[A Letter to Alejandro Benjazar]

[Runic]

[A letter, on freshly conjured paper with the scent of a freshly opened book, is delivered to the offices of Alejandro Benjazar by a fat and haughty hen. She steps to the office door, glowers at the occupant with the glare of someone who knows how superior they are than the subject they see, and drops the letter. She then returns to the sender.]

Alejandro Benjazar,

My skills at language are rather blunt, however, to attempt to form connection to your sensibilities I have tried to make my writing here more poetic.

You voice reminds of rusted gears,
That screech and screech and hurt my ears,
For never let it be unsaid,
That these are consequences you have bred.

When plunderers steal my peoples bones,
From ancient cities, and ancient homes,
Despite our charity, your gifted Krak,
Your own homes lost to withering Black.

And there within, those dangers linger,
Like a wasp, riled, poised with stinger,
Unleashed upon our plains of sand,
By careless, wayward, clumsy hand.

I will not forget the look in his eyes,
As upon his tongue did dance your lies,
How you hovered, behind, the back of room,
His oathsworn vow, coated in gloom.

I hope you see them when you sleep,
And that to you no life is cheap,
The Scholar slain at the Pilgrim's toes,
To cover up your wayward woes.

I find no comfort in your inclusion,
For you are wrought with self-delusion,
That these are your self-proclaimed sands to pluck,
I must reply, off you fuck.

I pray you have enjoyed my poetry. Now I will be blunt. I do not like you, you inspire no comfort, and each time you speak I hear your lies on Student Card's tongue. Despite that, we are in a time of crisis, and the encroachment of Qa'im, the Thousand Clans, the Sibilant Remnants, and other insidious threats mean we as members of the Accord should work together. As such I will place my personal revulsion for you aside.
 
Now, it is a simple interview to renew your license, because the records we were given are half-complete. Maddicus kept none, thus we have no way of verifying whether licenses are forged. If passing an interview and proving yourself capable of handling the relics of the people of the Ash Desert is too much for a member of your esteemed College, I will happily advise in other specialisations you may wish to take as hobbies.

That is all.

Zain al-Saiba
Nadiri of the Tower of Q'tolip

 

[Don Nadie]

Dear Zain,

Greatly enjoyable! While the meter could use some work (there is, I feel, a value in counting syllables) I can only commend the expressive use of poetry. I am particularly satisfied with the second stanza, even if I do not, of course, agree with the sentiment. I do not believe armies who bled to conquer a city are, truly, receiving any gift.

If I may, the only thing I'd absolutely invite you to reconsider is the last verse. I believe "self-proclaimed" to be inelegant (two uses of "self" is rather jarring) and redundant (is self-delusion not, by necessity, self-proclaimed?). By eliminating this simple adjective you also make the syllables more even, which aids, I believe, in recitation. After all, the strength of this ending is the shortness and curtness of the "off you fuck"!

Matters of poetry aside, I shall also offer two pointers on some radically important matters. The first: that the Blod Vault was part of a boardwork contract, and in no way related to archaeological activity. The second: that two of your Apothars were involved in the unleashing of the Gutter Beast. Being as you are at the behest of truth I do not doubt you shall remember to mention it, next you Bellow on the matter.

Lastly, while I appreciate the attempt, I shall not be submitting to your polite request. I am one of the most respected archaeologists and translators of the Well. I was promised I would be able to continue my research unimpended by the Tower, or they would lose their right over licences. I was promised that control over the licences would be removed the second the Tower attempted to abuse their power - by, for instance, making everyone an outlaw archaeologist.

I intend to make those promises stand. Any attempt at constraining my work shall be met with loving derision.

Proffesional animosity aside, I wish you all the best. I find you, all in all, most endearing. I would also invite you to unleash your poetic talents upon Bashir. He'd love it, and I enjoy his happiness.

Yours,

Alejandro

PS: Should you wish to pass me a signed copy in paper, I'd love adding your poem to my collection.

[Runic]

[A letter is sent, curt and blunt. The hen is even more haughty than before, if such can be possible. Clearly this is her domain, and everyone else is merely a peasant.]

Alejandro Benjazar,

The Blood Vault may not have been initially Archaeology related, but the word 'Vault' should give away some context as to its original purpose and retains to the larger matter at hand. Too often are individuals delving to find lost treasures of our peoples, and in the process, unleashing terrors upon the Sands. Then rather than seeking the appropriate channels, are hiding away information until it is dredged from them.

I make no omission that two Apothars were present when the Gutter Beast was unleashed, however, it was due to making the event known through the appropriate channels that it was then later captured. I also found it discomforting that your fellow 'professionals' the Torchbearers would claim that the 'Rod of Al-Pesh' was 'theirs by right of finding it'. All relics found by right belong to the citizens of the Ash Desert, as it is our cultural history and cultural legacy that is being disturbed. Apothar Mevura has been told similar.

Your decline is noted, and as such, if you aim to perform digs of an archaeological nature they will be deemed illegal and in breach of the law. It has been made apparent that Scribe Maddicus did not keep records of whom he sold licenses to, and we merely wish to crack down on frauds who might use that to claim a forged record as a truthful one. If you truly wish to drive deeper wedges between members of the Accord while numerous threats hang over our heads, I am not in a position to stop you, but may likely impact our willingness to work closely with your organisation.

Lastly, your creative input on my poetic attempts has been noted. Poetry to me is illogical, too easily leads to misinformation and 'tall tales', and I will likely not be attempting it again. However, one must always value a chance to learn. I pray that Izdu guides you to that same lesson, that even a lesson you deem unnecessary might lead to personal growth.

That is all.

Zain al-Saiba
Nadiri of the Tower of Q'tolip

[Don Nadie]

Dear Zain,

I shall certainly delay any excavations until the Legates have been made to uphold their promises and my licence is, once more, legal. After all, I would never dream to break an unjust law.

Yours,

Alejandro