Sibling Assembly

Campaign: Destruction and Domination

Chapter 12 / EX 1-1

Sibling Assembly

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Summary

Recently, Leonidas, Chelle, and Phares came together for a discussion. Leonidas and Chelle eyed their brother with suspicion and questioned his motives, but he brushed their concerns aside and simply claimed that he was going to forge his own path in life.

Dialogue

Recently, in the former capital Sol Alberia...
Hmm. Ah. Well, well! If it isn't my dearest of all brothers, Leonidas and Phares! What a coincidence to find both of you here. It really is. Since we're all together again, perhaps we might sit down for a little tête-à-tête? I can't imagine we'll have many such opportunities in the future. Very well. How unexpected. I thought you would reject the idea out of hand. I have things I would ask of you both. That is all there is to it.

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Well, Sister? This meeting was your idea. What would you have us discuss? What WON'T we discuss, my brother?! For we certainly have a not-insubstantial number of issues on our plate of late. First of all, there is— Why we've all sided with the Other? Eee hee hee! Goodness me! I thought we might dance around the issue or engage in small talk first. But by all means, let us discuss the dragon in the room. ...... Fine then. I'LL start. Leonidas, I never imagined that you of all people would bend the knee to any master. I'm DYING to know what your endgame is in all this. Then perhaps you should have those little cats you're so proud of suss it out. Grumpiness does not become you, Brother. Do you have a tummy ache, perhaps? What of you, Chelle? I find myself far more curious in your own intentions. Oh, I have many! But I am especially fascinated by the governance of this new Empire. Yes, it must be quite prolific to have some calling it the "Evil Empire." One of the roles of authority is the redistribution of wealth—knowing how much to gather from whom, and then how to properly disperse it. This has not changed under the Empire— the ratio is merely different. To be frank, I was quite surprised when I realized the capital was in as good of a state as it is. It IS rather peaceful for the capital city of an "evil" empire. And there's the rub. Morsayati takes much, but that only increases what can be given to those who stand to benefit. It is an astoundingly normal political authority. I found myself pondering if this was what we could expect from a nation under the control of the Other. And yet in the countryside beyond the capital, poverty and want runs rampant. True. However, none of the citizens in the capital seem particularly broken up over it. Perhaps that's just the nature of avarice. Managing the desires of the smallfolk is another matter of importance for a leader of state. And Zethia has a sterling reputation in the capital—truly a most enviable position. So that is your reason for siding with Morsayati? Who knows, Brother—though I DO love hearing the adoring praise of the masses. That will never change, Sister. Do not mock my growth, sir! I have seen much and learned much in the recent past. I'm certain that Leonidas here will confirm my motives to be pure. I've no idea. Ah, but you always were callous, Brother! It reminds me of days gone by... Whenever I approached the two of you together, you called me a nuisance and drove me hence. Not that it ever stopped you. Now that I think on it, when WAS the last time the three of us spoke? I believe our father was still with us. And speaking of Father, I've a rather grim suspicion I'd like to share with you. Our father, as I recall, witnessed a shadow in the castle's Sacred Shard, and so sought out a new one to take its place, yes? I heard as much. What of it? Perhaps it is nothing. However, I'd never heard talk of shadows in Shards until Father's trip to the Binding Ruins. Which makes you wonder why, of all the Shards in all the land, the shadow appeared in the castle's Shard. Indeed! That should have been the LAST place such a thing would manifest—or at the very least, one would expect it to occur to the ones in Binding Ruins first. Well, dear Phares? What do you think? Why are you asking me? Because I believe that you will be the most knowledgeable on the matter. It's true that I've performed base research on the Shards, but I fear I've learned nothing of particular note. Unfortunate. I had rather hoped you would be able to shed light on the situation. My apologies for not living up to your expectations, Sister. ...... If the two of you don't stop this roundabout cleverness and just ask a straight question, I fear I may go mad. Phares, what's going on in your head? Surely you're not planning to yield to Morsayati? My thinking is precisely as I stated before. I've no interest in notions of good or evil. All that matters is finding the path most efficacious for seeing my desires realized. And those desires are? Revolution. Progress. Perhaps you could even call it "creation." One vague statement after the next. Are you trying to deceive us, my brother? It is not my intention to do so. I merely struggle with how best to convey my feelings in mere words. Then a more concrete question: What is your plan for the immediate future? For now, I think I might like to obtain the aid of my sibling. Your sibling...? Wait, no! Surely you must know what awaits you at the end of that path? I make my own way. Nothing more. I would have you both do the same. But perhaps, if the opportunity for our paths to converge once more arrives, we might speak like this again.