Brushing a clod of dirt from her custom-made leather armour, Livastra
waited patiently, her irritation suppressed beneath a calm and icy
exterior. She tried not to think about the lack of utter discipline
displayed by Derillin's unkempt living quarters, and ignored her fellow
assassin as he twirled a dagger with his usual nonchalance. The pair did
not have long to wait, thankfully, and soon the assassins they had
summoned began to appear.

It was the 20th of Lupar, too close to the deadline for Livastra's
liking, but the project under her oversight was finally complete, barely
ahead of schedule. As Derillin Yu'tar introduced her to the gathered
Quisalis assassins, she allowed herself a small smile of satisfaction as
she began to speak.

"For decades, we have been busy digging and building in the tunnels
below, and we have now recently completed our new headquarters," she
announced matter-of-factly. Her eyes surveyed the group before her:
Denex, Tagg, Santar, Taraza, Vaxarn, Lukan, Dontarion, Sabiru, Fen,
Andraste. A formidable group, but were they up to the challenge?

Livastra's demands were simple: in order to prove their worth and gain
entrance to the newly completed Den of the Quisalis, they must assault
the ivory tower in the Sangre Plains, home of the rival Ivory Mark, and
slay one of their champions. The Tyrannus of Mhaldor quickly announced
that Denex Le'Dominae of the Ebon Fist was willing and able to lead an
attack of this scale, and plans began to take shape. Their target:
Methats, the Divine Wind.

As the small group of deadly assassins began their journey to the Sangre
Plains, no one noticed a fleet-footed scout racing ahead of them. Soon a
shout rang out through the lands as Atlantia, leader of the Ivory Mark,
rallied her allies in defense of the tower.

The serpent Santar Darkwind, stealthily moving ahead of the Quisalis
group, swiftly ended the life of Methats before the team had arrived at
the tower. The victory and acquisition of Methats' decapitated head were
not enough, however. The Quisalis moved into the tower, slaughtering
initiates left and right and lighting the place on fire. Only when the
majority of the tower was ablaze did Livastra and Denex command the
assassins to return to the caves beneath New Thera.

Upon arrival to the tunnels, Methats' head was triumphantly piked
outside of the ominous Quisalis gates, and a quiet rustle passed among
the assassins as a password was whispered in their midst. Confidently
the Tyrannus called out the name of Derillin's deceased progenitor, and
the blackened gates opened, granting full access to the den below.

Infuriated by the attack at the ivory tower, Atlantia wasted no time
gathering a group of allies to lead a counterattack on the Quisalis
headquarters. Official members of the Ivory Mark were scarce, but
sympathisers Shanshan Ackart-Sparrow, Aodfionn Longshanks, and Platonus
La'Mosea were able to assemble a party. Joined by Penwize, Ada, Zech,
Zenui, Kazu, and Dracot, as well as several exemplars, they marched
towards New Thera.

After thoroughly searching the underground tunnels, they eventually
stumbled upon a set of blackened gates, which were by that time locked
and guarded by two smug assassins. Atlantia's scouts came to the rescue,
having overheard what the password might be, and Shanshan cleverly
obtained entrance.

The attack came as no surprise to the Quisalis, who were lying in wait
on the opposite side of the gates, and the bloodshed that ensued was
massive, if brief. As sudden as it had begun, the slaughter was over,
the Ivory sympathisers suffering heavy casualties while the Quisalis
were nearly unharmed.

With two great victories over the Ivory Mark in one day, Derillin and
the rest of the Quisalis Mark congratulated themselves, gloating over
their accomplishments, but back in the Sangre Plains Atlantia stewed,
her mind already at work with future plans...

Penned by My hand on the 12th of Aeguary, in the year 562 AF.