Does Sevar - not believe, any more, that Asmodia was given a secret to keep by Hell itself? What the Abyss is Sevar thinking? Asmodia should, perhaps, have just showed Sevar Gorthoklek's message - has she screwed up, has she failed her unknown Patron -
And then Asmodia's thoughts move faster, and calmer.
She is not what she was, but she remembers.
Asmodia did work out, she is not stupid now, let alone then, she did work out that Aspexia Rugatonn's question might be about how a god sees a mortal. And then Asmodia didn't mention that part at all, because she'd been clearly instructed not to think about the why and just solve the question itself.
The tropes, if they are real, are not mostly-blind like Asmodeus. The tropes can see precisely and navigate precise futures.
Then she can perhaps reason that what happens now, is intended to happen. And if the tropes see not perfectly, but well, Asmodia can reason about ideas like keeping to more predictable paths, and the tropes will know what she thought about it, if she thought the predictable thing... but she would have to think more, before she dared anything like that, preferably with Cunning and Wisdom.
"Let me think a second," Asmodia says. Maybe it's already too much of a giveaway, saying that. But Sevar clearly considers the away already given, and there is a sense in which Asmodia does not get to dispute that, she has already lost that game.
But suppose nonetheless that Asmodia has not failed her Patrons yet, by things getting this far; what then do her Patrons desire of her? Asmodia cannot guess, and she has been given no instructions at all.
Look inside herself? Act on impulse? Would that help her Patrons, would that help the tropes, is she easier to steer if she acts more on predictable impulses and lets herself be subject to frequent correction, rather than trying to hold fast to a course where she does as little as possible? Asmodia needs the crown back, and longer than fifteen minutes to think about this new version of the problem.
She has been given no instructions. Perhaps that is because she can deduce the goal and because her own thought can prove adequate to reach it.
The gods do seem to want Project Lawful to succeed, or keep going at least for now. They could have let Nidal smash it, or a sword take Keltham, they did not.
Does Sevar - not believe, any more, that Asmodia was given a secret to keep by Hell itself? What the Abyss is Sevar thinking? Asmodia should, perhaps, have just showed Sevar Gorthoklek's message - has she screwed up, has she failed her unknown Patron -
And then Asmodia's thoughts move faster, and calmer.
She is not what she was, but she remembers.
Asmodia did work out, she is not stupid now, let alone then, she did work out that Aspexia Rugatonn's question might be about how Asmodeus sees a mortal worshipper. And then Asmodia didn't mention that part at all, because she'd been clearly instructed not to think about the why and just solve the question itself.
The tropes, if they are real, are not mostly-blind like Asmodeus. The tropes can see precisely and navigate precise futures.
Then she can perhaps reason that what happens now, is intended to happen. And if the tropes see not perfectly, but well, Asmodia can reason about ideas like keeping to more predictable paths, and the tropes will know what she thought about it, if she thought the predictable thing... but she would have to think more, before she dared anything like that, preferably with Cunning and Wisdom.
"Let me think a second," Asmodia says. Maybe it's already too much of a giveaway, saying that. But Sevar clearly considers the away already given, and there is a sense in which Asmodia does not get to dispute that, she has already lost that game.
But suppose nonetheless that Asmodia has not failed her Patrons yet, by things getting this far; what then do her Patrons desire of her? Asmodia cannot guess, and she has been given no instructions at all.
Look inside herself? Act on impulse? Would that help her Patrons, would that help the tropes, is she easier to steer if she acts more on predictable impulses and lets herself be subject to frequent correction, rather than trying to hold fast to a course where she does as little as possible? Asmodia needs the crown back, and longer than fifteen minutes to think about this new version of the problem.
She has been given no instructions. Perhaps that is because she can deduce the goal and because her own thought can prove adequate to reach it.
The gods do seem to want Project Lawful to succeed, or keep going at least for now. They could have let Nidal smash it, or a sword take Keltham, they did not.
Does Sevar - not believe, any more, that Asmodia was given a secret to keep by Hell itself? What the Abyss is Sevar thinking? Asmodia should, perhaps, have just showed Sevar Gorthoklek's message - has she screwed up, has she failed her unknown Patron -
And then Asmodia's thoughts move faster, and calmer.
