#though here we're talking about strategic oathbreaking - if Argo was much more preoccupied with his trustworthiness

[thunderboltfire]

I've seen "draw Your character as a villain" used on various sites as a fun character design excercise, but when I've deeply considered the turn of events needed for Igna to become a villain it turned out that a) I've avoided it narrowly b) I've ended up with an AU that's very interesting, but also it's so dark I'd feel miserable if I had to actually write it in heavy detail.

For it to happen, the only prerequisite would be that Argo would fail to get her out of inprisonment, which could easily happen for example if he'd keep his original promise to her and would keep his mouth shut about the fact she's a spellbreaker. As much as Igna is only a pawn and at times treated like a highly valued but ultimately expendable soldier, it would result in a catastrophic cascade of events.

No help gained in a trial to break her out -> no expedition intending to do it, and in a result the Covenant wouldn't form a spellbreaking unit either. Theria wouldn't get an ultimatum preventing her from being executed. The main problem with Igna remaining at Yrreth's mercy is that Yrreth's perfectly aware of the nature of her talents and a part of his original plan for her was to use her for his cause. Igna isn't very susceptible to blackmail, but considering Yrreth's dabbled in the manipulation of living beings' live magic, with unlimited time on his hands he would find a way to break her, either with torture or with specialised spells meddling with the target's perception and free will (possibly both used in concert). Maintaining a permanent mind control spell would cost him a lot, but he'd probably deem it worth the price anyway.

A few months pass, and the Covenant's troops become a subject of immensely precise, harrying attacks targeting especially magic defenses and battle mages' units. They are always accompanied by the reports of a warrior clad in a black, rune-inscribed armor that seems to be completely impervious to magical attacks.

As rumours spread, something piques Argo's suspicion. Perhaps it's the fact that Aquila (who's still alive, proving that her rider still lives) immediately perks up mere minutes before the attack, or the fact that the description of the abilites match perfectly, he manages to cross Igna's path on the battlefield. Surviving the encounter by the hair's breadth, he realises she acts against her will. Feeling guilty for being unable to help her while he should've and still having an unpaid life debt to her, he decides to try and pull her back from under Yrreth's influence. The process would be long, arduous and deadly while Igna would remain on Yrreth's leash, and if he'd manage to get any help in it, the Covenant would sooner see her dead than captured.

But even assuming he'd be successful, that each curse binding Igna to Yrreth would be broken, she'd still be considered a traitor - even if she acted under a magical influence, at this point she's killed dozens, and has done enough damage that even if she isn't executed on the spot, the Wanderers won't ever take her back in due to her reputation. Hunted by Yrreth from one side, rejected by the other, her honor stained and her future ruined, she has nothing to come back to and no aspirations left. Except maybe a burning, animalistic need for retribution for how much has been taken from her.

#Isaldi #villain AU #doodles #non-canon #It's very much a “time traveller moves a chair” type of situation #though here we're talking about strategic oathbreaking - if Argo was much more preoccupied with his trustworthiness #vs deciding he'll sort it out later we'd end up with this #an interesting exploration though Igna is enough of a punching bag as it is #and the idea of her crossing blades with Argo sort-of makes me sick to my stomach #as much of a good fencer he is he would be at a significant disadvantage - worse armor and much less leverage provided by a weapon #If she wouldn't come to her senses it'd put him through the hoops just not to get killed #essentially this AU would result in a flipped script where Igna does the same function on the other side of the barricade #bc of this doodle I've needed to think about Yrreth's house emblem #winged 8-figure ouroboros it is #in a detailed version it's a snake eating its own shedding skin - #mountain elves' coats of arms often come not from actual heraldry but from ancestors' professions #they've had way more dynamic politics than lowland elves #digital sketch #thunderboltfire's art