funbreaker | shit's going down in thorne (what else is new)

shit's going down in thorne (what else is new)

[ It's early evening when Thancred's message arrives, sent specifically to Istredd, Kyle, Stephen, and Yennefer. These are the people he's identified as the most at risk based on the note he received. To narrow it down to a number that could safely travel without attracting attention in the night had been its own monumental task, and he can only hope he's gotten it right.

Assuming all of them even agree to Jolene's offer. ]

Meet me in the secure wing of Istredd's domain in half an hour.
It's urgent.

[ Did he ask Istredd about this? No. Yet it's where they've had private meetings in the past, such as the one with their allies in the Free Cities, and so it seems the best option. Istredd will understand that if Thancred is invoking this, it's because it's serious. ]

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[ yennefer's entrance isn't nervous, exactly, though somewhere layered in the casual familiarity that she carries with her whenever she walks into istredd's domain is a tension she wouldn't normally bring. for thancred to send a message saying that they need to meet, that it's urgent, and to pick a horizon domain on top of it all - yennefer's mind spins. the memories may not be real, may be too many to count, but still yennefer's feels herself sift through them as she returns to her room to meditate, memories of a coup, of the fall of a kingdom. to-

stepping through the door of istredd's private study immediately has that tension in the forefront as she meets istredd's eyes and moves on to the bar. to wait as the others join. kyle's entrance grabs her attention for a bit longer than the others, trying to piece together what this could all be about, until thancred starts speaking. until they all listen, thancred's hands on the table, as he mentions a coup.

yennefer stills - enough of her having expected this would come some day, and still somehow feeling wholly unprepared. she does not look to anyone else when he mentions being caught up in their connections with the crown, her eyes on thancred alone.

istredd's question is a good one. one that yennefer was thinking herself. it's soon after he's asked it that she follows up with her own, her arms crossed over her chest, wound tight. ]

And how did she come by this information?

[Stephen knows, perhaps, that it’s never anything good. Maybe it’s just in his nature to be wary (and weary) and cynical, but he arrives with every line in his body taut. Eyes casting over the room, nearing the bar where Yennefer sits — though he takes no seat of his own, simply leaning a hip against it with his arms crossed tightly at his chest.

He’s right, of course. It’s nothing good. It's a coup, an upheaval headed straight toward where they live.

Stephen closes his eyes, sighing softly sometime mid-explanation. He lets the others ply their questions, moving the possibilities around in his head. Already trying to judge which actions they should take, now, even though it’s too early to come to any real conclusion.

As much as he hates to toss one more question onto Thancred’s plate before they’ve truly begun, he supposes that’s the burden his friend must bear for taking the lead. And so—]

“Caught up in this.” [Wry.] Say it like it is. Punished, you mean.

[ It is no surprise that all of them are taking this seriously, that all of them are just as wound up as Thancred feels — this is the exact sort of thing they've been dreading and anticipating for years now. In that sense, they should feel prepared, and yet can you ever truly be ready for that sensation of a rug being pulled out from under you?

They also have questions, most of which he can't answer. He keeps his gaze on Yennefer at first, with the way that her eyes are boring into him, but he can't tell her (or any of them) any more than what he read. ]

I don't know much. I found the letter in my room [ here he briefly looks to Stephen, as that room is now the one they share ], and it was clearly enchanted. It burned to ash as soon as I finished reading it. [ An obvious sign that Jolene is taking due caution here, and that she understands full well the danger they're in. ]

It said that events were in motion under our feet and that I should gather any who have made themselves friends of the court, but that the "mule" could only take a few of us.

[ Which had left him in the uncomfortable position of having to pick and choose. ]

This all happens tonight. She set a time. We have a little over five hours to decide what we will do, now.

[ Thancred nods to Stephen, not missing how he pressed right to the heart of the matter. ]

My worry is that "punished" is putting it lightly.

[ It's not like Thorne hasn't done terrible things to Summoned in the past. Who's to say they won't decide to make an example of them? ]

[ They all knew that power in Thorne was tenuous and that things could go wrong at every time. The ground beneath them has never been solid. They'd even talked about throwing a coup themselves to handle the queen after what she did to Libertas, but it never seemed like a serious option. Istredd has said before his concern with taking out the queen was the power vacuum she would leave behind, and the weakness it would put Thorne into. That is exactly what an admiral would step in to control.

