2017-05-18: The Chains of Command

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  • Log: The Chains of Command
  • Cast: Riesenlied, Leon Albus
  • Where: Adlehyde
  • Date: March 18th, 2017
  • Summary: Riesenlied and Leon speak of their military pursuits, in a chance encounter.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Riesenlied had spent the last couple of days in rather ardent organisation, ensuring many threads are being followed, either in person or by courier and through the Memory Cube as well. She'd spoken with a rather fascinating lady last night during her reading, Lily Keil, and following the morning she was also at the tables down at the Starfall Saloon, with a cup of tea and a stack of reports that she's currently corroborating.

The horned woman has a rather distinct cloak that speaks to an Eastern sensibility around her, currently hiding her wings -- though it stops at her left shoulder, where a rather visible bandage has been wrapped around a wound. It's Lily's work.

<Pose Tracker> Leon Albus has posed.

Leon Albus has spent a lot of his time at the Starfall, when he isn't out-and-about on a job. He has stayed there, during the festival. He comes down the stairs, hands slid down into the pockets of his grey coat, and his silver eyes scan around the room. Riesenlied stands out -- the cloak hiding her wings, with its Elru cut, and the horns -- but he doesn't stare.

Until he notices the bandages. He blinks, then, because he recognizes them -- he's had them applied to him before. Lily tends to bind her bandages the same way, the little sort of detail that one learns through living with someone for years.

He walks to the table, peering briefly over her shoulder, before he clears his throat. "Pardon," he says. "Mind if I have a seat?"

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Riesenlied looks towards Leon and-- pauses for a moment, with a gentle smile as she says, "Oh, no, please, go ahead."

She taps at her quill for a moment as she squints, before admitting, "Forgive me if it is forward of me, but... I feel as if I have seen you before with Miss Lily at this saloon," while trying to recall her mind, since it isn't as if she spoke to them before. "Or do I have someone different? I apologise if so."

<Pose Tracker> Leon Albus has posed.

Leon pulls his chair out, then sits down in it with the usual poise one would expect out of a career officer. He blinks, though, and tilts his head to the side -- surprised, though not especially. "You know Lily?" he asks. "I'm not surprised. We're close." He extends a hand out over the table, towards Riesenlied. "Leon Albus," he says. "We've both stayed in the saloon. I actually recognize her handiwork."

He motions to her shoulder with a hand. Then, he waves at one of the servers, before he looks back at the horned woman. "She tends to tie off her bandages the same way every time," he explains. "One of those details you notice, once you know to look for it."

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Riesenlied could pick out the military traits within both Leon and Lily -- much like how he likely could as well, just from the kind of posture and poise one carries when they've become used to conducting themselves such. She extends her hand and shakes Leon's, nodding. "Riesenlied. I've seen the both of you before, but I don't believe we've spoken..." she gestures.

"I happened to meet her yesterday, while I was reading," she smiles faintly. "And you are right -- she offered to re-bandage this wound I received while on the rescue mission. It was very kind of her. She's a skilled medic."

<Pose Tracker> Leon Albus has posed.

"Ah, yes--I've seen you, but... this place gets quite full," Leon says. And, more than that, the bounty on his head is a good reason to not be too garrulous. He shakes her hand, then he smiles. "I see. Sounds like her--she is. She has been since we were young. And her mother was a medic, too, before she retired."

His accent stands out, a little, as he talks. It isn't a thick Kislevi accent, but it's still there -- and the more he speaks, the more it slips into his every word and phrase. "You're from... Elru? If I recognize the cut of your cloak."

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Riesenlied nods slowly, and perks just a little more. "Yes, that's right. This is a pattern typically worn by wanderers of the snowfields, both for visibility and protection..." she chuckles faintly. "Though that is rather in the past, at this point. We spoke a little, and she did mention hailing from Kislev..."

There's a pause as she sips from her cup of tea, then gestures to the server. "I'd like another cup of tea, thank you."

She looks back towards Leon and says, "There is no end to business to oversee here. Good in a way, but concerning in others. Are you a Drifter yourself, Mister Albus?"

<Pose Tracker> Leon Albus has posed.

"Ah--I can see. Makes sure that you're visible, if someone is looking for you. But... mm." He nods. He has heard about Elru -- about the fact that very little has gotten out of there. He frowns, but he stays quiet. He knows what it feels like to be away from home, with little hope of returning.

"One beer," he says, to the server. "The usual."

Then, he looks back to Riesenlied. Leon nods once, quickly. "We did, originally," he says. "And yes, I'm a Drifter too. I'm rather new to the business. It's... taking some getting used to, but it has its perks.."

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

"I'm much the same way," Riesenlied admits. "The Ruins around Ignas hold much interest to me, and I've certainly seen many a skilled Drifter in just the few months I've been here. It's rather heartening, I must say..."

