anti-refugee-protests-3.txt

@@ -410,4 +410,4 @@ Nikki shook her head.
 	I won't forget the Barns when I talk to her.
 	Anyway, you two have had a long night.
 	Get some sleep.
-	Lord knows we're going to have a fun time tomorrow.
+	God knows we're going to have a fun time tomorrow.

chief-solves-a-mystery/arrives-at-scene.txt

@@ -1,59 +0,0 @@
-Kim and I arrived ten minutes after the alarm was tripped, because Actuarial had determined that a focus on response times would lower losses in the long run.
-
-The client, a thin dwarf with a black beard, clipped short like they did in the Border, stood outside waiting, siren blaring and warning lights flashing.
-Kim took the lead on the small talk, while I stepped back and looked at the building.
-The warehouse looked ordinary enough, with a small office adjacent.
-Black panels circled the warehouse, hiding proprietary warding underneath.
-
-The client, Dara, lived in an attached housing block and arrived shortly after the alarm went off, and no, he didn't know what had tripped it.
-Dara was quite keen to please turn off the siren, and ushered everyone into the small office attached to the warehouse.
-
-The wards were connected to a small electric receiver, which had a flashing light indicating that motion had triggered the alarm.
-The forced-entry, anti-teleport and ward-breaking lights all sat dim, interestingly enough.
-Another light underneath, labelled "Priority Emergency", remained unlit too, so the wards weren't picking up anything too time-sensitive.
-Which made dispatching Kim and I so quickly seem an odd choice.
-Not that I was going to complain about being able to bill off-hours time.
-
-―We're not contractually allowed to fully disarm the alarm until MBoCM get here, Kim said.
-	You export Deepwood, right?
-
-Dara nodded.
-
-―We can silence the sirens though.
-
-Kim held their company ID near the receiver and held down the silencer button.
-The sirens stopped, and as a bonus the alarm lights stopped flashing, and the subtle tension of standing near a loud sound lifted off our collective shoulders.
-
-―While we're waiting, Kim said, we can take care of some paperwork.
-
-―Will it be a while? Dara asked.
-
-This was an optimistic question, and Kim nodded with an empathy I shared.
-Mountberg's Board of Control for Magic barely responded to emergencies quickly, and a low priority alarm like this one would garner even less interest.
-But as much as Dara might like to see what was happening inside of his warehouse, it would not be worth violating an MBoCM regulation.
-Security wards set off at any exporters of what MBoCM considered Sensitive Magical Material required a Board response.
-And the ward owners, would be billed.
-Handy way to make a profit.
-That bill would be paid by the owner's insurance, unless of course an investigator (me) could show that it was their fault.
-Which is why an investigator like me had to show up far too early in the morning for loud alarms.
-
-Kim asked Dara to find the original certificates of installation of the security wards, along with the registration details of the Scribes who'd actually written the runes.
-I knew that Kim had that information in their folder, but if Dara couldn't produce information like that, Kim could record it in the report.
-And then Underwriting could make sure to increase Dara's malpractice premium.
-Not by a lot, but enough that Kim's reputation would go up and some executive's bonus would increase.
-
-―I'll step outside and do an inspection of the doors, I said.
-
-The panels of warding extended over the large service door of the warehouse, and I could see another electronic relay controlling a large bolt holding the door closed.
-Wards like this could trigger in a few different ways, but the most common was unexpected motion in the interior when the alarm was armed.
-In order to have motion inside, either someone from outside had to enter, or whoever was inside had to have been there since last night when the doors were locked.
-Except the type of wards made that unlikely.
-Forced-entry and anti-teleport measures were standard for wards, and the wards detected neither, which covered the obvious methods of entry.
-
-But the system had had a ward-breaking light, too.
-It took sophisticated systems to detect ward-breaking, and sophisticated systems were smart enough to detect unexpected occupants during arming.
-So how had someone gotten in to trip the alarm?
-
-The outside of the warehouse looked entirely uninteresting.
-Untouched ward panels, no damage to the service door.
-I started to walk back to the office, but 

lore/dates.txt

@@ -1,52 +0,0 @@
-1961 ― Darius born.
-
-1985 ― Grigory born.
-
-1987 ― Marina born
-
-1990 ― Sarla born
-
-1994 ― Hierarchy extremist cell arrested in Bellfort
-1995 ―
-	Summer: Free Yak Alliance loses many Assembly seats to Progress Party, as Progress Party does well in Presidential polling
-		Controversy in last round of Presidential Election, Progress Party Candidate makes unsavoury comments about the Hierarchy, including dissolution and storming of the Eternal City
-	Fall: Meadowlark Union Party candidate Sonja elected as President, after unexpected polling numbers and splitting of FYA vote.
-
-1996 ― Kral born?
-	- Late Winter: Sonja officially ends policy of Suppression via Decree
-	- Spring:
-		- Legislative Assembly passes laws overturning two elements of Suppression (the education requirements and the ban on Flock members in the Assembly).
-			The Assembly leaves the previous laws on fund freezing, but leaves intact Sonja's decree on funding.
-
-1997 ― Hierarch Yakaterina found, arrested.
-
-1998 ― Darius made Commander of the City Garrison.
-
-2000 ― President Dominic of PP elected. MU does much better than usual and siphons away many FYA members.
-	- PP is very tense with Hierarchy.
-
-2002 ― Sarla faces Trial, passes
-
-2003 ― Sarla swears vows on turning 16.
-
-2005 ― President Laurence (FYA, PM during Sonja's presidency) elected (with FYA + PP coalition), pledges to normalise relationship with Hierarchy
-	- Overall Hierarchy does not budge, PP does not want to make concessions
-
-2007 ― Sarla becomes Practicant, starts training with Auroklos
-
-2008 ― Ennearch Rikka is found dead
-
-	Council agrees to declare Yakaterina a heretic, dubbing her Heresiarch and disavowing her philosophy in public.
-	Is understood to be forced by Laurence as condition of renewal of funding decree.
-	No Hierarch named, and no recognition of Galvarelli.
-
-	Mijesi visits?
-
-2010 ― President Laurence re-elected, but largely continues on same (with FYA-led coalition with PP and PM)
-
-2013 ― Eternal City normalises relations with Galvarelli, signing Concords
-	Auroklos officially succeeds Yakaterina as Hierarch.
-2015 ― President Calvin (PP) takes office, with Vaughan as PM.
-	Steals votes from Meadowlark Union and FYA by making bold promises on both a final end to Suppression and on refugees.
-	Tugs at everyone's heartstrings
-2018 ― events of Kral's story

lore/ennearchy.txt

@@ -1,18 +0,0 @@
-the 9 virtues:
-
-survival (ennearch's a dick who refuses to come to a Flock meeting in the Barns).
-	Ennearch Hatzin.
-growth ()
-balance (one of the Triple Ennearch's virtues. Ironic, he's a hot-headed jerk)
-hope (one of the Triple Ennearch's virtues)
-mercy (Third of the Triple Ennearch's virtues) Carmine
-charity (quite powerful Ennearch who is the most common patron of Flocks in outlying cities (Sarla needs his help to advance in the Hierarchy))
-	ennearch named Isidor
-reason Ennearch Suati
-strength Ennearch Rikka
-chastity Ennearch Simeon, who has a team of Meadowlark Communicators
-	Chastity to yaks represents austerity. They keep their offices bare and minimal, and expect restraint and asceticism.
-	Fasts are common as prayer.
-	This helps with Farcalling, which requires a very delicate touch.
-	Many other offices borrow Farcallers, which ends up giving the Office of Chastity much of its influence.
-	Not very popular in the lay people, except in a few Border regions.

lore/etymologies.txt

@@ -1,49 +0,0 @@
-Whitewood: named for cottonwoods
-Ennearch Simeon: Named for st Simeon Stylites
-Ennearch Isidor:
-	gift of isis, gifts charity it's a bit meh but I asked mallory for a letter and she said i.
-	patron saint of farmers too.
-Brody: https://www.reddit.com/r/askgaybros/comments/4zpe82/generally_speaking_what_are_some_fuckboy_names/
-
-Notburga:
-	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notburga
-	patron saint of fields
-
-White Hall
-	Reference both to Chastity (via chastity -> purity -> white) and to UK civil service.
-
-Alv:
-	Reference both to Galvarelli and to the latin word arvum (via arvum -> alvum -> alv).
-	Also references white (via albus).
-
-Jann:
-	Darius's son, Grigory's age.
-
-Rikka:
-	Vrikodara -> Vrika (wolf) udara (bellied)
-	Vrikodara means bhima,
-	Vrika -> Rikka
-
-Grunny:
-	Bos grunniens
-
-Threding:
-	Thirding -> cut in thirds. Alternative universe's version of "Riding" as in Yorkshire.
-
-Cobb:
-	Assistant to Suati.
-	From Saraswati's vehicle, a swan.
-	Male swan = cob.
-	Done.
-
-Suati:
-	Saraswati shortened.
-	Obvious.
-
-Mijesi:
-	Yak scholar name.
-
-Passages:
-
-Ennearch Hatzin:
-	Named after Kelsier obviously.

lore/hierarchy-structure.txt

@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@ Practicant - In some sense a Practicant represents a trained Renunciate.
 	Typically, unless someone has a particular interest in scholarship or in pedagogy, or just interest in the actual applied meadowlark, this is where people stop in their Meadowlark training.
 	Auroklos is a Practicant, although one of moderate skill.
 	Sarla is a very, very skilled Practicant, and is on the cusp of being a very young Anendyte.
-	Blue-sashed black robes.
 
 Anendyte / Master Practicant - Capable of / allowed to teach the Meadowlark to Adepts, and necessary to witness vows for Adepts to become Renunciates.
 	The Ennearchs will bring the petition of a skilled Practicant to the Hierarch for evaluation, with the Hierarch's approval, a Practicant becomes an Anendyte.
@@ -55,7 +54,6 @@ Anendyte / Master Practicant - Capable of / allowed to teach the Meadowlark to A
 	In practice, a Practicant will already have begun aiding Renunciates, even if not formally teaching them.
 	In the current times, the skill required will almost certainly involve being able to grow plants with some ease.
 	There are not many Anendytes, only usually 15-20 in the whole Hierarchy.
-	Green robes.
 
 Telaugur - Very rare, requires reaching the highest Meadowlarks at least on occasion.
 	If you can command insects, and the wind and the rain, then you are a Telaugur.

lore/meadowlark_exercises.txt

@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-Exercise of Connection -> touching the Meadowlark
-Exercise of Order -> Turning the input only signal into a two-way signal, to influence the outside world.
-Exercise of Expansion -> pushing "power" through the connection.
-
-Exercise of Order
-	spontaneous order vs imposed order

lore/named-yaks.txt

@@ -1,29 +0,0 @@
-Grunny:
-	Bos grunniens
-
-Mijesi:
-	Yak member of the cult of the rock.
-	Friends with a house finch.
-
-Letia:
-	Loyal if somewhat dim Practicant in Suati's Office in Makiwen.
-
-Yury:
-	Sits at the Head of the Council.
-	Master, specialising in erosion.
-	Not very powerful, but old and handpicked by Yakaterina.
-
-Hobard:
-	Head of the Hall of Roots.
-	Barely a Practicant.
-	Older, grumpy.
-	Firm part of the Yakaterina escape plot.
-
-Clover:
-	Master, ultimately in charge of Cyril. Head of the Palace of Skies.
-	About the most powerful admin type position?
-	Strong believer in the pragmatist position that time to move on from Yakaterina, although personally a supporter of Yakaterina.
-	Politically savvy.
-
-Barton:
-	Head of Willow Hall Library

lore/places.txt

@@ -1,37 +0,0 @@
-the City Eternal: The seat of the Hierarchy, region in north west Haven, delineated by the Shining Walls.
-	Includes the Meeting Hall, a great outdoor auditorium for Council meetings,
-
-Redgrove -> real life counterpart is by espanola (nice coordination between red of redgrove and spain maybe idk)
-
-Hall of Roots:
-	A great hall in the City Eternal, housing the Office of Charity as well as many of the acolytes.
-
-Palace of skies:
-	The great palace made of a pure white stone and preserved holly, which contains the Hierarch's offices among others
-
-Willow Hall:
-	Contains library, and Auroklos's small office.
-
-Cedar Library:
-	Library with cedar.
-	smells nice.
-
-White Hall
-	Houses the Office of Chastity.
-
-Tower Hall
-	Sarla lives here, along with a fair few adepts.
-
-Bellfort
-	Fort La Cloche
-
-Makiwen
-	Border city near the eastern boundary of the Beast Threding.
-	Corresponds loosely with Toronto in physical space, but there's some compression and rotation in the actual Hidden Land.
-	One of two major ports to Galvarelli, the other being Sarnia in the south.
-	Most Dwarves are Border dwarves, but the Transport
-
-Sarnia
-	In the Dwarf Threding, very corner.
-	Main point of entry to the hidden lands for farm animals.
-	Rail line to the Haven.

lore/politics.txt

@@ -1,14 +0,0 @@
-Parties:
-	- Progress Party
-	- Meadowlark Union
-	- Free Yak Alliance
-
-Suppression:
-	- Policy of barring Flock members from the Legislative Assembly
-	- State school curricula were instructed to denounce the Hierarchy and describe the abuses during the pre-Republican Hierocracy
-	- Freezing of accounts from old Flocks and suspension of Charters requiring money
-
-
-Currency:
-	Galvarelli uses alv as its currency.
-	Subdivided into grani.

lore/schoolsofthought.txt

@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-Preferentialists: the emperor was the lord of the mountain returned to beasts as a yak because they are the favoured kind
-# Exceptionalist: The emperor was an exceptionally skilled Meadowlark practitioner.
-Anhistoricist: The emperor was a normal yak (although maybe of non-trivial magical skill). Large numbers, good organisation and historical revisionism are responsible for his legend.

lore/yak-poetry-theory.txt

@@ -1,14 +0,0 @@
-traditional yak poetry, based on mussorgsky
-Why? yaks lumber in their poetry.
-
-star indicate that stressed initial syllable can itself be replaced by an iamb or dibrach (but spoken in quavers, so to speak)
-|  3  |  2*  |   3*  |   3    |
-. * . |  * . | * . . | * . .  |
-first foot often replaced with dactyl (* . .)?
-
-The holy | burden | we receive | willingly
-Upon us | lain by | Yakob, by | Hierarchs old.
-This holy | burden, | upholding the | law divine.
-To Virtues | sworn― | Discipline | maintaining.
-
-God that's hard to write.

nikki-watches-kral-return.txt

@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ Nikki felt her face and chest grow warm with anger.
 
