"Len?" Titanyana's voice didn't reach Len's ears. It didn't reach anybody's ears but her own. "Why is he . . ?"
She had been keeping an eye on the injured individuals from afar, making sure they wouldn't do something stupid once more upon waking up. The distance would hopefully keep them from recognizing her should they have memorized her face for whatever reason so-
Titanyana shook her head, those were just excuses. It wouldn't be hard for a normal person to keep them separated after those blows, Kerefel alone was enough, even if he was weak. She would be helpful in such a scenario should it arise, but the way that Kerefel was gripping his weapon, a broken chair leg, told her that a peaceful solution was not on the table.
It wasn't an option before, but there was a good chance that the wooden stick would be broken once again should it not be taken this time around.
The distance reasoning was total bullshit as well, Titanyana just didn't want to approach Rashtvice yet. He was going to be a point of tension for her in the very immediate future given her history (both long and short) with him. Yet somehow Len, somebody she considered to be like a comrade in arms on the socialization front, was speaking to both Rashtvice and Crown Prince Merndil. He was very clearly nervous, his shaking could not be disguised as anything else, but he had been called out to by Prince Rash. It made her feel weird, a feeling she didn't really understand how to describe.
Did she feel betrayed? It was possible she felt Len had betrayed her expectations on some level, but could she really call conversation a betrayal? Was she envious? It was easier to talk to someone when they initiated, but she had to admit that being trapped in a conversation could be equally daunting.
Perhaps she was better off summing it all up as anxiety? That was probably the most accurate appraisal, though she couldn't say this felt like the normal anxiety she suffered. It wasn't paralyzing, but she wasn't really enthusiastic to make a move either.
Titanyana's ears flattened as she saw Len look in her direction. Even if he wasn't looking for her there was nothing suggesting he hadn't seen her, she stood out among the sparse crowd with her crown.
"Is something the matter?"
She could pick up on their conversation from where she was at. Rude as it was to eavesdrop, she felt the need to know what was going on between them. Their relationship was an important factor in how she would respond to them in conversation.
"Uh, um. Have you met Titanyana yet?"
Titanyana's ears perked right back up. She went from shame to panic in one sentence, she had to wonder why Len thought to bring her into the mess.
"Princess Strapper? I was introduced to her before the festivities began, have you had the pleasure of meeting her yet?"
"Strapper doesn't ring a bell, but I think Donovan mentioned Titanyana earlier. Is there something special about her?"
"Nothing much. She's only the most recent person to receive a title from the Arboreal Maiden."
"What!? Where is she?" Titanyana shivered a little as she though how that reaction might change. He clearly didn't remember her name from their spar, but he could probably remember her face. What would Prince Merndil think of the woman who knocked out his brother?
"Lord Trebar is also here, as are a few members of his squad. In fact, you started a brawl with two of them." Merndil ignored his brother, aiming to provide him some key information on the most important people in attendance
"I, I did?" She watched Merndil slowly nod as his brother's error dawned on him. "Well, I was drunk, so . . ."
"You and I both know you didn't drink enough to be that brainless. Those of Guayan descent do not succumb to alcohol so quickly."
". . . how much trouble am I in?"
Titanyana could hardly believe it, Rashtvice was being punished? Weren't most nobles let off scot-free for something as minor as this?
"Fortunately, Lords Trebar and Gawan appeared to have been angered more by your compatriots than yourself. Given how rare a party visitation is from the Theocracy, I can imagine they believe this could spark a major diplomatic incident. Do take care not to offend them in the future though, that includes Sir Strauss and Lady Diana. It would appear they have something of a close relationship."
"Oh, oh boy, he's really going to chew my ass out tomorrow isn't he."
"If I had to guess."
Len was nervous, scared, and reluctant to talk, but his curiosity could not stop him from inquiring about 'tomorrow'. "Are you going to be here tomorrow?"
Titanyana's back stiffened. She had been listening to Donovan when he 'invited' Rash to train, but she hadn't really connected that to being face to face with him.
"Yah. Donovan oh so courteously invited me to train with him and his squad tomorrow. It's probably an excuse to chastise me out without people around, but I won't be complaining. I damn near ruined his party."
Len and Titanyana's faces darkened in unison. He didn't have a clue, Rashtvice didn't have any idea what was waiting for him tomorrow. He wouldn't be yelled at, Donovan preferred corporal punishment over mere yelling. At worst they were going to be doing something like they had day one, at best it was going to be a 'normal' routine. Rashtvice was going to be in a world of pain, and Don wouldn't even have touch him.
