>>1096056
This guy is right, being strong doesn't mean being alone. Let others be your strength today, and don't for a second be such a fool you think that means you're weak.

Raelynn 2024/09/22(Sun)13:34 No. 1097660 ID: 9f8647
File 172703726472.png - (23.24KB , 580x590 , LF8 12.png )

Please…

I’m trapped. Trapped in this bunker, trapped by fate, by circumstance, by my promise to my mother, by my obligations to my Circle. I’m not strong enough to fight. I can’t run anymore.

I’m terrified that I don’t have the strength to… do anything. I can’t even respond to Serah and Landi’s questions. This isn’t who I want to be- this isn’t who I need to be.

I see the bunker’s door in my mind’s eye. Taranis is sending me a picture- is he telling me to flee? No, he’s… I focus my scarred vision and peer through the solid earth to see my companion hopping on the other side. Did I really call out to him without meaning to?

I don’t care. Without a word, I stride over to the door and tap the sigil to unseal the concealed entrance just enough for him to enter. He leaps into my arms, a bundle of feathers thankfully not wet from the storm.

A wave of relief washes over me. I’m not alone. I have at least one companion, no matter how bad things get. He’s been there for me, and I’ll be there for him. We help each other, even though he’s not a elf of the Circle, and I’m not a bird.

“Rae?” Landi asks, fluttering across the room. “Are you okay?”

Maybe… if I imagine Landi is a tiny bird, it would be okay to ask for her help, too.

“No,” I whisper back. “No, I’m not.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

No. But…

“A bit.”

Serah joins us. A bigger bird, to be sure, but a stronger one. I think Taranis’s thinking might be rubbing off on me.

I tell Serah and Landi about my mother. About the war I trained for, about my greatest failure. The expectations I failed. My exile. My brother. The things he’s done, the lines he’s crossed. By the end of it, I feel empty, like I’ve been turned upside-down and poured the acid in my guts onto the floor.

I didn’t cry. That’s all that’s important.

Landi doesn’t judge. She joins Taranis and sits on my shoulder, tucking herself under my braid, sharing her warmth.

“Rae-Rae,” Landi says, “You’ve been carrying so much on these shoulders… Fuck, girl. Just… Dotti doesn’t know about the soul-devourers coming back, does she? This is gonna be a shock to her… Fuck.”

Serah, for her part, is even paler than normal. That icy stare is gone, replaced with a look of horror. Of course- it’s natural to be horrified at my brother, he’s-

“I’m so sorry, Rae,” Serah says. “I didn’t mean to suspect you. I thought… Well, you carried yourself so well, I had no idea you were suffering like this. If there’s anything we can do- anything at all- please, let me know, and I’ll make it happen.”

Now is when I have to fight back the tears. Thankfully, I do.

If I ask for help… what do I ask for?

>>1097660
Sudden realization. The Censors will want to stop the soul devourers, won't they? That would be a higher priority than retrieving their runaway. If we can somehow tell them about this crisis without letting them have immediate access to Pierre, they might call off the search in favor of squashing the devourer threat. Would the Censors be able to stop your brother on their own? Or... would you be able to work alongside them?

>>1097667

Honestly, there is absolutely something to be said for pitting the Censors against the Circle on this point. I don't know if we'll be able to pull that off now, but it can at least be a long-term point of consideration.

For now, you need a plan. If there's anything you can rely on Serah for, it's navigate social situations. Tell her what your concerns and expectations are for how your people will act, and ask her to decide for the group how you'll engage with them.

Ask for Serah's expertise and planning. Now that you're all on the same page you can get her opinion on how to proceed. An outside perspective never hurts.

>>1097660
Bravely done rae.

>>1097670
Agreed.
Fresh perspectives.
New vantage points to view the situation from.
Give that beautiful bird tanaris a scritch while you listen to their takes
Its good for both of you and he deserves it.
then you can decide a path with a calmer mind.

>>1097667
Corruption has consumed the Censor Church. They won't just 'do their jobs'. They could ignore the soul devourers entirely to continue pursuing the low-hanging fruit... or even worse, successfully capture the soul devourers and breed them to conduct human soul experiments.

