WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:23.920 Music. 00:00:23.805 --> 00:00:28.785 Jasper marched up Merchant Avenue from the North Fork, surrounded by a large 00:00:28.785 --> 00:00:32.705 force of men that only seemed to get larger with every step. 00:00:33.065 --> 00:00:38.025 The jubilant rhythm of his steps echoed the victory pounding in his chest. 00:00:38.385 --> 00:00:44.345 Orion's tower was his. The battle had been swift, brutal, and decisive. 00:00:44.945 --> 00:00:46.345 A perfect operation. 00:00:47.345 --> 00:00:53.065 A part of him, the raw, avaricious part, wanted to return to craft tower and 00:00:53.065 --> 00:00:54.825 oversee the looting himself. 00:00:55.325 --> 00:00:59.725 There were treasures in there, riches that could set a man up for life. 00:00:59.965 --> 00:01:01.805 But he crushed the thought. 00:01:02.085 --> 00:01:05.605 Such obvious greed would not serve him in the long run. 00:01:06.105 --> 00:01:10.765 Power was the real prize, and it required a veneer of discipline. 00:01:11.185 --> 00:01:15.905 He spotted a young guard, barely old enough to have left his apprenticeship, 00:01:16.345 --> 00:01:19.385 whose eyes held a particular kind of viciousness. 00:01:19.885 --> 00:01:26.385 Jasper liked that. You! The boy stopped and turned to Jasper. What's your name? 00:01:27.145 --> 00:01:31.085 Samuel, sir. Samuel. Jasper clapped him on the shoulder. 00:01:31.525 --> 00:01:35.905 Craft tower is yours. Secure the valuables. They are not to be touched. Aye, sir. 00:01:36.345 --> 00:01:39.525 And if someone larger and mightier decides that they will ignore my order and 00:01:39.525 --> 00:01:43.565 push past you, what will you do? Stab them in the back as they push past me. 00:01:44.165 --> 00:01:48.465 The look of expectation on the boy's face was delightfully disturbing. 00:01:49.145 --> 00:01:53.525 Jasper smiled. I would not punish you for that, but perhaps you stabbed them 00:01:53.525 --> 00:01:56.525 in the back of the knee, or something less... final. 00:01:57.345 --> 00:02:01.885 Samuel nodded. Aye, sir. Make them regret it for the rest of their lives, 00:02:01.925 --> 00:02:03.805 but make that regret last a lifetime. 00:02:04.665 --> 00:02:08.045 Patting him on the back, Jasper couldn't suppress a smile. 00:02:08.465 --> 00:02:13.085 This was exactly the kind of lieutenant he needed. Exactly. 00:02:14.225 --> 00:02:19.485 Jasper continued to Merchant Tower, his confidence swelling with every step. 00:02:19.785 --> 00:02:23.985 He was ushered past nervous guards directly to Karch's office. 00:02:24.345 --> 00:02:29.165 For some reason he didn't occupy Larson's expansive office on the top floor. 00:02:29.565 --> 00:02:32.545 He didn't bother to knock and marched right in. 00:02:33.085 --> 00:02:38.305 Karch was behind the desk, looking over a stack of papers. He didn't look up 00:02:38.305 --> 00:02:40.365 as Jasper approached his desk. 00:02:41.285 --> 00:02:45.185 By the gods, you stink. It's the price I paid to remove Orion. 00:02:45.505 --> 00:02:47.685 I led the forces through their garbage pit. 00:02:48.485 --> 00:02:52.445 Jasper practically preened. Karch finally looked up. 00:02:53.045 --> 00:02:57.185 Ah, that was rather stupid. The path from those pits are narrow and easily defended. 00:02:57.685 --> 00:03:00.905 They were not defended well. So you were lucky. 00:03:01.929 --> 00:03:07.489 Jasper was annoyed. Karch should have been thanking him, not criticizing him. 00:03:07.749 --> 00:03:12.809 But Karch stood up before Jasper could think of a sharp, if respectful, reply. 00:03:13.109 --> 00:03:17.029 Still you did excellent work. He nodded vaguely to his left. 00:03:17.329 --> 00:03:20.169 I saw your parade to the North Fork. It was well deserved. 