Time to Face What You Have Always Been (Tarissa)

[Cora Passek]

A simple elegant invitation had arrived beckoning Cora to Lady Cadalthor's estate. After recent events on Kaeshana she had helped to save the woman's life. That whole bomb thing hadn't been a big deal - at least not to her. It was a normal day in the park. Ordinary. Though it had been fun. Well, fun in her definition, which involved life and death and explosive devices. That was totally fun.

Anyway, Cora did wonder why Tarissa was inviting her to the estate now. But she gave a shrug and headed on over to the Lady's estate. Anxiously she fidgeted as she got to the door, and finally got the nerve up to ring the doorbell and waited patiently.

[member="Tarissa Cadalthor"]

 

[Vaena Askari]

[member="Cora Passek"]


The door to the breathtakingly luxurious estate opened, revealing a well-dressed guardswoman with the bearing of a soldier and a shiny uniform. The seemingly ageless beauty so common to Eldorai was matched by lethality. Her aura was strong and dazzling, revealing that she had been blessed by the Goddess with a Sciiac connection.


"You are Ms. Passek, yes?" the guard asked in slightly accented Basic. It was obviously not her first language. She gave Cora a good one-over before beckoning her inside. The inside of the estate could be described as tastefully opulent. The floor and columns were covered in marble, rich tapestries and ornate mosaics decorated the walls.


"Welcome to the Cadalthor estate. Follow me. Her Grace is in the prayer room." Cora would be given a moment to take off her shoes and a servant girl would be there to take her coat if she had one, then the guard would guide her down a long corridor. Various portraits hung on the walls on both sides, depicting past Cadalthors. However, Tarissa's mother was conspicuously absent, which was probably deliberate!

 

[Cora Passek]

Cora bowed her head slightly, "That I am, yes." She replied softly. After a momentary pause she stepped inside the lavish estate. And for a second she frowned. It reminded her of her home, her actual childhood home with her father ... but only for a moment. Cora pushed aside the thoughts. That life was dead, and so was her family. There was no one left to mourn and they'd not want her to either, not after this long.

Carefully Cora slipped her boots free from her feet and set them aside. "Thank you." She turned to the servant girl and handed off her coat. Her clothing beneath had been simple in choice, a black tank top and a pair of jeans. More lavish and expensive things she'd not adapted to with her new lifestyle. She was still caught somewhere between the old and the new. Two lives that didn't mix all that well.

Finally ready she followed the guard down the hallway, and she did glance to the portraits on the walls of past Cadalthors. She sigh quietly and did her best to focus on the here and now.

Now this prayer room thing, the religion still was incredibly new to her. She didn't fully understand it but was starting to. Somehow in ways it was like an old comfort, a reminder of her past religion, it's practice and the comforts it brought her, without the more painful memories. Quietly she stepped into the prayer rumor following the usual ritual upon entering. Though she waited for a moment to be acknowledged before she spoke a word.

[member="Tarissa Cadalthor"]

 

[Vaena Askari]

[member="Cora Passek"]


Cora would be led into the House Cadalthor shrine. Like every good Eldorai noble family, they had a private place of worship, though they were probably more fervent and sincere in their devotion than most. Naturally there was an element of political expediency to it, as they had close ties to the powerful Church.


Sciia was strong in the shrine, as if were a reflection of the Goddess' might. A majestic statue of Ashira dominated the small room, displaying her as beautiful yet regal. An indomitable goddess who gave the gift of life to her children. Religious icons dominated the walls, with a special emphasis being placed on most family members who'd acquitted themselves well in the defence of the faith.



Others depicted Ashira creating and guiding the Eldorai, her titanic battle with the traitorous goddess Illyria and her ascension to heaven. Tarissa had dropped down to one knee and seemed deep in prayer. She was facing what could be considered the rough direction of Kaeshana, for it was still the true Eldorai homeworld, though now only the Forsaken dwelt on it. Thusly, she prostrated herself on the rich carpet before the Goddess. The only illumination in the room was provided by candles. The sound of crackling fire filled the air.


"'And the Goddess said: Let there be life. And she breathed the breath of life into the first Eldorai. Blood of her blood, flesh of her flesh,' she spoke in Eldarai, though with fervour in her voice. "Welcome Cora. I am glad you came. Come and join me. Look upon her. She's beautiful, isn't she?"