Your objective should be to inflict conflict, as much as possible, between the elven extremists and the corrupt priests. Give the task of monster slaying to beings you can trust to do actual slaying.

Help getting everyone out of here, fast.

Raelynn 2025/01/13(Mon)00:00 No. 1102267 ID: 43bfa4
File 173675520823.png - (49.14KB , 600x550 , LF8 13.png )

“I don’t know how to protect you,” I say, voice hoarse. “My clan… they hate outsiders. Especially humans. They know we’re here, in this shelter, with a dragon- there was no way their sentries could have missed Kayk at full size, moving at that speed, even in this storm. We can’t leave now, with the Censors overhead. My clan will see that I’ve led you here- and drawn two Censor war parties on top of that. They’ll be out in force, and my brother… he’ll use this to build up his own standing by showing how we- they- need to bring every elf together against you, the Censors, a dragon…

I’m supposed to duel my brother to fix everything, according to Mom, even though… I was exiled, and… shamed, and… now I’ve brought so much trouble back with me. The second we step out of this shelter, either the Censors or my clan will be on us with drawn steel. And if we stay in the shelter, the Clan’s druids will summon miasma and call up the tree roots to incapacitate all of us. Serah, I… I don’t’ know what to do. I need your guidance. Please.”

Serah puts a hand to her chin.

“Why do you think your people would be so quick to assume you’ve betrayed them?” Serah says.

Ailín’s voice echoes in my mind.

What will you do, Ráichéalín? Share our secrets with outsiders? Lead them to our beds, as a traitor to your kin?

“I… I have,” I whisper. “I shared things I should never have. Our ways, our secrets, our plans. Serah, the things humans did to us… we swore never to trust you again.”

“Does your clan have magic that lets them hear and see us now, in this shelter?” she asks. “Perhaps Pierre’s anti-magic can block it, perhaps not.”

“No. The tree roots are only enchanted to let them know if the shelter’s in use or not, and the sector watchman will know if it’s scheduled to be in use by our people. Which it isn’t.”

“So since your clan can’t hear us… they can’t be one hundred percent sure you’ve decided to trust me, can they?”

“No,” I say. “I suppose not.”

A slow, sly smirk spreads across Serah’s features.

“Based on what you told me… your brother won’t be here today. He’ll want to build his reputation by squaring off against the Censors, at least until they retreat,” Serah says. “We have a dragon, and facing down against one is certainly a bold move. But we aren’t going anywhere until the Censors leave, and he knows it.

No, your brother will be using this opportunity to test you. To test if you’ve decided to let me in on your clan’s workings, and how much you trust me. He’ll do it by sending a lieutenant out, probably. Someone you know, who has an emotional connection to you, so they have a reason to not kill you by ‘accident.’ Then, your brother will ask how we as a party react to your clan’s tactics, and he will see if we take countermeasures against them. If we show signs of being prepared, you’ve clearly informed us how to fight back, and he has proof you’ve broken the code of silence. If we aren’t prepared, the ambush won’t go well for us, and your brother gets to capture or kill us as he sees fit. No matter what happens, he gets what he wants.”

“Fuck!” Landi groans. “We lose no matter what! I’m totally going back in a lantern, aren’t I?”

“Most likely,” Serah says. “Don’t lose hope, though. If we allow ourselves to be captured, and thereby convince Rae’s clan that she’s kept the code of silence, we keep Rae’s risk to a minimum, and they won’t know we’re working so closely together.”

“We can plan around their plan!” Landi gasps. “It’s like chess!”

“Exactly,” Serah smiles. “Rae, you said your clan will knock us out with miasma and bind us with roots inside the shelter. What if we leave the shelter immediately after the Censors depart, hopefully quickly enough that they don’t spring the trap?”

“Then my clan would know we have a way of seeing outside the shelter, and would assume we know they are outside waiting. They would resort to lethal force immediately because they would assume that the element of surprise would be lost.”

“So we should let Taranis out right now, before your scouts have a chance to arrive. Then we stay here a so long that it appears like we are waiting out the Censors, as if we are scared. That will lead to the miasma. Is it strong enough to knock out a dragon in lizardfolk form?”