00:03:20.689 --> 00:03:26.289 Karch started to pace, his bruised face immediately trading his pleasure at 00:03:26.289 --> 00:03:29.289 Orion being removed with the look of stern business. 00:03:29.609 --> 00:03:33.809 So, how does the tower stand? What of his reinforcements? 00:03:34.349 --> 00:03:38.669 Can we maintain control? The questions were sharp, precise. 00:03:39.309 --> 00:03:43.649 Jasper, for all his arrogance, was competent. The tower stands, 00:03:43.709 --> 00:03:45.069 though their main doors are splinters. 00:03:45.609 --> 00:03:48.869 Our men control the entire tower and its immediate surroundings. 00:03:49.749 --> 00:03:52.749 Karch looked unmoved. Things are secure. 00:03:53.509 --> 00:04:00.409 Secure, you say? Karch walked back to his desk, a calm walk that oozed confidence. 00:04:00.869 --> 00:04:06.229 And what of the warehouse district? Karch sat down and once again looked as 00:04:06.229 --> 00:04:08.069 annoyed as when Jasper entered. 00:04:08.489 --> 00:04:12.809 What of the approach along the North Fork? Do you have defensive forces in place 00:04:12.809 --> 00:04:15.349 for when the craft knights mass for a counterattack? 00:04:16.309 --> 00:04:21.209 The question caught Jasper completely off guard. He had been so focused on the 00:04:21.209 --> 00:04:26.089 singular objective, taking Craft Tower, that he hadn't considered the wider 00:04:26.089 --> 00:04:27.529 strategic implications. 00:04:27.989 --> 00:04:33.489 There were many paths for any Craft Guild loyalists to regroup and strike back. 00:04:33.929 --> 00:04:40.049 I... no, sir. The confidence drained from Jasper's voice. I haven't had time 00:04:40.049 --> 00:04:41.549 to secure the Northern Quarter. 00:04:42.309 --> 00:04:46.749 Karch spun around, his face a thundercloud of pure fury. 00:04:47.309 --> 00:04:52.149 The calm, calculating politician was gone, replaced by the ruthless commander. 00:04:52.449 --> 00:04:57.809 Then what are you doing here bragging to me? Do you think a war is a single battle? Get out. 00:04:58.209 --> 00:05:00.049 Secure the lower quarter. Do not 00:05:00.049 --> 00:05:03.609 return until I know Orion's forces cannot strike at us from the shadows. 00:05:04.846 --> 00:05:08.886 Jasper stumbled back, stunned by the intensity of the outburst, 00:05:09.426 --> 00:05:12.526 made all the more intense by Karch's measured tone. 00:05:12.906 --> 00:05:18.546 Before he could even reply, Karch shook his head, his eyes oozing contempt. 00:05:18.946 --> 00:05:23.866 And have you even considered sex? He has no loyalty, sure, but he is also unpredictable. 00:05:23.866 --> 00:05:27.126 Perhaps he would like to create more chaos by attacking for the fun of it. 00:05:27.566 --> 00:05:31.866 Jasper hemmed and hawed until Karch waved a dismissive hand. 00:05:32.286 --> 00:05:34.086 Leave me. You know what to do. 00:05:34.646 --> 00:05:39.046 Jasper turned and marched out of the office, his jubilant mood shattered. 00:05:39.566 --> 00:05:44.826 As he marched down the grand staircase of Merchant Tower, he realized that he 00:05:44.826 --> 00:05:48.086 hadn't even corrected Karch that Orion was dead. 00:05:48.346 --> 00:05:54.166 But as the anger cooled, something else took its place. A grudging envy. 00:05:54.606 --> 00:05:56.186 Karch saw the whole board. 00:05:56.666 --> 00:05:59.926 Jasper had only seen the single victorious move. 00:06:00.546 --> 00:06:06.146 Karch controlled his rage until it was a tool, a weapon to be used with precision. 00:06:07.246 --> 00:06:09.986 It was a lesson Jasper wouldn't forget. 00:06:14.640 --> 00:06:32.560 Music. 00:06:31.626 --> 00:06:33.946 A podcast alchemy production.