Faerzen interviews

<Faerzen_Norstov> Making a mental note of those, you swiftly turn around and swap glasses to the Gaze of Honesty. Reaching into the safe, you retrieve Abyss and shut and lock the door behind you.
<Faerzen_Norstov> *Do you mind if I start with you, Abyss? It should only take a brief moment. Quite a great deal has happened recently and there is a large quantity of things I am attempting to mentally keep track of and synthesize at the moment. I would appreciate the opportunity to rehash and summarize some things so I can ensure that I have the story straight and so that I can attempt to piece together details in areas that
<Faerzen_Norstov> are currently unknown.*
* Faerzen_Norstov walks over to the workbench, sitting down on your favorite stool and setting Abyss down on the work surface next to you.
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Abyss, this is my sprite GentlemanCraftSprite. I fully remember that you met him in passing previously, but I would like to ensure I perform the due courtesies of introductions as you hardly met for long and I dare say they were not under the most pleasant of circumstances. GCS has also been assisting me and he is simply here to help. You can trust him."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "If you do not mind, I would appreciate starting at the beginning....."
<Samstrel> "What do you want to know first?"
* Faerzen_Norstov folds his hands in his lab, looking intently at Abyss but attempting to remain casual and warm, not confrontational
<Faerzen_Norstov> "What is the earliest thing you remember? In perhaps another way, what are your origins?"
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I do believe that will help clarify and set up some context for the rest of this story."
<Samstrel> "The earliest thing I remember is... being with Nick.. when he..."
<Samstrel> Abyss stops.
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Hmmm?"
<Faerzen_Norstov> "If that is a difficult place to start, how about we start with how you first became acquainted with Nick."
<Samstrel> *He begins to feel scared.*
<Samstrel> "I remember being in a... cave? Dungeon? Something. He found me there."
<Samstrel> "I'm trying to remember how I got there."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Take your time."
<Samstrel> "It feels like I was in hibernation there. Like I was asleep there, and Nick woke me up."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Intruiging."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "That would seem to corroborate with my previous theories."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Do you remember anything prior to that?"
<Samstrel> "I don't  remember how I came to be. Just that a dark figure placed me there... a woman. A random woman. I think it was the nothing... that race you are so curious about."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Oh?"
<Faerzen_Norstov> "That is... unexepcted to say the least. If that is the case, then they were and possibly still are capable of traversing between planets."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "That is something I shall seek to investigate further. Thank you."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "After all of that, however, Nickolai retrieved you from your location of slumber and traveled around with you, is that correct?"
<Samstrel> "Yes..."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Is it appropriate to say that thereafter, he eventually was able to use some of your power?"
<Samstrel> *He feels intimidated by the name Nick or Nickolai.*
<Samstrel> "Y-Yes..."
<Samstrel> "I didn't want him to.."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Was it the case that you never wanted to and that he forcibly took and/or used your power, or was it the case that you initially allowed him access to some of it and he ended up using it for purposes you did not approve of?"
<Samstrel> "Both of them..."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Oh?"
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Would you mind elaborating somewhat?"
<Samstrel> "I never wanted him to have access to all the information I have. I didn't mind a bit. But not all."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "So, to summarize, before you realized what he might do with the aforementioned power, you agreed to grant him some, and then thereafter he used it for purposes you did not approve of, you were unable to take it back, and he ended up acquiring even more?"
<Samstrel> "Yes... precisely."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "That is unfortunate."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Were you able, in that whole ordeal, able to influence or affect Nickolai through any other means besides talking to him and granting him power?"
<Samstrel> "No.. He wouldn't listen."
<Samstrel> *He feels guilty for what Nick did.*
<Faerzen_Norstov> "As a generalization of that question, for a generic wearer, are you able to interact with, affect, or influence your wearer in any way other than through granting them power and talking with them?"
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Examples include, but are not limited to, emotional influence, mental suggestion, and bodily control."
<Samstrel> "No."
<Samstrel> "I only amplify, not control."
<Faerzen_Norstov> ((I presume they have been talking for at least a minute now. Any truth information from the glasses?))
