I helped steer this one, and I’m proud of that last line, which is easily the sassiest version of Ardaic the series would ever present. (Phil shortened it and added some punch to it, though.) Also, highlighting Ardaic’s more sympathetic qualities may have thrown some of you off the scent, here.

By now, Phil and I were definitely writing Ardaic with his developing crush on Syr’Nj in mind. He’s much too much of a professional to let a little thing like jealousy keep him and Byron from their shared goals. But you can still hear a faint undercurrent of “UGH, you KID, you just don’t know how good you HAVE it with her.”

Gold star comment by Kokuten: “Lobbying? DON’T YOU MEAN LOBBEARING? WITH SUCH CHARACTERS AS BYRON THE BEARACRAT”