His mind is whirling and he starts pacing behind his desk. Significant danger. He has made himself valuable to Ambrose and therefore the crown, and all of them have. He understands that Thancred had to make a choice. Now they do. Leaving for him is not an option, but he doesn't say that just yet. ]

Where would we go? Did she mention that?

[ Kahlil remains quiet. Whether he fully trusts this warning and offer or not doesn't matter, he supposes. Neither does Istredd's next question. He can already guess his friend isn't going to leave Lucifer behind. Which makes his decision for him, as though he really had a choice.

He gives Thancred a grim look, and a tilt of his head. ]

I appreciate the offer, but I can't leave yet. [ Before anyone can object - ] I have my own way out if it comes down to it.

[ He doesn't rely on portals like the mages and he has his brooch to get past border wards, although he's not going to rely on that functioning for much longer. But he's not stupid, he's putting forth more confidence than he has that he'll be able to skip out. And his abilities aren't exactly suitable for helping anyone else out. ]

[ thancred does meet her eyes, and it's the confirmation she needs that there isn't anything more to be read. to understand. she feels a spark of anger rise in the back of her throat, something she's very familiar with. fear.

this was coming - they all knew as much. no one who has any concept of how royals work, how long kingdoms do and don't last, thought this would last forever. but having it so soon after their time at the singularity...

years. years spent within these walls. and now what?

thancred continues with what he knows - the enchanted note, the timeline, the implications. he mentions a mule and it takes quite a bit of effort to keep yennefer from snorting, just because it all sounds so ridiculous. ]

And what if it's a trap?

[ because there's no question for yennefer - she had taken her place with the queen knowing it would be precarious. knowing that it would provide her with as much as it would risk her. she made that choice knowing what could happen, knowing that at some point this exact situation would arise, and yet...

thancred brought them all together because they all are at risk, but yennefer knows to what extent her own neck is on the line. ]

And when did we decide Jolene Sybell was someone we could trust?

[ yennefer shakes her head. no- none of this sounds worth it. ]

[And yet Stephen pinches his brow with this new information, wondering if it’s worth it, indeed. His thoughts align with Yen’s — they were on unstable ground from the day they arrived here, especially within the walls of Thorne castle, where politics set the foundation at any given moment, keen to shifting and cracking when a change in power rumbles across the stage. It seems that point’s on its way; and to him, they’re to be considered fortunate that they have any warning at all.

If it’s legitimate.

He doesn’t add his opinion on whether he should flee or remain. It’s frustrating, the idea that he might be uprooted at the behest of someone else’s political maneuvering, but he sets that thought aside for now to try to look at this rationally.]

Unfortunately, this is the kind of warning that we can’t ignore, even if it isn’t legitimate. I’d rather risk it being a trap than being real and turning a blind eye to something we could have prepared for.

[Stephen Strange, after all, always opts for the option to control the situation in any way possible.]

Who do you think the mule could be?

[ Thancred shakes his head in response to Istredd's question, realizing how frustrating it must be that the information he has is so limited. However, he views it as yet another sign that Jolene was taking every possible caution. If the note was intercepted, it would be more difficult to track them if there was no intel about where they were headed.

Kyle, meanwhile, seems to have already made his decision. Thancred glances to him, his jaw set and a furrow in his brow, but he isn't going to argue with him. If he has a means of keeping himself safe, then that's some small comfort, at least.

He may not argue with Kyle's decision, but Yennefer — it's far more complicated with her. She hasn't announced a decision either way, but it's no particular surprise that Stephen is the one to speak up in response to her and point out that this is not a situation where it would do them any good to gamble. ]

I can't assure any of you that this isn't a trap, but I will say that Jolene undertook no small amount of risk in delivering the note to me. I don't think she would have done so simply to ensnare a few Summoned.

[ He can't be certain, but that's what his instincts are telling him, for all that they're worth. ]

In fact, she's assisted other Summoned in fleeing Thorne in the past, from what I've heard.

[ There is precedent. He doesn't drop names, but he assumes Yennefer will know who he means. Geralt.

