Order Of The Stick

[Chris]

Murdock Mather Murdock had been true to his word when he said he would investigate the incident at Viadulo for Elia. He was many things, but he was not usually a liar... well. Alright, perhaps he was. This wasn't a total lie though, just an omission of the truth.

The man found where the survivors of Viadulo had taken refuge, to recuperate and gather their strength. It was some distance away in the north of the land, somewhere between the south of Saldaea and Kandor. Unremarkable location, a basic setup in a hamlet where nobody had lived for some years, away from trade routes and any local authorities. It was quite an excellent place to hide. Murdock should know; he had recommended it.

It was not quick, and it was not easy. But Murdock sent the right notes to the right people, alongside with the correct incentive. The right people. The money. The blind eye from anyone who might take notice. It was a little disconcerting for them to have a mysterious writer reaching out to them, but they never refused his support. So now, it was time to check in. Murdock armed himself with his belt buckle angreal, a bag of supplies, and his best cane, before making a Gateway directly from his rooms to what he knew to be a beaten path just down the road from the cluster of houses turned experimental chambers. The scent of tinny blood was strong in the air, or maybe it was just wishful thinking? Murdock smiled a little to himself as he limped on closer, seizing Saidin and getting a good look at the ragtag collection of people around him. Darkfriends, rogue channellers sworn to the Great Lord of the Dark and not affiliated with either Tower. But they knew people, had connections, and most importantly, they had curious minds. They wanted to know how to manipulate the human body to see how it worked, how to hurt it just so, or maybe they were simply depraved. Oh well, a weapon was a weapon... Murdock would make do with them in whatever way, shape or form they came.

"It's going to be like this," Murdock told the people who took notice of him. His voice was calm, matter of fact, simply telling them what it was like now. Years of being a Keeper had given him an authority his tone conveyed naturally, at sheer odds with how disinterested he also sounded. "I am going to speak with the person who signs off their correspondence as White. Tell them Cane is here." Nobody tried to kill him which was nice, and someone went away to relay this message with haste. They liked leadership. They liked being told what to do, as long as it facilitated their interests. Murdock could certainly work with this.

He waited patiently before a tall man, taller than Murdock, with haunted eyes and a wary expression, poked his head out from the uppermost window of a nearby house. "Cane?" he called down. "Burn me to ashes- don't I know you from somewhere?"

"The Grey Tower?" Murdock asked, smiling a little. "You were a Dedicated some years ago, according to our records. But let's not make this common knowledge, I'd hate to have to burn this place to the ground with all of the Grey Tower's Red Ajah at my heels. They're still mad about Viadulo, you know."

"That's too bad." White, so called because... well Murdock had no real idea... called to the others, "this is Cane. He's one of us."

Murdock smiled indulgently. "The pleasure is all mine," he said, "now, do you have anything to show me? I've brought some gifts." Murdock was thus invited into the house where White was working, and he made his way slowly up the stairs with an entourage behind him. Murdock, White, and four others stood in one small room with a table and what looked to be the remains of a person on it. Blood soaked the wood, leaving it a permanent stained red, and a rack of tools hung along one wall. "Tell me White, what is this for?"

"We're looking at how the tendons naturally decompose," White explained, "to see how we can better manipulate them on living tissue."

"I see." Murdock ummed and aahed. "The weaves used on one of our Aes Sedai, to wither her arm - those were most fascinating. A woman's work. Can I see?"

White grinned, "of course. Next door we have one of those Questioners, just asking for it aren't they?"

Murdock sniffed, "I don't care who they are." They went to the next room, which was much like the first but with an actual living person tied to the table, mouth gagged and clearly looking like he had seen better days. Murdock's eyes ran across the toned but torn body, taking it in before he Delved the subject as well. His body was a whole history of harm and healing, most fascinating. How long had he been here without losing his mind? There was a clarity in those eyes. "I want to see the weaves," he said. Murdock set his bag on the Questioner's stomach, opening it up and taking out some, ah, equipment salvaged from Viadulo during the Grey Tower's investigations. "I bring you presents, so show me what you can do. I have never seen such a weave before."

White rubbed his hands together, long hair falling in front of his face. "Which body part? His arm, or a leg, or we could isolate an organ? See how long he lasts without a set of kidneys?"

"His arm," Murdock said primly. He leaned with both hands on his stick and waited patiently as White seized Saidin and, with two fingers on the man's arm, he began to thread together Fire and Earth and Spirit, a beautiful weave that caused the Questioner to shriek behind his gag, still filling the room with audible pain as his arm began to darken, wither, shrink away like his ascension to adulthood was operating in reverse. Murdock leaned in closer, fascinated, as the man's arm soon looked just like Elia's. "Remarkable!" he said, "and can this be Healed?"

"We haven't found a way," White said, "but then we haven't been trying all that hard either." His eyes narrowed, "you aren't looking to Heal the Aes Sedai are you?"

"It's an option," Murdock said, "she might take the bait, she might not. I don't know if I care to at this point but knowing I could would be most amusing for me." He looked at the man's other arm, then reached out with his left hand.

"I didn't say you could do it," White said with a scowl. "We need more people. There's no towns for miles and we're running low."

"You may be in charge here White, but you are certainly not my boss," Murdock said. "If that's a problem, I'll remove you and find someone else to take your place. I'm sure that there's plenty of volunteers here who would love to earn favour with the Great Lord of the Dark." All truth - Murdock could see it in their eyes, that barely-restrained respect. White was a strong channeller and he might get ideas above his station, but for now he could stay. Murdock turned his attention back to the Questioner, put his hand out, and began to pull together the threads for Rending. They came so naturally to Murdock with an ease he'd never quite found with Healing, and it showed in the way the Earth and Fire melded together so easily, a song and dance he had performed many a time before that was simply set to some new music.

The good arm withered quicker and more drastically than White's. He knew I would show him up, Murdock said to himself, trying not to feel too smug. The Brown knew that when it came to it, those who wanted to learn more would turn to Murdock - but first, he had to know what they did, and let his natural talent take him further than it had for White. Give me my daughters and I will give you the Grey Tower, Murdock thought as he looked from face to face, remembering them for later. When the time came for Murdock to be calling the shots, they would listen. They would listen, and obey, or he would use them as his next test subject.

"That went well," he said cheerfully, "shall we try it on his legs now?"