*A small note is posted on the door of the ACTF office in Cordor, and for some reason copies appear in Kampo's Storehouse.*

To whom it may concern,

It it is with great sorrow the ACTF Personell Office announces the death of Partner Al'Tustra. He served loyally and worked hard.
The ACTF will handle his estate, as per the rights entitled to Al'Tustra by his contract with the ACTF and per his wish, expressed in his will, to invoke said rights.
He leaves behind no family, and so his belongings are to be divided among those that knew him, according to his wishes, which are:

"(...) In the event of my death, I give my "hoard" in its entirety*/** to be shared, as the listed see fit, amongst:
Partner Yossarin
Partner Kyllikki Aune
Partner Loki Umlaut
Partner Elspeth Beermaiden
Yaston Slygerand
Kalliniel Galadhron

*The Talon of Justice is exempt from this, as promised to the Church of Bahamut, as the blood of a silver dragon ("Justice") was used to forge the sword. It is to be returned to the Church of Bahamut upon my death. Any representative of the Church of Bahamut may claim the sword.

** The document entiteling me to all of Yossarin's belonging as per 11.09.1373 is to be given back to Yossarin on the condition he truthfylly confesses his loyalty to a divine authority under the influence of a detect lie spell and witnessed by an ACTF-appointed caretaker of my estate. I do not care which god he chooses to worship, should he comply with my admittedly rude wish. Should Yossarin however fail in this regard, the document will be given to The Temple of Waukeen, giving The Church of Waukeen the right to sell "his" belongings on the open market.

Sorry, Partner, but I've heard tales of a terrible wall awaiting you. It's for your own good. [SIC](...)"

The ACTF will also see to his funeral, as per the rights entitled to Al'Tustra by his contract with the ACTF and per his wish to invoke said rights expressed in his will. Al'Tustra will be burned and his ashes will be scattered by the wind from the Skull Crag Mountains. This will take place in a tenday at dawn. However, Al'Tustra has asked to depart from this world in solitude and wishes not for attendance by anyone beyond the monks of the Lemur monastery, with whom the arragenements have been made.

NOTE: The strange nature of this ceremony is at Al'Tustra's own behest, as expressed in his will. The ACTF is aware that this ceremony is in violation with the usual burying traditions of those faithful to Grumbar and might even seem blasphemous to some, but the ACTF asks of any offended parties to redirect their indignation away from ACTF, who is a religiously neutral enterprice merely adhering to the wishes of a late Partner.

To ensure the proper respect has been given to the deceased, we quote from his will:

"(...)As I grow old and weary; yes, as I erode, I reveal my core to myself, and I realize: how I do so long for the wind. I am no longer who I was, who I was intented to be, and I wish to fly to my judgement on whirling currents of air. Yes, I will grant myself the pleasure of revisiting this sweetest self-betrayel of mine, now in death. So when you find me dead, as you will before soon, burn my body and scatter the ashes for the winds from the craggy peaks of the Skull Crags, where air is married to earth, so that I might be carried away in serenity and with dignity. [SIC] (...)"

The ACTF gives its condolences to those who knew him.

...Partner Jugyil Kingson........
on behalf of
THE ESTATE OF AL'TUSTRA

//There's also a post in PC Stories, detailing his heoric death. It's great!

_________________
To err is human; to forgive divine, but VENGEANCE IS MINE!

*A green-haired hin releases a single lotus with a lit white candle down the Bendir stream*

_________________

Prescia the Pristine Voice

A tenday later, Kalliniel passes by Cordor in search of mercenary work. When he hears two Federation partners talk of Al'Tustra's fate, he hurries to the office. He eyes the notice for a long while, and then walks away.

After some hours, a scroll parchment is delivered to the clerk of the office.

"I, Kalliniel Galadhron, bladesinger of Winya Ravana, servant of the Seldarine, and fellow warrior, wish to honor the memory of Swordmaster Al'Tustra. I hereby give up my claim to an artifact in his hoard, so that it may profit the training of guards and scouts for the Federation. It is fitting of his memory and character.

Attached is a copy of the original document, which I will hand over to the Federation representative who will see to the appropriate use of the item. I hope this will be one of those named in his will."




Next morning, Kalliniel wanders up the Skull Crags to his customary training place, sheltered by silent cliffs. The elf strips naked, pours water over his head and chest, and begins smearing dirt on his body. Once he is finished, he sits down on a rock overlooking the grim valley below, and waits. The dirt dries and cracks in the searing sun, but the bladesinger does not move. Finally the flaming orb drifts behind the mountain tops. Kalliniel climbs to his feet, claws the crust of mud off his skin and sprinkles it down the mountainside, an imitation of the funeral ceremony to come.

After this solemn moment, a blink of an eye in his centuries long life, Kalliniel runs down the mountain trail with a light step. Almost as if he'd forgotten this passing acquaintance already.

_________________

*Yaston on his way to the Citadel of Actand spots the notice in the Storehouse. Shakes his head sadly then quietly murmurs a prayer for the soul of the dead warrior.*

Kyllikki spends the week following his death hovering around the Trade Federation headquarters in Howness, dressed uncharacteristically in the traditional black of mourning. Her movements are sluggish and she did not seem to carry the same spring in her step as she once did. It was clear that the death of Al'Tustra had impacted her greatly.

At some point during this time Kyllikki pens a brief message to Partner Juqyil Kingson. She did not trust herself to maintain a face to face conversation without breaking into tears, and she wanted to maintain a professional appearance.

"Be strong like the mountain." She would tell herself as she wrote the message.

The letter would be delivered by the inter-office mail, arriving almost a full week after Al'Tustra's will was made public. It seemed as though she had at some point recovered enough of her innate strength and determination to find a way to cope with her loss, and the letter was the first step.


