No Gods, No Masters

[InThePooPoo]

0
The Fool

Esshar is so far away.
Are you sure that this is what you want, son?
Things are dangerous around there, with nonstop war.
This academy they are building is surely going to be a hub for trouble.
I don't think we should let him go.


People are stupid, mom.
They want to die for big, powerful monsters that don't care that they ever existed.
Or give their own life to serve people who will only remember them with a couple tears, maybe a cool funeral.
Then forget they ever lived the next day.

That's why Esshar is so bad, isn't it?
They take it to the extreme.

Everyone thinks like that.
They want approval... or to be noticed by some god.

I want to learn why...

Plus, I've got an uncle out there, or something, right?
Maybe he can teach me a thing or two about being a real Rhoynur.

[InThePooPoo]

V
The Hierophant

You're that Coffee guy, right?
Kofe.
That's what I said.


Dear Mom,

I found my Great Uncle, just like you said.
He is not what I expected.
He doesn't beat around the bush at all, and talks real straightforward.
He taught me everything about the old Clan Ilian.

My guitar broke on the way to Esshar.
When I told him, he let me play his instrument for a little while.
You didn't tell me he liked music so much.
Is that why you wanted me to meet him?

Either way, a few days ago, he got mad at me for walking around with a sword on my back.
He said I was a poser. I should be using an instrument in battle.
I told him again, I didn't have one.
He beat me upside the head with his, and shoved it in my arms.

It's mine now, he said.

Go write your mom a letter.

I was going to write you a letter anyway, I swear.
He just gave me a little extra motivation.

I hope things are going well with the Clan.
I'll write you again soon.

Love,
Cortado

[InThePooPoo]

XVI
The Tower

She took your arm... what are you going to do now?
What do ya mean? This's just how things go. Ain't nothin' more than a dispute 'tween friends.
Friends don't do that to each other!
I use the term real loosely. Either way, I lost, fair an' simple.



Sorry I haven't wrote since school started, Mom.
Things have been real nuts.
People in Esshar are mega-psycho. 
They'll try and kill you for talking to them the wrong way.

I've been holding my own, for the most part.
Taken a few licks, but nothing I can't handle.
My uncle made me go a night without eating for taking a loss.
Reminded me of one of the fights I had when I was still with you guys.
How ya took away my bed.

Not gonna be able to play my music right for a while.
Some girls really can't handle the back of a stern hand.
Now I know what ya meant when ya said ya shouldn't mess with gypsies, too.
Crazy fucks.

Oh, I'm trying to cut back on swearing, too.

Love,

Cortado

[InThePooPoo]

VI
The Lovers

They're a couple of pricks. They covered my wings in magma.
Yeah. Assholes broke my jaw.
The name's Cortado, what's yours?
Ermir.



Hey Mom,

Hope things are going well in the new camp.
Sorry I haven't written to you yet this year, things have been good at school.
Made a few friends, not everyone around here's so bad after all.
Of course, there are still a huge amount of complete jerks.

A girl even invited me to a dance.
Things have been looking up. I'm learning a lot about the people of Esshar.
Turns out, my way of thinking isn't as uncommon around here as I thought at first.
For the first time, I had someone actually help me out when someone was picking a fight.
We both got our butts kicked, but we became buds afterwards.

I'm gonna go on a trip, soon. I've still got so much to figure out.
It's a long road ahead, if I wanna make a difference here.

Wish I could see you, and the rest of the clan.
One day, maybe.

But I don't think it is going to be very soon.

Love,

Cortado

[InThePooPoo]

XV
The Devil 

All I know is that there's a lotta history between my Clan,
and a real tough dude called Njorun.



Mom,

I made a trip to the desert.
Not just any desert, but the one you told me about a while ago.
Where the people of Clan Ilian called home for a time.
All I've got to say is that you wouldn't be happy with what I found.
Don't think anyone would. I definitely wasn't.

Fleshcrafters, Lucky called them.
Bringing our heroes back to life to do their bidding.
I told you when I left that I wanted to make sure I helped people who couldn't help themselves.
Help them to find freedom.

What's freedom to a walking corpse, mom? I don't think I had any choice.
Had to kill them all a second time...
It wasn't easy.

Got a real cute flower. A botanist called it a Rhoynish Devil. 
Think they were using something in their experiments, too.
Petrified blood, looks like.

Every time I touch it, I start to get real ornery. 

Like I'm watching that crazy bastard turn my own ancestors on me all over again.

But the anger... the heat...
It feels good.