 

[Cora Passek]

The Force was quiet strong as she moved within the shrine. It was still so strange to her to notice those kind of changes and differences in the world around her. Just one more oddity that she was still learning to adapt, and adjust to.

She respectfully waited while Tarissa spoke in Eldarai. "Well, I had to admit I was a little curious. It's not everyday I receive such an invitation." Taking in a deep breath she stepped forward to kneel beside Tarissa and look upon the statue of Ashira, "She is, truly. It makes one wonder how beautiful she'd be to meet when our time is finished in this galaxy." The young human certainly did wonder a little from time to time.

[member="Tarissa Cadalthor"]

 

[Vaena Askari]

[member="Cora Passek"]


"Her beauty is indescribable. When she walked the earth, every purehearted Eldorai was filled with love for her. Her voice brought down mountains and shook the earth, but it was also the warmest, most melodious caress," Tarissa spoke fervently.


"You will meet her one day. You've been blessed by her. Few non-Eldorai received such an honour. That is why you were freed from the demon and brought to our people." Clearly Tarissa had decided that Vahri had been one of the evil minions of Illyria, the traitor goddess who turned on Ashira.

 

[Cora Passek]

Cora nodded, listening to Tarissa with care. The softest of smiles on her lips. "Such a lovely being."

Though the next part came a bit as a surprise to her. Her smile disappeared, unsure how to respond. "I ..." The woman paused, trying to make sure she had heard correctly. "I'm not sure I understand." She seemed rather confused as she looked to Tarissa.

"Surely you ... An honor?" Yep, sentences weren't exactly forming properly for Cora. "How could you believe such a thing? I'm not special. I'm not anything. I've done nothing to earn such. I foolishly got drunk one evening in my teens, went down the wrong alley and was attacked brutally. I don't even recall much about that night, except when I woke, I was no longer alone in my own mind. That monster was there. Always there with me, hiding, lurking, taking control as he pleased. Using me, my body for whatever he desired, to carry out his plans and extend his life artificially through me."

[member="Tarissa Cadalthor"]

 

[Vaena Askari]

[member="Cora Passek"]


Tarissa stretched out with her hand to gently stroke Cora's blonde hair. As of late, many beautiful women seemed eager to fondle the former terrorist. "What happened to you was...a horrible crime. It was rape. The work of demons. Again and again, you endured trials. You suffered for it. It was not her doing. The Goddess is powerful, but not unchallenged. That is why evil exists and why Kaeshana could be destroyed. But she saw value in you," she spoke.


"It was her might that exorcised the Sith from you, yes? You were given a second chance. She saved you for a reason."

 

[Cora Passek]

Cora's frown only softened the tiniest bit as Tarissa reached out to stroke her hair. For the moment she let the Eldorai do so, but was a small bit anxious about it. Her usual distrust of most folks seemed to be rising to the surface. After all, thus far there hadn't been an alcoholic drink to loosen such paranoia and anxieties that Cora held so close. She sighed heavily. "I hadn't thought about it as a rape, but I suppose it was - just of a different variety than most people are aware of. In some ways, far more personal. It's one thing to violate someone's body, but their mind? There isn't anything worse than that." So far she'd skipped over the part about demons. She wasn't quite willing to accept that part as fact in her narrative. At least, not yet.

"She? You mean Eileithyia." Cora finally said as she thought back to the rough events surrounding Varhi's removal from her mind. "Mirien was there too, and Siobhan." Another sigh, "It might have been more merciful to remove me from existence. It's not like I've ever done much good in the galaxy. If anything, I know I've made a few things worse." She shrugged and glanced back to the statue. "I'm not anything special Madam Cadalthor, truly. Just an unlucky woman, who always seems to be in the wrong place, at the wrong time."

[member="Tarissa Cadalthor"]

 

[Vaena Askari]

[member="Cora Passek"]

Perhaps the Goddess had decided to turn poor Cora into a chick magnet to make up for all the hell she'd been through. Young Cora would not know what to do with herself!


Tarissa shook her head, though she kept stroking the human. "No, not Eileithya. Not in the way you think at least. It was the Goddess' will that you be freed. It was her power Eileithya called upon and what shielded Mirien and Siobhan. They have a role to play in her plan. Sciia is the Goddess' gift to us."


Tarissa spoke these words with a certainty that could only be found in the devout or the mad. Those two categories were not always mutually exclusive. "To decide whether you are worthy of life is not your decision, but Hers. If you believe that you have done little good, now you have the chance to make reparation. It is an opportunity few get in life. You can prove Her faith in you right." Her tone was firm, for she was a woman who did not like compromise.

