Everything Comes to (Candle)Light

--== New Scene: Camp - Outside the Lair - Day 2, Morning ==-- Captios sits in deep thought, nervous about his next course of action. This decision is not a light one, it could easily backfire. But there is too much at stake. Possibly the entire world. The names of multiple antagonists of this realm have surfaced over the last few days, and Captios needs to find answers. He looks over to where he sees Alexa alone, takes a deep sigh and walks over to her. "I think we need to have a chat about some things that have been mentioned over the past couple days. It also seems like you've been avoiding me and I think we both know why", he says, unsure of the response.
Alexa sits there patiently, listening to Captios sigh and talk to her. The sunlight dances across her face as it finds pathways through the trees. She turns to face him, a calm expression on her face. "How long have you been in the Candles?"
Captios strokes his chin in thought. "When did you figure it out? I thought I could hide it but I think you're just that good." He looks at Alexa, his kind eyes signaling no harm. "I've been a Candle for about a year. I was second in my class at the Academy and they picked me up right out of school. Better than being a librarian." He shrugs, "We need to talk about Syn, and whatever she's doing with Gig. And the doctor. Here's the thing. If I fail, they're going to send someone else. I just want to understand. I just want to solve this. And if I need to, do some good"
"a year?" Alexa blurts out, feeling almost insulted. "If you've only been with them a year, I'm not sure they thought you would succeed." She stops herself. "Look, you're smart, and smart is good, but just being smart won't keep you alive. How much of the world have you actually seen? What contacts have you made?" "What information did they tell you to get anyway?"
"Maybe they wanted me to fail. I don't know? They're biggest thing was that you went to Avernus and since then everything has been suspect I guess. Don't worry I haven't told them about Syn, if that's what you're worried about. But something Ozy said is messing with me. He said that not all Candles are good people. I know it's true but the idea that they wouldn't move against Jacob if they knew what he was doing? I joined the Candles to make this world better. I'm not sure turning you in is he right call here. And I'm curious about something. Do you think Jacob has infiltrated the Candles?" It seems like stream of consciousness for a guy that is trying to figure shit out.
"Each Candle specializes in something. For most of us it's gathering information. Everyone has their own way of doing it, some can use less moral tactics." She thinks over stories she's heard of tactics used against Clemens, it causes her to shudder. "We look mainly for infernal threats, being in Avernus, I'm sure, has made them question if I'm compromised. I'm not, of course, but all they have is my word. I believe that Jacob is someone they're keeping an eye on. Thinking back on it I'm pretty sure he knew you were a Candle as well." She rocks back and forth in almost a playful manner. "The world is not black and white. Jacob is a problem, but for the Candles he is more useful in his current post. He procures things, there aren't many places you can go to get those sorts of things. But you," she lands an all knowing look on Captios "need to get better at reading people and situations. Tell me, what do you know about our companions?" She studies him, waiting to hear what he's observed.
It's not worth hiding things at this point. "Well from the conversation, it seems like Syn has made some sort of arrangement with Gig. We know the Candles wouldn't be happy about that. Look I think there's a lot here to unpack. Your guy Ford is a warforged. You know the Candles would want to dissect him." Captios is silent for a second and then continues. "I'm not trying to be threatening, I'm trying to understand. Why them?"
Alexa continues to stare at him. "You didn't answer my question. Syn and Ford are only 2 people we're traveling with. What about myself, Ozy, Astroix, Be'lania, and Clemens?" She pauses for a moment to reflect on his question. "Everyone deserves a chance to be good. Ford has shown me he is a good force, I want to protect that. Syn would be killed by now probably. I believe she has a chance to be a stronger force for good than evil. And besides, technically they're both property of Jacob Whyte anyway."
Captios fuzzles his brow. "That is fair. I'm trying to figure out Ozy. He seems to be genuine in his belief that he's awesome I guess? I couldn't understand what you meant when you said his maul absorbs dragon powers. I couldn't feel that during my spell. Astroix, I don't know what he is. But something tells me he is hiding something. Belania and Clemens, I haven't looked into. It was not part of my mission." Captios looks at Alexa, straight back at her. "Trust me, I'm trying to understand. If you want to keep secrets, that is fine. But we can get farther if we use our talents together."
"I'm not trying to hide. I'm trying to make you better. Maybe then you'll understand why I keep Ford and Syn near me. Syn was in Avernus with me, she was one of the people I saved in the prison. Back then she had the mentality that the only way for her to get justice was to kill everyone involved in slave trade, with Jacob Whyte as her main focus. If I told the Candles once we got out she probably would have, or they would have told me to kill her before the threat was too big. We've been traveling together for years. I've been showing her of smarter ways to help end slave trade. One without killing. She almost died in Nexus, I wasn't there to stop it, and she made a deal with Gig." "He's not a small force to deal with, he is strong and he sees. everything. He probably already has a plan for you and you may not have even met him. I just hope that the longer I'm near her, the more I can find out about Gig's plan. There's always a plan." She looks around at the party that sits a distance away from them. "I'm surprised you don't know about Be'lania or Clemens, there are many reports on them. Astroix is hiding something, did you notice anything about his bear form he took? And Ozy is what is called a Breaker. If you did any reading on the Cult of Gigareth you may have heard of it."
