Here's another thought - have you all noticed that there are not a whole
lot of Ernalda figures in the siege? I think that might be very
deliberate on Broyan's part. He doesn't want there to be "another way"
in the siege. This might also be part of that Vingkotling thing - I've
always been struck how the Vingkotlings are very powerful magical
rulers, but they lack Heort's pragmatic compromises (which I think is an
Ernalda thing). This is probably a struggle for Broyan and a source of
many angry storms. When forced to compromise or take another way,
Broyan's first reaction might be to storm and thunder - then as part of
the apologizing process ("sorry my storms killed your followers"), he
accepts the compromise. Or something like this - I think Broyan should
be someone who - although clever, even devious - is more principled than
pragmatic. When he makes pragmatic compromises - like allying with
Esvulari - he first demonstrates how much he hates making such
compromises and then cuts the deal as part of an apology, weregild,
whatever.
Just a thought.
Jeff
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