Godfrey Calainon

They'd been boys together. And, somehow as Alaric marched out of his military tend after the second to last day of the games, it was the child Godfrey saw briefly in his face, again.

Alaric had been a mere five years of age, and Godfrey a wizened seven, when they'd first met all those years ago. After the amicable surrender of Kolchis, and the grand welcome the people who had overthrown the god-king had given the emperor -- Amira, herself, presenting the dead monarch's severed head to Roderick on one of the god-king's own silver platters -- Roderick had seen fit to bring the Calainons to his court. Amira -- though she claimed to be four years older -- was a mere thirteen years of age at the time, Godfrey seven, and little Tristan only two. Godfrey's sister had made a fine show of toting around her baby brother with one arm, her other hand clutching Godfrey's: last vestiges of an ancient, storied royal House, and full of healthy sons to contrast Roderick's own childlessness. All he had to show for his marriage was a buried child. The first expression Godfrey had ever seen on Empress Elaine's face had been a false smile; the second -- a scowl. Amira had been beaming, and Roderick...Roderick hadn't been able to take his eyes off of her. Godfrey's own glance had shifted to the others at the table.

He could still remember the first moment he'd clapped eyes on Alaric, close at the Emperor's side. How big his eyes had appeared in his face at that age, wide and watchful, and Godfrey had smiled. He'd broken free of Amira's hold, and hurried up to the child, remembering to bow, before telling him that he thought they had very serious business, indeed, to conduct: Alaric simply had to show him all the very best spots to play hide and seek. It had been a bit of a game-within-a-game. Amira had made it clear that she expected her brother to befriend Roderick's, but it hadn't proven a difficult or odious task -- it had, in fact, proven great fun, and within only a few minutes he'd forgotten that he'd first approached him out of a sense of duty moreso than one of entertainment.

Yet, it had proven the trajectory of their entire lives, really, that strange conflict of duty and affection. And, upon the morrow, such was to be made manifest by the games, themselves. They'd drawn their names some time ago, and Godfrey and Alaric were to go toe-to-toe. That Roderick would undoubtedly prevail -- Godfrey, for one, did not mean to beat him even if he could -- in the group melee was a matter beyond question, but the conflict between Alaric's team and Godfrey's would doubtless prove real enough, and each of the two men had been named captain of his own group.

"Lords Stafford and Malconaire," began Godfrey, grinning, as he clapped Alaric on the back. "And who can say what your mystery knight might offer with all those antlers...I do not envy your task upon the morrow."

Godfrey's own Astairan contingent was not much more promising (and perhaps, in truth, worse), featuring the smallest, skinniest boy he had ever seen outside of starving beggars, his apparently invulnerable horse (that was something, at least, if a touch unnerving in its own way), and a man who looked like he had possibly never bathed but who did, decidedly, give his all, having once bitten Arthur to get the upperhand, on a previous day. Still, to even out his odds, Godfrey could boast Tristan and Sebastian, both young and redoubtable knights in their own right. Alaric, on the other hand, filled out his ranks with Bartholomew who, though undeniably a doughty warrior in his day, was also the oldest man to have entered in the tournament that year.

"Still, to an accomplished general such as yourself, doubtless these obstacles will prove as nothing." He winked, with an encouraging grin, hoping to wring the hint of a smile from his ever-serious friend. Such expressions he always viewed as little triumphs, greatly to be prized -- more so than any trophy he might garner tomorrow...particularly given that such might prove to complicate matters regarding a certain act of thievery tomorrow.

He paused, mischief glittering in his eyes. "Do you imagine a single night will prove sufficient to teach my Astairans to speardance?"

Kolchis was known for its so-called Speardancers, legions trained with specialized weapons made from a particular wood that grew only in Kolchis, which enabled their spears to be used as such, as well as enabling them to be used as quarterstaffs and javelins and everything of the kind, when needed -- even famously utilized for pole vaulting in a particular battle, a century ago. It was said that the method of fighting looked much like a dance, when performed skillfully (and thus swiftly and flexibly), with fighters whirling and bounding, which was the origin of the name. It was a weapon, and a method of fighting, that had once led the god-kings' legions to conquering near as much as Roderick now had, centuries later, and it was a martial art known to take a lifetime to achieve. Godfrey was an accomplished Speardancer, and Tristan could creditably perform the basics (though he had chosen, largely, to focus his training more in standard Varmont knightly practices), but they were alone on their team proficient in this art.

