[Krome] Beginnings and endings

[Celeste Andaris]

90th Ashan 717

Xander had been out all trial and, whilst he was often busy with things in and around Krome for the first time since arriving here, Celeste really wished that he was at home. For more than one reason, she really wished that he was home. Still, she was here in his room and she sat, bolt upright in the chair as she waited for him.

There would be no doubt that something strange had happened, or at least out of the ordinary. When Xander got home, after all, one of the guards for the house was outside his bedroom door. He looked at Xander and saluted, then explained that the Lady Andaris was inside and has requested that no one except Lord Krome should be allowed entry.

Indeed, as they spoke, at the sound of Xander's voice outside, Celeste opened the door. She wasn't bleeding or dishevelled, she did not appear to be drugged or like anyone had tried to kill her; she also didn't have any ornaments in her hand. She was wearing a blouse with a high neck and long sleeves and a long skirt. Not what she had worn this morning but then he knew that she often changed her dress during the trial. "Lord Krome, forgive me for the intrusion. I need to speak to you alone." Xander and Celeste had spent a fair amount of time together by this point and the young woman who was to be his wife was holding on to every emotion she was feeling, there was no doubt. Everything about her was tightly controlled.

When Xander entered the room, Celeste closed and locked the door behind him. "I have news and I need you to be patient with me whilst I explain it."

She breathed in and then launched into an explanation. "I received a letter from my grandfather. I have been summoned back to Andaris." She handed him the letter in question. It would probably explain her shaking hands and pale face. Except of course, she seemed upset and she avoided touching him. Even just to put the letter in his hands, she avoided touching him.

"That is the easy part of this. Your father brought the letter to me. He had read it." Celeste lifted her chin, defiance and pride on her face as she fought the repulsion she felt. "He has been, you know how he has been with me. He had been drinking, heavily judging by his colour and his speech." This was the woman who had greeted Peake Andaris when he came to her home after he assaulted her, Celeste was cold and calm. "He tried to force himself on me." Lifting her hand, she unbuttoned her blouse, just far enough to show the already vivid bruising on her neck and arms. "Just in case you doubt my words or need proof." She did not think he would, but she did not want there to be any doubt.

"The guard outside stopped him. He pulled him off me and then pulled me away. As he did, your father was drinking whiskey from the bottle, I don't know if he will even remember it." She lifted her head to him as she did her shirt back up. "I have to leave, Xander. Even if that letter had not come, I would have to leave, but I certainly do now. It might be best if you came with me." After all, she thought, after this he was likely to be so angry that he might kill his father.

Although, at this point, she really wouldn't mind too much. She didn't ask him not to touch her with her voice, but every part of her told that very clear story. Physical contact was not welcome in this moment.

► Show Spoiler

Reviewers note: This plot has been agreed with the Rynmere mods

[Xander Andaris]

Xander's outing today had been nothing more than a friendly visit to his people. A fair few were still recovering from the sickness and a lot were still going through the worst. He had again taken soup like previously and again done his best to help them with treatments. He had seen the joy and thankfulness of the people who he had helped. It appeared that there could still be good relations between nobles and the people, all it took was some kindness and humanity. He indeed was hoping that the people not only would recover but would look forward to the day he held a position of power. He wished to be a man of the people, one who they trusted and believed in.

He was returning now from the trip now, somewhat tired and weary from the work. He had been lucky not to have contracted the illness like Celeste earlier. He had seen now first hand how it could affect the rich and poor, none were safe from such a powerful​ act of nature. Xander had most certainly not expected to find a guard outside his room on return. This was lost unusual and he immediately knew something was wrong, something big by the fact a man stood outside his room protecting it from anyone but him. As the guard began to speak the door opened behind him and there was Celeste. His wife to be.

