2017-05-12: To Defy War Itself
- Log: To Defy War Itself
- Cast: Riesenlied, King Ardryn
- Where: Lacour Castle
- Date: 12th May 2017
- Summary: Riesenlied meets King Ardryn of Lacour to make her declaration of intent, knowing that she may label herself the enemy of the kingdom...
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied has made preparations to head north to Lacour following her contribution to the efforts to rescuing the King from Descartes and his goons. First, she's sent a courier to request for a meeting, along with a gesture of goodwill and assistance: A collated dossier of information regarding Garlyle that she's gathered in the past, around their activities in Ignas and some cursory information from when they operated back in Elru.
The dossier can't penetrate too deep, but it speaks of their activities in the Sult Ruins and provides some more intel into their banners and their ciphers, whatever Riese has had Miss Everstead-Rey help her decipher.
The horned woman bows her head to the guards as she heads through -- she's relinquished her thin sword where necessary, and kept her wings underneath her rather heavy cloak, which was dark in colour and had patterns and tassles that suggest an eastern origin, from Elru.
She bows before the King's presence and, once permitted to speak, greets, "I hope that it is in good health that I speak to your Majesty, since the ordeal with Descartes and the Black Ties...?"
<Pose Tracker> King Ardryn has posed.
Ardryn isn't an imposing man. He is a tall man, thin of build, and with his silver hair combed back and a smart goatee. He handled his captivity well -- the bruises from his bindings are hidden under a clean, crisp blue uniform -- and he has a silver crown on, while he sits on the throne. He sits with some obvious discomfort; he hasn't had much in the way of healing.
The guards escort Riesenlied in, and one announces her. He sits up and nods; his blue eyes regard her, in a friendly way.
But with the superiority that most royals know they have.
"It is," he says. "I am in your debt -- in all of your debt. I had not expected such an attack. Terribly bold," he says, "and terribly dangerous. And... that a foreigner assisted us, too."
A beastwoman, from Elru? Then she must have few family left.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
She lowers her head. "It is unexpected, and it is only a signal of things to come, I regretfully must say. I do not make light of Garlyle's ambitions, your Majesty," she ruefully says, eyes half-closed. "And it is with that in mind that I provide to you what I do know about their activities, courtesy of some of the hard work that my associates have done around the Ruins here."
She places her arms to her opposing elbows. "Worse, I feel that Garlyle is merely another in a trend of escalations towards a form of war the Treaty of Iscariot forbids here in Ignas."
<Pose Tracker> King Ardryn has posed.
"I have been concerned," Ardryn says. He has the art of understatement mastered; he keeps from sounding sarcastic, but if he weren't wearing his crown, it might slip through. "They have overplayed their hand. Though..."
The king leans back and lifts an eyebrow. "You believe this?" he asks. "Certainly, Aveh and Kislev have, at times, pushed the boundaries. And, of course, events in Aquvy... but there have been islands of peace. Have there not?"
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
There is a quiet and reluctant sigh from Riesenlied, as she says, "... Elru, where I hail from, has been a landscape of disaster even in the last couple of years. Garlyle was believed crushed overnight, only to resurface here. The capital city of Slayheim was reduced once more overnight to what people report was a bed of salt... and of course, here, there are the ambitions of both Aveh and Kislev, as they scramble to surface more and more weapons of destruction from ages past."
She hesitates, and then she says, "And permit me to speak a bit boldly about your ally, but I cannot... hold it entirely in good faith that King Justin of Adlehyde's show of ancient Golems, amidst other weapons, to merely be an archaeological interest piece."
<Pose Tracker> King Ardryn has posed.
"I see..." Ardryn nods as she describes the political situation. He can't disagree; he has only rumors from Elru, but they are disturbing. The fact that Garlyle has now come to Aveh, and seems to be taking these actions, doesn't make him feel any /better/ for it. He shakes his head, though, at the statement about Adlehyde. "You think that King Justin would make a play for power? Why--the man is one of my oldest friends. What makes you think so?"
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"Not a play of power," Riesenlied corrects. "But a show of self-defense. I cannot help but think that, in the wake of rumors of Gebler assisting Aveh, that there have been fears spreading throughout Adlehyde that the Aveh-Kislev conflict may bleed out towards the Adelyn plains. And in that manner, I cannot criticise a King for wishing to reassure his citizens that they shall have protection."
There's a furrowed brow. "But there is an inherent risk in deterrence. As the arms race to stockpile weapons grows more and more heated between the countries, the risk of mutual destruction grows ever higher and higher."
She's silent for a while longer. "I would hate to see another Day of Collapse." A pause. "I want to de-escalate this situation, from all hands involved. And I do not believe it is possible to do so without removing the tools that accelerate war."
