“Just who are you?” A young woman probes the silver haired guild leader that stood before her. His eyes like his hair and an eerie colorlessness and stared momentarily off into space as though focusing on something that wasn’t there.
“Your commander, was that unclear?”
His tone was not rude or condescending, he was giving her what he saw was a clear concise and easily understandable answer though he knew what she had meant to ask. Many of the new members demand answers and he was used to the suspicion and interrogation though as time goes on the recruits settle into their place and are content knowing what they are permitted to know.
“You’re name, I know you’re the commander, I know they call you The Grey Archer but neither of those things are your name. Who are you?”
The recruit repeated her question, other senior members stood aside having seen this conversation, or even having had it in the past.
“Alia, was it? You will call me commander. If you don’t trust me you are free to leave, otherwise as time progresses you will learn more”
Alia gave a disrespectful and derisive snort as she lowered her head despite her fists clenching. As if on cue a bear roars loudly from the nearby forest yet none of the guild members flinched.
“Grey, we should get moving”
Cirtaine, a tall, slender, black haired officer of the guild interjected the exchange knowing Alia tended to be too hot-headed for her own good even if she didn’t vocalize her aggression both the commander and his pet, Niveus, could sense it.
With a nod the commander turned and began walking, speaking to Alia as the group followed.
“We were and are Omnis Pateo. Long before either of us were a thought they had cataloged nearly everything. However unlike the current groups, The order, Vigil, and Priory they lacked military force, it was believed strict secrecy was enough to protect their library. They were scholars mostly interested in knowing everything.”
With a brief glance over his shoulder to Alia, who’s gaze was focused intently on the ground as they walked, taking in what he could tell her like a sponge for hints or clues about what the guild’s true purpose was.
“They were successful for the most part, and amassed a large library containing information on every person from the merchant class to the lords and kings. Every animal and herb was contained as well as history and extensive knowledge in every subject of academia-”
“So what happened?”
The Grey Archer stopped and knitted his brow at the young woman who interrupted him giving her a short warning glare which was fully acknowledge, Alia fell quietly in step once more.
“The White Mantle took interest in the library, it took them a lifetime but they found it and burned it to the ground and killed everyone out of jealousy of our progress. They took what they wanted and wiped what little of our name existed from history.”
A silence followed from the group, even though everyone but Alia had heard this story a hundred times it hung heavily in the air for all of them. Alia was the first to break the silence with another question asked timidly knowing she was treading on something sensitive.
“All of them? That long ago?”
The commander gave her a single nod.
“Then who are you?”
Finally the Grey Archer would answer the question she had been asking from the beginning. His reply was plain and without emotion but not cold.
“I don’t know.”
there was that guy in LA who kept mobs in his basement. (whispers quest)