They had just finished Donovan's conditioning regimen, exercises were supposed to decline in intensity overall from this point forward, and here they were learning that they might be subjected to more? Both of them were angry at this, in Len's case it overwhelmed his fear of speaking in the presence of Princes for but a moment. There was someone far more threatening.
"You're going to wish you were dead soon."
It wasn't much, a single thought, but one could easily see how it would come off as a threat. Naturally, Len's eyes widened as he realized what he said. Merndil also lifted a brow.
"What do you mean by that?" Merndil was perceptive enough to understand that this wasn't a threat, it was a warning. It sounded angry, sure, but Len had fear written in his eyes as he said it. Even without that evidence, could anybody believe that this timid and unassuming boy would be able to hurt Rashtvice even if he got the drop on him? Rash was an idiot, there was no doubt about that, but he was a perceptive idiot. He had foiled more than one assassination attempt on his own before being disinherited, and he had probably dealt with more than a few after that.
"Huh?! Uh, um, uh." Len was stuttering as he tried to come up with an acceptable reason. Would Donovan be fine with him revealing what a training session was like? "I, uh, I train with, erm, under Sir Strauss. I belong to his squad, and we train an awful lot. I know what it's like, in f-fact it's become relatively easy compared to the start, s-so I couldn't help but think that you won't be prepared for it. You really will wish you were dead if he really is angry."
Merndil tilted his head as he looked Len in the eyes. Rashtvice only smirked like he was listening to a kid who didn't understand the world, like what he was saying was funny.
"Ah, uh, um, if you don't mind my asking, where is Sir Strauss?" Len was half expecting Donovan to come up behind him at any second. He'd probably be safe from punishment given the fact his superiors were present, but he couldn't help but worry.
"He went to a washroom to clean the blood off of his hands and change his clothes." Merndil accepted a glass of wine. "He helped one of Lord Trebar's subordinates with a wound, tied it shut with a needle and thread."
"Huh? Is he a trained Healer or something?" Prince Rash furrowed a brow, thinking about what he knew of Donovan. "He really didn't strike me as the erudite type, but I suppose it isn't out of the question for a leader to have the desire to heal themselves."
"I said nothing about him being a Healer, brother. I understand there was no split involved in his treatment, the wound was still bleeding a little when I displayed my apologies."
"Um, Sir Strauss doesn't use split. At least not yet." Len addressed their lack of information on the subject matter. "He did something when Miss Titanyana fell down after her fight with Miss Nemo. T-The A-Arboreal Maiden claimed it gave the Great Csillacra enough time to save her without damage." Len instantly crumbled under the inquisitive gazes of two princes. "He kept pressing down on her chest and k-kissing her for a long time. I-it looked exhausting."
Titanyana's face flushed a violent shade of scarlet. He had been kissing her? Kissing her to keep her alive? Seeing her in the nude was bad enough, but he had kissed her too?
"It doesn't sound that bad."
"M-maybe if it was only for a few minutes, b-but it felt like it went on for hours. He was drenched in sweat at the end."
It went on for hours!?!?! Titanyana suddenly found herself on the brink of a mental shutdown. How was she going to get married now? She was a princess, she was going to be a queen! Would anybody even want her if they learned about what Donovan had done so far? Even if they didn't do that it would certainly raise questions about her chastity!
Of course, Titanyana understood that she wouldn't be around to ponder the effects of the kiss if it hadn't happened. These were just the sorts of things that 21 year old maidens who grew up on stories of their parents' romance and believed in the power that purity held. In a traditional marriage between two lower class individuals that might be something to consider, but anybody aiming to take her hand in marriage probably wasn't there because she was a pure, beautiful, and attractive young woman, they were there because she was a queen.
"I will take your word for it, Young Len. Now I suppose we should make an introduction on my brother's behalf." Merndil began to walk in her direction, followed by an apologetic looking Len and a enthusiastic Rashtvice.
Titanyana very quickly readied herself, discretely adjusting her sword belt and shaking her foot a little to make sure her shoe was back on right. She adjusted her line of sight to only barely include them as they approached, she hadn't been watching them per se but it would be unwise for them to learn she had been listening in. 'Polite ignorance' is what her father called it, to a race with an incredibly sensitive ears came the expectation that conversations held in the open would not be private. It was a better move to act as if you didn't hear something said about you or someone around you, you would make less enemies that way.
