I am very much looking forward to whenever we see the Schemers actually get into combat. Generally speaking the Schemers actually having to fight probably means something has gone quite wrong and the need to keep whatever violence they engage in together under wraps adds an extra layer of tension that would heighten the situation even further, but I feel like the Schemers as both individuals and in their group dynamic will have a unique relationship with combat that the other groups (mostly compromised of active mercenaries, soldiers, and adventurers to begin with) donāt have.
For Azune, the violence that heās done in his life has always been driven by the commands of others. Heās been the foot soldier, Thjaziās man, Arcane Marshal in service of the city (and also Thjazi). Now heās part of a group of equal conspirators, just as much in charge of their direction and activities as the rest of them. If it comes down to a fight, is he going to take command as more of an expert in that area, or is he going to default back to loyal attack dog awaiting orders?
Bolaireās certainly not a stranger to violence, he was made for that purpose and has to enact it semi-regularly in order to sustain his cover and the life of study and art heās built. He doesnāt seem remorseful about it, but also like he doesnāt seem to relish it. Heās also kept his nastier acts fairly quick and subtle up to this point. What does Bolaire actually look like in a straight up brawl? Does he relish the chance to cut loose a bit? Is it a distasteful necessity to accomplish their goals? What does that god-killing mask even do?
Hal has fought in a war before, but the soldierās life clearly did not appeal to him, and heās been out of that game for like 20 odd years. Will his experiences in the War of Axe and Vine come back and be an aid to him, or a hindrance? Is he gonna stick mostly to backline support, or will the straightforward solution of just hitting something until it dies end up being appealing to him after having to talk and wheedle and carefully tease things out like every other threat thatās come their way?
I wouldnāt be surprised if Murrayās gotten in a scrap or two in her life, she runs in less than legal circles and seems like she wouldnāt be afraid to throw either a literal or metaphorical punch, but I still doubt itās a regular part of her life as a university bursar. Of all of them I can see her actually relishing the opportunity to lob a spell at an enemyās head, but sheās also smart and practical, so I wonder what the balance between her blunt side and her cunning, big picture side will be when it comes to a combat scenario.
Also, for the group as a whole, theirs is the only one in the uniquely precarious position of having One āļø frontline tank and everyone else is a squishy caster (I know warlocks can function well on the front line if you build them right ie Fjord, but Iād be surprised if thatās the route Taliesinās going with snooty academic Bolaire). They also probably have the most limited healing capabilities of all the parties, at least at their current level. I can see them leaning HARD into trickery and buffs/debuffs to get by; otherwise, poor Azune is gonna have to be the one-man-wall, which Iām sure wonāt play into his complexes whatsoever. They are also, I would argue, the group that is most closely interwoven emotionally. The Soldiers are split down the middle between the old war buddies and the Candy Creed duo, and even then the Torn Banner members hadnāt seen each other in like twelve years up until a week ago. The Seekers are largely disparate from each other and fraught as hell; even Thaisha and Occtisā friendship is on rocky ground what with recent events. The Schemers seem the most united both in their common cause and also in caring about each other as family, friends, and colleagues. Between their general squishiness, their precarious position as underground resistance in Dol-Makjar, and their overall investment in each other as people, I predict that any Schemers combat is going to be intense, and I canāt wait to see it.
