The Ballad of Adler Young, Canto 2.5

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SpoilerSee pictures https://www.patreon.com/posts/41693897 or https://adleryoung.tumblr.com

>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.

I told Vernier everything.  Every detail .. things I should not have told anyone, let alone a lowfolk wench .. but I could not help myself.  Once I started talking, it just came out, and I couldn't stop the flow of words.  When I was done, I collapsed to the ground, limp and exhausted but strangely calm.

"Wow," Vernier said.  "That's a lot for one little elf to handle.  I need a drink."

I indicated that there was potable water in the basin nearby.

>Vernier: 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, 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. He went through life without having any real choices on where it went. Is that destiny, that preplanned life, really what he wants?

"All right," she sighed, wiping her face after a long gulp of water.  "You've confided in me, and I want you to know that your trust is well placed, so go ahead and put a geas on me so I can't discuss what you've just told me with anyone other than you.  I insist."

This seemed like a sensible move, so I got up, dusted myself off, and composed the appropriate Gramarye to lay a geas of confidentiality on Vernier.

>Adler:  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...
Adler: You explain to Vernier that this is your path and you must follow it if you wish to save yourself in the eyes of your people, but you also realize you need to stand strong in the face of adversity and not falter.
Vernier: Oh by Fuma he is stubborn, try to explain to Adler that he needs to think for himself.
Adler: Argue that you are thinking for yourself, it is the will of Fuma and it is your will at the same time!

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"Now then," she stated as she placed her hands on my shoulders and looked into my eyes, "the way I see it, you've been a pawn in other people's schemes your whole life.  Almost none of what you've done has been your own decision, but all has been chosen for you by the ones pulling the strings."

I agreed that was a fair assessment.

"My question is, what do YOU want?"

"Does it matter?" I responded bleakly.  "I'm a prisoner.  The only way I'm getting out of here is by following my appointed destiny.  I have to become Emperor, to restore my people and my good name.  I can't indulge my own wants until this is accomplished."

Lysander: "Oh this weapon is real, produced in the lands of Polskavia (This is definitely a real country you didn't make up Lysander) this rifle can fire twice due to it's design of having two barrels welded together" demonstrate the weapon on a pair of pumpkins, both explode from the shots

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Vernier was about to say something else, when suddenly a detachment of Ixies buzzed into the circle.

"Sire!  Sire!" they exclaimed.  "Thou'st got to hear this!  We escorted Priestess Oak back into town without incident, but Lysander the traveling merchant was there in the market square, and OH SIRE he hath a new doomsday weapon from a far-off land, before which any army on earth must fall!  Tis truly horrible!"

"Incidentally," Typantronn chirped, "did they have venery whilst we were gone?"

"Nay," the Ixies atop the dolmen replied glumly.

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"HAH!!" Typantronn gloated.  "I win again!  That's twoscore of aphids EACH thou owest me.  Pay up, sisters!"