Aria Stafford did not like him. She had made no effort to conceal it, and in truth, Godfrey found the fact rather amusing. It was hardly surprising that she would not, in truth. Few held much tender regard for their conquerors and, though Godfrey was from Kolchis, he doubted she made much distinction between a Varmont Queen's brother and Roderick's own in terms of her feeling towards those who had fought for the emperor. But Alaric was no bad company to keep, and Godfrey had run into the erstwhile princess in the library often enough to observe that she had, indeed, taken his advice. He was glad of it. It would keep her alive, and that was precisely how he wanted her.

Since Eilionora had agreed to Roderick's terms (a fact which did not much please Godfrey), she and her sister had been permitted greater freedom to roam the palace, and both had proven rather keen, it seemed, to come to the library. As a favorite haunt of Godfrey's own, he found he saw far more of them when he was at the palace than he ever used to. But he was more interested to do so, now. Amira had told him of Arthur's miraculous recovery -- and of Aria's involvement therein.

It was risky, but perhaps it was time. Godfrey spotted Aria at a shelf and, turning, he took a book from nearby and approached her. He held out the volume to her, thick and old and worn.

"Are you looking for this, my lady?" inquired Godfrey. "I'm here to return it to the collection. I shall tell you a secret," he added with a small smile. "I rescued it from Roderick's flames, so you'll not wish to be caught with it in hand. But I doubt he'll be in here enough to note, now, that its reappeared, should you come visit it now and again. The Emperor is not much of a reader -- alas for his empire."

It was a tome of remedies -- the magical kind. He leaned against the bookcase behind him, folding his arms over his chest, providing a visual block for anyone who might happen to glance in their direction, should she wish to leaf through the book.

Godfrey had not attended the Malconaire festivities lightly. There were matters here to be settled upon, and Godfrey meant to take them each in hand. It was no secret, to those who dwelt upon such things, that the old powers of the world were most alive and well here in Astaira, and few places were more ancient and grounded in such truths than Malconaire.

It had been difficult, before, to make quite the study of the place, the people, that he'd always wished, when Edmund had been so much here but, now that he was not...Though Godfrey wished to see that breach healed (only for it to end in blood when the time was right), this moment presented an opportunity all the same. Godfrey knew what these women were, after all: theirs was weirding blood, the same as his own: another of the four pillars that upheld the earth in its current course -- though, he suspected, they knew it not.

Brigit, particularly, was of interest. She, after all, had the distinction of being one of the few surviving accused witches left in all Astaira. Most of those rumors had been made of nothing, but this one? This girl was a Malconaire, and Godfrey had researched the claims. And he'd taken every opportunity to observe the boy she was said by magic to have healed. Despite being a standard bearer in a battle particularly noted for its ferocity, the steward had not a mark upon him, fit and able-bodied as the day he'd left for war, apparently carrying on an undinted reputation for scaling buildings, climbing trees, leaping bonfires (which evidently was a confusing Astairan pastime), and running across rooves, to boot. Certainly, these were not the usual activities of a veteran who had so narrowly survived such a hideous battle. Godfrey knew enough of warfare to know that.

Brigit had struck him, at the so-called Ice Ball, as someone not quite what was to be expected and, in truth, he liked that about her. She danced as close to saying what she really thought, it seemed, as one might. She'd nearly called Roderick absurd to Godfrey's face, and implied him as heartless.

It had been, as it always was, a ridiculous thing to smile and say with a straight face that Amira and Roderick were wed for love. It was the truth of the thing on the face of it. But two less suited people he could hardly imagine. Nevertheless, he'd had no occasion to say more as a page had summoned him to Amira for some article or other, and he'd quickly taken his leave. Their interactions since had been few and far between, save a few fleeting moments exchanged when occasionally visiting with Edmund or Tristan at Malconaire, but Godfrey did not see this as particularly troublesome. Brigit's whole manner suggested one of a wary disposition, and he hardly wished to arouse any more skepticism than entirely necessary.

