...So Singular Grace is joining the Bronze faction huh? That's going to get very awkward very shortly with the Realm's implosion imminent. And the Solar numbers swelling dramatically.
Not nearly as awkward as Ambraea's situation, though. I'm excited that we're coming up on the big historical moment finally, shit's about to get real.
[x] Venom
Arguably the friendliest option for parties. No one likes not being able to track the location of someone they want to keep away from, and we wouldn't want to unilaterally force physical proximity if Verdigris makes people uncomfortable.
...So Singular Grace is joining the Bronze faction huh? That's going to get very awkward very shortly with the Realm's implosion imminent. And the Solar numbers swelling dramatically.
She Exalted in basically the last five minutes of normalcy that the Bureau of Destiny was going to have immediately prior to the Time of Tumult. It's going to be a real busy time to be a Joybringer regardless, though:
Article:
The Division of Serenity oversees all aspects of mortal relationships and culture: romance, marriage, family, art, diplomacy, health, vice, and much more. Of late, it's been anything but serene, as its members carry out countless schemes to avert, postpone, or mitigate the Realm's looming civil war: facilitating negotiations between Great Houses; arranging star-crossed matches within the Scarlet Dynasty; and supporting orators, artists, and poets seeking to turn public opinion against the war. Both the Bronze and the Gold Factions increasingly rely on the Joybringers among their ranks, seeking to ensure the Cerulean Lute's plans align with their own.
...So Singular Grace is joining the Bronze faction huh? That's going to get very awkward very shortly with the Realm's implosion imminent. And the Solar numbers swelling dramatically.
Being fair, the Empress' disappearance isn't *immediately* concerning, it takes several years before people start thinking she might not be coming back(because it's not the first time she's gone on unexplained disappearances). So, even once it happens, we(and she) have a grace period even after the Empress vanishes.
Edit: and even once they start taking advantage, they take advantage in ways that if she comes back she won't *necessarily* have their heads for it. I suspect our *truest* cutoff point of maximum danger is the Bull breaking his own power base against Tepet.
I'd be happy with either of these suitors, all things considered, with perhaps a bit of a lean towards Ambar. I am also wondering what the old man is up to with this favor he wants from Grace.
Arguably the friendliest option for parties. No one likes not being able to track the location of someone they want to keep away from, and we wouldn't want to unilaterally force physical proximity if Verdigris makes people uncomfortable.
His smile lingers for slightly longer this time, something close to approval. He brings his teacup to his lips and takes an experimental sip. "Perfectly prepared," he tells her, "thank you."
You tell him about your work, what you're hoping to achieve, how progress has been. Your general research into the topic of elementals and the sorcerous modification of spirits, and how it differs from the natural Essence cultivation that elementals engage in on the scale of centuries. Darting fish listens with clear interest, both following your explanations and asking intelligent questions of his own. Before long, you've naturally transitioned to discussing Fish's own work, and then aquatic elementals and demons.
"No," he says. And then, outrageously, he strips off his outermost layer of clothing, and dives over the side of the ship, drawing gasps from all around you. You're left watching, dumbfounded, as he begins to swim toward the shore with superhuman speed that not even most Water Aspects could match.
There are so many frightful rumours about poor Amiti, these days," says Sesus Ambar. "Is it true that my cousin has grown so ghostly pale that you can see through her on moonless nights? Kasi insists on making exactly the very threatening, polite little smile she's making right now whenever this comes up, but she hasn't had the privilege of her sister's company in person either, these past years. Does she truly bathe in blood to fuel her dark rituals?"
Which is, of course, what Ambar is driving at. Predictably, even more than from Darting Fish, there is nothing at all of lust when he looks at you.There is, however, desire of a different kind. While there are no guarantees, a marriage to you might well lead to your husband as the honoured spouse of a Great House matriarch, his blood flowing down through generations to come. For just a moment, past his facade of amused nonchalance and your wall of cool stoicism, an understanding passes between you — you're abruptly certain that he might want that even more than you do.
This could be a useful thing to have, in the years to come. A husband who, by merit of his desire to leave a grand legacy, is committed to Ambraea's own rise. It doesn't quite measure up to a peer who wants to travel as well and is not only capable of understanding Ambraea sorcery, but interested in it and has a noble nature presumably reputation ambraea could benefit from, but that's probably more opinion than fact.
He sighs, accepting your hand. "Well, it does seem like the most practical solution, for the time being." You lift him up easily enough, carrying him in your arms without complaint as you begin to walk toward the loudest of the voices. "This would be disgustingly romantic, if we were different people, wouldn't it?" he asks.
Maia giggles at the thought. "Now you can't marry him," she says, "imagine having that kind of story hanging over your marriage. You'd have sensitive young men the Realm over — and Amiti — swooning over it."
Lol. I like Ambra more now that he's become the butt of Maia's Joke. Also, Ambra Ambraea nee Sesus. The name jokes write themselves.
[X] Enlargement
Concealment is fine, but to have a reliable mount which never cowers from threats, to have a great big serpent upon which to charge into battle, to make him more dangerous to anything which threatens Ambraea or her friends, this interests me more.
She Exalted in basically the last five minutes of normalcy that the Bureau of Destiny was going to have immediately prior to the Time of Tumult. It's going to be a real busy time to be a Joybringer regardless, though:
Article:
The Division of Serenity oversees all aspects of mortal relationships and culture: romance, marriage, family, art, diplomacy, health, vice, and much more. Of late, it's been anything but serene, as its members carry out countless schemes to avert, postpone, or mitigate the Realm's looming civil war: facilitating negotiations between Great Houses; arranging star-crossed matches within the Scarlet Dynasty; and supporting orators, artists, and poets seeking to turn public opinion against the war. Both the Bronze and the Gold Factions increasingly rely on the Joybringers among their ranks, seeking to ensure the Cerulean Lute's plans align with their own.
So, essentially, the greatest thing a Joy bringer could do in the time they have left before the realm implodes, is bind as many Iselsi assassins as possible to people who already like Ambraea in horribly romantic pairings, so that instead of plunging the realm into ever greater chaos, they instead act to secure it's peace in a grand conspiracy to restore order, centered on the rise of a new house?
Verdigris is a relatively small snake, born as she is from Ambraea's control spell, Plague of Bronze Serpents. Ambraea feeds her on a diet of lesser spirits swollen with Earth Essence, granting her the ability to grow larger at need.
"Ability to grow larger at need" is the key word @alexthealright . This is an enchantment that gives our bronze friend the ability to grow large at will. From sleeping soundly on Ambraea shoulders to crushing some uppity Hellboar under it's girth.
Stronger venom? A giant battle mount snake? What is even the point if there's a chance of going places where Verdigris can't or isn't allowed to follow?
Today, one invisible serpent familiar. In the future, an entire army of invisible venomous snakes. Subtlety is its own reward, and a special kind of horror.
[X] Venom
"Inconvenient to more powering beings" doesn't cut it as a venom in my book, a little more punch to it is definitely called for (and I assume that's supposed to be "more powerful beings").
I'm not sure why people are so interested in the idea of riding a giant battle snake...okay, now that I've typed that, nevermind. It's awesome. But it still seems to me to be the least valuable of all the options, we aren't a calvary unit here.
Also, I am officially all-in on V'neef Darting Fish. Dude sees some random shmuck in real trouble and is like, "Screw all y'all and your fancy party, Imma go help." It's impressive moral clarity and personal priorities, all the more impressive because he wasn't entirely sure there was a problem.
No one likes not being able to track the location of someone they want to keep away from, and we wouldn't want to unilaterally force physical proximity if Verdigris makes people uncomfortable.
