| Scouts have returned to Castle D'Honaire reporting that there is no
sign of human life within the ten miles or so radius that they have explored.
They have found some ruined buildings, though, many bearing mysterious
scorch marks. Most notable of these buildings is what appears to have been,
prior to its ruination, a near perfect replica of their own castle, complete
with the outbuildings that their's now so strangely lacks. Any furnishings
that the castle might have once contained have been completely destroyed.
Their initial assumption that they have been subject to sorcery on a grand
scale seems to be amply confirmed. What they should do now is not at all
clear. "By Odin!" one of the servants mutters to another (first making
sure that he is not within the hearing of either the Duchess or Zular).
"If only the Duke were here, he would know what to do."
Meanwhile, the continuous surveillance of the planet's surface by ships
of the Alliance fleet has revealed the sudden appearance of what seems
to be a large building where none had existed previously. A message is
sent down to Probe, but he is rather busy first with Seeker and then with
looking after Tarin, and it is some time before he can act on the information.
Then he discusses it with Dredrick, Freds 1 and 2 and Astra 2 (Natthias
is away, keeping an eye on Tarin just in case of any delayed shock), and
they decide on whom to send to investigate. If a building has appeared
where none was before, there seem to be two main possibilities: either
another manifestation of the malfunctioning slipgate system or else sorcery
by person or persons unknown. Either way, a substantial group to investigate
it, with an experienced leader, seems called for.
-
 The
necessary arrangements are made.
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