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[caditquaestio]

[ It's all misery footage, Caer Glaem in paltry glory: rammed gates, scratched walls, torn stone, upturned soil, roughened up trees. The locket's coverage pauses on each 'tourist attraction' from a high vantage point, briefly stumbling on hands that are exceedingly worn, blistered and bitten. ]

What has... what's... wrought this? How many dead does the court mourn, how many supplies were lost to - to enemy unknown?

[ A pause, then less startled, slightly cold. ]

...how do they wish us to make war upon each other, if they give siege first? Not the finest general, not the most accomplished tactician can devise strategy against Anaximander's unknown. Not Caesar - Caesar, who had little gain from the Gauls without paying the blood price, but at least he knew what enemy lay in wait.

And we? Look here. Remember this next you think the time is nigh to fight well and fight fairly: we are not armed with weapon or knowledge. We are played for puppets, and when our masters go without their laughs, our strings are cut.

[ Muttered. ]

'Lawkamercyme'. Hah. We do not even know what the word means, or who gave it to us for the telling.



[ ooc: ...and lo, a much belated, for RL KO'd, APOLOGIES! wild intruder appears in the Seelie court! He's given up his war declaration in favour of sheer horror at Ariadne's mad interior decorating skillz. Those who'd like to run into a Borgia need but look for the 'worker' who's... probably... holding... the tools by the wrong end. ]

Comments

[powerful]

You're delusional. ( and sound like a religious whackjob. ) Look, I didn't believe it at first, either. But it's more than just the fire. ( she holds up her right hand and reveals the symbol on her hand. ) See that? It showed up on its own. It's the symbol for half of my bloodline.

[caditquaestio]

...you put too much care in a stranger's disbelief. You call yourself a magician, then?

[powerful]

No. I'm a witch.

[caditquaestio]

[ A pause, because he's loathe to come off dull, but. ]

There's... a difference?

[powerful]

Uh. Yeah? Magicians are faking it.

[caditquaestio]

So, you defend an art some of whose practitioners even you hold false?

[powerful]

Magicians are entertainers who use slight of hand and tricks of the light to make it look like they're doing magic. I'm a witch. I actually have magic. Real magic. Getting it yet?

[caditquaestio]

I understand what in your thought seems to be the distinction. Yes. I follow.

And there are many of you... 'witches'?

[powerful]

A surprising amount. ( more than she believed would have existed at all, ever, if you'd talked to her a year ago. ) A circle is at least six, and the members of my circle are all from the same town.

[caditquaestio]

What's so surprising? Like draws like.


[ Even in conmanship. ]

[powerful]

Considering I had no idea what I was, or who I really was, a year ago, much less believed in magic? It's surprising. Trust me.

[caditquaestio]

I have no reason to distrust.

[ Or the alternative, but few enjoy that reminder. ]

And do you enjoy them? Your kin and kind?

[powerful]

Depends on who. My father... Not so much. ( I KILLED HIM ACTUALLY... ) My sister, though... And my friends. They're not bad.

[caditquaestio]

Then I suppose you can take some small comforts of your... skill.

At least until your sort is hunted.

[powerful]

We already are.

[caditquaestio]

That... was not a very long time to take comfort.

[powerful]

Are you familiar with the Salem Witch Trials?

[caditquaestio]

No. But I know what they do to them in the villages.

[powerful]

It's probably similar to what they do to us.