 

[Cora Passek]

Cora sighed, entirely feeling more and more unsure about what Tarissa was saying by the moment. "I see." Her voice getting softer and a little more distant.

"I can get the perspective you are presenting. It, well, it doesn't feel like any of that." She managed to shrug a little, and let Tarissa keep stroking her. "I, just ... It's complicated." Did she dare try to explain what started her down this path? The true origins and where her allegiance would very likely still lay had things not happened as they had. "I don't even know where to begin. If only you knew where I was coming from...."

"And sure, I've carried my faith, in a different deity for a long time. The religion of my parents. I, am still adjusting to where I am now. And feth if I even know where that is." Lost probably was a good term. She was halfway between a new life, and her old. Crossing that final distance wasn't the easiest of things. For she would have to let go of everything that had been familiar and comfortable for her for so long.

One more sigh, "I don't deserve this kind of faith, from anyone. I've only ever done a fabulous job of letting people down. By choosing the wrong side, by fighting the wrong battles. By never ever managing to be in the right place at the right time. Stabbed enough folks in the back, both intentionally and unintentionally. Good people are dead and gone because of me. No one else deserves the same fate. And I've been nothing but foolish, arrogant and well, stupid in some cases. Only good thing I ever really did was help save Coryth's ass when she and I were teens. I suppose you may think the bomb thing was saving you." Leaning forward she buried her head in her hands, not wanting to have to even think about this at all. "That was just as much about saving my own skin as anything else. Selfish. And in some part habit. But I'd rather not getting into the how and why of that."

One last sigh, "I don't understand. Truly I don't. You seem to have more faith in me than I've ever dreamed to have for myself. And you don't even know me, not really anyway. To be honest, the faith I ever had was never in me, other people, other things, but never in me. At least my own personal faith, wasn't. I don't understand, why you think the way you do."

She was getting a little frustrated and in part, flustered. "I've been... I've only ever been what I had to be to survive. Who that is, who that is, well, I'm not for a minute proud of that person. I may even hate that part of me. Stars only know, I'd give everything to undo so much of what has happened. And now, these damn powers ... There isn't for a second a part of me that believes I didn't deserve what happened." Cora hadn't figured those out in the least. Much less the memories she shared of the Sith that inhabited her mind for so long. "These powers are nothing but a reminder of a past. A past in which I'd give anything to change even one of the thousands of events, small and large that brought me to where I am, who I am now."

She didn't really care at this point, so many emotions and thoughts that had been held in place by careful practice, by avoiding words she didn't wish to face. Now that dam had been breached. There wasn't any going back now. Tears had formed but for her pride Cora did all she could to keep them from escaping. "These powers, the knowledge and memories they are tied to ... Try having good thousand year plus, Sith Lord in your mind. For years on end, trapped and imprisoned in your own body, only able to watch as he used me for whatever he wanted. Everything I know of the force, of Sciia .... I want it all to go away. To forget it. To not remember his thoughts, his joys, his memories of horrors he committed. Never mind growing up among the Sith in the old Sith Empire." The blonde did stop, taking in a few deep breaths. Trying to self-soothe herself.

"I'm rambling. Sorry." She said sadly. "I just, this has all been so full on. Learning I'm the very thing that I've held such contempt for over the years... I don't know who I am any more. Not in the least." None of it had exactly be easy, and well Cora always had been hardest of herself. "I'm caught somewhere in the middle. Lost. Lost between who I was, and what life was, to whatever this is. Which, I don't have a fething clue. I only know, I no longer recognize the person I see in the mirror. I don't know what is ahead, now that life isn't solely about survival. It was simple to find a cause to die for. That's been in front of me and within reach for almost a decade. It's the other side, to have something worth living for, that is much more difficult. Lost. Confused, lost. That's all I've managed to be these past few months. I don't know up from down. I'm not trying to be rude or in any way offensive. I've only just started to feel like this might be the right path for me. I've nothing worked out. I still have basic concepts of the faith to grasp." Cora ran her own fingers through her hair for a moment. With some luck she might not have offended too deeply. One never knew with different cultures and vastly different belief systems.

[member="Tarissa Cadalthor"]

 

[Vaena Askari]

[member="Cora Passek"]


Someone else might have slowed down, but Tarissa had a strong sense of what she considered right and wrong. She was strongly devout and utterly convinced that she was right. Cora only needed to realise her place in things and embrace the Goddess' love.


