[Zuudaria] Unholy War XXI: I can break on through.

[Faith Augustin]

15th Ymiden, 719
following: this, this, this, and that

Unholy War
From the start of life
To my dying day
In the dark of night
And the burning light of day
It's a Bloody Fight
]But I can't walk away
I'm prime, for the front line
Unholy war. Unholy War.
I'll try. I'll fight until I die
It's an unholy war
We'll fight, cos we ain't on the same side
~~
When I'm all alone... unholy
With your thoughts of pain....
I can break on through

She tapped on the door and waited until she was bid to enter. As soon as the call came, Faith opened the door and walked in. Once inside, she carefully closed the door behind her and then bowed low to the woman sitting in there. "My lady," Faith said, softly, "I am so sorry to disturb you, but I have information which requires your attention." Of course, it wasn't a woman sitting there at all, it was an Immortal. More precisely, it was Famula - also known as Faith's mother-in-law, but thinking about that just made her want to shuffle her feet and assure Famula that Padraig was happy. That conversation just wasn't happening, as far as Faith was concerned ~ although of course she'd speak of her husband if Famula wished to. But Faith wasn't starting it, that was for sure.

Still, right now she had much more serious things to discuss and so, when Famula bade her to speak, Faith did so. "I've prepared a report," of course she had - and she put it down on the low table, but then spoke. "As you know, we had a meeting here with all of the people on our side, two nights ago," Faith kept Famula informed - or at least she kept Famula's assistant informed; those Zuuda and Wisps who served the Immortal here - they had been who Faith kept in touch with, not wishing to disturb her patron Immortal unnecessarily. But, Faith knew that at this point, she needed to speak to Famula herself and so, she had come straight here.

"During the meeting, both Maxine and Patrick walked out," Faith said, softly. One of those was a surprise to her, the other not. Should she have known better than to trust either of them? Maybe. Faith had to admit that, just maybe she should. Yet, she was where she was and she could not quite bring herself to get into regrets. The young woman sat - once Famula had bid her to - bolt upright; Faith always had excellent posture and a calm manner about her, but she was way, way beyond what was normal. This was, after all, four trials after the whole - "Vri seems to have gone a littl mad, and my daughter crumbled to dust in my hands" scenario.

Frankly, at this point, keeping going was all she could do.

"I'd put a Greater Mark on Maxine," Faith sad, then went on to explain the circumstances of that. "After they walked out of the meeting, I spoke with Carter, had them both followed. He took responsibility for Maxine himself. But I kept feeling Max's thoughts, and she was very obviously getting more and more frantic. I went with Sephira to a small outbuilding in my home, then used Beck and Call. I tried to revoke her invitation but Sephira had the pair of them teleported away too quickly or... something." Faith explained, giving the full detail, and she left nothing out. Her tone was clipped, quiet, business-like. There was no emotion in the normally so full-of-feelings young Champion. None. Faith knew that Famula could feel that, but she couldn't let her emotions out right now.

If she did, she'd never close them up.

"And then, Dominek has just come here- Patrick's apparently contacted the Shadow Quarter, signed up with them. I.." Faith lifted a hand to her face, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I can't risk this place. I'm sorry, I really am. Are you able to stop them? The last thing I want to do is to have any issue with them coming here. I'm ... " She stopped, shaking her head just the once. No more talking. No more feeling. That, she couldn't do right now. Her hand was shaking, she knew, so she clasped it in her other hand and folded them on her lap. Then, she looked at the Immortal she worshipped and smiled a slight and utterly humourless smile. She had to get past this, she had to break through this constant feeling of a torrent of emotion ready to burst through the dam of her self-control.

"I'm sorry. I do not like to disturb you, but I felt it too important to let it be." Lowering her eyes, she looked at her hands and desperately tried to push all her emotions into them.

[Pig Boy]

Famula waited patiently for Faith to make herself comfortable in her presence. Famula’s meeeting chamber she’d set up for her general and herself was nothing too elaborate, although the colors were stark and some might think heavily festooned with blood red decorations and lighting fixtures. It was the humility that might’ve struck Faith, perhaps fitting to the Immortal of Servitude, and the natural cupbearer of her Original Mother Cierel. And servitude was the theme of Faith’s appointment as General. It was no accident that the person who Famula chose as her right hand, to enact her will on Idalos was a former slave.

