dremolachofwar

[dremolachofwar]

“Of course I’ll hurt you. Of course you’ll hurt me. Of course we will hurt each other. But this is the very condition of existence. To become spring, means accepting the risk of winter. To become presence, means accepting the risk of absence.”

— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Manon, Ballerina (via zielenadel)

[dremolachofwar]

[dremolachofwar]

Demon by Manzanedo

[dremolachofwar]

I’m with you. No matter what else you have in your head. I’m with you and I love you.

Ernest Hemingway, The Garden of Eden (via liquidlightandrunningtrees)

[dremolachofwar]

[dremolachofwar]

Magister to enlist during the times of She governs.

If your duties as a Noble require you to lay waste to someone or something, to bring destruction on a vast scale, and your own miracles cannot do what you need to do, there is a way forward.

I would not say that I recommend this course of action; but nevertheless I feel I must make you aware of it.

Equip yourself with a stout walking stick and a hamper of the best food you can reasonably spare. Travel to Trinity, or Bikini Atoll, or any such place; find the very point where a nuclear weapon detonated; strike the ground three times with your stick, and declare in a firm voice “I would like to visit my Granny.” The way will open before you.

The forest is dark, and you must be careful not to trip on roots or fallen concrete. I hardly need mention that you must not stray from the path, lest the beast find you.

In all honesty, the beast will likely find you anyway; but I myself always find I feel more confident if I deceive myself into thinking my choices make a difference.

If - when - you meet the beast, do not falter. You may show fear - it might even be considered rude not to, though honesty is always the best policy - but you must not hesitate.

It may exact a price from you, tearing your flesh with its shining teeth or rending you with the blades of its coat, or it may not. Remember your purpose and who you are, and tell the world the story of why you pass the beast intact, and you may pass.

And then you will reach Granny Slaughter’s cottage.

Show respect to the children, if they are present, and enter. Offer her food from your hamper, and sit and talk with her. When she asks if you had a reason for visiting your Granny, twice answer that you simply wished to show her a little kindness.

The third time she asks, you may admit that there is something you wish help with.

Explain what you need, and she will smile and nod and tell you she has just the thing somewhere here. From her basket or her cupboards she will give you a treat, just the thing you needed to destroy what needs to be destroyed.

Remember, though, that there are consequences. She asks no price - her gifts are gifts indeed, freely given, but no blade it is in her gift to give can fail to cut the hand of its wielder.

You must ask yourself, is this worth it?

And if it is, take the gift she gives you and destroy your foes in a blaze of fire and ruin that will, unless you are very clever, consume you along with them.

Such are the treats Granny Slaughter, Magister of Escalation, Forlorn Hopes and Weapons of Mass Destruction, gives to her beloved grandchildren when they visit.

[dremolachofwar]

Apologies for the lack of reports.

Between my duties to the Yarrow League, consulting younger Powers, serving my Ymera and managing War, I simply didn’t have enough time to attend to this media outlet.

I hope this message will find you in good state.

[dremolachofwar]

[dremolachofwar]

I’d tell you to stop this as fast as you could but I don’t think you’ll listen, Pawn.

...Or that it’s not too late now.

“So, like all’ofus High Summoning folks, I had to craft a- another Self, a Self Beyond Creation, it’s because they outta Creation don’t recognise- don’t know that we’re a thing, right? And also a bit like a hazard suit. It’s basically a mask you wear, part of the ceremony, part safety gear.”

“So I made another Self. The Rhapsody of the Three Coloured Eye. Get it, because Traffic Lights and three colours? I thought it was fancy ‘nough.”

“But the danger in bein’ a High Summoner is that- they don’t respect distinctions out there, the boundaries b‘tween Estates and concepts like we have in Creation. And the difference between Selves is a Creation construction, as well as Time, and pesky things like me precedin’ the Three Coloured Eye.”

“So… I’m findin’ evidence, out there, that the Rhapsody’s gone and done stuff that I never did.”