"Ahem." Merndil politely announced his presence and desire to begin a conversation. "Lady Strapper." A slight nod, recognition of status among equals.
"Prince Merndil." A slight curtsy, perhaps a bit more than what was owed, but Merndil was the crown prince of a great power. The princess of a dying world didn't really have the standing to treat him as her equal. "Len." Another curtsy for him, not in her capacity as a princess, but as a fellow subordinate. Len responded with a small bow.
She was taking special care not to directly face Rashtvice. She didn't make eye contact and she didn't address him. Was it rude? Under most circumstances it would be, however both parties were well aware of the trouble Rashtvice had created and how Titanyana was the one to deal with it. Setting aside the fact that neither had been formally introduced at this point, Titanyana was very much within her right to treat him as if he didn't exist.
"Have you been finding everything to your satisfaction this evening?" Merndil didn't mind Titanyana's disposition towards his brother, he was still in the process of determining who she was as a person.
"It's been alright. I enjoy the food, and the games have been entertaining, but I can't seem to catch a break. . ." She didn't need to explain. Merndil was familiar with how nobles acted around something (or someone) new and exciting. This perpetual annoyance coupled with her own duties would no doubt leave her feeling a little overextended.
"My apologies, but I cannot help you there. Regardless, now seems to be as good a time as any to make a formal introduction of my brother. I understand the two of you have already had a brief exchange tonight, but I do hope you will not base your judgement of him on that alone." Merndil extended an arm out towards his brother, a gesture for him to step forward.
"Rashtvice Bulsa, just call me Rash." He extended a hand for a handshake, wincing a little as he noticed his big brother's narrowing eyes. "I, uh, I apologize for my previous actions. I will try not to do it again."
Titanyana was hesitant to accept the handshake, doing so meant looking him in the eyes. That would jog his memory, Titanyana was sure of it.
"T-Titanyana Strapper, Princess of the Nekh. My title is 'Tempest'." She could see the instant everything clicked for him. She might have the same lines under her eyes that Diana had, but there was no change in the rest of her countenance.
His eyes widened first, followed by his mouth opening slightly. Then his arm began to shake, not like he was giving her a handshake but as if he was shivering. The color drained from his face and his breathing became a little heavier. Finally, he began to stutter.
"Y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-you're the girl - the g-g-g-girl from the display matches!"
Titanyana quickly retracted her hand and turned around, curling up so as to sit on her heels and covering her ears with her hands. She couldn't hide from the world, but she could hide the world from herself. Eyes shut and ears covered, that was the way she coped with an unbearably embarrassing situation.
"What did you do this time Rash?"
Unfortunately, her ears were far too sensitive to block out sound with her petite hands alone.
"I-I-I-I remember her! Sh-sh-she was the one who knocked me out at those demonstration matches!!! Remember?"
"You mean the woman you sexually assaulted?"
"I-I said that was an accident!"
"Well it certainly seems to have had a lasting effect on her. Are you sure you apologized?"
Titanyana could not believe it.
"I guarantee I did! What should I do?"
Titanyana couldn't take it anymore, just as she had rushed into the room half an hour prior, she now rushed out of it. Tears in her eyes, she made as much distance as she could in as short a period of time as possible. Her destination was, as per usual in this sort of mood, her room.
cakeonfrosting Sorry for the delay, I've been down with the sickness. Anyways, I'm sure you all have noticed that I have a serious problem, that being the fact that Dead Star Dockyards is not one character's story but a whole bunch of character stories woven around the central plot (which is centered on Donovan and [the big redacted]). For those of you who either haven't picked up on all of them, here's an inconclusive list.
Central Lines (Focus of the story, the key characters/events in the moment)
Donovan, Diana, Titanyana, Arc (kinda in the background for now)
Secondary Lines (may/will rise to prominence and become the focus of an arc)
Len, Rize, the Sanctum (I consider the system a character), the Arboreal Maiden, the Holifanian Theocracy
Tertiary Lines (may/will be thrust to the secondary tier as certain lines are completed)
Nemo, Trebar, Merndil (maybe the Bulsarzian Empire would be a better name for it), Mercedes, the Skwiven
Concluded Lines (Characters/stories which have concluded their development, they are complete characters but their stories aid the plot)
Skinnik, the Captain, the Scholar, the Montaug, Terra, Gretts
Sorry Mercedes is only Tertiary, but her role will increase in prominence later! Right now it is important that she isn't present, her antics alone could extend the party arc a few chapters.
