The Last Daughter; Dragon-Blooded Sorcery School Quest
- Thread starter Gazetteer
- Start date
- Fantasy
grommile
nasty-minded old cynic
- Location
- NERV-Mercia
- Pronouns
- Traditional/Animate
I believe the underlying theory is that Maia will not be comfortable with being protected by Ambraea when it's "her job" to protect Ambraea.
Also, there are sociopolitical implications to an Imperial princess telling people that she sealed a bonded pact comparably intimate to marriage (arguably more intimate, given the nature of matriage among aristocrats) with her high school girlfriend while they were still at high school.
"I, Ambraea, swear to stand beside you, Iselsi Maia, as sworn kin. To defend you against all others. To keep faith with you ahead of all others. To be your pillar of strength, the solid Earth you walk upon, the bulwark against your enemies. By Pasiap, I swear. By Mela, Sextes Jylis, Hesiesh and Danaa'd, I swear. By Earth, by Air, by Wood, by Fire, by Water, I swear. On my honour as a Prince of the Earth and an Imperial daughter, I swear."
Ride or die. We promised to defend Maia, not just to be defended by her. We are the kind of person who gets married in high school.
- Location
- Nova Scotia
- Pronouns
- She/Her
A Hearth bond is usually not romantic, except for where it is. In Dynastic society it is treated as a very intimate lifelong commitment, though. It's common for them to formed on the spot among relative strangers coming together for a common goal (the signature Hearth in 3e is formed when the survivors of a near disastrous Realm Wyld Hunt join up with a Lookshyan ranger and an outcaste from the Scavenger Lands and band together to hunt down the Anathema in question). There still is a bit of disapproval if the perception is that it's something someone rushes into without pressing need or deep contemplation, however.
It's pretty normal for a Hearth to form right after or shortly before finishing secondary school, so Ambraea and Maia had been sort of quietly holding out until their seventh year to let on about this.
It's pretty normal for a Hearth to form right after or shortly before finishing secondary school, so Ambraea and Maia had been sort of quietly holding out until their seventh year to let on about this.
- Pronouns
- Reader
There is more to it than that. Maia is asserting herself as an equal partner in the hearthbond with the right to make decisions about threats to herself and Ambraea. She acted believing in her ability to weather the suspicion out of faith in her ability to handle Nalri without leaving sufficient evidence to prove anything.
From Maia's point of view, Ambraea throwing away their careful plans to keep there hearth bond secret until a more appropriate time is as much a statement of lacking faith in Maia as it is a protective gesture of solidarity.
There is also the reactions of other parties to consider. The Empress and Clan Iselsi in particular, her Burano relatives and the rest or the realm to a lesser degree. Revealing this will have a knock on effect. In the realm it's never quite as simple as protect someone or don't protect them.
There are nuances to consider. Announcing it this way is the proactive response but also a hasty one. Frankly I'm not convinced it's necessary with how many of Nalri's projects Deizil has been sabotaging. A look into her conduct in the recent year paints the picture of a student clearly struggling to deal with the course work of a seventh year, which makes it easier to accept an explanation of her meddling with forces sufficiently beyond her to invite death.
Since I feel confident in Maia's abilities and the odds of this being dismissed, Ambraea stepping in like this is more rashly overprotective than endearing. It's from a good place, but not precisely needed and a little ill advised.
On the one hand, this is literally "if you were a good friend, you'd help me hide the body." But on the other hand, I feel like good friends should refrain from creating bodies that need hiding without a good reason.
Like, all Nalri did was steal our friend's homework and be smug about it. Unless I'm missing some important bit of context, like she was using mind control charms or those notebooks were the equivalent of a doctoral thesis, murder seems a bit excessive.
[X] Attempt to keep the secret for at least another year, stay out of it
Like, all Nalri did was steal our friend's homework and be smug about it. Unless I'm missing some important bit of context, like she was using mind control charms or those notebooks were the equivalent of a doctoral thesis, murder seems a bit excessive.
[X] Attempt to keep the secret for at least another year, stay out of it
- Location
- Nova Scotia
- Pronouns
- She/Her
She set up a scenario in which Ambraea went over a cliff and was placed in life threatening danger back in year 3, and Maia has been mad about it for two years while Ambraea didn't really feel the need to get even with her until after graduation.
Now, Nalri is on the verge of graduating and is fucking with Maia's other friend, and it's kind of the last straw for her.
Still, quite reasonably, kind of excessive.
