#kazdel military commission

[alkalische]

WOAG! it's the kazdel military commission!

[markedbadguy]

One of the sickest designs in Arknights ngl and it's just a tall dude.

[cerastes]

Something I’ve been thinking thanks to Babel is that you could make a banging game about the Babel period up until the end of the Reunion Arc in the style of Nobunaga’s Ambition, specifically more in the style of Ghiren’s Ambition, the Gundam spin-off.

Besides the obvious Grand Strategy element of managing your greater territory through a mix of generic squadrons and hero squadrons — Babel having Scout, Ascalon, Ace, and the other Elites, while the Military Commission has Ulsulah, Manfred, Scareye, and other such individuals — and the protection and seizing of supply lines and settlements, it’d also open the possibility for one of the signature features of the games: Alternate histories.

In Ghiren’s Ambition, you can try and replicate the canon events of the story perfectly, but you can also heavily derail the established canon for incredibly interesting alternate takes and outcomes. For example, in our hypothetical Theresis’s Ambition, assuming the scope is from the beginnings of Babel right up until the end of the Reunion Arc, we could explore possibilities such as:

The Sarkaz Royal Courts being spurred into action for either side. This instability, in turn, could spur foreign powers into action and taking a vested interest and side in the civil war, greatly expanding its scope.

The Leithanien invasion of Kazdel being a lot more successful, resulting in a far, far more unified Babel and Military Commission. This may in turn result in a far earlier, unified invasion of Victoria, or a far more emotionally charged civil war once the siblings’ differences become irreconcilable.

Amiya’s condition being a lot more stable, leading to Doctor, Amiya and Savage to actually push through with their plans to venture into Yan next. This could happen through either a lot of earlier medical advances, or by outright preventing the accident that gave Amiya oripathy in the first place, this obviously having major implications in the rest of the story.

Theresis early killing Doc when he has the chance. Likewise, lots of implications here.

Doctor not going through with their betrayal and keeping the Shipwide Defense Systems operational. This would have immense implications in the future of Kazdel as well. Furthermore, this could lead into an early Theresis kill.

Rhodes Island failing the operation to retrieve Doctor, and instead, they fall into Reunion hands. As they are a clean slate here, this could very well mean a Reunion-aligned Doctor.

Ursus seizing the Doctor, thus resulting in an Ursus-aligned Doctor. Probably one of the most nightmarish scenarios. Possibly as a result of Kal’tsit successfully pushing back against the notion to retrieve them from Chernobog in the first place.

Ch’en’s leaving Rhodes Island to dry in the Lungmen operation actually costing them that entire battle and Operator lives, subsequently breaking relations between the two factions.

The Chernobog operation in general having a different outcome depending on the level of preparedness and development you come into it with, such as an early Faust kill (Ascalon comes along and hard counters him, maybe?), the possibility to have Ace and Scout survive, the possibility of other R.I. Operators dying instead, the possibility of Reunion personnel/mercenaries dying or going a different route altogether (Ines legitimately dies, W caught early and thus needing to go back to R.I early).

FrostNova’s fateful death being averted, and successfully recruiting her into Rhodes Island.

Reunion!Doctor somehow resulting in events that successfully removes Kaschey from Talulah very early, wildly changing the direction Reunion takes and averting Mudrock and Big Bob’s defection as a consequence; this directly opens a route where Reunion and Rhodes Island can become allies, but it’d also be very difficult as these two reasonably sized powers joining forces might spur Lungmen/Yan or Ursus into deploying against them with absolute force.

The possibilities are so ample, I’d love this game.

[cyborg-squid]

A Kazdelian Rescue and Furnace-side Fables aren't out on Global yet, so I don't know quite how it continues and ends, but there's something really fascinating about how the actions of Dublinn and the Military Commission, Nezzsalem specifically, parallel each other.

