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[Thrax]

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Within the dimly-lit study on the third floor of his manor, Lord Thrax paced from window to window, stopping occasionlly to observe the placid waters of the bay far below. Sunlight glinted off the waves, inducing a nearly hypnotic gaze from him. Behind him, two of his trusted officers, Ivan Blackhands and Skurj, his son, sat in calm repose in ebony stone chairs in front of his desk. He stopped suddenly and turned to face them. "This... William... you speak of, Ivan. What do you make of him?"

Ivan paused a moment to choose a carefully-worded reply. "He is a rank poseur, m'lord. He claims to know the will of some virtuous "lord" and makes claims of deliverance to the oppressed masses. He appears hostile to the leaders among the light-bringers and they to him."

Skurj nodded in agreement. "That is what my sources reveal also."

Thrax smiled. "I like him already. But tell me, is there any danger he will arouse the people toward a greater fervor for the virtues, or will he prove to be yet another false messiah?"

"There is no chance he will fulfill his promises; they are vague, ill-defined, and so general that anyone could make them. I do not doubt his sincerity, however. Even demigods can be duped by their own delusions," Ivan replied. "I think, however, he can be safely ignored."

Thrax stroked his fiery-red mustache. "I think we should make use of him."

"You think to encourage him, incite him in some way, to inflame those hostile to him?"
Skurj offered.

"Yes. Our enemies are thoroughly divided. Just look at them. One group claims regent powers, another the rule of Luna, another Yew. They claim unity, but their words betray them at every turn. They are like dogs in a pen fighting to prove which of them is the dominant male."

Skurj and Ivan smiled. "An appropriate analogy, m'lord," Ivan said, smiling.

"But we are not in a position yet to take advantage of it," Skurj added. "If they are divided, we are all but dispersed. The Orcs seem to have no real power anymore, or numbers. The Dark Lords are scattered throughout the realms, each seeking their own way. Umbra is weak."

"At least Isk and Humanis have departed the Regency," Ivan stated.

Thrax smiled. "I was wondering when they would wise up. They were neither loved nor respected within it. The light-bearers' intolerance of opposing viewpoints is thus glaringly exposed once more. How so much like us they can be. Refreshing."

"I like Isk," Skurj added. "He is, or was, the one great hope we had that someone of intelligence and worth could mingle freely among the light-bringers' social elite. His barbs are quite amusing. I will miss them in those council meetings."

"He is not the only one. We have this William also," Ivan countered. "Then, again, his intelligence and worth are as yet undecided."

"His worth is. He will prove a great asset to us. You will see. And we will help him along the way. In the meantime, continue the research for the item we seek. We may yet make a legitimate claim of our own," Thrax ordered. Then, turning to face the window. "And then we will see how much they revere "honor" and "justice."