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Post by Blake Oleander on Jun 6, 2018 21:00:23 GMT -8
He brought a hand up to his chest in respect of the Queen.
"Another attack has happened. This time targeting my home. I call you in hope of receiving aid in stomping out these aggressions."
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Post by David B. on Jun 7, 2018 12:06:56 GMT -8
She nodded, letting out a low hum.
"Mm. I'll give you all troops readily available....however....in return, I'd like you to give back Elder Cadmus. He apparently appealed to join your group after the war near your school."
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Post by Blake Oleander on Jun 7, 2018 12:09:16 GMT -8
He shook his head.
"I am afraid I can not do that. He asked to join our community and people, and we have welcomed him as one of us. I am unwilling to turn my back on my people, any of them."
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Post by David B. on Jun 7, 2018 12:12:32 GMT -8
She searched his eyes, letting that settle for a moment.
"From what I understand, you rule two territories, now. The one your people are originally from, and the one they conquered. Is this correct?"
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Post by Blake Oleander on Jun 7, 2018 12:14:00 GMT -8
"Partially. We took sixty-four while we were exiles so that our people need not starve and dehydrate. Our people fought and died over a common water source for decades."
They solved the problem.
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Post by David B. on Jun 7, 2018 12:14:55 GMT -8
She nodded.
"And these people of sixty four....you exterminated them?"
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Post by Blake Oleander on Jun 7, 2018 12:16:11 GMT -8
"As far as I know they are all dead. Though I was not personally there during the attack."
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Post by David B. on Jun 7, 2018 12:17:42 GMT -8
She waved it off.
"First lesson of leadership- you are responsible for all your peoples actions. So, a territory had something you needed, you killed everyone who kept it from you and took it for yourself."
She clasped her hands in front of her.
"My contacts also tell me something similar happened to your leadership. How, exactly, did you come to rule?"
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Post by Blake Oleander on Jun 7, 2018 12:21:25 GMT -8
"You misunderstand me. I do not shirk responsibility. Only affirm that I can not verify that they were all killed."
Which was exactly as he said. But since coming to Cabal he was used to people trying to moralize.
"I came to rule after liberating our people from our leaders who would have us be as Cattle. I was elected while in a coma. Now tell me, what this has to do with anything. You seem to have your sources, are you hoping to catch me in a lie? I'm a warrior, I have killed for the betterment of my people and I will do so again if I must. I serve them. If there is something you require for your aid other than to have me hand over my citizens then I would be willing to listen. However, my people do not have the luxury of twenty questions."
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Post by David B. on Jun 7, 2018 12:26:20 GMT -8
She cocked a brow.
"Fair enough."
As to the second part, she listened patiently. Once done, she would glance to David, then back at him.
"You contacted me, with the express purpose of requesting my aid. By extention, I am letting the world know that we will help protect your people. As such, I should know who it is that wishes to invite me to their bed, so to speak." She gestured behind herself, at the gaurds protecting what appeared to be a marble palace.
"These people don't protect me because I ask it of them. They do it of their own free will, because they know I will rule them fairly. They do it for their own lives and future. You ask me to send them to war, some to their deaths, and yet speak to me of honor and a lack of time for questions. Forgive me, Elder Oleander, but all those who ask me to spill my peoples blood have time for questions. If this isn't the case, be on your way."
Clearly she had more to ask, and if he refused to answer, neither she nor David would stop him from leaving.
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Post by Blake Oleander on Jun 7, 2018 12:34:43 GMT -8
"And my people count on me to lead and protect them. You want to know about me, that is fair. But if our situations were reversed and I continued to ask you questions that I lead you to believe I already know the answer to. Can you tell me that you would not feel like I am simply playing with you? Wasting your time? You wish to know what kind of people we are? We are small but loyal. We have lived our lives in a constant war to survive the next day. As had sixty-four. The reality of our situation outside of the Accords. I do not apologize for fighting to make sure my people survive, even at the cost of our enemy."
He folded his arms over his chest.
"As for myself. You've seen me fight against a single opponent and in a war. You know what I am capable of both in terms of offense and protection." Mostly. "As a person? I'm blunt, I don't have the air of politics and double speak down.
