RE: [IC] Swords Beneath the Starlight
05-27-2020, 08:57 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-27-2020, 09:08 PM by Protoman.)
Saya and Roland
The prince frowns.
![[Image: VmdCAf4.png]](https://i.imgur.com/VmdCAf4.png)
"I would not be so certain, my friend - I do not know the woman's name, and I doubt your mother is the only golden haired hawk-laguz out there. That said, I'd be happy to help, provided fate gives us a chance. The way you speak, it sounds as if you haven't got any idea of where to start looking. To launch a search now would be suicide. When the time comes, though, and we draw our blades across the continent and bring freedom back to Ilya, you have my word that I will do what I can to help your people. Injustice reigns across this land, and once my father's army rides once more, the blight of Revotria's empire will be cut away. If you're right, then perhaps the fates will smile upon us."
Sunny and Roland
![[Image: 0inviME.png]](https://i.imgur.com/0inviME.png)
"You'll find yourself surprised, I think, ma'am."
"'It is a king's duty to understand all paths. To rule in justice, you must understand those who have lived in ways you could hardly begin to imagine. From understanding sprouts compassion, and from compassion sprouts mercy.'"
![[Image: SCCQxLo.png]](https://i.imgur.com/SCCQxLo.png)
"That was what my father taught me. He was fond of little speeches - he would repeat them over and over again. He did the same with jokes. Both were tiring before the war, but I find comfort in them now." He rubs the back of his neck, smiling warmly. "All of this is a long winded way of saying I will withhold judgment of you and your god until I understand your values. So... I would be interested in those you share with 'Nature' - that is your name for Saedore, yes?"
Casey and Lain
Lain's eyes shoot open and she shakes her head.
![[Image: zMjNchQ.png]](https://i.imgur.com/zMjNchQ.png)
"I'm afraid you misunderstand me, sir. It is not an apology I ask for, but forgiveness. I closed my eyes, not to avoid seeing you, but to convey the depth of my shame. My father taught me one thing above any other: that it is the duty of the powerful to protect the powerless; the duty of those gifted by the goddess with a lucky birth to make the world safe for those who were not so blessed. Rich and poor, noble and commoner - he saw it his duty to see those lines erased under the law, to see people treated equally and given the opportunity to prosper in Achaim and beyond. It was the cause he fought for all his life."
She bows her head once more - not to avoid looking at you, but in deference. "...So when I close my eyes, please understand that it is not because I am too weak. It is because I have inherited his role as the head of House Altena, and as such, I must apologize for our failures, and reassure you that we will continue fighting for a better Achaim once peace is restored." She meets your eyes once more. "...It is not your lot to be the incarnation of my father's failures, and I apologize if that's how I came across. It's just... You doubted this when we first spoke - I sensed it in your voice. So I say all this to reassure you that I am committed to peace in the long term, not just the short - a real peace, in which the war for survival has ended for one and all."
Logan and Lucrezia
The woman before you nods. You sense a great deal of exhaustion emanating from her like the heat in Morven's breast.
![[Image: ZZGYz5q.png]](https://i.imgur.com/ZZGYz5q.png)
"No worries. I'm not exactly throwing my weight around here, either. Lucrezia, by the by - in case you didn't catch it." She nods, closing her eyes and pinching her chin.
![[Image: 9b6oM9M.png]](https://i.imgur.com/9b6oM9M.png)
"I'd say so, yeah. They've been over the top this whole time - theatrical with their invasion, almost. That tells me they're afraid of something. Either there's a critical flaw somewhere in their line, or they understand there's something even bigger to fear - something they're hoping to scare off. It's like a lizard with a frill, or a frog with big red polka dots. They're trying to ward off predators, mostly because they know they wouldn't win."
"My guess? For all their bluster and bravado, they still can't take the Laguz kingdoms. That's the only justification I can come up with. It's either that, or their military's a paper tiger - no puns intended, in case any of your furry pals have their ears perked up. It's an absolutely terrifying juggernaut to look at, and it's torn through Ilya, but there might be something there that we can exploit. Something they don't want us to see."
Lain and Mazelina
![[Image: ClxHfjx.png]](https://i.imgur.com/ClxHfjx.png)
"I'll do my best, provided you do yours."
"I fear this conversation has turned too deeply in my direction, though - was there anything you wanted to discuss?"
Baylee and Dermid
The old man chuckles.
![[Image: 5wuzLcZ.png]](https://i.imgur.com/5wuzLcZ.png)
"I've been a warrior longer than you've been alive, little lass. This isnae the first war I've seen, and I doubt it'll be the last. Aye, it's the worst, but that was bound tae come sooner or later. I'll make it through it, an' I'm sure ye will too - just have tae keep yer wits and nae give in ta despair. Through all the blood n' carnage, ye have tae keep in mind who yer fightin' fer - yer kin an' the bastard standin' by yer side an' all the bastards who didnae come along an' all the bastards who went an' died."
