Archivist Ailment - Next Meeting
Merrisol swims into view on the promenade, gazing north towards the palace, but sparing a glance at the Archives as he passes. How could one not, after taking part in recent (sort of) events? The open archways show stack after riser of stone tomes, knowledge without seekers. But then... at the right angle he spots Ailith working in the administrative area. With a bend, a twist, and a swift about, he veers off course and alights on the steps to the auger tower. The guards let him through, and he approaches with a wave and forewarning, "Good Eve, Lady Ailith, and Fair Tide. I'm glad to find you down here."
Ailith smiles a bit at that. "Good eve, mister Merrisol," she says. "The search of Dilwen found no gloves. I am afraid ...I cannot figure out why two archivists were spared."
Merri settles in opposite the desk with the ledgers and braces his hands at the edge, hovering otherwise. "Oh.. no gloves, but did you find the Dilwens.. Lady Riva and Lord Lamarr?"
Ailith nods. "I...think so?" she says. "I am afraid everyone is new to me, so the names get a bit jumbled."
"That's not a worry.. so long as they were healthy archivists," he smiles, a bit of trouble seeping into his look. "Now that I've had time to consider it, I'd be surprised if the Dilwens were behind the contamination. After all, some of their own are amongst the ill. And how does it help anyone, nevermind the Dilwens, with the Archives closed and understaffed?" He drums his fingers almost soundlessly on the desk.
Ailith nods. "That is the question that I have occupied myself with," she agrees. "Dilwen had control of this archive. It did not serve them to harm their own to discredit it. Can you perhaps tell me of this Cult of Lir, and where it stands with regard to such places as this?"
Merrisol mulls that over a moment. "Lir is the one God of Rebma, the first of the royal line and creator of the Rebman race. The Cult of Lir keep the faith and guard his prophecy. There is a temple on the mountain to the south of the city, but they are not fond of outsiders, topsiders, and have even less love for those with Oberon's blood. Their relationship with the Throne is strained, therefore. But the great library?" He frowns, looking up and around. "It's news to me if they have something against the preservation of historical records.."
Ailith nods. "That is good to hear. But is there any faction that would? Or would wish to see Martin discredited?"
Merrisol leans away and stands lightly. "The obvious one would be those aligned with Black Water. We haven't heard from them in a few months, after having been under attack by one of its armies but eventually striking back and putting an end to their endeavors. There was a man of House Ygrayne, high in the Court's favour, who had been stealing from the Treasury and helping the Cult of the Lich Queen steal child citizens of Rebma for her slave army. He has been sentenced to Exile, causing upset with the great House against Martin's decision. Still, I don't believe them capable of harming their fellow Rebmans like this, one of them a Ygrayne besides."
Ailith nods. "Who else may be investigated?" she asks. "We should start with as wide a net as possible, and then narrow it down."
Merri glances at her, crosses his arms, and drifts back to support a stone cabinet with his shoulders. "I don't know if we have the luxury of time, even with the slight delay gained by moving the patients topside. It's not looking good in a couple of cases now, at least. The anomaly is those two Dilwen nobles, and whether or not they are responsible, I'd like to get back to them. Did they say anything to you when you went there?"
Ailith shakes her head. "Not particularly?" she says, a bit worried. "I confess, I have been a bit lost without someone more familiar with Rebman culture to serve as guide. I must apologize."
Merri unfolds and lowers his arms slowly. "Do not apologize to me, please. I must apologize to you, Lady Ailith, for leaving Rebma when I did," he says in sober contrition, guilt but not regret weighing his features. "It is no excuse, but I had hoped that another Rebman would take my place in the investigation. Someone should have, with so many lives in the balance. But you must not blame yourself." He looks at her plaintively.
Ailith spreads her hands, palm down, waist high. "As you have said, the victims run out of time and we are no closer to an answer." She gestures to the ledgers. "I can only hope the answer is in the two who are not affected. But I know so little about them, their lives, their connections."
Merrisol comes back from the cabinet and leans over the desk again to look at the ledgers, turning over slates, then going back to the activity log and supplies manifest. "We can learn about them, and then go speak with them. We can also go to the hospital topside and try to speak with the patients, to get a sense of the dynamics amongst the archivists. Have any of the other common elements that we bagged last week been brought to Doctor Celeste for her mystical investigation?"
Ailith looks regretful. "I must admit I do not know," she says quietly. "The Mandrakes seemed so certain they had matters in hand, and it is...unseemly to accuse them otherwise where others might hear." Though from her tone, she might possibly regret not being just a bit rude. Just a bit. "If we are allowed into the ward, I would appreciate the opportunity to speak with those patients that retain the ability."
*** *** ***
Merrisol has returned to Amber to check on the patients, then gone to Rebma and met with Ailith in the Archives where she has been looking over the staff roster, activity logs, supplies manifest. After discussing various enemies of Rebma and possible motives of the Cult of Lir and angry House Ygrayne, they have decided to refocus on the unaffected Dilwens and the witness accounts of the affected archivists.
Their research in the Archives itself and talking to any regular patrons or junior staff they can get their paws on, have these goals:
1) Any anecdotes about House Dilwen that would indicate inner House conflict, or conflicts with the other Houses.
2) Recent events in the Archives, any conflicts between staff or strange happenings in the days before and during the epidemic.
3) Commonalities between Lady Riva and Lord Lamarr Dilwen, also how they differed from the 6 Dilwens who did fall ill.
4) Pay another visit to Lamarr and Riva and ask them about their relationship with the others, their work schedule, their whereabouts during that 24 period. Etc. I suspect this one needs to be RPed.
Merri and Ailith are also intending to go the Mandrake Hospital in Amber with these goals:
1) Interview any epidemic patient still conscious enough to write or speak answers about anything they know, or handled in particular that may have been omitted or erased from the work logs/materials list. Ask them about Lamarr and Riva.
2) Make sure that Celeste has the other common elements that Merri, Ailith, and Martin gathered from the Archives, for study.