Chapter 3.a: Citadel Infiltration

Verrian studies Ildemu coldly. "I can't imagine a circumstance where I'd be begging to join you in anything. What have you done to Renaya?"

Verrian remains standing in the doorway. "You're leaving? Where are you going? You know, you keep telling me that we should join you, but you never want to explain what you're doing. The way it looks is that you're bullying and brutalizing people. If there's more to it, I'd like to know about it." She looks him square in the eyes. "You were waiting in here to talk to us, apparently, but you say nothing of substance and dodge every question. Why even bother talking to us?"

Verrian remains in the doorway still. She speaks in a reasonable, sincere tone. "Ildemu, we didn't 'make a choice.' We had only just arrived here, and other than some frog people, you and your group were the first people we'd encountered. You were chasing a helpless frog man with what seemed to be blood in mind. Obviously, that didn't make a very positive impression on us, and your offer of recruitment was very short on information. In fact, it didn't even seem sincere - for all we could tell, it was a trap.

"And what's this about 'earning' an understanding of what's going on here? If your offer to join you was ever genuine, then why not tell us enough for us to make an informed decision, rather than forcing us to decide against it because your manner is so relentlessly combative and contemptuous?"

Hey guys, since we are just standing around, do you want to check out those other doors. I will keep an eye on the entrance.

Elora is doing her absolute best to remain calm and collected what with the number of problems which have developed, covering Verrain and Viani with Willitan. "Should we? What if they need us, or it's a trap?"

Verrian is shocked to hear Willitan suggesting that the group backing up her and Viani go do other things while they're still having a standoff with Ildemu, but she pushes that concern aside. "Yes, it was obvious that someone in Meriava has been communicating with people outside of the wards." She considers for a moment before saying, "What exactly are you doing with mages like Reyana? If you're just trying to eradicate magic users, you could just kill them instead of taking them prisoner."

Verrian doesn't take her eyes from Ildemu's. "I accept that you feel justified in what you're doing. But you didn't answer the question. What, exactly, are you doing to these mages?"

"You're removing their ability to perform magic against their will?" Verrian is horrified and shows it. "That's a kind of mutilation. It's... it's rape."

Viani looks unsure between Verrian and Ildemu. So it looks as if the Crows actually do know how to cure people of magic and aren't just killing them. Her grip on the weapon becomes unsure and she lowers it slightly but still keeps it ready to attack if she feels the need to.
"Does it... does it hurt them?", she asks in a quiet, shaky voice.

"Why don't you ask Renaya how it feels?" Verrian says harshly. "She's the recent victim of the violation, not him."