"You saved that poor woman. Her house was on fire, you ran inside and saved her without a care to yourself. Your Sciia protected you - and saved her. And you saved my life. If that is not a sign, I know not what it is. Why? Because you were born again in Her grace when the demon was exorcised. You cannot undo the crimes you perpetrated, but you can become someone else. Someone better," she spoke with absolute conviction.


"The memories and the knowledge of the demon's atrocities are your burden to bear. They are a reminder of the beast you do not want to become. Your powers are your own though. Sciia is not merely our word for what Yedai call 'the Force', it is soul and those came from her when she breathed into her children. You cannot go back and change your past, but you can make the right choice for your Sciia. You are lost, like a lamb in the wilderness, but I believe deep down, in your heart of hearts, you can already see your flock in the distance. You only need to realise it...and believe in yourself."


Tarissa suddenly arose from the floor and walked towards one of the mosaics. It showed Ashira ascending to heaven, a paradisical realm. She was surrounded by angels who were both terrible and beautiful. "And if you cannot believe in yourself yet, let Her into your heart. She rejoices more over the lost lamb who strayed and returned to the flock than over the ninety-nine who never experienced hardship. And she looks upon those who take up the blade in Her name with love," the noblewoman stretched out her hand, holding it over a candle. The fire cast light over her face, giving her the appearance of possessing a halo. "I take it you have not yet been told how Ashira ushered in Creation?"

 

[Cora Passek]

Cora kept her head down in her hands, and let out a breath she'd not quite realized she'd been holding. Her brow knitted together, with a deep frown forming on her lips. "Yes," Though she shrugged. "There was no one else to help her. Just me. There's not many deaths worse than that. The heat, by itself is enough to kill. Ash in the air, to suffocate. The fire leeching the oxygen out of the air moment by moment. Then there is the actual flame. Any one alone can kill. All take time. I couldn't just walk on by. There's not many beings in this galaxy that deserve a death of that nature. I just did what was needed, no more. No less." Clearly she didn't think that highly of the event. It was almost strange how little she could see the good in herself and her actions. She'd been far too occupied with her past mistakes to see what was right in front of her.

The criminal world, for so long it was all Cora knew. She'd gotten so used to fighting on her own, with no one to trust, no one to help her in any way that when she saw someone in desperate need, she'd step in to offer what help she could, when she could. It may not have been much, or even that frequently, but it was out there. Underneath all the scars and hardness, she did have a heart of gold. She simply never wanted to see someone else suffer through anything like she'd been through. Ever. Of course, Cora knew not everyone could be saved. Not everyone could be helped. At least, for a few people she managed to do some good.

Cora closed her eyes tightly hearing what Tarissa said next. In that moment, a flash of anger rose quickly. Though Cora was quick to squash it, to not lash out. A few deep breaths in and out and she managed to force herself into a place of numbness. And with it a coolness descended upon the room, just lightly there, barely noticeable. She couldn't have been more conflicted, upset and pained. "A gift? I have done everything within my power to not be this way. To not be like the monsters that took my entire family line, save me. It is not something I want. Life was messy enough without this on top of it. You do know I was raised in the Sith Empire, yes? What a lovely example of these abilities I had. And while I'm stuck this way, and someday I might be able to accept this, I do not believe that day is today." Her tone had grown cool and even with little emotion in it.

Cora let out a deep breath and ran a hand through her hair for just a moment. Her eyes following as Tarissa moved. The anger she had previously felt was fleeting, fading fast. If anything Cora now appeared just to be rather uncomfortable and in part wondering where this was going to go. For a second she glanced to the door, wondering if maybe she might find an excuse to leave - to avoid any more pressure on the matter of her new-found powers. Finally she shook her head, "I haven't, no." Perhaps Tarissa would get caught up telling the tale, and they wouldn't revisit the subject of Sciia and the Force again. If only she had known Tarissa better. If only...

[member="Tarissa Cadalthor"]

 

[Vaena Askari]

[member="Cora Passek"]


"Have you considered that might be the reason you were guided here? To free yourself from the demons of your past and become better than the monsters you were raised amongst?" Tarissa was far less considerate than Siobhan. Both women were very strong-willed and convinced that their way was the right one. But on the whole Siobhan was more conflict-avoidant when it came to her family, unless she was really vexed or felt strongly about something.