 ―I have other things to negotiate with you, crow.	
 
-The bird uttered nothing further, staying completely still, fluttering not a single feather.
+The bird didn't uttered nothing further, staying completely still, fluttering not a single feather.
 
 After a moment, Nikki heard a dull clamour from across the water.
 Kral and the Witchfen Meadowlark, and as the scouts had reported, dwarves, were approaching the other end of the felled East Bridge.
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ While her back was turned, Trevor lunged forward with his long spear, but the cr
 ―Ma'am, now! Adrienne said, grabbing Sarla and Nikki and pulling them back towards the tram.
 
 Sarla pulled back, and closed her eyes.
-Adrienne screamed, until she suddenly stopped.
+Adrienne screamed, until she suddenly stoped.
 Nikki looked down, and threw up.
 Somehow, Adrienne's torso and legs had turned to soil.
 As Nikki watched, grass, and after a moment, lavender sprouted and grew from the guard-captain's corpse.

sarlastory/cobb-is-killed.txt

@@ -1,210 +0,0 @@
-Cobb paused in front of the ornate door.
-The Palace of Skies needed to be extravagant, of course, but gold and silver filigree covered the door, each small panel representing a separate story.
-There were even accents of truesilver.
-Wasteful, he thought.
-Wealth that could be better distributed.
-Sighing, he opened the door.
-
-A young yak was waiting inside.
-―Go on in, Master Cobb.
-	Rikka's not happy.
-
-―No matter, I have good news for him, Cobb said.
-	Go along now.
-
-―No, sir.
-	Rikka asked me to wait here to make sure no one else came in.
-
-Cobb frowned.
-Rikka had erred.
-A guard could give privacy, but also added risk.
-Yet another yak to be silenced.
-
-Cobb walked through the antechamber to the inner office of the Hierarch.
-A thin layer of dust covered the room, and the air smelled stale.
-Everything in this room was precious.
-The pen sitting on the desk had a gold line across it, and an emerald embedded in its shaft.
-
-The large yak sitting at the desk caught Cobb's gaze.
-
-―Well, Cobb.
-	Looking to steal it?
-
-―No, Your Grace.
-	I was merely thinking about how the treasures in this room should be put away.
-	Such a waste, with Yakaterina gone.
-
-Rikka shook his head.
-
-―She remains our leader.
-	Her office is to be left untouched.
-
-―Of course, of course.
-	I'm not questioning the Hierarch.
-	Or rather, I do so from a position of analysis and study.
-	It is the way of Reason.
-
-Cobb leaned in, and let his voice drop to a whisper.
-
-―The yak outside.
-	Can he be trusted?
-	I hoped to be here in secret.
-
-―The boy serves me.
-	If I order silence, the secret is safe.
-
-Rikka paused, and spoke with unexpected menace in his voice.
-
-―My orders are followed, Cobb.
-	That is the way of Strength.
-	Now, what's your news?
-
-Cobb sighed, and glanced around the room.
-Meeting in the Hierarch's office seemed like a worse idea every passing minute.
-Even in the dead of night, the Palace of Skies would have people moving around.
-Getting in unnoticed had been challenging enough.
-
-―Well, Ennearch Rikka.
-	I have acquired the plans.
-	She's well-guarded.
-	They indeed claim to have found a way to block soil magic.
-	But no mention in any of the planning documents about Dwarrowfolk getting involved.
-	The room is exactly where it seems to be.
-
-―And Birds?
-
-Cobb shook his head.
-
-―None were mentioned.
-	The Aery do not care about the Republic's business.
-
-―So you don't know for sure.
-	Useless, Cobb.
-	I don't want to be surprised.
-
-―Rikka―
-
-Rikka suddenly ducked behind the desk, stopping Cobb mid-sentence.
-Cobb turned around and saw a yak near the door behind him, head covered by a thick black hood.
-
-How?, Cobb thought.
-The room had been empty, and he'd heard nothing.
-
-The intruder was walking slowly towards them, and Cobb connected to the Meadowlark.
-Underneath the thick carpets, the floor was marble.
-Beyond most soil adepts, but Cobb was a master.
-He pushed his attention into the stone, and pushed vitality into it.
-The tile below him crumbled, and he could feel it turning into soil.
-
-Immediately, Cobb's body sang in pain.
-Overestimated my own skill, he thought.
-But no time to think about that.
-
-Cobb pulled up on the soil in front of him, shaping it into thin wedges.
-As he did so, he pulled vitality out of them, turning them back into stone, flinging them at the intruder.
-Dwarrowfolk magic might be able to shape stone, but Cobb could do the next best thing.
-
-Cobb's improvised missiles slammed into the intruder's cloak, and one was actually sharp enough to pierce it, sticking in the intruder's chest.
-The intruder stopped, looking down from under the hood at it.
-Getting hit with a dozen stone shards should have done more, Cobb thought.
-
-Undeterred, Cobb started to move across the Ennearch's office to duck behind a side table.
-As he moved, he repeated the volley, but with larger pieces of stone.
-The intruder kept their eyes on the stone projectiles, dodging the two larger ones near their head.
-
-Got you, Cobb thought.
-The carpet under the intruder's feet was cotton.
-Cobb pushed vitality into the cotton fibres, reminding them of their connection to life.
-At the same time, he pushed into the marble under the intruder's feet, changing it into a thin, wet clay, rather than soil.
-In the instant after the intruder moved to dodge the rock volley, their hooves sank into the floor, and fibers from the rug tightened.
-
-Try moving now, Cobb thought, as he hardened the clay back into stone.
-Cobb reached his shielding side table, and pulled more dirt up his legs, keeping it ready to attack again.
-
-Unexpectedly, the intruder started laughing.
-
-―Ah, so this is how the Hierarchy welcomes guests? he asked.
-
-A silent moment passed.
-The intruder moved in a way that Cobb could not quite understand, and then, started to walk towards him.
-
-Cobb tried to move, and found he couldn't.
-The dirt around his body had constricted, and somehow, his connection to the Meadowlark, to magic, had been blocked.
-
-―This...this is Bird magic! Cobb shouted.
-
-The intruder neared the desk Rikka cowered behind.
-
-―Rikka, stand, the intruder ordered.
-
-Rikka reluctantly stood up.
-He might be an Ennearch, but as far as Cobb knew, Rikka's ability with the Meadowlark was paltry at best.
-
-The intruder looked over Rikka as dismissively as possible as a face-covering hood could look.
-
-―You're pathetic, Rikka, the intruder said.
-	Paragon of Strength?
-	How Yakaterina let you become an Ennearch is beyond me.
-
-The intruder laughed.
-
-―Who the fuck are you?, Rikka spat.
-
-The intruder pulled back his hood.
-Cobb didn't recognise the yak, but Rikka immediately gasped.
-
-―What?
-	You?
-
-The intruder ignored both questions.
-
-―Did you find it?, he asked Rikka.
-
-Before the Ennearch could answer, the intruder looked around and interrupted him.
-
-―No, you didn't.
-	Yakaterina was clear.
-	Don't touch her offices unless you knew what you were doing.
-	Instead you decided to hold a secret meeting here.
-	She trusted fools like you.
-	That's why she's rotting in a cell, the intruder said, shaking his head.
-
-Rikka opened his mouth to speak, and the intruder immediately moved, again in the same indescribable way that had preceded the Bird magic used on Cobb.
-
-At first, it seemed as though nothing had happened.
-But Rikka closed his mouth, then opened and closed it a few more times.
-
-Silenced, somehow.
-And from Rikka's complete lack of movement, frozen in place, just like Cobb.
-Beasts knew so little about Bird magic, Cobb thought.
-He hadn't known this was even possible, let alone that a yak could be taught to learn it.
-
-The intruder looked at the papers on Yakaterina's desk.
-He thumbed through some of Rikka's papers, then opened drawers, pulling out dusty documents.
-
-―Nothing here, he eventually said.
-	I assumed your people had an actual plan, he said to Rikka.
-	But you've been wasting everyone's time.
-	I'm doing your followers a favour.
-
-Alarm rushed into Rikka's eyes, but he couldn't do anything as the intruder again used Bird magic.
-Cobb felt a pulling through his mind.
-He felt the Meadowlark, emerging from nowhere in an instant.
-But he could feel it being controlled by the intruder, against his will.
-
-Rikka's body started shaking, and tears came to his eyes
-The bottom of Rikka's hooves started to crack, and turn a deep brown.
-The deep brown started to rise, until it reached Rikka's knees.
-Suddenly, Rikka fell over, and the bottom of his legs crumbled into soil.
-
-Cobb tried to look away, but he couldn't stop himself looking back at Rikka's form.
-Vitality was rushing through Cobb's body as he was forced to use the Meadowlark.
-Unfrozen, Rikka tried to crawl over to Cobb, but more and more of his body turned into soil until only his top half remained, with blood beginning to seep out of the seam.
-
-The intruder surveyed his grim work for a moment, then eventually pulled the stone shard out of his chest.
-
-―Well Master Cobb, I must compliment you.
-	Shaping stone without Dwarf magic?
-	And you deserve better than Rikka ever did.
-
-The stone shard jumped from his grasp, and the intruder's smile was the last Cobb ever saw. 