Before getting into the themes, it's first just spectacular, the visuals of it and of a lot of the fighting around Silverrock Bluffs, between Dublinn and the Nachrezer you have like these two 'Evil' (visually, if (debatably) not morally) armies squaring off against each other, you've got super flame necromancy and shadow operatives versus floating sword wielding regenerating mummies commanded by the King on his Deadwood Throne, and then zoom the camera back some, across the entire Victorian front, you've got artillery bombardments and tank brigades squaring off against things like mobile witchcraft altars and death devouring immortal 'devils', while in the sky above, a massive reanimated flying dead-whale-skeleton performs boarding actions against a state of the art but-also-ghost-controlled combat airship. Chapter 14 very much makes the point that 'war is hell' (understatement) but. god. if it doesn't look cool as hell too.

But anyway! The Duke of Wellington! and Nezzsalem! Both rather equally meeting their match in each other, both quite literally described as feeding off of death, the end of Chapter 13 describing the Iron Duke as already having an Ursus Tsar, Herkunftshorn 'the Witch King', and Fantasy Napoleon in his 'belly'. And meanwhile you have Nezzsalem literally feeding off death, powering his soldiers, powering his witchcraft, healing his wounds, as he also has raised and tutored some of the strongest warriors Kazdel has ever known, the likes of Patriot, Theresa, and Theresis. Wellington vs Nezzsalem, very much a match made in Hell.

But Nezzsalem actually ends up being a little off base in his assessment of Wellington, thinking that he desires war for war's own sake. "The Victorians zealously chase after the phantom of victory while never understanding why we crave war in the first place." Because while Wellington is very much into that, war and conflict itself, Eblana herself sees the fire burning in his eyes, Wellington does also know when to pull back, which is also what Nezzsalem does at the end. Wellington lets the other ducal forces go into the meat grinder, then points his guns at the other Dukes as he unfurls the banner of Tara. They have to listen to him, and the upcoming nation of Tara, now.

Which is also what Nezzsalem says at the end. "From death comes new life" (fitting with him and the Nachrezer's tree and plant theming). Like Wellington and Dublinn, this war will also serve to bring new life to the Sarkaz and Kazdel. It very much did not end in a decisive Sarkaz victory or the like, but the long oppressed and scorned Sarkaz managed to bloody the nose of one of Terra's most powerful empires, and return home, not with their tails between their legs, but in a tactical retreat, and now in possession of hypothetical Weapons of Mass Destruction. The military victory that Theresis has wrought (while Theresa delivers a 'spiritual' victory for the Sarkaz over 'fate') is to ensure that there will never again be an omni-nation crusade against the Sarkaz race, never again will Kazdel fall, because now all nations will have witnessed the power of a unified Kazdel, and no nation should be willing to take that risk of going up against the Sarkaz again, with what Kazdel is now capable of. This is why Nezzsalem also says that, at the end, that he is 'sated' (paralleling the belly and hunger speak also used about Wellington), this war against Victoria had a purpose, and that purpose has been seemingly achieved, both in the strengthening of the Sarkaz's geopolitical position and in Theresa's victory over 'fate' and the release of the myriad souls.

You can very much see here that both Wellington+Tara, and Theresis+Kazdel, are practicing very similar forms of gunboat diplomacy, leveraging their partial military successes in order to exert power over the other nations of Terra and strengthen their long-oppressed yet budding nations.

This ties in with something really interesting that Hoederer said in Chapter 13, that this Londinium Crisis can't end simply end with Theresis' death, as W plainly wants, because that would just show to the world something along the lines of: "Sarkaz rabble banded together to attack Victoria but killed their own leader and fell to internal conflict, as the Sarkaz always do", and this weakness would invite retribution not only against the nation-city of Kazdel, but against Sarkaz populations across the globe. As much as Hoederer, and even W, want this war to end, it can't end on those terms, and it actually needs to end in a Sarkaz victory in order for Kazdel to survive; even Manfred, high ranking Military Commission man that he is, views the Lifebone project he (basically) helmed as a tool for the Sarkaz to return home, rather than merely a weapon of war.