[InThePooPoo]

XIII
Death

All I know is that this city has the highest concentration of folks who ain't total psychos.
A dude as strong as me can make a real difference in a place's military, too.


Mother,

Graduation is coming very soon.
I've learned a lot. Seen and experienced many things.
One thing I've noticed is that no matter how lost I get, exploring this place?
The stars have been there to light the way. 

Uncle spoke about it often. The aether.
The unseen primordial element.
I think he called it the most powerful of all.

I've grown very intimate with this element. Gotten to know it a lot.
It's become a part of who I am these days. A part of my soul, and a part of my music.
Came here looking for what makes people tick, and I found it.
I know why people will devote themselves to things unconditionally.

I've found more than one of those things for myself.

I'm not coming home any time soon.

I miss you,

Cortado

[InThePooPoo]

IV
The Emperor


Let this be a lesson to you all. Never take threats from your enemies.
See people's actions and words for what they are.

Lesson received, sir...



Mother,

I've found that even when things are at their best in life,
fate still finds a way to test you and your beliefs.

I don't think I have ever been happier than I am now.
But I don't think I've ever been more conflicted, either.

This life I've chosen here in Osrona is the right way, I know that without a doubt.
There's a purpose for me here, and a reason for everything that I do.
But I saw something recently that made me realize that it's not going to be so easy.
In time, there's going to be choices I have to make. Actions I need to perform.

I watched a woman decapitated in front of her husband.
The man who did it... didn't blink.

Neither did I.

Some people think we're monsters for just following orders like that.
I don't know what to think, myself.
Could I ever be capable of that,
just killing someone like it's an every day job?

What do you think, mom?

Love,

Cortado

[InThePooPoo]

XVII
The Star

I loved you guys! I had a wonderful life meeting you!

Mother,

I may be returning home for a visit sooner than I thought.
I met a Rhoynish boy.

Well, his blood isn't as pure as yours or mine, but he's the closest I've found to the real deal so far.
He marches to the beat of his own drum. He won't change no matter what anybody says.
For one reason or another, too, he's also somehow managed to stay very kind.

This boy isn't very strong, or large, or particularly courageous.
Despite it, though, he's incredibly selfless.


I took it upon myself to bring him into our clan, as an honorary Ilian.

We're going to come for our golden rings together.
Take our trial one after the other.

His name's Asher, and he's quickly become one of my best friends.

I can't wait for you to meet him.

Love,

Cortado

[InThePooPoo]

XXI

The World

 

"You know, I knew a guy back with my clan that would eat bugs."

"We had plenty of food, but the guy just... really liked eating them. He got pretty big, probably one of the bigger dudes out of all our warriors."

 
"That's not surprising, really. Did you know that a normal human body digests bugs much easier than it does any kind of meat? When bugs have so much more protein, too! 
So that probably explains his muscle mass...But he'd have to eat a lot of bugs to accomplish that, jeeze!"

"...You've never eaten a single bug? Not even as a toddler?"

  

 "Ya know, every time you talk, you turn just a little bit more interesting, Val."

"Yeah... I tried 'em a few times. The guy really swore by 'em, but I really can't stand the taste."

 

 

 

 

Mother, 
 

I wish the circumstances behind my writing you were better. 

My wife Valeria has passed, regrettably long before I had the chance to introduce the two of you.

You would have loved her, just as I know she'd have loved you.
 

Whatever the case, don't worry for me or your grandchildren. 

She would have rather her have died three million deaths in vain effort to save one life,

than to have lived a long many years having done nothing.

We knew her as such.  
 

The forces of Barsburg are pushing back, making a resurgence.

They're the ones responsible for the life that Valeria died trying to save.

I'm going to have to go back to the battlefield.
 

She knew me better than anyone else.
I'm sure she knew what I'd do before she made her decision.
 

I'm scared.
 

How's a guy like me supposed to be a good father on his own? 
 

That's what mothers are for, right? 
 

To keep the men on the right track, both the kids and the husband.
 

Fuck.
 

What do I do? 
 

Love, 
 

Cortado

[InThePooPoo]

ix

the hermit


Dear Grandpa,

I hope you check the mailbox when you get home. You never send any letters back.
You're the only one I can talk to... father is always busy, you know all the stuff he has to deal with.
Even if we could talk, I don't think he'd ever understand me.

I'm sending this to tell you about some new friends I've made.
They're like you - all they care about is that I do whatever I want to do.
No matter what other people think about it.

I think some of them might just by trying to get me to join a cult...

But it seems like they'll accept me for who I am.
I hope I'm right!
Anyways, good luck with... whatever you're doing!

Love,

Tilly