abraxaslogs | I don't trust, but I see right in front of me

It's difficult to know where Hayle stands when Thancred has only visited there twice and has otherwise mainly heard rumors, but he does have reason to believe that Anastasia has a vested interest in the wellbeing of the Summoned. Whether that's because she has a heart enough to care or because she has her own ambitions she'd like to utilize them for, it's difficult to say.

"We thus far do not have an easy means of traveling to Hayle to learn more, and the gala only granted us so much time for such things." He draws up a hand to rub at his chin. "I do have two 'day passes' I earned from the Castle at one point to travel to other areas within Thorne, but I would only use them if I had a specific path in mind for investigation."

Meaning that if they do happen to learn more about Hayle, or who or what in Hayle to dig into, he'd be willing to use one. But he doesn't think it's a good idea to waste such a precious resource merely to wander around.

Thancred nods to Lucifer, now understanding that he's speaking more in the context of helping Nott protect itself. It's still a slippery slope, but one to consider nonetheless.

As for Natasha, she brings up a good point. Imports, exports, the moving of goods — it's not exactly Thancred's area of expertise, but she's right that something doesn't add up here. When Lucifer chimes up about a Brion, Thancred tilts his head for a moment. The name sounds vaguely familiar, like he must have heard it or read it at some point, but it doesn't immediately slot into place. "An old friend?" His gaze flicks between them. "You'll have to enlighten me."

She'd actually been thinking the same thing, although she's not sure how he's been faring since their last talk. She's hoped that involving him in their investigation hadn't gotten him in hot water with Thorne, but she hadn't been back to Nott to check in just yet. That thought nudges a little higher on her mental to-do list.

But she turns to explain to Thancred, since he hadn't been part of that investigation. "A relative of the Creed family from Solvunn - he resides in Nott and is the head of this end of the branch of imports and exports out of Solvunn, apparently. We met him when we were investigating some of the disappearances in Nott and he ended up giving clues to two separate investigations I was working on at the time. He's also the reason Nott never had to worry about corrupted grain shipments, like the Free Cities did with their wood. Brion spotted it before it could be distributed and destroyed it."

Her gaze flicks to Lucifer then, her expression thoughtful as a fingertip taps absently against her chin. "He might be able to shed some light on this. I meant to check in with him anyway, next time I was in Nott. I've been worried that involving him in our affairs might have put him at odds with either Thorne or the Nott residents - especially after what you're telling me about Nott now."

"No, you're right, save those passes until we have something concrete or valuable," he says to Thancred, then listens and nods along to Natasha's explanation about Brion Creed.

Same mind. He wanted to keep an eye on the guy, but more because he was a resource and not because he was concerned about him.

So better, likely, that it's Natasha going to him instead of Lucifer.

"You'll have to be careful if you do go," Lucifer says. "I didn't see him at the execution, so either he chose not to witness it," which is possible, "or someone's keeping an eye on him just in case." Just because Lucifer believed that the man was telling the truth about his involvement, doesn't mean anyone else is going to take the risk. Lucifer had even wanted to sink a blade into him to get him to talk, but he'd been cooperative.

Thancred nods to Lucifer's comment about the passes, and they're very much of the same mind about it. They need to be used wisely.

But that aside, they'd located a relative of the Creed family? Well then. This also explains why Thorne had been spared the decayed grain shipments, tying off yet another thread that Thancred had been wondering about, but it does leave him with more questions.

"If he'd been able to identify and remove those tainted shipments, does that mean that he'd known what Josselyn was up to? And if so, why had he not brought it to anyone's attention?" he asks, not quite accusatory but nonetheless curious. Perhaps this is something the two of them already asked him. "Either way, I agree that it would be a good plan for you to check in on him."

He has no doubt in his mind that Natasha will be careful and that she can handle herself, but nonetheless, it feels right to offer. "And if you'd like some company, I'd be happy to come along." However, she might also have her reasons to want to go alone, in which case he'd understand.

