"Sorry, you're right. You didn't make that deal, but I very much got the impression you suggested it, and I think so did they. Doesn't that mean you - think it's a possible deal that your forest would benefit from?" Is that not how to diplomacy?

(Feather also tried workshopping ideas, and they shot down her ideas instead of trying to helpfully build on them, which is really annoying but maybe you have to workshop horrible ideas like permitted logging zones to get anywhere?)

"I mean, even if they do police each other and actually keep to such an agreement, how is it a good one? The forest's still being logged! And I'm sure eventually they'll ask for more zones instead of replanting the old ones, and you'll be in a worse position to say no."

"I did suggest it, because I do think we could benefit from it. Do you see no value in knowing where they'll strike before they do? When they're likely to again? Versus now, when frankly they are clearcutting and logging all they can, and we're stretched far too thin to police every single forest edge?"

Wait, what? "I thought the... proposed deal was for you not to fight them in the zones? Are you saying you're - giving up on the zones, to protect the rest of the forest, because you can't protect all of it? Because, again, I don't understand what's to stop them from logging the zones and then going back to logging everywhere else. Deals work when you're giving them something they don't want to stop getting, like plant growth, but here you're giving - not attacking them inside the zones - and when they've overlogged the zones, because they're foolish and greedy and short-sighted, not attacking them in the zones won't be worth anything anymore."

"...um. Are you saying that - some of them will clear their zones before others, and want to log the rest of the forest, but the others will stop them because they haven't cleared their zones yet and they don't want you to attack them too? I guess that might work, but only while most of them haven't cleared their zones - I guess I really don't trust them to replant sustainably. If they could do that they wouldn't need to log the forests in the first place."

"I also don't trust them to replant sustainably, frankly. I don't trust them an inch, and don't think you should, either. Not as a whole, anyway. I believe perfectly well that singular people will keep their word. Their children, and their children's children? Not so much. But it's buying time and giving us space to regroup and breathe. Which we need, right now.

"And yes, I think they would stop each other, if it means they'd lose out on the prizes of their deal. Plant Growth and peaceful places to log and the feeling of having power and control are all prizes they would think twice before risking."

Then maybe they should get the trustworthy ones in place and then keep reincarnating them forever Feather will determinedly not think about Reincarnation.

"So - it's the best you think you can get. You think it's better than no deal at all, or just the one about plant growth in exchange for not going after dryads. I understand that. But - do you really hope that with a generation's breathing space, the rest of the forest will recover? That you'll be stronger, and able to stop their children?"

"I - don't really know what's it's like for you. Obviously I'm not asking you to tell me, um, any strategic secrets. I just - I've always had this horrible feeling, that the forests only grow weaker with time. That time is not on our side. I'm - not used to thinking my children could get a better deal than I can. At best they'll get the same, because Ravounel Forest is strong or because the humans are focusing on you, but -"

Druids don't hope to build a better future. They only hope to preserve the present, to keep the future from being too much worse too soon. The great victory of Ravounel Forest, the thing that makes them better than everyone else, is that for centuries on end they haven't lost. Feather is considered a naive optimist, for trying to make something that, if it worked beyond her own wildest dreams, would merely prolong that miraculous stalemate.

This was a painful realisation ten years ago and it's still too painful to easily put into words today.

"... I don't think forests only grow weaker over time," says Voshrelka, surprisingly gently. "For a number of reasons, most of which I don't think it's wise to get into now, here in the middle of a convention and civilization. But if nothing else, we, as any living beings do, learn. If our memories are longer than theirs, it will be to our advantage. They forget things very easily, and are arrogant and self obsessed and think their way is the only way, and it makes them easier to counter."

She pauses, then adds, very softly, "... there's a spell I'll want to teach you, when this convention is over. The druids of Ravounel might already know it, but if they don't, they should. Come find me to make sure they have access to it before you head home, if you would?"

It's a terrible thing to teach, but war, true war, as civilization does it, without foresight or mercy or reason, is a terrible thing.

It's easy for her to talk about long memories, she's an elf! Any good Feather does has to happen in the next fifty years at best notthinkingaboutit notthinkingaboutit

"I will. Thank you." She's very curious what spell Voshrelka would decide to give Ravounel after meeting Feather and not at any other point in the last century, but - obviously she'll respect the request not to talk about it here and now.

"I wish we could have met a few days before we both came here. Maybe if we knew each other better, and could coordinate, we'd have gotten more done." Sigh. "There's never enough time, is there? What are you planning to do until the convention resumes?"

She's not sure if she wishes the same, on meeting before this convention. On one hand, it would have been better for this girl to have an instructor before she bumbled into politics like a baby bird out of the nest. On the other hand, then she would have had to teach her. Ugh. She will merely nod, because that's easier than attempting to words.

Instead she says: "There never is. But I will be spending this time prancing around being a soft and friendly druid that has clearly never done anything wrong in my life, who was cruelly harmed by the terrible Asmodean regime, and who only wishes for the betterment of all life everywhere, civil and non. And casting Plant Growth. It elicits sympathy, which makes them... I suppose the comparison is think that I am like a well meaning dog, just looking for a kind master, instead of a wolf. But it does not make it true."

Hmm. "Well, I hope that works for you. I want to help people too but - I don't think I know how to, to strategically pick the people who are powerful and important and their opinion of me matters. While still needing my help. Or how to - pretend I'm doing it because I like helping people and I just happened to stumble on them."

"...do you know what happened to the children Liushna died protecting?"

"I and a helpful wizard got them down off of the roof and sent them to the church of Erastil. I cast a druid spell to make a nourishing banquet for the same church a couple hours ago. The last I saw, they were fine." She is carefully eliding over how this was all the wizard's idea. See? She's so good at being so nice and friendly!

"Oh good. I'll go there to ask what will happen to them, if they're orphans... Maybe I can help somehow? I'm not really using the money I got for being a delegate. I'm not sure what spells up to third circle would help people, besides healing and I guess plant growth. And giving out goodberries. I guess maybe diagnose disease? Ant haul? Making something with wood shape? All those only help one person, though, I don't know a better way of helping many people with low-level spells than just using them all on goodberries."

"Ant Haul will be necessary for cleanup, you can either cast it on yourself or others that are doing such chores as handling the dead. Many will thank you for it. Wood shape would be useful for fixing their houses, but won't scale very well. I recommend against Diagnose Disease for similar reasons, it doesn't scale well, doesn't help very much, and you can better help people fight off diseases by helping them be healthy. So, Goodberries are a fine idea and will scale very well, they fill in gaps in nutrition. Even though it's summer I think they've been having some sort of food trouble." Which, for the record, is completely bizarre to her. Summer is the time of plentiful food. She could understand if people were concerned about not having enough to last through the winter, but really guys, this isn't hard. Just go outside.

"I'll do Goodberries then. If someone's hungry or wounded it's more important than helping them at work. And I'll check in with Laia to see if she needs anything, and - if Liushna's going to be raised, can you tell me, or tell her I'll be looking out for her?"

"Yes."

"Alright. Then - I guess I'll see you later?"

Nod. "Yes. Luck, skill, and sanity in this mad hive."

"And hope that the mad hive doesn't swarm," Feather agrees.