CHAPTER 8:

RANNI'S CONFESSION

Harry and Hermione left mother and daughter to their own devices for a while, on Ranni's request. On occasion, they heard a startled or angry exclamation from Rennala. At one point, they heard her furiously shout, "RADAHN DID WHAT?!"

Eventually, Ranni emerged. She looked over to them both. "Know then that thou hath done me a great service, both of thee. Thus, I am in thy debt. I am returning to my Rise to obtain some Larval Tears I hath in storage, but once I am done, we can discuss matters further."

"Larval Tears?" Hermione asked.

"Remnants from Silver Tear Mimics," Ranni explained. "I believe they art the means needed to return those unfortunates to something resembling normality, a catalyst needed for rebirthing. They shalt never regain their memories, but mayhap they can regain a better existence than they hath now."

"We'll return to the Three Sisters by Apparition, okay?" Harry asked, before his eyes narrowed at Ranni. "And I think we need to discuss a lot."

"…Indeed."

Thankfully, Ranni was done with delivering the Larval Tears soon, having only lingered long enough to ensure that the process did indeed work. She led them back to her chamber at the top of her Rise, before sitting on her chair…and on top of a pile of books. Again. It would have been amusing, but there was a sense that grave discussions were afoot.

"You said you owe us, Ranni," Harry said. "Probably Hermione more than I, because she was the one who did most of the work, but still…if you are in our debt, then the least you can give us is an explanation, especially why you need a doll body, and why most people think you died along with Godwyn. I have had bad experiences with people keeping stuff from me."

"And yet, thou kept Delphi's parentage from her? Yes, I understand why thou did it, but did thou hath any plan to either tell her, or to mitigate the damage done by that newspaper?" Ranni asked. "Doth not misunderstand me. I understand thy reasons, and thine disquiet. But while thou hath done much for me, hath thou won enough trust from me?"

"Trust is a two-way street, Ranni, and so is loyalty," Hermione said. "Dumbledore kept us in the dark, and if he didn't, more lives could have been saved, even Teddy's parents. I agree with Harry. I would like an explanation."

"I see. This only repays part of my debt to thee. But know that there is little way for thee to verify what I am about to tell thee. Thy greatest advantage is that thou doth not come from this world, and thus lack many of its prejudices. To many, the Golden Order is a paragon of virtue and light. If thou doth seek to confirm my words, then prithee, travel the Lands Between, seek out the evidence for thine own selves, what little there is."

Harry and Hermione shared a look, before Harry gestured for Ranni to go on. The blue-skinned witch sighed. "Queen Marika was not the first to rule over the Lands Between, nor the first to be the champion of a god. Of these prior rulers, little need be said. But Queen Marika established the Golden Order on behalf of the Greater Will, one of the Outer Gods that vie for influence over this sphere. Anything that opposed the Greater Will or contradicted its dogma was exterminated or oppressed. The Misbegotten, the Omen, the Demi-Humans, the Nox of the Eternal Cities…my mother and Carian royalty were of Nox descent. My mother made the Caria line great once more after a decline. And not long after, Radagon came to conquer Liurnia for the Golden Order. Of this, thou know already. I was born into the union twixt my mother and Radagon. The Lunar Princess, heir apparent to the throne here."

"Rennala mistook you for someone called Renna, and that's the name you gave Delphi," Hermione said.

"Renna the Snow Witch was my mentor, a secret one for a time, before she moved from the woods to one of the Rises here," Ranni said. "'Twas Renna who taught me to question the order of this world, and to treat all, including power and ambition, with due caution. Over time, I became discontented with the current order, of the atrocities perpetrated against the Misbegotten, the Omen, and the Albinaurics."

"Albinaurics?" Harry asked.

"Gideon told me that they're like a form of homunculus, at least as far as I know," Hermione explained. "As they were not touched by Grace, they are discriminated against. Many are treated as slaves."