<Samstrel> ((he's been telling the truth. it only indicates if he's not))
<Faerzen_Norstov> ((got it.))
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I also want to make one thing very clear. While there is no denying that providing power to others certinaly plays a role in future events, and with great power comes great responsibility, you should not hold yourself accountable for Nickolai's actions."
<Samstrel> "I don't.."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "What he chose to do was his choice, and while it is possible that you may have been able to affect future outcomes by not providing him with power in the first place, you had little to know way of knowing that this would occur."
<Samstrel> *He is lying.*
<Faerzen_Norstov> "You have a responsibility to use and lend your power wisely, but there is no way you can possibly avoid every single negative eventuality. That is an enormous burden that nobody is capable of effectively carrying."
<Samstrel> "I understand."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Through our time together, I can certainly see that you have been hurting. I can hardly imagine what it must be like for someone I trusted to abuse me for horrible ends, rendering me powerless."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "However, I cannot help but notice that it seems to go deeper than that."
<Samstrel> "What do you mean?"
<Faerzen_Norstov> "While I want you to understand I am not criticizing you or putting you down, I have noticed time and time again signs of self-confidence issues, emotional fracturing, and social withdrawl."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "When it came to that sculpture you made for me, for example."
<Samstrel> "You can thank Nick for that.."
<Samstrel> "I wasn't like that before.."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "It was a beautiful work of art, but because you feared it would not be good enough or that you would only cause more problems, you destroyed it and refused to talk to me about it."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I know you weren't, but I want to let you know that I believe it is an issue that you should try to not continue enforcing upon yourself."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "The past has its significance, but in the present it is up to us to decide who we are."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Consider the past a learning opportunity, but do not let it define you. Try to not believe the lies about your own self worth that it is so easy to tell yourself."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Despite what you may say, I know that you at least somewhat hold yourself responsible for Nickolai's terrible actions. I want you to know that I understand why you feel that way and I will be here to discuss with you whatever it may be that you wish to, regardless of that."
<Samstrel> "Okay.."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Others, namely Lyra, may refuse to grant you that, but I believe if that is the case that they are severely mistaken."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Understood?"
<Samstrel> Yes."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Excellent."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Unfortunately, speaking of Lyra, I have a couple of inquiries on that front as some of the details are still unclear."
<Samstrel> "Oh.."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Unsurprisingly the dramatic environment of that 'courtroom' were not terribly effective at facilitating effective and clear discussion."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "From the bits and pieces of conversation engaged in during the trial, here is what I believe happened from your perspective."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Lyra--from the other timeline that is--obtained you and engaged in a contract with you, effectively sacrificing herself in exchange for power in the hopes of defeating Nickolai and bringing an end to his murderous rampage."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Is that correct?"
<Samstrel> "Yes."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Unfortunately she failed and was violently slain, and then Nickolai--from that timeline--retreived you, eventually traveling here."
<Samstrel> "Yes I know.."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Is it correct that you were unawares initially that he had traveled in time and crossed to a different timeline?"
<Samstrel> "Yes."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "In the trial, you described how Lyra's irate disposition, extreme fatalism and masochism, and apathy for the consequences of her actions in this timeline--all of which you claim was exposed during my legal arguments in the trial--were what tipped you off to the fact that what Lyra was saying about her being a different Lyra was actually a veritable statement."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "This implies that this was not the case in the Lyra that you made the deal with to attempt to overcome Nickolai."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Do you still stand by your previous statement, and if so, what was different about the Lyra you knew from your original timeline?"
<Faerzen_Norstov> yo
<Samstrel> yey
<Faerzen_Norstov> how was driving
<Samstrel> was fine lol
<Samstrel> had to go to target
<Faerzen_Norstov> :/
<Faerzen_Norstov> wanna get back to it?
<Samstrel> sure
<Faerzen_Norstov> <Faerzen_Norstov> "Is it correct that you were unawares initially that he had traveled in time and crossed to a different timeline?"
<Faerzen_Norstov> <Samstrel> "Yes."
