Z-TWH05 (May 17, 2023)
Puzzle
“Bite the bullet or bite the hands that feed you.”
Mercutio Trivia | 3 Words
Clue
Hover over the clues if you require!
Clue 1: More accurately, the bullet bites the hand.
Clue 2: Well, I should say the bullet...something.
Clue 3: What festival involves bullet ants biting a person's hand? You'll have to go into some web pages for this; it's not displayed (prominently) on Google.
Answer and Explanation
Answer: Festa Da Tocandira
Explanation: This festival is a ceremony by the Mawe people, culminating in the young male wearing a glove of bullet ants.
Summary of Receipt
Mercutio suggests being the one to take the group to the Necropolis, since Felix Blackwood left him his sigils and various Public Keys and he's been wanting to use them. Besides, if the Shakas want to reform the Cafe and Diner, they'll need someone for Otherside transportation. He also implies that working as Ampersand - or as Zulu - is rather limiting, having to follow Alfa, and breaking free might make things easier to help their allies. Finally, he mentions how Division Ampersand's still around, though it's only got Jennifer Hepburn, Nick Langley and Daniel Hamilton Jr. left.
Transcript
Receipt: Z-TWH05
Author: Mercutio
Status: Secret
Subject: Hyperion Cult
I’d like to join you on your trip to the Necropolis as well. More than that, actually, I’d like to be the one to get you there and back. I know you have your ways of getting to the Spire, both with your miracles or with Astorian technology, but I think it could be a good chance for me to practice my sigil work. Felix gave me his book of sigils and keys when he retired, and I barely got to give them any use before the Cafe and Diner fell apart. And, as Kikimora said, if you’re trying to make a Cafe and Diner again, you’ll need someone who can work Otherside sigils, no?
Of course, I’m not suggesting that we would ever break off from the Agency. No, no, banish the thought. Mwen pap janm. But have you ever considered that the Ampersand was… limiting? Sure, having all the Agency resources at our fingertips, it’s nice. But… it means we have to play by Agency rules, no? And if we could… well, do things our own way, we could help our allies in need, no? Of course, there’d be the trouble of your whole Zulu cult… but… no. No. Forget it. Merely thinking… out loud. Well, thinking in pen.
Division Ampersand, though, there’s only three members these days, yes? Hepburn, Langley, and Hamilton. Last I heard they were mostly unaware of our little pati. Of course, they know you two are Shaka. They’re not ignorant. And they surely have heard that Kikimora’s joined the Agency due to the war. And Langley… well, he has to be a little suspicious about Silenziosa spending so much of her time in this part of the seabase. And how long can Hamilton really go before he sees Hearse walking around, eh? You wouldn’t even need all three, zanmi m. Ah—look at me trying to out scheme Shaka. Forget it. Still, I’d like to give a shot at getting the four of us to the Spire.