#taskhand adeen

[pocketgalaxies]

essek: this was all orchestrated by taskhand adeen tasithar of den tasithar

marisha: mm. adeem dazel.

laura: i–i–yeah :)

travis, laura, and ashley: Adele Dazeem.

matt: adeen tasithar.

[utilitycaster]

Threatened this once as a throwaway tag, so: let's talk about why "Justice for Adeen Tasithar" as an attempted criticism of Essek is absolutely wild as a choice.

Disclaimer: there are many deeply annoying fans of Essek who do not seem to understand that the narrative and the cast (and by extension, merch/official art/comics) will treat him differently for being an NPC, even if he is a very important NPC and a member of the Mighty Nein, and you are justified in being annoyed. There are also a number of equally annoying Essek haters, most of whom are bitter shippers who have (correctly) realized it's slightly more palatable to others in the fandom to openly hate on Essek than on a PC; or else they are the miserable souls who think that every minute spent on a character other than their personal favorite stolen and wasted time. I am a firm believer in this post; everyone is annoying and complaining on your own blog about it is your absolute right. Also, both in regards to the fans mentioned above and the characters mentioned below, it is possible for people on two opposite sides of a position to both suck.

The first issue is the phrase itself; it co-opts a statement usually used for victims of hate crimes or political prisoners in the real world, and makes it unironically about a pretend guy who had precisely one scene, which is certainly a choice. I'm not actually opposed to using "Justice for" jokingly in fandom, but it is weird to use it relatively seriously in fandom.

The second is that Adeen Tasithar is a member of one of the Dens of the Kryn Dynasty, and is a Taskhand, a term reserved for people with high-level military responsibilities, and is a member of the Bright Queen's Court. During wartime. Coupled with the fact that Essek, who, as described below, is never portrayed as particularly cruel nor petty despite his many flaws, thinks Adeen genuinely does suck, this means that at best, Adeen Tasithar is heavily involved in military operations at a very high level and is in some way personally unpleasant. At, frankly, not even worst, we're talking D&D Donald Rumsfeld. Now, we can debate whether Essek is a war criminal or merely traitorous (not on this post though, because I don't care and it's not relevant), but, while we know very little about Adeen Tasithar, it's not an overreach to say that this man has a pretty strong chance of being guilty of his own war crimes. In general, calling for justice is something I'd hesitate to use in an "the enemy of my enemy" manner, especially if it's well within reason to consider that you're talking about Ludinus Da'leth's Kryn counterpart.

The third is that while you're under no obligation to like Essek, he really is, in general, portrayed as a decent judge of character and a terrible judge of whether selfishly following his own ambition was appropriate and what the consequences might be. He detests the members of the Cerberus Assembly with whom he works; he likes the Mighty Nein despite them ultimately being his potential undoing. He has a few friends in the Dynasty and cares about his (unambiguously good) brother, and feels remorse about his father. Essek has done terrible things in the service of his goals; but directly throwing an innocent under the bus (vs. setting into motion things that will, as a side effect, lead to innocent collateral damage, which he obviously will do) isn't his style. Again, at the very least, Adeen Tasithar is someone whom Essek genuinely believes is a bad person (note that Essek, by this time, also considers himself to be a bad person, and Trent Ikithon to be a "fuck hole", which might help your understanding of scale here). This doesn't mean Tasithar deserves what he got, but frankly, in a campaign about people who got a lot of things they didn't deserve, it's a pretty blatant straw-grasp onto a side character with the briefest of appearances to decide he's your poster boy victim just so that you can go full spiked bat on a character you dislike.

The fourth is that there's never any connection to how Essek not being friends with the Mighty Nein (or entering a relationship with Caleb) would provide justice for Adeen Tasithar, who is in an Empire prison by the end following the exchange during peace talks. It's actually entirely possible that the Empire eventually figures things out re: Adeen, notably because memory modification as a criminal act is going to be really fresh in their minds following the Ikithon trial (and if they interrogate Trent, it's also possible the Empire finds out about Essek). Essek is already a fugitive from the Dynasty and cannot move freely through the Empire as a drow whom assembly members would recognize. The guy didn't get off scot free anyway, so really, he is going to suffer to some extent; you just want him to experience abject and total misery, rather than constant fear tempered with a small degree of happiness, like some kind of sicko, or megachurch member.

The final one is that "justice for Yeza Brenatto" or "I don't like that Essek worked with the Assembly even if he wasn't happy about it" would actually be far more reasonable statements to make. Yeza was, in fact, a simple alchemist who was forced to become a pawn in the game being played by, among other people, Essek, and suffered immensely for it. The Assembly does in fact suck. And yet, rather than admit Caleb also considered working with the Assembly for selfish reasons, or that Veth, you know, exists people jump to woobify some random NPC about whom we know basically nothing other than "Military guy, well-connected politically."

So anyway: feel however you want about Essek; but if you're on Adeen Tasithar's bandwagon, I don't think you actually are terribly bothered by hypothetical fictional war crimes. I think you just are too spineless and online to say "I dislike Essek" and needed to construct an elaborate poor reason why.

[spottedenchants]

who was vence?

Vence! What a guy...

Vence Nuthaleus, earlier known by the Mighty Nein as 'Blondie', was once the annex of Ludinus Da'leth and helped set off Abyssal rifts within the Dynasty as part of the Angel of Irons. He was framed to be involved in the theft of the Dynasty's two beacons, and was imprisoned Empireside and later exchanged alongside the Dynasty's second beacon for Adeen Tasithar during the peace talks to end the War of Ash and Light.

(Adeen may or may not have had some sort of involvement with the Angel of Irons and was the Taskhand who Essek framed for the theft of the beacons, as he messed with Adeen's memory in some capacity. Adeen seemed to recognize Fjord-as-Vence, but was very confused about it so idk)

[luolands]

Essek's work and responsibilities

Essek, c2e135: I only ask because I've seen a great many prospective talents like yours grow unfocused in times of.. necessity, and decisive action.

Marisha, c2e136: Does he have War Caster? He does, right? Matt: He does.