sarlastory/marina-describes-farcalling.txt

@@ -1,121 +0,0 @@
-―So, like what?
-	You want a full lecture?
-
-Sarla looked over her beer at Marina.
-Cyril looked exasperated.
-
-―C'mon Sarla, I don't want to think about fucking Meadowlark theory, he said.
-
-Sarla looked down, a bit stung.
-It was a good point.
-The smuggled beers were expensive, and the storage room in the Hall of Roots they had hid themselves in was, though rarely-used, hardly a picture of perfect privacy.
-The others probably didn't want to take those risks just to think more about their work.
-
-―No dude, it's fine, Marina said.
-	You know Sarla loves that shit.
-
-Marina gave Sarla a wide smile.
-Sarla felt her face flush, likely because of the beer.
-
-―So, the Meadowlark isn't like, a telephone or anything.
-	Obviously.
-	Like, what do you hear when you connect to it?
-
-―With a normal connection, it sounds like a faint rustling.
-	Like soft wind over the grass.
-
-Cyril rolled his eyes.
-Marina quickly scolded him.
-
-―Don't disrespect the Meadowlark, Cyril.
-	You swore oaths.
-	Even if Sarla writes poetry about it.
-
-Cyril barked a conciliatory half-apology.
-
-―Anyway, so yeah, you'll hear the actual sound because Voice is power and all that, you know.
-	But that's not like, communication, right?
-	Like the Voice isn't anyone's voice that can talk to you.
-
-Sarla nodded.
-This was basic Meadowlark theory.
-But there was a disconnect between that and what Sarla knew about Farcalling, and Sarla's face scrunched in thought.
-
-―So you probably are thinking of the right question:
-	Where does information come out of the connection?
-
-From Marina's tone she guessed this was a regurgitation of a lesson from one of her teachers.
-When you connected to the Meadowlark, the physical sound only reflected your own mental state, and nothing else.
-And using the Meadowlark meant pushing back against it, but that also didn't affect others.
-She'd been near people using the Meadowlark in demonstrations, and hadn't felt anything, whether she was connected or not.
-
-―So what's the trick? Sarla asked.
-
-Marina chugged the rest of her beer, and opened another can.
-
-―Yeah, so, it's hard to explain.
-	I'm not like, a teacher, she said chuckling.
-	Uhh, so what we've learned so far is like.
-	So, imagine you're standing at the edge of a lake.
-	Someone in a boat can push water at you and you'll feel it.
-	Or like, um...
-
-She trailed off in thought a moment, and Sarla finished her beer.
-Cyril handed her another one.
-
-―Okay, so.
-	When you're too far in the water, you're constantly pushing and pulling on it.
-	Like, you're swimming and trying to stay afloat, you know?
-	So you can't tell if someone is pushing water at you from a boat.
-	But if you stand on the shore, you can feel the water moving.
-	And you can push back on the water.
-
-―You're saying, you connect only partially to the Meadowlark.
-	That way you can feel other people's connection and disconnection?
-
-That made sense, the moment of connection could theoretically be sensed.
-Or at least Sarla didn't immediately see why it couldn't.
-
-―Oh, yeah.
-	And like, there aren't boats in the Meadowlark so the other person is also standing on another part of the shore.
-
-Cyril groaned.
-
-―Marina, seriously?
-
-―What, Cyril? Marina said, glaring daggers at him.
-
-―Just like, Sarla gets it, okay?
-	Obviously, no offense Sar, but you understand stuff super easily anyway.
-	No more stupid metaphors.
-
-Sarla wasn't sure how that could have been offensive.
-
-―How does distance come into it?, she asked.
-	Even if you can feel the connection, shouldn't it be very slight unless you're super close?
-	And even if you're close, it must be ridiculously faint.
-
-Marina nodded.
-―Well that's the trick.
-	You have to be very sensitive, and it's all about connecting to the Meadowlark as little as possible.
-	Like, in order to not swamp out anything else you have to basically dip like, the very tip of your tongue in the water.
-
-Cyril didn't even bother to object to that.
-
-―And as for distance, the Meadowlark is related to like green stuff.
-	Fields, I mean.
-	Our ancestors would form great herds, all like, majestic, you know?
-	So the Meadowlark likes to clump up near fields.
-	And so like, you take a field and you cut out a section of grass, including the dirt and roots, and carry that away.
-	That's basically all the big boxes that get used for Communications are.
-	When you sit next to it and connect and disconnect back and forth, you can feel it even by the original field.
-	There are some tricks to enhance it more, but basically being on the same field, even if it's a square cut from the same field, lets it work.
-
-Sarla nodded.
-
-―Gotcha, that makes sense.
-	So it ends up being a grassroots communication system.
-
-―Exactly!
-	There were some other attempts with like growing long plants on trellises like wires, but they were always too unreliable.
-	It was too hard to properly hear things over the grapevine.

sarlastory/mystery-outline.txt

@@ -1,50 +0,0 @@
-
-Mijesi, a scholar and follower of the cult of the rock, is visiting about a year after Sarla's qualification as practicant.
-Sarla is asked to guard him as he investigates birdsong.
-He is nice and she likes him.
-
-Shortly after his arrival, Ennearch Rikka and Master Cobb are found dead.
-Documents in Rikka's possession reveal him to be an associate of Yakaterina.
-Cobb was as well.
-But it looks like he was having second thoughts?? what evidence, and was killed for it.
-
-There's an open Council meeting (general attendance expected, not attendance requested or attendance permitted) to announce Rikka's death.
-
-Auroklos shows up to a Council meeting and brings up concerns about the handling of Master Cobb's death.
-
-
-Clues:
-	- Some point realise it's Bird magic?
-	- Cobb was interested in finding the Reliquary
-		- Someone wanted to stop him?
-
-Suspects:
-	- Mijesi obviously
-		- Bird magic expert? Bird expert?
-		- Timing of his arrival sus af
-		- Mysterious man
-	- Ennearch of Reason Suati
-		- Interested in finding the Reliquary and solidify power
-		- Cares greatly about the state of the Threding and solidying magical power to the East.
-	- Auroklos
-
-
-
----
-
-
-	Opening Image – 0% to 1% - 1
-	Theme Stated – 5% - 1
-	Setup – 1% to 10% -
-	Catalyst – 10% - 1
-	Debate – 10% to 20%
-	Break Into Two – 20%
-	B Story – 22% - 1
-	Fun and Games – 20% to 50%
-	Midpoint – 50% - 1
-	Bad Guys Close In – 50% to 75%
-	All is Lost – 75% - 1
-	Dark Night of the Soul – 75% to 80%
-	Break Into Three – 80%
-	Finale – 80% to 99%
-	Final Image – 99% to 100% - 1

sarlastory/outline.txt

@@ -1,168 +0,0 @@
-overarching theme: trying to do the right thing can make things worse
-
-big conflict: role of the hierarchy in galvarellan culture, treason / excommunication of the hierarch and appointment of auroklos as hierarch
-small internal conflict: sarla doing what?
-	deciding on supporting auroklos?
-	Sarla ends up convincing herself that throwing herself into her studies and practice will give her security. She's wrong.
-
-
-Sarla given to hierarchy as a young child, raised in service
-Sarla is educated and grows up, not many chlidren given to the Hierarchy, and she's aware of the commotion around Yakaterina's arrest.
-She enjoys her time with her friends Cyril and Marina.
-They approach the age of the Trial (traditionally 14) with trepidation, because if they fail they'll be turned out from the Hierarchy.
-This freaks out Sarla, who only knows about her father, who won't write back in response to her letters, and is scared of losing everything.
-As Sarla grows up, she starts to learn about the Meadowlark in her extra classes, in preparation for her Trial.
-Her teachers, Tomasz (one of the Practicants in charge of leading a class) and Grigory (who has only recently sworn his vows) begin to teach her the Exercise of Connection.
-When she starts to learn and practice the Exercises, Sarla is distracted by a buzzing sound others seem to be unaffected by.
-It distracts her enough that Sarla starts disturbing her classes.
-Tomasz and Grigory point out that if she can't do the basics, she probably is not going to succeed at her Trial, and suggest she just give up.
-Sarla freaks out, and starts studying during her free time.
-They don't have any advice for her, just to stop letting her mind wander to random sounds.
-She spends less and less time with Marina and Cyril, but both of them try to hang out with her while studying anyway.
-She does start to despair though, because she can't keep her mental focus on the exercises, because of her friends and because she keeps hearing that damned buzzing.
-Eventually she learns to ignore those distractions more, but by this point she's basically been barred from actually attending classes.
-She spends her time in the Library, learning from books instead of her instructors.
-When she turns 12 she's informed she will be facing the Trial early.
-It's up to Tomasz to decide when she's ready, and he wants her to be not his problem anymore.
-He figures that since she'll fail anyway, might as well do it early.
-She rightly freaks out. It's a dick move on his part.
-
-The day of the Trial, she's barely slept and is an absolute mess.
-The buzzing sound has been getting worse and worse, and she's having a very hard time concentrating when she prcatices.
-She enters the classroom where the Trial is being held, and it's a Councillor (scary!) and a Master, Master Auroklos.
-The Councillor seems annoyed to have to give a trial to a very young yak, but Auroklos seems to mostly pity her.
-They send her out for a moment to talk to Tomasz, and Sarla overhears him telling the examiners that she does not have potential.
-Auroklos says that Tomasz should have just waited for her to reach 15, the maximum age for her to pass the Trial before she couldn't stay in the Hierarchy any longer.
-The Councillor agrees, but bemoans how expensive it is raising a yak.
-In any case, as the Councillor points out, Tomasz has done his part already, and the Council has added her name to the register of Trials, and this Trial is going to happen.
-
-She starts doing the exercises as they take note, and seem relatively unimpressed.
-She tries her absolute best, but as the Trial goes on, the buzzing sound gets louder and louder and eventually throws off her concentration, and she's devastated.
-She's clearly failed, and gives up and runs out of the room.
-As she leaves, she kicks one of the planters because it's particularly loud.
-
-Auroklos calls her back in, asking why she picked that one.
-Through tears she explains that it's too loud and she can't tune it out.
-Auroklos seems surprised, and the Councillor face palms.
-Auroklos whispers something about there needing to be consequences, and the Councillor resignedly agrees.
-Auroklos walks Sarla out of the room, down the hall, and Tomasz is called back in.
-Sarla sits silently as Auroklos talks about something confusing, until he mentions that 12 is still too young for vows anyway, but she will have to be studying Meadowlark things.
-She's passed! What?
-Yes the buzzing sound was the Meadowlark, the Voice of Beasts.
-She hasn't yet learned to control it, but turns out all her ridiculous practice was just making it easier to hear it. Whoops.
-Tomasz and Grigory will face some serious consequences for missing that their student was more competent than they were.
-
-Sarla does better.
-She's awkward and her new classmates are older and don't like her.
-Many are friends of Grigory and Tomasz, and their punishment is harsh.
-They blame Sarla.
-Sarla also is now less able to talk to her friends, Marina and Cyril.
-
-The stuff she's studying is fascinating, and she throws herself into it.
-When she reaches 15 she decides whether to say vows and become a Renunciate in the Hierarchy or to leave and join the lay world.
-Vow time, magic nun yak.
-Cyril and Marina do too, yay!
-They're very happy to stay in the Hierarchy, but neither do as well as Sarla.
-She spends more and more time in research, and seems likely to become a very very young Practicant.
-They get older, and Marina is clearly super into Sarla.
-Sarla is internally very into Marina, but is not self-aware enough to realise it.
-Kinda heartbreaking.
-
-At one point Marina shoots her shot, and Sarla doesn't notice at all.
-Poor Mar-mar.
-She leaves the Hierarchy.
-Suppression is officially gone now.
-It's easier for religious yaks in the lay world now.
-She only wanted to join to be near Sarla.
-Cyril scolds Sarla because Sarla is inconsiderate.
-Oh no that's Sarla's friend group.
-Microcosm of how Sarla ruins her own happiness (she and Marina would be cute af) by pursuing what she thinks would make her happy (performing well with the Meadowlark).
-
-Sarla does not have a lot of connections within the Hierarchy.
-She isn't related to someone important outside the Hierarchy, like a lot of those who merely spend a year or two in the Hierarchy, and she doesn't really seem useful for any of the powerful yaks within the Hierarchy.
-Not savvy enough for most of the Ennearch's or Councillors to take her under their control.
-
-Some minor conflicts here and there.
-Tries to parlay her academic achievements into perks in her life, and is rebuffed.
-So she doubles down and studies harder.
-
-She makes it to Practicant.
-She swears her Practicant oaths before the Council, is added to the Register, is now allowed to use the Meadowlark outside of the Hierarchy.
-It's basically the equivalent of getting an advanced degree for people.
-
-The Council isn't going to give her anything though, apart from the bare minimum she shares with Adepts way younger.
-Her only options are either to find an influential yak to glom on to, or to try to become a Master Practicant, which requires an instructor.
-None of the Ennearchs have much use for that.
-Mastery of the Meadowlark is not as important as it once was, and now that Ennearchs don't have frozen assets anymore (because Suppression is ending), they have true power: wealth.
-Amidst all of this is great debate about who the next Hierarch should be.
-
-She ends up reuniting with Master Auroklos, who agrees to train her.
-Auroklos is not very popular.
-He's not part of any of the Offices of the Ennearchs, and the Council mostly seems him as a nerd and a loser.
-He wants to do it traditional though, have her pass the traditional tests of being a Master Practicant.
-Nowadays the standards have dipped.
-there's a growing sentiment that it's the fault of an increasing population of farm animal refugees.
-This colours a lot of her interactions with people based on their thoughts on this.
-Kind of an irrational belief that ends up affecting the refugee crisis for Calvin and Kral later.
-At some point around her she meets Cyril again, and he's a dick about farm animals.
-Sarla basically just follows authorities and the books don't say one way or another, so she uncritically believes it.
-
-As she trains with Auroklos, it becomes pretty clear that A) she finds his instruction brilliant, B) he has other stuff going on she doesn't understand and C) he thinks the farm animal stuff is bad theology, and doesn't understand why anyone is against farm animals.
-He wants her to study a lot and not bother him with "easy" stuff (even if that "easy" stuff is actually super deep Meadowlark theory).
-
-Auroklos talks to her about an upcoming Council vote.
-He's championing an agreement to a Treaty with the Galvarelli government to regularise the status of the Hierarchy within the Republic.
-It seemed very unlikely, but it seemed like he managed to convince a few people. (TODO: What happens behind the scenes here?).
-Suddenly he's not isolated crazy yak Auroklos, he's candidate for Hierarch.
-Still disrespected. Most of the Hierarchy sees him as a puppet candidate that the Government approved of, nothing more.
-He has less and less time for Sarla, and basically pawns her off on others to push her through the process of becoming a Master.
-He does still use her for errands.
-Her abilities as proof that the Hierarchy could be valuable to the Republic, and that the Meadowlark was more than a relic of a bygone time.
-Doesn't go great as far as the government goes, because the political elite are quite negative to the Meadowlark.
-But while running an errand she sees her old crush Marina.
-She's now a quite beautiful yak, and very happy to see Sarla.
-They connect a few times, and this time Marina is a bit less ambiguous with her hint.
-Omg Sarla finally admits she kinda still likes Marina a lot.
-Cute.
-
-It takes a Master to nominate a Master to the Council, and Auroklos claims that it would be improper for him to nominate her, as her instructor.
-
-One of the Ennearchs takes her out of the city to use the Meadowlark to enliven the fields of a small yak town (Greyfield idk some name).
-She realises there is a way to tap into the deeper history of the land to make the whole field grow immediately, rather than the small incremental growth she was asked to do.
-
-Auroklos is annoyed, because it means the Ennearch does not need to keep returning to the town.
-Sarla expected praise and is broken by the insult.
-It seems like he has other work to do, and is annoyed she's not helping with it and is going on about being a Master.
-She runs more and more errands for him, tracking down members of the Hierarchy who are campaigning against the farm animals.
-And the small minority that are in favour of the Barns too. Too politically charged, antithetical to whatever Auroklos wants.
-The Councillor from her Trial ends up humiliating her by publicly bringing up her breakdown, he supports another yak who wants to be Hierarch.
-It's painful.
-Auroklos is unsympathetic and unhelpful.
-But he has more work for her, if she's ready.
-She is not.
-Runs away to Marina's, and Marina says she should just leave the Hierarchy.
-There's a chance for a new life outside, together.
-Bit of domestic bliss.
-
-But who's that at the door?
-Auroklos? but why?
-Flatters her a bit, points out that she can become Master if he's the Hierarch.
-An "Oh, honey..." moment because  Sarla can't say no.
-Marina is hurt all over again but Sarla is going to be so important in the Hierarchy with her new rank!
-Ends up completing some mcguffin quest (documents linking other leading candidate to Yakaterina's treason plot), new Hierarch in place! It's Auroklos!
-Sarla does not end up becoming Master right away.
-Auroklos has a lot of work to do.
-But she gets the hollow victory of being right-hand yak to a yak who doesn't seem to really care about her, public scorn because he's still seen as a weak puppet.
-And the love of her life won't respond anymore.
-It's okay, there are more books to read, right?
-
-Ending has to be Sarla carrying out some dirty work for Auroklos, showing her full descent.
-Does she murder?
-Does she blackmail?
-Maybe both.
-She must end up miserable.
-As Auroklos becomes Hierarch, the people she hated end up as necessary political allies, she's still working with the Councillor and other people she dislikes.
-Auroklos favours the Councillor from the Trial, because he's more important.
-Sarla's stuck now, she can't do anything else because she's done too much for Auroklos, but she sees that Auroklos only cares about her utility.
-And if she's not as utilitous as Councillors or any of the Ennearchs, then shame on her.
-She won't ever make Master, likely, she's made enemies of her friends.