He followed her in and allowed the guard to remain outside patting his shoulder and thanlimg him for his services as he always did. So once inside he was surprised that Celeste locked the door behind him. His sword was still at his hip as he had not yet removed it, although in moments he may wish he had. She seemed tense as she looked at him, no sign of emotions and just a shell. At least that was how it appeared as she told him she had news and then handed him the letter. So as she requested his patience he gave it her as he read through the words. It was a surprise for sure but it did not explain her actions, he would in fact have expected her to be overjoyed at such news. Clearly something was amiss as he looked down at the letter and then to her.

He kept waiting sure there was more and as she had asked him to listen. At the mention of his father he went tense, his muscles coiling and flexing as his jaw went tight. He listened closely as he tried to keep calm. However, no matter how hard he tried nothing could hide the red rage that clouded his vision. The pure anger that showed on his tear filled eyes, his fist clenched and blood being drawn from the palm. The words were like fuel to a fire that was almost out, this fire was now roaring within his chest. Consuming him inch by inch as he continued to listen, the guard had saved her. That indeed made sense, it would be why she knew she could trust him to guard her. Yet it did not matter he has been stopped, he had still tried to do something unspeakable. The oaf, the stupid, fat and sadistic bastard had tried to rape his future wife.

He supposed he should have seen this coming after everything else that had been going on. Of course her assumption about him killing his father had been correct, in fact he almost did it there and then. His hand falling to the hilt of his blade and removing it with one quick movement. ”I am going to kill him, I'm going to get him like the pig he is! Then I will feed him to the wolves, he is no wolf, he deserves no pack.” Celeste would never have seen Xander so furious as in his rage he swung the blade at the stone wall. The sound of steel on stone ringing in the room as the blade clashed against it. It chipped the blade and blunted some of it's edge as it glanced across the surface.

He could not control his anger as he threw the blade at the draws on the other side of the room. Its tip piercing the wood as it stuck and then shook in place, swaying up and down as the metal flexed. Tears had breached the confines of his eyelids as he slammed his already bleeding hand against the wall. He did not know what stopped him leaving the room to kill his father then. Perhaps it was his loss of mental control or maybe Celeste’s unusual calm. ”How can I have been born from such monster, such an evil pig. He is a fool, an oaf and I will not allow this to go unpunished. This was too much, it is time he is gone, he no longer needs to be in this world. I will not let him sour the name of my family anymore.” Xander looked at her, although he was not sure he saw her, he saw more a victim of too much and again he had failed to fully protect her.

[Celeste Andaris]

She didn't want to tell him what his father had done, or tried to do. Celeste was somewhat surprised to find that at least one of the reasons she did not wish to was because she knew it would hurt him. She was in shock herself still, her body and mind, emotions and insecurities reeling around from it. More than anything, she was cursing herself. She knew, she knew what his father was looking at her like, she had seen it both from her own father and her brother.

In that moment, Celeste wondered if she could have stopped it, somehow, but Xander's father seemed frankly obsessed with her and she did not know how to deal with it. When she finished telling him, Xander's anger boiled over and he swung his sword against the wall and then threw it. Celeste could not quite help but flinch at first but she knew that the anger was not at her.

She looked at the man she was to marry and the tears which fell from his eyes and Celeste moved forward. Her own worries and concerns were temporarily forgotten as she stepped and put her hands into his. "Xander. Xander, listen to me." Lifting one hand, she put it against his cheek, her palm cool and gentle. "You are nothing like him. Nothing. You are a kind and honest man, Xander Krome." Brown eyes regarded him and she tried to get him to focus on her, on her voice.

"Listen to me. Please, Xander, listen to me. We will overcome this, but not if we allow him to make us what he wishes us to be." Her tone was calm and determined, it was how she felt. "He wants you to be angry because then he can be angry back. He wants you to be out of control because if you are then he is able to win." Her hand on his cheek moved to gently put his hair behind his ear. "He wants me to be afraid because then I won't fight him and I won't tell you. Well we aren't going to do what he wants, Xander."

When she had been attacked in Krome, Celeste had panicked and frozen. The same had happened when she had been stabbed after their engagement party. Yet, over the course of time that she had been here, she had begun to believe that he was telling her the truth. "You protect me, Xander, and that makes me stronger. I protect you, too." She gave a wry smile as she fished in her pocket and held up the key to the door, which she had locked after they came in. "It is important that we do not react now. That we use all our resources."