<Faerzen_Norstov> <Faerzen_Norstov> "In the trial, you described how Lyra's irate disposition, extreme fatalism and masochism, and apathy for the consequences of her actions in this timeline--all of which you claim was exposed during my legal arguments in the trial--were what tipped you off to the fact that what Lyra was saying about her being a different Lyra was actually a veritable statement."
<Faerzen_Norstov> <Faerzen_Norstov> "This implies that this was not the case in the Lyra that you made the deal with to attempt to overcome Nickolai."
<Faerzen_Norstov> <Faerzen_Norstov> "Do you still stand by your previous statement, and if so, what was different about the Lyra you knew from your original timeline?"
<Samstrel> "Yes."
<Samstrel> "She was not apathetic for her actions in the other timeline. She seemed as out of control as Nick."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "From the get-go, Lyra argued that she was a different Lyra who had not signed the contract she engaged in with you, however you countered by saying that she was effectively the same. Why did you say that?"
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Was it because you believed her to simply be the same Lyra as the one who signed your contract, but several hours older, and that Lyra was attempting to use that 'couple of hours' as justification that she was a different Lyra?"
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Or was there another reason?"
<Samstrel> "Yes, I believe that."
<Samstrel> *He is lying.*
<Samstrel> *He is scared, more specifically of Lyra.*
<Faerzen_Norstov> "That seems a very hasty presumption to make when the consequences of you attempting to enforce such a contract are so severe."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "You decided Lyra was lying when she said she did not sign that contract, and instead demanded that punitive action be taken for her violation of said contract."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Lyra claims that the duress you put her under nearly drove her to commit suicide to escape having to surrender her soul to a contract she did not sign."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "That was a very serious action to take based solely on that one presumption."
<Samstrel> "I promise you, I did not cause her to feel the way she did. By wearing me, she amplified the feelings she had inside. That caused her to feel that way. That is my power. She must be so tortured inside, that not even she can help herself."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Are you sure that was the only reason you pressed charges? You were pushing an argument to court, that if successful, would have bound Lyra's soul to yourself."
<Samstrel> "Her innermost thoughts terrified me. I wanted away from her."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "So your solution to escape someone you saw as terrifying was to condemn their soul to be consumed by you, even though you were not certain she was lying about her situation?"
<Samstrel> "She knows she signed that contract. She is so scared inside, she thought she could save herself by lying."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "But she didn't sign that contract."
<Samstrel> "I know she was lying. But there was more."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "According to both her, and the story you recounted after the trial, it was Lyra from the other timeline that signed your contract."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "That Lyra died and is not this Lyra here."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "You were on her face when she perished. You know she died."
<Samstrel> "Like you said, her soul was condemned by me. I know how she feels, even now. I feel her soul sometimes, yet she does not know."
<Samstrel> "That's why I am so troubled."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "You signed a contract with a Lyra who wanted power to stop Nickolai. You gave her that power, and she died. Later you encounter Lyra again, but she claims to be a Lyra from a different timeline. You, despite her claims, chose to ignore them and press charges on what could very likely be an entirely different Lyra who did not sign your contract."
<Samstrel> "Her death in an alternate timeline connected me to her permanently, even in other timelines."
<Samstrel> "I felt how she felt. She needed to be stopped. She was angry... with everyone."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "So you are saying that the contract, before you nullified it, applied to every single version of Lyra in every timeline and that all of their souls belonged to you even though every single one of them except for one had absolutely nothing to do with the signing of the contract and did not give their consent?"
<Samstrel> "With the powers I have, all Lyra's are the same. Even if one gave consent. I do not know where she is, or what she thinks. All I know is how her soul feels. And it is tortured."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "If you know her soul is tortured, then why would you decide to torture it further by legally forcing another version of her to give her sould to you?"
<Samstrel> "I don't think you quite understand the powers I have. They are different from Regent. He has the ability to communicate, I have the ability to feel, but we cannot work together."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I acknowledge that I do not fully understand your powers, and that is going to be nmy next line of inquiry. However, I fail to see how that is relevant to my question. If you knew Lyra's soul was tortured, why would you choose to inflict further pain upon her by pressing legal charges against her for ownership of her soul?"