"Len?" Titanyana's voice didn't reach Len's ears. It didn't reach anybody's ears but her own. "Why is he . . ?"
She had been keeping an eye on the injured individuals from afar, making sure they wouldn't do something stupid once more upon waking up. The distance would hopefully keep them from recognizing her should they have memorized her face for whatever reason so-
Titanyana shook her head, those were just excuses. It wouldn't be hard for a normal person to keep them separated after those blows, Kerefel alone was enough, even if he was weak. She would be helpful in such a scenario should it arise, but the way that Kerefel was gripping his weapon, a broken chair leg, told her that a peaceful solution was not on the table.
It wasn't an option before, but there was a good chance that the wooden stick would be broken once again should it not be taken this time around.
The distance reasoning was total bullshit as well, Titanyana just didn't want to approach Rashtvice yet. He was going to be a point of tension for her in the very immediate future given her history (both long and short) with him. Yet somehow Len, somebody she considered to be like a comrade in arms on the socialization front, was speaking to both Rashtvice and Crown Prince Merndil. He was very clearly nervous, his shaking could not be disguised as anything else, but he had been called out to by Prince Rash. It made her feel weird, a feeling she didn't really understand how to describe.
Did she feel betrayed? It was possible she felt Len had betrayed her expectations on some level, but could she really call conversation a betrayal? Was she envious? It was easier to talk to someone when they initiated, but she had to admit that being trapped in a conversation could be equally daunting.
Perhaps she was better off summing it all up as anxiety? That was probably the most accurate appraisal, though she couldn't say this felt like the normal anxiety she suffered. It wasn't paralyzing, but she wasn't really enthusiastic to make a move either.
Titanyana's ears flattened as she saw Len look in her direction. Even if he wasn't looking for her there was nothing suggesting he hadn't seen her, she stood out among the sparse crowd with her crown.
"Is something the matter?"
She could pick up on their conversation from where she was at. Rude as it was to eavesdrop, she felt the need to know what was going on between them. Their relationship was an important factor in how she would respond to them in conversation.
"Uh, um. Have you met Titanyana yet?"
Titanyana's ears perked right back up. She went from shame to panic in one sentence, she had to wonder why Len thought to bring her into the mess.
"Princess Strapper? I was introduced to her before the festivities began, have you had the pleasure of meeting her yet?"
"Strapper doesn't ring a bell, but I think Donovan mentioned Titanyana earlier. Is there something special about her?"
"Nothing much. She's only the most recent person to receive a title from the Arboreal Maiden."
"What!? Where is she?" Titanyana shivered a little as she though how that reaction might change. He clearly didn't remember her name from their spar, but he could probably remember her face. What would Prince Merndil think of the woman who knocked out his brother?
"Lord Trebar is also here, as are a few members of his squad. In fact, you started a brawl with two of them." Merndil ignored his brother, aiming to provide him some key information on the most important people in attendance
"I, I did?" She watched Merndil slowly nod as his brother's error dawned on him. "Well, I was drunk, so . . ."
"You and I both know you didn't drink enough to be that brainless. Those of Guayan descent do not succumb to alcohol so quickly."
". . . how much trouble am I in?"
Titanyana could hardly believe it, Rashtvice was being punished? Weren't most nobles let off scot-free for something as minor as this?
"Fortunately, Lords Trebar and Gawan appeared to have been angered more by your compatriots than yourself. Given how rare a party visitation is from the Theocracy, I can imagine they believe this could spark a major diplomatic incident. Do take care not to offend them in the future though, that includes Sir Strauss and Lady Diana. It would appear they have something of a close relationship."
"Oh, oh boy, he's really going to chew my ass out tomorrow isn't he."
"If I had to guess."
Len was nervous, scared, and reluctant to talk, but his curiosity could not stop him from inquiring about 'tomorrow'. "Are you going to be here tomorrow?"
Titanyana's back stiffened. She had been listening to Donovan when he 'invited' Rash to train, but she hadn't really connected that to being face to face with him.
"Yah. Donovan oh so courteously invited me to train with him and his squad tomorrow. It's probably an excuse to chastise me out without people around, but I won't be complaining. I damn near ruined his party."
Len and Titanyana's faces darkened in unison. He didn't have a clue, Rashtvice didn't have any idea what was waiting for him tomorrow. He wouldn't be yelled at, Donovan preferred corporal punishment over mere yelling. At worst they were going to be doing something like they had day one, at best it was going to be a 'normal' routine. Rashtvice was going to be in a world of pain, and Don wouldn't even have touch him.