She taps at her quill and makes a few more scribbles -- she folds the papers and starts setting them aside. "Also heartening is the way they quickly band together to solve local problems, I must include. It's a kind of response I scarce see back home, where communities and tribes are so isolated."

<Pose Tracker> Leon Albus has posed.

"Mm. They're of interest to me, though... that's a new thing. I'm looking for an answer there. But... I admit I like the challenge," Leon says. "I didn't expect to."

Lily is the one who found history so fascinating. Leon saw it as a means to an end -- but something about the work, trying to figure out how a dungeon worked, appealed to him. He looks up, then, and blinks once at her. "Mm--I suppose it is. I was used to the military," he says. "We always had to work together. But... we weren't isolated."

Not exactly, at least.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Riesenlied nods and brushes a bit of her hair back. "An answer, you say... I suppose that is ultimately the reason so many descend down there, if not for glory or riches." She taps at her quill just a little more. "It's much less formal than a military unit, and many of these Drifters do not have military discipline... but there's a solidarity amongst them nonetheless."

<Pose Tracker> Leon Albus has posed.

"No sense in pretending I'm after something philosophical or theoretical," Leon answers, with a small smile. "Though I suppose the riches help."

The glory would be incovenient.

"They do have solidarity," he agrees. "But... I wonder. They haven't been tested by something terrible, yet. It's... that solidarity won't mean much, if it doesn't stand up if things start to fall apart."

He takes a drink of his beer, once it's slid down in front of him. That sort of talk needs some drinking.

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

There's a quiet thought of contemplation there. Something terrible. It's as if Leon had something in mind already. "I don't doubt that there are the types who would cut and run when risk outweighs the reward, but... you sounded as if you were seeking a certain kind of danger, Mister Albus." She raises her eyebrows. "Both you and Miss Keil are a fair distance away from the Kislev border. Perhaps it is none of my business, but it is part of my tasks to investigate potential threats as well... something I can assist in, perhaps?"

<Pose Tracker> Leon Albus has posed.

Leon raises an eyebrow at the offer. It's forthright, which surprises him. He has encountered a lot of forthrightness out here -- but he has encountered a few betrayals, too. "We're after an automaton," he says. "A thing called Gryndille. You may have heard of it. We're here to see if anyone has--and any information that might be out there."

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

"Gryndille..." Riese rubs at her chin, "An automaton..." She shakes her head slowly. "Unfortunately, I haven't heard of such a name, I don't believe. Forgive me. I ask because one of the reasons I came here was to chase a military ghost myself, from the east."

The thought was curious to her, however, as well as the word he uses -- automaton. Was it different than a Gear, or an ARM, in some way? Was it a development by Kislev, for instance? "But I spend quite a bit of time investigating certain channels. If it ever does come to be, you shall be the first I will inform."

<Pose Tracker> Leon Albus has posed.

"I don't blame you," Leon says. "I've chased anything I can find. You said... a military ghost of your own?" He tilts his head to the side. "What's the nature of yours?"

He supposes there must be more people with his story -- more people who had people they cared for lost to things like Gryndille. The look of compassion on his face is hard to hide, and he nods once. "Thank you. I'm in your debt, if you learn something."

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Riesenlied nods. "Have you heard of the Kingdom of Garlyle, to the east? A few years ago, they were decimated... but I'd heard persistent rumours that they resurfaced in this region, so I came to investigate personally." She frowns. "Unfortunately, there were more than unfounded rumours... I don't know if you've heard of the story of the King of Lacour's kidnapping, but I became embroiled in that incident as well. My old ghost had a hand in it, in the end."

She places a hand to her forehead. "It leaves a bitter taste to me, to have an incident in our backyard affect another."

<Pose Tracker> Leon Albus has posed.

"Garlyle... yes, I've heard of them, and killed a few too. Some of their forces were helping Aveh in the war," Leon says. He shakes his head -- it's a business-like way that he speaks, devoid of any pride. "We took some of their troops out, but it was't easy. But... they shouldn't be active, this far east. I encountered a few, but..."

He scowls. "I understand that. Not a problem you wished to share. And if they were involved with the King of Lacour's kidnapping, then they've shared it plenty," he concludes. "You've been chasing them, then? Trying to find out what they want?"

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

"Indeed," Riesenlied admits. She's just as open right now, perhaps more than she'd like, but there's a sense of camaraderie that she feels... even if they've just met. "I haven't yet tracked down their means of operation, and what the nature of their alliance with Aveh is, but it is disconcerting."

She gestures and says, "I even found traces of their activities as far south as the Sult Ruins, over the channel." She frowns very softly. "If there is anything disconcerting, it's military operations in the shadows."

