Swamped

"So what's this Master trying to do? And what does it have to do with our swamp?"

Ember glances just behind you, probably at Rider. Not that you can see how Rider's reacting.

"I'm sure you've at least heard rumors that there's something hidden deep within the Marsh Fortress. We think the Master wants it, and also wants something we're protecting out here in the desert."

"Well! That sure clears up a lot!" you grumble.

"I apologize for the secrecy, but that really is all I can tell you."

Ah well. You're used to people having secrets. So you move on.

"So why is he moving now? If we do have a whatever-it-is, we've had it for a long time. Probably for as long as we've been fighting the Bogknights, even. Did he just find out about it, or what?"

Ember shakes his head.

"It doesn't seem likely. Granted, anything I say about him is merely speculative, but... given that he's unusually powerful for a wizard, we think he spent quite a bit of time gathering that power. It may even have been a generational effort."

"So... they've been biding their time, making preparations, and now they feel ready to strike?" You feel a little skeptical. "I don't know. On the surface it makes sense... but it'd probably be a better plan to stick with the subtle acts even after getting enough power. And if they're patient enough to wait years, maybe even generations, to pull off this plan, well, it seems weird to risk it that much all of a sudden."

Ember nods.

"You raise a good point. I suspect something happened that forced their hand, but again, I couldn't say for sure."

"If this Master is so powerful, what could possibly scare him that much..."

You suddenly remember the crow-man.

"The gods," you say.

"Pardon?"

"A servant of the gods showed up last night, when we were trying to do a prisoner exchange. The wizard - this Master - showed up to challenge him. So maybe that's why the risks, the gods were starting to catch on to whatever he's trying to do."

"Perhaps," Ember says noncommittally. He seems surprisingly calm about it - maybe he already suspected as much. After all, he apparently knows what the Master is actually looking for.

You can see the camp in the distance now. You'll arrive fairly soon. But maybe you have some other questions to ask first.