Partner Juqyil Kingson:

I, Kyllikki Aune, senior partner in the Amian Crafters and Traders Federation, do request that the duties of executor of Al'Tustra's estate fall to my shoulders. As one who has mentored under him and, indeed, held him up as a role model, very little would comfort me more than ensuring that Al'Tustra's final wishes were carried out. I am familiar with all individuals listed in his will and I am more than willing to track them down and present them with the sad news and assigned possessions as per Al'Tustra's will.

If you would like to discuss this further, please send a reply missive to the spare room here at Trade Federatoin headquarters. I am certain to receive it.

Thank you for your time and attention.

- Kyllikki Aune, Senior Partner, Amian Crafters and Trader's Federation

_________________
"Worship me, and you shall know wealth. To guard your funds is to venerate Waukeen and to share them well seeds your future success. Call on me in trade, and I will be there. The bold find gold, the careful keep it—and the timid yield it up."

After a long and contemplative public silence, a private letter is delivered to Kylikki Aune from an individual mentioned in Al'Tustra's will: Yossarin. It is very businesslike, and without ostentation.

Partner Aune,

I am prepared to honor the wishes of our late Partner Al'Tustra. I am admittedly humbled that he put so much consideration not only into the affairs of my mortal life, but my immortal happiness, as well.

It was on my mind to write to the Church of the Triad and ask for their assistance in the will's **, specifically the use of a lie-detecting incantation, but I feel that the private dedication I intend to make, which I consider a critical juncture in the direction of my life, shall be made in a place that I feel most comfortable in and which, to me, speaks in some quiet, personal way to the divine authority into whose hands I commend my immortal soul.

Therefore, I shall be writing to the Eternal Order in the homely deserts of Khem with the request that one of their Order, expert at interrogation and the use of such magics, may verify the veracity of my dedications.

I should like to ask you, as Executor of the Will, to please be present. I will not burden the Federation with your travel expenses, but rather cover them myself. I understand Kohlingen would be much closer and less of a trek for you, but this is a decision I do not make lightly and wish for it to be meaningful, in my own way, as it is the establishment of a quiet contract between myself and the divine authority I have chosen to serve.

Expect to be informed of an exact date, should I hear back favorably from the Eternal Order.

Sincerely,

Partner Yossarin

A reply letter addressed to Yossarin is not long in coming.

Partner Yossarin,

I am glad that you are willing to see through to granting Al'Tustra's final wishes. I am more than willing to meet you in Khem at a date and time of your choosing. Naturally, some scheduling conflicts might arise, but I imagine we can work through those.

Do let me know as soon as you can when you are ready so that I might make preparations.

- Kyllikki Aune

_________________
"Worship me, and you shall know wealth. To guard your funds is to venerate Waukeen and to share them well seeds your future success. Call on me in trade, and I will be there. The bold find gold, the careful keep it—and the timid yield it up."

A letter is sent to the ACTF Personell Office:

To Whomever It May Concern,

I was visiting Kampo's Warehouse when I came across the notice of Partner Al'Tustra's death. I barely knew the honorable smith, but I happened across the detailing of a certain "Talon of Justice." If none have claimed it yet, I would like to offer up my defense and honor to have a blade doused by the blood of Bahamut's blessed.

If there is any "testing" necessary to authorize me for such, please let me know.

-
Samantha
24 Golden Light Way
Kohlingen

*A letter is sent to 24 Golden Light Way in Kohlingen, addressed to Samantha. The letter is also made in duplicate for Federation records.*

Miss Samantha -

I thank you for your interest in the late Partner Al'Tustra's estate. Please find enclosed the portion of Al'Tustra's will pertaining to the "Talon of Justice".

"The Talon of Justice is exempt from [distribution], as promised to the Church of Bahamut, as the blood of a silver dragon ("Justice") was used to forge the sword. It is to be returned to the Church of Bahamut upon my death. Any representative of the Church of Bahamut may claim the sword. "

As you can see, the sword in question has been willed to the Church of Bahamut. Thank you for your time, however.

- Kyllikki Aune, Executor

_________________
"Worship me, and you shall know wealth. To guard your funds is to venerate Waukeen and to share them well seeds your future success. Call on me in trade, and I will be there. The bold find gold, the careful keep it—and the timid yield it up."

A letter is promptly returned:

Partner Aune,

I suppose I failed to represent myself clearly. In all my time in Amia I have endeavored to find other dedicated representatives of the Church of Bahamut and have failed. I was inquiring because I was both curious if any of the faith had found you to claim the sword and because I am curious as to the sword itself. I am a devout follower of the dogma of Bahamut, though I would consider myself more of a knight than a priestess and preacher of the faith. This is why I offer myself to whatever administrations may be necessary -- I am unsure as to whether or not I would be deemed acceptable.

Thank you for your time,

-
Samantha
24 Golden Light Way
Kohlingen

*Kyllikki's reply note seemed more a draft than a final letter, as if it were done with either less care or greater haste. It bore all the hallmarks of a letter from the Amian Crafters' and Trader's Federation, however, and the signature at the bottom is no dobut done with care.*

Miss Samantha -

Your is but one of several letters from individuals claiming to either be or know of the best individual to represent the Church of Bahamut in regards to the relinquishing of the sword. As it stands now, I will continue to safeguard the weapon until such time that the most appropriate candidate can be found. This may prove to be a somewhat involved process, as there appears to be conflicting ideas on whom, exactly, the most appropriate person may be.

Do rest assured that I will do everything in my power to ensure the sword goes to the most appropriate party.

- Kyllikki Aune, Executor

_________________
"Worship me, and you shall know wealth. To guard your funds is to venerate Waukeen and to share them well seeds your future success. Call on me in trade, and I will be there. The bold find gold, the careful keep it—and the timid yield it up."