(I haven't fully parsed out what exactly is going on now between Reed and Eblana, but I can't help but think it might be something similar, that neither could (even if they wanted to) dispose of the other because in doing so, it would invite other powers to weaken or fully discredit the Taran cause as a whole, if their just seen as another rebel force fighting among themselves.)

Anyway, Theresis might be one of the most talented military minds of our generation.

[exoticalmonde]

The Evealia Guide Through Babel (event) - Part III

Last time we left off, things are going absolutely terrible. There's a Sarkaz that is gone insane with sorrow for his comrades and his son, so he's taken it with himself to go destroy the Leithanien he's noticed lurking around Kazdel.

Leithanien. From Babel.

I'll just let you read this part on your own for cinematic value.

GOOD GOD ALRIGHT

Damn it... Ugh.

He is sent to Theresa, but he's so out of it that he doesn't even realize what is going on. He very happily tells her that he killed the traitorous Leithanien and has avenged his son, along with all the others who died in battle.

He's taken away since Theresis doesn't want Theresa to be the one meting out punishment like that.

It's strange though, because he doesn't use Arts, but the guards were hypnotised. Somebody on the outside is at fault for this. Yet, the Military Commission refuse to investigate, because the victim is just an outsider to the Sarkaz.

Babel is to remove itself from all political activity too and finally make some clear boundaries between what it can and cannot do on Kazdel.

In a different light, we get to see Theresa and Theresis as caretakers for Ascalon.

Theresis gives her knife back and teaches her, briefly, about how she should sharpen it since warriors should treasure their weapons, while also being considering on who it gets to cut.

Theresa is much softer on the approach. Asks her about what she likes in the city.

Despite that, Ascalon feels like she can't really hate the gentle Sarkaz. I SCREAMED when Theresa offered Ascalon to touch her horn. Is it a way to show affection? Vulnerability? Whatever it is, WHY did I not think of this sooner. That's so heckin adorable.

Theresa cleans Ascalon's wound and teaches her that weapons can't heal these - only time and medicine. So one day she can wake up and learn that it doesn't hurt anymore.

That much, Ascalon agrees with.

Babel Classroom, Kazdel

…

Well, nobody showed up to class.

Except Theresis, who is there to confirm that the casualty report from the Military Commission states a lot of children have gone. Those who survived - their parents refuse to let the outsiders of Babel teach them. Plus, many of the Babel teachers left - out of fear.

Even if Theresis thinks Theresa is wasting her time, he waits with her upon her request.

IT WASN'T FOR NOTHING!!

Down, Dog.

ARRRGHBFEUSUGIH MY HEART.

I hated him, okay? I hated Manfred in the way you'd hate a handsome scrimblo, in the way where I'd be ashamed to say that I like him; like how people who love stinky cheese don't want others to know, they just sit in the corner eating it and hope that nobody is going to notice the smell.

I liked him for his perseverance before and because he was so very 'aware' unlike other leaders we've seen in the past. Meanwhile, I'm being set up with this charming little creature that just wants change for the better, wants peace, and wants to help.

HOW DARE YOU MAKE ME ADMIT I LIKE HIM?!

Now I suddenly wish he does not die. Now I get upset when I remember I derogatively called him Milfred out of rage. I never managed to pass CC 9 or 10, I forgot which one was Ashring, but now??? I'm mean to NOT be upset???

I hate it here.

Within Kazdel, Goodluck and his son are… either waiting for the worst to happen or they're morning the loss of their third family member. Goodluck can't really stand sitting around, doing nothing, so he is planning to become a mercenary and make the people who hurt his wife pay.

Before departing he gives her name to his son - Odda. And promises to teach him how to fight with her weapon once he returns.

---

BB-3 Before

Silent Crack

[Today, though, we face the tragic reality of disunity and betrayal.]

Eight Years Ago...

Summer, 1086

Classes are being held in Kazdel, secretly. Kids have to keep their voices down and they're not allowed to tell anybody about what is happening inside their secret little base of operation.

