Some things. I don't have the whole picture, however...
[he leans back against the wall, folding his arms]
I know that Hester is young, probably not out of her late teenage years. She's spoken to me, also of how she's used to everyone hating her outside of this situation because she moved around a lot when she was younger, and never really learned how to make friends. She's a lonely young woman who has attached herself to the Wizard, who is, as far as I can see, the first one that's shown her any kindness.
However, I also noticed that, after the first trial when I went to visit her, she was acting oddly, despite being clearly very upset earlier. She had an almost dream-like quality about the way she was acting, like she wasn't altogether there. I didn't know what was wrong with her, but when I mentioned it at the meeting, Connor told me about something called brainwashing, where someone becomes convinced that the reality they're living in is something else through magical or non-magical means.
Though none of this absolves the decisions she's making, it would explain her actions and would also explain both her disposition at the first trial and after it. She is not an unthinking, unfeeling creature; she's someone very young who is in a position that is far more than she ever thought it would be, or was not what was advertised.
Also, and more importantly, the Wizard seems to trust her and care for her. The best way to access those in power are through the things they care about; and to strengthen the bonds that Hester has already forged with some of us here is both a boon to her to perhaps ease her further away from the Wizard and a possible advantage for us, as it endears us to her.
Further more, there are powers even above the Wizard that are pulling the strings. He alluded to as much at the first trial. The more Hester trusts me--trusts all of us--the more information we could perhaps glean from her about who these people might be.
no subject
[he leans back against the wall, folding his arms]
I know that Hester is young, probably not out of her late teenage years. She's spoken to me, also of how she's used to everyone hating her outside of this situation because she moved around a lot when she was younger, and never really learned how to make friends. She's a lonely young woman who has attached herself to the Wizard, who is, as far as I can see, the first one that's shown her any kindness.
However, I also noticed that, after the first trial when I went to visit her, she was acting oddly, despite being clearly very upset earlier. She had an almost dream-like quality about the way she was acting, like she wasn't altogether there. I didn't know what was wrong with her, but when I mentioned it at the meeting, Connor told me about something called brainwashing, where someone becomes convinced that the reality they're living in is something else through magical or non-magical means.
Though none of this absolves the decisions she's making, it would explain her actions and would also explain both her disposition at the first trial and after it. She is not an unthinking, unfeeling creature; she's someone very young who is in a position that is far more than she ever thought it would be, or was not what was advertised.
Also, and more importantly, the Wizard seems to trust her and care for her. The best way to access those in power are through the things they care about; and to strengthen the bonds that Hester has already forged with some of us here is both a boon to her to perhaps ease her further away from the Wizard and a possible advantage for us, as it endears us to her.
Further more, there are powers even above the Wizard that are pulling the strings. He alluded to as much at the first trial. The more Hester trusts me--trusts all of us--the more information we could perhaps glean from her about who these people might be.