Placing the key to the door in his hand, Celeste moved over to sit on the bed, urging him to do the same. "I need you to hear me, Xander. Really hear me. I fought him," it was why she was bruised, after all. She didn't say that, but she imagined he knew, "and all I could think of was you and how I would not let him hurt me because if he did then it would hurt you. I do not like this fact but it does not change it. We are stronger together." Which gave both pluses and minuses, she knew. "So I suggest that we think about this more carefully now." There were actions to be taken, she knew, but she also knew that Xander needed to calm down first.

So she sat with him, her hands in his and she waited for that to happen before they did anything else.

[Xander Andaris]

He thought he had been angry when Rafael had attacked her but that did not even compare, nothing was like the uncontrollable fury that exploded inside him. It was like a war raged in his chest and his mind was covered by the fog of war. He felt blind as he pressed his forehead against the wall, he saw red, like a bull he had lost all measure of self control and composure. His face was reddened with fury and his right hand beading from both the knuckles and palm, red seemed to be everywhere to him and he could not understand the overwhelming emotions he was feeling. He was lost to the whirlwind of feelings and volcano of rage hidden within it.

Until he felt her take his hand, the cool and caring touch of Celeste. It was like a lighthouse in the fog, although he was still out of control he felt a small sliver of composure return. Enough to turn and look at her. To see her brown eyes breaking through the red, his own eyes were hazy and distant as she spoke to him. He seemed far from himself now, never had he acted in such a way not since the death of his sister. He could hear the sounds but he understood little as she placed a hand on his cheek, the cool flesh causing his jaw to quiver. Apparently she had some kind of ability to calm him, his cheeks had returned to their normal colour and his eyes seemed to return to being clear. His lucidity returning as he looked at her and listened, her command had cut through as he cooled down.

He still wanted nothing more than to cut the man to pieces, to plunge his blade through the monster's chest. Yet it seemed this was not an option, not if he wished to marry Celeste and achieve his future goals. It seemed like Celeste had something up her sleeve, by the way she spoke and said they would not react how his father wanted. It was not that she wished not to respond but just not how Xander felt he should. Of course Celeste would be interested in doing something secret as was her way, she was talented at scheming and plotting and Xander was glad for it. However, whatever her plan was if it did not involve him killing his father he would refuse. He had to do it and he had to look into his father's eyes when he did so he knew, so he knew his father's terror and so his father understood who and why.

He turned the key over in his hand, fingering its small loop and rolling it between his fingers. He was calmer now, he was lucid and he understood everything she said. "I understand we must be careful and we must act intelligently but I must kill him. Nobody else but me, I must be the one to take his life and I must be present." This was his one condition as he sat hand in hand with his poor tortured fiance, she had been through too much already.

"What do you have in mind?" She seemed to have an idea or at least that was what it seemed like to Xander. She said they should use their resources although he did not know exactly what that entailed, perhaps she was speaking of some kind of item he had forgotten about. He was not always the best at coming up with these more subtle plans, he would much rather fight a duel or a pitched battle. That he understood and would be much more effective in, however, he was able to adapt and he could act in a different way as long as he achieved the purpose.

[Celeste Andaris]

He needed time to calm down, she knew, before he could hear her and somehow, somewhere along the line she had grown to know him well enough that she understood that. He had to calm and so she brushed her hand against his cheek, spoke to him with a quiet voice and she waited for lucidity to return to his gaze. When it did, she smiled and spoke in a whisper, "I understand. I do, Xander, but you must understand also, how much you have to lose." He would be a Baron, one trial and maybe soon. Did he have designs to be Duke? She thought so, but he had not told her of his plans in truth. So, Celeste waited and spoke in gentle words. When he said that he had to be the one to kill his father, he had to be there and had to do it she studied his eyes with a solemn look.

