Editing Announcements - 2010/02 - Winter's Knight (section)

== Rollout Article ==
{{Turbine 2008
 |  Link = http://ac.turbine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=541-february-rollout-fiction&catid=81-2010&Itemid=68
 | Title = February Rollout Fiction
 |  Text = Master Craftsman Takahume walked out of the darkness of his workshop into the light of the coming dawn.  "Looks like it'll be another clear day, wouldn't you say, Primus Atamarr?" asked Takahume, as he handed an oversized bottle of Bloodseeker Oil to the large mechanical man waiting outside.

"Indeed it does, Master Takahume, indeed it does," was the massive Gear Knight's rumbling reply.

Gesturing to the container the Gold Gear Primus was now inspecting, Takahume continued, "It's Bloodseeker Oil.  It's usually used for refining arrowheads and the like, but in your case, it should help keep the sand out of your gears."

"My thanks to you, Master Takahume.  The sand has not been kind to my body, but it is not as bad as other things in this world," Atamarr said, gesturing about at the landscape.  "I lost many good friends to the rigors of this place, especially to the north." Atamarr fell silent for a moment, seeming to be focused on cleaning out the Xarabydun sands from his gears.  He then moved to testing the oil on his joints, seeming pleased by its effectiveness.  The master craftsman watched quietly for a few minutes, musing on how the Gear Knights as a whole kept themselves functional, let alone battle-ready, without constant cleaning.  "The mountains of this place cost me one of my best," Atamarr finally said.

"How so?" ventured Takahume, suddenly interested in the path the conversation was taking, and sensing another chance to learn more about his recently rebuilt guest.  Since he found the Gold Gear Primus and managed to collect the massive amount of gears, Aetherium and Core pieces needed to reanimate him; the craftsman had been trying every trick in the book to wheedle more info out of the quiet Gear Knight.  No matter the tact used, however, Atamarr had remained focused on the present, and his desire to both restore his lost entourage and to learn the real reasons the Gear Knights, led by the Iron Blade, had been invading Dereth.

"One of my entourage, an accomplished tracker named Ordas Myr, journeyed far into the northern lands.  He was seeking Yalani survivors who had fled the Olthoi Horde.  He wasn't heard from again, so I can only assume that either his Aetherium Core expired, or his body was damaged beyond function while he traversed the mountain ranges," Atamarr said, his tone shifting from his usual regal, driven basso to a quiet introspective tone, touched with sadness.  "He was a Primus of the Silver Scope House, and the best tracker I ever knew.  He was also a master of the crossbow, true to the name of his House," he finished, as Takahume began writing down observations of the Primus' display of empathy.  Taking note of this, Atamarr asked, "I take it you find it noteworthy that my race is capable of emotion?"

Somewhat embarrassed with being caught, Takahume dropped his notes and replied, "I... um... my apologies, Primus Atamarr.  There is still so much we do not know about your people."  Regaining some of his composure, he asked, "Do you know where in the north Ordas Myr ventured?"

Atamarr thought for a moment, and then replied, "The last report I received from his small scouting party noted that they were about to cross to a mountainous isle.  It was somewhere along the northern coast of Dereth.  Ordas was always eager to help those in need of succor.  He was convinced he would find refugees hiding up in those peaks.  Even the barest hope or rumor was enough to set him to the task.  He was impossible to stop once he set his mind to something."  Still sounding sad, and the task of cleaning his many gears obviously forgotten, he quietly added, "We never heard from any of them again."

"Well, we can enlist the aid of the adventurers that helped me reassemble you.  I'll prepare a request to the College of Town Criers, and ask them to spread the word to keep an eye out for signs of the lost party.  My people have a knack for finding things, no matter how long they've been lost."  Takahume scooped up his dropped parchment, looked a bit sadly at his now sand-filled quill, and continued, "I'll see to it today.  The sooner we can find your entourage, the sooner we can find a means to put an end to this unnecessary conflict between our people."

"A sentiment I return as well, Master Craftsman," Atamarrr replied, the vigor returning to his voice as he gestured towards the portal drop area of Xarabydun, "It seems another hunting party has come bearing supplies for us.  Let us greet them properly."

Takahume glanced over and saw the first of the fellowship emerge from Portalspace, which was clearly empty ground when the Primus gestured in that direction only moments ago.  How does he do that? wondered the Master Craftsman.
}}