Ranni nodded. "When Godfrey was exiled, and my sire became Marika's consort, I, along with my brothers, were adopted into the family. With my mother falling into madness, I felt 'twas little for me here now. Marika and Radagon soon gave me more siblings, including the twin prodigies, Miquella and Malenia. They, along with myself, were proclaimed as Empyreans by the Two Fingers. 'Twas a great honour, they claimed. But I soon saw these titles as the shackles they were. My brother, Radahn, encouraged by Radagon, used his powers to bind the stars themselves, preventing their influence on my fate, permitting no fate barring what the Golden Order deigned to grant me. 'Twas around then, that Godwyn the Golden and Queen Marika approached me."

"Marika approached you?" Hermione asked.

"She and Godwyn knew of my discontent, for they, albeit in their own way, shared it. Between the three of us, we hatched an audacious plan. I would shed my Empyrean flesh, and with it, the fate the Golden Order had laid out for me. Godwyn would die too, for he was being marked for death for questioning the Golden Order once too many, and wished to die on his own terms, helping us. And Marika wished to ensure that the slate was wiped clean for whatever order prevailed, whether it be the one I desired, or an improved Golden Order. I would also act as a handy diversion, a scapegoat to blame if need be. I stole a fragment of the Rune of Destined Death, sealed away by Marika, and guarded by her loyal hound, Maliketh. With it, I fashioned blades, one which would slay the body, and one which would slay the soul. My body was slain by the former, and Godwyn gave himself willingly to the latter."

Harry and Hermione stared at Ranni, absolutely horrified. "Godwyn knowingly allowed his soul to be destroyed?" Hermione hissed.

"Slain. Mayhap it still exists somewhere. I certainly hope it does. He sacrificed too much for this broken world. And his body lives…after a fashion. Queen Marika then shattered the Elden Ring, provoking a war amongst her children to claim it. I desired no part of it, so I divested myself of the Great Rune I claimed, and began seeking ways to subvert the Two Fingers, for my destiny was not yet fully reclaimed. However, I also sent Blaidd and others to help those in trouble. Not the soldiers who fought, but the ordinary folk. But there were many failures…too many," Ranni said, looking to the side. "That, then, is the truth. I seek to free this world from the shackles the Greater Will hath imposed on it. Many would condemn me as a villain for my actions. What, then, say thou?"

After a moment, Harry said, "…I need time to think about this. Do you mind if…" Harry indicated Hermione and the door.

Ranni nodded. "Take thy time…"

Taking the elevator down, Harry and Hermione went to the Grace that would, if they wished, take them back to Roundtable Hold. They set up a Privacy Charm, just in case. "…So, what do you reckon?" Harry asked, his tone calmer than he felt.

"…I don't know how much of what she said is the truth. I mean, it fits with what I know of the Shattering, but we only have her word for it."

"My thoughts exactly."

"But Harry…for all that, she helped Delphi, helped her reconcile with you. Even though she didn't have to, even though there was no guarantee we would end up in her world, and any possible manipulation of us through Delphi would bear fruit," Hermione pointed out. "I think she simply did it out of altruism. In addition, she had us not only cure her mother, but also went out of her way to try and save those scholars. She's definitely ruthless and pragmatic, and I'm honestly worried about her association with Seluvis…but I think that she feels some remorse for how bad things got with the Shattering. If nothing else, we keep her as an ally for now. We help her, she helps us. I want another perspective compared to Gideon. And if we see enough that supports her side of things…"

"So, in the meantime, Constant Vigilance?" Harry asked. He had to admit, Hermione had a number of good points. "Then again, being cautious around the Two Fingers might be a good idea anyway. We've only been in this world less than a week, and we certainly don't know enough, especially not who to believe."

"And she's being reasonable at least, telling us to seek the truth ourselves," Hermione said. "So, we ally ourselves with her, at least tentatively?"

"Yeah. But we keep an eye on her…"

Ranni nodded when they gave her their answer. "Very well. An alliance of convenience is better than naught at all. And make no mistake, thou hath done me a great service in helping my mother. Even discussing my role in the Shattering pays only part of the debt."

"Now that I come to think of it, what will she do, now that she is lucid?" Hermione asked.

"She is currently…cleaning house, I believe the colloquial term is," Ranni said, smirking. "The scholars of Raya Lucaria betrayed her when she needed their help. Few there remained loyal to her. Now, they reap the rewards of their perfidy. She is aware of my plans now, and supports them. But we must take care, lest the Greater Will take too much of an interest in our affairs. Prithee, I task thee to report to me anything thou learn of Nokron the Eternal City, once seat of the Nox people. What I seek is rumoured to be there."