The Eldorai aristocrat had no such internal filter. She also had no desire to let the human go until she realised the truth. "In the beginning there was the void. A infinite, ever-expanding, bleak darkness. The Universe was cold, dark and empty. Then there was Light, the start of Creation. As the universe we know was formed, the sun, moon and the stars came into being. They were the primordial powers that gave shape to our world. But the universe was still without soul and so they birthed Ashira. She was destined to become the goddess of light, fire and air," she spoke with great passion and fervour.


The coldness in the room seemed to recede as words left her lips. In its place there was warmth. "But Ashira was lonely and found this could not be so, for she yearned for companionship. For our goddesses are not cold, aloof deities, but real beings who feel. So she created her brothers and sisters, forming each and sacrificing a portion of her power to give them strength. Valora, the goddess of war and honour, Tyth, goddess of the oceans, Ardarvia, goddess of law and justice, Liorre, goddess of trade, Ferraono, god of agriculture, Kyran, god of nature and Illyria, goddess of death. But Her work was not done."


"She was destined to create a race to spread Her Word across the stars. Thusly, the Pantheon formed our people. The first Eldorai was made from clay and Ashira breathed life in to her. She gave them Sciia. Soul and power. In this day and age, there were no boundaries between mortal and deity. The Exalted Ones walked the earth amongst us and Ashira reigned as queen of Kaeshana," Tarissa's tone sounded wistful, but then turned colder. "Until Illyria, her name be damned, betrayed her."

 

[Cora Passek]

Cora shrugged, "Guided here? I'm not sure that is the term for how I ended up here. It's more like a sheer accident. This never had been my plan. It was just a series of rather unfortunate events that lead me to this point. " Yep she was definitely having trouble with that idea. She sighed softly. A part of her wanted to leave, figuring she had heard enough for the moment.

Cora did listen to the story as Tarissa spoke. To a degree she was still irritated. For now she was keeping that part hidden as best she could. "Interesting. I can somewhat see elements in it that relate to my former religion." Were all things so much the same? It did make her wonder. "Betrayed ... hmmm, definitely reminded of the story of the war in heaven in the Christian religions. Interesting ..." She whispered quietly.

[member="Tarissa Cadalthor"]

 

[Vaena Askari]

[member="Cora Passek"]


A series of unfortunate events? Or a divine plan we are seeing unfolding before us. Some might call it dumb luck, others an accident. I see the Goddess' labours. She works in mysterious ways, Tarissa smirked slightly.


Naturally she dismissed the fact that there could be any similarity to a human religion. Only Ashiranism was truth. She did not know who these Christians were. "Yes, the War in Heaven. Illyria grew haughty, arrogant and covered Ashira's throne for herself. Consumed by jealousy, she she used dark magicks to create demons. The Kar'zun and many other creatures were spawnd by her. Ashira would not let this outrage go unpunished and so there was war on Kaeshana." Tarisssa was quite passionate about her faith and so she was getting a bit caught up in her tale, though not to the point where she lost sight of her goal.


"The sky was blotted out, there were floods and the rivers ran red with blood. Then the two goddess clashed. For days they did battle, for deities do not tire as we do, then Illyria stabbed Ashira and succeeded in wounding her. But, though weakened, Ashira cast her down. Illyria was bound in chains and banished into the abyss by Valora and Ardarvia. It is a hellish realm for the unjust, the wicked and the depraved. Day and night, evildoers suffer unspeakable torment. Meanwhile, Ashira ascended to heaven, though not before pledging to return to her people one day. She left us the Holy Book...and knowledge of Sciia. As long as we heeded her word, we would have a light in the darkness. Upon death, the righteous join her in heaven as angels."

 

[Cora Passek]

Cora had at the least been listening, though she might have been a bit tuned out. A million other thoughts kept trying their best to gain her attention. A soft sigh escaped her lips. At this point, Cora only wanted to escape and be left alone in some quiet place. Because this right now, reminded her of days past, when she had a family. A family that cared, that had strong faith in their religion. A religion she long ago thought she'd let go of, that didn't matter to her any longer.

Thing was, her faith, her desires and knowledge that there might be something greater out there had always been there somewhere in the back of her mind, even if she wouldn't have admitted it. And now hearing a story that held some similarities to what she'd known, actually was growing painful to her. She frowned but nodded, letting Tarissa know she'd heard her.

