The Adeptus Sociological gave a yelp when he was dragged into an alleyway in Austerium.
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A woman had done it. She wore a pressed suit and tie and yet had a playful look in her eyes that suggested that her life was not quite as boring as one might imagine.
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“My apologies, Adeptus of Sociology, but I had to get you alone for this.” She giggled quietly, amused at his confusion.
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The scholar struggled to find words to form a palisade of retorts, a pre-emptive watertight argument against whatever point she would make. His fortress of words did not get out of the planning phase, though.
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“You are probably wondering who I am, so I will introduce myself. I am the Bane of Æcordia, a CATAE official tasked with destroying the goddess known as the Temptress. My name is private for my own safety.” She said with a flourish.
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The Adeptus remembered that Proctor Alma had told him that a CATAE official would reach out to him shortly after he had arrived in the North of Empyrea. The academic was glad that his friend was safe.
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“And...what does the Coalition Against the Æbyss want with?”
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“They want you to kill Technocrat Rodney Limos for them, of course. In exchange, they will make you the Guardian of the South in addition to Chancellor of the Academies since the cultists made the previous one vanish into thin air.”
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The Adeptus caught the real meaning of “Vanish into thin air”, in the CATAE code. It meant dead or unable to assume duties and was only used when talking about allies. The Chancellor was definitely dead.
“I see, and why should I help you lot up North?” He retorted.
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“Your friend, Proctor Alma, would be so disappointed that his favourite alumni of his Academy lacks a spine, for one. Also, Alma told us that you have been used as a tool to manipulate. Your knowledge being turned into a weapon surely violates some Academy of the Adept rule, yes?”
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He was not surprised by the former and knew the latter to be true. However, she had made a mistake.
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“Of course it is against the rules.... The andbook of the Adept states that knowledge should be sought out for its own sake, not for the Scholars’ own gain. But that rule has never been strictly enforced: the Adeptus Mechanical was famous for being quite greedy and materialistic; the Adeptus Biomechanical attempted to use her creations for war profiteering; the Adeptus Clockwork desired to go down in history to mock the bullies that had disfigured him in his youth; and the Adeptus Genetic created biological superweapons on the orders of the Commisar of Sovia to save his own skin!”
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The Bane of Æcordia seemed to be enjoying the pseudo-debate.
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“You can certainly argue a point, Adeptus, but CATAE knows that you hate Technocract Limos. Also, Supreme Meritocrat Berote is dead because of us: the Ætharchs acting as anchors to the Æbyssal Triumvirate are not invincible, but their gods are so long as they live. Making an anchor properly takes years for them. Wecan win!”
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“Let us presume I accept and kill Rodney Limos for you. How do I deal with Æcordia. And what about the East and the Northwest, or the Northeast?”
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“The goddess will die like any normal person without Limos. As for the other regions....we shall help them as well.” She muttered grumpily.
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“Very well then, I accept your offer.”
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“Welcome to CATAE, then. Once your mission is complete , we will arrange transport to the North so that you may take your seat at the big table.”
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The Adeptus Sociological tried to hide his glee by asking another question, “Who else is at said big table?”
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“The Guardian of the North, Zoma Taurinè. The Gaurdian of the Southeast, Meritocrat Altruis of Wyrai. The Gaurdian of the Southwest, Archmage Dracoyr of the Order of the Dragoon. The Guardian of South-Southwest, The Archbishop of Ecclesia. The Gaurdian of the West is Chairman Creutzfeldt Mao of the Biotechnological Commission of Umbracrest. The Guardian of West-Northwest is the Viceroy of the Anocratic Union of Fire who is standing in for the Elector-General.” She sounded bored as she named all the Guardians that she could.
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“I thought there was sixteen?” asked the Adeptus.
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“There is, but the rest are temporary members until we can get the permanent ones to take their seats.”
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“Oh.” He muttered.
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“You have a Technocrat's death to plan. Getto it.”
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The Adeptus Sociological left the alleyway and wondered to himself how she knew that he would be passing it.
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