[b]Redana![/b]

The Hermetician whirred, coming about, clattering under his robes as his tripod legs shifted into a triskellion cross-legged sitting position. "It is impossible to be born perfect. After all, you grew. You changed. You honed muscles and reflexes, habits and mannerisms. You obtained cybernetics and new forms of perception. You became an adult. Became a woman. Became a runaway. Even now you are embarked upon a ludicrous journey beyond the frontiers of known space. Stating that you are nothing more than your genetics and augmentics is a sign of [i]perilous [/i]humility."

The Hermitician set down his bowl, and then with a sudden move of his concealed hand [i]shattered [/i]it. "Intelligence is the same as strength - a brute force thing obtainable by machines. Not without value, but not worthy of praise. The virtue required to walk the Path is [i]curiosity[/i], Princess. Do the machines spark it within you?"

[b]Vasilia![/b]

"[i]Gaia[/i]!?" said Galnius in surprise. "It was destroyed, surely? [i]A world inverted and abandoned, coughing up bones of iron[/i]. And that was before the Tear, even -" they stop, and then frown. "You're joking with me. And won't tell me where we're actually going."

[b]Alexa![/b]

Princess Epistia pauses awkwardly, and then sets the paper and pen down on the ground. She looks like she's making a difficult choice "Everyone calls me Isty," she said. "Relax. I'm not a real princess... I mean, if I was I'd be a queen right now anyway. I'm just a warrior."

[b]Bella![/b]

"Your will, Praetor," said Captain Lorventi, and by Hera, wouldn't it have been [i]nice [/i]if she at least sounded satisfied at that? Some confirmation that she actually cared about this work - that she was passionate about [i]something[/i].

"Then we should discuss assets," she said. "In addition to myself and five hundred Kaeri soldiers - plus two thousand menials - the Anemoi contains representatives of four of Artemis' greatest hunter-temples. You know the Toxicrene Adept, but you also have -" a little emphasis on the 'you' there - Lorventi doesn't quite have the guile to disguise the fact that the assassins do not answer to her at all. "- an Ikarani, a Diodekoi and a Oratus at your command."

And honestly you're not sure the Kaeri in their full five hundred strong could take on those four assassins.

The Toxicrene temple you know - Mynx, the poisoner and shapeshifter, master of the biological - and there's a reason she's the only one you've met in person. Simply put, she's by far the most stable of the bunch and Toxicrenes often serve as handlers and deployment for the other types. The Ikarani are known for being information addicts, hypergeniuses that absorb every fact that they encounter. Diodekoi are warriors who train to fight the very gods - prayer-soaked walking cathedrals who can find ways to harm even those blessed by the most powerful divine favour. Oratus are political operators and hypnotists who can incite madness in crowds and wield entire nations as crushing hammers to slay their targets.

Deploying even one of these is no small matter. Many cannot be recovered once unleashed, consuming themselves in their own madness and hubris until the gods put them out of their misery.

"They are available to inspect at your will, Praetor."