#brief mentions of the mighty nien

[tiredqueermushroom]

One thing I love about campaign 2 & 3 is how they present Fae love. How it shows how strongly they love and care, and how it contrasts the love expressed on the Material plane.

The relationship between Artagan (The Traveler) & Jester is the peak example of fae love. Throughout the story we see how others are concerned with the nature of their relationship as it appears to the others in the party that Jester gives, with very little in return, most even doubting the existence of the Traveler.

This comes to a head at Traveler Con. In an attempt to make sure his attention is solely focused on Jester, he is willing to abandon the rest of his followers on an island that eats their memories, and cutting off the inhabitants from previous families and friends that they may have had.

To Artagan this makes perfect sense! Nobody gets hurt, they get to live on a tropical island and start life anew. In his pursuit to devoting himself completely to Jester he fails to consider Jester's feelings at all.

Jester is entirely guilt ridden after she discovered the true nature of Artagan's plan and it hurts worse when Artagan confirms he knew the true nature of the island. Jester starts to spiral. Overwhelmed with the general planning of such a big event, consumed with thoughts of how her first and only friend for a long time put her and her new found family in danger! She even questions him as to what would have happened if the island took full effect on her!

Artagan at first doesn't seem to fully grasp as to why Jester is so distort? He did all this for her after all. And he would have protected her (and her friends, because they matter to her) from the full effects of the island. Artagan doesn't view his actions as manipulation because at the end of the day it solves all his problems. He doesn't have to deal with the responsibility of being a God and gets to keep Jester for himself.

And I think that is the key difference between how the fae and mortals love. Fae love freely, openly, loudly! But ultimately selfishly. Artagan cares for Jester, loves her but his love is all consuming.

Which is ironic because in the Fae, Artagen would have been laughed at for becoming so attached one mortal.

In the end Artagan learns to love selflessly. As the Moonweaver gives Jester an ultimatum. Be imprisoned for eternity with Artagan, her first friend, or let Artagan be imprisoned by himself and continue on with her friends. And Jester can't decide. She Can't choose. So Artagan choose for her, by kicking her off him, he finally understands that mortals love with a complexity, that he himself is beginning to understand.

And it's this act of selflessness by an inherently selfish creature that saves him from imprisonment.

And we're starting to see the beginnings of this with Fearne. Highlighted in her reaction to Dorian leaving, she was the first to suggest that there had to be some way of him stay (backed up by Orym). But Orym relented pretty quickly, because he ultimately understands that its the safest option. However Fearne persists,

"We-we can cut your hair. We can make you look different!"

She suggests changing Dorian in order to keep him. If resemblance is an issue, simply change how he looks! It's a simple fix in her mind. Again Fae loving simply while there's a complexity and nuance to mortal love. She literally cannot put a name to the feeling she experiences after Dorian's departure, she's never experienced loss, it's not a concept that exists in her world.

Fae are inherently selfish creatures. That selfishness is extended to all aspects of their life, even if their actions may not be the best from a mortal perspective, it cannot be denied that they do love.

They love wholly, passionately and freely.

[tiredqueermushroom]

One friendship that is not often talked about is the relationship between Caleb and Yasha.

Both are characters are people who have hurt the people they love and feel as if they are undeserving of live because of this. And their respective journeys through grief, regret and pain mirror each. Caleb in having killed his parents and Yasha being unable to stop Zuala's death and her subsequent mind control that led her to almost killing beau. In a very similar manner in which molly died...

They have very little scenes together but when they do, it hits strong! For example, the obvious being Caleb was the only one who truly understood why Yasha intentionally got her ass kicked by the champion in the fight pit. He understood the need for self-punishment before starting the path to forgive oneself, and how pain can sometimes be needed.

Another fantastic scene is during their watch together in episode 93. When Yasha asks Caleb how he handles the guilt of hurting someone he loves, his answer is that his guilt is old and that he's grown used to it but he does at times feel better with the group. That the guilt and regret never truly goes away but that it does get easier when you surround yourself with people that remind you that you're not the monster you think you are.

Yasha confiding in Caleb how hard forgiveness is from other when she has not yet forgiven her self. And him assuring her that even if self-forgiveness never comes they can still make a change for the good, and how losing yourself in that regret does no one any good.

And to have Yasha parrot Caleb's advice back to Essek in final episode, to give himself time for inner reflection and reflection on the people he'd inadvertently hurt, but to not get lost as he has much to do to atone. Really highlights how profound of an effect Caleb's words had on her.