“I… don’t think so. Probably not. It’s not lethal for humans, and my clan is immune. They’ll expect the hardier members of the party to be awake, but bound by the roots. They’ll bet that Kayk will be able to break free, and they’ll have all their efforts outside to bind her with more powerful spells that have line-of-sight, then try to mind control her once she’s fully bound, or failing that, knock her out. They won’t let her transform into her full size.”

“I have an idea,” Serah says. “They’ll notice I’m an alchemist. It wouldn’t be unusual for me to have basic countermeasures to miasma, either via potions or some mutagen they don’t know about. If you help me, I can prepare something for the party to take that’ll help us weather it. If I pretend to be struggling against the miasma, and the rest of the party acts as if they’ve fallen unconscious (except for Kayk), then I can put on a show of ineffectually fighting back and protecting Kayk, ‘affected’ by the gas as I am. That way they’ll be lulled into a false sense of security. A plan that goes too well isn’t very realistic, is it?”

“What about me?” I ask, confused. “What should I do? Should I attack you as you fight, as proof I’m still loyal to my clan?”

“I mean this in the best of ways, Rae,” Serah says, “But you would make a truly awful double agent if you did that. It would be incredibly transparent that you would be trying to get into the Clan’s good graces.”

“Very suspicious,” Landi says. Taranis nods in agreement.

“What’s more realistic is if you simply pretend to be affected by the gas, and let things play out. You would only ‘wake up’ when the fighting is done. That way you don’t have to commit to choosing a side, or risk being burned by a dragon.”

“But… you’d really be… out there with just Kayk,” I say.

“Yes,” Serah says. “Only Kayk and I can realistically resist the miasma, and you need to play the part of the conflicted-but-loyal exile. “I will tell Dotti and Pierre to act as if they are unconscious. It’ll be safest for them that way. Especially Dotti.”

“Serah… they’ll respect the fight you put up, but… they’ll... Serah, they’ll take your weapons, your armor… they won’t treat you like humans would, Serah! You don’t have to fight. Just pretend to be knocked out, and… and I’ll protect you and Kayk.”

That’s a lie, sort of. I’ve already realized I should be protecting Pierre and Serah first and foremost.

“This is my responsibility,” Serah says.

If I agree to this plan, Serah will be at risk of injury and will be treated as a warrior-prisoner, not a Lady. She will not enjoy it at all, no matter what she claims.

Do I agree to Serah’s plan? It’s well-thought-out, but it puts her at risk and I can’t do anything until the fighting is over.

1. Yes
2. No

Yes, go with Serah's plan

>>1102267
1

I think Serah’s plan is the only effective answer here. It’s okay and perfectly normal to be afraid, cuz this plan does involve a lot of danger. That being said, the best play here is to put your faith into Serah, and trust she can handle herself (alongside Kayk.) Serah is strong. Serah is resilient. Serah is clever. You’ve seen her exhibit these traits before, looking back. You’ve already trusted her with all this information and that’s a HUGE step! It’s amazing! From here, the next step is to trust that Serah can help you, if you’ll let her. You’re doing great, Rae Rae!

We're missing one thing. So what are we doing for a cover story since the elves will make inquiries? Gotta make sure our stories line up.

I still think plan: sneak out the back tunnels is better.

1) She's drawn up something that could outwit your brother, that's the best you've got.

>>1102272
1

1/2 Raelynn 2025/01/31(Fri)20:34 No. 1103134 ID: 833743
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I don’t like sending Serah and Kayk out to face my Circle alone, but they won’t really be fighting. At least, that’s the theory. I know them better than that, though… they’ll want to test Serah’s mettle. She could be really hurt, and she won’t be able to rely on Landi’s summons during that brief moment, or else my Circle would know we had time to plan ahead.

Serah’s plan isn’t safe, but no option is. It also gives me total freedom to operate by not letting my Circle know I’ve betrayed their confidence.

I…

I don’t want to think too much about that. I have to focus on what comes next. Keep moving forward, Rae. That’s how you’ll reach the end.

“I’ll go along with your plan, Serah,” I say, giving Taranis a stroke on the head for reassurance. “Don’t do anything rash… please.”