She is not what she was, but she remembers.
Asmodia did work out, she is not stupid now, let alone then, she did work out that Aspexia Rugatonn's question might be about how Asmodeus sees a mortal worshipper. And then Asmodia didn't mention that part at all, because she'd been clearly instructed not to think about the why and just solve the question itself.
The tropes, if they are real, are not mostly-blind like Asmodeus. The tropes can see precisely and navigate precise futures.
Then Asmodia can perhaps reason that what is happening now, was intended to happen. And if the tropes see not perfectly, but still far better than Asmodeus, Asmodia can reason about ideas like keeping to more predictable paths, and the tropes will know what she thought about it, if she thought a sufficiently predictable thing... but Asmodia would have to think more on this new form of the Most High's question, before she dared anything like that, preferably with more Cunning and Wisdom.
"Give me a quiet minute to think," Asmodia says. Maybe it's already too much of a giveaway, saying that. But Sevar clearly considers the away already given, and there is a sense in which Asmodia does not get to dispute that, she has already lost that game.
But suppose nonetheless that Asmodia has not failed her Patrons yet, by things getting this far. What then do her Patrons desire of her? Asmodia cannot guess, and she has been given no instructions at all.
Look inside herself? Act on impulse? Would that help her Patrons, would that help the tropes, is she easier to steer if she acts on predictable impulses and lets herself be subject to frequent correction, rather than trying to hold fast to a course where she does as little as possible? Asmodia needs the crown back, and longer than fifteen minutes to think.
She has not been given instructions. Perhaps that is because she can deduce the goal and because her own thought can prove adequate to reach it.
The gods do seem to want Project Lawful to succeed, or keep going at least for now. They could have let Nidal smash it, or a sword take Keltham, they did not.
Does Sevar - not believe, any more, that Asmodia was given a secret to keep by Hell itself? What the Abyss is Sevar thinking? Asmodia should, perhaps, have just showed Sevar Gorthoklek's message - has she screwed up, has she failed her unknown Patron -
And then Asmodia's thoughts move faster, and calmer.
She is not what she was, but she remembers.
Asmodia did work out, she is not stupid now, let alone then, she did work out that Aspexia Rugatonn's question might be about how Asmodeus sees a mortal worshipper. And then Asmodia didn't mention that part at all, because she'd been clearly instructed not to think about the why and just solve the question itself.
The tropes, if they are real, are not mostly-blind like Asmodeus. The tropes can see precisely and navigate precise futures.
Then Asmodia can perhaps reason that what is happening now, was intended to happen. And if the tropes see not perfectly, but still far better than Asmodeus, Asmodia can reason about ideas like keeping to more predictable paths, and the tropes will know what she thought about it, if she thought a sufficiently predictable thing... but Asmodia would have to think more on this new form of the Most High's question, before she dared anything like that, preferably with more Cunning and Wisdom.
"Give me a quiet minute to think," Asmodia says. Maybe it's already too much of a giveaway, saying that. But Sevar clearly considers the away already given, and there is a sense in which Asmodia does not get to dispute that, she has already lost that game.
But suppose nonetheless that Asmodia has not failed her Patrons yet, by things getting this far. What then do her Patrons desire of her? Asmodia cannot guess, and she has been given no instructions at all.
Look inside herself? Act on impulse? Would that help her Patrons, would that help the tropes, is she easier to steer if she acts on predictable impulses and lets herself be subject to frequent correction, rather than trying to hold fast to a course where she does as little as possible? Asmodia needs the crown back, and longer than fifteen minutes to think.
She has not been given instructions. Perhaps that is because she can deduce the goal and because her own thought can prove adequate to reach it.
The meddling gods - who might be below real tropes, or above fake tropes, or both at once - do seem to want Project Lawful to succeed, or keep going at least for now. They could have let Nidal smash it, or a sword take Keltham, they did not.