The war between Kazdel and Leithanien never stopped, so for 18 years they've been pursued. A lof of people feel into despair, either from the ghost of war or the infection.

Within the Scar Market, Goodluck picks up a commission - some teacher in Kazdel has been saying too good a thing about Babel. Somebody is willing to pay to shut them up.

We learn that it's been a while since Goodluck was in this part of Kazdel. Although Goodluck doesn't remember a lot of things, he remembers the look of his front door - the address where that supposed 'teacher' might be hiding.

Inside, said Teacher is really doing good. He's teaching the children that the Sarkaz blame Babel for their misfortune since they have nobody else. Babel brought the enemies, Babel's medicine makes Oripathy worse, Babel this and that-- and children nod along, because they probably hear that from their parents a lot.

It's not quite so, though; they can't take things at face value. That's why they have to see, learn and think for themselves.

Odda notices somebody at the door. Everybody scrambles to hide before he opens it and sees...

Surprisingly, it's Ascalon.

She scans the sparsely furnished room and understands.

...

She says 'Thank you for sheltering him. But you must leave'.

It's clearly a warning for oncoming danger. The teacher has to go. Odda stays by the door - a habit of his since he was little. As if he was waiting for someone familiar to come back home.

From the shadows, Goodluck recognises him immediately. He's unfortunately already bound with his own mission and knows there's only one way to ensure his child gets a better life.

Ascalon makes the decision for him. Her mist shrouds the corpse, erasing all traces of its existence.

[The passing of a life in Kazdel is akin to a speck of dust falling to the ground, unheard, unceremonious, and unnoticed.]

[His luck ran out.]

Manfred seems to also have been in the area at the time of this occurrence. They fight a little, both at friendly terms, though they serve different sides of Kazdel.

It drives up a memory of another time they were sparring.

THEY EVEN LAUGH TOGEHTER, because Theresa helps Manfred down by levitating him to safety.

Though adorable, we're back in the present with Ascalon and Manfred fighting. There's a misunderstanding between their approaches I think. Manfred has remained by Theresis' side because he thinks there can be a different approach to the future they're looking for. Since the start Theresis has been hesitant with Theresa's plan, so now they have parted ways.

On the other side, Ascalon has turned her back on Theresis out of anger that he'd allow the others in Kazdel to badmouth Her Highness and her choice to stick with Babel.

Manfred is more understanding than ever though. It's not really the twin sovereigns who had to make the decision of parting. It's just circumstance. Perhaps the prophecy.

They're so caring for each other though... These four care about each other so much I want to put them in a box and keep them together forever.

Sadness isn't over by the way~

Because Manfred appears on Odda's door with his dad's... remnants. Odda doesn't really remember him, but Manfred doesn't make much of it as he presents the items and explains:

[There have been some disturbances in the city, and I'm afraid your father... I'm so sorry.]

[Wh-Where did you find them? Was there...?]

[There was nothing else left at the scene. I'm sorry.]

[...]

[What's your name?]

[...Odda.]

[If you need any help...]

[No... no, I'm very grateful that you brought these back. It's been a long time since I last saw him... this is enough. I don't have to wait anymore... He's not coming back...]

[Do you have family? Or friends you can count on?]

[I can take care of myself. Besides, we see things like this every day in this city, no?]

[...]

[I-I'm sorry I gushed, sir. I just feel like I know you, somehow... I'm sure you're busy. I won't keep you any longer.]

[My condolences.]

THIS IS NOT FUNNY

WHAT THE HECK ITS NOT FUNNY, YOU'RE NOT ORIGINAL?!?!?!?!?

I've never cried so hard in my life, oh no I'm broken.

---

BB-3 After

There's been an accident - feelings are mixed.

A father beat his child for trying to defend the Teacher, and the Teacher fought back with the father to defend the kid. In the end, both of them were going to die from their injuries. He was set upon by the angry crowd and it escalated from there. The turmoil dragged in everybody - Civilians, Babel, mercenaries, even the Military Commission.