"Those are underground," Hermione mused. "Gideon told me of the Ainsel and Siofra underground rivers, and the rumours of the Eternal Cities, cast beneath the ground for heresy, so the legends claim."

"They art not rumour at all, cast down because they had weapons and powers that threatened the Two Fingers," Ranni said. "I doth not expect thee to seek them out thyself. When Blaidd finds and puts paid to Darriwil, he hath the task of scouting possible ways into Nokron. I hath another boon to ask of thee, but we shalt discuss that at a later date. I hath asked much of thee already, and thou hath delivered more than I truly expected."

"…As long as you don't ask us to get a tacky tattoo binding us to your service, especially of a skull eating a snake, we're fine for now," Harry snarked.

"Mayhap I may do so anyway, one of a moon," Ranni said, her tone suggesting a quiet facetiousness in her suggestion. "And in a most embarrassing spot…"

Sir Gideon Ofnir, for all that he was called the All-Knowing, knew he was far from all-knowing. Such a thing nettled him, at least about the important things he was ignorant of. So not knowing what his progeny and that friend of hers was up to was annoying. All he could discern was that they'd been making visits to Liurnia of the Lakes.

Why there, though? He was fairly certain that they had no interest in the Great Runes, at least yet, and Rennala was the weakest of the Shardbearers, if only by dint of her madness, though Ranni's protections were great enough to deter many. Gideon knew that Ranni still lived: one of his agents had been forced to flee with his tail between his legs after being trounced by Ranni's illusions. He also knew, thanks to the Two Fingers, that the Lunar Princess had long since divested herself of her Great Rune.

Or did his progeny somehow discern something about his investigation into the Albinauric settlement? Gideon scoffed. Such things were not people, just artificial abominations with ideas above their station. He was content to let them be as long as they weren't a hindrance to his plans…but now, he had an inkling they were hiding something of considerable value to them.

He needed to be sure, though. One did not perpetrate an atrocity unless one was absolutely certain that the prize was worth it. And he didn't want to attack these quicksilver-born dolls until he knew that they possessed that medallion.

Gideon felt that both of his daughters, by blood or by adoption, would object to his plans. Let them. Virtue, honour and altruism won him nothing in life. Indeed, it robbed him of everything he truly valued. It certainly robbed Dolores of her own.

That was why he did what he did. He would let a Tarnished do the hard work, one who had promise, while Sir Gideon guided him…and then, when the time came, Gideon would take the Great Runes from them, and become the Elden Lord himself. After all that this existence took from him, it was only right and proper.

He didn't know it, but he was being watched from afar, by eyes that judged him, and found him wanting. When the time was right, Queen Marika would enlighten him as to his own folly, and drown him in despair. Only one who grew stronger through adversity had what it took to become Elden Lord. And Gideon was not anything like that…

CHAPTER 8 ANNOTATIONS:

So, Ranni's explained matters, and Gideon is plotting. Of course, Marika has something to say to that.

My slant on Ranni's actions during the Night of Black Knives is probably one of the better interpretations of her character, but I wanted this version of Ranni to be compatible with Harry for the sake of the pairing. And even then, it needs quite a bit of groundwork. Godwyn willingly sacrificing himself for Ranni and Marika's plans was Dis Lexic's notion, I should mention.

As for Gideon, I needed to explain his actions in the game, and why he confronts you at the end. I honestly and genuinely think he was using you as a dogsbody, hoping to show up after you enter the Erdtree and deal with whatever defences are in place, and then stab you in the back. Pragmatic, yes, if it weren't dishonourable. I also think he sent Ensha to kill you and claim the Haligtree medallion because he thought you interfered too much in his plans, and maybe he could get another Tarnished to do the work of getting the other Great Runes, including from Malenia and Miquella.

Now, Marika is already shown to be watching and communicating with Hewg, so who's to say that, when the Erdtree is burning and you go in for the endgame, she sends Gideon a vision of her power, and that of the Elden Beast, in order to take revenge on Gideon for hampering her chosen Tarnished? That's why Gideon is in despair and decides to attack you in a nihilistic fit.