"There are things there are no coming back from, Xander. No taking them back later. I would rather we both left than you lost yourself to him." How strange, she thought, that was true. But he was determined, she knew it before he spoke it and when he spoke it, he was adamant. She sighed slightly and wondered if she dared reveal herself so to this man. To speak of trust was one thing, to plot a murder another.

"Resources are important. Whiskey is a resource. It dulls the senses and slows reactions. It is usual and acceptable and will not be seen as suspicious, were he drinking it. What, of course, it does not do is lessen his physical strength." Celeste lifted her hand up, it still trembled just a little. "I am still weaker than I was. The tea which Gwen gave me weakened me physically and lowered my resistance, I have no doubt, to alcohol. Were I the kind of person to drink whiskey from the bottle, I would have been weak and even more disoriented."

That gave them the how, but not the where. There would be witnesses, risks of him being caught. Celeste stood and paced, back and forth as she considered. The very thought of him being caught brought a feeling of panic to her and it was in that feeling where she found her answer. Last season she had experienced a panic attack where she was alone.

It was a moment, a decision and she had to make it.

Peake was dead, she could protect him no more. Xander knew enough already to surmise and, in the time since she had recovered from the illness she caught, when he had spent four trials laying in the bed with her whilst she fought for her life, since that time Xander had reacted differently when she spoke Peake's name. Had she said something in her delirium? She did not know. But if she had or had not, she had to now.

Because she was Andaris and she would protect those she had to. She would protect her family.

She sat back down next to him and spoke. "It was my brother Peake who attacked me." Celeste tried to sound dispassionate and failed entirely; she did not look at Xander as she spoke, her cheeks flushing a deep red. "He held me by the hair and dipped my head into the bath. The night that you and your father fought outside my door, I had a bruise on my leg, remember?" It was why she had arnica after all.

"I fell, that trial, getting out of the bath because I panicked. It was why I had a bruise. You are so vulnerable in the bath. Everything is wet and slippery, you are so hot and vulnerable and alone." She looked at Xander then and spoke to him as clearly as she could. "If you are already weakened and you are drinking whiskey? Someone could dip your head into the water and look in your eyes as they did and you would drown." She considered it seriously and added. "But if you were here, you would be suspected after that fight. I think we should leave, Xander. Together. We should leave and then if something happens to your father, well you were in the carriage with me the whole time." Her eyes were wide but unwavering. "Just the two of us."

[Xander Andaris]

She truly was devious, he wondered why he could not have had her help his entire life. The way she thought about things, her intricate yet understandable plans could not have been made any better. He had discovered this past seasons that he could never have chosen a more valuable wife, if he had made the choice he may have been foolish in his choice. In some ways he supposed he had his mother to thank for this, not that she would have realised what a formidable force she was creating. Andaris and Krome united under two ambitious and intelligent people, two people who Xander now had no doubt would one day be two of the most powerful people in Rynmere. He would tell her his plans, the truth of his wishes for Krome on the road to Andaris. It was time she knew it all, time she understood his motivations and aspirations. Soon he would begin the long hard crawl to them and he would need her by his side supporting him.

He understood this action was something he would have to live with his entire life, something that would forever be his secret, something dark and dangerous. He had held such secrets since he was a boy already but this would be different, he had never killed before. He did not fear the killing but instead what came from it, the possible guilt and even the risk of losing everything for doing it. However, he found solace in the reasoning for his acts, the justification for the killing of his father was sound. The man was cruel, sadistic and a rapist, he beat slaves, servants and even his own son. It was for the good of everyone he did this, his father forfeited his life the moment he tried to have Celeste by force. He hoped Ethelynda would see the reasoning for his actions and understand, he was killing a criminal and doing so to protect the innocent his father was always hurting.

"I understand, no turning back. This is what it is and I will keep it secret until the day I die, I will never tell another soul. Only Badon, he will help me with this and is more Loyal than anyone I have ever met, he can be trusted." He did understand the risk and also the secrecy that was so vital to this and he would not give away their plans or the act. The only people that would know would be him, Badon and Celeste, that was the safest way to succeed. He listened closely as he began to realise what she was suggesting with the alcohol and Gwen, the drugs he had taken and kept for himself. She was most likely right about what would happen if they were mixed with his fathers alcohol and he was sure that could be of use to his attack.