Somebody blew up the Babel office building, so then Royal Court troops were involved.

Theresa has made the decision to remove Babel from Kazdel. It's become way too dangerous for any of the personnel to stay any longer, since they're now completely unwanted. Odda immediately signs up to leave with them.

Out on the streets, the dying teacher is mocked by the Sarkaz soldiers, but he's actually seeing an invisible to others little banshee - Logos. He was there in the classroom and learned a lot from the Teacher.

Even if others did not believe it so, the Sarkaz Teacher is welcomed by the myriad of souls and he's guided to them with the little banshee's song.

[It is an elegy that commemorates the passing of an ordinary Sakraz.]

['You were talking about the future of Babel in the lesson, but you didn't get to the end. What were you going to say?']

['I believe... that Babel will die someday. I hope I'm wrong.']

In the court, Laqeramaline is saying goodbye to Theresa. It's a sweet conversation they have, with the Banshee Queen being as truthful to her beliefs as she is supportive to Theresa. She also knows there is no other way, so all she can do from the position of a mother is hope for the best.

[prettycottonmouthlamia]

With long running franchises you sometimes run into an issue I call the "Eternals Problem" after thoroughly boring and disappointing Marvel movie The Eternals. The Eternals are a group of very powerful beings, I think they're some kind of extraterrestrial in the movie, who live for a very long time. This presents a potentially huge problem for the narrative, as your movie has come out after the big final confrontation to prevent someone who doesn't know how population growth works from committing a mass killing, so often times stories with these characters will be set before the big event so as to leave a gap.

The Eternals is not. The snap has already happened by the movie, and there's basically no explanation for why they didn't get involved. It's really a sign of shitass writing but it more gives an example about the importance of temporal relevance when you're discussing power level. The more important and/or powerful a character is, the more pressing it is that they are not just "missing" from the timeline. Magic the Gathering also runs into this issue with Tovolar, a big werewolf pack leader on Innistrad who has been about for quite a long time but is entirely absent during the plane's big climatic sudden Emrakul event. It's shoddy writing.

I've been thinking about this because of the Abyssal Hunters. We aren't given, as far as I can remember, any definitive dates on when the three Seaborn events happen, but given that these three basically do not show up in the story and the Kazdel Military Commission and almost any reference to the Sarkaz in general do not appear in IS3, it's pretty safe to say they come after the entire main story (which also puts some temporal placement on Grani's event and the first Siesta event). This makes sense, the Abyssal Hunters are very powerful and it avoids the potential dumb arguments about whether Gladiia could 1v1 Sanguinarch or something.

I'm glad that the timeline isn't really set in stone. We do have some definite dates for when things happen (hello Vigna module???) but there's enough flexibility that our minds can fill in the gaps and have some temporal elasticity, and the Zelda fandom has kind of soured me on the topic of timelines in general b-

hold on what the fuck do you mean they released an official timeline

fuck. post cancelled i guess

[bloodyopvs]

the witch's hat and her kiss

PROMPT: mean thoughts and cheap shots

CHARACTERS: The Sanguinarch, Damazsti Cluster, Laqeramaline

SHIP: Duqramaline (Duq'arael/Laqeramaline)

RATING: T for kissing

GENRE: Fluff and Crack

CW/TW: Mentions of blood. also Duq'arael is a warning in itself but he's surprisingly tame in this one

NOTES: For @el-loy, and was based on their Halloween art (as well as our silly convo on twitter). I hope you enjoy this one!

