I just want to note that Mathilde also doesn't have that much experience when it comes to parenting. She sure as hell won't use her own parents as a guiding light and after that her apprenticeship with Regimand wasn't that orthodox either. She definitely didn't have the kind of leisurely and low responsibility childhood we are used to when she herself was 10. Also, remember how she compared little prince Mandred to Wolf?
I'm not saying I'm against the idea. I just want to dampen the expectations of anyone who thinks Mathilde will magically be able to "give Eike what she's missing".
That's a fair point, and perhaps parenting isn't the proper term for what Mathilde can offer Eike. She
can however, become a wise mentor and close confidant for Eike when she gets frustrated by Wilhelmina's controlling/dominating influence. It would provide a healthy outlet for Eike to honestly express herself without judgement for who she is or wants to be, without a burden on her shoulders to fill the shoes Wilhelmina wants her to. To be encouraged to
grow into her own person.
And we have plenty of examples of Mathilde doing such with the Ducklings, prominently with Hubert:
For a moment you think you might have pushed him a bit too far, but after a long moment he looks down at his hands as lightning crackles along his knuckles. "I never wanted to be a Wizard of the Celestial Order," he says quietly. "But I find I've liked being a Wizard of Karak Eight Peaks."
You smile, and reach out and ruffle his hair. "If that's what you want to be, that's what you can keep being. You've got it in you to achieve greatness whatever path you end up taking, but not if you never pick a path."
I would like
this kind of
uplifting scene to happen, both because Eike is an important partner and also because we should help when the opportunity presents itself. Mathilde might not have had a pleasant family past, but that doesn't mean her lack of experience prevents her from trying to help other kids if she could.
You consider this as an avenue to ask about the Damsels, but decide against it as you've heard that Bretonnians are touchy about them. "How fare the Undumgi?" you venture instead.
...
The two of you speak a while longer, and you find yourself impressed by how seriously she is taking her new role. From her words, it seems she has taken personal responsibility for the safety of all travel east of Death's Crossing and west of the Badlands. More generally, you're reminded that though she joined the Expedition as a vagabond warrior, she was raised and educated amongst Bretonnia's nobility. She seems as skilled an orator as she is a swordswoman, and you've no doubt she could be quite charming and convincing if she wanted to be. Part of you is uneasy that you don't have a good grasp of her motivations - she seeks the Grail, and you know little enough of what that means normally, let alone what it means when the seeker is quite happy to play games with the exact wording of the Grail Vow.
While we're discussing cool new stuff to research like the new Shadowrealm, intermingling Divine Portfolios (Karnos-Taal cult) or
Theurgy (
hopefully people haven't given up on it yet), I want to remind those interested that we have a
Bretonnian native in K8P that we can take Social actions with to learn more about Damsels, the Holy Grail and the Lady of the Lake.
I think Soizic presents another opportunity for Boney to showcase his compelling ability to write cross-sections of other cultures and his personal take of Bretonnia, which I've wanted to see since Carcassonne became interested in the Dwarves from the December vote. Furthermore, from the one scene we saw with her, she sounds like a character with truly unique perspective and philosophy that once revealed will get us hooked on learning more of her life experience.
I mean c'mon she's a noblewoman from Bretonnia who tried to break traditional convention by pretending to be a male Knight, she has a flexible enough mindset to adapt her Grail Vow despite being exiled, and still maintains a moral duty to defend people despite all her setbacks. I feel like she's underrated despite all the plotlines she presents, considering Mathilde's
Xenophile Trait.
A Journeywoman dating a Lady Magister...
Pan technically qualifies as a Magister already, since she can get promoted whenever she has free time so it's less unbalanced than it initially seems. On that note, I was doing some rereading and found it quite endearing how the Pan's grown more confident and comfortable being around Mathilde, especially since she was apparently shy regarding matters of intimacy:
"Okay, leave him alone," you say, and Hubert is foolish enough to shoot you a grateful look. "Whatever form of dismounted swordplay he practices with the General is between him and her." Gretel and Adela dissolve into laughter, and Max and Johann are both fighting back grins. Panoramia, to your surprise, is blushing almost as much as poor Hubert. Weren't Jades supposed to be more worldly?
She sighs, and then starts to unbutton her robes. "Anyway..."
You can feel your face heating up as a thousand risque scenarios rush through your head. "Uh, Panoramia, what- what?"
She looks at you oddly. "We're up here to swim, aren't we?"
Oh. Oh."I only had the hike and the view in mind," you say faintly, only mostly relieved. You should be looking away, but find yourself unable to as she shrugs off her robes. Even though the shift underneath doesn't reveal much more than her robes did, they were still her underthings. "I don't even know how to swim."
She smiles at you. "Didn't you learn to swim as a child? In a dam or a dew pond or something?"
Though, it was slightly surprising she initially felt flustered considering the Jade College apparently has its roots in a fertility cult. How Pan nonchalantly invites Mathilde to swim despite the awkwardness shows a degree of trust in opening themselves up to each other.
So it doesn't require whiskers or musk, and it doesn't dip above or below what human hears are capable of hearing,
Typo: hears -> ears
Ideally that will be when whatever emergency they were transformed for is dealt with, but I figured it they were rendered unconscious they're probably done for anyway."
Typo: figured it -> figured
if
So with pride firmly swallowed, you make your way to Aldorf and enrol yourself in some of the foundational courses on practical diplomacy
...
Your question was confined to the inside of your mind and rhetorical besides, but the lecturer must have picked up in it anyway,
Typo: Aldorf -> Altdorf
Typo: picked up
in it ->
on it
Part of the upholstry of the chair springs to life
Typo: upholstry -> upholst(e)ry
The trial was postponed for Wilhelm III to go reconquer Marienburg, but they were allied with Ulthuan and things went devastatingly bad for the forces of the Empire. Wilhelm went 'wow okay point fucking made holy shit' and reopened the Colleges in 2430.
Official history records the Great Fire of Altdorf that burned the district surrounding the Bright College as happening in 2431, as part of an 'accident' when 'rebuilding' the College. It's probably for the best if you pretend to believe that.
Btw,
@BoneyM what was the implication/hint as to why this 'accident' happened? Wilhelm III had just lifted the ban on magic so there should've been a tentative peace settling, so why would the Bright College cause a Great Fire to break out and potentially
inflame tensions? (Pun intended.)
Just curious if you could enlighten us with more background knowledge, for those who aren't familiar with the WHFB franchise.
however, yeah fair nuff. Hopefully, they're still around since having that kind of support seems useful to a college.