“That’s my job!” Landi chirps. “Hey, what if I buff everyone up beforehand? Give Dotti some magic armor so she doesn’t have to worry too much about being arrow’d? Think of how surprised everyone would be to see a heavy-duty magical-armor fox!”

“Can you actually Godmother a set of armor onto Dotti?” Serah asks, her eyebrow cocking.

“Well, no. That’s more of a Godmothering 301 class, you know? But I can still give her some magic force-shields that are kind of the same thing, right?”

“I… think my Circle would treat a fox spirit more cautiously if Dotti was in her anthropomorphic form,” I say. “We all know to kill a feral fox spirit on sight, but we’ve never encountered one stuck halfway between human and fox. One of my more spiritually-inclined Circle brethren would be very interested in her. Maybe I can ensure Dotti is treated well. Maybe.”

“Very good,” Serah says. “It will be difficult enough telling Dotti that we’re likely going to fight soul devourers similar to those that hurt Petra. We’ll want to keep her calm when she wakes up from the miasma, if at all possible.”

2/2 Raelynn 2025/01/31(Fri)20:39 No. 1103137 ID: 833743
File 173838477749.png - (19.24KB , 600x500 , LF8 15.png )

“Hey, this plan, Serah,” Landi interjects. “What happens after, you know, we get captured?”

“Raelynn will know what to do,” Serah says. “Past that point, there’s almost no ability to plan.”

“That’s not super reassuring,” Landi whines.

Serah looks like she’s about to ask me something, and I know what the question is.

Do you want us to put you in a position to duel your brother?

I don’t know. I… I’ll know if it’s the right thing to do once I see him again.

Maybe he’s not gone. Not yet.

“Planning too much might actually hamper our ability to improvise,” Serah says. “Taranis, I understand that you can communicate mentally over a certain distance. Can you expand that spell to include us?”

Taranis nods. Odin’s pleased with his work, apparently, and is willing to let the team be honorary tweet-ers.

“It’s limited to mental images and a few quick sentences,” I say. “And there’s a chance that if we communicate too much, one of my Circle mates who’s a diviner could sense Odin’s influence. It would be very small, but it would be there.”

“Then we should plan for emergencies,” Serah says. “Think of a signal that Taranis could give to Kayk to order her to transform into her full form, regardless of the risk. We’ll need that ability.”

“And me!” Landi says. “I can summon Big Sodium if things get real hairy. If I get the signal, I’ll do it, no matter how risky. I trust you, Rae.”

Those are good ideas for Kayk and Landi… I should think of an ultimate last-resort command I can give to Dotti, Pierre and Serah.

Choose one ultimate last-resort command for each remaining member of the Party. They will do it, regardless of the risk to them at the time.

Dotti: Unleash Abomination-Slayer stance, take as many of those soul-eating freaks with you.
Pierre: Push your power past its limits, disrupt like there's no tomorrow. Don't stop till you pass out.
Serah: Drink all the potions.

Considering Dotti is the most vulnerable among us I think her panic button needs to be for her to cause a distraction, something that won't get her killed but might pull heat off of everyone else.
Pierre, assuming he's not near Dotti, could try sucking magic out of any enemy casters. They won't know he can do it, so he should be able to get away with it. If this coincides with Dotti's illusion they might blame it on the illusion. Assuming they don't have anyone who can see through illusions... Actually, I wonder. Can Dotti create an illusion of something that could cause Pierre's antimagic effect? That way them acting in tandem would create a convincing threat.
Serah... uh, she'll be captured and stripped of her gear so she won't have any potions. I don't know what she could do, except maybe feign an illness? Maybe if Dotti creates an illusion of a monster, it could attack Serah, and she could play along?

>>1103162
What if she illusioned a soul devourer? That might cover for his draining.

As for Serah, if she could hide a potion or mutagen on her person. But even if it wouldn't be found in a search, what one potion would even make a difference?

Serah could full well have a mutagen up her sleeve, but even if she can, I’d like to propose a second emergency protocol for her. We need an “I have zero clue what to do next or have otherwise been rendered helpless, you’re in charge until further notice, Serah” button. Odds are we won’t even use this, but we’re preparing for worst case scenarios here. There may be a moment where Serah will have to take over for us in leading this mission, and if that happens, the transfer of power needs to be expedient. The emergency options for the others seem pretty well ideated upon, so I’ll leave those be for now.

