( four： text. )

[gameplaying]

I do hope you're prone to honesty, Asgard. I fear this could get a little messy if you're not.

Comments

[gameplaying]

Are you familiar with what they say of me and my name on your planet? The question, I think, ought not be can but should, and if not blame for care and doubt, ought I be impressed by both their foresight and knowledge?

Would you place blame?

[counterbalanced]

I had wondered. What is your connection to Asgard? I've observed the one who calls himself Loki here, and his look alike, but you do not sound like either of them.

[gameplaying]

Should I be flattered or insulted, I wonder?

I am of Asgard, but an Asgard as numerous in differences to this one as it would seem I have to the Lokis of this realm; there is but one in mine, and I am him.

[counterbalanced]

You mean there is another Asgard?

[It's true the events of this city aren't matching up to the stories of the Nordic Pantheon, but Edmund had assumed the discrepancies were due to people adding their own flourishes to the tales. Reality and legend usually don't tend to match up that well.]

It seems odd that they would bring yet another one of you here, when there are already so many. How different is your Asgard from this one?

[gameplaying]

[ sent first: ]

It lacks mortals.

[ second: ]

Beyond that, it's different enough that I question just how true this Asgard is. Names are easy enough to claim.

[counterbalanced]

Names certainly are, but the amount of power they wield is something that cannot be denied.

Who do you suspect they are, if not the Nordic Pantheon?

[gameplaying]

Children with toys.

There is power abound to be found amongst the stars and planets of the universe, out of the reach of the All-Father and out of the sight of Heimdall. They may truly believe themselves to be of Asgard but, Edmund, for a city of warriors, does not this seem pitiful to you?

[counterbalanced]

[Edmund narrows his eyes. Loki, or whoever this man might be, is very convincing.]

The state of the city's defenses certainly leaves something to be desired. If the Grey Sickness did not reach your Asgard, perhaps that is the difference.

[gameplaying]

The gods themselves seem unaffected by the sickness that plagues the land. Why then, if the citizens of Asgard that are affected are not of the Æsir, have they insisted on filling the city with yet more?

[counterbalanced]

According to them, those they bring from other worlds are not affected as long as they keep these trinkets with them. Curious that they have not attempted to cure their citizens with the same power that the use to protect us.

[And then it clicks.]

...you believe they're misleading us. About the Grey Sickness.

[gameplaying]

Not just the sickness, but yes.

[counterbalanced]

What else have you noticed?

[Even if he won't take this Loki's word for it immediately, it doesn't hurt to keep this in mind, either.]

[gameplaying]

Ragnarök itself.

For one who needs to die to herald its beginning, Balder certainly seems lively to me.

[counterbalanced]

More than lively, if he's kidnapping Travelers and spiriting them out of the city on his own whims.

[gameplaying]

[ one: ]

I believe I've spoken to your sister, Susan. It is as I've said to her: I don't doubt there is a war coming, but I doubt the magnitude and I doubt the side we've been brought here to fight for.

[ two, and as a (loose) means of explanation: ]

Millennia ago, when the Æsir were worshipped still on Midgard, humanity knew enough to not worship all who visited the realm. The Frost Giants of Jötunheim brought war and devastation to your planet in the name of conquest; Asgard stopped it. In penance, Jötunheim was left a desolate, empty and ruined land of ice and so it remains even now, its king slain by a prince of Asgard and his son thieved by Asgard's own king. despite the peace that has been known between the two realms in years since, none on Asgard care for the so-called monsters that inhabit Jötunheim, only that they deserve their fate even to this day. [ a bastardisation of the truth, but w h a t e v e r. ] This Asgard hides its history from its citizens, from us, and Thrymheim — Jötunheim by any other name — is left to sit and watch whilst Asgard amasses an army.

Asgard demands our services, but do you think it's Asgard that truly requires them, Edmund?

ilu

[counterbalanced]

[He's spoken to Susan? That alone puts Loki on his "watch" list.]

And what did you say to her?

I might not agree with many of the things the gods put us through, but the other cities have not been kind either. It's they who attacked Asgard first.

DESPITE MY TYPOS sobbing

[gameplaying]

LINK.
You may listen for yourself; these devices are quite useful in that respect, are they not?

[ he's only hoping that edmund has as much attachment to family as susan appears to have. ]

They who attacked first whilst you've been here, is that not correct?

LOVES YOUR TYPOS, TOO

[counterbalanced]

[There's something called "hitting the jackpot", and Loki's done just that by linking Edmund to Susan's conversation. If anyone understands making up for mistakes against family, it's Edmund.]

Do you really believe doing all this will make things right again between you and your brother?

[The other questions can wait until later. He has to know this first.]

I SUPPOSE SOMEONE HAS TO

[gameplaying]

[ and that question alone tells loki almost everything he needs to know. ]

I cannot know, but Thor has always thought the best of me. It's time I repaid that belief.

THAT WOULD BE ME?

[counterbalanced]

I suppose it would be fair. [Edmund closes his eyes.] I wish you luck on your venture.

About the other cities - it sounds as if you've heard something. Do you have knowledge of attacks that occurred before we arrived?

[gameplaying]

Before us, the Travellers? Nothing has been mentioned so all I have is mere conjecture and guess based on my own realm.

[counterbalanced]

And what conclusions have you drawn?

[Edmund would have to think on anything Loki decides to impart on him, but knowledge is knowledge, and even conjecture is worth looking into.]

[gameplaying]

A long history of war between the giants and the Asgardians that won't be easy to temper. Ragnarök runs the risk of being beyond reason.

[counterbalanced]

And that's why you mean to stop it entirely. Should everything go awry like you suspect it will.

[gameplaying]

I'm glad you understand.