A Faerie Affair - IC IV: Dragon with Butterfly Wings

[Archmage1]

Violet smiles softly at Elendar. "But what's she like? Does she like butterflies? Mice? What does she want? Does she have any friends?"

[WindStruck]

Astra laughs a bit and says, "As if you'd need all of that to stop Violet from seeing her."

[Ninja_Prawn]

"She does seem to be a... persistent sort," he concedes. "As to what Lady Kenafin is like, I'm not sure why you'd be interested in that, nor was I ever close enough to her to be privvy to such knowledge. Indeed, few people are - someone of her station can scare afford to call anyone a 'friend'."

He thinks for a moment, then offers: "they say she is a keen follower of high fashion; certainly she is always dressed in the most magnificent outfits made of the finest silks. I doubt she cares much for butterflies, but I believe she has a pet snake that she is somewhat fond of. Naturally though, her primary concern is the Church: increasing its power, appeasing the Spider Queen, keeping the noble houses in line as much as possible..." He pauses. "It is no secret that she was furious when the command of this expedition was split between her and Lady Claddath."

[Archmage1]

Violet's smile seems to grow a bit as she senses a chance for gossip. "Snakes can be really nice! But sneaky, sometimes. But who's Lady Claddath? Maybe she's nicer?"

[Majin]

"She seemed strong at least..." Kor murmured, remembering their encounter with the displacer beasts. She hadn't really fought, but Kor did remember the impression she had of her.

He didn't really further comment about the drow and gardening, since only thought he had about that was the evil elves would probably make a good fertilizer... But that might upset Violet, and Kor didn't want to do that.

[WindStruck]

Astra sighs, just listening in on the conversation. She figured that with Violet's line of questioning, the best they could probably hope for by finding out what these particular drow liked were making nice gifts and offerings to killers. Maybe they'd spare Violet a few minutes before they tired of her naivety. Maybe they'd capture her and put her in one of those bottles... Astra shuddered thinking of it, being in the situation Kyu was once in...

[Ninja_Prawn]

"Oh yes, she's very strong. Lady Claddath is a wizard and, I'm told, a capable leader." His tone is cold and unfriendly. "But, you know, it's quite possible that she does have some... niceness in her. She's never shown much devotion to the Church." (At least some of you will have realised by now that the Cult of Lolth disdains all things kind and gentle.) "There was even gossip among the troops that she had been trying to persuade some of the local unseelie fey to join forces with us as... some kind of auxiliaries." He sniffs dismissively, clearly not a fan of the idea.

[Archmage1]

Violet frowns slightly at Elendar's harsh description of Lady Claddath. "You don't like her?"

[Ninja_Prawn]

"Not particularly, no," he says, rather bluntly.

[Archmage1]

Violet looks even sadder as Elendar finishes speaking, taking a moment to calm herself, before she tries to answer, her voice low, and a bit sad. "Aw... why not?"

[Ninja_Prawn]

It takes him a little while to come up with a satisfactory answer; eventually he settles on "politics, I guess. Besides, I don't need to like her. Why should I?"

[Archmage1]

"Because it's always nicer to like your friends! That way, everyone can be good friends!" After her declaration, she pauses for a moment, clearly thinking over things, before she continues, her voice more level, and less declarative. "So... it's the church that'd really driving your decision to come here, and try to make other people garden for you?"

[WindStruck]

Astra softly chuckled a bit to herself as the conversation wore on. Though she was feeling more awkward or nervous than amused. It was strange, because she could hardly understand how Violet thought, nor how the Drow thought either.

Still, he was being remarkably patient with Violet, wasn't he? "Why?" she thought out loud. After realizing she said something, she blinked and looked between Violet and Elandar.

After clearing her throat a bit or more likely coughing, she said, "Violet may be on to something. You all are from underground, right? And your church is too? Who's to say you have to keep following them if it isn't convenient?"

[Ninja_Prawn]

"Yes, pretty much," he says to Violet.

He even says that Astra's is a "good question. But consider: why does a pirate keep following the captain's orders? Drow are not known for their loyalty, it's true, but on the other hand, the punishments for mutiny are severe. And the Spider Queen is always watching. It takes quite a lot of 'inconvenience' to outweigh that."

[Archmage1]

Frowning, Violet hesitates for a few moments before she replies to Elendar's latest words. "Maybe... if you're really far away, maybe you could find a different captain? Bees are nice, maybe there's a Bee Queen?"

[WindStruck]

Astra goes a little wide-eyed. If she happened to be at a table drinking something, she would have choked or spit it all out.

"Violet! Come on! You can't be serious!" Astra said, incredulously.