Alright, here's the best I've got:

Pierre: If the last resort has come up, then the party has failed to keep you safe, and you are better off without us. Take the first chance that you can to run away.

Serah: Invoke whatever power house Kensington may hold, and make as many checks as your family can cash. Put whatever it takes onto the negotiation table if it means you get to breathe another day.

Dotti: Create an opening for Pierre to escape. Make the biggest spectacle you can with your powers, and demand the attention of every single elf in this forest.

>>1103544
Have dotties distraction purely illusory in nature as forest fires could go badly for all
All else sounds good.

Maybe include the tag in command option for serah as mentioned above.

Raelynn 2025/03/30(Sun)10:31 No. 1105585 ID: 802951
File 174335590194.png - (44.71KB , 300x300 , LF8 16.png )

Dotti’s emergency command will be shock and awe. I want her causing as much chaos as she can, confusing what spells are real and what’s not. I fully expect her to throw out real spells at any Airceacháin, but against my Circle she can distract and delay. They don’t have anything like my eye to see through illusions so easily, so it will slow them down. They never considered fighting a fox spirit when they exiled me, did they? Too bad.

Serah and I agree that Pierre should try to flee if he’s too close to Dotti to use his anti-magic. He won’t be able to escape my Circle’s trackers, but the goal isn’t to escape; it’s to get him out of the line of fire. I’d rather not worry about him catching a stray arrow or spell, and this would be his (presumably) first live-fire combat. He won’t be thinking straight. No one does in that situation.

As for Serah… I know she won’t like it, but she has to beg for her life if she’s truly in danger. My people’s history with humans, combined with her being a noble… they’ll get far more satisfaction out of degrading her than they will killing her. It’s sick but true, and it’ll keep her alive. She just has to act as pathetic as possible, which… I’m not sure if she can do. Hopefully it doesn’t come to that.

Once our planning is finished, Dotti is beginning to wake up from her nap. She stretches, happy as can be in her giant fox den.

That changes when Serah describes the current situation to her, Pierre and Kayk. It’s even worse when Serah describes the plan to her, and gives the details of exactly what my brother is trying to summon.

“I’ll kill him,” Dotti snarls. “I’ll kill him, and everyone who tries to bring them back. I’ll burn them all, and the soul-eaters too if they summon any. Petra’s kits will NEVER be hurt while I’m here. NEVER.”

“Dotti, I’m… not defenseless against these things. The Church was a lot of things, but… they knew more than most about the Horrors. Also, um, I’m not a kit.”

“Yes you are.”

“Did I disagree with you? I apologize. Yes, I am Petra’s kit. Of course I am.”

Kayk is very nervous about her role in the plan. She’s not a warrior, and the plan calls for her putting on a good show of trying to transform when she bursts out of the bunker once it’s filled with Miasma. Serah gives her a good reassurance about more panic being good. Something about authentic.

Taranis sends me a signal. My people are coming, and…

They sent Ailín to bring me in.

Of course my brother would send my first boyfriend to bring me in. Of course he would, just like he sent Ailín to tell me to fuck off last time. Damn it…

No, don’t think about him. Think about your team. The people you’re protecting.

This is the last chance I have to speak with Serah, Landi, Dotti, Kayk and Pierre before we’re split up. I might not see some of them for a while, maybe not even until I issue a challenge to my brother and they’re dragged in to witness it.

Suggest any last words.

"This is going to suck, but please bear with it. I'm counting on all of you."

Okay gang, let's split up!

It’s been so long since I’ve been with trustworthy people I can depend on. I thank you all, let’s do this.

Tell Dotti she needs to hide her anger for now. If we are to fight, it needs to be a surprise, because we can't win a head-on battle.

"I've spent a long time pretending to be better than everyone else. It was wrong. They were wrong, and they're going to destroy so much just to prove themselves right. It's time to bring them to justice."

"I couldn't ask for a better team. We can do this. We will do this!"

"Just in case anything happens i want you all to know that i shall always regard you as... people... i met."