She waited for Faith to say what she would, and deliver her report. Although Faith referred to Famula as a lady, she thought of herself as a servant first. The idea of maintaining personal allegiance over others was a concept entirely foreign to Famula. Yet, though there was that aspect of servitude in which that one servant may direct the actions of lesser agents, this was always done through the lens of serving their interest as well as the greater good.

Famula listened passively as Faith related her troubles with the servants under her care, and nodded at appropriate moments, raised her brow at certain parts, and finally sighed as it was given to her to say something now, about all of this. And possibly overrule her General’s decision to place the mark upon two rogue servants.

Famula waited a few moments after the sigh left her mouth, and then began, ”So you doubt your instinct to grant the mark to these two servants?”

It was obviously a rhetorical question, as Faith wouldn’t have brought such an important detail to her attention without serious misgivings about her own actions.

”How deep does your doubt go? Are you also laying aside the mantle I’ve granted you as my General? Perhaps leaving this opening as it is could be a development to be turned to the advantage of our cause… What do you think of that? Please be assured that I still have every confidence in you as General.”

Famula waited, and then began pouring a drink for Faith. If she took it, she would find it filled with her favorite beverage, whatever it may be. An empty cup and decanter sat beside the one offered to Faith.

[Faith Augustin]

Famula had a number of personas, Faith had come to recognise. This was her patron Immortal at her more relaxed and Faith looked at Famula with a calm expression and listened, attentively. "May I pour you a drink?" Faith asked, not at all comfortable with the idea of Famula serving her. She thanked her, of course, for the seat and the drink. Other than that, she did not respond to Famula's words, until she had finished speaking. Then, and only then, did she respond.

When she did, she answered Famula's questions in the order of importance, as she perceived them. "Your confidence in me is more than appreciated." Faith looked at her and the young woman looked - and felt - young. "When I say, 'unto my final breath, and beyond', I mean the words without pause. If you see fit to remove me from this role, then I will thank you for the opportunity. Until and unless you do, I will do it to the best of my ability with every breath." With her hands clasped in her lap, Faith considered what Famula had asked; for a moment, she simply regarded the hands which pressed so hard together. Her back was straight and her form apparently unmoving, but the young woman was in a state of inner turmoil. Emotions rolled within her and Faith held on to them.

Just.

"I have tried to turn the situation with them both," she said, softly, "to our advantage but." Faith looked at Famula and she didn't try to hide the emotions in her expression. "My instincts? Oh, my lady, I doubt everything." Her hands were shaking and Faith suddenly thought of something, which simply hadn't occurred to her previously. "My lady, do you know what happened with Vri, and m..my daughter?" Famula had not heard, did not know what Faith was talking about and so, the young priestess told her. Her hands held together, tightly clasped and Faith started to speak.

"When I found the hidden base in Uthaldria, I found a mirror, and a sword," she started. Some of this, Famula might know since Faith sent in regular reports, but then she could not assume anything. So, she started at the beginning. It was a long tale in the telling in some ways, but she kept it as concise as she could. Starting with the mirror, and how it had showed her - made her experience - her worst fears, Faith sounded calm. Her hands remained mostly still, but the pads of her fingers turned white from the pressure as the digits pushed, one against the other. She didn't explain what the fears were, unless Famula specifically asked. However, she did speak of the Truthblade. And then, she said, she knew that there was an issue with it, she told how - once she had escaped, still there were issues. "I saw Ellasin in mirrors, I knew that the blade needed something, had lost something. So, I decided that I needed to go back in."

Listing her eyes to look at Famula, Faith's smile was without mirth. "With Viivan and Varlum, I went back in." Faith was an incredibly disciplined woman, there was no doubting it. She sat, her back straight and her form unmoving as she described what happened. Her voice was soft, just above a whisper. She told the whole story, quiet words speaking only fact in a voice which shook with emotion. Finally, when she had told the whole story, she met Famula's gaze. "I... you're right. I'm doubting myself. I need to be smarter than this."

With a thoughtful expression, Faith's mind ticked over. "I am concerned that, by inviting them here, I have jeopardised you. But if they try and come back, then we can use that. If they try and attack. Nothing, frankly, would surprise me." She looked at Famula and smiled. "It's not a mistake to offer people a chance, to trust them. It's not a mistake to expect the best. But it has shown that we have created a potential security issue here. I'll get it dealt with."

Faith smiled and, for the first time in a long time - she meant it. "It is my fear that I am failing you. Your faith in me.. I am so grateful."