"What wisdom," his grandmother had once demanded. "Has any man ever shown in angering a witch?"

This interaction came readily enough. Straying into a back room of the house, where but few lights were lit, Godfrey had in truth hoped to do some investigating, taking in whatever he might more or less unobserved. Instead, he came face to face with the very young woman in question nearly as soon as he walked in the door.

Holding up the candle clutched in one hand to take in her features, Godfrey chuckled softly. "It is becoming a bad habit of mine to seek my solitude only to intrude upon yours. Pray, forgive me, Lady Brigit."

He paused. "But I am being rude. I had quite forgotten your sister and...brother's happy news." He paused, allowed a little confused discomfort to show on his face. It had not taken a very great deal of observation to see how little Brigit cared for Cassimir. "Please, allow me to offer my most hearty congratulations to you on their behalf. I have little doubt the people of Malconaire will rejoice in the opportunity to keep Lady Eithne here amongst them. She seems most at home amongst the trees."

did a 3 card draw for my man godfrey and got

viii of pentacles

iii of cups reversed

ace of cups

so for this draw i didn't have a particular meaning ascribed to each card. common meanings include past / present / future, mind / body / soul, situation / action / outcome, etc and i just said -- 'yes!' to all of these hahaha (which i acknowledge isn't what ur ~supposed to do but this is fiction so im going w it).

VIII OF PENTACLES

so 8 is the number of ~action, pentacles that of earth, body, practicality. for my pack, the card depects a youth crafting coins. seated on a simple bench, he is hard at work, surrounded by nothing save his craft and a wall upon which he hangs each as he finishes them, save one discarded upon the floor by his seat. in the far distance you can just see a city to his back. the rest of the card is utterly consumed in blank space. he has turned his back to society, to nature, even to comfort. all that matters is perfecting and pursuing his devoted practice. this is deeply godfrey -- his end is all that matters, all else bends to it

III OF CUPS REVERSED

upright, this card depicts three figures dance together, raising their chalices towards the sky, a bountiful harvest at their feat, but reversed, they are pouring out their cups. cups is the suit of water, of emotion. three is the number of creativity, community, and growth. the iii of cups is a celebration of community, a coming together to realize our potential as a group, but this one is reversed. these aspects of godfrey are blocked and, sure enough, the man ~is ultimately deeply solitary, keeping even his deepest hopes and goals entirely to himself. he pours out his relationship potential into emptiness.

i do think there's also smth interesting for godfrey, particularly, in the three itself. he has two siblings, each of whom are, in their own unique way, equally alone. the calainon unit is essentially at its core lonely.

but, and this is sort of something id not considered sm for him -- this being the suit of emotion -- its not just that godfrey is alone. its that he feels it: he's lonely. i think of him as so consumed in his task -- as the first card indicates! -- that he barely had time for such things, but i think ive got it backwards. he consumes himself in these tasks in part to escape these feelings.

ACE OF CUPS

the ace indicates new beginnings, raw potential, and immense possibility. cups represent water, emotion. (i was so surprised when i drew two cups for godfrey who i think of as one of my most emotionally repressed characters! but maybe that's the point...) a hand extends from the clouds, cradling -- offering -- in its palm a chalice which, itself, overflows like a fountain, running into the vast waters far below. a dove, carrying a eucharist, descends from the heavens, swooping low over the chalice, almost suggesting perhaps communion wine, which is to say, sacrificial blood, pouring into a vast ocean of the same. the holy grail. the cup bears a "W."

