[Admittedly, the question gives him pause, but Wrathion supposes there's no harm in it.]
They are both much older than I. Sabellian was hatched before our father became...corrupted. He was Father's chosen lieutenant, and I suppose his heir, for many years. He helped save our flight--he took eggs and protected them, then returned them to the Dragon Isles when they awakened. We...did not always get along, because we both saw ourselves as the Heir of Neltharion, he and I.
Ebyssian...I met him first. I have a group of...operatives, and I had a few of them go to the Broken Isles when they were rediscovered. One of them found him living in Highmountain. When the old god N'zoth woke from dormancy, Ebyssian had left Highmountain by that point. He became vulnerable to the corruption. I sent him to a place where he would be safe, and supplied him with a potion that would help him reject the Old God's whispers.
Did you ever settle on who was heir? [ A pause. If Wrathion is sharing, surely he can too. ] I ask because the question of succession tore my own family apart before my arrival. If any of us survive, I will be surprised.
I hope, for Ebyssian's sake, that potion of yours worked, and he was freed from such corruption.
That was hardly long. I'm pleased you shared it with me.
We did, Sabellian and I. We both abdicated, and chose Ebyssian. There are...a number of reasons why he was the best choice. He was the least influenced by the legacy of our father, to say the least.
And with that, I imagine you can surmise that he was, indeed, freed. Ebyssian now serves Azeroth as the Earth-Warder, our flight's Aspect, as our father was before him. And, of course, before Neltharion was corrupted, himself. Sabellian is his general, and I am his diplomat, and we all work together for the good of our flight.
Though I am hardly doing a good job, being stuck here!
[His turn to pause. There are times where Wrathion is heedless of social cues, but he's been trying harder to be aware of such things.]
[ That ... actually never occurred to him. Aemond almost feels a little stupid, half-wondering whether Aegon could have actually abdicated — whether they both could have, and fled with the children, and Helaena, and their mother.
But no. They were bound, like or not, in an endless dance that would tear them all apart. Rhaenyra would have had their heads if they tried to leave. ]
At least you managed to sort yourselves out. Not many are so lucky. How did Ebyssian feel about being chosen? Surprised, I'd imagine.
Yes. Surprised, and humbled. But he had been giving us advice all along--good advice, to both Sabellian and I, and to Emberthal, one of our allies. Father had imprisoned her people for years--almost as long as Sabellian had been alive, but he knew nothing about her, and how could I?
[Wrathion's age was but a drop in the bucket to the others, comparatively.]
Sabellian and I were also faced with just how corrupt and insane our father had become, so... like as not, nothing to be envious of, I assure you.
An exceptionally measured response. [ And one he doesn't know that he's capable of. ] Do you wish for your brothers to be here? Their counsel might prove useful to us all.
On one hand, part of me does. I know Ebyssian's counsel would be useful to many, not just me, as you seem to have surmised. I am not so certain about Sabellian, but that is because he's a general, and I doubt an all-out war here would be a good thing.
But with things the way they were in Azeroth, it is probably better that they are there. Especially now.
no subject
They are both much older than I. Sabellian was hatched before our father became...corrupted. He was Father's chosen lieutenant, and I suppose his heir, for many years. He helped save our flight--he took eggs and protected them, then returned them to the Dragon Isles when they awakened. We...did not always get along, because we both saw ourselves as the Heir of Neltharion, he and I.
Ebyssian...I met him first. I have a group of...operatives, and I had a few of them go to the Broken Isles when they were rediscovered. One of them found him living in Highmountain. When the old god N'zoth woke from dormancy, Ebyssian had left Highmountain by that point. He became vulnerable to the corruption. I sent him to a place where he would be safe, and supplied him with a potion that would help him reject the Old God's whispers.
A long read. You have my apologies.
no subject
I hope, for Ebyssian's sake, that potion of yours worked, and he was freed from such corruption.
That was hardly long. I'm pleased you shared it with me.
no subject
And with that, I imagine you can surmise that he was, indeed, freed. Ebyssian now serves Azeroth as the Earth-Warder, our flight's Aspect, as our father was before him. And, of course, before Neltharion was corrupted, himself. Sabellian is his general, and I am his diplomat, and we all work together for the good of our flight.
Though I am hardly doing a good job, being stuck here!
[His turn to pause. There are times where Wrathion is heedless of social cues, but he's been trying harder to be aware of such things.]
You are welcome.
no subject
But no. They were bound, like or not, in an endless dance that would tear them all apart. Rhaenyra would have had their heads if they tried to leave. ]
At least you managed to sort yourselves out. Not many are so lucky. How did Ebyssian feel about being chosen? Surprised, I'd imagine.
no subject
[Wrathion's age was but a drop in the bucket to the others, comparatively.]
Sabellian and I were also faced with just how corrupt and insane our father had become, so... like as not, nothing to be envious of, I assure you.
no subject
no subject
On one hand, part of me does. I know Ebyssian's counsel would be useful to many, not just me, as you seem to have surmised. I am not so certain about Sabellian, but that is because he's a general, and I doubt an all-out war here would be a good thing.
But with things the way they were in Azeroth, it is probably better that they are there. Especially now.