EGtW: He is eager to use the conflict as an excuse to practice the deadlier aspects of dunamancy

Essek, c2e94: It prevents me from some of my capabilities throughout the day each time I do this, so while I'm here in my home and things are not requiring me to be elsewhere rapidly, thankfully this is a moment in time in which I am more useful here in the city.

c2e99: [You see one of them, a familiar visage of the Taskhand Adeen Tasithar.] Jester: Essek, did you ever talk to him? Did you hang out with him? Essek: We once knew each other. For a while. Jester: Does he suck? Essek: That is a word, yes.

(Taskhands are warriors: Taskhand Durth Mirimm, an elite warrior governing Jigow; Taskhand Verin Thelyss, an echo knight governing Bazzoxan. The Dynasty has dunamancers partnered with warriors: Thuron - the echo knight infiltrator in Zadash - was partnered with a drow who cast a graviturgy spell similar to gravity sinkhole. Lythir VaSuun, a high-level graviturgist, was partnered with a high-level echo knight to lead a border scouting party.)

Essek, c2e91: And you believe that the individuals that make the laws and employ them across your empire are more capable than these mages? Do you not think there is perhaps a necessary balance between the two that maintains the order?

EGtW: The laws of the dynasty, which stem from the faith of the Luxon, are enforced by a network of trusted Aurora Watch captains and soldiers.

EGtW: Essek is both respected and feared for his intelligence and cunning.

c2e74: Now who you see arrived at the front: a male drow, short white hair, a perpetual soft smile, a similar mantle of armor to the soldiers that you saw exterior, but beneath it, a cloak of dark purple just drifts below and obscures the entirety of his body.

c2e57: A similar mantle to what you noticed Lythir wearing, but much more elaborate. You can see the robes that he's wearing that pretty much entirely obscure the body.

Essek, c2e90: We've investigated Adeen, found him already halfway across the Ghostlands on his own, shrouded and seeming to attempt escape. We ambushed and retrieved him, and have spent the better part of the past day interrogating him.

Essek, c2e77: There is indeed one beacon that still remains in the grasp of the Empire. We have.. numerous ways of pushing towards that goal. However, should you have been careful in your dealings, you have a little more reach within the Empire than someone such as I would, of course.

Twitter: Shadowhand is a title granted to those who focus on the dark mysteries of Exandria for the Bright Queen. This includes both subterfuge and arcana (like a specialist in the dangerous unknown). Spies, mages, and investigators that reach a certain station can be granted this title.

Essek, c2e131: I just know that I've also survived this long, weaving the intricacies of deceit like I have, by knowing how best to keep myself.. out of the complications as best as I can.

Essek, c2e80: I already have a few operatives looking to infiltrate- to locate and infiltrate the Cult of the Angel of Irons, you said it was, in hopes of gathering more information. Jester: You have? Essek: Yes, since you gave me this information a while back. ... I have a lot of plates I'm spinning at any given point in time. This is one, and I'm now giving it a bit more prominence, so.. I apologize to have misled you to think otherwise. And I also apologize for my attitude yesterday. I have been under some pressure.

Essek, c2e98: I mean, there has been a shadow war between the Dynasty and the Empire for.. decades. This is just the first time that it's brimmed out of the control of those that waged it.

Essek, c2e98: I just want to warn you about getting too close. I'm tied.. to a lot of dangerous individuals and teeter in the shadows at the crux of all of this conflict, intentional as it may not have been.

Essek, c2e131: I can find a place to go. I am capable of being slippery when I need to be.

Essek, c2e57: Take care of them and should you need anything, well... we'll know.

c2e79: [You made an additional deal for rapid transportation with your sponsor, Shadowhand Essek Thelyss. Who agreed, begrudgingly, for the very last time to do this.] Liam: The last, last time. Marisha: He keeps saying that. Travis: He can't say no. [Wow he's just racking up the debt points with you guys. He's going to make you do some fun stuff down the road.]

Essek, c2e78: I trust that your interests are forthright. I'll need your help soon anyway. Jester: He said he would need our help soon. He seemed like he would do it.

(Soon after) Jester, c2e81: Is there any news of the war? Allura: Yes. There has been a series of attacks on some of the military siege installations within the empire. There was an assault on some of the weapon creation factories in Hupperdook. This was about four days ago, as well as a counter assault by the empire within Xhorhas.

Jester, c2e63: Did you want to come, Essek? Essek: I have my own business to attend to, but I will vouch for their capabilities. And my tutelage.

Essek, c2e70: There is a lot of business I must attend to as well. As you've heard from the Bright Queen, a lot of things are moving and my interests lie elsewhere beyond a kiln.

EGtW: He is eager to use the conflict as an excuse to practice the deadlier aspects of dunamancy, and also curious to see what the powerful minds of the Cerberus Assembly may have gleaned from their research into the beacon they stole.

Leylas, c2e57: (turns and goes) Shadowhand, can we confirm that there has been some kind of imperial goblin capture? Nott: He's not a goblin like I am. (...) He's a halfling man. His name is Yeza Brenatto. He's a chemist. Essek: Yes, we do indeed have this figure in our Dungeon of Penance.

Leylas, c2e57: Well, first, I will say that this prisoner of yours that you're requesting could possibly be returned to you. I do not know the scope and depth of his involvement with the conflict to the west, but I'm certain the Shadowhand will inquire and if there is anything else required, we will attempt to close our interrogation and return him to you.

Essek, c2e90: All of this has been given, elements of it, to attempt to force them to fill in the blanks, to prove our.. curiosity and let them prove that they were involved. But upon magical inquiries, forcing of one's will, and through physical... persuasion, we managed to excise the truth, and the Taskhand has given his hand, if you will.

Essek, c2e90: Trust me, there's been plenty of punching for two days, I do not think that you would maybe- Beau: But do they have magical punches that make people talk? Essek: We have magical means of forcing the truth, if that's what you're talking about.