<Samstrel> "See that, I cannot tell you. That would breach the supposed consent I received from her. I vowed never to tell people what she was going to do. But I knew I could save the lives of others, by sacrificing just a little bit more of her sanity."
<Samstrel> "She is dangerous, Faerzen. Do not underestimate her."
<Samstrel> *He seems concerned, mostly for you.*
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Here, wait a moment, I have some excerpts from the trial and post-trial discussion. I knew holding onto these would be helpful."
<Faerzen_Norstov> [00:18] <Faerzen_Norstov> "You go through all of the trouble of bringing claims against Lyra, just to nullify everything?"
<Faerzen_Norstov> [00:19] <Faerzen_Norstov> "I'm afraid I don't see the logic in why this occurred now and not a long time ago if this is your reasoning."
<Faerzen_Norstov> [00:19] <Abyss> I didn't know any of this about her
<Faerzen_Norstov> [00:19] <Abyss> When I met her I saw a girl that was fueled for revenge and just wanted to win a game
<Faerzen_Norstov> [00:20] <Faerzen_Norstov> "So you offered her a deal to consume her soul at the end of the game?"
<Faerzen_Norstov> [00:20] <Abyss> She wanted to die
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Do you still stand by this statement you made at the trial, about the Lyra that signed the contract with you wanting to die?"
<Samstrel> "Yes, I said those things."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "You also said this."
<Samstrel> "She was willing to die, and take the rest of the players with her. Including you, Faerzen."
<Faerzen_Norstov> [00:20] <Lyra_Bel> "I do not want to die!"
<Faerzen_Norstov> [00:20] <Abyss> No, you don't
<Faerzen_Norstov> [00:21] <Abyss> When I met you, you did though
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Bear with me for a moment here, please."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "You claim that you were willing to claim her soul in that contract, and that Lyra was willing to agree to such terms, because she was willing to die in exchange for taking down Nickolai. You also acknowledge that that was not necessarily the case here."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Does that mean you were willing to press charges against her, still in claims of her soul, despite the fact that she may not be okay with that committment anymore? That such a deal could be *quite* undesirable and to some extent traumatic?"
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Are you implying that your fear for what she could do to this session was so great that you were willing to go so far as to attempt to claim her soul against her will and put her through that ordeal simply in an attempt to protect the rest of the session from her?"
<Samstrel> "Yes."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I have a question for you then."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Did it ever occur to you that putting her through that ordeal might cause her pain to drive her towards the very things you were hoping to avoid?"
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Lyra, if I am interpreting her words and actions correctly, has seen your legal confrontation as yet another way that this game is attempting to make her life miserable, and that has only worsened her pessimism and fatalism."
<Samstrel> "Yes, that went through my mind. But I knew that it wouldn't. I doubt she even knows I know things anymore. She probably thinks I'm inactive."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "That is false."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "She is quite convinced that you were and possibly still are actively attempting to harm her or put her under your control."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "That is one of the reasons I have been enforcing such a separation between the two of you."
<Samstrel> "The way she thinks is already fatal. It isn't doing much more to make that worse. I know that."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "For both your safety, and hers."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Abyss."
<Samstrel> "And I know she will kill me if she finds me. Please don't let me die. I am trying to help."
<Samstrel> *He feels sadness, now.*
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I know you believe her mind and soul to be twisted and tortured, but what you are doing is not helping in the slightest. If you were so worried about her causing damage to the rest of the session, it would have been much more prudent to bring up the matter with someone else."
<Samstrel> "That's why I am talking to you."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "As much as I said that your actions should not be interpreted as being directly responsible for Nickolai's actions, I cannot and will not say the same here."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "You made an incredibly rash decision, and it hurt a lot of people."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Mostly Lyra, but it was also quite the horrible ordeal for others as well."