sarlastory/rikka-death-private-council-meeting.txt

@@ -1,141 +0,0 @@
-Sarla couldn't quite believe her luck.
-
-―You could attend, as my proxy.
-	I believe that would be allowed.
-
-―But, surely...
-	You don't think this is an important meeting to attend yourself?
-
-Auroklos scoffed.
-
-―Of course not, I have other work I'd much rather do.
-	If, of course, it would not prove too inconvenient for you.
-
-It would indeed be inconvenient for Sarla to attend a private Council meeting.
-Not just as an observer either, but as the representative of a Master whose rank afforded him a Council seat.
-
-―I'm sure I will manage, Master.
-
----
-
-The Council met in the Hall of Roots, in a spacious yet tastefully minimal room on the top floor, mostly decorated in rich, dark woods and a plain white stone.
-A long table, dark wood framing a white stone top dominated the room.
-Sarla had tried to arrive early, but found that the table was half full.
-Master Yury, the Council Head, sat in his chair at the head of the table.
-With Yakaterina in prison, and the Council as the last instrument of governance left to the Hierarchy, Yury was almost as powerful as a Hierarch, Sarla supposed.
-
-Auroklos had tried to brief her on Council standards, which effectively boiled down to her staying silent unless asked a question.
-But he hadn't mentioned anything as important as where to sit.
-
-Her confusion apparently noted, Master Yury cleared his throat, to get her attention.
-
-―Young one, this is a private Council meeting.
-	You should have been barred at the doors.
-
-Sarla felt herself sweat, oddly nervous, despite Yury's calm tone.
-
-―Well, Master, I'm here to represent Auroklos in this meeting, with his blessing.
-
-She pulled out the signed, sealed letter he had written only half an hour earlier.
-As she walked to the head of the table, she hoped Master Yury, or anyone, would tell her to stop and just pass the letter up.
-But for some reason, she made it all the way to Yury, and he took the letter from her.
-
-He slowly opened it, snapping the seal with a precise move, and took great pains to read the letter carefully.
-Then, equally meticulously, he folded the letter, and put it back in the envelope, and finally handed it to Sarla.
-
-―It seems you are correct.
-	Take a seat there, he said indicating a region on the far end of the table.
-
-A yak with red-brown hair sputtered in outrage.
-
-―This is unacceptable.
-	If Auroklos couldn't be bothered to attend, he should have not attended, like usual.
-
-―Auroklos was called to this Council on the basis of rank, and has the right to send a representative, Master Yury said softly.
-
-―Get real, Yury.
-	That right was meant to cover people stuck across the country when a Council meeting occurred.
-	Not for a Master no one gives a shit about suddenly trying to pull some nonsense.
-
-―Hobard, enough.
-	It is in the Convocation of this Council.
-	The will of the Hierarch is clear.
-
-Hobard said nothing more, looking aggrieved.
-Sarla started to turn, but Yury stopped her.
-
-―This is the first time you have attended a Council meeting.
-
-It wasn't a question, but Sarla nodded.
-
-―Then I should make this very clear to you.
-	The secrecy of these proceedings is considered absolute.
-	Minutes taken are sealed for a century, a seal only breakable by the Hierarch.
-	If you divulge anything you hear today, you will be punished most severely.
-
-―Of course, Master Yury.
-
-A half-formed wave dismissed her, and Sarla took her seat, feeling her legs quiver with tension.
-
-
-The Ennearchs eventually filed in, or five of them at least.
-The Ennearch of Strength was obviously absent, given his death.
-
-One yak with Aspirant robes sat near the Ennearchs, presumably a proxy like Sarla for the Ennearch of Reason, who had jurisdiction over the East.
-Not just jurisdiction, her home and Office would be there too, Sarla thought.
-Ennearch Hatzin's Flocks tended to be in the north, yet he lived primarily in the City.
-
-Behind the Aspirant standing in for the Ennearch of Reason stood a white-sashed Practicant, one of Simeon's Farcallers.
-Another Farcaller in the East would pass messages to and from the Office of Reason, advising the proxy Aspirant what to do and say.
-
-Some short time later, the table filled and exactly on the hour, Yury stood to open the Council meeting.
-
-―We are called to this Council to advise her Holiness, Hierarch Yakaterina on matters of practice and doctrine.
-	Let us meditate upon our purpose.
-	{INSERT_PRAYER?}
-
-Yury sat, and the rest of the table followed.
-A heavy sigh, then Yury began to speak again.
-
-―Friends, our problem has two hearts.
-	First, this murder risks calling the attention of the Republic.
-	President Laurence will make demands we cannot hope to meet.
-	And second, I do not believe this Council can name a successor to the Ennearchy of Strength.
-
-Yury looked as though he were about to continue speaking, but before he could, Hobard interrupted.
-―Well the solution's bloody obvious, isn't it?
-	Both of those problems go away if the Hierarch is rescued.
-
-There was a brief murmur around the table, as well as some glares aimed at Hobard.
-
-―Look, we're bound by sacred secrecy, he continued, pointedly glaring at Sarla a moment.
-	Some of you have no right to look at me like that.
-	Happy to talk about breaking her out behind closed doors, make plots.
-	Don't tell me that you care so little about Rikka and Cobb.
-	Or that you have lost faith in the Hierarch.
-	We destroy the Republic if we want to survive, and we need the Hierarch to destroy the Republic.
-
-―Hobard, you talk far too much, another yak said.
-
-Sarla recognised her, Master Clover.
-The Head of the Palace of Skies.
-She would surely have known about all of the plots floating around, canny as she was.
-But she said nothing more, heeding her own advice.
-
-After a moment, another yak that Sarla didn't recognise spoke up.
-
-―I think it's clear to everyone here with any proper sense that we cannot resist the forces that stand at our gates.
-	The only thing stopping the Republic from sending the Garrison in is fear of public backlash, and Yakaterina's, well let's generously call it a scheme, would have forced their hand.
-	Holy is her name and her title, but it has been ten years, and attacking the Republic is even less possible than it was back then.
-
-A slight hum of assent went around the table.
-
-The discussion that followed went largely over Sarla's head.
-Factions argued in ways that seemed opaque, referring to 
-
---- # todo: link these
-
-―Let me investigate it, Sarla said.
-
-―She knows enough about the Meadowlark, Grunny said.
-	No one else

sarlastory/sarla-arrives-at-makiwen.txt

@@ -1,144 +0,0 @@
-When Sarla disembarked the train, she had to resist the urge to connect to the Meadowlark to clean the air around her.
-The station in Makiwen stank of dirt and grime, and it was far busier than stations in the Haven had been.
-Worse than the smell was the attention.
-In the Haven, Sarla could glare at starers and let them awkwardly pretend they hadn't been staring.
-Here, though, yaks and dwarves alike eyed here with cautious curiosity.
-
-―Why are they staring? she asked Mijesi.
-
-―It's the robes.
-
-―Aren't they used to it?
-	People travel to and from the Office of Knowledge.
-
-Mijesi shook his head.
-
-―Not often.
-	Most in the Office are lay people anyway.
-	Not many other nuns.
-
-Sarla grew somewhat accustomed to the attention as they moved through the station, with people looking at her until they got their fill.
-There was a loud chatter in the air around her, the clipped staccato of Border.
-The handful of other passengers on Sarla's train walked far more quickly.
-More familiar with the station, most likely.
-
-The passenger cars opened to the same platform as the freight cars, and as Mijesi and Sarla walked through the station cranes were unloading and loading containers on the train.
-Stairs led to an upper level, to the main floor of the station, and from there, Sarla could see the other side of the tracks.
-A line of great stone archways at the end of the wall swallowed stacks of containers.
-
-―The great Tunnels of Makiwen, Mijesi said.
-	Mountberg run.
-	Those are Mountberg Dwarrowfolk, he said as he indicated the dwarves with long beards near the archways.
-	Mostly Border Dwarrows live here, but Mountberg controls the Passages.
-	The Republic pretends to run it.
-
-As he said this, he pointed down past the rail platform they'd come from.
-There was a patrol of yaks in blue uniform―the Makiwen City Garrison―carrying spears with other weapons at the ready.
-Mijesi continued down the hallway.
-
-Near the end lay a large staircase, with station security waiting in front.
-Two Garrison yaks were standing by, but most of the security personnel wore station uniforms.
-One dwarf called them over, then said something in rapid Border.
-Mijesi responded, and the dwarf seemed to look a bit agitated.
-
-
-Another dwarf came by, and said something to Sarla.
-Mijesi's dwarf was pulling him away, as Sarla shook her head in a lack of understanding.
-The dwarf frowned, and Mijesi shouted in Border, gesturing at Sarla.
-Sarla's dwarf called over for a yak colleague.
-
-―Miss, come with me, the yak said.
-
-They led Sarla behind Mijesi, through side hallways.
-Eventually, the dwarf and yak took Sarla into a room, and sat her down.
-
-They chatted between them in Border, leaving Sarla bewildered.
-Clearly, they had done something to offend security, but she had no idea what it was, or why it didn't cause any reaction before they reached the security point.
-
-―Excuse me, but what the fuck is going on?, Sarla asked.
-
-The yak gave her a stern glance.
-
-―Mind your language, miss.
-	Be patient.
-
-The yak returned to talking to the dwarf, leaving Sarla to stare at the room.
-
-The room had little furniture, besides a table and a handful of uncomfortable metal chairs of various sizes.
-Meant for both yaks and dwarves, she thought.
-Maybe other beasts too.
-
-The table's thin wood felt insubstantial and cheaply made.
-Scratches across its surface suggested it was older.
-The whole room felt cramped.
-
-As exhaustion from travelling started to hit Sarla, she instinctively reached to the Meadowlark.
-The moment she did, the dwarf snapped out of the conversation, focussing on Sarla and saying something in Border.
-
-―No magic, the yak translated gruffly.
-
-―What?
-	I'm a Practicant, Sarla said while indicating her robes.
-
-―I don't care if you're wearing the Hierarch's robes.
-	No magic.
-
-―This is ridiculous.
-	Even the Republic respects the birthright.
-
-―Not here.
-	The Transport Authority sets the rules.
-	Complain later if you want.
-
-Sarla huffed to herself, but didn't touch the Meadowlark again.
-
-After a few minutes, the door opened and another dwarf walked in.
-
-―Practicant Sarla?, she asked, with no trace of an accent.
-
-Sarla nodded.
-
-―Wards detected magic.
-	Your companion said you were the cause.
-	Can you use the Meadowlark?
-
-The yak near her spoke up before she could say anything.
-
-―She used it here.
-	It's her.
-
-―Fine, the new dwarf said.
-	Then let me warn you, Sarla.
-	The Transport Authority is very strict on magic use.
-	Especially near the Tunnels.
-
-She started to leave and gestured for Sarla to follow.
-
-―The City Garrison takes security seriously as well.
-	There aren't many Practicants in the city, so you are immediately suspicious.
-	It's expected you will follow local laws.
-	Understood?
-
-―Yes, Sarla said, despite not entirely knowing what local laws entailed.
-
-They reached Mijesi, and Mijesi and Sarla entered the station.
-
-―Sorry, Mijesi said after a bit.
-	Didn't warn you.
-
-―It's okay.
-	I don't know why they reacted like that.
-	Not like I'm hiding being a Practicant.
-
-―Mountberg doesn't like beast magic.
-	The Republic doesn't like magic.
-	And Border Dwarrowfolk don't like Mountberg or the Republic.
-	High tensions.
-
-Sarla thought about that as they left the station, and started to walk to the Flockhouse.
-
----
-
-The Ennearch of Knowledge had her Offices in the largest Flockhouse in Makiwen.
-
-―