"From what he told us, the family knew she was starting to lean a little fanatical - and that was the point he started keeping his distance from her. The family did not agree or approve of her new philosophies, but I don't think any of them realized how far she was willing to go."

Which was understandable. Most people would have a hard time imagining their family members capable of such atrocities. Not everyone was as naturally suspicious of those around them as the three people in this room.

"As for the tainted shipments, I don't think he made the connection that it might have been sent on purpose until we showed up to ask him questions about it in regards to the disappearances. He stated that he thought it had somehow been a mistake or an accidental exposure to something the Elders in Solvunn kept a close eye on. He notified them when he discovered it, thinking something had happened on their end that they might not be aware of. I got the impression that whatever it was that caused the rot was something they keep secret and use for their old rituals or something. And after seeing their execution style... that doesn't really surprise me at all."

Solvunn was weird. Like Twilight Zone, Cabin-in-the-Woods sort of weird. She has no idea how Wanda deals with it, but then again, maybe that appeals to her own strange sense of belonging.

She shoots Thancred a grateful smile and feels a little relieved that Lucifer hadn't made the same offer - even though she assumes that goes unspoken anyway. If she wanted to be intimidating, she'd certainly ask the devil to come along, but considering this was meant to be a friendly visit, probably best to leave him behind this particular time. "And thanks, I might take you up on that. I'll let you know."

He can be friendly if he must but he'd prefer to leave it to the professionals. She needs someone threatened? He's all the way there.

"There was also the lingering concern from the blight of the heralds," he adds. "Several odd pieces of information that appeared disconnected until it all slammed to a head. Believe me, I wanted to string him up if there had been a reason to, but his ignorance was too palpable to be an act."

Finding out your sibling was behind a terrible act endangering dozens, if not more, ha... how... unfortunate...

He glances to Thancred. "Do you have an actual plan for Jolene or are you just winging it?" He doesn't know Thancred well enough to know how he might approach her. "Talking to her within castle walls, even with some of the warded pockets, isn't something I'd recommend."

Between the two of them, Thancred is more or less convinced that this Brion Creed truly didn't know the true extent of what his relative had been up to. With such a far distance between them, one that could not be shortened by the Horizon in their case, it did make sense that he truly might not have known. Perhaps there were concerns, but to follow those all the way to her running a dangerous cult would be quite the leap.

And yes, people did tend to end up blinded when it came to family, not wanting to believe them capable of something so atrocious.

Thancred's face pulls with distaste when Natasha brings up the execution, but he can't argue the point. And it's true that the effects of the Heralds would have confused the issue as well.

At Natasha's response to his offer, he knocks his fist against his chest and nods to her, then clears his throat and shifts his attention to Lucifer. Who's the sort just looking for a reason to "string someone up," it seems. Not so surprising.

"I heard from Elrond that she often visits the graveyard, and I've been tracking her appearances there to determine the best day and time to approach her. When I do, I'll request to speak in a more private location." That in and of itself is going to be a gamble, he knows.

Natasha listens, glancing back and forth between them as she catalogs this name. Not someone she's encountered before, but she thinks she's heard it in passing.

"She's one of the mages, isn't she? What's her position in all this?"

She's assuming there must be something influential about her, if she's caught Thancred's attention. And since she's considerably late to this game, in comparison to many of the others here, she's still figuring out who is who and who she needs to be aware of. Any tidbit like this often proves useful.

"Thancred could tell more," he assumes, anyway, if Jolene has held Thancred's consideration for this long.

"She's likely the next one with seniority after Ambrose," he says, whether or not that means she has the ability to shuffle around Ambrose to take a role of leadership though... "Who likely will also be a problem to contend with. Maybe the pursuit of knowledge and all that drivel will keep him complacent."