Then give it a couple of seconds for them to read the expression on your face.
They'll know what they realy mean to you
...and the joke may break the tension.
Humour.
Great for morale.

Also, confess to Serah

1/2 Raelynn 2025/12/28(Sun)15:06 No. 1119448 ID: 28931d
File 176696321548.png - (109.17KB , 401x210 , LF8 17.png )

The dim glow of the fungi in the tree bunker slowly fades. I squeeze my forearm. It’s happening.

Landi, Serah, Dotti, Kayk, Pierre… I hope I see you again soon.

“They’re here,” I tell them. “Before we… split up, ah… I…”

Landi alights on my shoulder, filling me with warmth. She waits for me to finish, silently.

“Thank you for… for trusting me. For letting me trust you, too,” I say. “I… I don ‘t know how I can repay you. Maybe I can’t. But… please, bear with me for just a little longer. We can do this t-together.”

The last word sticks in my throat. I don’t want any of them to get hurt, not just because I feel responsible for them, but because I care about them.

It hurts to think on how long it’s been since I could say that.

The acrid burn of miasma fills my nose. I’ve been immune since I was a child, and Serah’s improvised antidote will help the rest of the party resist its effects. Part of me hopes it isn’t as effective as it could be, in order to let my Circle go easy on them. Hopefully Dotti doesn’t let her instincts overpower her need to play-act.

The tree’s roots groan to life, wrapping around all the unauthorized intruders in the bunker- myself included. I resist as I was trained- straining my muscles so the roots harden around me, then when then tighten like ropes, I slacken my joints to allow me enough room to begin to work on freeing myself. Not all of us are strong enough to break out like a mutagen-enhanced Lady or a dragon, small enough to escape like a fairy, or limber enough like a fox to slip free. It takes a minute, but I get loose enough before my Seer’s eye detects movement on the other side of the bunker door. I worry about Serah, and Dotti, and-

>>1093136 And I remember that Pierre is the one who will need the most protecting, not them. I have to focus on him.

I wrench my head sideways to see how Pierre is handling the vines. He’s… already free, somehow? Maybe I underestimated him, or-

Or maybe the trap didn’t sense him at all because of his anti-magic.

Ice-cold realization hits me. If my Circle figures out that Pierre didn’t trip the defenses, if they see that he’s not lying bound in some roots, or if one of them counts the number of broken traps, they might find out that a supposedly normal human in a very normal robe, is somehow connected to the Censor war party circling over the forest that’s no doubt drawing my brother’s attention at this very moment.

“Landi!” I hiss toward the glowing orb in the few seconds we have left. “Move some broken roots near Pierre! Put them in his robe, make it look like he struggled!”

Landi bobs in acknowledgement just as the bunker door opens. Kayk lets out a high roar of challenge, forcing her way through two of my Circle’s warriors, who aren’t armed except for a few bolas, which I recognize as the base for a net. Serah charges behind, swinging her war hammer, and immediately takes three plague-burst rounds to her helm, followed by a fullisade of debilitating spells. Her armor shimmers with heat, dissolving the nauseating agents, but more follow. Even as she swings her hammer, she gags, overcome with unfamiliar poisons foreign to her alchemy. She retches, and the scent of bile fills the air.

For all that, it’s nothing compared to the focus they give Kayk. Ten, twenty, I lose count after thirty Circle warriors peppering her with slowing arrows and weighted arrowheads, netting, and restricting spells, the chanting of druidic magic rising over her roaring, refusing to give her the clarity of mind, or the space, to transform into her full size.

Around me, I hear shuffling boots, a curse in my native tongue, a furious fox bark. The crack of wood hitting skull. More curses. The sound of heavy breathing. The sound of a tiny cage latching shut. More retching.

Kayk’s enraged roars dull to groaning. The druidic chants continue, lulling, calming even my nerves, until a boot kicks me hard in the gut.

2/2 Raelynn 2025/12/28(Sun)15:09 No. 1119449 ID: 28931d
File 176696335112.png - (487.39KB , 900x544 , LF8 18.png )

“Get up.” A vaguely familiar voice, from years ago. He knows I’m faking. I only barely recognize him as a Circle member I sparred with.

