04-WHERE THE BIRDS COME TO ROOST
The room was filled with all twelve people he had chosen. In some small part of his mind he was shocked. All of them had answered his call, sure than didn’t know it was he who had summoned them, but there was something nice to know that if prompted, these people, these marry few would come to the aid of their fellow men. They would be the ones to spite in the eye of unjustifiable barbarism and cruelty. That to spite the dangers to life and limb some would still step forward.
Maybe it was he who was wrong to carry so much doubt in his heart, but that was an unproductive thought.
***
Twelve men and women stood in a room staring at one another with some apprehension. None of whom had known who summoned them to this third story office, only the mention that they were thirteen people invited and that at the appointed hour they would meet regardless of who showed up. The planned agenda would be to rescue nobles and clergy members that were attempting to escape the country and by extension the justice of the newly formed rebel government of Panchasha. They had all taken great risk to be here, for all they knew this was a clever trap by agents of the new government to entrap those who had compassion for the old regime, and yet they still came. They heralded from all walks of life, some of them knew one another, but for the most part they had put their lives in the hands of these strangers.
Before any could have any second thoughts and leave the room however a man the final man strode in full of confidence. His carriage and barring showed him to be a leader of men, the kind of man clearly born for the role. All eyes in the room turned to him, a recognition dawning on their faces. For all though he was bound head to toe in white linen bandages they had all had the same inkling when they received their letters. In a hushed tone on of them spoke the words that was on all of their tongs.
“The White Bird.”
“Not quite but close enough.” the man's voice echoed out breaking the hush. “As many of us know white is a color associated with purity, and two the west of Panchasha the nation of the beastmen revere the corvid. A species of bird that is well known for its intelligence. With these two things in mind I have invited you all to join me. Together united by a pure purpose we will collect intelligence and use our wits and guile to save as many men, women and children as we can.” He asked.
“You have already been doing that, what do you need us for? Hell your famous at this point. People are trying to figure out how you do it. Plus you’ve be sending letters tauting the new government with each action you take.” A Sharp dressed man asked.
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“When I started this endeavor I would have maybe agreed with you. I have access to a donor that has been financing my activities so far. Yes, I have been successful so far, but I have come to recognize my own hubris in this matter. This is not a battle I can win alone, even one more ally could be the difference between saving one and saving twenty. Having said that how many do you think the thirteen of us could save?”
Eyes began to light up with recognition.
“We all have skills we can leverage. I have trained myself in disguise and tactics. In my youth I was a skilled hunter and I studied medicine right here in Panchasha. Based on what is happening right outside this building during the day, There are thousands dying each day on the goddess altar. We need more info and skills if we are going to pull this off. Those of you that live here have both the greatest of risk and the greatest of opportunities to collect valuable information, and those of you who don’t can leverage the current turmoil in the country as a manor of protections.” The man raped in white continued.
“How are we able to do such a thing as you say?”
“We’re not an official government sanctioned group, but our enemies don’t know that. On the political stage the country is currently weak in the aftermath of the revolution, and the killings are doing it no favors. The new government is rushing to consolidate its power and is attempting to maintain its treaties in order to prevent an outside country from sweeping in and taking over. If they attempt to capture or publicly sacrifice a foreign national it could put the hold of the nation in jeopardy, but we only have this window to act for a limited time. Once the situation here in the capital stabilizes our work is done, it will become harder to act with each new dawn. Beyond those factors I need your other skills more than anything. For example, you are a black market smuggler that is able to get goods in and out of the capital with some ease. You already know your way around the guards.” He said as he pointed at a dishelfed looking portly man with a tiny mustache and thinning hair. “I need you to help me smuggle people instead.”
The portly man looked at the ceiling for a moment, and then looked to the group, and with a sign he nodded his agreement.
Let's spend the evening getting to know each other's skills and began planning for what comes next. For now, we are a gathering of corvids.
***
Many stayed the whole night planning and trying to figure out the best way to compartmentalize the group, so that if one goes down they would not all soon follow. All information would go through him, but none would know his location or face. They chose codenames and disseminated themselves out into the city. It had started in earnest now, but first he had to get home to Ulteae.