agoge | >>FROM:@STORMBORN

Thank you very much. And...well. I cannot contradict you, from what I understand of courts.

[He's flattered, truly.]

Perhaps in passing? Not in a way that I know him immediately.

One House on top, then the next. I'd compared the Great Houses of my world to a wheel. Didn't matter which one you claimed as yours; there would be a time where you would rise to the top, and a time where you would be trampled, as my House had been. Those are the battles we witness here.

[ Always a power play. She sounds disenchanted. ]

Khal Drogo. A rather large man, perhaps taller than Achilles? I cannot recall. Dark hair pulled back into a single braid. War paint. Kohl lining his eyes.

He was sent on a mission as well. Died on it. Kebechet made mention of that--that he escorted a snake who would inevitably cause the death of many lives.

Hei's mission was far less about warfare and more about infiltration. Understand what I tell you must not be discussed beyond you, myself, and Jon.

The wheel is an excellent metaphor. The equivalent of such Houses were usually favored or tormented by gods, depending, but the cycle was never so clear.

[They just became works of playwrights, the great tragedies, the great meditations on morality.]

Then I am sad to say that I only know of him through passing, and never had the privilege of more.

It will be kept secret, I promise you.

Truly favored or tormented, or merely a belief?

[ She's understandably skeptical of gods, with all she's seen and experienced in her life. ]

The attack burned his body. He rides with the Great Stallion again in the night sky.

[ Does she even believe that, now, having learned what stars truly are? ]

Hei was positioned at a Regency outpost. He worked as a spy, learned the names of our enemies. He knows the names of double agents, as well.

Actively favored and tormented. Remind me to tell you some of the stories when we have time to relax. I'm an example of being favored myself.

[He may as well just talk about gods at this point, given where they are.]

So long as he is where he is meant to go in the hereafter.

...I see. And I can see how he'd be well suited for that position. No wonder he was able to bring this back.

[Chiron did not always get along with Hei and his methods, but he was overall smart and capable.]

You've met your world's gods? [ Surprise. Clear and distinct. And then something a little more somber: ] His body was burned. They don't have his soul.

[ There's a note of something that she feels, not quite tension, but that hesitation in Chiron's response is unmistakeable. ]

Do you trust him?

One of them was my surrogate father.

[If they're going to be somber, they may as well put all types of things out on the table.]

I trust him in conduct. We've had a few differences over methods, but that is borne of different approaches to things.

How?

[ What? ]

His methods are different. I'd compare him more to a sell-sword with his unpredictability, but there is good in him. I don't believe him to be a liar.

[ And if that's to be the case... ]

My mother was an Oceanid, one of the sea spirits who was born of a Titan. Titans pre-date our gods. My father was likewise a Titan, Cronus, who appeared to her as a horse. Hence my appearance.

Likewise, that appearance meant that my mother had no interest in raising me. Apollo, our sun god, did.

[The hierarchy of gods is very confusing and he really, really hopes that there won't be too much questioning of it because frankly, even Chiron thinks it's weird.]

He wouldn't lie about this, that much I can be sure of.

So the information is certain. What is the path ahead?

So your ancestry is of the land and the sea. What made a god take interest in raising you?

[ What a strange thing. She's a number of other questions, but those seem far less pressing when he turns the subject back to Kebechet. ]

I don't know. We cannot rush this, nor show our hand too soon. If she does not suspect we know, we need to keep it that way.

Not that I think it will make a difference. She likely has a plan to evade us, if it came to that.

We'll need to keep Mordred calm whilst we confirm Hei's discoveries. Someone will need to watch her, learn her patterns. A spirit would be useful, but the spiders would notice any of you.

I genuinely don't know what struck Apollo to take me on as he did. But it resulted in many good things, even if he and many other gods in my pantheon have now sided with the Regency.

[A fact he has accepted as far as confrontation may go some day.]

We'll also need to account for political fall out. In truth, I think that should be the only consideration in going through with this or not. If it does harm to our ultimate goal, then it cannot be seen through.

I can try and exercise some mediating effects on Mordred. I don't know how successful it will be, but I often feel that to work with her is more like steering a boat while facing a powerful wind. You shall not change it, but you can weather it and work alongside it.

He--they what? [ Genuine surprise. ] Do you believe you have the power to sway him, should the two of you encounter one another?

[ There was a reason that Chiron was chosen by his god. That must mean something. ]

You speak of that far too easily. There are more of us who thirst for vengeance than those who would allow such an opportunity to slip through our fingers. Noctis is gone. I don't know what she did to him, but I would have her speak to her crimes for what she did to him alone.