Then there's Stephen's question. Thancred heaves out a sigh and draws his arms up to cross over his chest. ]

Your guess is as good as mine. A mage from Hayle, perhaps? If this warning came from Jolene, then I suspect Anastasia might be involved as well.

Edited 2024-06-06 16:02 (UTC)

We have all been witnessing the rise of Sidwell's power within the castle. His every action has been suspicious since he was promoted and began to move. It could be a trap, but logic dictates this has been momentum for some time now.

[ Thancred started this theorizing that Sidwell was doing what they all can see as his natural plan. Istredd's been suspicious of him for all this time, when Borrel was opened after his rise to a higher position. They came back from the crater to him already taking over the castle with his own guard in place. The man is military, strategic and sharp.

He glances over at Kyle, believing he at least will already see where Istredd is going and why. It's somewhat of a relief to hear he is staying, because there is only one choice for Istredd. ]

With the Singularity still of importance to me and my role here for the other Summoned necessary, I will not be going. But please forgive me if I push the rest of you three to go.

[ He doesn't add his personal reason for staying. That is evident. Istredd doesn't know how Stephen and Thancred feel about this, but his eyes fix on Yennefer, as that is where he knows there might be some pushback. The other two are more moveable. ]

Yenna, your position close to the throne right now is too dangerous.

[ He meets Istredd's gaze and gives a small shrug, indicating he guessed as much. He sees no point in arguing. Kahlil does sense an argument about to happen when Istredd says Yenna, and interjects before this starts getting heated: ]

Whoever is leaving - going forward we need to limit communication. It would be best not to know who your 'mule' is, who directed Jolene, and where you're going.

[ For those who are going. He flicks his gaze to Thancred, whose training has always seemed similar to his own by what he could gather. Because if they can't get out on their own, they'll be questioned. Better not to have the answers at all. The Payshmura had fathi, a truth serum, to get what they wanted out of someone. He's been questioned in Thorne before about illegal activity and nothing like that was used, but he'd rather remain ignorant of their movements on the chance that they do have spells or potions to force the truth out of them. ]

Edited 2024-06-06 16:49 (UTC)

[ the longer this conversation goes, the more yennefer feels herself tense. like with each passing moment, she feels the weight and reality of what it is they're discussing. the others make up their minds, or seem to at least start heading in a certain direction, and yennefer isn't sure if this is even a warning to be taken seriously.

and this talk of a mule? yennefer's eyes roll at the further mention of it, like she finds the entire concept ridiculous. jolene is using a mule for them to escape, because they're...what? running out of time? it's a likely course of action, and something that could easily be believed, but she almost feels that because it's so easily believed that they shouldn't. ]

Jolene was also one of the mages who imprisoned us when we were first Summoned. None of you may have been present for that, but I was. [ and yennefer is aware of the hypocrisy of her statement, of what it says that she wants to speak of trust and apparent allegiances. it's exactly why she's here at all, isn't it?

but that is when thancred mentions jolene's previous help, when he all but mentions geralt, and yennefer goes very still once again. istredd mentions sidwell, their rise in power, and yes- yes. she's seen it too. seen the echoes of change predating what is very obviously going to be a momentous shift in the way the castle of thorne is handled, but a warning like this...

would they even risk a coup? do they hold that much power? yennefer frowns, her mind spinning back through what she's noticed, what she knows, trying to avoid memories that she now knows aren't real and actual things she's noticed around the castle, when-

yenna. she blinks, realizing she'd been staring at the table, and looks up to istredd. istredd, who had been talking about the singularity, about his role here, about staying. but then he'd said something up, something about pushing, something about... oh.

kyle interjects, mentions limiting communication, mentions keeping separation, and they are all good points. something yennefer would agree with, if she weren't distracted with istredd's comment and then - as she looks to thancred and stephen - because while stephen may be able to set aside the frustration that they're being forced to move based on someone else's choices, yennefer doesn't let that pass so easily. ]

No. [ her eyes go from stephen, back to thancred, and then fall on istredd yet again - feeling suddenly trapped, not by the people in the room, necessarily, but by the conversation itself. ] No- I won't be made to leave. [ she shakes her head. ] Not when we don't know enough of what's to come.

