The Ballad of Adler Young, Canto 2.5

"In other words, no. She's only interested in keeping you contained, because you're not worth killing. However, after a direct attack - even one as stupid as a shrub army - she may see you as a more palpable threat, and will answer with greater force. You've put yourself in greater danger with this plan."

hey she's assuming the duchess would automaticaly know it's Addler who sent the bushes here. The information was sent by Ixies, and they'll work for about anyone. It's not like Adller is the only one who can scry or find about Percyburg. Just sayin

>In faaact, in the "turning your enemies againt each others" plan maybe you could find a way to frame the Vulpitian for leaking of information to the bushes ? If the duchess turn against the Vulpitan, she won't be looking at you for a while (and let's be honnest they are a much more credible threat than you are int he mastermind departement.)

>How you may ask ? well here's the beauty of it, you already have your 'proof' in place: Jerry. That's right, when you sent him to spy on Percythrope, under which identity did you do it ? "Relda Faufox", Vixen and notorious Vulpitan agent as far far as most elves know. Now just make sure the duchess finds about that
(the Ixies might help with that, they're small and sneaky. And your mental touch seems to be driving him even more bonker every time somehow, so you can drive him to do something noticable) and let the paranoia do it's work.

>The bad news is that he'll have to survive the battle for that. But if Ethel is right about the Duchess steamrolling the bushes, well.... he'll likely survive anyway he seems annoyingly good at that.

>Maybe find a way to use that cursed poppets to your advantage as well. It's n ot like you dodn't lnow anything about magic yourself, two can play the cursing game.