We'll need to talk reason with her. I believe if the other captives, you, and I are able to all appeal to her, perhaps she will act more levelheaded.

[ Does she really believe that possible?

... maybe. ]

If myself could not, if his sibling could not, then I, an unfamiliar iteration of myself would likely fair no better. I can accept a fight if it comes to it. I had to fight my own student in the Holy Grail War. This is no different.

[At least, no different in theory. Who was to say what it would be like in person?]

Yes, I do speak of it too easily because I am one degree removed from the emotional impact of this. The anger and desire for vengeance must work in concert with why we are here, otherwise we may undo ourselves.

If we fail this mission, then we may well destroy her as we leave without concern. But let us consider the Regency's operations at this point: they are trying to fill in a gap with a missing house. Suppose we do the same, and suppose that if this woman is killed, we can claim it as following the rules of this world.

Reason is not what she responds to. It falls in deaf ears. First she has to be heard out. Second, an alternative way that incorporates her anger must be worked out.

That news must have been difficult to hear.

[ She's not one to apologize in general--particularly not for something she had no hand in. But there's the desire to say it all the same, though they would be empty words that would provide him nothing. ]

I do not disagree about biding out time. We're in no position with our allies so divided over these games. You think we'd be able to gain enough ground to fall behind that claim?

[ Two sides to this: considering Mordred's perspective and the betrayal of being kept blind to such information, and then knowing she risks so very much by telling Mordred to begin with. What's to say either is right? ]

She is neither a fool, nor a rabid animal. I will not be the sort to hide these things from an ally when I know she's capable of controlling herself. [ But now she's thinking. Reason, perhaps not, but vengeance? ] I promised her fire and blood when we were on the Regency's base.I don't know if I've the power to promise that again, now, here.

It was not a pleasant conclusion to reach. Thank you for the empathy, know that I do appreciate it.

[No one had actually said it outloud. It was simply a logical conclusion with regards to the situation, and Chiron was not a stupid centaur.]

I don't know. But we cannot continue to have such a messy front as we have. It's all well and fine for exploring and understanding this place, but I think we are past that. We must focus on the end goal here, and the best way to achieve it. For me, that suggests formulating...some form of a united group.

[As far as everyone's favorite goblin goes though...]

I believe that if the opportunity to destroy her slips through our fingers, Mordred's ability to trust you will be damaged. So it must be done here, or else there's harm done to unit cohesion. Beyond that, I am unsure. I can speak to her in the next few days, if you'd like.

Any betrayal is difficult to face; one from someone you hold dear is far more trying. If the day comes where you must face him, I will be with you. For however much that may count.

[ The only thing she really can offer is her support. That would be far more useful than empty words. ]

We're in agreement. Hei once mentioned to me assembling a leadership. I'd mentioned it to... ah, the other Chiron, and he'd jokingly called me a general. Our problem is that there are far too many who are arrogant and who believe they know the best way of things. Pride and ignorance are our enemies.

[ Her own pride, as well. ]

If we can overcome that, even with the majority...

Damage has been made. If she exposes what little knowledge we have too soon, she fails. It's not just she who was captured; four of us still stand and wish for vengeance as well.

If you believe it wise. Perhaps we should approach her Master, if all else fails.

Thank you.

[In many ways, Chiron had an issue seeing it as a betrayal of sorts. His understanding, at least from the way the other Chiron explained it, was that some of it was pitched as a matter of surviving the loss of believers. It appealed to godly vanity as well, but the core of it was hard to find issue with.]

There's an entire epic among my people about how stubborn heads can destroy an army's ability to fight. Organization isn't really COST's forte, nor would I expect it to be, but even something loose right now would be an advantage. One can't swoop in as an appointed leader, but suggesting loosely affiliated groups that can take care of specific tasks might work.

[Maybe that would work.]

I have a feeling he's already trying his best.

Stubbornness and pride would destroy ours. You're right about our lack of organization. They embrace freedom to a point of detriment, sometimes, it seems. But this is what comes with the untrained and from lack of solidifying bonds.

[ The splintering even now over Kebechet proves that very fact. ]

Perhaps it would be to our benefit to group ourselves off as you suggest. Not one appointed leader for the collective, but one for each of our groups. Those who know each other from different worlds collaborate for the most part. If those representatives collaborated amidst themselves and represented their own people, we might have more of the cohesiveness we lack. It's worked for my armies. A Dothraki would never follow an Unsullied, and vice versa.

As for Mordred's master: you may be right. It would be remiss of us to not make mention of this to him, though.

