When they finally get to Twin Elms, they find the only place they can go is in the Hearthsong district. Pallegina looks suddenly worried when she sees the building the Anemfatha usually stay in when they're in the district, and Cera immediately picks up on it. She murmurs "Your worried about the trade agreement…"
Pallegina starts, then gives a thin smile and says "I suppose you'd have caught on eventually. Yes, I am. You know I've been worried since the start, truthfully, but right now I'm more worried than ever. After the near-assassination of the Duc, and the riot in the city that followed, its all-too clear to me that the Dyrwoodans don't suffer what they don't like for long. They certainly didn't like that an Animancer apparently tried to kill their Duc, what would they do if the Republics try to undermine their trade?"
Cera shrugs, and says "People in Gilded Vale were trying to stop the Legacy by hanging anyone and everyone who had anything to do with Eothas or was different. Eder was one of them by birth, and he was sure they were going to hang him next even though he helped the side that blew the guy up. Aloth and I were likely going to be hung sooner or later, for whatever reason they could come up with. All total, Dyrwoodans seem a hotheaded bunch. And you've got an idea to keep the Republics from a war."
Pallegina doesn't even look surprised anymore that Cera just knows these things - it honestly makes things a lot simpler sometimes. Running ideas past her, for instance. Pallegina has an idea for an alternate trade agreement that won't undercut the trade between Eir Glanfath and the Dyrwood but will benefit the Republics - Cera immediately likes the idea.
She helps the Avian Godlike iron out the details, and they eventually come up with Ta Ondra Tara Pearls to the Glanfathans and Carrow Golan and Adra Ban to the Republics. Pallegina looks nervous, but she steels her resolve and nods her head resolutely.
And then they walk into the Anamenfath's council building - or whatever it's called, it seems the equivalent. Cera's picked up thoughts about a mysterious Estramoer who got permission to enter the forbidden districts and did something.
Has to be Thaos, he's the only Kith in all of Eora who could talk someone born in the Dyrwood into letting them into a forbidden area.
The only Kith besides Cera, that is.
Given her Cipher powers and her upbringing, she's got a knack for persuading people - one of the few things the two certainties of her early life help with very much. Most stuff, not so much - using her words to convince people to let her be or do what she wants, absolutely. If she absolutely has to, she can even mentally influence them in the direction she desires, though she'd never do it unless she had to.
The Ananenfath initially denies their request to enter the other districts to search for Thaos, saying she'd already made that mistake once and wouldn't do it again - chances are, if she'd refused, he'd have simply killed everyone in the room and then everyone else that got in his way to wherever it is he's headed.
It's when Cera's look spaces out for a moment, that the Elven woman peers at her curiously. Cera suddenly says "Not to be rude or creepy, but do you know of a dead elf named Ferwult who had a warning that went unheeded?"
The Anamenfath actually drops the book she was holding, staring at Cera in pure shock. "How…how could you know that? Unless…you're a Watcher. A soul-seer. Yes, I know of Ferwult. His warning came in the Broken Stone war, and went unheeded. A warning of caution, one that is surely relevant now as well."
Cera tilts her head to the side, studying the young leader, and finally asks "You want to make up for the mistake of letting Thaos into the other district, don't you?"
"Whatever his name is. He never introduced himself, just said he was doing the work of the gods themselves and he must be let through to Elms Reach at once. How do you know him, and what do you want? Truly want."
"What I want is to find him and get an answer from him - how I know him is…complicated. Very complicated. You could say its driving me nuts trying to figure it out."
The Anamenfath opens her mouth to respond to what appears to be a joke, then something seems to dawn on her and she says "I'm sorry then. You're Awakened."
It's not a question, but a statement, and Cera nods. "Yes, and I need to find him so I can figure out how to stop this. And stop him. You've heard of the Legacy? Hollowborn children being born all across the Dyrwood? Well, he's the one that set it all up, started all this. And now, whatever he's doing, he's going to finish this. He serves Woedica, and he's going to use those souls for…something. I don't know what, but I know…" She spaces out for a minute, then quietly says "He's always got a plan. A reason. Woedica's plan and reason. She was the ruler of all the gods, until she was overthrown. I can't imagine he liked that too much. Or her." Cera suddenly sways, and Aloth catches her before she hits the floor.
The Anamenfath looks at Cera with wide eyes, and says "I take it that was her Awakened soul just now?" Cera nods, holding her head, and the woman thinks for a minute before saying "If you can stop the Estramoer, this Thaos as you call him, you have my permission to enter the other districts. Find him, stop him. Put an end to the devastation he's wreaked on the Dyrwood."
Pallegina says "Thank you, Anamenfath. Also, there is something I need to discuss with you. You have heard from the Valian Embassy that the Republics wish to open trade with Eir Glanfath?"
"Yes, I've heard that. And I heard that they would be sending an emissary to give more specific details on the proposal."
Pallegina nods, and says "Understand that I am more suited for war than for diplomacy, but I am here in service to the Ducs all the same. And in these times, they felt it best to send someone who can hold their own in a fight with the proposal details."
"I understand. Perhaps it is best to send a warrior to do emissary work in these troubled times. What is the offer?"
Pallegina bites her upper lip for the briefest of moments, then says "The Republics think that it would be best if you continued your traditional trade with the Dyrwood, and instead you would become our exclusive market for Ta Ondra Tara Pearls while the Republics became your exclusive market for Carrow Golan and Adra Ban."
"A most interesting offer. This past hour has been full of surprises. I'll send some emissaries to work out the details."
Once they get outside the building, Pallegina slides down to a sitting position with wide eyes. "That's it! My position with the Brotherhood, gone! Postenago!"
Cera slides down next to her, saying "You did the right thing, Pallegina. Even if they can't see it." She rubs at her temples, trying to clear her head of most of the Glanfathans going about their own business and unknowingly saying every thought in their heads in hers as well.
Eder's voice cuts through most of the concentration required for her to have even a few moments actually to herself, saying "You alright, Cera?"
"Define alright. Insane, not quite yet. I've got a headache though."
"I'm surprised that's all you have, in all honesty. How's…how's your friend?"
"Quiet for now. Though her appearance earlier was rather sudden." She spaces out for a minute, but they can all tell it's still her when she refocuses.
Sagani says "Well, the woman did give us permission to follow Thaos. Let's go, shall we?"
They all nod, getting to their feet and heading in the right direction. The guards don't seem all that happy that they have permission, but don't make any trouble for them either. Which is good, because Aloth saw Cera's hand twitching for her crossbow - right up until he took it in his, resulting in his wand hand nearly getting crushed in her grip.
AN: Yeah, getting right down to things here! Lord Raedric is just going to stay dead instead of rising from the grave, as a quick trip back to his keep seems more like a waste of time at the moment. In the game, it doesn't really have any consequences for stopping Thaos to take a few-days trip back to the other side of the Dyrwood to kill a guy again, but in real life it would honestly be something to be done after saving the world. Merry Christmas!