snared Mamluk, as he well remembered, and so many others like him.
"Yes, holy one. He grew defiant at the first mention of Ala Mhigo, and spoke disparagingly of the cause."
The Sandfox made a contemptuous noise. "Despicable coward! Race traitor! They will burn first, when Rhalgr unleashes His vengeance. And we, of course, are the hands of the Lord, the tools of His will. But forget the coward - he, like the deniers and the atheists, will be dealt with in due time. What of the girl? Did she follow him down this path of blasphemy?"
"No, but her loyalties seemed to be toward him alone. If I had to guess, she had no opinion one way or another toward the cause."
The Sandfox knotted his hands in the small of his back and moved toward the tent flap. "She comes from a race-traitor family - one might merely look at the denier Warren Castille to see how far her blood has descended. But there are other levers that may be brought to bear. Against her, and Warsong both, if need be."
Mamluk bowed his head. "Ornh is targeting her as we speak, holy one. If we can sway her, she can likely convince Warsong for us."
"Let us give the Wolfheart his chance to prove himself, then."
"If I may ask, holy one... we have men enough here for Heavensfury. Competent and skilled fighters, even those willing to strike at the heart of the beast itself in Rhalgr's name." Mamluk paused. "Why are these two worth such a special effort to you?"
The Sandfox gazed out of the open tent flap, beyond the main Embers camp in the distance, to the blue-gold line of the horizon beyond that, where sky and sand met in a shimmer of heat-lines even at mid-morning. His tone was reflective as he slowly responded. "You are young despite your burdens, despite your dreams and longings, Mamluk. Your memories of the fatherland are vague and dim, a child's recollections unbound by blood or heavenly fire. But in me, in my heart - Ala Mhigo is home, and family, and honor, and faith, all in one cause, the personal and the immortal commingled. With each strike at the serpent, I both strive for the goals of the Most High, and those of my people - and my own. So it is with this."
Mamluk mulled over that answer. "Yes, holy one."
"Now rise, and see your task through to completion, my son," the Sandfox instructed him. "And report again should Warsong continue to be obstinate. I am prepared to change course - both to shed ourselves of weakness, and to take a personal hand, should it be required."
"Yes, holy one."
The Sandfox swept from the tent, and Mamluk rose to follow him. The Miqo'te rose unexpectedly as well. "Mamluk."
He turned to regard her evenly, being sure to meet only her gaze with his own. "Y'asah."
She sneered faintly, letting the silk sheet unwind from her body and slide free. "You haven't changed. Still merely a shadow of a man. Pathetic."
He looked away, passing a hand over his eyes wearily. "Nor have you, it seems."
"Though I suppose there's one thing that's different."
He had turned to go and was halfway out the tent flap; against his better judgment, he looked back. "What's that?"
She smiled victoriously, viciously. "Your eyes. They no longer gaze solely toward paradise. The Wolfheart, hmm? Disgusting." She spat, narrowly missing his foot.
Mamluk shook his head. "Rhalgr watch over you, Y'asah." He stepped from the tent and raised the hood of his dustcloak to shield his head. He had most of the day yet to return to the heart of Thanalan and his mission.
Master Gogonji:
I regret to open this report with an account of failure. As I communicated to you the other day, my surveillance of Ala Mhigan Resistance members Mamluk Kabir (alias) and Ornh Wolfheart was detected.
I did learn some interesting information on both men prior to the detection. They are, as suspected, leading agents of the Embers of Rhalgr cell led by the so-called Sandfox. They appear to be partners in an operation given to them by the Sandfox in order to assess, develop, and possibly recruit two individuals they referred to as their "marks" - known only as "Warsong" and "Blackroad." These marks seem to be Highlander adventurers of some renown, and Mamluk and Wolfheart indicated they wanted to sway them to their cause.
However, Mamluk detected my presence before I could learn more and although he did not directly confront me, he warned me away in the strongest possible terms and threatened to kill me if he detected me again. As I was aware Wolfheart had skills as a sniper, and was brandishing a firearm at the time, I took the warning to heart and withdrew.
The recruitment of Warsong and Blackroad seemed to be part of a larger effort. Mamluk referred to it as "Operation Heavensfury". Wolfheart pressed Mamluk for details on this operation, indicating that Mamluk had been privy to the planning stage, and while Mamluk mentioned the plans were not yet finalized, the operation seems to be a bold strike by the Sandfox's cell into Ala Mhigo itself utilizing an elite, small strike force targeting the Garlean garrison stationed there.
Given what we know about Mamluk being compromised by Cato sas Longinus's own intelligence efforts, either Mamluk is also running a double agent operation against Cato, or Cato will have information on this Heavensfury operation from the door - meaning it will result in catastrophe.
I must deeply apologize for my failure and I submit myself to any punishment you deem appropriate.
Per your direction, I met with Erwin and a few of his most trusted men to determine a suitable agent to infiltrate into the Embers. I selected a young man named Kelar, a half-Highlander, half-Midlander who grew up amidst the refugees. Although he is too young to remember Ala Mhigo, he was raised to revere Rhalgr and seems as though he will assimilate well into a Resistance cell. He is also fiercely loyal to Erwin and therefore Khamja. I gave him a clandestine means of communication to give his reports to me directly. (I feel that is preferable to filtering them through Erwin for both promptness of receipt and clarity.) And I have instructed him quite strictly to remain safe above all else, especially if their cell has been compromised by a Garlean traitor.