Fjord, c2e90: Is there any reason why you haven't told her yet? Are you trying to confirm or gather, or? Essek: I was- if you're going to, in a point of extreme tensions in warfare in which the queen is impatiently waiting for any sort of concrete proof as to why the ceasefire was necessary, we wanted to make sure that we presented it as an entire package, as opposed to piecemeal. It is better.. and also we need to cross our Ts as well, in the instance that perhaps any of this information is incorrect.

c2e63: Previously, you had all the raised platforms with the chairs of the different den heads that were there and the five chairs that were on the main central raised portion of the platform where the Bright Queen was. Now, you can see maybe six individuals present. Two on one side, two on the other and there is the Bright Queen and the right hand there. It seems like this isn't a formal gathering of all hands on-deck, more just general matters. You see Essek is present on the left side, Mirimm is in the right up in her chair.

Leylas, c2e63: They've been assigned as your wards, you trust in this, yes? You believe them? Essek: [Essek's sitting there in the chair, you can see the hands just barely crossed poking through the cloak] I trust them. Leylas: [She gives a nod] Well, we shall plan accordingly. They will rue the day they tried to assail us on their terms.

c2e70: Already, you can hear voices bustling. It's a little more active than last time you were here, when it was somewhat half as intense. You can see all the seats are filled, both on the two opposing house sides as well as the central chairs that flank the Bright Queen's throne. ... You can see a troop of four individuals, three drow and one hobgoblin are carrying a table out past you. It seems to be a map of probably Xhorhas. The length of the table will probably lead it quite deeply into the Empire and Western Wynandir. Essek: [You look over and you can see across the way, Essek has been sitting down in one of the chairs] Well, if a safe and quick means of transportation is required, that would probably be my specialty.

Essek, c2e133: The pursuit of magic, in the ways that we know it, in the ways that we've been disparately, but in some ways similarly raised and studied. At a certain point, it becomes about the self. It becomes about what I can do.

Essek, c2e124: I was granted this post and for the time being I am enjoying the change of pace, strangely. Jester: So you really don't know very much about Aeor, then? Essek: I'm learning as we go, but I just asked to be sent far away. And from what I'd heard, there was quite a bit of competitive acquisition of relics. And if I'm to be honest, that is an intriguing thing. I mean, I'm a man of arcane study, and if there are things here that can continue to progress my- well, my personal studies, then that would be, that'd be perfect.

Essek, c2e124: (Discussing Aeor's ruins) Well, there's quite a bit down there. I've only been in myself a bit, but we can go over that.

Essek, c2e124: I should not leave this outpost, I have responsibilities here and people that rely on me.

Essek, c2e124: Starguide Uraya, Uraya Hythenos, perhaps. A goblin friend of mine, I believe they spoke to you when I was unable to reach out that day. They have returned to Rosohna to deliver reports.

c2e141: He eventually began to feel the possible prying eyes of Dynasty discomfort, and absconded from the Aeorian trade post. (...) He went there to continue his business for the time being, because at least it was far away and there were people there that relied on him, but even that he eventually left.

Talks, c2e89-90: But as a person of his training, his station, and just his general persona and how he likes to present himself, he would never openly show that concern at first.

c2e124: He's intently listening and seems to be genuinely disturbed by the information that he's received. He's taking it in, he's very controlled. Like he's used to listening and, you know. His demeanor since you met him has been very constructed. It is very much an element that he instinctually puts forward. But even in that space you could see him being very contemplative and trying to just take it all in, and nod.

Beau, c2e91: Does the Dynasty have us bugged in this house?  Essek: It would not surprise me if they, at times, chimed in. You have been under watch, here and there, since you've arrived as you were a.. challenging addition to the proximity of the Bastion Fjord: To be specific, we've seen ourselves being watched. We were hoping it was you? Essek: At times it was. No, but it was part of my assignment when you first came under my wing to ensure that there wasn't any chances of undue.. Empire business finding its way within the proximity of the Bastion.

Wrap-up: He immediately was like, "I'll take care of them, I'll work with their business, I'll figure out what they're going, and I'll be their chaperone," essentially. And so it was him just trying to cover his ass, while also trying to figure out what you were up to, what your connections were, how much you knew.

EGtW: Twelve hours of daylight each day can become painful and physically detrimental to those beings adapted to subterranean life. To mitigate this problem, powerful dunamancers have woven arcane shields to temporarily block out the sun above Rosohna. 

Wrap-up: (Verin) was like the brother that kind of got him, and they got along okay in a family that Essek did not get along with at all, and was surrounded by people he didn't get along with. He didn't get along with his parents, he didn't get along with most people in the Dynasty unless they helped him maintain and advance his position of power and influence and so.. you guys fucked him up!

[fragilefears]

On Taskhand Adeen & Essek:

Ok buckle up. I wrote these notes in my phone like 2 months ago while re-listening to c2e90, after doing a re-listen-binge starting from when the Nein decide to pursue Obann in e64.

It kinda only really occurred to me then that while we now know Essek handed the beacons over to the Assembly, the whole Angel-of-Irons-opening-rifts thing was presented as being intertwined with the beacons being given to the Empire... and Essek pinning it on Taskhand Adeen was equally convenient for him and disturbing for everyone else...

and then it was all peace talks and a new beacon and learning that Essek was into shit with the Assembly (and having the Assembly just blatantly LIE repeatedly about their experience with the beacons) and there was so much to process, just... it felt kinda glossed over that the Angel of Irons cult, on its own, was still pretty fucked up with agents on both sides, separate to the beacons. Right?

Like... we’ve now confirmed they were separate things? Like I don’t know that Essek had anything to do with Obann and rifts to the abyss or any of that? So...

Taskhand Adeen did do shady cult shit with Vence? Everybody worried about Essek pinning his actions on an innocent man... Essek doesn’t hide that he thinks he’s a shitty guy so he’s got beef with him for some reason... but also consider that maybe he’s not just some completely undeserving dude on Essek’s petty shitlist?

So I got creative in wildly speculating what might have happened between these two in the Dynasty based on vibes and (albeit questionable) subtext from canon.

Maybe in doing Angel of Irons stuff with Vence, Adeen discovered Essek working with Ludinus.