Thancred is more than willing to add in the necessary context here. While the seniority of the mages is not tightly regimented from what he knows, there's no denying that Jolene is fairly high in the rankings.

"Despite that, she serves under Anastasia, Ambrose's sister. The two of them don't exactly get along, and that's reason enough for me to wonder at what Anastasia's ambitions might be."

It's not just "the enemy of your enemy" logic, however. "Geralt once received aid from Jolene while in... some trouble within the Castle, we'll say. And Himeka was once assisted by Anastasia. It leads me to believe that Anastasia and Jolene may have the best interests of the Summoned at heart."

Of course, he'll need to dig deeper to be sure of that.

She hums, slotting that information into what she knows of the chess board of politics in Thorne.

"The animosity between the siblings is pretty well-known and well-established from long before the Summoned started arriving, so it's probably genuine." Has she suspected it might have been a ruse to approach them from opposite angles? Of course she has. She suspects everyone.

"I'm not so sure I'd go so far as to trust them with our 'best interests' just yet, but I'm just as curious about where they stand in all this. They might be willing to part with more information than those here in the Castle. At the very least, it may be less censored."

As someone that also doesn't get along with his siblings but might when there are Other Problems to deal with, their animosity seems real enough to Lucifer. But in the same way if it is a ruse he can hardly be upset. After all, he's toying with similar. Keeping his animosity with Ambrose instead of apologizing for acting out as though maybe down the road it might give him an early advantage with Anastasia.

"I don't trust anyone with our best interests," Lucifer says sharply, though he knows he doesn't exactly have to. Neither of them are stupid. If they were, he wouldn't bother talking to them at all. "We'll be a valuable chess piece to any and everyone, it just depends who has the better hold of our 'reins.'"

Yes, Thancred, it's very bleak of him.

"I hope Jolene has something that could work out for us though. We need contingencies. Options, even if they're less than stellar." They just need to be better than what they currently have to work with.

"I'm working on Enchantment magic," he says. "They're not about us learning offensive spells, so it's been a little hit and miss taking what teachings we have access to," classes, books, "and springboarding from there. I'm hoping to make an enchantment using a projectile as its base, using lightning to temporarily stun a mage before they can get a spell off." He gives Thancred a look. "A precaution, of course."

That's all he really brings to the table at the moment, and no one really knows that plan of his, but he wanted to offer that he's not just about spouting ideas and all about talking. He's doing the work, too.

Edited (me days later being like.... wait... WAIT) 2023-06-27 17:44 (UTC)

Thancred also believes that the disdain that exists between Ambrose and Anastasia is genuine, mainly for the reason cited by Natasha. Word of their dislike for each other extends back long before the Summoned were even a thought.

When both of them nitpick at his choice of words, he heaves out a sigh and shakes his head, eyes shutting for a moment. "Yes, I'm well aware that they no doubt have their own ambitions, but there's been proof enough that the two of them have some manner of moral compass." There. Will they accept that much?

As for Jolene, he hopes the same, but all of that remains to be seen following his meeting with her. He focuses instead on what Lucifer puts on the table, a clever way of using enchantments to create an offensive spell.

"Do you imagine it's going to turn into an outright brawl in the Castle?" he asks with a raised eyebrow. "I suspect the moment you turn to aggression, they'll find a way to subdue you and throw you into the dungeons." It's not that he thinks it's a poor idea to want to protect oneself, but he's also never relied on magic for such things.

These are the kind of people you unfortunately are surrounded by, Thancred. Their nitpicking of words might one day help out for more than just being a headache.

But he will in fact accept that.

"If we reach a point of outright aggression something has gone terribly wrong, but that happening is not out of the cards. I imagine a scenario where we might one day need to actually run," Lucifer says. "And for that we need to give those who are lacking in skills a chance to actually make it. That's all. Most of us can't out-magic the mages here, so even a few seconds of stuttering them is important."

He's a Disaster Planner.

I don't trust, but I see right in front of me

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