<Samstrel> "I don't want to talk anymore. Please leave me be. I already feel guilty enough."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Alex was forced to watch grueling video footable of his girlfriend being tortured and nearly committing suicide because of this. My being drawn into this to act as a lawyer was a pittance compared to what other people felt."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I do intend to let you be, but not until I am done."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I want to make it clear that I still intend to help you. Do not interpret this as a severance of all bonds and initiation of full-blown hostilities from me towards you."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "However, I want to make it clear that your level of interference and action in recent events is totally unacceptable."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I do not care if you believed you were helping, driving someone through so much pain and forcing upon them such an enormous sense of pain and futility is not worth what you were attempting to do."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "If you had concrete proof that Lyra was about to murder the rest of us, then perhaps. But simply off of suspicions? No."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "In the future, if you have concerns, please talk to me about them first. The last thing we need right now is yet another part of the group of players and entities in this session acting independently and inadvertently causing great harm to the session. That is already happening enough."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I understand you are guilty. I understand you feel badly about this."
<Samstrel> "I understand. Now please let me rest."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "However, I want you to truly recognize how much worse others have felt because of this. And as a result, I want an apology."
<Samstrel> "I apologize."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Perhaps you are not ready to apologize directly to Lyra, and I am not sure she would be ready for you to do such a deed either, but at least to me that I may pass it on to her."
<Samstrel> "Do not tell her the things you learned today. It will make everything worse."
<Samstrel> "Keep this to yourself."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "What am I to tell her then?"
<Samstrel> "Nothing more than my guilt."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "How am I to communicate the fact that you feel guilty without expressing any details of what you are guilty about? Guilt implies original wrongdoing in the first place."
<Samstrel> "Guilt for the trial. You must not reveal you know more about her than she realizes."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Please clarify what you mean by 'guilt for the trial'."
<Samstrel> "For how it hurt her, and the past actions made that caused her distress."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I cannot make any promises, but I will attempt to preserve your privacy as I can."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Eventually, she will need to know why you did what you did, Abyss."
<Samstrel> "Then that will be your mistake, Faerzen. What you do with this information, does not involve me anymore."
<Samstrel> "If you tell her this, it will cause her to be more unstable and angry. But this is your decision."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I understand."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I have two inquiries remaining, which I hope shall be short."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "The first of which is, please describe your abilities."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "You mentioned I do not understand your abilities, and I would very much prefer to remedy that."
<Samstrel> "All you must know, is what I have told you. You cannot know more than that. Though, there is barely anything left."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Then, to ensure clarity, please summarize what 'I should know'."
<Samstrel> "The ability to feel things in the soul of the wearer."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Very well."
<Samstrel> "Is that all?"
<Samstrel> "I would like to rest."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Again, I want to make sure you know that this is not me abandoning you, this is not me severing ties with you, this is not be saying I will never be able to forgive you."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I simply would like to set the story straight and work to ensure that such events do not happen in the future."
<Samstrel> "Alright."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Those who do not know and understand the past are doomed to repeat it. So that is my mission."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Thank you for talking with me about this, I am sure it has not been pleasant for you."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I only have one thing left."
<Samstrel> "No it has not. But I had no choice."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "How do you mean you had no choice?"
<Samstrel> "Doesn't matter."
<Samstrel> "I don't want to talk anymore, please put me down."
* Faerzen_Norstov furrows his brow
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Very well. I still stand by the fact that I have one inquiry remaining."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "After the trial, you gave me your word on three specific things."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "You promised that you would not work against our team in our goals in this game, that you would not harm me, and that you would not harm Alex."
<Samstrel> "I have not broken my word."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I completely do not expect, given the circumstances, for you to extend that promise to include Lyra and/or Nick. And you are correct, you have not broken it."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "However, since the trial I have introduced you to both Tarane and Juan whom I see as very reasonable people."
<Samstrel> "I will not hurt them."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Thank you."
<Samstrel> "Now, please. Leave me be."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "That really does mean a lot to me."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Thank you."
* Faerzen_Norstov picks up Abyss, stroking a couple of his feathers in a calming way, then walking over towards the safe again.
