TORTURE THREAD FUNTIMES.

[agogenpc]

Hey, guys! So, you may have noticed the threads with Kebechet have slowed significantly; this is my fault. Rather than making you guys wait forever on me, I figured it'd just be better to hash out where the thread would go for character development purposes.

I'm sorry everything didn't get threaded out like I wanted to; a lot of RL issues ended up cropping up in the time I'd slotted to work on Kebechet's threads with you guys. Apologies, and thank you for your understanding.

Comments

[agogemod]

pfft you weren't overly critical. You were coming to me with very fair concerns, which I tried to respond to graciously. I have a habit of verbal self-flagellation though if you haven't noticed; this is not a reflection on you.

BUT ONTO THE FUN SHIT

Ultimately Kebechet's goal isn't really to 100% turn anyone so much as sew doubts that can be used later to manipulate, so this is fine as far as they're concerned. They'll probably be very kind and polite, and any cruelty will be excused with the whole 'you brought this on yourself' angle.

For example, they'll follow Naga and encourage Ashitaka to fight it, not saying 'revenge' so much as 'right the wrongs it did to you and yours', etc. If Ashitaka refuses, Kebechet will probably say something like how Ashitaka's clearly been living in comfort for so long he's forgotten the suffering he came from, and Ashitaka will feel his curse begin to manifest itself again, rather painfully. Kebechet will do the whole, "do you understand, now? Show me you are not the spoiled prince my superiors believe you to be. Prove yourself."

In the end, what theyre really doing is testing Ashitaka's suseptability to suggestion and manipulation. They want sleeper agents.

[lonelywar]

Okay, cool, thanks. <3

~

If this is the case, Kebechet will be very successful with Ashitaka. Just with how COST's and the Regency's struggle is framed, he has difficulty with the conflict in general. He doesn't really agree with either's ends or means in entirety, so he's definitely susceptible to this sort of framework for manipulation.

Once first encouraged, Ashitaka will probably refuse, still thinking that with the limitations of this vision, there isn't much point to such a thing - he views what's done as done, and has even thought of the chance of avoiding his curse (and already decided it wouldn't be a good idea to pursue). Kebechet's arguments will be... interesting. The history of his village is another thing he doesn't see possible to right or amend, so he would most likely be unable to make a choice here (simply surprised by it). Activating the curse's influence over him would be a really good way to force his hand, yeah! He'd probably fight it... but I would also love to see him fighting a bit of a losing battle against that, since he's been worn down quite a bit mentally (with the mission and the capture) by this point... so it definitely could be a situation where eventually succumbed to the impulses of the demon mark, yeah.

(Doubly confusing because Ashitaka doesn't even see himself as Emishi anymore, let alone a prince, so it's a fun mishmash of upset feelings regarding identity, wahoo.)

Also, one more thing that's come up when I've been thinking about this: does Kebechet use his name at all? He assumes from their knowledge of where he's from and what's happened to him that they know his identity. I only ask this for confirmation bc, like... he knows what happened to Xici can happen if they have as little as your identity, so it's just something I wanted to have in mind for the future! Thanks!!

[agogemod]

Kebechet makes it clear they know who Ashitaka is, though they deny any knowledge of who Xici is repeatedly. If asked, they'll say that erasing a single person from history, especially an important, pivotal and royal person such as Ashitaka, is a violation of the Windhoek Accord. Kebechet will give the impression they don't believe Ashitaka about someone being violently erased from time. Are they sure their memories haven't been tampered with?

[lonelywar]

[rubs hands together]

Yes... perfect... wonderful... thank you...