Does Sevar - not believe, any more, that Asmodia was given a secret to keep by Hell itself? What the Abyss is Sevar thinking? Asmodia should, perhaps, have just showed Sevar Gorthoklek's message - has she screwed up, has she failed her unknown Patron -
And then Asmodia's thoughts move faster, and calmer.
She is not what she was, but she remembers.
Asmodia did figure out, she is not stupid now, let alone then, she did figure out that Aspexia Rugatonn's question might be about how Asmodeus sees a mortal worshipper. And then Asmodia didn't mention that part at all, because she'd been clearly instructed not to think about the why and just solve the question itself.
The tropes, if they are real, are not mostly-blind like Asmodeus. The tropes can see precisely and navigate precise futures.
Then Asmodia can perhaps reason that what is happening now, was intended to happen. And if the tropes see not perfectly, but still far better than Asmodeus, Asmodia can reason about ideas like keeping to more predictable paths, and the tropes will know what she thought about it, if she thought a sufficiently predictable thing... but Asmodia would have to think more on this new form of the Most High's question, before she dared anything like that, preferably think with more Cunning and Wisdom.
"Give me a quiet minute to think," Asmodia says. Maybe it's already too much of a giveaway, saying that. But Sevar clearly considers the away already given, and there is a sense in which Asmodia does not get to dispute that, she has already lost that game.
But suppose nonetheless that Asmodia has not failed her Patrons yet, by events coming to this point. What then do her Patrons desire of her? Asmodia cannot guess, and she has been given no instructions at all.
Look inside herself? Act on impulse? Would that help her Patrons, would that help the tropes, is she easier to steer if she acts on predictable impulses and lets herself be subject to frequent correction, rather than trying to hold fast to a course where she does as little as possible? Asmodia needs the crown back, and longer than fifteen minutes to think.
She has not been given instructions. Perhaps that is because she can deduce the goal and because her own thought can prove adequate to reach it.
The meddling gods - who might be below real tropes, or above fake tropes, or both at once - do seem to want Project Lawful to succeed, or keep going at least for now. They could have let Nidal smash it, or a sword take Keltham, they did not.
Does Sevar - not believe, any more, that Asmodia was given a secret to keep by Hell itself? What the Abyss is Sevar thinking? Asmodia should, perhaps, have just showed Sevar Gorthoklek's message - has she screwed up, has she failed her unknown Patron -
And then Asmodia's thoughts move faster, and calmer.
She is not what she was, but she remembers.
Asmodia did figure out, she is not stupid now, let alone then, she did figure out that Aspexia Rugatonn's question might be about how Asmodeus sees a mortal worshipper. And then Asmodia didn't mention that part at all, because she'd been clearly instructed not to think about the why and just solve the question itself.
The tropes, if they are real, are not mostly-blind like Asmodeus. The tropes can see precisely and navigate precise futures.
Then Asmodia can perhaps reason that what is happening now, was intended to happen. And if the tropes see not perfectly, but still far better than Asmodeus, Asmodia can reason about ideas like keeping to more predictable paths, and the tropes will know what she thought about it, if she thought a sufficiently predictable thing... but Asmodia would have to think more on this new form of the Most High's question, before she dared anything like that, preferably think with more Cunning and Wisdom.
"Give me a quiet minute to think," Asmodia says. Maybe it's already too much of a giveaway, saying that. But Sevar clearly considers the away already given, and Asmodia does not get to dispute that, for she has already lost that game.
But suppose nonetheless that Asmodia has not failed her Patrons yet, by events coming to this point. What then do her Patrons desire of her? Asmodia cannot guess, and she has been given no instructions at all.
Look inside herself? Act on impulse? Would that help her Patrons, would that help the tropes, is she easier to steer if she acts on predictable impulses and lets herself be subject to frequent correction, rather than trying to hold fast to a course where she does as little as possible? Asmodia needs the crown back, and longer than fifteen minutes to think.
She has not been given instructions. Perhaps that is because she can deduce the goal and because her own thought can prove adequate to reach it.
The meddling gods - who might be below real tropes, or above fake tropes, or both at once - do seem to want Project Lawful to succeed, or keep going at least for now. They could have let Nidal smash it, or a sword take Keltham, they did not.
