Tutorial's End

So You Got a Ship, Now What, Captain?

By Desiven Whishel

When you really get down to it, when you really pull your head outta your ass, it's pretty simple to be a good captain. Just give a shit about your crew and you'll do fine: start thinkin' of them like property or part of some fancy math equation and you become just the piece o' shit I've been harpin' on for the last two chapters.

Shivna

The High Garden, Vesheen City, Shee

Apparently, arriving a few days later than expected had been enough for the master schemer that Skathareek had reported to the summer queen to completely destroy her path's foundation.

Shivna sat in a small piece of the top-floor garden her cousin's servant had planted and nurtured for the last however many months since their faction had taken ownership of the backwater planet. It was quite beautiful, Shivna would need to discuss with the servant whether he'd be interested in returning with her, rather than remaining with his current fop of a mistress.

Turning her gaze from admiring the controlled chaos of the garden, Shivna's gaze landed on the slouched and bark-covered form of this world's governor. Skathareek's slender form was clad in spidersilk thread woven into a beautiful gown. It was stained with blotches around the collar and bust, proof of Skathareek's constant weeping. Even now, the blue-jowled fae sniffled and sobbed quietly from her position in the oversized recliner she'd melted into. The once proud woman had refused to do more than the bare minimum since Shivna had arrived this morning.

When she arrived, Shivna had been greeted by Skathareek's only attendant, the man-servant named Tather, and a couple orc guards. The minimal showing of respect had, naturally, been insulting. Her own small retinue outnumbered the scanty 'welcome' her cousin had arranged by over a hundred.

As Tather lead them through the city, he spoke quietly and concisely while doing his best to not allow anyone to overhear his report. At least, that's what the conniving man played at, though examining his soul it was quite clear Tather could have assured their privacy had he truly wanted to. Such was to expected of a fae engaged in courtly politics, so Shivna forgave the affected impotence without much thought.

She also forgave her cousin even before reaching her abode. To hear Tather weave the tale, Skathareek had been well played and manipulated by outside sources while ignoring her attendant's advice. This too, was expected. While Shivna had rarely met with her cousin, she knew well the flighty woman was too engrossed in her own perceived world to engage with reality. Many fae were, though, this was nothing new.

The difference appeared to be in chosen opponent. It seemed as though her cousin had bitten off more than she could chew, finding someone whose reality superseded and suppressed her own.

Or, perhaps, someone who simply operates within reality proper. Shivna thought as her eyes scanned her tittering and snickering followers as they danced and played in the garden with abandon. The effect of her domain was an excellent example of one's reality becoming more real than another's. It suppressed their ambitions, inhibitions, and fears and encouraged their base desires. She'd gathered the group from The Endless Expanse before setting out. It wouldn't due to arrive with an insignificant entourage, lest she be perceived as politically weak by her cousin and whatever court she nurtured.

Sighing, Shivna finally returned her gaze to Skathareek. "The situation is much more dire than the queen suggested in her command to bring aid."

"You were too late…" The pitiable broken fae whispered, fatty cheek flesh slapping against her bared collarbone disturbingly as she failed to even raise her head to speak.

Examining her cousin's soul for the hundredth time since arriving, Shivna could only agree. She had, indeed, been too late. According to what she'd pieced together from Skathareek's tearful recounting and Tather's embellished story, she believed she had a basic understanding of the situation.

First, someone had destroyed the planet's rift. The news was a shock, one which struck twice as she'd been informed the destruction had happened over a month ago. Yet her cousin had failed to report the loss of the only value this planet held to their queen. Had she reported it, she'd likely have been commanded to find the responsible being, yes. However, searching for the perpetrator while neglecting to inform Tiana would serve only to earn her ire.

The summer queen did not suffer obvious subversion and lies of omission. Her court was better than such things, their deceit should be crafted well and carefully through the proper application of truth and perspective. In truth, Skathareek's behavior was far more in line with that of the winter court. A fact Shivna's cousin would likely have to accept and reconcile with if she wished to be part of a fae court in the future. It was nearly a certainty that the summer queen would strip the failed governor not only her responsibilities, but also her title and place within the court.

