"Heh, heh, heh. It is more complicated, in this case - Emet-Selch and I were good friends, once." He was rather used to apologizing for him. Even more so to speaking up when Emet-Selch could not find the words, especially with people he had not known long.
"I assume that, when he was re-creating Amaurot, he may have had a stray thought - Hythlodaeus would realize the truth, or something to that effect." Or he had wished for it... he knew better than to hope for things like that, but he could hardly help himself.
"Ah, how remiss of me. My name is Hythlodaeus, and I - used to be, a long time ago now, Chief of the Bureau of the Architect. I can hardly do much but keep company, but if you wish it, it is on offer."
G'raha listens with obvious interest - he was tired, and worried, and injured, but he was still curious.
A friend of Emet-Selch... it was not completely unsurprising, the man was obviously charismatic and he thought he was doing the right thing - once upon a time, when this Hythlodaeus was living and knew him, he was doing the right thing, as far as he was concerned. He acted to save his people - still was, G'raha knew, he just couldn't condone such efforts when they resulted in the deaths of so, so many.
"Company would be welcome." he admitted, since he was driving himself slightly crazy on his own and perhaps this conversation would be useful "I am known as the crystal exarch... but you may call me G'raha." There wasn't much point in still keeping the secret, now.
Once Hythlodaeus knew more about the situation - and, especially, the one that was now the Warrior of Darkness - he could chime in with some opinions that might at the very least amuse, and certainly both satisfy and pique curiosity. As it was, his own curiosity was rearing its head.
"Well met, G'raha, and, though your introduction to it must have been far from pleasant, welcome to Amaurot, the seat of the Convocation of Fourteen - Thirteen, lately, really - and where they used to guide the course of the star."
He raised his masked face, though he knew there were possibly malms of water between them and the sky. "Back when there was but one, that is."
No, he wasn't zealously claiming that the will of the Convocation was to guide everyone now. Not at all.
"Crystal exarch. Was that title given as a reason for what is happening to you, a result of it, or unrelated entirely?"
G'raha inclined his head in agreement to the comment about his introduction being less than pleasant - it was something of an understatement, but he wasn't about to dwell on it particularly.
So, this had been the seat of government back when there was only one star... interesting that the number of shards echoed the number of this Convocation. He filed that away for later consideration, and turned his attention instead to the question asked of him.
"They are related, but not cause and effect," he explained, lifting his crystalline arm a little, curling the fingers into his palm as he studied it for a moment before dropping it back into his lap.
"The title is a result of my stewardship over the crystal tower, the tower is a source upon which I can call to engage in great magics... but they are not without their price. Without the tower I would have neither title nor this physical affliction...but nor would this star have its saviour."
There was a reason, to Hythlodaeus's knowledge, why that connection - multi-layered, really, as far as he used to know the person responsible - but as the question is not asked, he doesn't know that particular tidbit of information is of interest, so he doesn't volunteer.
At the response, he tilts his head slightly, considering, then inclines it, accepting the answer. Well he knows the dismay of lacking sufficient power to do what he sees needs to be done. And now, in this form, even more so than ever.
"You have found a way to augment your strength to do what needs to be done." The masked face looks up. "I can understand that it can be a price one pays willingly."
G'raha nods his confirmation of Hythlodaeus' assessment, glad to have such easy understanding of what he's done and why he's done it - he isn't sure he has the energy to overly explain his motivations right now, after everything.
The question makes him smile, ducking his head slightly to hide the clear and obvious affection in his expression, though he doubts that does much good to conceal anything.
"Yes." he says simply, easily "A thousand times over, they are worth it."
no subject
Date: 2024-03-06 08:29 am (UTC)"I assume that, when he was re-creating Amaurot, he may have had a stray thought - Hythlodaeus would realize the truth, or something to that effect." Or he had wished for it... he knew better than to hope for things like that, but he could hardly help himself.
"Ah, how remiss of me. My name is Hythlodaeus, and I - used to be, a long time ago now, Chief of the Bureau of the Architect. I can hardly do much but keep company, but if you wish it, it is on offer."
no subject
Date: 2024-03-06 09:57 am (UTC)G'raha listens with obvious interest - he was tired, and worried, and injured, but he was still curious.
A friend of Emet-Selch... it was not completely unsurprising, the man was obviously charismatic and he thought he was doing the right thing - once upon a time, when this Hythlodaeus was living and knew him, he was doing the right thing, as far as he was concerned. He acted to save his people - still was, G'raha knew, he just couldn't condone such efforts when they resulted in the deaths of so, so many.
"Company would be welcome." he admitted, since he was driving himself slightly crazy on his own and perhaps this conversation would be useful "I am known as the crystal exarch... but you may call me G'raha." There wasn't much point in still keeping the secret, now.
no subject
Date: 2024-03-06 10:11 am (UTC)"Well met, G'raha, and, though your introduction to it must have been far from pleasant, welcome to Amaurot, the seat of the Convocation of Fourteen - Thirteen, lately, really - and where they used to guide the course of the star."
He raised his masked face, though he knew there were possibly malms of water between them and the sky. "Back when there was but one, that is."
No, he wasn't zealously claiming that the will of the Convocation was to guide everyone now. Not at all.
"Crystal exarch. Was that title given as a reason for what is happening to you, a result of it, or unrelated entirely?"
no subject
Date: 2024-03-06 11:24 am (UTC)G'raha inclined his head in agreement to the comment about his introduction being less than pleasant - it was something of an understatement, but he wasn't about to dwell on it particularly.
So, this had been the seat of government back when there was only one star... interesting that the number of shards echoed the number of this Convocation. He filed that away for later consideration, and turned his attention instead to the question asked of him.
"They are related, but not cause and effect," he explained, lifting his crystalline arm a little, curling the fingers into his palm as he studied it for a moment before dropping it back into his lap.
"The title is a result of my stewardship over the crystal tower, the tower is a source upon which I can call to engage in great magics... but they are not without their price. Without the tower I would have neither title nor this physical affliction...but nor would this star have its saviour."
no subject
Date: 2024-03-26 02:11 pm (UTC)At the response, he tilts his head slightly, considering, then inclines it, accepting the answer. Well he knows the dismay of lacking sufficient power to do what he sees needs to be done. And now, in this form, even more so than ever.
"You have found a way to augment your strength to do what needs to be done." The masked face looks up. "I can understand that it can be a price one pays willingly."
Hythlodaeus never did.
"This savior. They are worth it?"
no subject
Date: 2024-03-30 02:36 pm (UTC)G'raha nods his confirmation of Hythlodaeus' assessment, glad to have such easy understanding of what he's done and why he's done it - he isn't sure he has the energy to overly explain his motivations right now, after everything.
The question makes him smile, ducking his head slightly to hide the clear and obvious affection in his expression, though he doubts that does much good to conceal anything.
"Yes." he says simply, easily "A thousand times over, they are worth it."