i wasn't sure what the "w" meant, so i looked it up. apparently its a bit of a fraught topic, but its generally considered to be a "reference to the card's creator, Arthur Edward Waite, the element of Water, the concept of Wisdom, or even as an upside-down 'M' symbolizing the divine union of the spiritual and material worlds. The letter also links to the Grail myths [i couldn't figure out how tbqh and im a bit of a nerd abt this stuff so?? the grail w take w a grain of salt id say] and the idea of a spiritual awakening and emotional, intuitive nourishment." apparently, water lilies blossoming is another idea sometimes taken from it.

according to the wisdom of the internet, this card "depicts the universe's love and compassion pouring through you, signifying a new beginning in love, happiness, spiritual awakening, and emotional growth. This card symbolizes being a vessel for divine love, encouraging openness to receive and give compassion while following your heart's journey." but tbqh i don't think that's quite what it indicates for godfrey, particularly informed by the context of the other cards. i think godfrey has made a sacrifice of himself, of his love, for what he believes is the greater good. he's not a man. he's a vessel. he's offering up all that he has to give. we're not talking new relationships or happiness, we're talking an offering, a bitter sacrifice in order to achieve a new world. that's the love, the hope, and the potential offered up in godfrey's heart.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

so at first when i drew these cards, i was kinda shocked (except the first one i was like 'that's soooo him') but honestly thinking abt them as a trilogy, as they're intended to be, i think they actually really make a ton of sense for our special little guy, and remind me that i really need to explore his emotional depths a lil more -- despite his best efforts, mind you! and now ive got some v handy symbols to help pull that off.

its really interesting bc, as you can probs tell from the calainon heraldry hahaha one of the main tarot cards i associate w him is the tower, so i was expecting more doom and gloom, but this really made me consider how to him its ~not, to him this is a gift, this is an act of hope. desperate hope, yes, but hope notwithstanding. he ~is afterall, ultimately tryna create a better world, and that's ~why he's closed himself off and dedicated himself to this, both the sacrifice and the priest.

smth else that's interesting is that, in a way, i have always kind been hold ing in my head that, in some v real sense, (tho ~godfrey doesn't see it this way! ~he sees it v much as all of this being ~for edmund!!!) that @forgottenedmund is the unwitting sacrifice forced into this terrible position by someone who loves him -- i always saw godfrey as probs ultimately placing them both v much in an abraham and isaac situation, will he ultimately sacrifice the one he loves the most bc he believes it is what is required of him? -- but realizing now that he thinks of ~himself as the sacrifice...im not saying it changes things ~necessarily, he's still doing all that to edmund while telling himself its ~for edmund, etc, but...idk its an intriguing extra layer im gonna have to suss out a bit and im excited by that potential!

ok so my man godfrey (heh -- will that joke ever get old for me? N O! ;D) is back at it again w a lil patented lunacy! he informed me this morning while i was waking up no less (me: godfrey, plssssss its wayyyyyy too early for this godfrey: shut up im THINKING) that he has thoughts beyond just alliances for the marriages of ppl of the following families (and their various offshoot families)

CALAINON

CALLEARY

MALCONAIRE

STAFFORD

boy-o thinks that a series of interconnected marriages (or...affairs, he doesn't really care so much as there're resulting kids who can now boast ~multiple big 4 bloodlines...) should be arranged like a web for these ppl to help contain the gods when they do return?????? tbh idk what the man's on idk that that makes any sense or would work or anything once the spell is broken or whatever but???????? here we are laksjdfkljdsjf

no one will be surprised when i say that he esp wants to faciliate the rise of the calainons (specifically @forgottenedmund) so he esp wants to manipulate things so the line of calainon is imbued w more witchblood, so he thinks now that, as ive said, @forgottenarias should wed edmund so that he gets both her claim and her ~witchiness, and once he learns abt @forgottenbrigit i think he'll be tryna link her up w @forgottentristan since he himself has already bagged a calleary whoot whoot HOWEVER, if edmund wanted to marry ~both witches or whatever as long as aria's the principal wife/empress, uncle godfrey is in full support since edmund can do that!! edmund gets what he wants (within reason ;D rosie still has to die for the plot not to mention ~her love curse sorry kiddo) <3

so w house calainon duly armed w a wife from each of the other three houses, its now time to interlink ~those houses as well. beyond having special interest in the two witches for the calainons, i don't think he's ~super picky abt who weds whom as long as each house gets some intermarriage/bloodlines going on lakjdfjksdjf