Interestingly, Erwin reported he and some of his men were aware of the Embers' reputation and the Sandfox in particular. The Sandfox has a certain repute in the Ala Mhigan ex-pat community as a firebrand preacher out in the desert with unusual charisma and passion. Some consider him to be an extremist, and others a patriot; he is known to be virulently anti-Garlean and preaches against the occupation in overtly religious terms. It will be interesting to see what firsthand information Kelar can provide for us, and if he can obtain any more information on Operation Heavensfury. Whether it is a success or is doomed to failure, I feel it will be important for us to monitor.
Yours faithfully,
An
* * *
Mamluk knelt on a thick layer of carpets in the shaded tent, his hands balanced on his well-muscled thighs as the Sandfox continued his devotions before a crude altar to Rhalgr crammed in the back corner of the tent. He wasn't sure how much the Sandfox had been listening to his report of their first encounter with Warsong and Blackroad; sometimes he thought the Sandfox began praying simply to fill the silence, or perhaps to make him wait. Bowls of wind and ice shards circulated a slightly damp, cool breeze in the confines of the tent but did little to dispel a heavily perfumed, incense-like scent. The Miqo'te woman who was ever by the Sandfox's side lay in a pile of blankets and pillows that served as their bed, naked save for a silk sheet wound around her body, her heavy-lidded eyes fixed on Mamluk with the usual undisguised hostility. He waited.
At last, the Sandfox straightened and turned, his long black robes open to reveal his dark-skinned, scarred chest with a smattering of silver hair. "So, Warsong was hostile to you both when you approached?" he asked in his strident, masterful voice. It was that voice - and his eyes, burning above the loose veil that covered his face - that had first snared Mamluk, as he well remembered, and so many others like him.
"Yes, holy one. He grew defiant at the first mention of Ala Mhigo, and spoke disparagingly of the cause."
The Sandfox made a contemptuous noise. "Despicable coward! Race traitor! They will burn first, when Rhalgr unleashes His vengeance. And we, of course, are the hands of the Lord, the tools of His will. But forget the coward - he, like the deniers and the atheists, will be dealt with in due time. What of the girl? Did she follow him down this path of blasphemy?"
"No, but her loyalties seemed to be toward him alone. If I had to guess, she had no opinion one way or another toward the cause."
The Sandfox knotted his hands in the small of his back and moved toward the tent flap. "She comes from a race-traitor family - one might merely look at the denier Warren Castille to see how far her blood has descended. But there are other levers that may be brought to bear. Against her, and Warsong both, if need be."
Mamluk bowed his head. "Ornh is targeting her as we speak, holy one. If we can sway her, she can likely convince Warsong for us."
"Let us give the Wolfheart his chance to prove himself, then."
"If I may ask, holy one... we have men enough here for Heavensfury. Competent and skilled fighters, even those willing to strike at the heart of the beast itself in Rhalgr's name." Mamluk paused. "Why are these two worth such a special effort to you?"
The Sandfox gazed out of the open tent flap, beyond the main Embers camp in the distance, to the blue-gold line of the horizon beyond that, where sky and sand met in a shimmer of heat-lines even at mid-morning. His tone was reflective as he slowly responded. "You are young despite your burdens, despite your dreams and longings, Mamluk. Your memories of the fatherland are vague and dim, a child's recollections unbound by blood or heavenly fire. But in me, in my heart - Ala Mhigo is home, and family, and honor, and faith, all in one cause, the personal and the immortal commingled. With each strike at the serpent, I both strive for the goals of the Most High, and those of my people - and my own. So it is with this."
Mamluk mulled over that answer. "Yes, holy one."
"Now rise, and see your task through to completion, my son," the Sandfox instructed him. "And report again should Warsong continue to be obstinate. I am prepared to change course - both to shed ourselves of weakness, and to take a personal hand, should it be required."
"Yes, holy one."
The Sandfox swept from the tent, and Mamluk rose to follow him. The Miqo'te rose unexpectedly as well. "Mamluk."
He turned to regard her evenly, being sure to meet only her gaze with his own. "Y'asah."
She sneered faintly, letting the silk sheet unwind from her body and slide free. "You haven't changed. Still merely a shadow of a man. Pathetic."
He looked away, passing a hand over his eyes wearily. "Nor have you, it seems."
"Though I suppose there's one thing that's different."
He had turned to go and was halfway out the tent flap; against his better judgment, he looked back. "What's that?"
She smiled victoriously, viciously. "Your eyes. They no longer gaze solely toward paradise. The Wolfheart, hmm? Disgusting." She spat, narrowly missing his foot.
Mamluk shook his head. "Rhalgr watch over you, Y'asah." He stepped from the tent and raised the hood of his dustcloak to shield his head. He had most of the day yet to return to the heart of Thanalan and his mission.
People have forgotten this truth. But you mustn't forget it. You become responsible forever for what you have tamed.
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