#hope you enjoy grown women being incredibly condescending and catty to each other

[critterfloozy]

WIP Wednesday - Delilah and Deirta

I told myself I was going to try to do WIP wednesdays for Critter Gen Week, but, uh. Things happened. Anyway, Critter Gen Week starts in four days! You've still got time to draw, write some meta, or write some fic!

The days are as follows:

7 July: Time/Dimension Travel 8 July: Class Swap 9 July: Cross Campaign 10 July: Mourning/Grief 11 July: Food/Cooking 12 July: Storytelling 13 July: Free Day

I'll be posting the first chapter of this fic, still untitled - wondering what if Delilah Briarwood (Archmage of Antiquity who would have had at least some knowledge of Kryn culture and practices) pursued consecution as a possible cure for Silas. The Kryn think they've got a chance of converting them and getting spies. Both groups trying to manipulate the other - what could possibly go wrong?

(imagine in the hall of the mountain king playing in the background)

785 PD.

Delilah Briarwood first arrived in Rosohna as a newly minted member of the Cerberus Assembly with little fanfare. Archmage of Antiquity was neither a role with potential trade implications like the Archmage of Industry or Diplomatic Union, nor to be watched the way the Archmages of Civil Influence, Dysology, or Domestic Protection. There was always the chance that some Luxon historical artifact might be found within Dwendalian space, but barring the unearthing of some new great fallen city in the next few short decades, Deirta had little hope.

Still, respect must be paid, if only to keep the other Western wizards in line. And thus, a grand tour for the little mage.

Deirta, as a point of fact, thought little of most wizards. She’d fought wizards, a near millennium ago, and still remembered all the ways to get around their little tricks. She recognized Da’leth as a dangerous and pretentious fool of the old sort, and could only hope that his bizarre machinations brought him down sooner rather than later. In the meantime, he was a pretentious fool with an army, and they were aiming for peace.

The newest archmage looked painfully young, wide eyes taking in the Lucid Bastion and a precision in her step that seemed artfully designed to hide any sort of nervousness. Everything looked to be exactly put into place, just so, standing as if her spine had been put into a vise.

Perhaps one day she’ll learn that the best way to show power is to appear to relinquish some of that control. Or rather, to make it seem effortless, just so. Perhaps she wouldn’t.

“Is Leylas Kryn a title, also? Or an honorary name?” Archmage Briarwood asked.

“How do you mean?”

“Forgive me for being blunt - but while I realize that I am new, and young by your standards, we do have recorded history. I made a point of studying all of them, and have found most- if not all - mention that the ruler’s name is Leylas Kryn. She is a drow in the most recent accounts, but the first encounters between our Empire and yours mention a tiefling.” She smiled. “We may be short lived, but we do jot such things down.”

Archmage Briarwood looked smug behind her polite facade, as if she had caught the Kryn out on some sort of grand lie. She had no idea that she’d just revealed her complete ignorance to the entire group. How little they had to fear from Dwendalian spies, if they did not even know the secrets of consecution?

Part of Deirta pitied her, maybe. Or maybe it was to gloat. Or maybe it was that the Umavi Mirimm was in hospice and not around to stop her. In any case, she said, plainly. “Leylas Kryn has undergone the right of consecution and has been reborn.”

“Ah, how interesting! It’s always a pleasure to learn about other people’s beliefs!” Archmage Briarwood said, though her fellow Archmage and diplomats shot her quelling looks. Perhaps she had not been properly briefed. Deirta focused more on the others, who seemed more worth her time. She’d done her part to be polite to the ignorant condescending mayfly.

In that moment, Briarwood showed no more interest in prolonging life. But she had been so young at that time, and youth always confers the illusion of immortality. Deirta shouldn’t have expected her to stay dismissive.