HOWEVER, and i do think this is a key, he ~is hoping for loveless marriages ~specifically which sounds HORRIBLE but if we are going for the gods cursed the four families re those they love meeting the worst fate that that person fears most for them (which is by no means confirmed or anything!), well, one thing godfrey does NOT want is these families getting wiped off the map...which i think is part of why he's in no rush to actually wed @forgottenciara so far bc...he's kinda falling for her. he ~does plan to break the curse, but until that time he def wants these families more or less safe (except for rosie and eilia -- you two gotta go rip) and since the curse often results in the death of the loved one, well, he doesn't wanna risk it!! so loveless marriages it is <3 they can still be happy! its FINE! alksdjflkjsdfj but yeah, as long as they aint in love, godfrey doesn't particularly care who weds within which family...just so long as a series of intermarriages/affairs result in descendants who can trace their lineage back to two or ~more of those big four houses who fought the gods of old...

so yeah the @forgottenfinnegan x @forgottenaoife marriage? a stroke of genius! @forgottenguinevere w her malconaire blood (since that's so recent, now, only like 200 years back, im sure its known abt what w them both being great houses, since nobles generally keep meticulous records of their pedigrees?) and eoin w his calleary blood? great! @forgottenrian can now marry either a calleary or a malconaire and garbhan can marry into the ~other house, or if they wanna wait one of them can wed amira's daughter! its great! might even tryna arrange a marriage for my man lonan to someone, maybe shiv stafford, who knows! lajkdsfkljdsjf

"You really have outdone yourself, this evening, Lord Malconaire," began Godfrey, smiling, as he approached the other man. "Can we expect further entertainments to be hosted here, or do you imagine the preparations have overtaxed the ladies of the House?"

Malconaire's post-tournament gala was off to full swing, and Malconaire seemed to glitter as its denizens mingled, weaving here and there amongst the trees. The evening events had been slightly upstaged, not two hours before, by Roderick's impromptu announcement of his daughter's betrothal to his cousin, but the evening seemed more or less to have recovered with the Varmonts descending upon Cassimir's woodland fief.

Pausing, Godfrey at last stood alongside the lord, gaze sweeping over his black-upon-black attire, and he favored him with a blandly friendly smile. "I hear that you have, of late, found yourself betrothed. My congratulations, sir, and all my best wishes to the lady. I know," he laughed. "How little these matters remain in our hands, but I hope that the Ladies Eithne and Ciara may have much to discuss having entered, now, a similar state. Perhaps they may emerge with things to inform we poor men."

He imagined wedding bells would ring more swiftly for Cassimir more quickly than for himself. Though Godfrey was, himself, Kolchean, he thought it wisest to adhere to Varmont traditions, and Varmont betrothals tended to be long, drawn out affairs. Besides...Ciara and he both knew that their marriage might curtail some of her ability to act in...quite so many capacities as she now did. And they must, both of them, prioritize that, even if -- had Godfrey had his own way -- he would have married her long hence.

"Is there any truth to it?" asked Godfrey, gazing peering out towards the endless forests, branches tangled amongst the verdure -- and the growing dark. "Does the Old Forest truly devour men -- in one sense or in another -- if they are not attended by one of your blood?" His question was no mockery, nor was it a thirsty need for gore. It was a scholar's question, brows knit together with academic curiosity.

Godfrey had stolen away from the madness of Valentina's festivities to come to the edges of the wood, peering into the depths of the darkness, himself, with eyes always hungry for knowledge. He was unsure how long he'd stood here, trying to do as his grandmother had always told him, trying to expand his sense, trying to feel the magic wash over him, if it was here to be felt...Amira swore she'd gotten the knack of it, but his own powers...He had at last squeezed his eyes shut...and heard someone approaching. Somehow, he'd known without having to look, who it was.