There's a faint sigh. "It isn't just Garlyle, I'm afraid. What with Lahan recently, it rather feels like there are plenty that would accelerate the means of war."

<Pose Tracker> Leon Albus has posed.

"They've fought extensively on the front," Leon says. "It's left Kislev with its back against the wall. Between them and those damned Gebler forces..." He trails off, then he shakes his head once. His eyebrow raises, before he nods.

"I saw some of their soldiers down there," he says. "I wonder what Aldehyde will do. They've stayed peaceful, but... with Garlyle crawling in their midst, and then Lahan... I wonder how much longer that would be. I think you're right."

He frowns. "There isn't an easy escape from war."

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Riesenlied can't help but have a faint sigh. "Adlehyde is unveiling the Golems here in the Exhibition. A kingdom like Aveh will certainly not brush it off as a mere cultural exercise, given their status as ancient, mythical weapons of war..." She lets out a little hum. So Garlyle had been active in the front lines, along with Gebler...

"Where at all possible, I would certainly like for Adlehyde to not become involved in the Aveh-Kislev war," she admits. "The further the fires of war spread, the easier still it encroaches neighboring territories."

<Pose Tracker> Leon Albus has posed.

"Mm... Golems," Leon mutters. "Hard to believe those damned things are real, except..." Except that Gryndille is real. Except that many things he might have thought were legends or lost seem to be real. He frowns, then he nods, and he looks up at her. "I wouldn't mind seeing the end of war. But... I don't know how I can do that. As a Drifter--or even a soldier... I'm not the one who can shape and save the world."

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

Riesenlied draws in a breath, and sighs. Indeed, perhaps Filgaia would be a better place if so many of the myths it holds were merely that -- myths. And for as much myth the Golems hold, it is rather frightening to think about them having an iota of the power they are described to have.

"It isn't easy," Riesenlied expresses, "Perhaps because it isn't the job of a single person. The end of war... can only come about as a concerted effort, on everyone's part. Challenging the culture of fear and paranoia that perpetuates aggression... only then will war start to unravel, and lose the fuel that stokes its flames... the courage of soldiers to believe that they will have a part in a world without war... it is a slow process that threatens to be upended at any time."

<Pose Tracker> Leon Albus has posed.

"Mm. A slow process, and... there's a lot of greedy people in this world. Or ones who want power. And I don't think they want a world without war. It's an uphill battle, to say the least," Leon says. He shakes his head, then takes his beer. Still, he likes the idea, and he hesitates a moment, before he has a long drink of it.

"Convincing people to not fight is a start, though," he agrees, with some hesitation. "It... well. It gets them closer, at least. Is that what you're after? Or just what you want, some day?"

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

"... one day... I seek a world where everyone can flourish. A world without borders, without distinctions... a world where race, nationality, gender, bloodlines and upbringings are not used against anyone," Riesenlied muses, having looked just a little bit introspective.

"You're right, though. Cultural obstacles are one thing, but there is the more immediate obstacle of those that have that greed or lust for power... but these people are often the products of their own times." There's a pause, as their tea and beer come, and she chuckles. "I'm sorry -- I did not mean to draw you into such a heavy conversation..."

<Pose Tracker> Leon Albus has posed.

Leon is quiet, when she describes that world. If he ever was an idealist, he had that idealism taken out of him -- had it drained away, after the Black Wolves fell. It lets him, despite his youth, look serious as he glances down at the table. He nods, slowly.

"It's not a bad world," he muses. "It would be nice to see it. A world without those things." But, it would be a hard world to make -- and he doesn't know that he can fit into that world. After all, he is a soldier.

Isn't he?

Then, he looks up, and shakes his head. "No need to apologize. I suppose, given our former professions... it's hard to not find ourselves on such topics. I think anyone who's been in our line of work has thought on it."

<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.

There certainly have been times when Riesenlied wished to let go of that idealism. Succumb to... what some might just call 'pragmatism'. But the more she gazed into that realm of cynicism, the more afraid she became. The less convinced that their people had a future there.

Cynicism was obedience, she concluded. And letting go of that idealism... meant trampling on her memories.

She hears a little noise, and quietly pulls up as she sips at her tea. "That may be so... I must head out now -- that was my carriage just now. But I would like to search a Ruin out with you and Miss Lily sometime, if our schedules align," Riesenlied offers with her hand out to shake again. "The least I can do is assist, after the healing she's performed on my wound."

<Pose Tracker> Leon Albus has posed.

Leon nods, once, and looks up at her. He doesn't need to consider that offer for long. "Of course," he says. "We're always looking for someone competent to work with. Any time," he says. "Just let us know. We'll do likewise. I doubt any of us are going anywhere, any time soon."

Even if there is what Bart told him -- and he wonders, long and hard, about that.

He tips his fingers to his brow, something halfway like a salute.