"In the sea?" Lia asked in surprise. "They have gills?"
Rana resisted the urge to facepalm.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Lia looked as confused as she felt. "So they're not alive?"
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"They're no less alive than you or I," Gaius said. "Or perhaps they're more alive."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
"Yes, through their leaves," Lia answered matter-of-factly. "They breathe in bad air and then breathe out good air for land-dwelling animals."
(little know it all lol)
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"So a troll made of wood might grow leaves and do the same thing."
"And magic does the rest," Shea said matter-of-factly.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
"But trees drown if submerged in water," Lia said, furrowing her brow. She was weirdly fixated on this point for some reason.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"Magic," Shea reminded her. "It makes the impossible possible, dear. Remember the Jackrabbit? He's at work up here too."
"In a sense." Gaius fiddled with his cloak.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Lia glanced at him with wide eyes. "The Jackrabbit helps your gods, too?"
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"Gaius believes all the gods have multiple aspects," Sara said before Gaius could speak. "So our goddess of trickery is the same as your Jackrabbit."
"They wear different faces for different people," Gaius added.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
(have you seen the theory that Christianity is just Loki cosplaying?)
Lia was quiet for a long moment, trying to process this new information. "So that's why we stayed safe up here, despite the trolls. The Jackrabbit protected us in our journeys all the way up here!"
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"Doesn't seem like something he'd do," Shea said, amused. "Being an agent of chaos and all. Perhaps you're a favorite of his!"
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
(I adore it. There are some convincing parallels -- Garden of Eden and Idunn's Orchard, the whole apples that grant Norse gods vigor and extended life span with the Forbidden Fruit, etc.)
"Chaos doesn't mean he's bad," Lia said firmly. "It just means he likes to have fun. But he cares."
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