Godfrey remembered himself, then, stepped back, turning to face the approaching young woman with a self-directed laugh. "But forgive me, my lady. I ought to be the last to ask anything so impertinent. I know what it is to be the recipient of such inquiries." His smile turned rueful. "You cannot imagine some of the wild questions I've heard about the Eternal Flame or the Great Calainon...Now, I suppose, I understand why they are asked.

"Pray, ask me anything you like. I could hardly deny you any curiosity, now, on any particular."

He paused. Eithne Malconaire was said to be Astaira's great beauty, and he could well see why, he mused with not impolite interest, as the moon cast its silver glow upon her. All the daughters of Malconaire were lovely in their way, but she was the most dazzling of all. He could see why his brother was smitten with her so. Smiling to himself, Godfrey looked away again. Tristan had said nothing of his fancy, but it had not taken much skill to observe how he had looked at her at the Ice Ball, nor how he seemed to react each time her very name came up. That Tristan was in love was no mystery to his elder brother.

just realized...idk that we've ever talked abt these two?? and i deffff think these two schemers have been interacting for aaaages!! in fact, im kinda wondering if, before roderick and bart moved in, if maybe there was some thought that marian and/or one ofher sisters might be a good wife for ~godfrey since her fam is such a big deal in the ovn? anyway obv those days are v much gone now ALKJSDFKLJSKJF

ok so as we know, my man godfrey (heh) entered in the tournament!! so some info there!

Name: Godfrey Calainon Participating Categories: Jousting, Archery Skill Levels in the Following – Melee (on foot): Level #4 Melee (on horseback): Level #4 Archery: Level #4 Jousting: Level #3 Overall: 15

godfrey would request ciara’s [favor]

godfrey is betting on himself, tristan, and edmund. 

and betting on his bro and nephew got him some good stuff <3

he himself was awarded a runner-up prize of 30,000 bc his team (of which, tbf, he was captain) came in second place for the team melee but, and ngl this is more important to him, @forgottenedmund won in that same category <333333 and ngl godfrey did not ~let him win or anything!!! that was def an earned thing and godfrey is soooo proud and 1000% told him soo!!!!1 (honestly tho if edmund hadn't brought home a single trophy, he'd have been proud of him for just participating esp when he knows the pressure he's under etc!!)

but i do think all this is sort of bringing godfrey to the realization that edmund is eclipsing godfrey re: what he can teach him, and its time to get him a more skilled instructor, but one he can still trust re: discretion, so i think rn he's contemplating @forgottentristan but he's still not 100% sold bc he ~does know that tristan's loyalty is divided in the sense that tristan thinks itd be better for edmund if, yknow, he doesn't have to fight and kill his own siblings????? and given how v wild and outlandish such a notion is godfrey's not 100% convinced he's the best man for the job lakjsdfakljsdkjf

like his sister, tho, godfrey's thoughts don't rest solely on the tourney, he's still got his eye on the ball, and i do think godfrey is -- whether bc he was told or just bc...like...he knows roderick by now etc -- pr much aware of the fact that this is a trap for the resistance, and he's determined that they ~not be caught bc, as we know, they've got a purpose to serve before they are!!

so, as ive said...elsewhere somewhere lkadjfkljsdf godfrey def offered his share of the winnings to @forgottenciara for the resistance but is def going along w the 'oh no they were stolen!' thing even if the resistance themselves ask bc he's v dedicated to keeping ciara's role as double agent a strict secret!! but he's also thinking it might be time to reach out more directly to them, himself...which might just mean it might be just abt time to draw edmund, himself, into some of his plans! aklsdjfksjdf

ok so let me explain! to be clear, he's not looking to introduce edmund ~to @forgottenronan or anything like that, but i do think he's thinking, if this works for you, lizzy, of like sitting edmund down and being like 'there's unrest here, edmund, but i think that can be useful to you in conquering your brother. make astaira your base. here, he is the butcher of kil-kennar -- you can be the savior' sorta thing

speaking of which, while amira is out there spreading rumors that arthur (and possibly sebastian?) have impregnated local darlings, eithne and aoife, smth happening more or less at godfrey's periphery, ~godfrey is looking to potentially go ahead and out the true identity of the butcher of kil-kennar, since roderick covered kinda had that covered up bc of marian's influence etc! i ~do think this (and i think godfrey is aware of what im abt to say) is a bit of a dbl-edged sword bc i think a lot of varmont supporters/true believers will be like HELL YEAH abt arthur being the butcher of kil-kennar, but also obv the astairans true believers will noT be best pleased!!! lkjsdfkljsdaf and that's def what he's banking on since he's looking to make astaira, as the largest country in roderick's empire, edmund's powerbase, etc.