He continued to listen as she explained in more detail her plan. As she admitted what he already knew he showed no sign of it, he did not act surprised but he also did not reveal he already knew. Peake had attacked her and he had found out during her sick days, he had just not told her he knew as he had not wanted to scare her with his knowledge. "I remember, yes." He allowed her to continue making sure not to interrupt her. It was suddenly clear what she was suggesting, what she thought he should do.

There were indeed more honourable ways to kill a man but did his father deserve them? He thought not. In fact he thought his father deserved little more than to be hung by his feet and eaten alive by small insects. He understood what she meant by them leaving together, the idea of a solid Alibi was certainly of use to them. If he was not there he could not possibly be the killer. It was good thinking, it really was and he knew that it would make the task much easier. He still was not completely sure about killing him in such a way, it felt wrong yet he could look at his father while he did it. He could tell him why and he could look into the monsters eyes as he killed him, see the life drain from him as he finally got what he deserved. He would do it this way, it made sense and it would be effective as well as easy to cover up.

"Then he will drown and I will look into his monstrous eyes as he does, I will be the bringer of justice in this." He looked at Celeste and trusted she believed in him to be able to do this. He was not well trained in stealth and nor was he an assassin but he was young and strong and he would be sober. He would have the advantage and the element of surprise would also be on his side, he believed he could do it and he wanted to do it. The will would be able to drive him to enact this with success. "Your plan will work, I shall ride a horse back and catch up with you after it is done. Badon will let me into the house and check it is clear for me to get to the bathroom, the man will also poison my father for me. I shall sneak into the bathroom while he baths and with the alcohol and drugs in his system I will drown him." He was sure it could be done, he just hoped everything went well when the time came.

He took her hands in his and as he looked into her deep brown eyes, something strange happened. He could not explain it, he could not even understand why it happened but it did. "I think I love you." The words felt weird in his mouth and he was even confused by them, he had never used them before, not once in his entire life. He wasn't even sure if he knew what love was but if this wasn't it then he most likely never would understand. If love was not doing anything for that person, the will to even kill for them then he didn't know what was. To surprise himself even more he then leaned forward and kissed her, pressing his lips softly to hers and gently squeezing her hand as he did. A tear ran down his cheek as he moved back and then smiled cautiously, he did not know whether what he had done was okay but he hoped so. "Have you anything else to add to the plan?" He most likely had not seen some angle Celeste had spied out and some gain she saw he did not.

[Celeste Andaris]

He had known about Peake, she considered. It was obvious from his reaction, or lack thereof. Celeste was aware that Xander was different with her than he was with others, and that was good as far as she was concerned. With others he was more closed, less willing or completely unwilling to share his emotions. Yet with her, slowly over the course of the last season, she had broken away at the defenses he had built up. Of course, he had done the same for her and whilst she heartily approved of him feeling that way, she was equally disapproving of her own emotional state. Still, that was not for now. Now was for clear thinking and gentle reassurance from and to each other.

Because they were planning a murder.

"In order for it to work, there have to be a minimum of witnesses, Xander. Therefore, that poses a problem. Whilst you have considered that here, there will be people accompanying us." He would leave, they would see him leave and they would also see him return. Neither of these were acceptable, as far as she could tell. "Therefore, we have a problem. We could hitch two horses to the carriage, you drive and I be in the carriage as far as anyone is concerned. I will need to keep moving once you have left, so I could drive the now single-horsed carriage. Or I could sit in the carriage alone and you could simply pretend to leave with us. I'm not sure." It would depend, Celeste said to him, on his staff and how they would manage.

Then, however, an idea came to her. "There is an Inn, along the road, yes? Whilst we are travelling I will become dreadfully unwell a few breaks away from here. You, as my protective fiance, feel the need to stop and rest and we will have rooms at the Inn." Her mind ticked over, considering. "That is a lot more witnesses. You and I will retire, you to care for me. Then you exit dressed as one of our guards, ride here and are back at the Inn by morning. What do you think? It gives us more witnesses, means that even those who travel with us can be reliable, honest and truthful witnesses as to your whereabouts." It made sense to her and minimised risk for those around them.