"I guess what I'm saying is, I don't know anything more than the standard stuff around the war that they are both associated with." His eyes light up when breakers are mentioned. "Is Syn also a breaker? I see patterns better than most. I may not see in real time but if you give me the clues I can put things together." Captios stutters, "I'm...I'm...I joined the Candles to do some good. And I'm not sure turning you guys in is good. I meant when I said that were in the middle of something epic. Somehow fate has brought us together. I think I might be here to help you." Captios chuckles. "It sounds crazy a guy like me believing in fate. I don't honestly, it's not a thing. But of all the people to audit you, the Candles chose me." All of a sudden he gets self conscious. "I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do here. I'm trying to be good. And I'm not sure what that means anymore."
Alexa looks at the naiive Candle sitting in front of her. "You are the one that decides what is good. There's no good way to put this, but I think the Candles put you here in hopes that I would kill you because I think you're a threat, and thereby giving them a reason to kill me. Regardless it's a shit situation."
"It is. We need to figure out how to serve this world while avoiding death I think." Captios is shaking. He's obviously scared. "We need to prove our worth if we are to survive."
"If it makes you feel any better, I wouldn't have killed you. I think they know my worth, which makes it that much scarier if they thought I was compromised. I know way too much. So, you say that if I give you clues you may be able to draw conclusions? So answer me this, Clemens and Astroix need a cure that needs Devil's blood. Is there a reason to believe that that blood can only come from a certain Devil?"
Captios strokes his chin. It's become his signature when he's thinking deeply. "2 reasons as far as I know. The first is that the magic is tuned to someone inorganically. The second is that the magic was created by someone with themselves which means you'd need their blood or genetic material to counteract it." Captios looks up with astonishment in his eyes. "Is it who I think it is?"
Alexa looks to Captios and just says three words. "It always is."
Captios looks worried now. "I think we're on the same team, right? Trying to do good in the world." It's obvious the young wizard is out of his element. "I've read plenty of books but this is way outside my experience. So different than the literature." Captios continues, eyes tearing up. "I joined the Candles to keep the world safe and for personal reasons. I'm not sure what I'm doing. I need guidance." Captios looks at Alexa, trying to figure out what to do next.
"We're on the same team, unless you have a hidden agenda I'm unaware of. All you can do is keep moving forward, and try to be as informed on the situation as you go." Alexa thinks of the threads of stories they have to follow. "There is a sickness spreading and killing people, Clemens and Astroix are trying to find a cure. Solus, Syn's friend, has a chance at coming back to life after a torturous life under Jacob Whyte, we have the chance to save her. Something is wrong with Ford's machinery and if we get the right Crystallis Crystal, we could save him." A pause. "Do any of those things sound evil to you? Any of them seem like something you'd want to fight for?"
Captios looks directly at Alexa now. He's trying to push the fear, the uncertainty away. "I want the best for this world, to find out who killed my mother, and be the greatest wizard to ever walk this world. In that order. None of those sound evil, but they sound like they aren't doing enough? I don't know but I feel for Syn. If I could get my mother back, I'd do whatever it takes."
"Well, you don't just become the greatest, you have to work at it. If you don't mind me asking, what happened to your mother?"
"She was murdered. I don't know by who. Part of the reason I trainer as a wizard and joined the Candles when I got the chance was to figure out who did it." Captios sighs. "I guess it's not worth hiding these things. Smart people figure things out sooner or later." He looks up towards the sun. It shines against him and he takes it in, closing his eyes before he speaks. "I think between you and I, we can be one step ahead of anyone. Who do we go after first?" Even after one day, Captios is different. He seems...focused.
"I'm sorry about your mother. Right now we have to focus on the green dragon ahead of us, and prepare for some less than fortunate news. Maybe from our passed out friend on your disc we can get some information. We also have to factor in the people we are traveling with. Astroix is an aasimar with a strong martyr complex, if we don't reel that in, we'll waste all our resources on keeping him alive, and kill ourselves when the really hard battle hits. Unfortunately there's never just one focus, but pieces that you have to keep track of and handle them as they fall."
Captios nods, understanding the gravity of the situation. "We get through this, we get the dragon, and then what? The best strategists are thinking next. Where do we go next? If you think about every possibility you'll never be surprised."
"well, then we deal with Solus. And Gig."