This letter (en route to the
elven ambassador in Rotan) was intercepted by Burr on 2705:7:8.
(An identical copy addressed to
King Anwell was intercepted by Tekuna just hours later.)
From: Anonymous
To: King Ter-shai of Miris
és Lirias-Tora
Date: Undated
Your most honoured
majesty
I beg you to forgive the anonymous
nature of this missive. For reasons I will disclose, secrecy is my only
safeguard. Please read my words, and act as you see fit.
I must urge extreme caution regarding
the persons known as the Manticorum. While they claim to act only for the
greater good, their motive is suspect, and their methods more so. I cannot
act without revealing myself, for Quithas would surely destroy me, but
I can offer words of warning. Your own wisdom and judgment must decide
the best course of action.
May I ask you to consider the Manticorum?
-
Until recently, they were as a
group allied to the kingdom of Rotan through the position of their leader,
Damalanthas Quithas, as a "Lord of Rotan". As such, they were clearly a
political arm of that kingdom - Quithas was instrumental in placing Anwell
on the throne - but Quithas recently denounced that lordship, thereby evoking
the rage of Anwell, and turned maverick. To whom is he now accountable?
Himself? That he is power-hungry is beyond dispute, but as I shall show
next, he must have a patron, whose intentions and indeed existence are
cloaked in secrecy.
-
The activities of the Manticorum incur
massive expenditure of magic and other resources, doubtless at huge cost.
Without the backing of Rotan, from where does the gold for this expenditure
come? What do they sell? What do they HAVE to sell? Only, currently, their
knowledge of the innermost councils of men such as yourself. Does your
majesty want that on the open market, to the highest bidder? Or has a buyer
already been found? The Manticorum will shortly have other goods for sale;
read on, sir.
-
The Manticorum are peaceful, and work
for the greater good of all kingdoms. Why then do they construct a fortress
in which to reside? Why is their hallmark a blade? Why do they seek magical
mounts on which to mount mages trained in combat? Why are they offering
huge rewards for magical items for use in combat? I contend that the Manticorum,
with no political allegiance, seek to force kingdoms to accept either themselves,
Quithas, or a puppet monarch as liege, enforced by arms and magic if necessary.
Or will they become a mercenary body of blades and spies and sorcerers,
secure in their fortress, selling services and secrets to any bidder?
-
With the ability of the Manticorum to
communicate any information between one another, there is little doubt
that Quithas himself receives all the accumulated information of many realms.
I ask again: what is his price? Who is his master now?
With factors such as these in play,
the Manticorum are a significant threat to security, and I beg you, as
a rational being and enlightened leader, to carefully consider the resources
to which you grant them access, and to weigh up that which you receive
in return. Quithas, if unchecked, will soon have us all in his grip. We
must break that grip, and return the Manticorum to their correct place;
as an instrument of politics, not an impending storm. Look upon their words
and actions with suspicion, for many a fair word may cloak a hidden barb,
and until they reveal their motives, we can trust them not at all. I beg
that you will consider my words most gravely. With all the threats facing
the kingdoms, the Manticorum have a place, but not as yet another threat.
And I say beware Quithas! He is the most unpredictable and fickle of creatures;
a half-elf with no allegiance to either race, and to no kingdom, at least
openly. Does he have a conscience? Responsibilities? Until these are resolved,
the Manticorum are too great a threat to leave unguarded.
As I discover more, I shall communicate
further. Until then I remain Your Majesty's most faithful servant,
An observer
|