Scientific

Not much to say so far. Diascia is further along in her career - she's an Aquatic Ecosystem Tweaker - so I'm going to use her as the heir. Ambitious will offset the lack of Fishing skill nicely, and since Symphonic is nowhere near cleared, I'll be able to offset her grumpiness with super happy fun snow angels.

I mentioned on the thread I'm keeping that I'm using the lightless hole I intended to kill people in as her fortress of solitude - she's an evil loner and doesn't mind the darkness. The witch I have my sights set on will freeze to death when he's no longer useful.

Stupid apples.

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And so it falls to me.

I am the heir now, if only because I say so. My name is Diascia.

My sister, Daisy, is too interested in herself. She doesn't see what I do. Maybe she doesn't want to. Nobody selected the heir, so I'll take the task. Eucalyptus is younger than I am, so she listens to me.

Grandmother remembers fantastic devices - things that were only possible through technomagic, miracles of science. To a lesser extent, I can almost see into Father's thoughts. His peoples' secrets are centuries ahead of our primitive technology, and I know the humans would have stolen every one of them, even if they couldn't yet understand them.

It wouldn't do to let others in on our knowledge, not yet.

Regardless, we need the power of the old world, and it isn't like there's anything left on Athane for us to destroy.

Like Grandmother before me, and all my aunts and my uncle, I am a working woman. I will accomplish my goals before acquiring a mate and children. It might take years to get the clearance to even touch Father's ship, much less to dismantle it. The power source that allowed him to travel at the speed of light is self-sustaining, and I think I should be able to repurpose it for more practical uses. We aren't going to need to travel to the homeworld, by the time I - and my descendants - are done.

I have my eye on a witch boy. I have no real interest in things relating to sex, but since it will be years before I am ready to perform my duty, the child will have just become an adult. Plenty of time for him to serve whatever purpose I find suitable for him.

Assuming he proves worthy in the intervening time.

He will, of course, be honored to fulfill whatever task I set him to, beyond ensuring the bloodline. There is no greater honor than serving our family - even if not all the humans are aware of it yet.

My uncle is not as useful as Grandmother thought he'd be. He's a useless songwriter.

What point is there in simple music?

As to my siblings.

Daisy is currently working her way up through the ranks of the criminal element. She plans on taking over. Maybe she'll bring in the protection payments from other families.

Eucalyptus ... she's following in our uncle's footsteps, somewhat. But I have a plan for her.

There is a colony of faeries on the far side of the moon. It's said that they brought a fully grown green dragon with them from the homeworld - why in all creation they would have one, I have no idea - and they feed humans to it in some kind of ritual.

Faeries alone have power over nature. A green dragon is practically bound to the land.

If we can appease the faeries, perhaps they'll help us in the terraforming efforts. The Creator alone knows why they tolerate the endless winter anyway.

When my younger sister is ready, I'll send her to them.

Hopefully the dragon isn't especially hungry that day, but if it is ... well.

An offering of flesh would certainly sweeten the deal, wouldn't it.