Fae

I swear I draw other things too I just never remember to post them. Take this sketch anyway.

The silent

I am not actually very good at decorating!

I know it’s not really outright stated, but I feel like Necro asking Neow “is it even possible?” seems to me like she knows she’s faced off against the Architect several times and is frustrated that he isn’t dead yet. I don’t feel like that’s something she would be as likely to say if she thought this was her first climb — I think she would be more blindly optimistic and confident that she would be able to successfully pull it off. She’s endured countless failed climbs and probably feels like the task is impossible now because of her numerous failures. Plus Neow saying “Architect…weakening…we stronger…” implies that she feels like with the knowledge Necro has gained from past ascents, Necro will surely be strong enough to annihilate the Architect this time (though I suppose you could also interpret this as her trying to give Necro sans-her-memories-of-past-climbs an inflated sense of confidence in what she believes to be her first time facing off against him). Furthermore, Neow telling her “he…still…breathes…” seems to me like she’s aware that Necro knows he isn’t dead yet. She knows that Necro has tried (and failed) in the past and is trying to fuel her rage further so she doesn’t give up.

Also, I feel like it only adds to her vengeance and rage against the Architect further if Necrobinder remembers and is unable to forget her past ascents. I think she’s fully aware that Neow is reviving her, but rejects the “puppet” label for herself (see above: one of her interactions with Orobas) as she believes she is fully in control of her own autonomy; she probably sees Neow’s revivals as a way to better ensure her success. From Necro’s point of view, Neow is not controlling her; she willingly decided to make this deal with Neow reviving her out of her own volition. Plus, she’s an undead lich now, so she no longer has a normal human brain that can be as easily manipulated by Neow like Ironclad and Silent. I feel like she’s in a similar situation as Defect (a construct, also rebuilt itself differently so Neow can’t wipe its memories anymore) and Regent (Starrian, of a different species, can regenerate himself). I wonder if she obsesses over her mistakes from her previous climbs…what she could have done better…and if that only makes her more restless because she can’t forget.

This Epoch with Pael is probably weak evidence but to me I sort of imagine the extended dialogue to be more like this when Necro approaches Pael:

Necrobinder: I’ve tried so many times to kill the Architect and I just can’t seem to do it. Every time, I keep failing. What do I even do?

Pael: Killing Father isn’t the answer.

Necrobinder: You call that thing your father!? Look, I’m sorry, but your father killed mine. He killed my whole family and everyone I care about. He must pay for everything he’s done.

Pael: Killing him won’t bring any peace, though.

Necrobinder: It will bring me peace once I know he’s dead.

Pael: I still don’t agree, but if you so insist…here, take a part of me. Any part you like. This will help you get his attention…