The path Skathareek walked was one of a Swaying Courtier. Upon realizing she'd been outplayed and would be losing her position within the summer court, she should have immediately begun to scheme and work toward joining the winter or perhaps fall court. Such would have been true to her path, twisting a failure into an opportunity. Instead, she'd fallen to despair and doubt to such an extent that her core insight had shattered.

The state of the former planetary leader's soul was such that Shivna doubted whether she would be able to recover from it without taking a respawn to rebuild from scratch. Quite the blow to someone near to breaking through the ascendant's grind. A shame.

"You said the name of your opponent was Willow. What else do you know about her?" She tried to pull any more information from the woman, noting her ability to provide even information was sparse and uninspired. Perhaps this broken path is for the best. It clearly did not suit her.

Continuing to languish with her chin dangling unsupported, she spoke even more softly than before, "Nothing."

Wishing her mists would part so her cousin could see the displeasure written large on her face, Shivna prompted, "How could you find nothing? You own this planet, surely your spy network met some successes. Surely you at a minimum know where she works or lives. What areas she frequents. Who she associates with."

Each demanded piece of information appeared to be a further blow to Skathareek's ego as her already squished form seemed to melt and further slacken into the couch. When her servant moved to scrape the bark which seemed to perpetually creep up from her feet, she whispered, "Leave it. It doesn't matter."

That, more than anything, convinced Shivna that her cousin would be of no help or use. The current fashion in court for spriggan-born fae was to keep their outer bark shaved bare. It was a statement that they didn't need the advantages their quite impressive natural armor afforded them. Once it'd grown sufficiently, shaving it back took great effort, so every one of them took great pains to ensure they didn't become 'barkened.'

Standing, Shivna released another deep sigh, putting as much emphasis on the sound in the hopes her disappointment might rouse even the least bit of defiance from the broken courtier. Nothing.

"Skathareek, I think it's time for you to start over. As acting liaison to the summer queen, I hereby strip you of all titles and holdings and claim them as my own. You are in no fit state to lead. You are welcome within my home for the next month, then you must set out to continue your path on your own, bereft of the summer court's support." Technically, she should have gathered all of the various leaders of the planet together to make such a declaration. It should have been a dramatic and shocking affair.

It would have been pointless. So far as Shivna could tell, Skathareek had never even introduced herself to most of the local leaders, much less made an impression on them. They'd likely simply be confused as to who both of them were and why they'd been asked to observe some odd family drama. They'd likely all simply think they were being 'weird fae' as many other races oft referred to them.

Now that she'd been stripped of her position, she could no longer employ summer court members, either. "Tather, you're reassigned to investigation duty effective immediately. Go learn everything you can about Willow, without approaching or communicating with her in anyway."

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

He bowed and began to walk backwards, eyes on the floor, showing the deference of a obsequious sycophant. There was something sly in those wooden swirls he called eyes, though. "Actually, first… Was there any detail you forgot to mention regarding Willow?"

His body tensed. She'd hit the mark. At least her ability to spot lies and deceit hadn't slipped too far as she enjoyed the benefits of running a stable and, mostly, loyal court. "She is the apprentice of someone influential, I believe, mistress."

"I am your lady, not your mistress." She began coolly, ensuring the man did not believe he was a trusted servant in her eyes. "Who?"

"I'm afraid my memory does not serve. I took severe soul damage, as I mentioned, and I have forgotten that particular detail."

Unlikely. More likely, you have some way to use the information against me and you're planning to use it. Unfortunately, he was the one with the truth reading and interviewing abilities, not her. Even if she had some method of ensuring beings weren't lying, she'd guess someone who specialized in information would have powerful resistances to such things. Simply put, it wasn't worth pressing him. She'd have to find a more trustworthy, or at least easily manipulated, spymaster for this planet. A shame, his path was well suited for the job.

"Very well." She simply accepted his answer, not informing him of his lost opportunity for personal authority.

She allowed the entlen to leave with no further interruption. Instead, she turned her attention to the small group of orcs who were looking a bit uncertain. While Shivna hadn't interacted with orcs overly much, she had researched them while waiting for the intermediary teleporter on Thomas' planet. She should have known better than to choose an iron-built world as her hub.

Dismissing the regret, Shivna mentally reviewed what she knew about orcs before engaging the clear leader of the small group. They were a straight-forward people. Their politics boiled down to each side giving their arguments, showing their strength, and often directly dueling. The winner was the one the most orcs followed, or the one who could slay all dissidents.