Also, as a general note, I'm experimenting in terms of writing style, so please be warned. It's nothing drastic, though.

she was gorgeous.

not that she wasn't gorgeous on a daily basis. even amongst the other Banshees and the members of her Court — even taking into account all the millennias that he had lived through — Laqeramaline was one of the most beautiful women that he had beheld with his eyes, irrespective of her purity of lineage. 

tonight, dressed in a pointy hat and a witch's attire, she was more beautiful than ever, exuding an aura of elegant charm. more importantly, she seemed to be having fun with the other women of the Sarkaz Royal Court, one of them being the Lich King's attendant. in fact, none of the other Royal Court men seemed to make it to attendance. the Regent was nowhere in sight; so was his right-handed man and Nezzsalem (normally the only other member of the Kazdel Military Commission that he deemed worthy enough to gravitate towards). not even the Confessarius could be seen anywhere.

normally, the Sanguinarch would grumble about how they all went missing on such an important cultural holiday of the Teekaz people (definitely not because he was aware that Laqeramaline was the organiser of this party) and he would gladly take cheap shots on them to anyone with a working set of ears and within his complaining range (on this night, it's definitely the Damazsti), but this time, he was actually quite silent, taking demure sips from the glass of bloodwine he was holding while watching the Royal Court ladies having fun and decorating their respective pumpkins.

...it was definitely not because he felt ridiculous, no. and not due to any reasons that others would think would be the cause.

hell, he wouldn't think that he would feel ridiculous, either. especially because of that.

"do you ever think of wearing something else that's not your boring regular clothes?" asked the green-haired Cluster sitting beside him on the bench, eyeing him with a gloomy look while holding his scythe (one that looks a bit too real to simply be a prop for the party). "especially since she invited you personally this year, Old Red-Eye. we would have thought that this event is important to you, too — being an old cultural holiday and all that."

"well, yours isn't all that different, either," pointed out the Vampire, rather testily. he certainly had a lot to say about that — based on his correspondingly mean thoughts about them — but he was holding himself back, a bit. not because he didn't want to ruin her party with his temper. "my clothes aren't 'boring' — it embodies all sorts of historical and cultural significance from my Court as well as the Military Commission. additionally, it wasn't as if she did not invite me in the previous couple of years, I was simply occupied with court business. in any case, how did you come to the knowledge that she invited me personally this year?"

"we, at least, bothered with the equipment," mumbled the Damaszti, but he heard it, and he shot them a nasty look. the Cluster winced in response to that. "and we were knowledgeable of the fact that she invited you tonight — as well as the fact that she did not invite you in the previous couple of years — because we borrowed your form before. not that we particularly enjoy it."

"oh, is that so? so now you are an expert on my feelings and my history, Lord Damazsti?" Duq'arael suddenly finished his drink in one gulp, usually a bad omen. "are you also aware that calling me a liar has consequences? I said that I had been busy in the years prior to this one — she did send me invitations, but they have been collecting dust, understandably so. hence why she invited me personally this year. between that and the personal insult directed to me — that last bit — you should learn to be more careful with your words. although you do have to try harder, if you would like to insult me."

a scoff followed his words, and he sent the other a withering glare, one that would actually kill, had the Damazsti weren't also a member of the Military Commission -- had they not been in Laqeramaline's Halloween party. his conversation partner flinched in response, although annoyance flashed through their eyes.

"if you felt insulted by our words, then we believe that is on you, Prince Duq'arael. but...we are genuinely curious. do you truly think that we are all unaware of what transpired between you and Laqeramaline — your feelings towards one another, the history you two shared?"

the Sanguinarch bristled visibly at that. he had more than mean thoughts and cheap shots to say to that, but a familiar voice and presence interrupted their conversation.

"both of you seemed to be having a lively conversation," her equally beautiful voice was as elegant and spellbinding as always, although it was infused with an undertone of mischief, one that might not be apparent to those who did not know her well. despite the anger that he was forced to swallow, the Vampire instinctively turned towards the direction of her voice. the sight of her alone makes the peculiar, uncharacteristic insecurity welled up again within him — one that the Damazsti had touched earlier. perhaps he really should have worn something else. "Prince Duq'arael. Lord Damazsti. thank you for coming."

"it wasn't a 'lively conversation' as much as it was an attempt to murder us," grumbled the Cluster, although Duq'arael was much too engrossed by her presence to send them another nasty look. "even so, many thanks for inviting us, Lord Banshee." 