The origin story with regards to the Eldorai religion did in a way make sense to her. Though she wondered if that was because she was so familiar with the human version. Her mind stretched out looking for a reply, or a question to ask to break her silence. It took a few moments but she found something to ask, "And that is where we are today .... Which leaves me to wonder what the core tenets of the faith are? Every religion has their own. My knowledge and understanding of it, are so slim." She said with a shrug. Her mood shifting darker, not sure what would come next from herself or how she was bound to react. Touchy was perhaps the best word to describe her right then.

[member="Tarissa Cadalthor"]

 

[Vaena Askari]

[member="Cora Passek"]


To a degree, Tarissa could not help the impression that Cora was partly stuck in her pit because, as harsh as it sounded, it was comfortable for her. She clearly had cause to feel guilty about her past and distrustful of others, but it was easier to feel bad about yourself. Because as long as she stayed in the pit, she could not be disappointed in herself or others, since she expected the worst to come to pass.


However, this just gave her more motivation to steer this wayward soul onto the true path. "The Faith has several rules, but these are the most important ones: You shall venerate the Great Goddess over all others. You shall not listen to heresy. You shall honour thy mother and father and all your family. You shall not kill unjustly another true believer. You shall pay reverence on the day of worship. You shall not steal, not covet, nor think malicious thoughts of another true believer. You shall be moderate, kind and just. You shall not be prideful, lustful or greedy. You shall respect and revere nature, but the Eldorai above all others. You shall not allow disunity or prevent harmony. You shall struggle against the Adversary and all demons."


In other words, the Faith was less explicit and rather vague on some things, but strangely precise on others. It did not even try to be moderate. Of course, like any religion it had plenty of loopholes. For instance, what was a 'true believer'? Ashira did not care about graven images and approved of building statues in her likeness. "All believers are expected give alms to the poor and pray once a day facing the sky." Some Eldorai purists insisted on praying five times a day. Acrimonious theological debates and bitter conflict had ensued.

 

[Cora Passek]

To Cora the tenets of the faith, sounded a bit too familiar. They were quite similar to the religion she had grown up in and knew so well. And Tarissa was right to a degree, this pit of sorrows Cora had dug for herself was comfortable. It was safe, and familiar. She didn't have to risk hurting anyone she cared about, or letting anyone down. It was in fact easy.

However, there was something else that kept her in that pit as well, her father - her family. She couldn't let go of that since it still to this day made so little sense. She needed answers, needed closure before she could finally let go of the horrors she'd committed in the name of rage and vengeance. So much about those events didn't make sense. And in a way she was haunted by her family and those events without knowing the hows, the whys, and ultimately who was responsible. As it had already been pointed out by a kindly stranger that none of those events made sense and something was deeply wrong. And even in her heart, in her bones she knew something wasn't right there. She just hadn't been able to prove her gut feeling right. Nor did she have the resources to go on such an adventure.

"It makes sense well enough, I suppose." She didn't sound all that certain. But her uncertainty wasn't in the faith, it was where her thoughts lay in that very moment. Thinking about her family, the Sith, their deaths, a part of her knew she would never be able to move on until she figured it out. She needed answers to be able to let go and move forward in her life. Somehow, someway she was going to have to close this chapter, and leave her past where it should remain.

After all, it was nearly an impossible task to move forward when you were so bound to your past and the horrors there that haunted your waking life. A past, that had been her reason for living for so long. Revenge, it had been all she knee for so very long. Something she was more than happy to die for, happy to become the monster she so feared to see it through. And somehow, she was going to have to learn what life was like without chasing that death. The death of both body and soul. She was going to have to learn who she was without that rage in her heart. Right now, leaving all of that behind, was quite the task. One task she'd not asked a soul to help her with, in her stubborn pride.

Cora sighed quietly, "I have to ask, why did you ask me here? We barely know one another, so I'm not sure I understand the purpose."

[member="Tarissa Cadalthor"]

 

[Vaena Askari]

[member="Cora Passek"]


"Because I like you, because I believe you can accomplish great things and because you're wasting your potential. You're trapped in a pit of sorrows and guilt...but that's the easy choice, isn't it? A comfortable one. As long as you tell yourself that you're evil and vile, you have no incentive to change. That's why you don't try," Tarissa said bluntly. There, shots fired. It was very, very unlikely that this talk would have an amicable end. Siobhan would have tried to be more considerate, but Tarissa was not tactful. The blunt force approach would probably push Cora away, but ideally also make her learn long-term.