RE: The Ballad of Adler Young, Canto 2.5
09-11-2020, 01:59 AM
(This post was last modified: 09-11-2020, 02:01 AM by typeandkey.)
>Adler: Spill your metaphorical guts. All of them. From the beginning to now. Including all the bits you probably shouldn't tell anyone, lowfolk or elf. Keep it to the bullet points, though. Otherwise you'll be there for months.
>Vernier: ... Wow... That is a LOT of baggage for one person.
>Adler: And the worst part is, you completely freeze up and make a fool of yourself whenever you speak to a lowfolk woman. You have absolutely no idea why, you never had any problems with elven women.
>Vernier: You're not a psychiatrist, but you have an idea. More on that later. First, as a sign of good faith to show you won't betray Adler's trust, he can do one of those "magic goose things" so that you will not divulge any of what you were told to anyone but Adler himself. Now, before you discuss Adler's lady problem, here's a question. From what Adler has told you, it sounds like his entire life was planned out for him. He was told he had to follow a "destiny", was manipulated and forced to follow it by a dozen different parties and factions, and every time he deviated he was punished. He went through life without having any real choices on where it went. Your question is this: Is that destiny, that preplanned life, is that really what he wants?
>Adler: Of course it i-! ... Is it? What have you gotten following that path? Looking at your surroundings, it's obvious. All your friends and family are gone, your home lies in ruin, and in the eyes of your fellow elves you have become the biggest villain in history rivaled only by the Duchess of Daises herself. If you could leave this circle, walk right out of there and start a new life, would you? It would be easy to support yourself in the lowfolk world, you have many skills. You could become a captain of industry like the Duchess did, or even a king. You could find a lowfolk bride and magically keep her young so her lifespan matches yours. You could find a way to father a child and leave a lineage, a legacy that wouldn't be tainted by your old life. If you could, would you? You... you don't know anymore. Not that it matters. The only way you can escape your current imprisonment is by following your destiny. Become the emperor and pardon yourself. Once again your path is chosen for you...
>Vernier: ... Wow... That is a LOT of baggage for one person.
>Adler: And the worst part is, you completely freeze up and make a fool of yourself whenever you speak to a lowfolk woman. You have absolutely no idea why, you never had any problems with elven women.
>Vernier: You're not a psychiatrist, but you have an idea. More on that later. First, as a sign of good faith to show you won't betray Adler's trust, he can do one of those "magic goose things" so that you will not divulge any of what you were told to anyone but Adler himself. Now, before you discuss Adler's lady problem, here's a question. From what Adler has told you, it sounds like his entire life was planned out for him. He was told he had to follow a "destiny", was manipulated and forced to follow it by a dozen different parties and factions, and every time he deviated he was punished. He went through life without having any real choices on where it went. Your question is this: Is that destiny, that preplanned life, is that really what he wants?
>Adler: Of course it i-! ... Is it? What have you gotten following that path? Looking at your surroundings, it's obvious. All your friends and family are gone, your home lies in ruin, and in the eyes of your fellow elves you have become the biggest villain in history rivaled only by the Duchess of Daises herself. If you could leave this circle, walk right out of there and start a new life, would you? It would be easy to support yourself in the lowfolk world, you have many skills. You could become a captain of industry like the Duchess did, or even a king. You could find a lowfolk bride and magically keep her young so her lifespan matches yours. You could find a way to father a child and leave a lineage, a legacy that wouldn't be tainted by your old life. If you could, would you? You... you don't know anymore. Not that it matters. The only way you can escape your current imprisonment is by following your destiny. Become the emperor and pardon yourself. Once again your path is chosen for you...