"I am not the one who started it," stated the Vampire, shooting them a Look, although he made an effort to give the lady a diplomatic smile. "this idiot aside, it was my pleasure, Laqeramaline. although I was, admittedly, surprised at your invitation."

"was your surprise a pleasant one?" she calmly responded, accompanied by a laugh, the soft, melodious tone of it echoing in the dusk, putting the night breeze to shame. "it's rare to hear you speak of your feelings so openly, Prince Duq'arael. the pleasure is mine, however — although I must admit, I was surprised, too, that you decided to come."

"if we may interject, we thought that the Old Red-Eye is always too honest with his feelings and his thoughts," quipped the almost-forgotten Cluster, and the Sanguinarch instinctively shot him another glare, even if a smile was still playing on his lips. "needless to say, we were surprised, too, that you chose to invite him out of all people, Lady Laqeramaline. are you not afraid that he's going to ruin the party with his displays of so-called 'excitement'?"

"who asked you?" shot the Vampire, finding it harder and harder to restrain his urge to shut the other up. permanently so, preferably. he does not care anymore if the Cluster was also old enough to remember their people when they have yet to become 'Sarkaz', a rootless, persecuted people — it wasn't as if he'd actually done something useful for their people with this knowledge, anyways. "if you are picking a fight with me, Lord Damazsti, I would gladly indulge you anytime."

"thank you for your concern, Lord Damazsti. but I think I am more than equipped to handle this one," the Banshee interjected, smiling amusedly, her melodious voice still so serene and unruffled — although the fact that he felt her grip on his arm right after the words left her beautiful lips speaks volumes. that grip was no joke, either. out of instinct, the Sanguinarch shot her a glare, too, but it evidently had no effect on her, since she remained unfazed. "speaking of which, may I borrow him for a moment? I'd like to speak with the Prince. in private."

"of course we would grant you the honour — although some honour it was. as a matter of fact, you need not return him for the night. we would like to enjoy the festivities without him glaring over our shoulders."

"perfect," Laqeramaline sounded so pleased that it was hard to stay annoyed at her and this entire 'talking about him as if he weren't there' thing. well, almost. Duq'arael opened his mouth, about to violently protest and make a scathing remark, but she cut him off before he could do so. "then I'll be taking him along. enjoy your Halloween, Lord Damazsti."

again, before he could so much as offer a protest, Laqeramaline dragged him away — at least away from the crowd. to be perfectly honest, he had no interest in doing anything else aside from spectating (and offering scathing commentary, although he wouldn't call it that), and thus, the thought of having to do something silly (like decorating a pumpkin) almost made him shiver. well, it would certainly make her happy, but at what cost? his pride?

"what are you doing?" Duq'arael finally blurted out, once there was quite a distance between them and the rest of the guest list. irritation underscored his tone, although this action of hers induced a strange feeling. a more erratic heartbeat. moving through the gravestones, her pulling him along, it felt as if they were lovers heading for a secret tryst — two gods, not the almost, half-dead thing that their relationship was. not Machiavelli's prince and lady Hel, not the monarch of the Crimson Court and the Elegiac Court, but a man and a woman, boy and girl, stumbling through the cemetery like yesterday's child. "Laqeramaline. you owe me an explanation."

"...here," she simply said, ignoring his words, pulling him to a corner near a mausoleum. he obliged, although scowling slightly at her, but instead of giving him what he demanded, the Banshee smiled, and suddenly took off her pointy hat. tiptoeing a little, she placed it atop his head. "much better."

"what is this? are you also taking a cheap shot at my outfit?" the scowl on his visage deepens. it was precisely what makes him feel so ridiculous tonight — and the fact that it does annoys him to no end. it shouldn't annoy him, after all. he could wear and do whatever he wanted. "why are you giving it to me?"

"so many questions," she was obviously stifling a laugh, and wasn't doing a very good job at it. deftly, she adjusted the hat. "you do not have any horns, so it is not a very good fit. however, it still looks good on you."