He used that information to blackmail Essek into doing something (extra work, his Taskhand duties, personal errands?) - and the tiredness in Essek when the Nein meets him is because he’s basically doing both his and Adeen’s jobs or something. (Definitely Essek was also tired from the lying and covering up his own shithead actions but why couldn’t it be both?)

So Essek couldn’t go to the BQ about Adeen without also incriminating himself for dealings in the Empire... and maybe he didn’t understand enough about the cult to bring it up in court, so he just had to take it: until Allura came to call and expressed the severity of the cult to the BQ.

now Essek had a reason to arrest Adeen, and why not also pin the beacons on him since he’d have to modify his memory anyway, to remove the knowledge of Essek’s contacts with the empire... just tweak it so he believed it was himself handing over the beacons.

And the beating it out of him, the show of violence to get the confession, makes so much more sense for Essek to have had a serious desire for vengeance, rather than beating an innocent man just to look the part. Essek’s effectively had a big ol’ role in the war erupting and the loss of many lives, and while at the time he did not care so much as he cared about the information on the beacons he got in return, Essek never behaved as someone who enjoyed being cruel to innocents for the sake of cruelty. But if the Taskhand has been blackmailing and bullying him for 2 years, I could see him having some frustration to get out.

It is, of course, entirely possible (even likely?) that Adeen was just manipulated from the start and never deep in the cult, and his recommendation to assault Rexxentrum at the same time Obann infiltrated the cathedral was just him being influenced by Obann... but what if Adeen was actually fully responsible for his role with Vence and Obann and the rifts and shit?

[flashhwing]

the fic’s cool premise and nice writing style vs the inherent ooc-ness that results from being an essek centric fic written before episode 97

[critrolesideblog]

A collection of ficlets exploring the many names and titles of one, Essek Thelyss.

---

“Bad dreams, Little Bird?”

Nanny’s feet padded softly across the carpeted floor as she made her way to the bedside of a little, Drow boy. Bed covers clutched close to his chest, the boy opened his mouth to reply, with a nervous glance toward the shadowy floor, and then paused, his face scrunched up with indignation.

“I’m not your little bird. Rei is your little bird,” he said haughtily, folding his arms over his chest, visions of Shade Creeper hoards under his bed set aside in the face of this offense. “I am five years old.”

“Ah, of course, my star,” said Nanny, as she sat on the edge of his bed. She patted his arm placatingly. “How silly of me.” She glanced over her shoulder at the infant in the crib a few feet away, and the sight of her pale blue eyes and stardust freckles flashing in the moonlight loosened the grip of fear still clutching at the little boy’s chest. “Although,” she said slowly, after a moment. “I do miss calling you my little bird and singing you to sleep.” She turned back to him, raising her hand to stroke his cheek comfortingly, and he caught the safe, familiar rosemary and lavender scent of her. “Perhaps you could let me sing to you again, just for tonight?”

Already, the little boy was relaxing back against his pillows, his eyelids growing heavy. “Well, alright,” he relented, only because Nanny asked so nicely. “Just this once.”

---

“Kai!”

The little boy, now closer to six, looked up from his favorite spot under the willow tree on the Thelyss estate to see Nanny striding toward him from where she and Rei had been playing on a blanket by the fountain.

The toddler in question was propped up on one hip, and happily shouted “Ta-ah!” as he waved his arms toward his big brother.

Kai frowned and looked back down at the slate board on his lap that he had been using to practice arithmetic. Whatever Nanny wanted probably had to do with the baby. Everything had to do with the baby these days. He wished it could be just him and Nanny again.

“Kai, listen to this!” She said excitedly as she sat down next to him, her attention already turned toward the baby. “Rei...Rei.” The baby’s attention slowly turned back from the nearby flower that had caught his fancy to the woman holding him, and Kai begrudgingly followed suit. “Rei, who is this?” She reached out and tapped Kai on the shoulder.

Rei’s eyes moved from her face to her hand to Kai’a face. “Ta-ah!” He shouted again, and reached his arms out toward his brother, his little hands grasping at the air.

Kai was almost bowled over with the sudden weight of the toddler against him, as Nanny transferred him from her hip to his without warning.

“Yes!” She exclaimed. “Ka-i, that’s right!” She clasped her hand over her mouth as she chuckled happily. Her eyes were nearly obscured by how big her smile was. “He doesn’t have all the sounds yet, but that’s definitely what he’s saying: Kai! His first word is ‘Kai!’”

Rei circled his arms around Kai’s neck, grip painfully tight, and pressed a slobbery kiss to Kai’s cheek. “Ta-ah!” He said playfully, grinding his forehead against Kai’s cheekbone.

Kai reached up and patted the baby’s shoulder awkwardly. Perhaps... perhaps it was not so bad to have a brother...

---

“Iris One.”

“Just a moment,” Kai murmured. He almost had it, almost had it. His experiment last night had been close, so close. He had successfully conjured an echo from an alternate timeline, just for a brief flicker of a moment, but he had done it.

The echo had looked just as surprised as he was.

He only needed to stabilize the effect, and he was so close. So close, he did not notice the strange hush that had fallen over the Lens headquarters. The tension in the air. The odd strain in Taskhand Tasithar’s voice.

“Iris O—“

“It is alright,” said a woman’s voice. “He is clearly engaged in important work.” Someone interrupting Adeen Tasithar in his own office set off an alarm bell in some currently-unoccupied portion of Kai’s brain, loud enough to draw his eyes up off of the piece of paper he was scribbling on. They landed immediately on the unmistakable face of Leylas Kryn.

The Bright Queen was dressed in relative simplicity compared to the few times Kai had caught a glimpse of her in court. She was wearing an elegant, light silver interpretation of a Taskhand’s dress uniform, with the telltale bell sleeves, and a white pauldron on her shoulder. A retinue of a dozen courtiers and guards stood behind her, with the Dusk Captain to her right and Tasithar to her left. All of them wore expressions ranging from bemusement to annoyance to fury as they looked down at where he was sitting... where he was sitting in front of the Bright Queen.

