VizsierClad in the Vizsier's armour, Kibellah is staring at the spot where, just a short time ago, lay the body of the man who raised her. Her shoulders are shaking and her head hangs low, but no tears are to be seen and no sobs come from behind her mask of dark gold. Suddenly, she throws her head back, and a desperate cry full of pain, fury, and regret echoes around the temple. This is not the Vizsier, nor a spinner you see before you. Just a daughter who has lost her father.
YOU"I know this is a ridiculous question to ask, but... how are you doing?"
Vizsier"The Tenets of the Web teach us never to regret or hesitate. But I could never have imagined that I would one day have to make a choice this painful. I did what had to be done... But that does not quell the pain. I know he is in the Undying One's hands, but that does not soothe the grief."
YOU"You have done your duty to the God-Emperor. It was his wish, as well."
Vizsier"It was his duty. But he... was reluctant to leave me to the very end. I saw it as his eyes went dim."
YOU"I know this is a ridiculous question to ask, but... how are you doing?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Did I just see the God-Emperor? In the flesh?"
Vizsier"Was that how you saw the Vizsier, Domin'[Name]? You saw an image of Death in him, but it was only an image. Fumes of the sacred intoxicant blessed our ritual, but what you saw, and killed, was a mere man. The Undying One does not come to the living. We come to Him."
YOU"I know this is a ridiculous question to ask, but... how are you doing?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Did I just see the God-Emperor? In the flesh?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did the Vizsier look like to you?"
Vizsier"Younger. The way he was when I first saw him. I was younger, too. It was as though we were facing each other in a training match like we used to."
YOU"I know this is a ridiculous question to ask, but... how are you doing?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Did I just see the God-Emperor? In the flesh?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did the Vizsier look like to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Am I to call you 'Vizsier' now?"
Vizsier"I do not want to lose my name as my mentor lost his. But no spinner will ever speak it again, for I am their Vizsier. Yet you are my Domin. And I am your shadow. Let me remain Kibellah to you, at the very least."
YOU"I know this is a ridiculous question to ask, but... how are you doing?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Did I just see the God-Emperor? In the flesh?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did the Vizsier look like to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Am I to call you 'Vizsier' now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You immediately donned the Vizsier's armour — is it helping you to embrace your new role?"
Vizsier"I think so, yes." Kibellah reverentially touches a drop of blood on the dark gold. "I... sense the weight of this sacred vestment. The weight of the Vizsier's burden and the decisions I must make. From this day forth — my burden." Her voice is full of sombre pride.
YOU"I know this is a ridiculous question to ask, but... how are you doing?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Did I just see the God-Emperor? In the flesh?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did the Vizsier look like to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Am I to call you 'Vizsier' now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You immediately donned the Vizsier's armour — is it helping you to embrace your new role?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What will become of the Bloodspun Web now?"
Vizsier"Change lies ahead." Kibellah cuts the air with her palm. "Travelling with you has given me many insights. We have been lurking in the shadows for too long! That was why we failed to prevent Nemesite's crimes or foil the abominations' plot. That was why we failed to protect Domin'Theodora. And I will not let anything like that happen to you! The Bloodspun Web will stretch its threads from out of the shadows and absorb new blood."
Vizsier"We will open the temple to those among our congregation who wish to serve the flagship and the Undying One. We will grow our numbers. We will train fighters. We will share the enforcers' duty and fortify them with our skills. We will shun defending our grounds in confinement, and go on the offensive. We will no longer be unseen guardians, but will become His soldiers. And yours, Domin'[Name]."
VizsierKibellah studies the spinners. Her voice thunders under the temple's vaults: "Bow now before your new Vizsier." And a hundred whispers reply, "Death salutes you!"
end of branch
VizsierKibellah raises her head to peer into the Undying Emperor's dark eye sockets. "We will not stray from the Tenets. We will not forget our predecessors' sacrifices and our Vizsiers' teachings. Service to the Undying One is our life. For He is duty. He is death."