They had just finished Donovan's conditioning regimen, exercises were supposed to decline in intensity overall from this point forward, and here they were learning that they might be subjected to more? Both of them were angry at this, in Len's case it overwhelmed his fear of speaking in the presence of Princes for but a moment. There was someone far more threatening.
"You're going to wish you were dead soon."
It wasn't much, a single thought, but one could easily see how it would come off as a threat. Naturally, Len's eyes widened as he realized what he said. Merndil also lifted a brow.
"What do you mean by that?" Merndil was perceptive enough to understand that this wasn't a threat, it was a warning. It sounded angry, sure, but Len had fear written in his eyes as he said it. Even without that evidence, could anybody believe that this timid and unassuming boy would be able to hurt Rashtvice even if he got the drop on him? Rash was an idiot, there was no doubt about that, but he was a perceptive idiot. He had foiled more than one assassination attempt on his own before being disinherited, and he had probably dealt with more than a few after that.
"Huh?! Uh, um, uh." Len was stuttering as he tried to come up with an acceptable reason. Would Donovan be fine with him revealing what a training session was like? "I, uh, I train with, erm, under Sir Strauss. I belong to his squad, and we train an awful lot. I know what it's like, in f-fact it's become relatively easy compared to the start, s-so I couldn't help but think that you won't be prepared for it. You really will wish you were dead if he really is angry."
Merndil tilted his head as he looked Len in the eyes. Rashtvice only smirked like he was listening to a kid who didn't understand the world, like what he was saying was funny.
"Ah, uh, um, if you don't mind my asking, where is Sir Strauss?" Len was half expecting Donovan to come up behind him at any second. He'd probably be safe from punishment given the fact his superiors were present, but he couldn't help but worry.
"He went to a washroom to clean the blood off of his hands and change his clothes." Merndil accepted a glass of wine. "He helped one of Lord Trebar's subordinates with a wound, tied it shut with a needle and thread."
"Huh? Is he a trained Healer or something?" Prince Rash furrowed a brow, thinking about what he knew of Donovan. "He really didn't strike me as the erudite type, but I suppose it isn't out of the question for a leader to have the desire to heal themselves."
"I said nothing about him being a Healer, brother. I understand there was no split involved in his treatment, the wound was still bleeding a little when I displayed my apologies."
"Um, Sir Strauss doesn't use split. At least not yet." Len addressed their lack of information on the subject matter. "He did something when Miss Titanyana fell down after her fight with Miss Nemo. T-The A-Arboreal Maiden claimed it gave the Great Csillacra enough time to save her without damage." Len instantly crumbled under the inquisitive gazes of two princes. "He kept pressing down on her chest and k-kissing her for a long time. I-it looked exhausting."
Titanyana's face flushed a violent shade of scarlet. He had been kissing her? Kissing her to keep her alive? Seeing her in the nude was bad enough, but he had kissed her too?
"It doesn't sound that bad."
"M-maybe if it was only for a few minutes, b-but it felt like it went on for hours. He was drenched in sweat at the end."
It went on for hours!?!?! Titanyana suddenly found herself on the brink of a mental shutdown. How was she going to get married now? She was a princess, she was going to be a queen! Would anybody even want her if they learned about what Donovan had done so far? Even if they didn't do that it would certainly raise questions about her chastity!
Of course, Titanyana understood that she wouldn't be around to ponder the effects of the kiss if it hadn't happened. These were just the sorts of things that 21 year old maidens who grew up on stories of their parents' romance and believed in the power that purity held. In a traditional marriage between two lower class individuals that might be something to consider, but anybody aiming to take her hand in marriage probably wasn't there because she was a pure, beautiful, and attractive young woman, they were there because she was a queen.
"I will take your word for it, Young Len. Now I suppose we should make an introduction on my brother's behalf." Merndil began to walk in her direction, followed by an apologetic looking Len and a enthusiastic Rashtvice.
Titanyana very quickly readied herself, discretely adjusting her sword belt and shaking her foot a little to make sure her shoe was back on right. She adjusted her line of sight to only barely include them as they approached, she hadn't been watching them per se but it would be unwise for them to learn she had been listening in. 'Polite ignorance' is what her father called it, to a race with an incredibly sensitive ears came the expectation that conversations held in the open would not be private. It was a better move to act as if you didn't hear something said about you or someone around you, you would make less enemies that way.