“I should’ve expected it, after what happened to previous High Summoners. Still doesn’t scare me any less.”

[dremolachofwar]

Art by Labros Panousis

[dremolachofwar]

... Hah. I'm touched by how much you care! Question is, how sure are you that what you're doin' here, trying to 'save' an enemy from somethin' not even dangerous, tryin' to make out like war deserves to even exist, how much does that reflect on you? You seem to think of yerself as a good guy, right? Ain't it such a shame that someone so enlightened spends so much time protecting and caring for something so twisted that doesn't appreciate him back? Am I talkin' bout you or me?

Actually, you’re talking about both of us, Coriander. Especially in the “trying to ‘save’ an enemy from somethin’ not even dangerous” part.

As War I am explicitly guilty of each and every atrocity, both perpetuated by your side, and ours. The main reason why I won’t resign from my post and feed someone else with one of my hearts is that I don’t wish this burden on anyone else. This duty is more heavy than you can imagine.

The other reason is that - what if my replacement would be a monstrosity that would think that War must grow stronger, or worse, that Valde Bellum must be perpetuated forever?

[dremolachofwar]

@ Coriander Hasp: I care! I really do! It’s just hurts me how blind someone so enlightened can be to manipulation!

(Also, guns kill people. I am viscerally aware of it.)

[dremolachofwar]

Honestly, I'm hurt. We could've had a fruitful relationship here, 'cept you just had to question my friendship with Genseric! Well, looks like I gotta try harder to get you to listen to me! - your pal

No, Hasp. You listen to me now.

Ekhem.

This is the prophecy, the True Word of Dux Bellorum, Sovereign Power of this War and all it consumes, hurts and destroys, including you:

Lo! That viper, that Enemy, that Foe of the World, Genseric Dace! His power unknown, his palaces vast, his armies many, his plans byzantine. Behold! Behold! That fool! That fool with with no love in his heart! Cunning devoured all goodness like a plague of locusts, manipulation smothered all warmth like a coiled snake! There’s no place in his heart for you, Coriander Hasp! No place at all!

I, Dremolach, with my blood, the blood of grandson of Cneph, I seal it thus.

[dremolachofwar]

PSA: I am alone with Coriander Hasp, what do.

1) Look for escape routes. Remember that you can dodge the bullet as Coriander is poor in Aspect so he cannot easily break the speed of a human in his prime. You probably could try to get Ritho’s business end pointing away from you.

2) Remind him Genseric Dace is a tool and he’d never put whatever Excrucians have for hearts into their relationship. If needed, console him, maybe buy him a drink if you have money.

3) Whatever you do, don’t agree on anything he’s saying, remember to be the one initiating anything happening so you’d not be listening to Coriander Hasp.

4) Death is real. Coriander is not.

5) Neither is Genseric Dace’s love for Coriander Hasp. Coriander deserves better.

[dremolachofwar]

...Somewhere, a Dark Magister is slapping it’s knee and chuffing like a well-fed tiger.

At any rate, I will keep my eyes on you. At least three of them. It’s good that you have bound a Strategist to you so he’d not be able to do mischief in Creation but I stand by my earlier statement that this monstrosity needs to go.

Hey! Big boy! Y'aint as tough as ya think you are! WANNA WRESTLE??????

Hello, Pawn.

As the supreme authority in the matters of War and thus quite capable judge of violent delights and violent ends, I can already see you’d be able to outwrestle me.

…Using something that’s highly stupid to have attached to your body. What in Lucifer’s Love were you thinking?!

[dremolachofwar]

Oh, Dremolach, don't you know that the whole point of shooting you was gettin' you indecent? ;) - your good friend Coriander

This is harassment and I will respond to this as such, by filling a restraining order enforced by a borderline ludicrous amount of railguns.

We talked about it, Coriander. I am not into gun rights activism.

[dremolachofwar]

Note to self: confusing information is better than no information.