[He suspects it’s going to happen before it even does. And, indeed, he sees it play out in real-time before his eyes: Yennefer digging her heels in when sternly told what her only option is. Stephen can’t blame her; he’s much the same way, even if he is starting to think that for him, and for Yennefer, too, leaving is the safest route moving forward.]

It’s going to be hard to leave all that we established in our time in the castle behind.

[He interjects, evenly, not wanting to stir up emotions further. Trying to be rational.]

Our projects, our connections. If we leave, then we’re not exactly going to be welcome to set foot in Thorne Castle for a very long while. If ever again.

[His track to every person in this room again, until they quietly land on Yen.]

But I don’t want anyone taking unnecessary risks just to cling to that. I’m willing to let it go, as much as it rankles me. And Yennefer, no one can force you to leave. [(Even if he thinks Istredd might indeed try very, very hard to make it a reality.)] But I want everyone here to stay safe, based on their own best judgment.

[A beat, and then, finally:]

I think I’ll be leaving out, too. If staying in the castle is going to start feeling like I have my hands tied behind my back, or worse, then I don’t see the point for myself personally.

[ So Istredd is also opting to stay. While he doesn't invoke Lucifer's name, it's hard to imagine that isn't playing into his decision. Thancred considered including Lucifer in this group, but the note had been clear that the number who could be taken was limited, and Lucifer hasn't made himself close to the court. Much to the contrary, in fact.

The conflict that is about to bubble to the surface between Yennefer and Istredd set aside for a moment, Thancred turns to Kyle and nods firmly in response to that sentiment. Right now he's only speculating and none of this is confirmed information, beyond the little that the note shared. Nonetheless, they'll need to take care with what they share with each other moving forward.

He wouldn't put it past Sidwell and his men to try and torture information out of them. Maybe he isn't the same as Queen Ellya and banishment is more likely than outright torture or execution, but they don't know enough about the man to be certain either way.

Not that he can give a direct reply to Kyle when Yennefer takes that moment to insist that she will not be budging, even though all of them know that she is the one put most at risk in this situation. Stephen speaks up with a calm, rational response, trying to appeal to her logic and reason, but Thancred wonders if that will be enough.

He worries about what Kyle and Istredd will have to contend with if they stay behind, but Yennefer? There is little doubt in his mind that she will be severely punished.

He turns toward Yennefer, addressing her directly now. It's not just that he trusts that Kyle and Istredd will fare better if they remain, but also that this is Yennefer. She is important to him, and that's setting aside all the hundreds of years of false memories where she, Thancred, and Stephen had been bound together in a way that transcended description.

More than that, he's let her down before. If he can make up for that now— ]

... I realize this isn't ideal, being forced to make a snap decision, especially when it means giving up everything you've worked for. That being said, I wouldn't put it past Admiral Sidwell to make an example of you if you're left behind. I don't think I need to remind anyone that those in power here have tried to execute a Summoned in the past.

[ Yennefer may have been the only one present for that, but the word of it has certainly rippled through the Summoned of Thorne. ]

Edited 2024-06-08 20:08 (UTC)

[ Istredd thinks of any people in Castle Thorne, this is the group who is able to make quick choices and understand the full implication of everything they are told. The dangers of going, the dangers of staying. ]

We don't know Sidwell well enough to guess, but if there's a possibility he plans on killing his own niece, he is not going to hesitate to kill anyone he perceives as close to her.

[ They don't know that is the plan, but Istredd from a world with thorough coups. His own people were annihilated, wiped from the board except for a rare survivor. They don't do it in halves, you kill the whole family or one of them could come back later in a revolution. He may not be a leader himself, but he understands the mindset, and more importantly, so does Yennefer. ]

You were trained for court, you know this.

[ Although he doubts it will sit well for her, the concept of him staying behind when it could be his head on the chopping block instead of hers. That is also a risk they are taking, but Istredd is no friend to the queen. His one connection is to Ambrose and he doubts his loyalty would seem anything other than academic. He and Kyle are in more immediate danger by staying, but it's not something they'll change their mind about.

Istredd sends Yennefer a telepathic message only between the two of them. ]

There is something to be said for us having contacts on the outside of the castle when this goes down. You may be able to assist us in that way.