sarlastory/sarla-arrives-at-reason.txt

@@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
-Ennearch Suati gave Sarla a withering look as they walked into Suati's office.
-
-Suati gestured for Sarla to speak, and otherwise said nothing.
-
-―What kind of person was Master Cobb? Sarla asked.
-
-―He was a Master, as you know.
-	Loyal to the Office of Reason.
-	Strong magician.
-
-―Enemies?
-	Anyone who would want him dead?
-
-Suati rolled her eyes.
-
-―Sure, there are queues of enemies, each telling us their specific plans for murder.
-
-She sighed.
-―Sarla, the Office of Reason has been a loyal prong of the Hierarchy.
-	Even as other Ennearchs lost hold of their lands, even as the Conclave lost its land
-	My predecessors ruled the east, keeping the Dwarves at bay even as the rest of the Beasts lost to the republicans.
-
-―I'll want to look at all his correspondence, if that's possible.
-
-―

sarlastory/sarla-asks-auroklos.txt

@@ -1,298 +0,0 @@
-In the week before her Practicant qualification, Sarla felt a surge of confidence in her ability to pass.
-Unfortunately, rather than relieving her of the ambient stress she'd absorbed from the other prospective Practicants, the stress branched out to other endeavours.
-The most pressing question was that of her duties as Practicant.
-All of the others who sought qualification, as far as she knew, were engaged in duties that would continue on.
-
-Marina had all but guaranteed a post as a Farcaller within the Office of the Ennearch of Chastity.
-Cyril was already serving as a Council-appointed administrator in the Hall of Roots, which was as thankless a job as Sarla could imagine.
-For all her time spent in Willow Hall's library, she hadn't approached anyone to seek out an appointment.
-The rest of her life stretched out in her imagination, a life spent sweeping in Tower Hall, fulfilling menial duties in the kitchens.
-
-Occupied with these thoughts, she spent a free afternoon wandering, finding herself again, in the library, walking through the long shelves.
-The white marble floor was padded with a thin rug through the stacks, to muffle the clack of hooves on stone.
-
-She scanned the shelves idly, looking for nothing in particular.
-She passed some biographies of Emperor Yakob, and texts on soil weathering and many others, until eventually, by chance she turned into an aisle and nearly bumped into an older yak.
-
-He wore plain black robes, slightly tattered, so she surprised herself by recognising his rank.
-
-―I apologise for disturbing you, Master..., she trailed off.
-
-It was unusual that she hadn't heard much about this yak, given how few Masters there were.
-
-―Master Auroklos, he said, bowing his head politely.
-	Carry on, he said, waving her by.
-
-She started to walk past as he plucked a book off the shelf and turned away the way she came.
-It suddenly came to her:
-
-―You were the Master at my Trial.
-	I swore my Renunciate oaths in front of you.
-	The scholar.
-
-He stopped and faced her.
-A moment passed in thought.
-
-―Yes. Yes, I remember, he said eventually.
-	What was your name?
-
-―Sarla.
-
-He nodded, then turned back to walk away again, before Sarla interrupted.
-
-―Excuse me, Master Auroklos..., she said, while he looked at her patiently.
-	I was, um, well.
-	I don't know what to do.
-
-―What to do?
-	What to do with what?
-
-―With, um, myself.
-	You see, I'm going to be qualifying as Practicant, and I don't know what vocation to pursue.
-
-He sighed.
-―I'm sorry, Sarla, I'm not in much of a position to help.
-	I would not have time to mentor you, and I don't need much in the way of assistance.
-
-―What exactly do you study?
-
-He looked at her, puzzled, before laughing.
-―You're asking me to help you without knowing what I do?
-	I study the Meadowlark, child.
-	There are very few left who do, especially within the Hierarchy.
-	Our dear Hierarch was the last of the era that did, before she got locked up like a common criminal.
-
-He spat the last sentence with surprising venom, and Sarla looked around to see if anyone had heard him.
-He paused without noticing, deep in thought.
-
-―Where did you learn to Connect to the Meadowlark?
-
-―Tomasz and Grigory. She paused as he gave her an examining look.
-	Well, actually, I taught myself, sir.
-	I practiced the exercises a lot, every day in my free time.
-	I promise, I would be diligent.
-
-―What application of the Meadowlark are you studying?
-
-―Growth and Vitality.
-	But the theory of Connection is super interesting.
-	I mean, that's why I like to spend time here in the library.
-
-He waved dismissively. mumbling half to himself.
-―Fine, fine.
-	There are better theory books in other libraries.
-	The Cedar Library is better: Miriam is a good curator.
-	Much better than Barton here.
-
-Sarla wasn't sure how to respond.
-Barton was the head of Willow Hall Library, and would always bring Sarla tea and snacks when she was working through mealtimes.
-
-Auroklos had drifted off and seemed lost in thought.
-Eventually, he seemed to come to some decision.
-―My office is on the third floor here.
-	Come tomorrow, if you'd like.
-
----
-
-At dinner that evening, Sarla was still thinking about the luck of bumping into Master Auroklos.
-As a result, she was a bit too distracted to fully pay attention to Cyril's extended summary of his day.
-
-―So, are you going to be presenting any specialisation? Marina asked.
-	I still have no idea what you're actually studying.
-
-Cyril looked slightly offended by the question.
-
-―I'm studying everything.
-	It's a generalist position, Marina.
-	They need someone who can do everything.
-	Leadership, and problem solving.
-	And management is a lot more involved than you'd think.
-
-―But you're already working there, Cyril.
-	And like, it's an administrative position.
-	You don't need to qualify as a Practicant.
-
-Cyril scoffed.
-―Running a hall takes a well trained mind.
-	It's not all about doing flashy tricks with the Meadowlark, it's about serving the Hierarchy with every skill you can imagine.
-	Clover says that it's a good stepping stone for more responsibility.
-	Running a hall, eventually being on the Council.
-
-It was a reasonable point.
-As a Farcaller, Marina would always be useful, and would always be able to contribute.
-But it was also a dead-end when it came to political power.
-Not as much of a dead-end as any of Sarla's options, to be fair.
-Growth as a specialisation was useful for keeping everyone fed, but it was also a good way to make sure you were too valuable to be anywhere besides tending crops.
-And scholarship was worse.
-
-―By the way, that's not the best part of today, Cyril continued.
-	I heard something interesting.
-
-Marina's eyebrows raised.
-
-―There was an emergency Council meeting on Saturday.
-
-Marina sighed.
-―C'mon, Cyril.
-	That's not interesting.
-	Like, I thought you had some juicy gossip.
-	You know Commander Darius's son, Jann?
-	He was caught, shall we say, in a very particular act, with Grigory, your old friend, she said, indicating Sarla.
-	Both likely going to be expelled from the Hierarchy and barred from the City.
-
-―Wow, Sarla said.
-	That's more punishment than he got for trying to ruin my life.
-
-Marina grimaced.
-There was a hint of an awkward pause before Cyril cut in.
-
-―Okay, but this you will find interesting.
-	This was a meeting about mending relationships with the Republic.
-	Or rather, about convincing President Laurence not to send forces in to take over the City.
-
-The last line came out with perhaps more vigour than was expected, and yaks at a few nearby tables looked over.
-Sarla glanced at them.
-They were younger, and probably wouldn't be privy to any sort of news about this.
-
-Cyril noticed, and half-whispered.
-―There are a few Councillors who have started to agree that it is time to divest the Hierarchy of Yakaterina's issues.
-	Clover said that she might be expelled and her doctrine declared Heresy.
-
-Sarla wasn't sure how to react.
-There had never been a Hierarch expelled like that.
-It didn't entirely even make sense how that could happen.
-
-―Does the Council actually have the power to expel someone from the Hierarchy?
-	I thought it was a power of the Hierarch alone.
-
-Cyril nodded.
-―Yeah, I think there would have to be some research on how to do it.
-	And then there's the question of who could be her successor.
-	Or even replacement, or however that would work.
-	All Clover said is that there were some in favour of looking into it.
-	And Yury didn't say yes, but he didn't say no either.
-
-―What does Master Clover think? Marina asked.
-
-Cyril laughed.
-―She obviously can't exactly say until she knows how it's going to play out.
-
-Marina gave Sarla a look, which Sarla knew meant something to the effect of _wow, Clover is a bit of a horrible opportunist_.
-Sarla tried to convey back acknowledgement and agreement, but she wasn't sure her face could express anything besides generalised worry.
-
-―All good?, Cyril asked, obviously seeing Sarla's worry.
-
-―Yeah, all good.
-
-This was a bit of a lie.
-Research, or anything even close to research, was the first thing that would get cut.
-The Council had no choice but to let Masters like Master Auroklos do what they wanted, but Sarla's own position could become quite difficult.
-And she had no guarantee Auroklos would even try to protect her from anything the Council would do if she didn't comply and just start producing food.
-Let alone any idea that he could be successful.
-
-―By the way, have you had any luck finding stuff you want to do?
-
-―Cyril! Marina shouted.
-
-Sarla sighed.
-
-―It's okay Marina.
-	I was actually talking to Master Auroklos earlier.
-	He said he might be willing to teach me.
-
-―Master Auroklos? Cyril asked, a note of concern in his voice.
-
-―What's wrong with Master Auroklos?, Marina asked.
-
-―Well, I'm not sure.
-	But I haven't heard of him.
-
-―He's a scholar, Sarla said.
-
-Cyril gave Sarla a puzzled look, then laughed.
-Not a polite chuckle either, a heavy full-bellied laugh, far louder than the whispered tones they'd been speaking in.
-
-―An old crackpot?
-	Sarla, don't get yourself tied up with that sort of thing.
-
-Sarla bristled, but didn't have anything to say in response.
-He leaned forward, and a sudden seriousness fell on his face.
-
-―Sarla, speaking as your friend here.
-	You're more powerful with the Meadowlark than almost anyone, from what I've heard.
-	You know that, right?
-	People are talking about you.
-
-―What?
-
-―Well don't be stupid.
-	It must be pretty obvious to your instructor that you're nothing like the other students.
-
-Sarla nodded.
-
-―Well, instructors talk.
-	You know Grunny?
-	No?, he asked, at Sarla shaking her head.
-	Lord be merciful, what have you been doing with your time?
-	He's the Keeper of the City Pastures.
-
-―Oh, yes.
-
-Sarla didn't want to admit she only really knew about the position from reading about its history.
-It was a Council position in its own right, no matter who held it.
-Cyril gave her a withering look anyway.
-
-―Pardon my tone, but what in the ever-merciful fuck Sarla?
-	Do you listen to the other students around you?
-	Everyone studying Growth could only dream of being noticed like that, and you don't even know it's happening?
-
-―Cyril! Marina shouted.
-
-Cyril looked around, as Sarla did the same.
-He had been yelling quite loudly, and they were attracting a lot of attention from the other young yaks around them.
-
-―I'm sorry Sarla, he said, quietly.
-	Look, you know, it's just...
-	None of us are as good as you are.
-	It's just a fact.
-	And seeing you just doing so brilliant and just not paying any fucking attention is a bit much.
-	You know?
-
-Sarla nodded, and felt her body flush warm with shame.
-She marinated in it for a few moments.
-
-―How do you know that people are talking about me?
-
-―Because I try to look out for my friends, Sarla.
-	I asked Clover what a Growth Practicant could do, and she said that the current crop of yaks wasn't looking good.
-	And when I asked what she meant by that, she said that all Grunny talked about was that Brina kept talking about one in particular, and that one didn't even seem interested in Growth.
-	Which explained a lot.
-	And when Clover found out you were my friend, well.
-	She thinks that being friends with you is the most useful thing about me, you know...
-
-Cyril looked down.
-Sarla felt awful, although she wasn't entirely sure why.
-
-―He's right, Marina said to her softly.
-	I know you don't like to talk about it, and I'm not going to push you, but...
-	The Hierarchy needs strong yaks, Sarla.
-	And that's you.
-
-Another wave of shame and disappointment crashed over her.
-Sarla tried to fight the urge to cry.
-
-―I just.
-	I don't want to sit around in the fields forever.
-	And that's all most Growth Adepts do.
-
-―Then don't do that.
-	And you don't have to do anything for Cyril.
-	But you have to do something.
-	And you'll have to figure out what you want.
-	Before you commit yourself to someone who never leaves the library or has any say in the Hierarchy's future.
-	Do you even want to do research like that?
-
-―I have no idea! Sarla said.
-	I think...I just want to get stronger.
-	I want to be a Master.
-	A real one, like in the histories, not like the shitty political ones we have nowadays.