"Ahem." Merndil politely announced his presence and desire to begin a conversation. "Lady Strapper." A slight nod, recognition of status among equals.
"Prince Merndil." A slight curtsy, perhaps a bit more than what was owed, but Merndil was the crown prince of a great power. The princess of a dying world didn't really have the standing to treat him as her equal. "Len." Another curtsy for him, not in her capacity as a princess, but as a fellow subordinate. Len responded with a small bow.
She was taking special care not to directly face Rashtvice. She didn't make eye contact and she didn't address him. Was it rude? Under most circumstances it would be, however both parties were well aware of the trouble Rashtvice had created and how Titanyana was the one to deal with it. Setting aside the fact that neither had been formally introduced at this point, Titanyana was very much within her right to treat him as if he didn't exist.
"Have you been finding everything to your satisfaction this evening?" Merndil didn't mind Titanyana's disposition towards his brother, he was still in the process of determining who she was as a person.
"It's been alright. I enjoy the food, and the games have been entertaining, but I can't seem to catch a break. . ." She didn't need to explain. Merndil was familiar with how nobles acted around something (or someone) new and exciting. This perpetual annoyance coupled with her own duties would no doubt leave her feeling a little overextended.
"My apologies, but I cannot help you there. Regardless, now seems to be as good a time as any to make a formal introduction of my brother. I understand the two of you have already had a brief exchange tonight, but I do hope you will not base your judgement of him on that alone." Merndil extended an arm out towards his brother, a gesture for him to step forward.
"Rashtvice Bulsa, just call me Rash." He extended a hand for a handshake, wincing a little as he noticed his big brother's narrowing eyes. "I, uh, I apologize for my previous actions. I will try not to do it again."
Titanyana was hesitant to accept the handshake, doing so meant looking him in the eyes. That would jog his memory, Titanyana was sure of it.
"T-Titanyana Strapper, Princess of the Nekh. My title is 'Tempest'." She could see the instant everything clicked for him. She might have the same lines under her eyes that Diana had, but there was no change in the rest of her countenance.
His eyes widened first, followed by his mouth opening slightly. Then his arm began to shake, not like he was giving her a handshake but as if he was shivering. The color drained from his face and his breathing became a little heavier. Finally, he began to stutter.
"Y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-you're the girl - the g-g-g-girl from the display matches!"
Titanyana quickly retracted her hand and turned around, curling up so as to sit on her heels and covering her ears with her hands. She couldn't hide from the world, but she could hide the world from herself. Eyes shut and ears covered, that was the way she coped with an unbearably embarrassing situation.
"What did you do this time Rash?"
Unfortunately, her ears were far too sensitive to block out sound with her petite hands alone.
"I-I-I-I remember her! Sh-sh-she was the one who knocked me out at those demonstration matches!!! Remember?"
"You mean the woman you sexually assaulted?"
"I-I said that was an accident!"
"Well it certainly seems to have had a lasting effect on her. Are you sure you apologized?"
Titanyana could not believe it.
"I guarantee I did! What should I do?"
Titanyana couldn't take it anymore, just as she had rushed into the room half an hour prior, she now rushed out of it. Tears in her eyes, she made as much distance as she could in as short a period of time as possible. Her destination was, as per usual in this sort of mood, her room.
cakeonfrosting Sorry for the delay, I've been down with the sickness. Anyways, I'm sure you all have noticed that I have a serious problem, that being the fact that Dead Star Dockyards is not one character's story but a whole bunch of character stories woven around the central plot (which is centered on Donovan and [the big redacted]). For those of you who either haven't picked up on all of them, here's an inconclusive list.
Central Lines (Focus of the story, the key characters/events in the moment)
Donovan, Diana, Titanyana, Arc (kinda in the background for now)
Secondary Lines (may/will rise to prominence and become the focus of an arc)
Len, Rize, the Sanctum (I consider the system a character), the Arboreal Maiden, the Holifanian Theocracy
Tertiary Lines (may/will be thrust to the secondary tier as certain lines are completed)
Nemo, Trebar, Merndil (maybe the Bulsarzian Empire would be a better name for it), Mercedes, the Skwiven
Concluded Lines (Characters/stories which have concluded their development, they are complete characters but their stories aid the plot)
Skinnik, the Captain, the Scholar, the Montaug, Terra, Gretts
Sorry Mercedes is only Tertiary, but her role will increase in prominence later! Right now it is important that she isn't present, her antics alone could extend the party arc a few chapters.