I take a shuddering breath and get my bearings.

Dotti is unconscious. Pierre’s wrists are manaced in iron, quaking, eyes wide. Landi is caged in a cold iron box. Outside, Serah is unhelmeted, her face a mess of vomit and dripping blood from a gash above her eye. Four swords are at her throat.

Kayk is in her humanoid form still, bound tight in netting and vines, eyes glazed, one of my Circle members still chanting, soothing for now, but slowly building in tempo. I recognize the one leading them, not chanting, just watching. She’s the one I was worried about, the one eager to have a dragon under her thrall. Her name is Máire, and her smile is hungry.

Above it all, Ailín watches. His gaze locks with mine from atop the nearby hill.

“Speak for them,” my old sparring partner says. I finally remember his name. Fergal. A brave warrior- and one with a hatred for humans as strong as any among my Circle. He won’t trust me, not after I’ve spent so long among them.

“Speak. You mean… give their surrender,” I say, using the human word with emphasis, so my party can hear.

Fergal responds with a backhand so brutal it splits my lip. I feel a rush of fury through my mental bond. Not mine. Taranis’s.

“They do not need to understand,” he says, spitting on the ground next to Pierre, who gasps, horrified. “This is for us. Not them.”

Through the pain, I understand. Ailín won’t lower himself to negotiate surrender with Serah, or Pierre, both humans. Fairies and spirits are untrustworthy. The spell on Kayk can’t be let up, not now at least, or else she would fight.

That leaves just the damaged goods. Me.

Who do I offer our surrender to?

1. Ailín. My first boyfriend, the heartless one who delivered my brother’s message, and is a horrible person. I do not want to give him the honor of accepting our surrender.

2. Fergal. He’s a brute and will too-eagerly use the honor of accepting a human’s surrender. I have a bad feeling about what might happen to Serah and Pierre if he’s given the honor.

3. Máire. Giving her the honor would boost her ego even further, and wouldn’t do anything to lessen the spell on Kayk since she isn’t chanting. Giving her the honor would embolden her even further to toy with Kayk’s mind.

Fergal. If we laid out all of the options to the party, I get the feeling Serah would advocate for letting her take the brunt of the pain here. We can't saddle Rae with more mental hangups, given everything she's already going to be going through, so Ailyn is out. Kayk isn't a warrior, but being a dragon will already put a spotlight on her that she may not be ready to endure. She won't have the fortitude to stand up to Máire if we embolden her.

Serah is a tough girl. She can endure some pain, and she will find an angle to minimize as much of it as she can. And you're sure she'll watch over Pierre as best she can too.

Ailín. Who cares about feeling shame about giving him the honor at this point. The other two options are going to really harm at least one or more of your friends. Plus as they say, pride cometh before the fall. Let him enjoy that little bit of pride for now.

Maire. If she does something to Kayk and you manipulate Maire into boasting about it in public, Mai will join the fray. That might be what you need, and you wouldn't need to sneak messages yourself.

1) Ah, but you aren't giving him an honor are you. You're using him to further your own ends, without him even knowing. Let him have his petty victory, in the end you'll have the last laugh.

>>1119455
Oooh! Yeah, good point! Also, negotiating with ex boyfriend might assist in moving things along. If he starts to get cocky, you can just play the “I don’t wish to speak with you any longer than I HAVE to” card. Ailín might just get even more annoying in response, but the others would probably get annoyed with HIM for being annoying, leading to one of them potentially interfering.

>>1119451
>>1119455
this. lose the battle, but win the war.

>>1119455
Agreed.
Let him presume your humiliation in surrendering to him specifically.
Play into it.
It wont be hard to make it look and feel real as it probably will be horrible to surrender to HIM of all of them...
But... that will hide the motivation.
He will presume you seek favorable terms due to past relationship.
The truth is, he is a strategic choice.
A known terrain in a battlefield of subterfuge.
You know him and his ways.
He remained in the circle and has experienced little change.
Predictable.
You, he will presume to know, but his knowing is based on the you that was, not who you have become.
She, he is not ready for.

Your ex isn’t special. They’re all horrible people.