[Archmage1]

Violet looks at Astra, quite clearly confused. "If they worship a spider queen, and she's making them be mean, maybe if they worship a nicer queen, like a bee queen, they will be able to be nicer, without getting punished? And bees have honey, which is really nice?"

Spoiler: ooc

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In other news, yes, Violet knows basically nothing about religion.

[WindStruck]

Astra blinks a bit after realizing what Violet was thinking. "Oh... well, I think 'the spider queen' is just some sort of name for their goddess. Not, like.. she isn't actually a spider, right??" she says, looking at the drow.

[Ninja_Prawn]

He chuckles. "She is a goddess, who appears to us in many forms. At times she is depicted as a literal spider, but that's all it is: a depiction."

[Archmage1]

Relieved by Astra and Elendar's responses, Violet lets a nervous breath leave, before she suggests another idea. "Then maybe if we can find a nicer goddess for you to follow, you could follow her, and be nicer? Would that work?"

[WindStruck]

Astra looks between the two uncertainly and she says, "Well, maybe it's not so simple as that.. supposing you really are devoted to this Spider Queen..."

"Though if I had to guess, it sounds like you are just more afraid of making her mad."

[Ninja_Prawn]

Elendar shrugs. "What are you trying to do? Convert me to worship some soft surface god who lacks the guts to enforce their will? Pah." He seems to be implying that he sees Lolth's wrathfulness and ability to inspire fear are good things.

[Majin]

"Well it doesn't really look like worshiping Lolth got you in a very good spot..." Kor observed. "But did Lolth order you to do this anyway, or just your captain-general-commander-whoever? Would your goddess really care that much if you betrayed them?"

"Besides, you kinda are on our mercy anyway, whatever happens tomorrow... Might be a good idea to listen." Kor gave him a toothy grin.

[Archmage1]

Violet looks confusedly at Elendar while Kor replies, clearly trying to figure out what to say. And then, she has it. "Why follow a god that enslaves you? Don't people follow gods because they like what they stand for, and agree with it, so they try to help?"

[WindStruck]

Astra shrugs and says, "We didn't come down here to 'convert' you or anything. Though I guess anything that would make you and your ilk nicer would make Violet happy."

"You ever heard of Prince Hefeydd? He's a fun guy."

[Ninja_Prawn]

To Kor's questions, he answers: "yes, the High Priestess says it is Lolth's will that we retake this land now. And there is no doubt that she seeks revenge against every drow that does not submit to her rule." When Kor suggests something might be happening tomorrow, he asks "wait, what's that? Are you tiny pests planning something?"

He doesn't really understand Violet's confusion. "Uh... yes? The spider queen teaches us to dominate lesser races and make them our slaves, as we are hers. Seems like a good system to me."

"Charming as your friend is, I don't particularly care whether or not she is happy," he says to Astra. Then, "no, I've not heard of Prince Hefeydd. Is he one of your... leaders?"

[Archmage1]

Listening to Elendar's response to Kor, Violet smiles merrily, and nods as she interjects the key piece of any good plan. "Muffins!"

However, as Elendar continues, and responds to her question, sje frowns, looking quite sad as Elendar explains how brainwashing normalizes abhorrent behavior. It takes her a few moments to respond, but when she does, her voice is thoughtful, and encouraging. "Wouldn't you rather not be a slave at all? Why follow someone who's base assumption is that you are a slave? That seems really silly to me. You could follow someone much nicer, and have lots more fun, AND not need to worry about being a slave anymore!"

[Ninja_Prawn]

Elendar goes quiet. You can tell he's never really thought too hard about this before, but he eventually says "no matter how nice or fun the god you worship is, you're still powerless before them. Practically speaking, it would be no different."

"The way of Lolth gives me dominion over dwarvish craftsmen, bugbear warriors and gnomish entertainers - anything I need, I can have."

[Archmage1]

Violet shakes her head, firmly. "That's just silly. The way of Lolth gives her dominion over drow, and dwarven craftsmen, bugbear warriors, and gnomish entertainers... anything she wants. You just have the things she uses to keep her dominion over you. She might let you have what you want if it's convenient, but what you need? You can't make any choices that disagree with her. Other gods, like the moon goddess, are lots and lots nicer. They just ask for some of your time, or maybe give you a task from time to time... but they don't demand your service. They ask. They persuade. And they help you too." She pauses for a few moments, to give Elendar time to think, before she speaks again, her voice low, and certain. "And that's the difference between slavery and freedom. If you are a slave, your work is for a master. If you are free? Your life is yours."

[WindStruck]

As Astra listened to Violet speak, her jaw just sort of dropped, as she didn't quite believe those words were coming out of Violet's mouth, and she stared...

This is probably the most coherent and true thing Violet has said all day. And she's absolutely right. I only hope the Drow might come around.