to: everyone

[assembles]

Hey there, everyone. My name is Steve Rogers and I'm one of the people most recently summoned to the Free Cities. I'm also a good friend of Sam Wilson's — we've worked together for a number of years. I know he's made quite the name for himself here.

I've only been here for a little over a month, but in that time I've noticed a sudden increase in military activity within Cadens. There's increased drills and training exercises, equipment moving in and out, that kind of thing. I went by Fort Wilbridge and tried to ask some questions, but all they really had to say was that they were acting out of an abundance of caution. Almost like they're expecting something.

It seems suspicious, so I was wondering if anyone else has noticed a change in how the factions are behaving, whether it's something I haven't picked up on in Cadens or something going on in Thorne or Solvunn. I figure it might be a good idea to compare notes so we won't be completely blindsided if something else is coming our way.

That's all I've got for now, but it's nice to meet you all. In a manner of speaking, anyway.

Comments

[gynvael]

Some smiths have run short on materials.
Seized at the border, they said.

[assembles]

Smiths, huh? So that's probably what was in those crates I saw hauled into Fort Wilbridge.

[ And, well, they could stick to just business, but Steve is genuinely curious to know how Geralt's doing after everything he and Sam went through. Especially now that he knows just how much Sam trusts the guy. ]

Have you healed up all right?

[gynvael]

Likely. Steel and grain are often the first to be requisitioned.

[ Steve's question comes unexpected. A few seconds pass before he replies. It's curt, though that's just how he is on any given day. ]

I heal fast.

[assembles]

Raw materials for weapons and foodstuffs. At this point, it's just a question of how soon they plan to deploy.

[ He heals fast. Hmm. Doesn't that sound familiar? ]

Glad to hear it. Sam's on the up and up too.

[gynvael]

Seems they've given up on that sham of peace from spring.

[ It lasted longer than he expected, in truth. ]

I noticed.
Your friends are keeping him occupied.

[assembles]

The summit, right? What do you think changed between then and now?

[ Why even bother with the pretense if they were going to shift gears so quickly? ]

Yeah, they're good at that.

[gynvael]

[ As far as he can tell? There's precisely one thing in this world everyone seems to give too much of a fuck about. ]

The Singularity only exhibited this behaviour in the past few months.

[assembles]

Yeah, guess that would be enough to get them all spooked and to start pointing fingers.

It was pretty stable before?

[gynvael]

[ A long stretch of time passes before he replies. Either he's contemplating or he's simply preoccupied with another matter. When he returns to the conversation, he picks it up as though no interruption occurred. ]

Ask Sam about the board.

[ It's also largely incomprehensible, but Steve is Sam's friend. Sam can take the burden of explaining. ]

[assembles]

[ The board? That's certainly enough to intrigue him. ]

Yeah, will do. I know I've got a lot to catch up on.

[ And plenty of experience doing it. What's one year compared to seventy? ]