There was, however, no time to be self congratulatory as Xander took hold of her hands and then spoke to her with words she had never thought to hear from him, of all people. Celeste looked at him and would have answered had he not kissed her. Just for a moment, the briefest of moments, she returned the kiss and when he pulled back her eyes were wide with surprise at what he had done, and she had. "I know you do," she whispered and reached up to stroke away the tear which fell down his cheek.

Her own heart was racing, but Celeste could not and would not speak those words to him. Not yet, and maybe not ever. Those were the ultimate handing over of power to a man and she would not do so. When he asked if she had anything else to add, though, she shook her head then reached for his hand again. "Only to be sure that we get rid of any evidence of the tea. Bring it back with you, that way it is not in the house and can not be used."

[Xander Andaris]

Her plan made sense to him, he could see no issues with it and it did help his alibi. If a whole inn of people saw him enter and not leave until morning it was much more credible. The fact that those people would not be informed of the deception made them even better, they could lie without even knowing it. There was nothing better than someone who truly believed they were telling the truth as then no matter of interrogation could change what they saw. He supposed it was more that it could not change what they believed they saw. If they were tortured, which he knew they would not be for such a random thing then they might lie, still, there was little chance they would even think he might have returned and committed the act.

The kiss was only short but ti told him what he needed to know. It was returned and through that he knew it was not completely reciprocated love, if it had been he was sure he would have found a much less open response. No, somehow deep down he knew there was something more than sheer respect between the two of them. Whether it was through her willingness to help him plot a murder or her expressions of emotion around him. The ornament throwing might have been an example of how he somehow felt she loved him too or maybe he was mistaking respect, caring and frustration for love. It was all such a new feeling to him he might never figure it out. He had not expected her words though. She knew? How had she known? Or was she just saying that? He had no time to dwell on it though they would just carry on as normal, it was probably for the best.

Then though, quite out of character for him, he had an idea that might help him in the long run as well as short. He wished to free Krome but he needed power first to do so, power like a Barony. This was power he could only get if his mother was gone, if she were either dead or, say, imprisoned. "What if it would be better for the tea to be in the house, just not in my room?" He looked at Celeste, a gleam of his own scheming and future plans in the blue hues. It would not become evident to Celeste that her future husband did indeed have aspirations and plans. Plans that at least took him as far as becoming a Baron of Krome.

"What if I were to hide the drugs in my mothers dresser, leave some trace of it in the bathroom and a small pouch in her dresser containing the same substance. If it is never found so be it but if it is discovered then perhaps my mother will be arrested and then I take her place." Maybe now it was her turn to think him mad for such an idea. However, he hoped she would think it good, she might even improve upon it. He held her hand gently and ran his thumb over her knuckles and along her fingers. He must have seemed crazy with that suggestion, it was not something they had discussed before. "If she were out of the way then I could be Baron and we both know I would be a better Baron than she could ever be Baroness. She is less than useless at it where as I could really make a difference. It is not a complicated plan and it may never work, it may never come to light that my father was drowned and instead be ruled as an accident. However, if the poison is found then our lives could be very different soon enough."

He waited for her response to his suggestion. Everything was going well so far and perhaps they could kill two birds with one stone in this. It would certainly speed up Xander's plans for Krome if he could get into a position where he could gather support for his cause and command a force to achieve his aims. Assuming she agreed he then spoke again. "I suggest we start packing now, if we are to leave soon we need to get ready, Andaris is far away and I am sure we both have a lot to think about and bring with us. So when you are ready." He stood and moved to the door his key in hand and a smile on his face, it was not so much a smile of happiness but a smile in anticipation for what was to come.