He could not have sprung out of the chair faster if it were on fire. He immediately dipped into a low bow. “My humblest apologies, Your Majesty.” He straightened, self-consciously smoothing the front of his robes. “Please forgive me — I did not realize—“ The Bright Queen held up a hand, and he fell silent.

“You are Dierta’s son, are you not?”

He was going to be eaten alive when he returned home that evening — he just knew it. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

She swept up the papers from his desk, and it took every fiber of his willpower to tamp down the urge to snatch them out of her hand. It’s not finished, he wanted to explain, but he knew better than to speak out of turn. There was a long silence as she poured over the pages. Kai could feel Tasithar attempting to stare him down in his periphery, but he kept his eyes on the Bright Queen.

“You will arrange a demonstration for us, Iris One” she said, at last, as she set the papers back on the desk. “Once the spell is complete.”

Kai quickly dipped into another bow. “Very good, Your Majesty.”

---

The room selected for the demonstration was a windowless rectangle deep below the Lucid Bastion. Kai stood near the entrance with Tasithar. The Umavi stood near the Bright Queen, who spoke quietly with the Dusk Captain, five generals of the Aurora Watch, and two individuals Kai suspected were high-up officials in the Lens.

There were two dozen guards lined up along the walls, and Rei stood in the center of the room at parade rest. His weapons had all been replaced with blunted training blades. He seemed perfectly at ease, Kai noticed, which made one of them.

They were supremely prepared. Rei had practiced the spell until he could perform it in trance. They had run drills backwards and forwards. Kai was confident in the spell and in his brother. This was the moment of truth, of vindication. If all went according to plan, he would no longer be just a new soul. He will have accomplished something, something important and worthy of notice, before even the end of his first century. Rei’s eyes caught his, and Kai could see the excitement there, even at the distance. Rei winked at him.

At an unseen signal, the hushed conversation was silenced, and six guards sprinted forward from their place along the wall, rushing toward Rei at full speed. He unsheathed his sword and cast the spell in one fluid movement. Two shadowy echoes appeared on either side of him and immediately began moving in formation. The fastest guard swung his blade and hit one of the echoes, which disappeared in a wisp of shade, leaving the guard wide open for a disarming attack from Rei, who immediately swung back up and drew the rounded edge of his weapon across the guard’s throat. The guard immediately fell back, hands up: one down. A second guard lunged forward, unsure whether to go for the echo or Rei, and split the difference, piercing empty air between them. The wooden knife that Rei threw in response clearly still hurt badly when it hit the guard in throat — two down. The third guard left herself open when she glanced back at the echo circling behind her — three down. The fourth got a lucky glancing blow, splitting Rei’s lip, when they almost struck for the echo and corrected at the last moment. The correction was not enough, however, as Rei immediately rushed in past the range of their sword and shoved the hilt of his weapon into a deadly weak spot in their armor. Five and six were smart, coordinating with looks and gestures while guard four was being taken out. They both rushed in simultaneously, and as Rei repositioned himself, he flooded the area around him with magical darkness.

“Hmph,” grumbled one of the generals, as grunts of pain and the sound of clashing weapons rang out from the darkened sphere. “I thought this was supposed to be a demonstration.”

“It is a demonstration of his good sense,” said the Dusk Captain, in a tone that discouraged any further comment on the matter, watching the darkness with intense focus.

The darkness evaporated just as quickly as it had appeared to reveal two guards groaning on the floor and Rei, with a new, open cut on the side of his forehead, victorious. He offered a hand to help the two guards up off the floor, who both accepted with good grace, and Kai released a breath he had not realized he was holding.

The Dusk Captain stepped forward out of the group of murmuring generals, and Rei quickly stood at attention.

“Well fought, soldier.”

“Thank you, Captain.” Rei could not quite keep his proud smile from tugging at the corners of his lips and eyes.

“Clearly, the spell has numerous combat applications, but I wonder if other soldiers will be able to learn it as readily, if they have not also grown up with Dunamantic prodigies under their roofs. What do you think, soldier, as one who has learned and used the spell?”

Rei’s eyebrows rose ever-so-slightly at being asked his opinion, and Kai thought he could see the gears turning in Rei’s mind as he considered his answer. “It is true this would not be a technique for just any soldier to learn,” he said, slowly. “But for our most elite forces, they should be able to grasp the practical necessities. Dunamancy has never been my strong suit, but Veljeni is a good teacher.”

There was a short silence, broken by a smattering of suppressed chuckles. Though speaking in Elvish, Rei used the Undercommon for “my brother.” Drow Elvish had developed two dozen words for “brother” over the centuries to account for the complexities of Den politics and consecution. Undercommon made no such distinctions. There was a sweetness to its lack of precision. A barefaced kindness and affection to its bluntness. Kai willed his face smooth, even as he felt his cheeks warm.

The Dusk Captain turned back to the front of the room, her crimson eyes falling on Kai’s for the first time, eyebrow raised. “Well, I think a few of my best guards and I shall put your teaching to the test.”

---

The Umavi did not call him Kai. She certainly had not called him Little Bird or Star. When he was small enough to be called such things, she had not called him anything at all. She did not call him Son, and it seemed she would not be calling him by his chosen name either.

"And would you prefer your consecution to be before or after the Shadowhand ceremony, Child?"

It cracked open the lid on something inside of him. Something too bright and hot to look at, but he felt it condense. A star collapsing into a single, inescapable point. A gravity that could not be moved.

"Neither."

"It will be too much to do in a single day."

"I will not be consecuted."

She did not react. She never did. She was perfect, after all, and perfection cannot be altered. Her face always unmoved. Her voice never changed in pitch. Those who only came in passing contact with her mistook it for serenity. Essek knew it was an odorless, poisonous gas one did not notice until already suffocating.

She gazed at him for a moment, impassive and inscrutable, then said, "As far as anyone else is concerned, we held a private ceremony. Only we will know you are of Den Thelyss, but not a part of it."

He began to bow his head to show he understood, but in the blink of an eye, her hand gripped his chin like a vice, forcing his head back up. He gazed, startled, into her snow-white eyes.