* Faerzen_Norstov obscures the pinpad and types in the long combination to the safe, opening it up and swapping Regent and Abyss.
* Faerzen_Norstov closes the safe door behind him
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Greetings, Regent."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Thank you for bearing with me throughout all of this. I apologize for the unpleasantness of this whole ordeal."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I am attempting to piece together the past events to ensure that I more accurately understand them, and I simply have a couple of inquiries."
* Faerzen_Norstov walks over to the workbench, setting Regent down on the worksurface and heaving a sigh as he sits down on his stool.
<Faerzen_Norstov> "How are you?"
<Samstrel> "Also, your dad says hi."
<Samstrel> "I'm fine."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Thank you again for assisting me so."
<Samstrel> "No problem."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I cannot begin to presume how that experience must have felt as an empath, given that emotions in both directions were quite high, but if it was at all unpleasant for you I want to reiterate my thanks all the more."
<Samstrel> "It's alright. Get on with it Faerzen."
* Faerzen_Norstov makes a :| face
<Samstrel> ((lol))
<Faerzen_Norstov> "There is no need to become testy, Regent. I am attempting to learn so that I can help. We are all on the same side here."
<Samstrel> "I'm not testy, just impatient. What do you want to ask?"
<Faerzen_Norstov> "As much as I do not wish to inquire about these topics, I have some questions regarding yourself, and also Lyra."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Lyra said that she first encountered you when she found you. Do you have any recollection of any time before then or how you got there?"
<Samstrel> "Being honest, no I do not."
<Samstrel> "It felt like I was in a deep sleep until she found me."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "As I expected. Thank you."
<Samstrel> "Anything else?"
<Faerzen_Norstov> "It is my understanding that while you were with her, you were forced to experience quite a great deal of negative emotions both that Lyra was actively experiencing and passively supressing, is that correct?"
<Samstrel> "Yes."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "In response to this, you attempted to help, and frequently asked Lyra's permission to assist her. Unfortunately, she did not often react very favorably to this. And that was out of your control."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "It is my understanding that you modified her emotions and compelled her to perform particular actions. In many of these cases I know you asked for consent first. Lyra has not been terribly clear on whether or not you ever did this without her consent, and as you well know she tends to be quite dramatic when it comes to such matters."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "In asking this question, I am not attempting to rub salt into old wounds; I already know that you apologize for the interactions you and her had. I simply wish to more fully understand the circumstances. Are you capable of manipulating people against their will?"
<Samstrel> "No I am not."
<Samstrel> "I cannot control them."
<Samstrel> "I can only modify emotions for the benefit of the greater good."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I am sorry to bring such a sensitive topic up, and if you would prefer not to answer that is perfectly acceptable: Given your impression of Lyra when the two of you parted ways, what are your thoughts on her current attitude towards the game?"
<Samstrel> "She hates it. She wants it to be over soon."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Do you have any insight into any general courses of action you think would be effective in helping her to work with the rest of the team?"
<Samstrel> "It will take a lot. I believe an apology from Abyss and I will help. But she is skeptical of us. I'm afraid there's not much you can do, from what I know."
<Samstrel> "Good luck with that."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Yes, that does seem to be the case. Unfortunately I am unsure how effective 'luck' will be in this case."
<Samstrel> "I agree. Anything else?"
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I foresee a conversation with her very soon, and I can only hope the knowledge I have been collecting will be at least somewhat effective in placating her or helping her to understand."
<Samstrel> "You can hope. She is very unreasonable."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I have no questions, but I do have one comment."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "As I said before, I cannot begin to understand how it would feel to be an empath. I do not fully comprehend my own psyche or emotions sometimes, so if there have been situations I have put you in either through directly experiencing them or by supressing emotions that are painful for you to experience, I apologize."
<Samstrel> "That's alright, Faerzen."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "Thank you."
<Samstrel> "You're welcome."
<Faerzen_Norstov> "I appreciate you talking with me, and I will be sure to fill you in with any updates I obtain on the situation."
<Samstrel> "If that is all you need, Goodbye Faerzen."