- Location
- New York
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[x] Attempt to keep the secret for at least another year, stay out of it
Changing vote again.
Maybe announcing the hearthbond would reassure Maia that's it's a meaningful and trusting relationship, or maybe it'd upset her that we didn't stick to the plan, truly no way to know, total coin flip.
I do think Maia would be upset us for ditching the plan for her, but if I'm wrong and she gets caught then hopefully we can make some suitably dramatic gesture that destroys our social standing way worse than a hearthbond later to get her out of it.
Changing vote again.
Maybe announcing the hearthbond would reassure Maia that's it's a meaningful and trusting relationship, or maybe it'd upset her that we didn't stick to the plan, truly no way to know, total coin flip.
I do think Maia would be upset us for ditching the plan for her, but if I'm wrong and she gets caught then hopefully we can make some suitably dramatic gesture that destroys our social standing way worse than a hearthbond later to get her out of it.
- Location
- Chicago
- Pronouns
- She/They
I am hoping that if Maia is actually accused and standing trial, we could unveil the hearthbond then, even if we keep it secret now. Hmm.
Truth is, I want to lean into the OOC knowledge that proprietary is not going to be a useful tool in the not so distant future, but I think Ambrea has no clue what is coming yet.
Truth is, I want to lean into the OOC knowledge that proprietary is not going to be a useful tool in the not so distant future, but I think Ambrea has no clue what is coming yet.
- Location
- Nova Scotia
- Pronouns
- She/Her
If you pick the "do not reveal your hearthmate status and lie to protect Maia" option, the consequences of that vote aren't going to lead you back around to getting the hypothetical benefits of the first one as well anyway.
- Location
- Norwell
[X] Attempt to keep the secret for at least another year, stay out of it
- Pronouns
- Reader
I think the big downside of reveal is increased scrutiny, particularly from clan Iselsi. Maia has been hiding this from them as well afterall. It coming out as an Alibi in a murder investigation is at minimum likely to provoke some kind of response or inquiry from them.
- Location
- UK
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Murder is a serious crime but in setting what's a typical response? Would someone expect swift punishment without trial for this kind of thing? Are executions common?
Would her or Peleps' family's address it personally? Wouldn't expect to have our cake and eat it too but wondering what situation would lead to spiralling with no chance for Ambraea to act
- Location
- Nova Scotia
- Pronouns
- She/Her
The consequences of this could range from actual legal action (the murder of a Dynast is a big deal -- being a Dragon-Blood gives Maia preferential treatment under the law, she's not immune to it), to expulsion, to just like... "Nalri's family is suspicious enough to do something about this". The latter is still potentially pretty serious, since Nalri's family is House Erona's patron house.
It depends on how much evidence there is and who manages to keep what quiet.
It depends on how much evidence there is and who manages to keep what quiet.
While that's certainly true, I'm not sure I'd call Maia safer sans both inquiry and hearthbond. Weapons are there to be expended.
- Pronouns
- Reader
Depends on your point of view. I think Maia did well enough in hiding her part in Nalri's demise that she's unlikely to receive to much heat or punishment, thus making drawing attention from Clan Iselsi the more dangerous prospect.
Assets exist to be used, but timing is everything, and expending a weapon unnecessarily can be disastrous. It's up to us as individuals to decide whether it's truly needed now, and I've personally decided it isn't.
I think that Maia views herself as expendable and that refusing to intervene would affirm that belief. She acted to keep Ambraea safe and Ambraea would be letting her bear all the consequences.
If Ambraea vouches for Maia, then she is sharing the consequences. It affirms that they are equal partners and that Maia can't endanger herself for Ambraea's sake without also hurting Ambraea.
If Ambraea vouches for Maia, then she is sharing the consequences. It affirms that they are equal partners and that Maia can't endanger herself for Ambraea's sake without also hurting Ambraea.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[x] Announce your status as Maia's sworn kin, lie to protect her
- Pronouns
- Reader
Both are likely true. This is a real win some lose some situation.
Edit: Though I'm not sure if Maia will see Ambraea as actions as making them equals so much as not trusting Maia's abilities. A person can intend one thing and have it be taken another way by a different person.
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- Location
- Virginia
[X] Announce your status as Maia's sworn kin, lie to protect her
Vote closed, Year 5 04
- Location
- Nova Scotia
- Pronouns
- She/Her
- Pronouns
- Reader
Well, at least we can finally witness Amiti gush about there terribly romantic vow after demanding to know the details.