Straight forward was something Shivna could appreciate. "You lead the governor's guard on this planet?"

"I do."

"What is your name?"

"Brogel, sir."

She raised an unseen eyebrow at being addressed in the masculine, but decided it was likely a foible of the UICI auto-translation. Neither of them spoke the other's language, after all.

"Why did you continue to follow this woman after she displayed weakness?"

This time, the orc hesitated, but only for a moment. "Sir, we have no one else to follow. My path is a guardian specialized in protecting and obeying, not making decisions myself. Challenging the governor I was assigned by Warmaster Kon to protect is impossible."

Standing, Shivna approached the orc and stared directly into his eyes. She knew all he'd see was disconcerting flickering lights. As much as she hated her mists sometimes, they were excellent tools of intimidation. "I see. If you were given the choice, would you leave her service?"

"Yes, sir. If we had someone stronger challenger prove their own authority, we would gladly follow them."

"Hmm… Before we get to that, then. Answer me this, if it was your duty to protect my cousin, why is she in such a state?" She waved at the despondent woman who hadn't even responded to her own excommunication.

Brogel answered immediately, "We were informed the human, Willow, was a friend and that she should be respected and allowed into the governor's inner circle. The order was never retracted."

The answer seemed strange, "What was the exact order, Brogel?"

"The exact orders came before we had met the woman. She said: 'Show respect and allow my human friend in when she arrives'."

It was enough to make Shivna laugh. Or would have been, had one of her fellows not sat mere meters away with a shattered insight. The problem was quite simple. 'Respect' and 'Friend' were extremely important concepts in orcish society.

If one was respected, they would not be suspected of duplicity. If one was a friend, they would never be seen as a true threat. While still individualistic, somewhat similar to humans, most orcs would agree that a respected friend was someone to be trusted and welcomed. If their boss told them a friend was coming, and to respect them, they would take that to mean she was above reproach and should be treated as an extension of Skathareek herself.

"Did you not realize this 'friend' had betrayed your charge when she collapsed screaming?" Shivna asked, making a show of crossing her arms and tapping her fingers impatiently. She infused as much cold anger as she could manage, given she didn't feel even a smidgen of indignation toward the guard captain.

He nodded, "Yes, sir. But by then, she'd already left. Several minutes passed after the human left before the governor suddenly fell and began thrashing around. My second, Hugrag, suggested we go detain the human and question her… However, we have been ordered to always remain by governor Skathareek's side, and she never retracted that order, either. Our orders were very clear, despite some of us wanting to know what happened."

"I see… Well, you will report to me, now. Skathareek is no longer the governor. I won't be remaining here permanently, so I will only be acting governor. When the queen assigns someone permanent and their representative arrives, I will pass you along to them. Until then, you are mine to command. Are we clear?"

"Yes! Sir!" The captain barked, joy clear in his tone. He'd likely hated following around someone he saw as a weakling. Cousin… You really weren't suited to this task. I wonder if the queen dislikes you.

"Good. First, All previous orders are canceled effective immediately. Next, your highest priority in all situations will be to protect me. You and your men are to be paranoid, suspicious, and distrustful. If I give an order which you believe will bring me to harm, you will inform me so I can decide whether to retract the order or not. You will act independently to ensure I am protected to the best of your ability. I do not have any friends. I do not have any respected allies. I suspect everyone intends me harm. If I ever call someone a friend, unless it is in a private setting such as this, you are to understand it as code for 'dangerous enemy who I dare not offend'. If I call someone respected, unless it is in a private setting such as this, you are to understand they are someone I wish to impress in order to manipulate. Is all clear and understood?"

The captain took a long moment to digest, before saluting, throwing his right and over his torso to clasp his left shoulder, "Clear, sir!"

"Good, begin now."

The captain immediately began reorganizing his scant followers. There were only eight of them in total, not including the captain. Shivna was curious as to how he'd set things up. For now, though, she had other tasks to doll out.

"Katha," She called. The gorgeous elf skipped over, her thin slip of a sundress swirling and fluttering, casually revealing her lack of undergarments without a care.