[ This to Stephen, since he's indicated going might be the option for him. ]

[ Kahlil doesn't want to pile on even if he agrees with the others. After a moment he makes eye contact with Yennefer. ]

You should do what you think is best.

[ She has survived here longer than the rest of them. He won't try to argue with her one way or another, he doesn't expect his opinion matters too much in this instance.

He's also getting itchy about them all being unconscious at the same time to be here, and prefers they hurry this along. ]

[ yennefer has never been one to accept the only option. when forced in any way, she views it as her own choices being stripped, as the narrative weaving in a way that shows her there is no choice at all.

the issue yennefer sees before her now, though, is as though she is watching an avalanche tumble down a mountainside. Kyle and Istredd make their intentions known - they plan on staying, for reasons yennefer could assume if she wanted to pick apart, but she chooses not to at the moment - and Stephen and Thancred... it isn't fair, she knows, but she feels as though any semblance of a life she has built is slipping right through her fingers, pulled in each different direction, and with that feeling of loss is suddenly the feeling that she doesn't have a choice. no. no, she won't play into these hands. ]

Don't start speaking in tongues, Stephen. We leave this place and we are no better than bandits on the road. We're all aware of that. And if we leave with this mule, we'd be lucky to ever set foot back in this castle. Not to say those who stay will have any better, but they will have that.

[ it would not be the first time yennefer has survived torture, has felt the hands of others in her mind, trying to pick apart information. she has seen the queen do it, and knows that sidwell might have access to other means, but they are nothing more than what she could expect.

and of course that is when thancred turns his eyes to her, when he brings up the previous executions, the queens attempts. yennefer- gods, she doesn't mean to make light of everyone's concern. not truly. but thancred mentions making an example and he speaks to yennefer directly, and she feels her eyes roll before she can stop them. of course he would make an example of her- but that would hardly be the first time she's lived through such dramatics. hardly the first time she would face that sort of attention, and escaped, with much less power and chaos at her beck and call than she does now.

then again - only istredd would know that. ]

For all we've seen, the locals see us as part of the Singularity. If Sidwell is even partially aware of his place on this continent, he wouldn't destroy his only chance at accessing that source of power. He's not that thick.

[ you know this istredd says, and yennefer glares at him - a glare that only darkens at his message. there is a moment or so where that remains - where she simply stares at him, anger and fury and outright stubborn refusal emanating off her in waves. it doesn't ease, either, when she finally turns back to the table, to the group at large.

she meets kyle's eyes, nods - maybe in thanks, maybe in awareness - at his comment, at his near-support. at least he believes she can make the decision, something that spikes a further sort of anger in her stomach as she turns to everyone else. ]

If everyone's made their decision, then I believe this meeting to be done, don't you? [ she gives a pointed look to thancred, to stephen, and then finally to istredd - her stare to him lasting quite a bit longer than the others before she looks back. ] Unless the note had more to say?

Yen... come on.

[He says, a sort of anxiousness bubbling up in him, too. The kind that's derived more from friendship than pure, rational logic — and while the latter is what they should base the heft of their decisions on, it is the former that makes him want to argue the point further.]

Those who leave might be hoofing it for a while. [Sorry for his modern colloquialism there, but it gets the point across.] But we'd have our autonomy. That's more than what anyone who chooses to stay will have.

[Not to disparage the choice of anyone who does, ultimately, decide to stay. But this is a reality that is surely quite obvious.]

[ They could go back and forth on this for the five hours still afforded them, Thancred suspects, but he also has gathered that Yennefer will only dig her heels in further if they continue to stand against her as a united force in insisting that she leave. A different tack might be necessary, and he's willing to track her down to discuss this in private in hopes it might be more effective.

Even then, he's not certain it will be enough, and none of them can force her. But he can't shake the anxious weight in the pit of his stomach at the thought of her staying here. Perhaps she could endure what is done to her in that situation, but could the rest of them? ]

It's true that those of us who leave may end up with more freedom, whereas those who stay could be locked up, or banished, or worse. I think we've established the stakes.