I would suggest either by world or by where the skillset lies. We have people better suited for politics and others best suited for fighting. Or we find ways to combine the two options in order to function better. I fear that division will always remain a constant, but this is mitigation.

In truth, I also fear that some of it is because of how higher command works. Not having all the information that we'd like, it may well inspire some to be foolish or act out in a more childish way because they dislike how matters are being handled. That is something none of us can control.

[And it is a problem. Chiron trusts himself, naturally, but not everyone's dealing with a double.]

You're correct. It'd be more important to offer support, I think.

A balance of skill sets would be preferable, but it begs the question of what to do about one's pride. Can you envision someone like Mordred taking commands from Jon? She barely listened to me, and we've achieved victory together. She's not the only one who is stubborn, and not all those suited to lead wish to.

Their lack of information is likely causing more harm than good, as well. Those who act out childishly don't seem to be reprimanded. I don't see how that would ever be acceptable behavior in an army.

[ She trusts the other Chiron well enough, for however much his perfect words make her wary at times. She trusts Grothia as well, more than the other two. It's not a matter of trust, though. Not for her. ]

We should have a better system in place for the new recruits thrown into these missions.

Mordred both won't take command or anyone nor lead. Having wildcards is inevitable, and I don't even know if group pressure will move them to stillness, depending on the person.

But the lack of information is absolutely causing more harm than good. It invites distrust, and I think that some of that needs to be alleviated. Obviously command can't reveal all intelligence all the time, that'd be insanity, but...a better overview of how the Regency operates, for example, might be good.

[But there's something else as well.]

Agreed. Any thoughts on how to organize that?

Not unless there's a reason for her to. It may be inevitable, but we need a way to mitigate any potential damage or fallout.

Or how Grothia broke away from the Regency. What is her bond to your namesake? I swore to aid her in mitigating the damage the Regency's destruction would cause to her--she's under the impression that when they fall, she will, as well. Why? And why the specific time periods versus others? We need answers, and I imagine the new recruits are just as lost as we were back in Jerusalem and even Paris.

[ She realizes this is a derailment from what they spoke of before, but perhaps not entirely, if these points earned unification. ]

When Hei and I spoke, and he made mention of leadership amidst our peers, I'd thought little of it at the time. Assign someone to organize that task, would be my suggestion.

I'll ruminate on it. I am unsure how possible it will be to truly mitigate fallout though.

I'm unsure what their personal bond is, and I expect that sussing out it's nature is something that would be a delicate operation. If she is concerned that if they fall, so will she, then that speaks to her origin, does it not? It connects her directly to how the Regency is run. Potentially she might have been a citizen or servant of the empire. And if that's the case, she can't speak more to it because of concerns for her safety.

But let's assume the points in time are connected. What is their arc? What can we suss out?

[Here, all the details matter.

It also strikes him that Hei always makes suggestions, but declines to step up and lead himself.]

But who would be best suited?

Nor do I. Her master could command it, no? [ There's a thread of distaste for even suggesting it. Disgruntlement at its truest. ] I don't like these seals. The dragons on my hand are fine, but I don't like what they represent.

If she battles them through us and COST, then is her safety truly a concern for her then? The impression I received was that she accepted her fate.

The only connection I've seen so far is that all the countries visited--save this one and Vorspiel--have been of the same world. So why the obsession with one over so many others?

[ Chiron's gods are from that world. Are there more gods? Is there something within the soil itself? A primordial god deep within the ground, such as Ymir? ]

Someone calming, I suppose, with a temperament like yours. You've the uncanny ability to calm even me down, but I think you would be better suited to lead those of us on the field... not coddling the newcomers.

Yes, but it would destroy their trust. I would rather maintain their relationship. [Chiron does try to be reassuring about it, in his way.] Don't view them the way you do. Know that they can also provide me extra energy, or should you need me immediately, I will be able to appear within a snap of fingers.

I don't think it is. I think there is a higher idealism involved, especially if the impression you have gotten is the correct one.

As for that - well. The gods mentioned to me are all Earth based. I'd be curious to know if the Seven of Westeros have been involved, that'd be a question for you or Jon to ask. Vorspiel is actually quite familiar to Siegfried, but I think that's...well. He hasn't wanted to discuss it much and I dare not push and demand of him.

[He knew it bothered Siegfried. That was all the man need ever say.]

That's...very high praise, thank you. I'm unsure if I am best suited in that role or as an adviser to someone else who...wait. That would simply be copying our current command structure.

>>FROM:@STORMBORN | >>TO:@ALL

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