I'm loyal to my people and will die a thousand times over to protect them from any threat. Without or within. If I had my choice, I would have continued living the life I had always lived. I don't aspire for more power, and my desire is for my people to prosper and live honest lives. And I despise how much I have been forced to talk today. You can take my word on who I am or trust that one of your own Elders after talking to me chose to ask me to accept him as one of my own."
He huffed a bit, but if she insisted on more questions he would listen. For now.
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Queen Emma Arcuturus
QC 
Lord of the Regent Gate
Posts: 21
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Post by Queen Emma Arcuturus on Jun 7, 2018 12:59:54 GMT -8
She listened. He made many assumptions about her intentions, but none that she outright refuted. Best to let him talk, and get out of the way what it was he wanted to say. He told her about his people, Emma listening with her hands clasped behind her back.
"Blunt...Hmmm...very well, Mr. Oleander. I will be less cordial, and more direct if that suits your needs. My people have the capability of flight, or a portion of us do. We've flown over your territories, as we do many and seen the devastation. Our war council assumed a battle happened which wiped out a vast majority of the population. That is the extent of my knowledge of your territories, so the questions I ask are not meant to trap you. Just understand. Are you a war mongering people? Are you simply protecting yourself? Is it about resources, about ideology, religion? We are not like other countries, we don't march to war at the drop of a hat despite what you may have seen from us. Our decisions are calculated, measured. My father helped 259 because he owed them, as Mr. Blaze knows. But ones plight does not mean we hold obligation to answer the call."
She chewed her lip a second before continuing.
"And yes, I have learned about you from our fight, more than you might realize. You are hot blooded, you overcommit to your own self destruction simply to eliminate an enemy. You have honor and strength, but you apply it in the wrong areas- at least from my perspective. And while it may be true that you protect your people, what happens when one of those people whispers sweet temptations in the ear of it's young leader? Elder Cadmus was released after twelve years in our state prison, for attempting to turn my fathers brother against our allies. He's incredibly intelligent, calculated, and feasts off the fields of war. You're asking me to not just fight for you, but for your people. You say he is now one of them- so you're asking my people to fight for him, too. Do you see why questions might be necessary?"
He didn't know who he had agreed to join him, obviously. And though previously her explainations had been professional, her voice now was more measured, and soft. As though speaking to someone in a less professional setting.
She sighed.
"If you feel time is short, and there is not enough for this, then I'm sure there are others who you could turn to. But I will not commit my people lightly, until I feel confident that the bull I'm backing doesn't turn it's horns on me."
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Post by Blake Oleander on Jun 7, 2018 13:07:30 GMT -8
"The same could be said of yourself. Being a fresh young leader. Every leader begins somewhere and it is possible that I or yourself will be tempted or tricked into making a mistake. I can't promise you that will never happen. What I can tell you is I have little interest in war. My people are few, we have our land, our crafts, and now the resources to allow us to eat food and drink water every day. We have gained everything I've ever fought for, and now I fight to keep that from being taken from us by an enemy on our doorstep."
He'd unfold his arms.
"And I have learned about you during our fight as well. Which is why I am speaking more bluntly with you than with others."
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Queen Emma Arcuturus
QC
Lord of the Regent Gate
Posts: 21
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Post by Queen Emma Arcuturus on Jun 7, 2018 13:26:47 GMT -8
She smiled.
"I have been raised in the court, and the battlefield. I've fought in wars, while also leading people. I know of your people prior to your ascension, I do not think the same can be said for you. But that's besides the point- I mean no insult, just that you're more of a wild card to me than other leaders."
She brushed off the front of her armor before she searched his face, trying for a moment to understand him as he spoke.
"I see."
She would fold her arms.
"Very well, Mr. Oleander. You have taken over territory sixty four, and there is no going back from that. However, I cannot give you something for nothing. So I propose we share the territory. Joint ownership, and rule. We'll both keep the resources open sourced, allowing both our people access to it, and to the land. The people can co-mingle and co-habitate there, if they wish. But if either of our people move there, they fall under our joint rule. The further details of which can be discussed after the battle, of course."
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Post by Blake Oleander on Jun 7, 2018 13:30:27 GMT -8
He shook his head at that. A nice offer, but not one he was willing to accept at this time.
"I thank you for your candor. But as I am a wild card to you, you are one to me. My people have suffered for decades because of the water source at the edge of that territory. I can not agree to share it and rule jointly with someone I do not know the measure of. If it is resources you are after, I am prepared to offer a trade deal with our newly acquired resources."
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