Chapter Text
Speech given by Archon Idrathan Maensithann.
My Kabalites, my adorators, my concubines, my slaves, my worms! You were gathered here to witness the pitiful end of yet another would-be usurper. What a delight, my crowd. Let us raise our glasses and cry in gratefulness for her betrayal, for the hours of entertainment while she dissolved screaming in pits of the finest acids.
You see me, standing, alive, before you. Am I not that much greater through this act? Am I not that much stronger now? Feast with your eyes, let your admiration shine upon me. Do you now want to take her place?
Hah, you think I am menacing you, telling you to stand down? Never.
There is no shame in betrayal, only in the failure of it!
Yes, Haerathe did plan for many passes to overthrow me. She did so by becoming my soldier, my squad leader, my dracon, wanting to see me bleed on the very sands in which she dissolved. She was ugly, let us not mince words, but her hatred was her crowning glory. It shone so bright, it eclipsed Illyanna, fairest of my concubines. Illyanna's beauty can be enjoyed by all, but Haerathe's hatred, her betrayal, it was for me. Only me. Such a precious gift, carefully wrapped in deceit, hidden for so long, and the more I showered praise and attention, the worse she was at hiding her hatred and distaste.
You might wonder why I clasped the betrayer willingly to me, but which one of you has never looked their slave in the eye, begging them to commit the irreparable, pretending to be ignorant a little longer, just for the rare delight of catching the snarl, frown or even blade.
No, Haerathe made me stronger.
She made you all stronger. She would not share her betrayal with anyone else, and so she culled the weak.
None of you managed to betray her. And for that, shame is upon you. There is no virtue in blind obedience - let each word that acquiesces simply bide your time instead. Patience is the betrayer's weapon, and you should keep it sharp at all times.
If cowards you are, and you dare not strike upwards, then someone below you will. If you are not cruel, and dare not strike below you, those who plan to overthrow you will know your weakness.
Betrayal is never wanton. It is ordered in the way the world is ordered, in the way that some are meant to rise and some are meant to grovel. If you do not aim for betrayal, you are the latter.
But you are members of my Kabal. Look above, below, to the left and right of you. Know who is holding your rightful place, and plan. Sharpen your envy and kiss your knives, and strengthen the Kabal of the Thousand Pains.
May those that are worthy of rising, rise, may those that aren't become ur-ghul fodder.