"Yes, miss?" She asked in her smooth musical tone, ever so slightly deeper than one might have expected from the petite slip of a thing.

Holding up a finder, she also called, "Mejah."

A tall, bulky man strode out. He wore nothing but a loincloth, and that seemed haphazard as it swayed and revealed him without shame. The bright smile on his face heralded his booming greeting, "Miss!"

Closing her eyes, Shivna carefully worked on her spell for several minutes, her playthings happily waiting in front of her without interrupting. She'd adapted them to be docile for the trip, but now she needed something else.

Opening her eyes, she reached out and put a hand on each of their chests, just above their hearts. Sending her power into them, she carefully created small cores which would mimic the affect her domain had on them, but they would carry it with them. This particular construct would need to be much more complex than the general domain suppressing their negativity and only allowing them to experience the most base desires.

Now, she needed to suppress those same base desires and replace it with something much more complex. This was a part of her path that had made her infamous in every war she'd participated in. A few captured soldiers were all she needed to sow chaos within the enemy ranks.

This was more intricate, a true test of her skill and competence wielding her own power. It was almost a shame she followed her own path, rather than one forged by another. She would likely be much further along if she understood the next step. Suppressing her errant thoughts, she carefully set the core to react to specific stimuli and circumstances.

She couldn't control someone's mind or body. She couldn't even control their emotions, per say. She could suppress anything. Emotions, body, soul, time, space, anything. However, suppression wasn't enough here. She needed to manipulate their desires, add something that wasn't there. Something her path simply couldn't do.

Not directly. Instead, she carefully set the suppression-core to mercilessly crush thoughts of disobeying her, feelings of anger toward her specifically, ideas of subverting her will, and a thousand other little things. She also added conditions to suppress all positive feelings toward their targets. The only feelings they would be allowed to experience toward Willow were negative.

Anger. Hate. Fear. Jealousy. These emotions she left alone, along with smaller ones. Truthfully, there might be some positive emotion or another which she'd forgotten to repress, but she'd done enough. Without the ability to feel happiness, enjoyment, love, joy, humor, hope, and a dozen others toward the woman, whatever minor positive slipped through would be of no consequence.

"Go investigate the human named 'Willow'. If you can, ingratiate yourself with her and report to me through your UICI. You may use the funds I've sent you for whatever you need on this mission. Any orders I send you through the UICI are to be followed as if I spoke them directly to you. Understood?"

"Yes, miss!"

"Got it."

"Alright, get going then."

As the two turned and left, she hoped they'd be smart enough to dress themselves properly. If not, she had other pawns and could try again. It was unlikely Willow would suddenly be on guard just because a couple strange nudists annoyed her.

Watching the rest of her 'people' playing in the garden, Shivna considered what else needed to prepare. She'd need to begin meeting with the local leaders, ensuring everyone fell in line beneath her leadership. Need to check what laws were in place and whether any of them conflicted with the summer court's required laws, and implement her own. Then she'd need to establish a proper spy network and… She sighed, there was a lot. Her cousin had done literally none of the groundwork required to rule a planet.

Before she could get too deep into planning, her UICI alerted her of a message from one of her priority contacts. She was surprised to see Nuu's name. She quickly read it and groaned.

He was letting her know one the 'plot' she'd helped him write had begun. When she'd been on her home planet, with all the resources of an entrenched ruler, the idea of bringing Madrick to her and pulling them into conflict had sounded wonderful.

Being on an unknown planet, without a base of power, though? Even knowing his current rank was still far below her own, she knew a direct confrontation was far from in her best interest. Calming herself, she pulled up the copy of the text Nuu had written, carefully examining it. She relaxed a bit more as she noted and assured herself of the wording.

The type of conflict had remained unstated, something Nuu had insisted on. At the time, such an insistence had been an annoyance. Now, she was grateful to the stubborn man. Further, she was grateful for the many 'optional' twists he'd included. Threads that remained unconnected to the grander narrative which he explained could be written in later, if needed, by performing the right actions.

A slow smile spread across her concealed face, Shivna changed her mind. This would work fine. She held all the advantages here, there was little chance the former god of 'True Domination' would prevail against a prepared 'Shivna the Untouchable'.

Surely one couldn't dominate that which couldn't be touched? But a dominator could certainly be deposed.

[[End of Book 2]]