<Pose Tracker> King Ardryn has posed.
"Self-defense..." Ardryn weighs it in his mind, and then he frowns as he looks up. "It could be. Ever since he was injured, before Cecilia was born, he has been... cautious. And perhaps too much. I could see him stockpiling weaponry -- hoping to have a defense."
He tilts his head, then, and looks at Riesenlied. For the first time, he starts to wonder. Is this another Drifter?
"So you propose to remove those weapons from Adlehyde," he says. "And elsewhere. How would you approach this? Would you try to take the things that he has unearthed? Or... do you hope to take some other approach?"
Riesenlied is silent for a while longer. "The means... I cannot express yet." She clutches at her chest for a moment. "As much as I would like to believe it is possible to de-escalate the situation through negotiation, diplomacy and understanding, there are those that are seated in power with such ambition who will not listen. The people's hearts are gripped with fear, fear of the past, of ARMs and Demons, and it only further fuels this situation."
She takes a deeper breath still. "I know full well how precarious the rope one balances when one is in charge of a Kingdom. Your hands can become... tied. Tied, in the interest of protecting your people. I shall speak truthfully to you, your Majesty, as you already have been personally affected by these turn of events.""
"That is why I, and my compatriots, seek to intervene against acts of war, against those that disregard the Treaty of Iscariot. We are independent of any kingdom or country, so that you cannot be blamed for our actions..." She places that hand of hers to her chest. "We will stymie the efforts of those that seek to promote and accelerate war here in Ignas." No matter what happens to them...
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied is silent for a while longer. "The means... I cannot express yet." She clutches at her chest for a moment. "As much as I would like to believe it is possible to de-escalate the situation through negotiation, diplomacy and understanding, there are those that are seated in power with such ambition who will not listen. Chief among them, for example, Prime Minister Shakhan. Worse yet, the people's hearts are gripped with fear -- fear of the past. It only further fuels this situation."
She takes a deeper breath still. "I know full well how precarious the rope one balances when one is in charge of a Kingdom. Your hands can become... tied. Tied, in the interest of protecting your people. I shall speak truthfully to you, your Majesty, as you already have been personally affected by these turn of events.""
"That is why I, and my compatriots, seek to intervene against acts of war, against those that disregard the Treaty of Iscariot. We are independent of any kingdom or country, so that you cannot be blamed for our actions..." She places that hand of hers to her chest. "We will stymie the efforts of those that seek to promote and accelerate war here in Ignas." No matter what happens to them... it is obvious to see that they will become the most hated enemy of all those in power here in Ignas.
<Pose Tracker> King Ardryn has posed.
"I see..." The King trails off, when he says that. He actually does consider it. It may have something to do with the very rope she mentioned. "I won't say that you are wrong, regarding our limitations. We must act in the best interest of our peoples--or whatever some of my compatriots choose to act in the interests of."
An underhanded blow, if there ever was one.
"But you must know, then," he says, "that I could never sanction such a group. As grateful as I am... I could never be seen to challenge the order in such a way. So, what, then, do you hope to do by telling me? A declaration of intent, or something more?"
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"Of course not, your Majesty," Riesenlied speaks in understanding of the sanction. She would expect all nations to reject them, for favouring such a radical act was likely to destabilise a nation and incite fear and panic in the populace. There was a place for a convenient enemy, after all...
"Perhaps it is for my benefit as well, your Majesty," she ruefully speaks for a moment. "That I make my intentions clear, before the fuse is truly lit, lest they be forever lost in the murky waters of politics. That and..."
She half-turns gently as she rises once more. "I appreciate the burden that you undertake for your people, and would like, in my own way, to alleviate it. Even if we cannot stand side by side."
<Pose Tracker> King Ardryn has posed.
Ardryn is quiet, at that. This woman is, he decides, certainly no ordinary Drifter. But, perhaps, there was never such a thing. The life of a Drifter is the polar opposite of a king.
"In that case, I thank you for the warning. It is sad, though, that we may be brought to odds--but this world we live in is a sad place." Ardryn shakes his head. "And sad, too, that one so young would have to give up the life she could have for this course. But, if you didn't want that... then, I think, you wouldn't be standing here."
He nods. "I can't wish you like. So, instead, stay safe."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied looks up towards the throne for a moment, before expressing, "This world may be sad, but I shall not ever lose hope within it. It is for that reason that I seek the new world... a world where we can all flourish in."
She is quiet, bowing her head in turn towards the King. "Thank you, your Majesty. I also wish you health and safety..."
She rises to leave afterwards, in departure. Her work is only starting... and already, she can see the tribulations that await her. Will she be crushed by its sheer weight, or does hope stand at the end of that trial?