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’Why?’

Cafal grinned once more ’Rivals do not sit ith the Mask Council They have still not relented in acknowledgement of Keruli, who seeks to join their coht well be in a position to clai within those masks, Captain’

’Hood’s breath,’ Paran sighed ’Who is Keruli, by the way?’

’K’rul’s High Priest’

’K’rul? The Elder God?’

’Expect Keruli to seek your blessing On his god’s behalf’

Paran rubbed his brow, suddenly weary beyond belief ’I’ve changed my mind,’ he muttered ’Never mind the walk’

’What will you do?’

’Find a hole and crawl into it, Cafal’

The warrior’s laugh was harsh, and not quite as sympathetic as Paran would have liked

Eed to find a oblets before hastily retreating fro even starker on his lined face

Quick Ben was none the less tentative as he took his first sip After aacross fro made the effort to penetrate this estate’s defences, you are here with some purpose in mind Thus, you haveIt’s the rarest andthe necromantic arts’

Bauchelain responded with a

’And the power it draws upon,’ Quick Ben continued, ’while from Hood’s oarren, is deeply tainted with Chaos Striding both sides of that border between those warrens As an aside, why do you think the su of demons is death-aspected?’

’The assertion of absolute control over a life-force, Quick Ben The threat of annihilation is inherently death-aspected Regarding your observation of the influence of the Warren of Chaos, do go on’

’The warrens have been poisoned’

’Ah There are many flavours to chaotic power That which assails the warrens has little to do with the elements of the Warren of Chaos hich I am involved’

’So, your access to your warrens has not been affected’

’I did not say that,’ Bauchelain replied, pausing to drink some wine ’The … infection … is an irritant, an unfortunate developet worse Perhaps, at some point in the future, I shall find need to retaliate upon whomever is responsible My co concern -- he works h Hood’s warren, and thus has felt the greater brunt’