"it...does?" she took him off-guard, and the Sanguinarch blinked. another peculiar feeling surfaced, or perhaps resurfaced — she was standing so close to him, after all. 

"don't you trust me? you never change, after all."

"should I be someone else?" the words came out less bitingly than he intended. soft. much too soft. so soft, it hurts. a pause followed his words. the smile on her lips was haunting, a reminder that he was not only haunted by the dead, those echoes of the myriad souls from the abyss — including his brother, long dead and gone — but also by someone still alive. "if you would like me to trust you again, then prove it."

that one left his lips before he even realised it. there are so many things left unsaid between them, exit wounds and whispered wars, but at the moment, there was only her and him, the bright, silvery moon their only witness. 

to his surprise, Laqeramaline took a step forward. 

and then another.

her fingertips fluttered, alighting on his cheek like a butterfly's wings. much too soft. so soft, it hurts — transforming him with strange tenderness. he almost flinched. transfixed, Duq'arael bends down slightly, and their lips meet halfway.

(his bones ached for her.)

"...there you go. a Banshee's kiss, on the night of Halloween," she whispered against his lips, after the kiss. they both lingered — a fact that he was secretly glad about, since that means the peculiar feeling's mutual — and she pulled the brim of the hat (that was still sitting on his head) slightly down, as if covering their intimate proximity from any prying eyes, stifling another laugh. "you still owe me a proper costume, though, my Prince."

"I suppose I could try to make it up to you," he stole another kiss from her lips before he responded. "would a bottle of wine of my choice do?"

"you can do so much better than that, Duq'arael," she laughed, pulling back. her ruby eyes twinkling with mirth, rivalling the stars. "is my favour worth only that much to you?"

"fine, then," he arched an eyebrow, finding her arm and pulling her close, gently. her heartbeat picks up, and he unconsciously smiles — perhaps a genuine one. after all, the language of blood never lies. "I'll throw in a date as well. what do you think?"

"well, I think you still need to work on your wooing skills — you're not exactly Prince Charmless, but there's still room for improvement. and it's hard to say no to that smile, admittedly," her hands found his cheeks, cupping them, and she pulled him down, kissing him full on the lips. "my answer is yes. but wear something proper next year, okay?"

a part of him wanted to point out that she was also a witch dressing up as a witch, and...well. that is, if there is a next time. would they still be on good terms next year?

still, the Sanguinarch kept these words to himself. instead, he kissed her back.

that, in itself, was a promise.

FIN. 

[arknights-global-news]

Theresa, founder of the nomadic city of Kazdel, co-originator of the Military Commission of Kazdel, creator of the Babel organization, and former head of state of Kazdel.

Original Tweet

[alkalische]

kazdel military commission doodles... thinking about how theresis was a mentor to ascalon and manfred...

[alkalische]

reminder that the KMC is HOMOPHOBIC 🏳️‍🌈🚫

[alkalische]

the military commission of kazdel thanks you for your service

[cyborg-squid]

This might be reading a bit too much into their designs, but I think there's something, visually, with the fact that Hoederer's design, especially in the first half of Victoria Arc, (where he looks so sad) has a much more medieval look to it, the most 'modern' parts of it being various 'tactical' pouches. and his weapon, his big old greatsword, being much more medieval...

...cuz I was looking at the CG of Manfred cutting into him, and thinking about how much more modern (comparatively) Manfred looks, and how his weapon of choice seems to be a saber, a weapon that's much more of an officer's weapon, if that makes sense? (I'm no military historian) as well as Manfred being part of the "Kazdel Military Commission", reflecting a much more modern approach to the military, especially when compared to both the mercenary status of Hoederer, or the military of some other Terran nations. Ines' criques of Nadine (great NPC design) reflect this somewhat as well, Nadine may not be incapable, but she's much more of a "war-college educated person promoted to officer due to her bloodline" than, say, the battle hardened mercenaries of the Scar Market.

[alkalische]

can't believe the military commission of kazdel is homophobic