i do think he'll also be encouraging edmund to 1) repair things w @forgottenroisin (just long enough for her to tragically die courtesy uncle godfrey roderick ;D) and 2) to cozy up to the staffords -- he will noT be best pleased if he learns that @forgottenarthur has already made some significant inroads w @forgottenarias ngl lkajdsfkljdskf (godfrey, michael bluth voice: him?) i do think he's also ok w the rumor getting out abt edmund having potentially impregnated roisin bc he plans to ~also spread the rumor that they're star-crossed lovers that roderick cruelly parted, and that this is part of why you, as an astairan, should really accept edmund as deeply pro-astairan w all ur best interests at heart!!!! since the malconaires command a lot of loyalty in astaira etc

he's also gonna be tryna make more substantial inroads w the malconaires, himself. idk how stoked he'd be abt @forgottenamira approaching @forgottenbrigit the way she just did but...here we are! lkadsjfkljdsf if he learns of that, he'll def do his utmost to spin it like he does lakjdsfkljdsf but anyway, between edmund and tristan spending sm time there he's optimistic he can get in there and get a lil trust going so that they'll be willing to trust in him when things inevitably go badly for them etc bc he's like 'this whole situation is fully a tinderbox its just a matter of time that it ~will go badly for them' esp bc he knows brigit was already accused of witchcraft etc so yeah!!

idk that he knows amira is also doing this lakjdfkljdsf but i do think he'll be investigating the sigil treasure map ~and i think he'll be lowkey alerting @forgottenroderick esp bc somewhere in here @forgottenrian will absolutely finally get a look at the stafford sword roderick's got and be like 'that aint evenstar' a thing he will not hold back in revealing which will make roderick FURIOUS btw!! he does NOT like to be tricked!!!!!!!! and he will know it was the stafford girls who tricked him!!!!! so he wiLL be lashing out in some way ive not yet discovered lakjdsfkljdsf so ~that's fun lakjsdfkljsdf godfrey is frankly all for this and wiLL absolutely be publishing all the gory details of whatever punishment he unleashes for the ppl of astaira to consume and rail against roderick etc all while simultaneously using it all to tempt roderick into finally unleashing the gods for him <3

i ~do think godfrey's a lil uncertain what'll happen to the one who opens the lock etc and unseals the gods so i do think he's v happy for roderick to be the one to do that, plus it does set up that delish narrative that roderick is the true evil that edmund must fight against to restore peace and justice to all etc! and if roderick ~literally brings abt the apocalypse (even if unintentially) well!!! that's pr good evidence of that ladksjflksjdfjksdf

also, if post-valentina's party is indeed the occasion on which @forgottencassandra is getting nabbed by the resistance? then obv we know godfrey will def be heavily involved w all the behind the scenes, but either way, awe all already know that he's def laying the groundwork for the malconaires to be accused of witchcraft lakdsjfklsjdfkjsdf and then also for them to disappear after that. i ~do think he had it in mind that malconaire, the place, would be obliterated by roderick...the guardian destroying themself to save malconaire def was NOT on his bingo card kdlasjflksdjfkljsdfk

i also think that @forgottenbrigit linking up w the resitance ~without him~ wasn't smth he predicted (or wanted!) but here we are lkajdsfkljsdf but yeah re: the heist he will def be confirming that he, himself, ordered for his stuff to be taken out to roderick, and confirming that he ~didn't to the resitance hahaha both efforts to protect @forgottenciara and her involvement in the whole affair from the various parties who might sideye her if they heard the opposite so yeah!