VEROS

I know we are sorely close to the Ichor-Slay

And should be finessing the more tertiary strategies

But I want to change tact

?

GUILDE

What's the suggestion?

ROSEN

I’ve received nascent intel

The new priority must be to assassinate Astesh

The pamphlet-maker?

How could that runt be worth any of our strategy

They’ll be far out on the southern pole; he’s deputy

Behind cordons of Symbolic

Indeed, it'd be the riskiest mission

They are worthless fighters

You will both easily break through the ranks

But even so, all this energy to kill a word-splurter?

What happened to House Void being our primary enemy

And wait

What do you mean "both"?

I am tasking you both with this important mission

We have so many other brawny Triads at our disposal

That could do the job

Surely we would be best served by your side, enacting strategy and commands??

You are not scared of shedding ichor, are you?

Of course we aren’t

This is not about our pride, it’s about priorities

This is very un-you, Veros, to simply switch to a reckless plan

I am disappointed you both have so little faith

After so long following my aims of grandeur

Your aims of grandeur are grand and all when they make sense!

Ultimately, remember

I am Leader of House Power, so it will be so

Fine

It is not, but fine

What is this ":intel" you speak of?

O, no matter of that

I think fucking otherwise if we’re to risk our lives for an oh-so-knowledgeable stranger!

He knows the whirrs of House Symbolic well, and knows Astesh is a furious danger

We think of his words as meaningless now, but they will climb flame-like if we let them

I find it ridiculous to believe Astesh speaks more than naïve bullshit

You both better not turn against me, I hope?

Well of course not

…

But we want to know why we stay

Because I am the future God of War, that’s why

That is that, amen upon amen, end-of

Now

I must prepare my molten broadsword

I am excited to brandish it for this exam

Did he say “of War”

Did our leader glug an entire keg of ambrosia

In the seconds between our last chat and this one

Is that why he has become so eminently fucked

It is really perverse and concerning

I don’t know what to do

If we stick to the original plan, then it’s pronounced as a schism, and the House could break down mid-battle

But if we follow our Leader’s orders...

Then we could perish

…

Maybe we just require faith

That could get us over to victory

But I’m sceptical nevertheless

But we continue despite it all, I suppose

Suppose all you want

I’m going to do some digging

I’ll find this “intel”, even if the search exhausts me to quantum foam