"You walk a lonely path upon the precipice, Child. If you slip, no one will stop you from falling into the abyss." She let go. "Do not slip."

---

"Surely, there is someone you can speak to."

Essek did not look up from his paperwork. All Shadowhands were required to stay apprised of the current state of the war with the Empire, even if it was not technically within the purview of his duties. He let his eyes glaze over the number of casualties. "To what end?"

"It makes no sense that my battalion should go to the Ashkeepers without me." Verin paced from one end of Essek's desk to the other as he spoke.

"Someone must be in charge of Bazzoxan."

"Anyone can be in charge of Bazzoxan: guard the Gates, make sure monsters don't come out, and if monsters come out, you kill the monsters. Simple." The cape of Verin's Taskhand uniform snapped like a whip, each time he made an about face. "Let Beltune have Bazzoxan. I would rather that than have him lead my soldiers into battle. The man is an idiot. He will get them killed."

"And what if he does? They knew the dangers when they enlisted."

The steady rhythm of Verin's boots on the marble floor stuttered to a halt.

"You cannot mean that."

Essek signed the bottom of the report to indicate that he had read it, and moved on to the next one.

"You cannot mean that. These are my soldiers. I am responsible for them. Kai, plea--"

"It is Essek, now, or perhaps, Shadowhand, since you are here on official business." He looked up at last to find his brother looking as though he had been slapped. And, perhaps, some part of him regretted it, but it was boxed tightly away, and he pretended not to hear its suffocated cries.

His brother had never quite mastered the art of keeping a straight face, but he made a valiant effort as he straightened and stood at attention, the silver of his eyes gleaming with rage. "Apologies, Shadowhand, but I think I liked Kai better."

He made one last about face and walked out the door.

---

"What do we call you, just Shadowhand? Or is there another name you prefer?"

"Shadowhand Essek Thelyss."

---

"Hey, Essek! Come over, please!..."

---

“You have a rare opportunity here, Thelyss.”

---

"Welcome to the Mighty Nein."

---

"Would you hand me that chalk for a moment, Treasure?"

The piece of chalk in question slipped from Essek's fingers and clattered to the Tower floor.

Caleb chuckled as he bent down to pick it up from where it rolled to a stop near his boot. "Not exactly what I meant, but that works." He straightened up, and frowned slightly at the wide-eyed look on Essek's face. "Is everything alright, Treasure?"

Treasure... They had cast Tongues so there would be no confusion in translating technical, arcane terms, but the spell did not limit itself to translating only what was needed. Treasure... He had known, from context and common sense, that Schatz was an affectionate term, but he had never inquired about its particular meaning. Treasure... That was a phrase in Common, as well, was it not? A phrase for holding something dear: to treasure it, to be treasured.

The part of him that had been boxed away for so long was getting used to breathing again, but sometimes the sudden rush of air still made him dizzy.

"Yes, all is well."

---

Essek closed his eyes and took a deep breath of the cool, ocean breeze. He wasn't sure if it was the wine, the pitch of the ship beneath his feet, or the sheer unadulterated happiness that was making his head spin, but the breeze steadied him a bit as it ran its fingers through his hair.

He easily recognized the footfalls that approached behind him, the familiar arm that encircled his waist, the warm chest that pressed against his back.

"There you are, Mr. Widogast," Caleb murmured against his ear.

Essek opened his eyes and saw the starlight reflected on the rolling ocean stretching as far as the eye could see. He smiled into the expanse. "Of all the names I've had, I think that one is my favorite."

---

In truth, his favorite name was yet to come.

It would be squealed at him in raucous delight by a green, fanged toddler, running at him as fast her little legs could carry. Murmured by a half-Elven girl with solemn eyes, peering at the space between his feet and the floor. Sent into his mind by a young, Halfling man, out on his first adventure.

"Hey, Uncle Ess, you remember how you said I could call you anytime I needed anything? ... I'm in a bit of a pickle here."

"I will be there as soon as I can."

---

"Can you teach me how to do that, Uncle Ess?"

"I would be delighted to."

---

"Uncle Ess, you're so weird."

"Blame your Aunt Jessie."

---

"I love you, Uncle Ess."

"I love you too, Little Bird."

[essektheylyss]

Favorite Headcanon Saturday! Trying to spread some good vibes around, so this is your excuse to talk at length about your favorite CR headcanon however big or small. And if you don’t want to, that’s okay! I love the way you engage with these characters and following your blog has made this fandom a brighter and more pleasant place to be, so thank you 💛

This was such a lovely message to get, thank you! I immediately forgot all headcanons I've ever harbored when I read it, so I mulled it over this afternoon haha.

My favorite headcanon, and I'm not sure if this is common to others but I've been a proponent of it for a long time, is that the reason Adeen Tasithar was someone Essek saw as deserving of some kind of punishment was because he'd gotten Verin stationed in Bazzoxan after their father died there, instated in his former position as Taskhand.

In my mind Essek, magical prodigy of dunamancy, was always Deirta's favorite, while Verin was their father's, so it was a cruel joke and an insult to send Verin to replace him, but there was nothing to be complained about because it was a promotion and an honor. And Verin, the youngest soul in the den, doesn't have much ground to stand on to make his own choices—he's relying on higher ups in the military system to promote him to places where he can prove himself.

But at the same time, the emotional toll of taking on a beloved father's position after he is killed in action? Very cruel.

So Essek waited until he had a good way to ruin Adeen, and then he buried him.

(And as an aside to this, I think that Ludinus framed Adeen with the Angel of Irons cult, and basically dropped Essek a note that was like, "You're welcome," and let Essek figure out how to use this to get himself off the hook in a blind panic, hence how incredibly sloppy that aspect of the framing was lol.)

[aboxthecolourofheartache]

I would love to know What The Fuck Was Up with Adeen, but you will also have to pry from my cold dead hands my headcanon that Essek was giving his brother a murder-present. “Hey, Verin? Remember that rival Taskhand?” [drops blood-spattered coerced confession transcript on Verin’s favorite jacket and looks oh so pleased with himself] “Took care of that for you.”

