#wbn the citadel

[queerlyvictorian]

The Wizard, the Witch, and the Wild One Ep. 30 SPOILERS

Saw a post that made me think about what Tefmet might know about name-cloaks. Brennan goes out of his way to point out that they say "My name is Tefmet." I don't know if that is a name-cloak or what, but I think they are at least familiar enough with the concept to use specific wording. Either they just gave a witch their true name (unlikely), or there is some sort of obfuscation happening, either magical or mundane deception. Ame's initial insight rolls weren't that great.

I don't know how familiar they are with the specific customs of the Citadel they are, but given their physical age and assuming it's mostly accurate with their actual age, they've been alive since after the Citadel was founded. They react nervously to Ame mentioning "S-names," the custom of graduated wizards of the Citadel, so I think they know enough about the descendant organization of the Accordati to be extremely wary and (justifyably) paranoid about anything having to do with them. I was a little surprised that Ame freely volunteered to a Wizard of the Citadel that she met one of their historical enemies. I get that it's Suvi Sky, and she's trying to build trust back, but she really did just blow up Tefmet's spot at the first opportunity. I hope Suvi Sky doesn't do anything that makes Ame regret being so forthright.

Suvi Sky is getting better and thinking for a moment before letting her Citadel training take over, but I wonder if she was prepped in how to deal with members of the Antivali. Or, I think it's also possible that the Citadel does not know any of their old enemies survived. And then, if that's the case, will Suvi Sky spill the beans? It might earn her serious acclaim, but it also feels very bad to tell the Imperial Magical Industrial Complex that the power they see as proprietary is being learned and practiced by even one person not pledged in service to the Empire. More than very bad. It feels dangerous. Deadly.

Tefmet's days might be numbered.

[whoopseydaisy]

in honour of the citadel arc starting today please share in the morsel of the mostly current state of the citadel painting i started right after the website drop after i listened closer and found the secret audio at the end

[chillinglikeashilling]

I love love love the contrast between first Suvi and then Sworn extending care to Maddy as an untested young Wizard under harrowing circumstances vs. Indri taking on all of these young Witch apprentices with the express purpose of consuming/destroying them once they actually learn any magic.

I love the reminder that for Suvi, the Citadel is her home and school, and also all of the other things.

It's not just the army she's wanted to fight for, it's also the streets and people of her family and community, it's all her teachers, professors, the panel for her Wizard grad school thesis. It's the place where she did a bunch of stupid kid stuff that almost got her killed, and it's where whatever she's going to become with Silver started.

It's also the place that's crushing the life out of her best friend. It's the thing that Morrow was aiming for when he trapped Naram. It's the thing her parents died for instead of coming back to her.

And Indri, by very funny contrast, is just the world's worst Intern supervisor. 0/10 experience, would not get my magic consumed again. Just absolutely the worst.

[embraceweird]

In ep 24 "Knock Knock" I found this interaction between Kalaya and Eursulon so fascinating

Kalaya: You're a true friend of a wizard of the citadel?

Eursulon: Yes.

[...]

Kalaya: Is she kind?

Eursulon: She can be.

It felt like such a big sister thing to be cautious of this wizard and have concern for her little brother. A spirit in a world that can be unkind to wild ones such as themselves.

But more interesting than that was Eursulon's answer. "She can be." It could be interpreted as, sometimes she is kind and other times not. Which we have seen both from Suvi (wielding the power, prestige, and station of a wizard vs loving and cherishing her friends).

But it could also be interpreted in a future connotation. Like she COULD be kind but we have yet to see. Will the citadel justification machine take over or will she retain the lessons learned from grandmother wren and hold on to a respect for the world of spirits

Last Eursulon saw Suvi she was caught between her friends and the citadel. And while wizardry is not innately unkind the systems put in place by the citadel can be concerning. Suvi has the potential to go down an alarming path with the brass of the citadel pushing her along. She has the capacity to be "unkind". But the gut reactions we see from her. The Suvi reactions, not Sky or the citadel, but SUVI are always kind. With her friends in her life Suvi can be kind and would continue to be kind. But her friends keep pulling away and the fall out from the last goodbye may be very influential into who Suvi will be.

Eursulon may not have meant much by his response but it feels very ominous in that we are yet to see the type of legacy this interation of the wizard Sky is going to leave.

[inflagrante-delicatessen]

wizard jungle juice of unlimited power (cover charge)

[stupidsexygrizzop]

my favorite dnd setting is shining city of wizard hubris crafted by brennan lee mulligan

[thedeadhead]

I imagine once brought up to speed on his involvement in the war, the Citadel would be willing to lend Ame aide on the day the Man In Black arrives at her door again

Probably won’t be the case, but you Should imagine the wizards all scheming on how to best trap the cottage

Man In Black: “Ame, Witch of Toma, I have come as promised, I —“ *boot steps onto the path, magic landmine goes off*

Steel in the bushes with camo face paint: “OPEN FIRE ON THE EDGELORD ON THE ROAD” *9th level fireball*

And then a thousand wizards in gillie suits jump up from hiding as well holding guns and shoot him

Alt.

Man In Black: *knocks on the cottage door*

Door opens, it’s Steel with a steel chair: “Surprise Motherfucker”

And then she hits him over the head with it, no magic, full beats him to death

[thespoonisvictory]

also idc I love the citadel and all its wizard hubris I love the intersection of innovation and horror and progress and crushing others underfoot AND also clothes that magically put them on themselves and Citadel Made bouncy balls and secret societies and universities!!! and espresso and arcane discovery and and and

[jaztice]

EVERYONE IN THE WBN FANDOM! LET'S PLAY A GAME!

Put in the tags what your S wizard name would be!

[operationslipperypuppet]

the way i was like “fucking finally” when suvi started yelling at ame…

[hoarding-stories]

Very very fun implication that whatever Tefmet is at the north pole for, it's to be dealt with after Ame is killed and the station of the World's Heart is no more

I wonder if she does survive whether Tefmet will still meet with the conclave to discuss whatever it is

[samcat18]

Ame having a whole time traveling with the wizards and Struggling with the group stratification is breaking my heart even though i knew it would happen -- citadel interpersonal politics are one of those 'the system is designed to do what it does' moments that is so fun to listen to but would be Bad to live in

[whoopseydaisy]

the first time I listened to www: interlude #2: the clearing i was so lost in the sauce but upon a re-listen i think the wizards did in fact create the glass desert.

aiden is told by corillia— I have received some information that we may have limited time in the forest, however it is crucially important that the beast be slain….you may not have time…

aiden is told by the crowned panther— you have time, once you have killed me— run. you have precious little time, run.

he walks around that glade for days before he sees the brightness grow and the sand come.

would the wizards be able to create the desert if he had not slain the crowned panther, if he had not taken his heart? was the witch corillia working with the wizards and hired him for that very purpose? i think it’s surely possible. i think his destruction and desecration of such a sacred place, causing all its surviving magic to leave left a space the wizards (the accordati?) could then exploit and change for their own.

but he had time to run.

[acourtoffeyandfables]

“Sometimes people stab you with a knife. And it sticks in your body. And if you’re clever enough, you have a new knife”

[embraceweird]

Tefmet's a real one, I could feel the flop sweat from here

Why does the antivalist have to be so hot and charming???

[swordscleric]

The Wizard Sly is the funniest goddamn wizard in the citadel and also that “if you prevent catastrophes that never happen, you aren’t important” line is just every programmer who worked on y2k