ROLEPLAY

Duke had finally obtained the information he wanted from the herbalist about Cirrus's drug:
- It's just as we told you, transformed Gibbai flesh.
The dark-haired Matis, still impassive, added:
- But here, the process of making the substance is highly ingenious and difficult to reproduce. Who made this?
- The product seems to be circulating among marauding clans.
- hmm, sounds a bit too elaborate for non-Matis. Vaporization gives the drug more potency, and above all makes it much simpler to administer. It's a wonder they have such mastery...
He said nothing more, and Duke didn't insist, given the difficulty he'd already had meeting this discreet character.
After a long pause in the conversation, Duke bowed to his indecipherable interlocutor:
- Fila Ser...
The homin cut him off as he replaced his black helmet:
- Deles necat.
He soon disappeared into the forest as he had come.
Strange.

Duke hadn't been back to Avalae for quite some time. Between the Yrkanis market and excursions to the lakes, he had taken little time to rest. He wanted to talk to Liosta about Cirrus, but as he couldn't find her, he decided to pay a visit to Staeflina to check up on her.
Arriving at the foot of the tree house, he spoke to the janitor, who hadn't seen Staeflina for a long time and initially refused to let him up.
- I'm telling you she's suffering, I must speak to her without delay, and preventing a Noble Matis like Me from accomplishing His mission for His House and the Kingdom will only get you into trouble, believe me.
Despite his slightly overplayed threats, Duke did not spare himself a few dappers, but was still able to gain access to the upper floors...

Arriving at the threshold of the apartment, he gently picked up the Firm's badge from the floor and looked at it sadly, understanding what it meant. The dust on it suggested that it had already been there for several days. Unfortunately, he expected to find no one there, but went inside anyway to make sure.
Everything in the room was cold and dark. The room was empty and apparently in order. Staeflina seemed to have finally decided to leave without saying a word, despite any compassion Liosta might have shown her. She would be saddened, no doubt.
Duke, lost in thought, didn't immediately see the note left on the bed. As he read it, his fears about Staeflina's departure were confirmed. He even smiled at the very pitoresque style of the young Matisse, who seemed to have learned nothing of the good customs of the Kingdom.
He was about to leave when he noticed the remains of the Karavan artifact in the fireplace. He reached down and pulled it from the cold ashes. Holding it in his hand, he stood up, then looked around carefully... Then he looked at the note in his other hand... He thought for a moment... An idea sprang to mind... What a mektoub he was making!

Canillia storms into her home.

She has just arrived from Avendale, where she met them:

Filira DucocinnioFilira Frerini sound wife as well as Nilstilar's replacement.
They were conferring about Staeflina's disappearance.

She held back the vindictive remarks that came to mind.
She knew the girl had been kidnapped, but bound by her promise to Ducocinnio she couldn't reveal that nothing had changed.

So she weighed up each piece of information she gave them.

Copal, like a good civil servant, was concerned that she hadn't seen fit to warn the officers of Avalae's security flaws.
How can you expect a city without fortifications to be defensible?

He was surprised when Irkanis The old Fyros stormed his home and molested his family?

None of them cared any more about her "bad habits". The most they could do was pay lip service to her lack of efficiency that time.
Anyway, his Ch'tit frippos aren't fighters, just Eyes and Ears...

Lyssan enters Canillia's office:

_ "Lyssan!

Several things:

• Arrange a discreet meeting with the Ambassador of the Lakes.
• I want to be informed immediately of any new developments concerning the Firm's Gamine situation.
• Where are we with Aelyne?

Everything will be done, Cani.
For Aelyne, according to information from Serae Kyriann: A maid matching Aelyne's description has been located.
She's in and out of D'Ore Altae headquarters every day.
Is there anything we can do?
Nec for the moment.
Anything else, Cani?
_ Nec"