week 6; friday ( cardia )

[axilium]

[HAHAHAHAHAHA this is terrible.

belph is exhausted (though he's at least changed into clothes not stained with ion's ink), but he still manages to force a smile as he approaches cardia.]

Cardia. If you're up for it, there's something I'd like you to do during tomorrow's trial.

Comments

[discardia]

[ What a coincidence, Cardia is also exhausted! But she didn't have to carry Ion's dead body, so at least one of them is faring slightly better.

Still.

She blinks at him, more puzzled than wary. ]

What... is it?

[axilium]

[...]

To pass on a message to everyone else. I'd do it myself, but... it's against the rules to out myself.

So, I'm picking you as my representative, like the Historians did with Varian. That okay?

[discardia]

...

[ There are instantly so many questions, and she wants to ask them all, but--

Slowly, she nods. ]

I will-- if you tell me why you're picking me.

[axilium]

... Because I know you don't have a role; because I think you want what's best for everyone; because people like you. And... because I have reason to believe you're not half bad at keeping secrets.

Also, along those lines, so you won't have to lie if anyone asks why you were picked. If you were one of my usual contacts, that'd be an unfair position to put you in.

[discardia]

[ Cardia studies him for a long moment. At this point...

Well, if he thinks whatever this is will help them end the game and get everyone out of this safely, she'll play a part in this. ]

All right.

[axilium]

... You don't need to recite this exactly. In fact, it'd probably be better if you paraphrased it, as long as you keep the main points. Keep in mind that my identity has to remain hidden, of course.

[he's quiet for a moment. his reluctance is clear—utter secrecy is his habit, and cardia doesn't have much to offer in return for the truth—but... he already made up his mind, didn't he?]

I am a Vizier. As a number of people know by now, my purpose is to determine everyone's faction and role, or lack thereof. In return for my success, I've received answers about this war. [...] Most of the info I've obtained has been released to others, in some way or another, but... I still have a few rewards left.

Specifically, one full answer and one half answer, or three half answers—however you want to do the math. I want everyone to think on what they know about this war, and to think on what they don't know.

As Vizier, I offer up usage of my reward to them. Whatever questions they decide on, in order to win this war and bring back the dead, I'll ask the Crafters.

[well, with certain caveats, but he'll get to that in a second.]

[discardia]

[ Cardia is silent as she listens, looking fairly worn thin but also incredibly solemn as she commits his words to memory. A Vizier, who figures out factions and roles, who'd apparently succeeded enough that he'd learned information and still had opportunities to ask questions.

All right, then. ]

One full answer, one half answer, for everyone to discuss...

I understand. I'll try to phrase it as clearly as I can.

[axilium]

... Thanks. And if it comes up—I'm not going to use any questions on individual murders, so don't bother with that.

[and since he supposes he might as well gauge what his "representative" actually knows already—]

How much do you know about this war, Cardia?

[discardia]

I don't know much about the history behind it-- I knew about there needing to be at least three left alive in every faction and at least seven objectives fulfilled per faction before that was announced. I know that the Heroes have done quite a bit, and there was a matter of balance being upset there. I know a few of the Historians, and I know we've now lost two of our healers.

[ Well-- there's more, but a lot of it doesn't really pertain to the war itself. ]

I also know... that there was a risk of not being able to bring the dead back to life, but we ought to have enough ink for that. And a risk of everyone being trapped and this castle becoming similar to where the dead have gone.

[axilium]

Good. Yeah, that's pretty much what I'm hoping everyone knows at this point. A lot of that is info I made sure to get out.

[...]

I guess I can say now that the reason I once suspected you of being a Historian is because you were surrounded by them.

[discardia]

I didn't know.

[ and this, she says almost sadly. ]

I can understand why they'd want to keep it a secret, but... I didn't find out who any of them were until last week.

[axilium]

It wasn't my place to reveal their identities. Sorry.

... They told you?

[discardia]

Rebecca did.

[ Of course. ]

[axilium]

I'm kind of surprised it took this long.

[discardia]

It's a very big secret. I don't blame her.

[ At all. ]

[axilium]

... True.

[...]

There's something else I want to mention to you, but this is more for you than for everyone else.

[discardia]

... Eh?

[ Yes, go ahead. ]

[axilium]

... Varian might be getting an item that'll allow him to survive partner-less. And... it's possible that Ion will be revived afterwards, though it's not certain yet.

Just so you know.

[discardia]

...

Will this possible revival be before tomorrow night? Otherwise, I'm not sure I'll be able to do anything for whoever's partner might be put at risk.

[axilium]

... I don't know the details. They used a wish through the well, but at the time, they had no idea Natsuo would be dying.

[discardia]

... I'll see what happens. There was a time I tried to protect Natsuo, but the Crafters told me he would be spared in another way.

So I might have to try and protect Varian and this other person, and see what they say. The item could also be used on Ion if he's brought back, couldn't it?

[axilium]

Maybe. To be honest, Cardia, I barely know how your ability works or any of the ways we're going to be trying to save anyone.

[honestly, this is exhausting.]

[discardia]

I can only save one pair a week. It doesn't matter if I've already saved a particular person once, I can do it again, but I have to tell the Crafters my decision on the same night of the trial.

I'd planned to prioritize protecting the Villains because of their numbers, but with two sets of partners gone, the only logical choice is Varian and... whoever's left behind tomorrow. So I would save that item of yours, if you can-- whether it's the one I gave to Sanji or not, it's still important.

[axilium]

[jan just realized she's on the verge of mucking up timelines but oh well]

Well, it's not up to me at this point. [...] Which is to say that yeah, maybe talk to Sanji?

[discardia]

... All right.

[ SHE'S TIRED BUT OKAY. ]

[axilium]

... Well, that's pretty much it. I'll be counting on you tomorrow.

[discardia]

I'll try to get it brought up early, so we're not focusing too much on it near the end of the trial.

[axilium]

Probably a good idea. We'll need all the focus we can get.

[discardia]

[ A nod, and she'll turn to go. Though not before adding-- ]

Thank you, Belph. For trusting me.

[axilium]

[... ha. when she says that, it reminds him: when did he get so soft?]

Just don't let me regret it.

[discardia]

I don't think you'd take a gamble like this if you thought that would happen.

[axilium]

... Heh. I guess I can't deny that.