Heartlands Vault Aleph-60
West Undercrofts
Conference Room Ancestor 10
17th Evening Star 4E29

Present: Field-Marshall Ildric Ostarand (IGS advisor, Legion 92nd, praefect-colonel, retired), Azura (House Redoran, linguist of the dead), Legionaries Fendl Taurp and Horlen Veenthender, Esteemed Master Theyn-wa-Dhien (Cult of the Ancestor-Moth, invisible)

+++ Azura vetting process, 25th Crossing +++

+++ excerpt +++

O: It's tradition today for Breacher teams to be limited to five members.
A: Drop one of the others and slot me in.
O: Mm. The difference between you and them is that I chose them. Actively searched for them-- for candidates to fill a specific role I already had in mind.
A: I know you need a linguist of the dead.
O: Every Crossing since the first needed a linguist of the dead. Even if the early ones didn't know it yet.
A: So now you've got one. Maybe you stopped searching because we're a rare breed and filling the role is such a longshot that it barely registers anymore.
O: Mm. And a dunmeri dead-speaker is that rarest of rare breeds.
A: I don't, I don't understand the point you're circling.
O: I chose them. You found us. We don't advertise. (pause) The perfect candidate. Who walks in when the Elder Council is threatening-- again-- that this will be the last Crossing. Which moves you into perfect gamechanger territory.
A: I don't believe in fate either, Colonel.
O: Tradecraft would explain it. But no. I'm old. I'm an Imperial agent. You don't get those two together if you've got a blindspot for spies.
A: I am so at a loss here trying to figure you out.
O: I know the feeling.
A: Let me help. You're wondering why I'm so eager to get into Morrowind.
O: You lost your entire homeland. House Redoran was at ground zero. That's easily explained.
A: Then there's something else than just the eagerness, you're thinking.
O: Something. Less than a lie, more than a secret. Am I close?
A (long pause): What I'm bringing to this, it won't get in the way.
O: Mm. You should know that this Morrowind does not belong here. And you should know that it feels the same way about us-- that we do not belong in it.
A: I'll see about that.

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