Verin: “…Essek, what the fuck.”

[widonotts]

the crux of it all is that caleb may have been that man—he was cruel and ruthless; he tortured, and killed, and burned his family alive—but he is not that man anymore. and similarly, essek may reach a similar point to caleb, but he is not there yet. so while caleb quite understandably hears veth and beau’s lack of forgiveness as a condemnation of his younger self, caleb has atoned and regretted and is actively working towards a positive change in the world. veth and beau cannot be asked to immediately forgive when essek is not at all there yet.

caleb and essek are not at a similar level. caleb might think so, because he is a tragic figure, a man who loathes himself and believes few, if any, could be worse. but caleb was not responsible for the death of thousands for personal enlightenment. caleb did not torture veth’s husband.

essek is a beautiful, morally dark gray character—and when beau asked what it was like to see the dynasty’s prisoner in chains instead of him, essek said it was freeing. that is antithetical to caleb’s worldview (and yasha’s as well); it’s an incredible moment which highlights that, despite the moving dynamic, they are not, in fact, the same. essek considers a weight off his shoulders, but he does not yet seem to be considering a new weight—the weight of trying to do good.

while it was clear they weren’t conscious of the depth of caleb’s projection onto essek, especially as nott was talking (half of it being sam joking), they were not being evil and disgusting for the concept of justice itself. look me in the eye and tell me that veth the brave, whose husband was tortured by essek and whose city was razed because of him, should be able to forgive in an instant.

i, too, found caleb’s dynamic with essek so fascinating this episode—but specifically because matt is doing such an incredible job of distinguishing essek as someone not only quite similar to but also extremely difficult from caleb. and one of my favorite aspects of this episode was caleb in general struggling with his own self-worth—while trying to support the others, but also while hearing things that, because of the way he equivocates himself and every other perpetrator of a Wrong Thing, make guilt and shame and self-loathing bubble up inside him. but as much as violent revenge isn’t actually the solution, and veth’s tendency towards it is a well-established, complex flaw, aspiring towards justice in general is not this reprehensible thing.

tldr; caleb’s vast conflict is extremely poignant and heavy and meaningful to a lot of us, and it’s hard to see moments where he’s struggling. but please, can we not only offer the other characters that same empathy, but also acknolwedge that much of caleb’s struggle is not because of his friends being terrible and inconsiderate, but because of emotional patterns that he struggles to deal with, much less articulate to them.

tldr for the tldr; this whole group is everything. their stories are so important, and their dynamics are so important, and those two things are one because the nein are integral to each other’s stories. it’s beautiful. i would like to see every character offered that same recognition of beauty and complexity and wondrous poignancy.

[obi-bobi-wan]

What did Taskhand Adeen DO? He’s obviously done something big If Essek framed him twice and mind controlled him

And says no one undeserving was hurt

Any thoughts?

[utilitycaster]

Re: why is Essek so afraid of Trent, do you think that Trent played any role in the memory modification of Adeen (the prisoner from Episode 90ish) or do you think that was just Essek who did that? I keep wondering if Essek was shaken up solely because he knew he could be caught in a lie or if there was something more to it (ie he knowingly pinned everything on Adeen but didn’t realize how bad the memory modification spell would be or something). Sorry for rambling, I might be overthinking it!

For that I don’t know, but my guess is Essek did it. I don’t think Trent would bother to help cover tracks that wouldn’t lead back to him (we still don’t know who the real Angel of Irons mole was on the dynasty side, incidentally; Essek just used that as part of the cover-up of the beacon theft to kill two birds with one stone). I don’t think Trent cares about the Angel of Irons cult, and honestly I also think Essek probably had more information about the Angel of Irons (via the Mighty Nein and the Dynasty intel) as well as of course the theft of the beacons that would make him able to more successfully modify the memory of Taskhand Adeen.

It also seems like this would be something that would shake him up far less, not more, if Trent had done the modification, since Adeen was then traded to the Empire in the prisoner exchange.

Personally I think Essek’s fear comes from a couple things and then maybe there’s another factor we don’t know:

Trent is a master manipulator. Beau and Caduceus pick up on immediately after one conversation, and my guess is that while Essek lacks their wisdom, he makes up for it by being incredibly smart and intimately familiar with politics, plus he’s had more than a single conversation; I think it’s safe to say Essek is completely aware of how good a talker, and specifically a propaganda minister, Trent is.

Essek is also fully aware of the volstrucker network. He was involved in the imprisonment and interrogation of one, and given what we know now I would bet he had comprehend languages or tongues cast on himself for Caleb’s second interrogation. He knows that Trent’s specialty is having trained loyal assassins who don’t ask questions, and he is aware that he (Essek) is an inconvenient loose end to the Assembly. I don’t think Essek was being paranoid early on even before Trent explicitly used Caleb’s connection to him. I think he really was at risk, and he already knew that a volstrucker had made it behind Dynasty lines during war time. It wouldn’t be hard for them to get to him in Rosohna.

So between those two things, I think Essek realizes that if Trent (or even those loyal to him - Essek doesn’t know the complexities of Astrid and Eadwulf’s situation, and honestly I don’t think they’d necessarily spare him on Caleb’s behalf) were to come along it would be a convenient way for the Assembly to arrange for him to die in the fight if not before.

It is worth noting that on a natural 1, Essek said he would help from a distance: Essek is fully committed to this fight and to the Mighty Nein for personal reasons already, and he is aware that he may die in this effort. I also have to wonder if some part of him fears that there’s a chance the Assembly and Trent specifically will decide to use some leverage against him and force him back into his role as a traitor, or in some way use Essek’s death to harm the dynasty or those he cares about within it.

There might be other factors that I hope Essek will bring up this next episode, but honestly even what we know is enough. Trent is a scary person! If you have read literally anything about history, especially, say, mid-20th century history, (or if you’re more of a theoretician, Machiavelli’s The Prince) “Propaganda minister with a loyal secret assassin network” should terrify you! Everyone who meets Trent says he a creep including his own allies and yet the only thing likely to unseat him after decades in power is a former student who, through a frankly logic-defying amount of luck, managed to escape his grasp, survive, and become powerful and respected himself.