Again, as with any Soulsborne game, the lore is vague enough that a number of interpretations are possible, and none may be the correct or definitive one. But that's how it is for this story.

Review-answering time! NoMercyOfDeath: Having never played that game, though it is on the to-play list, I've no idea whether Revan is the right comparison. Though in many ways, Marika is like a mirror of Gwyn from Dark Souls, although I think more highly of Marika, as she actually tried to change the status quo, whereas Gwyn, once he established the Age of Fire, did everything in his power to prolong it, even if it meant screwing over the entire world.

iiNeo: Harry and his friends have that, but over time, Harry and Ranni will grow to love each other, helped by some scheming by Delphi (who wants her father and Ranni to be happy) and Rennala (who is hoping for grandbabies to spoil, and yes, she doesn't care about the doll body issue…so as you can imagine, hilarity is going to ensue when Zorayas entered the picture). Keep in mind, Harry and Ranni are surprisingly similar in some regards. It's not helped by events showing that they cannot trust Gideon, so Harry and company are forced to rely on Ranni as an ally of convenience more, though this turns out to be a good thing. Harry is gradually thawing Ranni's heart and regrowing her empathy.

In addition, it's funny you should mention that about Portkeys: shortly before I posted the previous chapter, I had written a chapter where Harry uses that very technique on a foe. I won't spoil which one, but I used a similar technique for a Nasuverse crossover called You're the King of My Heart, where Harry (who was a reincarnation of a 'good' Salazar Slytherin) uses a Portkey to send Saber Alter into the edge of space on the other side of the world. The effectiveness of that technique was mitigated by the Command Seal used to retrieve her, and Servants could possibly survive re-entry, but still…

However, he can't use it on Shardbearers: he's sending them to the edge of space, and when they come down, it may not necessarily be straight down, due to winds and all that, and you have to retrieve the Great Runes from the corpse rather than simply receive it on killing them (in this story, anyway). In addition, Radahn's mastery of gravitational magic might mean that that would only make things worse. After all, his most infamous attack basically has him turning himself into a meteor with the help of said magic. However, the end of the Godrick battle has a conclusion that is a nod to Harry's very first bout of magical combat.

jgkitarel: I personally disagree. The Greater Will is itself an Outer God, and the Erdtree that it sent there is hinted to have usurped an earlier world-tree, the Crucible, and signs of the Crucible (like Misbegotten, Omen and Crucible Knights) are discriminated against at least. This isn't to say the Golden Order isn't without its good sides. Hell, compared to the Age of Fire from Dark Souls, it's tame by comparison. But considering how ruthlessly those working under the aegis of the Greater Will have purged any dissenters, save for a few notable exceptions (the Dragons and Liurnia being cases in point), it's still pretty damning. TV Tropes called it a demiurge, which is a pretty apt term: a devil being that pretends to be a benevolent creator.

Don't get me wrong, the alternatives aren't as great. The Dark Moon is potentially responsible for the spread of Glintstone and monsters from space, and Ranni's remarks seem to suggest she desires anarchy (and while Alan Moore made the point that anarchy literally means without leaders, NOT without order in the original comic of V for Vendetta, the way things are in any society, there really is no difference), though at least it seems better than most alternatives. Of the Outer Gods we know enough about, the Flame of Frenzy is just genocidal destruction embodied, and the Scarlet Rot isn't much better. I can't really say much about the Formless Mother, only that considering Mohg worships her, that's not a good sign.

I personally compare the Greater Will to a more alien version of Being X from The Saga of Tanya the Evil, a being that demands faith and loyalty, but cannot comprehend true benevolence or empathy, let alone not able to conceive defiance. While Being X does give benevolent gifts to its faithful, it also deliberately engineers events that cause massive calamity, all to force a single person to gain faith in it, or else resorts to brainwashing.

delphinous: Exactly. Potterverse magic tends to be weaker than a lot of other fictional magic schools, but it makes up for it in sheer versatility of spells. Plus, the Black family have been experts in curses for centuries, it's still possible it could have happened, even if that was an arsepull on my part.

No numbered annotations this time.