Fergal. Accepting a human’s surrender without deigning to speak to her is an empty boast.

Raelynn 2026/01/04(Sun)19:22 No. 1119675 ID: 28931d
File 176758333999.png - (13.75KB , 584x500 , LF8 19.png )

“Ailín.”

“Ráichéalín.”

I want to curse him. For his callousness. For his heartlessness. For leaving me. For abandoning me. For not understanding me.

Instead, I offer our surrender. On behalf of our party, I untie my sheathed short sword, Samhain, and hold it to him, pommel-first. He accepts it with a small sigh- not what I expected at all. He checks the blade, pulling it from the sheath for a moment, then immediately hands it back to me.

“I accept your surrender, but not your blade,” Ailín says. “I will not part you from your birthright.”

He’s letting me keep the most dangerous weapon I own? I glance quickly to the side. None of the Circle question it. My brow furrows.

The blade. My brother wants to complete the set. He’s… given instructions not to part me from it. He wants it done cleanly.

Does he want me dead, too?

“Where is Ciarán?” I ask, throat dry.

“Your brother is commanding the Circle’s defense against the Censors,” Ailín says. “Seven celestial griffons, carrying Censors armed for battle against a Terrorscale whelp. Once he has fended them off, by right their quarry becomes his. What has your band done to draw out such a force willing to risk the retribution of Mai Terrorscale, should things go poorly?”

“Those humans claim authority that is not their own, and they will lie when asked their motives,” I say truthfully. “They hunt Lady Serah Kensington for reasons they will never tell you or me. Would you like me to guess what they are?”

“No,” Ailín says with a small smirk. “We will seek our answers from the Lady and her entourage. They will tell us differently from what the Church declared to your brother, and the truth will be hidden in what none of them tell us. Perhaps it has to do with your fox spirit, some fae magick, or sacred knowledge of the Church.”

“Since when has my brother cared about any of those?” I cross my arms. "He always wanted to take my place as future Warseer, but the enchantments… only a few have the temperament, and to adapt… it takes take time and training.”

“Such a shame that not all who walk the path of a Seer can reach the end,” Ailín says, and I feel a heat burn in my scars. “But some of us are meant for better things.”

I want to snap at him, scream, rage, but…

He didn’t mean it as an insult. I can read him, even after all this time. Better things… he didn’t mean it about my brother, did he?

“Perhaps,” Ailín says softly, “You could tell me about some of the things you saw outside the forest. Before your brother returns.”

The implication being that I won’t be able to tell him anything after that.

He extends his hand.

I’m scared. For a brief moment, I want to open up to him. Remember what we once had. Will he listen? Will he understand?

Do I take his hand?

Fuck no

Your ex is psychotic. He's calm because he doesn't know how the world works. He's loyal because he has no idea or understanding of how volatile and destructive your brother is to a world he doesn't realize exists.

You want to hurt him? Find a way to make him learn how the world really works. The rest will play itself out in his head.

That's what he's expecting isn't it. If you play along, keep his guard down...
I mean he hurt you, you won't give him that chance again. Just use him until you can be rid of him again.

You might use this opportunity to seed the idea that your companions could be useful to the elves. Something that might keep them from getting too hurt.

>>1119680
This. nothing more sneaky than a little bit of manipulation.

Yes, *use* him to your own ends. You definitely WON’T accidentally genuinely connect with him in the process, leading to you having someone on the inside you can rely on. That would be really good if it happened, but you’re the cool and tough Rae Rae! You’re definitely manipulating him and nothing else will happen! I think it’s a *lie* to say the world is 100% sucky and miserable and scary outside of the woods, but it’ll still put some fear into him if you bring up the duality of that. Life on the outside can be warm, but it can also be cold.

Let him see your indecision as you stand. It may convince him of the efficacy of this line of questioning. While some of it may originate in genuine curiosity, make no mistake. It is information gathering.
Keep what you share vague.
Tell him out there things are worse in some ways and better in others that are hard to articulate. That there is joy to be foundbeven if some times it is an elusive quarry. That being surrounded by such differences is a challenge, but one that can strengthen your sense of who you are. But mainly that it is so BIG out there. A horizon that goes on forever, not to the treeline.