[luckthebard]

The fact that Essek didn’t go with the Mighty Nein the first time they visited the captured Scourger just makes me wonder more what his job actually is.

He took them to see Yeza, and was in charge of if Yeza could go free, but the only subsequent times he goes with them to the Dungeon of Penance are when they ask him in private and he takes them there in an “off-the-books” capacity. 

So he clearly has access to the prison, and a large amount of authority there, but he also doesn’t seem to work there on the regular (Caleb has to go find him at the Lucid Bastion after talking to the Scourger the first time). And when any of the Mighty Nein ask him about his “work” he only ever responds in reference to his own magical research, which seems to be more a personal passion project than something that’s a part of his court-appointed job. But he also had intimate knowledge of and seemed to be in charge of getting a confession from Taskhand Adeen. Is that his regular job, or did he insert himself in that investigation to help cover his own tracks?

What does a “Shadowhand” do? Is he the only one, or are there tons of them in the Dynasty, like the EGtW implies there are many “Taskhands”? Is Essek a spymaster? Is he in charge of the prison, or is he just high enough in the hierarchy to have access to it, and to insert himself in prison affairs when it benefits him? Does his job have anything to do with the military? Is he involved in research and development of magical weapons (he does seem very familiar with Waccoh)? 

What do you DO all day Essek?? TELL ME, MATTHEW.

[luolands]

Hair/Jewelry/Clothes in the Kryn Dynasty

Leylas Kryn, Umavi, warrior, 1200 yrs: Waist-length white hair, white armored dress, mithril chains, crystal jewelry, sparkling beads, a three-pronged white crystal crown/helmet, and a long white-gray marble staff with a dodecahedron head (c2e56) Abrianna Mirimm, Umavi, Skysybil, diviner, ≲1200 yrs: 2.5 ft long white hair, very long billowing dark blue and black robes (c2e57)

Essek Thelyss, dunamancer, Shadowhand, 120 yrs: Ear-length hair, dark purple/black body-obscuring cloak, elaborate mantle of chitinous armor, comfortable sleek clothing, short chain earring and dodecahedron cloak clasp (c2e57, c2e91, portrait) Verin Thelyss, echo knight, Taskhand, governor and commander of Bazzoxan, <120 yrs: At least shoulder-length hair, intricate chitinous silver armor, long shoulder cape (CRCotN)

Sunbreaker Olomon, near-Umavi, warrior and commander, 'early follower of Leylas': intricately carved and detailed silver armor (celebrating his near Umavi status), dull gray shoulder cape (c2e52)

Adeen Tasithar, Taskhand: affluent clothing (c2e90) Bodo Icozrin, steelworks foreman, middle-aged male drow: shoulder-length hair, goatee, nice clothes, large amounts of expensive jewelry (c2e58) Kryn Noble: at least shoulder-length hair, long silver chain belt, long silver chain cloak fastener with dodecahedron clasp, colorful silk clothing (EGtW)

Galsariad Ardyth, dunamancer, civilian/adventurer, 200 yrs: shoulder-blade length hair, long silver chain jewelry and body harness (CRCotN)

Thuron, echo knight, Zadash infiltrator, lived four lives: White shoulder-length hair (initially tightly bunned), very high quality black leather chitinous armor/helmet, enchanted chitinous boots (c2e13) Thuron's partner, dunamancer, Zadash infiltrator: Long dark cloak, leather half-gloves (c2e12) Lythir VaSuun, graviturgist, border scout: Long beautiful dark-gray robes, decorative but plainer version of Essek's mantle of armor, helmet and long staff in battle (c2e51, c2e56) Lythir's partner, echo knight, border scout: Blackened chitinous Kryn warrior armor (c2e51)

Lucid Bastion guards, drow, military captains and throne room guards: Ceremonial polished silver armor, elaborate captain shoulder-capes (c2e74) Dungeon of Penance Jailor, male drow, 2nd level guard: Simple leather armor with exposed arms (c2e57)

Lady Zethris Olios, governor of Asarius: Hip-length hair that transitions from white to skintone violet at shoulder-length, initially wearing incredibly detailed brocades inlaid into a very long silk robe. Changes to an extremely long trailing white and silver ceremonial dress with shimmering gray crystalline jewelry (c2e52) Aurora Hold bureaucrat, middle-aged male human in Aurora Hold: Curly mid-back length hair in a tight ponytail, dark silver-gray robes with silver jewelry (c2e52) Aurora Hold bureaucrat, early 20s fem drow: White hair in high ponytail w/ loose strands to the mid-chest, dark silver-gray robes with silver jewelry (c2e52) Aurora Hold guards, drow: Mantles of chitinous armor similar to Lythir and his partner, silver-gray robes (c2e52)

Marble Tomes front desk clerk, fem drow: Tightly bunned hair, beautiful silk robes (c2e58) Yun, Marble Tomes enchanter/researcher, young drow 'recently come to age': Very young looking, fresh-faced, bright-eyed and excited with smooth, young skin (c2e62)

Gaben, Gallimaufry Inn owner, middle aged male drow: Slicked short white hair, very well groomed (c2e57) Fadden, jewelry store owner, elder fem drow: Long white hair, very nice silk robes (c2e62) Gallimaufry Inn bartender, middle-aged male drow: Receding widow's peak and hair that falls just past the shoulders (c2e57)

Prima Demona, Bazzoxan storeowner, younger fem drow: Short white bobbed hair (c2e66)

[riahpariah]

someone with better Twitter timing than me needs to ask Matt WTF Taskhand Adeen Tasithar did that was so bad, I burn to knooooooooow

[beetlemancy]

So has anyone talked about how Verin being taskhand at the time of egtw makes it seem like adeen may have fucked with him in some way to get his position which could explain why Essek targeted him to be the scapegoat or am I just late to having this realization

oooooooooooooooooooooooooohmygod. 

Dear Matthew Mercer,

Please release the Dark dynasty government official titles and descriptions List.

Sincerely,

Literally Everyone