Looking at the Immortal she adored, Faith wondered. "In terms of preparing for, and mitigating against, security breaches, my Lady, how would you like to proceed?" Be herself. Just herself. That was what Famula needed and wanted from her. Her, doing her best.

[Pig Boy]

"Doubt can be turned to your advantage. But it can also be a great waste of time." Famula said, to Faith's confession. "Don't hover too long on your doubts, let them inform your next course of action. Once they are past, move onto the next step in your service."

Famula listened to Faith as she began to recount her experiences in the mirror dimension in Uthaldria. She reached out her hands for Faith to take, in a gesture to see if she could comfort her. "I'm sorry, daughter. That sounds... difficult beyond comprehension." So saying, Famula broke eye contact for a moment and sighed, then resumed listening. When at last Faith was finished recounting the experience, Famula squeezed her hands.

"You'll be well. You can see yourself as a lone support holding up the weight of your world. I've no doubt of your strength to do so. But don't be afraid to ask the world to hold its own weight from time to time." Famula smiled at her, "We all must serve in time, and none are exempt."

Then they came to the crux of the issue. Faith wanted her to remove the connection that linked Maxine to Zuudaria. Where Faith saw potential disaster, and perhaps she was right, Famula saw a great opportunity to lay a plan for a defense, and bring this war to a premature close. If Ellasin was made to know of a vulnerability in their access to Zuudaria, in the form of the Wild Card, Maxine, then they could easily facilitate her realization of that fact. Furthermore, there were certain servants who could seal the illusion of having infiltrated upon their own power.

"I think it best if we allow the connection to stand. What do you say we prepare a defense, a trap even? Were Ellasin to find out about this connection, don't you think that a premature end to this war would be beenficial?" Famula waited to hear Faith's thoughts. Her mind was more or less made up, but she still wanted Faith to tell her what she would do, in her position.

[Faith Augustin]

There was a wisdom in Famula's words, and a compassion in her mother-in-law's gaze which was close to Faith's undoing. The young woman did not do deep emotional outbursts, she was not prone to such. A lost childhood meant many things to her, her specific situation while growing up meant that she repressed her emotions far more than most people. Yet, Faith also talked more openly, these trials, than she ever had. It had been a long and slow process and Padraig had been fundamental to it. He calmly and quietly worked with her, waited for her to be ready, spoke it through. He never pushed her, never ordered her - he just waited and slowly, Faith had changed and grown.

And now, she sat and looked at the Immortal who she had served all her life and she thought about Famula's words. Tears sparkled in Faith's eyes and she looked at Famula gratefully as the Immortal held on to her hands. "Your son," she said, quietly, "has never let me be alone. While I was Tristan's slave, it was Padraig who taught me, who descended into Treid with me," Faith smiled at that memory, then she looked at Famula and her gaze was earnest. In this moment, she was speaking to her husband's mother. "After my second lesson, he mentioned that he wanted to collect some herbs and such. I was going to do the same, so we agreed to go together to the forests outside Rynmere. We ran into some bandits, they had us cornered, a fast-flowing river behind us. They were drawing lots, to see who would have me first." A tiny frown creased Faith's forehead and she bit her lip for a brief second. "Padraig just stepped in front of me. Held my hand. While they were arguing over who got first go, he tugged my arm gently, and motioned to the river. I told him I couldn't swim and he told me not to worry. He held my hand as we ran and jumped in. We were dragged along by the current and half-drowned because neither of us can swim." He hadn't mentioned that, of course. "He has looked after me from the moment he and I met and I have never been alone. He is remarkable."

But then Famula made a suggestion, and Faith looked at the Immortal with wide silver eyes. Turn the weakness into a strength? That was, frankly, ingenious and Faith's mind began to tick over. She thought about it, and nodded. "A trap. That's perfect, and much more sensible than my worry. Turn our vulnerability into a strength. The only... " Her eyes, devoid of tears and with a sudden reaffirmed purpose in them, looked at Famula and she wondered. "Don't do the expected. That's been what I try to do ... always, in this. They will plan to, expect to, believe they're going to come here. Even if we turn here into a trap, then that's what they'll expect." Thoughts flickered in her mind, like candleflames in a storm and she smiled. "They will protect themselves against your realm, my lady." There was no doubt that they would. Ellasin was clever and thoughtful.

"So, can we make it so that, when they come here, they actually are immediately somewhere else that just ... looks like here? " Turn it around on them. "Give them what they expect, but it actually isn't? Could they be taken to another Immortal's Domain?" That would be a surprise - when they world didn't react they way they expected it to and so they were hit with believing they were in Zuudaria, but in fact they were somewhere entirely else.