sarlastory/sarla-goes-to-redgrove.txt

@@ -1,239 +0,0 @@
-The Office of Charity took up the greater part of the third and fourth floors of the Hall of Roots.
-Panels of black stone lined the walls, inlaid with white and red wood in lines that tapered to feather thin points.
-Sarla thought it would have required Dwarven assistance to create the seamless gaps between stone and wood.
-The panels depicted the Lord of the Mountain in the process of creating the Hidden Lands: the creation of a new space separate from the Outer Lands, the creation of Beasts, Birds and Dwarves, the Tripartition of the Voices.
-Sarla knew Auroklos wasn't part of any Office, but the beauty of the halls in the Office of Charity brought home how out of favour her mentor was.
-
-Sarla made her way to the antechamber before the Ennearch of Charity's office.
-Two assistants stood stiffly by the door, wearing brown Renunciate robes with a gold sash over a shoulder
-The Ennearch was busy, as one of them told Sarla, so she sat and waited.
-The opulent room smelled of peat and mist, and the gold and white themes around her looked gaudy and overdone, nothing like Auroklos's cosy dark woods.
-The yak on the left fidgeted, and as time went on seemed less comfortable with his post.
-They both looked very young, and the effect was less an honour guard for the Ennearch than a few teenagers pretending to be tough.
-Sarla sighed, and continued to wait.
-Eventually, at some signal the yak on the right opened the door to the inner chamber and let Sarla in.
-
-His Exalted Grace Ennearch Isidor, Paragon of Charity and Patron of the Northern Realms was, in Sarla's estimation, a colossal dick.
-In just a few minutes, he made it clear that Sarla's presence was a great favour to Auroklos, and that Isidor would tolerate no embarrassment.
-Sarla's role was simple: remain quiet and use the Meadowlark exactly as instructed.
-When Sarla asked what precisely she might be instructed to do, the Ennearch gave her a withering glance, and dismissed her to wait outside again.
-
-Outside, the fidgety yak gave her a sympathetic glance.
-―He can be a bit overbearing.
-	Don't take it too personally though.
-
-The one on the right attempted to give Fidgetboy a menacing glance, which on the young Renunciate's face looked more like particularly troublesome gas.
-―The Practicants in our Office who would go on this trip are both unavailable, Grumpyface told Sarla.
-	Redgrove's Flocks follow Ennearch Isidor, so you will be there to grant petitions.
-	Fertilising the grove and so on.
-	Understand?
-
-―Both sick at the same time?
-	That's unlucky.
-	Why aren't there more Practicants in Charity?
-
-Grumpyface frowned at her and didn't seem to answer, and when Fidgetboy started to open his mouth, Grumpyface cleared his throat loudly.
-
-―I'm sorry, Practicant Sarla, but that is the business of the Office of Charity.
-	If you're so curious, I'm sure you can ask Isidor.
-	The coach will leave as soon as he's ready.
-	Until then, you can wait here.
-
-After a while, the Ennearch emerged from his office, dressed in the full robes of office; red as Ennearch with a gold sash to represent Charity.
-―Brody, carry this for me, he said.
-
-He handed a small bag to Grumpyface, whose name was apparently Brody.
-
-―We're going to arrive late.
-	Come, move quickly, Isidor said, starting to head outside.
-
-The four of them exited the building in relative silence.
-Outside, a large coach hummed with activity, with another yak standing outside gesturing them in.
-Sarla had heard about the transport coaches that moved without rails, but she'd never actually seen them in action.
-It was only worthwhile when leaving the Haven for faraway towns, and that too only if there were no other modes of transport.
-Ennearch Isidor boarded the coach first, entering the large enclosed compartment in the back.
-The others followed, and Sarla saw the yak waiting outside enter the smaller front compartment.
-
-Inside, the compartment was ringed with windows, with three rows of seats spaced closely together.
-It looked as though six yaks could squeeze in.
-The Ennearch took a row to himself, and Brody the next, leaving Fidgetboy and Sarla to squeeze into the back.
-
-The coach lurched to a start, and began to move.
-Unlike the trams in the city, the ride was bumpy, hopping up and down constantly over the ground.
-Sarla kept feeling as though she would fall out of her seat.
-
-―This is all Dwarf-made, Fidgetboy whispered to Sarla, presumably because she was looking uncomfortable with the unfamiliar vehicle.
-	Ottowan design for the body, or something.
-	The engine is commissioned from Mountberg.
-
-―Brody, did you ask Sarla her full range of capabilities?, Isidor said loudly, cutting off the discussion on the coach.
-	I would find it very displeasing if the Mayor of Redgrove cannot have his petition granted today.
-
-―No, sir, she seemed unwilling to talk earlier, Brody said, like a little obsequious shit, Sarla thought.
-	She might be more forthcoming with you here.
-	Sarla, which Meadowlarks are you able to command?
-
-
-Sarla felt her temper start to flare at being assigned blame by Isidor's fawning servant.
-
-―As I'd have told you if you'd asked, I have command up to the unyielding Meadowlark.
-	I've mastered Notburga's techniques for crop blessings as part of my studies.
-	I still haven't gotten any other information on what I'll be asked to do.
-	If I had, I'd have done more research.
-
-Brody started to say something, but the Ennearch interrupted him.
-
-―Brody, let her be.
-	You think you're clever, don't you?, Isidor said to her.
-	Auroklos said you had a lot of potential.
-	But using the Meadowlark is just one kind of power.
-	My kind of power is that you are here, working for me.
-	Which kind do you think is better?
-
-Sarla felt shame and anger curdle in her chest.
-She looked down and kept silent.
-
-―Exactly, Isidor said.
-	Shelve your arrogance.
-	Learn your place.
-
-The journey continued in an awkward, tense near-silence, broken only by the occasional squeals and grumbles from the engine of the coach and the crunch of dirt and rock under wheels.
-By the time they'd left the Haven, the Ennearch had fallen asleep in his seat, leaving Sarla to stew.
-After a few hours through empty barren fields and forest along the road north of the Haven, occasional groups of yak homes made of wood passed by the window.
-Each group had three or four wooden houses, simple in construction, and the groups were separated by wide stretches of land.
-
-―How much longer until Redgrove?, Fidgetboy asked.
-
-―This is Redgrove, Brody answered.
-	It's been Redgrove for a while.
-	Out here it's not like the city.
-	Everything's spread out a lot.
-	Wild grazing.
-
-The distance between groups of buildings did indeed start to decrease, and eventually they reached what must have been the middle of the town.
-It was only twenty or so buildings.
-The coach stopped in front of one slightly larger wooden hall, and Brody disembarked alone.
-Sarla watched him enter the larger hall, and eventually he came out with a very tall yak with light grey fur wearing a black hat.
-They waited a moment outside of the coach, and Sarla wondered what the wait was.
-After a minute or so, the Ennearch started to stir, and Sarla saw Brody walk over and open the coach door.
-
-―Allow me to introduce you to His Exalted Grace Isidor, Ennearch of Charity, Brody announced.
-	To Isidor, he added, and the Honourable Mayor Peter of Redgrove.
-
-―It's delightful to meet you, Your Grace, Peter said.
-	The Flocks of all of the Northern Realms have been faithful to the Office of Charity for a long time.
-
-―Call me Isidor, Peter.
-	It's my pleasure to see you.
-	And as soon as I received your letter I knew I had to come.
-
-―It has been a difficult year.
-	And as soon as I saw that the Suppression was ending, I knew we needed to ask for your aid.
-
-Isidor smiled.
-
-―It is the duty of all the Ennearchs to protect their Flocks.
-	Please, let us begin.
-
-Peter looked taken aback.
-
-―Are you sure?
-	If you'd like to take any time to rest from your trip, I'd be happy to invite you for lunch.
-
-―No, I think it's best to focus on our work.
-
-―In that case, let us go to the fields.
-
-They walked for a little while, with Isidor and Peter speaking too quietly for Sarla to follow.
-Atop a little hill near the main hall, Sarla could see the road to the Haven, and the town of Redgrove itself more clearly.
-Patches of buildings dotted the roadside, making a semicircle around one side of a larger valley between two sets of hills.
-The valley itself was covered by a brownish, dry grass, not particularly enjoyable for grazing.
-The view was stunning, and Sarla could feel the vibration of energy from the earth.
-This was, she thought, special ground.
-
-―The town hasn't seen the red flowers that give it its name in quite some time, Peter said.
-	Back before Suppression, our Flockleaders would petition the Hierarchy for aid in keeping the grove healthy and alive.
-	But when the Republic stopped that, it began to die off more often.
-
-As the mayor spoke, Sarla felt a pull from the grass.
-The whispered rustling in her ears spoke of intent and yearning.
-It wanted her to pour herself into it, she thought.
-
-―Indeed, I've heard the same in the other towns in the north, Isidor said.
-
-―The Mayor of Whitewood says you came to see her last month.
-
-Isidor smiled.
-
-―Do not worry, Peter.
-	It is merely a necessity of scheduling.
-	Redgrove is no less in our affections than any other of our followers.
-	Sarla will head down to the valley and begin her work.
-	Each month, we can bless your fields.
-	After a while, it will grow again.
-
-―I can do it from here, Sarla said.
-
-Before Isidor could respond, she dove into the Meadowlark, letting her legs sink into the ground.
-She let the bones in her leg feel like stalks, and her tendons unfurled into sprouting seeds.
-The smell of moss filled her nose, then her nose itself dissolved into the earth.
-Ahead of her body, she cast her mind through the roots of the earth down the hill, towards the grove.
-The grass felt dull, unalive, and she let vitality pour through her body into it.
-Nothing happened at first, but then she felt the field lap up the energy flowing through her.
-
-In a small area near the town centre, the meadow began to perk up.
-She could feel dry grass returning blade by blade to life, green slowly replacing brown.
-The roots were tangled, so Sarla pruned the dead branches and burned them to fuel her work.
-Unencumbered by dead matter, they grew with renewed vigour, sucking water and nutrients from the earth.
-The earth started to weaken from the strain, so Sarla let her attention drift downwards, supplying the soil itself with power.
-
-Onward she went, pruning and feeding, keeping the soil strong to provide the plants a sturdy foundation while teasing new growth from the dry ground.
-Larger patches would look green now, she thought.
-Her work was already done, and she'd exceeded expectations.
-But something else had been calling her, eating at her attention.
-Something more than a routine blessing of a field.
-
-The field lacked something vital; it was not meant to be so weak.
-Giving it new life, restoring it completely.
-The field had been long dead though, and Sarla could feel the size of the task ahead of her.
-As she sank into a routine her mind started to wander.
-The earth sang to her, worms and dirt.
-At first their song sounded like an indistinct whisper.
-Sarla let herself dissolve further, touching something deeper in the Meadowlark.
-Images flashed in her mind of Practicants of old, pre-Suppression.
-Chatter in her ears of glorious life, insects and grazing yaks feeding on the plants alike.
-
-The grove wanted a return.
-She felt the loss Suppression had caused, the missing attention.
-The grove felt spurned, unwanted.
-Reassurance spilled out of Sarla, reassurance borne on the faith of Redgrove's Flocks.
-The song seemed to crystallise on a single note, a great humming.
-Some strands of fate seemed to cover up that note, so Sarla began to prune.
-
-All at once she felt a massive wall of energy surge by, its dam finally broken.
-It soaked through her body, and she let it flow into the grove, which drank at it with a frantic thirst.
-Quickly, the song in her ears faded.
-The lights and sounds dimmed, and she felt herself disconnect from the Meadowlark.
-
-Her legs were sunk into the ground in a little mound of newly fertile soil, and she pulled herself out.
-Air caught in her lungs a moment, and it took a few attempts to get her breathing to slow.
-At first her vision was blurred, and she did not immediately recognise the yaks next to her.
-It wasn't clear how long she had taken.
-
-As she came to her senses, she remembered where she was.
-The yaks around her didn't seem to be noticing her coming back out of the Meadowlark, so she followed their gaze.
-Ahead of her, a circle of red was growing outwards from where she first touched the grove, where the dry grass was not merely growing back in green, but instead also letting the red flowers of the grove return as well.
-The circle rapidly expanded, until the entire valley ahead was in bloom.
-
-Brody was standing slack-jawed, and Fidgetboy turned to give Sarla a wide-eyed stare of unalloyed admiration.
-Sarla felt exhausted.
-Her eyes started to blur looking out at the horizon ahead.
-―May the Lord preserve us, Peter said.
-	I knew we had always dutifully supported the Hierarchy, but...
-
-Sarla felt a rush of numbness across her body and her legs buckled.
-Peter trailed off and turned to Isidor, before kneeling.
-
-―Your Grace, my people are yours to command, for now until eternity.
-
-Anger at not being given immediate credit bubbled up in her gut, but before she could say something rash, she hit the ground and registered nothing else.

