Chapter 132: Cards - Part 1
Added 2021-11-16 06:48:48 +0000 UTCPDF attached.
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Comments
The Emperor isn't necessarily weaker in comparison to God-Rulers, and the Emperor has the imperial army that he can call upon, not to mention that even Kings of other lands are made to swear loyalty to him, so he's still the most powerful person in the world in any way you can look at it. But how are the Ryders letting people walk over them? They humiliated Alkibiades, he left Cleinias' home when he got fed up with his bullshit, and they're planning to kidnap and expose Katasko. What else should they've done? What other insult has been thrown at them? They went to the Oracle *because* they wanted her to look into their souls, that's her *job*, to look into a person's Gifts and tell them what they are, but maybe I should've repeated it since it was only mentioned near the beginning of the story. The Oracle was acting like a haughty lady, and if they've accidentally angered her and she refused to tell them anything, then the entire trip would've been a complete waste. The Oracle thought they might've talked to a heretic Oracle, not that they *were* heretics. The Seekers are just lie detectors, if she thought they were heretics, she'd have threatened them with the Punishers, instead. But what's the point in not telling her the truth when she clearly has a lot of power to use the Seekers to her will? Every Ryder wants to have a good relationship with the Temple, *especially* Ciel, so imagine how Ciel'd react if Wolf started telling the Oracle off. He thinks that there might be other Realm Travelers because the Gifted, who didn't know *either* of the native languages, "mysteriously" appeared in the Chimera lands *the same day* that Wolf appeared in Rupegia. That's too big of a coincidence to just let it slide, and the possibility that Lily was also isekaid kind of breaks him. If Wolf's "curse" was made intentionally so that he'd commit to Alissa, then you could possibly assume it was to prevent him from abandoning Rupegia if he ever met Lily again. Elves are prideful, yes, but they're never combative. Haughty, sneering, scheming, and talking behind one's back, yes, but they rarely show aggression. What do you want the Ryders to do, specifically? They *don't* have any considerable power they can threaten Mainland nobles with. The Heart Lords don't respect them, the other Crown Lords are only in to tear on Katasko, and the Council is just watching what they do. If the Ryders start throwing their weight around and someone seriously challenges them, what they'll do? The Ryders *don't* want to cause problems to not anger the Elder Council, the people who have *actual* power to fuck the Ryders over. But when did the Ryders even bow their heads, to begin with?
Manasong
2021-11-29 00:28:51 +0000 UTCMate the Elves are prideful. You went out of your way to establish that many, many times. Noble Elves moreso. Royal Noble Elves, even more. It isn't about the fact that Wolf isn't a haughty guy but how others see him/Ryders. They are rulers, if other nobles don't respect/fear you then you'll be seen as weak and exploitable. He knows this shit. Bowing his head because he doesn't want to step on anyone's metaphorical toes is a hundred times more pathetic than sticking up for yourself and your people. Even if some toes are stepped on in the process.
The Tallest Tree
2021-11-28 23:56:02 +0000 UTCLily being in this world is beyong confusing. It did not make any sense with my readthrough. Why do they think she is there? Vanea mentioning that there might be other gifted does not mean they are from the same 'Realm' as Wolf... Even if it were -- why would they think it would be Lily? The random shit that the Oracle says about it 'maybe being a love curse relating to infidelity but also maybe not as it might actually be a blessing' in no way shape or form indicates that Lily is in Rupegia. So....What?
The Tallest Tree
2021-11-28 23:53:25 +0000 UTCThe Emperor might have the highest level and combat strength but he's weaker than the God-Kings and even they could be destroyed by numbers. Vanea and Wolf do have some positive interactions nowadays but its not like they are allies. Its the same problem I've had with this entire arc, it seems like the Ryders just allow others to walk over them. A perfect example is your earlier point about 'being antagonistic towards the oracle' uhhhh what the fuck? She pries into THEIR SOULS without consent, ACCUSES them of all sorts of shit, they respond to her accusations in a way that she doesn't understand so she ASSUMES they are working with heritics which is IDIOTIC since they are three times blessed and came to her of their own free will. Lastly she ANTAGONIZES them by THREATENING them with the SEEKERS. So how the shit is that allowed? Not only do they permit her to behave in such a disgusting way but now you say that by them not taking her shit they would be antagonizing her??? Bruh, I rest my case.