[Celeste Andaris]

It had to be said that Celeste was somewhat surprised at his suggestion of leaving the tea where it might be found and incriminate his mother. Her eyebrow raised and she looked at Xander with an expression which was half confusion and half admiration. "You know, that would work. Or, more precisely it might work. It won't add any risk to you and either it will not be found or it will." She looked at him and admiration won out. "I'm impressed."

He had ambition, it seemed and Celeste frowned in consideration for a moment. "Gwen poisoned me. The doctor knows that, yes? He knows what kind of poison, or thinks he does." The doctor might be an unwitting accomplice here. "And your mother hired Gwen?" She shrugged. It wasn't something that they should suggest or say, she said to him but, if it got out or his mother was suspected? Then it might be a card to play. Just might be.

He stood and said that they should get packed and Celeste nodded her head. She would be glad to get out of this place, it must be said. After she had bade her fiance good night, she closed and locked her door. As she glanced at the piece of parchment a smile lit Celeste's face. Baroness and first in line for the Duchy, she considered that, all in all, things were progressing quite well.

She packed her things herself, pleased to keep her hands busy and glad for the distraction. Tomorrow she would return to Andaris and take up her position as Baroness of Andaris. When she did, she considered, it would be the beginning and those who wronged her would tremble.

[Niv]

Celeste

Knowledge:

Discipline: Overcoming fear and saying a hard truth.
Discipline: Finding strength in Xander
Deception: The best liars are the ones that don’t know their lying
Endurance: Keeping composure when telling hard truths.
Logistics: Planning a murder
Logistics: Working around complications in the plan
Logisitcs: Don’t forget the poison tea.
Meditation: breathing in to calm your emotions before explaining something.
Persuasion: Requesting a private audience
Persuasion: Showing evidence to quell any doubt.
Persuasion: Speaking soft and calmly to relax someone
Psychology: “Your jackass father is trying to throw of your game by making you angry.” says Celeste
Psychology: Some people need space to calm down
Psychology: Xander is more open with his emotions around you
Poisons: Whiskey can dull the senses and slow reactions
Tactics: Seeing someones twisted games for with they are
Love: Saying the word to a man takes away a women power
Grandfather Andaris: Requests your presence back at the capital
Xander Krome: told him about his father
Xander Krome: Thinks he loves you
Xander Krome: Impressively crafty

Loot: 

N/A

Injuries: 

N/A

Fame:

N/A

Magic:

These points can NOT be used for Domain Magic

Devotion:

N/A

Story: 

5/5

Collaboration:

5/5

Structure:

5/5

Xander

Knowledge:

Blades (longsword): attacking a wall in anger
Blades (longsword): Throwing it at Drawers
Discipline: Revenge can wait
Deception: The less people that know a secret the easier it is to keep.
Deception: The best liars are the ones that don’t know their lying
Deception: blame the mother, cause she’d make a crappy baroness
Investigation: Reading the situation.
Intimidation: Feeling the rage though out your body.
Leadership: A lot can be accomplished with kindness and humanity.
Logistics: Planning a murder
Logistics: Never too early to start packing for a trip
Meditation: Trying to keep calm thorough intense anger and disgust.
Persuasion: I have to kill my father, I will accept no other plan.
Psychology: “Your jackass father is trying to throw of your game by making you angry.” says Celeste
Seduction: planning the death of your evil father is so romantic.
Jersey Krome: Tried to have his way with Celeste
Jersey Krome: An evil Pig and a monster
Peake Andaris: Had attacked Celeste
Celeste: First love
Celeste: She doesn’t say she loves you but she totally does.

Loot: 

N/A

Injuries: 

Xander isn’t hurt but his sword is chipped.

Fame:

N/A

Magic:

These points can NOT be used for Domain Magic

Devotion:

N/A

Story: 

5/5

Collaboration:

5/5

Structure:

5/5

Notes: Ohhh this thread was juicy nothing like a murder plot to make things interesting. Anyway I love it very fun to read full marks and all that. I’m also very sorry that I took like forever to get to this thread. If I missed anything you can beat me..I mean tell we how I can fix it.

Art credit to Yoshitaka Amano