sarlastory/sarla-helps-mijesi-with-book.txt

@@ -1,115 +0,0 @@
-More than a few yaks waited outside the Hall of Skies theatre; more than Sarla would have expected.
-Ennearch Simeon stood, with a few younger yaks wearing his Office robes.
-Master Yury was there as well, and he chatted softly with a yak Sarla didn't recognise.
-The newcomer had white fur, thin in patches, showing pink skin underneath.
-He carried a parasol, closed, and wore unfamiliar robes.
-
-―There's our guest, Auroklos said, stopping Sarla from approaching.
-	We can talk more afterwards, but I received a request from Miriam earlier in the day.
-	Your help with his research.
-
-―My help? Sarla asked.
-	I have no expertise in Birdsong.
-
-―Ah, well.
-	It would be assistance of a different character.
-	Not quite as intellectual.
-	Miriam can explain more, but there are some challenges to working with very old books that require your skills.
-
-Sarla nodded slowly.
-―My skills?
-
-―Specifically, large quantities of magic.
-	For restoring damage to old books as it occurs while they're being read.
-	There really aren't any others who could handle it like you.
-
-―Would this help me improve my abilities?
-	Practice controlling magic?
-
-―Most likely not, but Miriam would know more about what it takes.
-	She suggested that they have ways of funneling raw power into devices.
-	It's quite elegant, very old Dwarf-magic.
-	Must be quite early post-Imperial.
-	Or even late Imperial.
-	I suppose they have records, I hadn't really thought about it.
-
-Sarla began to feel her face flush.
-―Master, I don't want to sound ungrateful, but I would rather continue research.
-	Or practice using more powerful magic―
-
-―Absolutely not, not at this stage.
-	It's far too dangerous for you at this stage.
-	You haven't been trying again, have you?
-
-His eyes probed and he sharpened his attention on her.
-Sarla shook her head, and Auroklos continued, relaxing.
-―No, this is a good fit.
-	Miriam has asked it of me as a favour anyway.
-	Anyway, let us meet him, hear about his translation.
-
----
-
-Mijesi stood on the dais at the far end of the hall, under the sounding board, with Miriam beside.
-
-As soon as she began to speak, the room grew quiet, and her quiet voice rang out.
-
-―Our guest, honoured Mijesi, has come from the Dwarf Threding to tell us of his work.
-	He has recently worked on translating a Birdsong account of the creation of the Hidden Lands, which he will be reading for us.
-	The Council is in support of this.
-
-She paused, and Sarla glanced at Master Yury, who nodded quietly.
-
-―Mijesi is a Templar of the Rock.
-	The Hierarch herself studied at the Temple.
-	Moreover, it is well known to us that the Birds have a different picture of the world, corrupted by their own arrogance.
-	Their beliefs are of purely scholarly interest, and our understanding of their myths is important if we wish to understand them.
-	The Council agrees that there is no harm in hearing the heresies they believe.
-
-She paused.
-
-―Please, honoured Mijesi, she said, gesturing for him to come to the stage.
-
-The mottled yak walked slowly to the front of the dais, shuffling a stack of paper.
-His accented voice was deep and low as he read.
-
-―The Lord of the Mountain, pursued by enemies, gathered his power and tore into space, creating a pocket from the Outer Land.
-	His very body filled this new space, and he let the whole of his power flow out.
-	His skin became the firmament of this new place;
-	his muscles became the earth;
-	his blood became the rivers and seas.
-	Piece by piece he let his voice ring out through his body, in his act of Creation.
-	The echoes of his memories became the new past of his Work, while his hopes became the future.
-	Life sprang up, and he began to hear their voices in what was once his ears.
-	Their voices blended into his, and his power began to divide.
-	The Dwarves, echoes of the Fourth Race, received part of his power.
-	Those cousins of the Fifth Race, the Beasts, received part of his power.
-	But the division of power was incomplete, as it was fated to be.
-
-―This is not easy to describe.
-	Bird legend, they have many myths about division.
-
-―The Birds saw that his power was beginning to slip away.
-	As the Lord's body finally disappeared, his eyes remained, unbroken and unbreakable.
-	The Bird who would become the First Sky-Lord saw the Lord's Will was tied to his Work, and as long as his Work persisted, his Will and Body could not be destroyed.
-	But his Will was spread across the Hidden Lands, along with his Power.
-	His Eyes, Os and Od, did not have the Lord's wisdom, nor his control, and they burned indiscriminately through the land they saw.
-
-	The First Sky-Lord took one of the Eyes in his claws, and flew it far from the other, for they were less destructive while apart.
-
-
----
-
-The Cedar Library stood close to the Palace of Skies, hiding in its shadow.
-The curator, Miriam, waited inside with Mijesi as Sarla and her teacher entered.
-# todo on Mijesi description
-She held a relatively large wooden box, and seemed, to Sarla's eyes, to shake with trepidation.
-
-A room with a large, ancient table in its centre awaited them.
-Miriam set the box on an indent in the table's surface, and to Sarla's eyes seemed to hesitate before speaking.
-
-―The preservation table is not without limits, as capable as it is.
-	So Mijesi, I will ask you to only act with the utmost caution.
-	If you were to damage any of my books, even the ones that weren't priceless artifacts, I would make you beg for death.
-	Understood?
-
-Mijesi started to laugh, but

sarlastory/sarla-looks-at-crime-scene.txt

@@ -1,101 +0,0 @@
-The door outside of the Hierarch's office imposed, an intricate tangle of gold and silver around carefully carved wooden panels.
-Master Yury was waiting, with Master Clover.
-
-―Are you ready?, Clover asked.
-
-―I'm not sure, Sarla said.
-	I still don't really know what value I can provide.
-
-―No, putting that aside, are you ready to see the remains?
-	I expect it to be unpleasant.
-
-Sarla nodded.
-
-―Any information at all is helpful, Yury added, with a kindly smile.
-	Auroklos insisted you were more likely to be helpful than he would.
-	Investigating murder is not something any of us has needed to practice.
-
-# Clover sighed.
-# ―And Laurence is just waiting for us to make a mistake.
-
-Upon walking in, stepping over a muddy carpet just inside the door, Sarla felt herself shudder on seeing a red smear leading to Rikka's body.
-The top half of the former Ennearch of Strength looked pained, with an expression of fear across his face.
-Further down, his forelegs were digging into the carpet underneath, as though he died mid-crawl.
-His rear legs were missing, or rather had been replaced with dirt, soaked in blood.
-The dirt trailed further back as well.
-
-―He was being returned to earth as he crawled, Sarla said, questioningly.
-
-Yury looked patient, but said nothing.
-
-―There are two trails of bloody dirt initially as the magic started on his rear legs, until they merge into a larger trail here, Sarla said, gesturing to the spread.
-	Until he couldn't keep moving.
-	And this one.
-
-Sarla followed the dead Ennearch's gaze to the other corpse in the room.
-This yak was unfamiliar to Sarla.
-He wore a Master's cloak, although of a colour Sarla took a moment to recognise.
-
-―That dark green is Reason?
-	A Master from the Office of Reason?
-
-There was a chunk of stone protruding from the dead yak's chest.
-
-―Is that marble?
-	It's been shaped using magic.
-	Could that be Dwarf magic?
-
-Sarla moved to touch the shard, but Clover barked at her before she could.
-
-―Sorry, just looking, Sarla said, stepping back.
-
-There was dirt across the room, and a clear sign of a struggle in the crumpled carpets and broken floor tiles.
-
-―That patch of mud near the entrance, it's odd, right? Sarla said.
-	Can I touch it?
-
-Yury nodded.
-Sarla probed a corner of the patch with her pencil.
-
-―The tile here is gone.
-	Marble is a pretty dead stone.
-	I can't remember how dead, Sarla said trailing off in thought.
-
-	Well, I could look it up, but it's quite hard to manipulate.
-	It's been weathered very quickly, and for such a dead stone that's a lot of power.
-	Keeping it wet like this takes moisture control as well, and I don't know any Soil mages who have that control.
-
-Sarla paused.
-
-―No offense meant, Master Yury.
-
-―And none taken, Yury said, impassive.
-	Continue.
-
-―It's the carpet that's most impressive, Sarla said.
-
-Clover and Yury drew closer as Sarla gestured.
-
-―You see these circular swirls.
-	That's the cotton fibres growing upwards.
-	And they're torn, like something ripped upwards through them.
-
-Sarla walked back to the yak from Reason.
-
-―Yeah, the ground under him is mud, too.
-	The shards of stone across the entrance, all from here?
-	So this is our soil mage.
-	The soil has come up his hooves, Sarla said, as she knelt closer.
-
-After thinking a moment, Sarla rose.
-
-―So they can't have killed each other, right?
-	The public announcement is just for show?
-
-Clover looked surprised, but Yury simply nodded once, curtly.
-
-―By the authority of the Council, you will keep any thoughts on this secret to others, Sarla.
-
-Sarla nodded.
-
-―So tell me, young one, what is it you think happened here?

sarlastory/sarla-on-a-date.txt

@@ -1,13 +0,0 @@
-Halfway through dinner, Sarla's stomach dropped, realising that it was unclear whether or not she was on a date.
-The afternoon's easy-going pleasantries were certainly typical of time spent with Marina, but upon being seated at the restaurant, Marina's smiles had a coquettish quality that Sarla had never seen.
-The hazy fog of the pre-dinner drinks smeared out the scene in front of her; a warm fog like a summer day.
-Sarla longed to stand and sprint, in any direction, until her legs grew too tired to move.
-
-Sarla felt her not-atypical post-drink urge to reach into the Meadowlark and burn off the mild buzz, but some foreign thought arrested her as she began.
-Marina smiled at her.
-The conversation had settled into a lull, and Marina seemed aggressively content to let the comfortable silence between them linger.
-Now that Sarla had registered how long the silence had stretched, she felt her mind grapple wildly for something to break it, anything to say.
-
-―I was reading about the codes of the Office of Chastity, she blurted out.
-
-Fuck, she thought.

