For a time, the newly bright woman said, and Jigano couldn’t help but wonder how long such time was. He was given no chance to ask the question, though, as Rexanna leaned in to sing the praises of the Voice. ”And ensuring the obedience of her creations isn’t a very good reason for her? Especially since, as you say, there are so few… and unlike adherents of the Old Gods, you cannot simply walk away from her. You have everything to lose… but she can always entice another into her embrace.” He tried to explain his worries, letting her see the concern in his eyes as he met hers squarely.
”And what do you mean by ‘everyone’? Who else has come to you with concerns about the Ascended?” That small comment caught his attention, sharpening interest he had begun to let flag. This was a conversation that would go in circles until he let it go, just as he had with Sam, and the knowledge stung sharply. He was in no position to do much about it though, not yet. If he could only talk to Ronin then maybe… Ah, but no, Safrin herself was blighted from the Spire, that same stronghold of the Voice that had cost so many their lives.
We, and the word bit deep as the bard watched Rexanna soberly, realizing that no matter her idealistic words about standing between, that she had chosen a side already. Or perhaps had it chosen for her, once desperation had driven her to the Voice’s embrace. Damn Bastien for taking her down that road anyway. Every time he thought he might relax around the artist the man did something new to raise Jigano’s hackles. ”For one, it was a group of Ascended that ignored the desire of no small portion of the rest of the population to stay out of the Spire until we had more time to come to terms with the Demon’s death and study it,” he pointed out quietly. ”Not all of them, no, but it was a group entirely and only of Ascended that did that, putting everyone who disagreed with them to sleep against their will so they could slip within. That was less than a year ago, and resentment over that remains. The Demon itself, which caused the death of so many Naturals – friends and families of those still alive today – had Ascended characteristics as well. It appeared to be a creation of the Voice rather than the old gods. I don’t suppose the Voice has had much to say on what it was, or why it was there? Or why she did nothing to rein it in? And then there are the worries that the blight is linked to the Voice in some way, due to the timing of it appearing in the Greatwood only after the barrier fell, and infecting Safrin after she fell within the Spire, which was the Voice’s stronghold. Sam asked her about it, I think… but she did not answer him. So if the question is what you, as a newly-minted individual Ascended, has done? The answer is: nothing. But if the question is what has the Voice done? She has been involved in much that erodes trust, and little that builds it. I, too, had once thought to try and stand between the gods and try to mediate… but I admit, my friend, that I do not like what I have seen of her, and I have grave concerns for my friends who have fallen under her sway.” Sam and Rex most of all.
”And what do you mean by ‘everyone’? Who else has come to you with concerns about the Ascended?” That small comment caught his attention, sharpening interest he had begun to let flag. This was a conversation that would go in circles until he let it go, just as he had with Sam, and the knowledge stung sharply. He was in no position to do much about it though, not yet. If he could only talk to Ronin then maybe… Ah, but no, Safrin herself was blighted from the Spire, that same stronghold of the Voice that had cost so many their lives.
We, and the word bit deep as the bard watched Rexanna soberly, realizing that no matter her idealistic words about standing between, that she had chosen a side already. Or perhaps had it chosen for her, once desperation had driven her to the Voice’s embrace. Damn Bastien for taking her down that road anyway. Every time he thought he might relax around the artist the man did something new to raise Jigano’s hackles. ”For one, it was a group of Ascended that ignored the desire of no small portion of the rest of the population to stay out of the Spire until we had more time to come to terms with the Demon’s death and study it,” he pointed out quietly. ”Not all of them, no, but it was a group entirely and only of Ascended that did that, putting everyone who disagreed with them to sleep against their will so they could slip within. That was less than a year ago, and resentment over that remains. The Demon itself, which caused the death of so many Naturals – friends and families of those still alive today – had Ascended characteristics as well. It appeared to be a creation of the Voice rather than the old gods. I don’t suppose the Voice has had much to say on what it was, or why it was there? Or why she did nothing to rein it in? And then there are the worries that the blight is linked to the Voice in some way, due to the timing of it appearing in the Greatwood only after the barrier fell, and infecting Safrin after she fell within the Spire, which was the Voice’s stronghold. Sam asked her about it, I think… but she did not answer him. So if the question is what you, as a newly-minted individual Ascended, has done? The answer is: nothing. But if the question is what has the Voice done? She has been involved in much that erodes trust, and little that builds it. I, too, had once thought to try and stand between the gods and try to mediate… but I admit, my friend, that I do not like what I have seen of her, and I have grave concerns for my friends who have fallen under her sway.” Sam and Rex most of all.