[Pig Boy]

Famula listened carefully to her servant, her Champion as she related the story of her son. Famula betrayed little emotion in her face, until Faith mentioned her son's name, and went on to tell how his decision, rash as it might've been, had saved them both because they weren't prepared to fight the river's current. Their inability to reckon with the unknown had been their salvation.

"Yes he is." Famula said, genuinely impressed.

So she listened as Faith segued elegantly into her own proposed alteration to Famula's plan. She proposed some sort of... change of venue, for the trap. Making alterations to Famula's realm, or outright disinviting Max (which Famula was adamantly unwilling to do), were options that were on the table. Yet she didn't anticipate Faith's suggestion, that they use another realm entirely for the springing of the trap.

"That would certainly alter the current with them. Wouldn't it?"

Famula thought on it a few moments, and couldn't find a good argument against it. Why take chances, afterall? There would likely not be another chance to trap Ellasin, with her empire in tatters and on the run as she was. A cunning woman like her may not fall for a ruse so easily.

"And where do you suggest we stage this trap? I can think of only one realm and one Immortal who could craft such a perfect mimickry of my own..." Famula's eyes went distant, and then she focused back on Faith. "But I wonder if he could be convinced, and if convinced, stay convinced to help."

In the back of Faith's mind, she could hear a familiar, cackling laughter, echoing in memory.

[Faith Augustin]

Faith was pleased that Famula considered her idea, seeming to be quite pleased with it. But then there was the very logical but where and but how and but..."Um," Faith said as she heard Aelig's laughter. It was what she had suggested, after all, to do the unexpected and working with the Immortal of Mimicry certainly would be unexpected. However, if there was one thing which Maxine's betrayal had taught her it was that she had to be more cautious. She looked at Famula and considered, pressing the pads of her fingers together. Then, she spoke. "In letting Maxine in, I made a mistake. I didn't know I could trust her. I don't feel the same about Patrick. Because I believed I could trust him. He let me down. But Maxine?" Faith shook her head. "I know that she's a chaotic element, and I tried to utilise that, but I was foolish, and didn't take into account her inability to be responsible for her actions. She's a hurt child. I knew that, I know what she is, I've seen a hundred people with a victim complex mixed with addictive behaviour before. I knew her, and I made a mistake to expect anything from her." Faith considered it and her mind was ticking over. "And, I believe that to trust the Immortal of Mimicry and Chaos would be a very large mistake. He will betray you because it's fun, or because it appeals to him to do so. Because he can't help himself."

It sounded like she was saying no, of course, but that wasn't what she was saying at all. So, Faith continued. "However," she said, softly. "That's an opportunity too. If you ask him, and he does it, one of two things will happen. He'll betray you, or he won't. So, I suggest you ask him ~ if you think he's likely to agree. And then, don't use it." The reason for that was simple, she explained. "If he has betrayed you, then they believe they are one step ahead of us. They believe that they know something we want kept secret. We turn a disadvantage into an advantage. If he has not, then there is nothing lost." That left a question though. And that question was key. But, Faith believed, she had a suggestion at least for the answer.

"So, then we ask well where do we stage this battle? And in answer to that I would suggest that there are other things than Mimicry which could make an illusion of your Domain, my Lady," She glanced around and considered it. "But it will require teamwork. With Wisdom, we can see what needs to be done, with Remembrance and Death we can recall all details and make it close enough to Souls to work, with Life we make it real, and then?" She smiled slightly "With Truth and Lies we build. If we can pull that off, then Ellasin's army either comes expecting this Domain, or a trap which they believe they know about." Go big or go home, Faith thought, after all. "And instead, we give them six times what they expected." With a shrug, she looked at the Immortal she adored. "No one that isn't already involved. But your son is also marked by the Immortal of Intelligence. And that could help." She paused then and waited to see just what Famula thought of her plan. Outside the box? It certainly was. But Faith had discovered a talent for that, and she knew that they needed to exploit it.


OOC: I'm trying to play this, really. Hope that makes sense? Let me know if not.

[Pig Boy]

Famula smiled at Faith as she struggled with the idea of bringing Aelig into the war. Fortunately for Faith, Famula wasn't entirely serious about her suggestion to bring Aelig in. She nodded to Faith at every point she brought up against the potentials of Aelig as an ally. If Faith had brought Maxine to her first, before marking her as an ally, instead of relying on the secondhand testimony of a friend, Famula would have refused her. But this was the Champion's duty, to win the war she'd declared, and Famula was behind her in the execution as such. Famula would not second guess her or undermine her Champion. Yet when she hedged at Famula's idea of setting a trap, a bit of encouragement was needed to get Faith to be her best at the planning of such.

