[ There's equal relief on his end at that last sentence. ]
Yennefer - I've not met her in person or otherwise before aside from possibly something in passing, but I remember she was one of the delegates when Nocwich first opened to us.
[ Someone in a high position, Claude remembers thinking then, and that was over a year ago. Much must have happened between then and now. ]
Nadine has also stepped forward as a candidate for delegate. With her skills in healing she'll be valuable to the Nether, let alone what the Free Cities may find valuable out of all of this from going there potentially with their supposed blessings.
[ A pause, and then - ]
Something which concerns me for Thorne as well and the both of them combined, truthfully.
Yes, that's her. She's been here for a long time, including from part of the Free Cities group of Summoned who were originally in Thorne as I understand it. She runs a clinic in addition to the herbal business mentioned.
[ Claude holds her in high esteem, which Kyle might be able to pick up on. His assessment of her as valuable to the Nether is also truthful - not to mention valuable to the Summoned as a whole when they don't know what sort of situation they'll be walking into when the time comes.
And speaking of that - ]
That I don't know. If the voting will be anything like what happened with the Acolytes and what should happen to them, it could easily be a close one. That depends on whether those here feel it's at the same level of intensity as that, or whether there's even more personal stakes here from all of our experiences. Is it the same in Thorne?
I'd also prefer none of the governments be here for something closer to what we had with the Fey without any interference, but aid's involved this time rather than diplomacy alone. That'd require much more careful circumvention than ignoring a 'friendly' request for information upon return.
[ He does find that reassuring to a degree about Nadine. As for the rest... ]
Everyone is more cautious here, I think. But it's just as likely they will want to offer whatever aid we can.
[ Or not want to stand out by refusing to work with the faction on this. With his own vote, he feels like his hands are tied. There are no good options here. ]
Those are my thoughts as well...
I don't like any of this. I wish we knew more about these people.
[ It's unsurprising to hear the offer of aid being enticing - Claude knows it was to him as well, that promise of what could be accomplished with Portam Hall's directives attached, until he'd decided that wasn't something he wanted to support. In his own vote, anyway, considering there's many reasons he wouldn't fault someone else for agreeing to it. And in the end, if that's the way the overall vote goes and he ends up as a delegate, that's what he'll have to do. ]
You and me both. It seems we'll be walking into a dire situation we know very little about and have to prepare for it based on the latter. That's not my preferred way of doing anything, and especially not when so much of this is outside of our control in so many ways.
What are your thoughts on what Thorne will ask of or from this if the vote goes to accepting their assistance?
From what little I know of the Nether it seems they are skilled blacksmiths. Likely they'll ask for something to do with that if their weaponry is more advanced than what is already here. Or a promise of aid in the war efforts in the future.
I assume it will be the same from the Free Cities.
I had the same thought about any part of what's given to Thorne or the Free Cities regarding war efforts. I'd rather not contribute to that unless it's unavoidable in how we're able to help the Nether, and in that case whatever will be done will have to be.
[ Another pause, because he's considering that and in a call back to other things they've spoken of, how being here doesn't mean that the past and its struggles have to repeat themselves outside of that. No, he has more to add to that admittedly politician's answer. ]
I wouldn't ask someone to risk themselves to prevent some of the information we might learn making it back to anywhere, but if there's a way around that, it wouldn't be the worst idea to keep an eye on finding what it might be in mind throughout all of this.
[ Even if it's a response he expects from what he's gotten to know about Kyle - and the other man's thoughts on the situation in Thorne, let alone Abraxas - Claude looks at those words until they disappear before he answers. ]
Then we share the same feeling when it comes to that, so long as we can move things into motion to be the way we want. If there's no way to prevent bringing back what we're supposed to to Thorne and the Free Cities, then maybe there's a way to make sure the connections we make with the Nether aren't based on this alone.
no subject
[ Claude volunteering to be at the negotiations table. He hopes it leans his way. ]
A mage named Yennefer is likely, she's acted as a delegate in the past.
I was also going to put myself forward.
no subject
Yennefer - I've not met her in person or otherwise before aside from possibly something in passing, but I remember she was one of the delegates when Nocwich first opened to us.
[ Someone in a high position, Claude remembers thinking then, and that was over a year ago. Much must have happened between then and now. ]
Nadine has also stepped forward as a candidate for delegate. With her skills in healing she'll be valuable to the Nether, let alone what the Free Cities may find valuable out of all of this from going there potentially with their supposed blessings.
[ A pause, and then - ]
Something which concerns me for Thorne as well and the both of them combined, truthfully.
no subject
[ He got oils from her once. That's as much as he knows about her. ]
That is my concern as well. Do you have any guess how the voting may go on your side?
I would prefer neither of our factions get involved, though I worry more about one gaining any advantage over the other.
no subject
[ Claude holds her in high esteem, which Kyle might be able to pick up on. His assessment of her as valuable to the Nether is also truthful - not to mention valuable to the Summoned as a whole when they don't know what sort of situation they'll be walking into when the time comes.
And speaking of that - ]
That I don't know. If the voting will be anything like what happened with the Acolytes and what should happen to them, it could easily be a close one. That depends on whether those here feel it's at the same level of intensity as that, or whether there's even more personal stakes here from all of our experiences. Is it the same in Thorne?
I'd also prefer none of the governments be here for something closer to what we had with the Fey without any interference, but aid's involved this time rather than diplomacy alone. That'd require much more careful circumvention than ignoring a 'friendly' request for information upon return.
no subject
Everyone is more cautious here, I think. But it's just as likely they will want to offer whatever aid we can.
[ Or not want to stand out by refusing to work with the faction on this. With his own vote, he feels like his hands are tied. There are no good options here. ]
Those are my thoughts as well...
I don't like any of this. I wish we knew more about these people.
no subject
You and me both. It seems we'll be walking into a dire situation we know very little about and have to prepare for it based on the latter. That's not my preferred way of doing anything, and especially not when so much of this is outside of our control in so many ways.
What are your thoughts on what Thorne will ask of or from this if the vote goes to accepting their assistance?
no subject
I assume it will be the same from the Free Cities.
[ If the vote goes that way. ]
no subject
[ Another pause, because he's considering that and in a call back to other things they've spoken of, how being here doesn't mean that the past and its struggles have to repeat themselves outside of that. No, he has more to add to that admittedly politician's answer. ]
I wouldn't ask someone to risk themselves to prevent some of the information we might learn making it back to anywhere, but if there's a way around that, it wouldn't be the worst idea to keep an eye on finding what it might be in mind throughout all of this.
no subject
I wouldn't expect others to risk themselves. I hope not to have to put myself in that position. But if necessary, I will.
[ He's very much used to acting alone. All of this conspiring is something he never did before coming here. ]
no subject
Then we share the same feeling when it comes to that, so long as we can move things into motion to be the way we want. If there's no way to prevent bringing back what we're supposed to to Thorne and the Free Cities, then maybe there's a way to make sure the connections we make with the Nether aren't based on this alone.
[ If it's possible - he'd like to find a way. ]