Barnabas and Lysistrate
![[Image: wlddtaz.png]](https://i.imgur.com/wlddtaz.png)
"Yes!! That would be fantastic, actually!! Thank you, Barnabas!!!" She clasps her hands together and grins wide and bright. "Please let me know what she says!!! I don't want to make her mad, and I don't want to be rude and mean and walk away again, either!!"
The prince frowns.
"I would not be so certain, my friend - I do not know the woman's name, and I doubt your mother is the only golden haired hawk-laguz out there. That said, I'd be happy to help, provided fate gives us a chance. The way you speak, it sounds as if you haven't got any idea of where to start looking. To launch a search now would be suicide. When the time comes, though, and we draw our blades across the continent and bring freedom back to Ilya, you have my word that I will do what I can to help your people. Injustice reigns across this land, and once my father's army rides once more, the blight of Revotria's empire will be cut away. If you're right, then perhaps the fates will smile upon us."
Sunny and Roland
"You'll find yourself surprised, I think, ma'am."
"'It is a king's duty to understand all paths. To rule in justice, you must understand those who have lived in ways you could hardly begin to imagine. From understanding sprouts compassion, and from compassion sprouts mercy.'"
"That was what my father taught me. He was fond of little speeches - he would repeat them over and over again. He did the same with jokes. Both were tiring before the war, but I find comfort in them now." He rubs the back of his neck, smiling warmly. "All of this is a long winded way of saying I will withhold judgment of you and your god until I understand your values. So... I would be interested in those you share with 'Nature' - that is your name for Saedore, yes?"
Casey and Lain
Lain's eyes shoot open and she shakes her head.
"I'm afraid you misunderstand me, sir. It is not an apology I ask for, but forgiveness. I closed my eyes, not to avoid seeing you, but to convey the depth of my shame. My father taught me one thing above any other: that it is the duty of the powerful to protect the powerless; the duty of those gifted by the goddess with a lucky birth to make the world safe for those who were not so blessed. Rich and poor, noble and commoner - he saw it his duty to see those lines erased under the law, to see people treated equally and given the opportunity to prosper in Achaim and beyond. It was the cause he fought for all his life."
She bows her head once more - not to avoid looking at you, but in deference. "...So when I close my eyes, please understand that it is not because I am too weak. It is because I have inherited his role as the head of House Altena, and as such, I must apologize for our failures, and reassure you that we will continue fighting for a better Achaim once peace is restored." She meets your eyes once more. "...It is not your lot to be the incarnation of my father's failures, and I apologize if that's how I came across. It's just... You doubted this when we first spoke - I sensed it in your voice. So I say all this to reassure you that I am committed to peace in the long term, not just the short - a real peace, in which the war for survival has ended for one and all."
Logan and Lucrezia
The woman before you nods. You sense a great deal of exhaustion emanating from her like the heat in Morven's breast.
"No worries. I'm not exactly throwing my weight around here, either. Lucrezia, by the by - in case you didn't catch it." She nods, closing her eyes and pinching her chin.
"I'd say so, yeah. They've been over the top this whole time - theatrical with their invasion, almost. That tells me they're afraid of something. Either there's a critical flaw somewhere in their line, or they understand there's something even bigger to fear - something they're hoping to scare off. It's like a lizard with a frill, or a frog with big red polka dots. They're trying to ward off predators, mostly because they know they wouldn't win."
"My guess? For all their bluster and bravado, they still can't take the Laguz kingdoms. That's the only justification I can come up with. It's either that, or their military's a paper tiger - no puns intended, in case any of your furry pals have their ears perked up. It's an absolutely terrifying juggernaut to look at, and it's torn through Ilya, but there might be something there that we can exploit. Something they don't want us to see."
Lain and Mazelina
"I'll do my best, provided you do yours."
"I fear this conversation has turned too deeply in my direction, though - was there anything you wanted to discuss?"
Baylee and Dermid
The old man chuckles.
"I've been a warrior longer than you've been alive, little lass. This isnae the first war I've seen, and I doubt it'll be the last. Aye, it's the worst, but that was bound tae come sooner or later. I'll make it through it, an' I'm sure ye will too - just have tae keep yer wits and nae give in ta despair. Through all the blood n' carnage, ye have tae keep in mind who yer fightin' fer - yer kin an' the bastard standin' by yer side an' all the bastards who didnae come along an' all the bastards who went an' died."
Barnabas and Lysistrate
"Yes!! That would be fantastic, actually!! Thank you, Barnabas!!!" She clasps her hands together and grins wide and bright. "Please let me know what she says!!! I don't want to make her mad, and I don't want to be rude and mean and walk away again, either!!"