sarlastory/warmup-2022-06-11.txt

@@ -1,227 +0,0 @@
-prompt: foreshadow an upcoming event.
-upcoming event: the destruction of the Temple and the discussion of rushing water and solid rock:
-Sarla is a practicant, Auroklos is
-
-―So you know the legend of the Emperor and the Dwarf-burrows?, Sarla asked.
-
-―The one where he drowns all of them? Marina asked.
-
-―Yeah, and that he was able to redirect a river to flood the underground Dwarf cities to do it.
-	And the point is, it's attested to in a few different texts.
-	{WHATEVERNAME} mentions it here, Sarla said, indicating a book thicker than it was tall.
-	There's a few Dwarf stories about it too.
-	And {ANOTHERYAKSCHOLAR} thinks that it explains the soil characteristics in {NAME_OF_PLACE}.
-	So it definitely seems like it happened.
-
-Marina looked bored.
-―Sure, let's say it happened.
-	Why's that exciting?
-
-―Well that's the question, right?
-	What the Meadowlark can actually practically do.
-	Like―
-
-―Yeah, but we know the Meadowlark can change the landscape, Marina interrupted, twiddling with tassels on the cushions under her head.
-
-―Not that fast, though.
-	Like it's the mundane Meadowlark to shape the earth with grazing and fertilisation, but that's not what Yakob did.
-	If he moved the river all at once, that's something else, evidence of greater powers.
-
-Marina sighed.
-―That doesn't mean we have to be all Preferentialist about it.
-	He had enough engineers to do it manually.
-
-―Yeah, I know, we still don't know.
-	But it's still a data point!
-
-Marina laughed.
-―You're such a fucking nerd, Sarla.
-She gave Sarla a smile, before continuing.
-―By the way, I got you a treat.
-
-Sarla raised an inquisitive eyebrow.
-Marina held up a burlap bag.
-―Greycaps, freshly grown.
-	{OTHER_YAK} had them.
-	And it's my day off tomorrow too.
-	Want to try them?
-
-Sarla thought about it a moment.
-There was still so much to read through, and Marina was always particularly persuasive.
-
-―I'm meeting Master Auroklos tomorrow morning, so half a cap?
-
-Marina broke out into a big smile and bit through half a mushroom, handing the other half to Sarla.
-
-―Ew, you could have just cut it in half.
-
-―Yeah, but I didn't think you'd mind, Marina said, winking.
-
-Which was uncomfortably true, Sarla thought, as she chewed her greycap dose.
-
----
-
-Sarla woke up, light streaming into her room.
-Marina was asleep in the bed next to her, drooling on the pillow.
-Sarla looked at the face next to her, enjoying the moment, before realising how late it was.
-
-She rolled out of the bed and hurriedly got ready.
-Marina seemed to stir.
-―Red notebook, she mumbled, keeping her eyes closed.
-
-―What?
-
-―Writing in the red notebook last night, Marina mumbled, even less coherently.
-
-Sarla searched her room a moment before she found a book with a red cover.
-It was unfortunately not a notebook, but instead a collection of pre-Imperial folk stories.
-She flipped through her notes and saw that she had written all over an old children's story.
-
-―Oh fuck, this is a library book.
-
-Marina snored in response.
-
-Sarla got changed and as she walked to Auroklos's office, she connected to the Meadowlark.
-She felt the traces of vitality in the air and ground around her and nudged herself to be more alert, more awake.
-It helped a bit, at least with cutting through the drowsiness, but she still felt lingering sluggishness and nausea.
-Only so much that the Meadowlark could do.
-It was hard to read her messy scrawl as she walked, but she'd been writing notes on a story about a yak that could vanish and reappear miles away, like a Dwarf-mage.
-Her notes themselves were incomprehensible, a combination of inscrutable diagrams, graphs with unlabeled axes and, most embarrassingly, Marina's name written down many many times, with increasingly ornate flourishes each time.
-Her stomach seemed to collapse in on itself as she regretted how unprepared she felt for the meeting.
-
-Auroklos seemed annoyed the moment she reached his office doorway.
-He had a stack of papers in front of him; he was displeased either at their content or her late arrival.
-Or, she thought, even more likely both.
-Practice planter boxes sat unused at the side of the room, taunting her with their lack of use today.
-She stood a moment, with her stomach churning and her head starting to throb.
-She instinctively touched the Meadowlark again, to try to fix both.
-It helped a little, but Auroklos immediately gave her a look.
-
-―Don't make a habit of that, he said, with a soft, icy voice.
-	Discipline yourself, otherwise you will never grow.
-
-―Yes, Master Auroklos, Sarla said, feeling her stomach drop with guilt and shame.
-
-―What do you have for me today?
-
-It took a moment for her to remember what she'd done since the last lesson, and some part of Sarla's brain seemed to work of its own volition.
-
-―I worked on the exercises of Order, like we discussed.
-
-She flipped through her primary research notebook.
-Auroklos seemed to losing interest, attention flipping to whatever was on his desk.
-―I took notes on {YAK_SCHOLAR}'s theory of hierarchies of spontaneous order, and tried to come up with exercise variations for each one.
-
-―And? Auroklos said, without raising his eyes.
-
-―And, well...
-
-Sarla's voice trailed off.
-
-―I was also thinking about the Emperor.
-
-Auroklos kept reading, without responding.
-
-―You know, whether his abilities were from the Meadowlark or not.
-	I know you said there wasn't evidence either way on the historical emperor, but if we assume it's real―
-
-―If we assume that everything about Emperor Yakob is real, then we will find ourselves believing very foolish things.
-
-―Yes, but still, I, um.
-
-Sarla's mind was going a bit blank and she had to take a deep breath.
-Thoughts from last night bubbled up to the surface.
-
-―Um, I just had this thought on the types of spontaneous order, and whether the myths could be thought of through that lens.
-	Especially the redirection of the river {RIVER_NAME} over the Dwarf-burrows.
-
-Auroklos looked up at her.
-
-―So, {YAK_SCHOLAR} talks about how spontaneous order can magnify actions.
-	Small interactions with the Meadowlark pushing the world over the hill, so to speak.
-
-―This is all quite well-studied already, Sarla.
-	Many metaphors already.
-	{NAME} says a tiny spark can grow to a large fire, under the right circumstances.
-	And {YAK_SCHOLAR} talks about the small rock that creates a landslide as it falls.
-
-―Yes, but what if there's a way to control that?
-	Setting up the fuel in the right way, if you catch my meaning?
-
-Auroklos gave her a dismissive look.
-
-―Sarla, focus on what's relevant.
-	Are your set of revised exercises on Order done?
-
-Sarla shook her head, and found that her eyes were having trouble pointing anywhere but the ground.
-
-―Sarla, your ambition is laudable.
-	But remember, to be a Master Practicant means to fulfill the Emperor's mandate directly, and that mandate includes following the Hierarchy's path of growth and advancement.
-	Before reaching for the Emperor's abilities, try reaching for those which might be attained.
-
-―Yes, Master Auroklos.
-
-―We'll need to cut this meeting short, Sarla.
-	I'd hoped to spend some time growing trees from seed for wood, he said, gesturing to the planter boxes.
-	{SOMEYAKSCHOLAR}'s Code says a Master Practicant should be able to go from seed to precise wooden tool without even dirt or water.
-
-Sarla stifled an immediate urge to note that {SOMEYAKSCHOLAR} was, in his own way, a wooden tool.
-
-―But I have far too much to do right now.
-	We'll meet again tomorrow morning, two hours after dawn.
-	Promptly, please.
-
-Tomorrow was Sarla's only planned day off this week, but being a capable scholar meant making it her priority, so she nodded.
-Auroklos turned back to his document, grunting in what Sarla assumed was a form of dismissal, so she hurriedly collected her stack of notebooks and left.
-
-Relief that the ordeal was over diluted the critical thoughts about her own inadequacy.
-Every time Auroklos brought up his own standards for what a Master Practicant should be, they seemed a more unnecessary target for her to try to reach.
-No other Master Practicant today could match those standards, except the Heresiarch currently in prison.
-And except for Auroklos, maybe, but she had no idea what he could actually do.
-
-She sighed.
-Marina enjoyed Ennearch Simeon's Office.
-Simple work, and Communicators were so important for the Hierarchy.
-But Sarla couldn't do that.
-She didn't have Marina's ability to settle into something steady like that.
-It felt too stagnant for Sarla.
-A half thought emerged, and fought its way to the forefront of her attention, that Sarla might have to learn those skills if she continued to fuck up her own work.
-No one else was about to help her reach Master Practicant.
-
-Marina was still in Sarla's room when Sarla got back.
-She'd apparently just prepared some lentils with corn cobs, and offered Sarla a bowl.
-
-―You're amazing, Marina, thanks.
-
-―Of course. Gonna study now?
-
-―Yeah, he wants me to catch up on stuff and come back tomorrow.
-
-―Bummer.
-	Well, eat first Sar.
-	You need it.
-
-Sarla sat and chewed her food slowly.
-
-―Why was I taking notes in that library book last night?
-
-―It was a library book? Valuable?
-
-―No idea, Sarla shrugged.
-
-―Well you're still probably fucked.
-	Hope you can find a replacement.
-	I don't know what you were thinking about with your notes.
-	I mean it was greycaps, so only the Lord of the Mountain knows if it was useful or nonsense.
-	You were babbling about children's stories being the key to truth.
-
-―Ugh, that's not helpful.
-
-Marina nodded sadly.
-―If it's any consolation it was very fun to listen to.
-	And then you were doing math shit, and you know I hate that, so I tuned out.
-	Anyway, want some privacy while you work?
-
-―Yeah, sorry Marina, I'll have to concentrate for a bit today.
-
-Marina headed out, and Sarla got back to work.

sarlastory/yakob-contemplates-evil.txt

@@ -1,60 +0,0 @@
-On the night before the fall of the Empire, Svyato walked through the war-camp to the Emperor's tent.
-His tent was, of course, splendid in its ornament, but walking through it unsettled Svyato as much as it usually did.
-Recognised by the guards, he entered, and descended what seemed like stairs to the inner sanctum.
-
-The stairs perhaps unsettled Svyato the most.
-For there was no reason that the inside of a tent should resemble the imperial palace in the capital; perhaps the Emperor missed home today.
-
-The Emperor Yakob sat on his throne, looking more like a statue than a living yak.
-He wore a ringlet of truesilver, with truesilver threads that wove themselves into his fur, gleaming.
-Svyato stopped and sat in his own chair, and began to open a small pouch, never taking his eyes off the imperial visage.
-For a brief moment, though Svyato did not actually see any change, a great sorrow seemed to fill Yakob's face.
-As suddenly as it occurred, and again with no perceptible movement, the sorrow passed, returning the pensive serenity Yakob usually bore.
-
-Svyato pulled the dice out of his bag and scattered them across his table.
-Each one came up with nine pips on its surface.
-Another roll, and they again all came up displaying nine.
-Which was worrying, as they were all eight-sided dice.
-
-―Yakob, what disturbs you?
-	Days have passed.
-	The people clamour for you.
-
-―I am confronted with a problem.
-	The solution is hidden from insight.
-
-―And you have not sought my help?
-	Yakob, please.
-	My role is to advise.
-
-The Emperor was silent, for long enough that Svyato began to wonder if he should interpret it as dismissal.
-Eventually he responded, voice soft and wise.
-
-―I surveyed my empire today.
-	A small town an hour's walk from the capital, I saw a small child, climbing a pile of rocks, as children do.
-	Near the top of the pile, she stepped on a rock that was not steadily balanced.
-	She lost her footing, and fell.
-	Several rocks had rough edges, and scratched her as she fell.
-	She, in tears, ran to her father, who comforted her.
-
-Svyato waited, but the Emperor did not continue.
-
-―Yakob, this is not a problem.
-	This is a normal event.
-	Kids playing, learning.
-
-Yakob looked at him, and Svyato shuddered at Yakob's eyes, deep and terrible.
-
-―It is pain.
-	Suffering.
-
-―Minor pain at most.
-
-―Tell me, dear adviser.
-	What amount of pain should I allow my subjects to suffer, if I have the power to stop it?
-	Allow them to be killed?
-	Maimed?
-	A poor ruler I'd be.
-	No, I will not draw a line I cannot justify.
-	Any compromise is too great for my conscience.
-	

stuff.txt

@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-sarla story
-
-calvin-witch story: 

witch-confronts-caprina.txt

@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ The Witch looked thoughtful for a moment, before finally moving to open her damn
 ―Beats me, I wasn't there at the time.
 	Sounds made up, but there are crazier stories about the Emperor that are true.
 	Also, if you don't want to take the chair, this old goat is going to sit herself back down anyway.
-	Rest my legs.
+	Rest my bones.
 
 Caprina slowly walked back to her comfy chair, and picked up her comfy tea.
 If she had to engage in a staring match with a taciturn Witch, she'd do so comfortably.
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ At her age, it was worth spending her remaining time keeping her bones from achi
 
 ―It's perhaps more accurate to say that I am that leftover power.
 	I have partaken of all of it.
-	I'm not _a_ Witch.
+	I'm not a Witch.
-	I'm _the_ Witch.
+	I'm the Witch.
 	And Caprina, I hope you realise that I have no desire to explain my goals or desires to you.
 	There's no need.