The Tallest Tree
2021-11-28 23:50:57 +0000 UTCThe Oracle is someone whose identity is protected by an underground bunker surrounded by meters of steel, and they can only interact with her through a thick, heavily-enchanted wall, so she *is* someone *very* important. They're more bewildered than anything in how to deal with her since they know so little, and there was little to gain being antagonistic to her, but now that they know she isn't helpful, they can be a lot more antipathic to her haughtiness. It's not just "Gifted," it's the possibility that Lily is also in this world, something that almost broke him the first time he went to look for slaves. But you're also not giving enough credit to how much friendlier his relationship with Vanea is. She baited him into confessing, yes, but she ultimately does nothing with it besides using it to tease and encourage him to get himself stronger by recruiting more Gifted to his side. She gave away all that information and made proposals without asking for anything concrete in return, just giving away benefits to Wolf. They aren't in just a strict and heartless give-and-take relationship anymore as she's actually showing a bit of care by giving him earnest advice, just that her way is a bit peculiar. The emperor is the strongest person in the entire world. He *has* the power to order the Lords around, it's just that it's better for everyone if he just lets them do as they please. The Ryders are navigating unknown waters, and none of them are the kind to go around being combative and stepping on the toes of powerful people as that's also not the elven way. Lastly, their "Royal" status is still "unofficial," so the power of its title relies on whether someone wants to please the Ryders or the Elder Council more by choosing to recognize it or not. The Alkimeonids family actually has a lot of power that they can project through Katasko, that's why they're "feared," while the Ryders don't have the entire elven lands backing them, so they can quickly get themselves in a pinch if they just try to tank everyone who acts mildly threatening or annoying to them.
Manasong
2021-11-28 23:10:47 +0000 UTCFinally. The end of the chapter. It really bothers me how ridiculous his time in the capital has been. He and the Ryder wives are FUCKING ROYAL CROWN LORDS. Sure they aren't nearly at the level of the Emperor but having to constantly bend over to the whim of random nobles (including Vanea who isn't even the city lord of Rabanara) is just infuriating. Its just laughable. The Emperor himself only has limited authority over the Crown Lords not to mention Royals like the Ryders, so you're telling me that any old noble can fuck with them? Even if Alki and his family are high imperial nobles that can't be the case. Let alone a little backwater like Rabanara (from the continent's perspective)
The Tallest Tree
2021-11-28 22:11:17 +0000 UTCAdditionally. This happens in a similar way with the meeting with Vanea. He completely gives in to her machinations. Doesn't even TRY to fight for an advantage. He has many wives, dozens of Companions, and probably hundreds of females that he can boink. WHY ON EARTH does he give in to Vanea's seduction, pace, and machinations? Even if he himself isn't some Noble-born politics master, YUNIA IS. He seriously can't control himself to actually outmaneuver her? He loses his shit and reveals his hand AT THE MERE MENTION of other Gifted? Fuck off
The Tallest Tree
2021-11-28 22:05:32 +0000 UTCCAN HE STOP BEING SO GODDAMNED MEEK already!!?!?!? This is just so infuriating as a long-time reader. Every time anyone with a lick of power is involved he turns into a passive meek mess. Who the fuck is this Oracle to demand shit from CROWN LORDS. Even if she could -- his reaction is just to stammer, meekly admit to truths she has no right to know and just keel over? Holy fuck. It was fine when he first landed in Rupegia but he was supposed to have some bloody character development by now.
The Tallest Tree
2021-11-28 22:02:48 +0000 UTC
