Late in Juliary 399, a commotion was heard in the Meliashmora of
Imperial Secrets. A distraught harlequin trouper raised his voice to the
heavens in horror and hope that some kind adventurer would hear of his
plight. A sworn servant of Alodale, the Villainous Lord, the harlequin
was affronted to have been violently accosted whilst vigilantly guarding
his post.

Though a handful of adventurers searched the Meliashmora for signs of
trouble, it was Xenthos An'Ryshe who chanced upon the distressed
trouper. Patiently questioning the flamboyant guard, he plied clues
about the assailant from him, before escorting the trouper to the
Villainous Lord to beg his intervention.

Alodale was dismissive of the trouper's plight, but Xenthos championed
the cause, convincing him that it was worthy of concern. At Alodale's
suggestion, they headed to the local Mystic for guidance. Martine proved
an invaluable source of help, guiding the hapless victim and his
generous investigator to search the nearby mountains for the assailant.

The Seer, however, spoke a word of caution before they departed: that
the assailant was gravely ill, and surely not long for this world. With
this in mind, Xenthos set out into the mountains to track down the
attacker, and the harlequin trouper returned with some disgruntlement to
his post.

It did not take long for the skilled tracker to happen upon a small hut
within the Razines, and its nervous occupant. Conversing with the young
scientist, Xenthos found that the assault was indeed not so simple as it
had once appeared. Desperate, she begged him for assistance; she had
failed in her attempt to capture the harlequin, and her need was dire.

The Chieftain was not fooled by her pleas, and questioned her
relentlessly about the nature of her experiment. Unable to withstand
such rigorous investigation, the young mugwump confessed the truth:
without his assistance, and without completing her experiment, she would
surely die...and she was willing to do anything to stop it. Anything.

To her astonishment, this earned not disgust but agreement. At once
Xenthos travelled the lands to fulfill her requests, ably assisting her
with tasks both simple and complex. Together they completed her
experiment successfully, and brilliant hope flashed over the scientist's
face. Surely, now, she would be free - free at last, from the shadow of
her inevitable demise!

Yet even the most carefully planned experiments can have unforeseen
consequences - and a desperate cause can blind as badly as ignorance.
Though she learned this lesson at a costly price, it is said that Slegi
Vleemgol remains nonetheless convinced that the secret to her salvation
lies in the heart of the harlequin...and that no matter how many times
she fails, she is determined one day to succeed.


Penned by My hand on the 18th of Shanthin, in the year 399 CE.