VizsierKibellah studies the spinners. Her voice thunders under the temple's vaults: "Bow now before your new Vizsier." And a hundred whispers reply, "Death salutes you!"
end of branch
VizsierKibellah tosses her head back proudly. "For too long, we have languished amid the dereliction of the lower decks, concealing ourselves and enacting His will in secrecy. No longer! Henceforth, we will be a scarlet hand guiding trembling souls. As His holy servants, we will vest ourselves in gold and the veneration we deserve, for to despise us is to despise Him! And we will serve you, Domin'[Name], not from the shadows but bathed in radiance. Such is the new Bloodspun Web."
VizsierKibellah studies the spinners. Her voice thunders under the temple's vaults: "Bow now before your new Vizsier." And a hundred whispers reply, "Death salutes you!"
end of branch
YOU"What will become of the Bloodspun Web now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You immediately donned the Vizsier's armour — is it helping you to embrace your new role?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What will become of the Bloodspun Web now?"continues where this line first appears above
Vizsier(sequence)
Ulfar"Did you two have visions? All I saw was the old man himself... Though he did fight with a strength that is beyond mere mortals. Swift and deadly, he was. He chose himself a good death, even if it was bleak." Ulfar looks at Kibellah pensively.
end of branch
YOU"Am I to call you 'Vizsier' now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You immediately donned the Vizsier's armour — is it helping you to embrace your new role?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What will become of the Bloodspun Web now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did the Vizsier look like to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Am I to call you 'Vizsier' now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You immediately donned the Vizsier's armour — is it helping you to embrace your new role?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What will become of the Bloodspun Web now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am sorry. Losing a mentor is hard."
Vizsier"He was... more than that. He was both a friend and..." Kibellah's voice drops, her next words barely audible: "...a father."
YOU"I know this is a ridiculous question to ask, but... how are you doing?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Did I just see the God-Emperor? In the flesh?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did the Vizsier look like to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Am I to call you 'Vizsier' now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You immediately donned the Vizsier's armour — is it helping you to embrace your new role?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What will become of the Bloodspun Web now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"He was a crazed old man who lied to you and used you. Do not feel sorry for him."
VizsierKibellah whispers softly, "He was an old man who lied to me and used me... But he was. And now he is no more."
YOU"I know this is a ridiculous question to ask, but... how are you doing?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Did I just see the God-Emperor? In the flesh?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did the Vizsier look like to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Am I to call you 'Vizsier' now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You immediately donned the Vizsier's armour — is it helping you to embrace your new role?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What will become of the Bloodspun Web now?"continues where this line first appears above
Vizsier"He was... more than that. He was both a friend and..." Kibellah's voice drops, her next words barely audible: "...a father."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I know this is a ridiculous question to ask, but... how are you doing?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Did I just see the God-Emperor? In the flesh?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did the Vizsier look like to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Am I to call you 'Vizsier' now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You immediately donned the Vizsier's armour — is it helping you to embrace your new role?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What will become of the Bloodspun Web now?"continues where this line first appears above
Vizsier"I know I sought vengeance against him, but... I feel his absence already."
YOU"You have done your duty to the God-Emperor. It was his wish, as well."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am sorry. Losing a mentor is hard."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"He was a crazed old man who lied to you and used you. Do not feel sorry for him."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I know this is a ridiculous question to ask, but... how are you doing?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Did I just see the God-Emperor? In the flesh?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did the Vizsier look like to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Am I to call you 'Vizsier' now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You immediately donned the Vizsier's armour — is it helping you to embrace your new role?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What will become of the Bloodspun Web now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Did I just see the God-Emperor? In the flesh?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What did the Vizsier look like to you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Am I to call you 'Vizsier' now?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You immediately donned the Vizsier's armour — is it helping you to embrace your new role?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What will become of the Bloodspun Web now?"continues where this line first appears above
Vizsier(sequence)
YrlietYrliet shakes her head and whispers quietly, "To foster a bond just to sacrifice it in the end. To kill your father just to assume his place. Your kind's fear of what you perceive as weakness is, in truth, your greatest weakness of all — one that leads your spirit into a trap with no escape."
end of branch
Marazhai"A fight worthy of Commorragh's arenas. I recall spectacles where members of the same family were forced to kill one another. What a treat it is to watch some mon-keigh patricide again."