"That would require a lot of firepower. Do we have the support of said immortals? I could convince Vri to stage it at his domain while he's indisposed, perhaps. But what of Ralaith and Yvithia?" Either Immortal wasn't exactly a great friend of Famula, but nor were they enemies. The question remained, who among Faith's Army had the influence to pull upon for their enlistment.

"I think it's a fine plan, if you can secure either Immortal's aid before the critical moment." Time was obviously of the essence, and nobody could say when Ellasin might make a move, or if she'd skulk back into the shadows where she hid so well. Perhaps they'd be building a trap for someone who wouldn't show up.

"Do you have anything else to bring to my attention?" Famula asked.

[Faith Augustin]

Faith looked at Famula and she nodded. "Varlum has connections, strong connections, with Ralaith. Padraig is marked by Yvithia." Faith's gaze on Famula was earnest and ~ as always ~ intense. She was considering it carefully, thinking about what she could do. "I'll get on it." There was a possibility, Faith knew that. "My lady, if you are happy to speak with Vri and the Twins, then I will do what I can with Ralath and Yvithia. Padraig... did he tell you?" Probably not, Faith considered, he wasn't exactly chatty about such things. "We found a miracle stone. He picked it up, not willing to let me take the risk." Padraig was many things, he had many, many skills, but more than anything he was protective of her.

However, whether he'd told her or not, Faith knew that Padraig would have no issue with his mother knowing what he'd done. "It gave him a wish. It wasn't easy for him," Faith smiled at her mother in law. "I didn't make it easy. When we found out he is your son, I cried. I told him that it wasn't fair because I wanted to grow old together. It was selfish of me." She regretted it, there was no doubt. "When he held the Miracle Stone, he could so easily have been selfish, but he wished for Treid to be resurrected." Faith could not be more proud of her husband. "I think Yvithia will be pleased with him." Something of an understatement, there, Faith thought.

But she shook her head. "No, my lady. Other than to thank you, again," the fanatical young priestess said to her Immortal. "I was looking at things all wrong and, now, I realise where I had gone awry. Thank you so much." She said no more than that, because that was the crux of it. Then, she stood and made sure that she tidied away the cups and utensils they had used. Once she made sure that she had not left behind any mess, Faith smiled. "I'll keep you informed. Thank you for your faith in me. I'll do my best to live up to it."

She needed to get on this, Faith knew. On this and speak to no one except those who needed to know.

Because if there was one thing that she'd learned ~ and all thanks to both Maxine and Patrick for the lesson ~ then Faith had learned that the less people who knew, the less people who could betray her.

If she survived this, then Faith would, without question, rate that lesson as the hardest one of all. Unfortunately, she knew, she'd learned it well.

She only hoped that no one forced her to apply it to its logical conclusion.

[Pig Boy]

"Ralaith is stubborn and selective about who he marks. Let's hope Varlum doesn't disappoint in his service. The Bear doesn't take well to being wrong about people, and has a long memory..."

Famula nodded to Faith. She knew very well about her son's mark with Yvithia. "It's good to have him on the side of our kind. And perhaps her help can be petitioned for as well... But, you haven't found Treid yet, have you?"

But the Immortal knew that Faith hadn't yet succeeded in locating Treid, and had only just wished him back to life, whole. Famula nodded, "So it's not finished. I wish you luck, in that. Doubtless Yvithia won't be far behind if you go seeking Treid in his domain."

"How is it that a miracle stone brought back Treid, by the way? Essenthyte is no doubt potent, but it's purpose is only ever very specific. The fact that it let Padraig choose its purpose is very peculiar. I doubt anyone will ever find an Essenthyte quite like it."

She shrugged nevertheless.

"We'll gather one last time before the trap is to be set and sprung. Then we'll have an idea of where all the moving parts will be." Famula watched dutifully as Faith cleared the table. She nodded in gratitude, and then said with some trepidation, "I'm afraid Ellasin will be difficult to locate. You've done much damage to her already, So I think..."

She sighed, "Nevertheless, we'll see what we can make of it. Perhaps there's another who might yet be convinced."

Famula let those words trail off, before allowing Faith her leave.