[ Thancred heaves out a sigh, his gaze traveling around the group, and he can't quite stop himself from letting it settle on Yennefer. ]

To be clear, I've also decided to leave. As Istredd said, it may be of use to have people stationed on both sides of this equation, and this would not be the first time I've found myself in such a situation. [ Here, he looks back to Istredd and then Kyle, nodding firmly. ] If it is to be only Stephen and I, we will reach out discreetly as soon as it is safe, and likely only with limited information — enough to let you know that we survived the journey.

[ And of course, to confirm that those who remained survived the coup that now sits right under their feet, but he believes that goes without saying. ]

There are still a few more hours to mull it all over, but I think that we're now all on the same page.

[ He will find Yennefer after this to see what he can do to change her mind, though he knows that it might be a lost cause. Still he must try. ]

[ Istredd's gaze never moves away from Yennefer, not because he's trying to stare her down, but because the two of them are in the middle of a conversation no one else can be a part of. He does snap away when both Stephen and Thancred speak; he doesn't need to hold her gaze to talk to her, he was just distracted. ]

You two should prepare yourselves. I suspect you know what to do. Please be careful.

[ Travel light, don't be suspicious, be as safe as possible. They're both intelligent and skilled men, he suspects they'll be safer than he and Kyle are about to be. Although who knows what road they're going down, and if it won't have dangerous steps too. The point is that they have to take the risk on both ends. They'd been thinking for quite some time this could be a possibility. None of them are new to adapting in the face of danger. ]

Thank you for alerting us, Thancred.

[ Otherwise none of them would have been prepared. He knows that pushing Yennefer again in front of all of them is a bad idea so he steps up to her instead. ]

May I have a word with you?

[ As if there is a choice for her, as if he doesn't intend to find her if she leaves the library and have it out in person. Whatever it takes. The others probably are ready to move with what knowledge they have.]

[ Kahlil likes everyone here well enough, but he's been on the outskirts of this conversation from the start. It doesn't bother him, it only makes him quick to take a dismissal when it's given. Having already addressed Yennefer, and knowing Istredd is staying behind, he addresses Thancred and Stephen quickly, making some sort of reflexive gesture or sign with both hands at his middle. ]

Be safe.

[ As usual, he doesn't bother with the pretense of leaving the imagined room, he simply vanishes.

He's off to stalk a king. ]

Don't. [ she doesn't snap, but the word comes out as a hiss to Stephen's yen, come on. the can feel the general anxiety creeping into the room, and between the way that Stephen and thancred are both looking at her, and istredd's voice in her head, yennefer's had just enough of all of this. ] You'd be shocked at how little autonomy you have on the run. Some of us don't need to go through it again.

[ it doesn't matter that remaining in the castle is all but confirmed to have higher stakes, and yennefer knows that much, but running? again? even the thought of it turns her stomach, let alone the idea of everything she'd be leaving behind.

still, as thancred and Stephen both confirm that they're going to leave, she feels a tightness around her ribs. her expression only tightens, marginally, but gives nothing else away. but what if this is a trap? what if they're walking directly into the hands of... who? hayle? the cities? another faction of whatever cult had kidnapped everyone however many months ago? it doesn't matter that of everyone she knows, thancred and stephen would be some of the few who would be most capable of protecting themselves through all of that, but even so-

she nods, agreeing with istredd's words. acknowledging that there are still a few hours left before they move, so perhaps there is time to...what? change their minds? yennefer hates this, hates that she doesn't have a clear picture of what this all means, what the implications could be, how much it'll change everything. she hates that she doesn't even know if it's a real threat.

she turns to leave, needing to get out of the horizon, needing to find a better place to think.

which is of course when istredd steps up to her, of course when istredd says may I have a word and yennefer stops, turning her eyes - now reflective more of the tone of their mental conversation than the one they just had in person. ]

You know my thoughts. [ and yes, unfortunately, he is going to have to find her in the castle. or, rather, in her office where she had been meditating, because with those words she pushes by him and disappears, her connection broken. ]

[ Istredd already expected this so he waits until she's gone and turns to Thancred and Stephen, the only two still there. ]

I'll convince her. [ He has a secret weapon. ] Please be safe and good luck.

[ And then he disappears as well, although they can stay as long as they want in the library, it's permanently open. ]

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