Ssarak Dyreackthanose

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In many ways, a mental fight could mirror a physical one. The strength of an attack, the timing, giving proper preparations for defense: they were all vital to success. Ssarak and his doppelgangers all stood at a safe distance, not advancing nor retreating. So far, he had not yet even raised his weapon against the attacking Esyire, and yet, he had already attacked full-force. The Esyire’s mind was distracted, and an opportunity had been created. Ssarak just had to avoid letting it slip away. This man was a mercenary, which meant that his conviction could possibly be shaken. 

[color=f7941d]“You see? I do not wish to harm you. There is no need for any of us to be hurt. You have been deceived.”[/color] Ssarak began, each sentence originating either from himself, or one of his doppelgangers. All the while, he was tugging at the strings of the Esyire’s mind. He was careful not to do so as overtly as he had to distract his mind in the first place. Instead, he manipulated emotions tugging at the thoughts in the back of his mind. Whenever the Esyire locked eyes with Ssarak or a doppelganger, he suppressed emotions of anger, and instead encouraged those associated with authority and trust. Ssarak wanted to push his mind in the direction to believe the words that followed. [color=f7941d]“The package is certainly important, but the gold is not worth your lives. Think about it: if your employer is willing to pay so greatly for this thing, would we not also have our best protecting it? They were counting on you escaping your pursuers. The College is a force of equal strength to entire kingdoms, due to our mastery of magic.  This is not a fight you can win, but it is one you can survive, and even profit from still. Your allies [i]will[/i] fall to mine if they continue to fight, and while I do not relish the idea of killing my kin, I shall do so if you force me to.”[/color]

Right on the mention of their race, Ssarak, encouraged just a few hints of pride within the Esyire; just enough to bring up the thoughts of kinship that one could feel towards another of their own kind. Particularly for Esyire outside the homeland, members of their race were few and far between, and they were more often outsiders within any given group. Ssarak was an Esyire, and therefore one who could understand whatever position this Esyire was likely in. Those were the ideas that Ssarak’s magic was attempting to strengthen. [color=f7941d]“You can be forgiven for attacking us, and rewarded for helping us. For a fellow mage, the college can offer money, but also so much more. Do not throw your lives away; you can [i]all[/i] survive this.”[/color] 

As soon as he made mention of the Esyire’s companions, Ssarak once again delved into the memories  that it brought up. He wanted to know if these other mercenaries were friends that the Esyire cared about, or just people he happened to be working with.