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Post by Jay on Feb 22, 2012 9:57:28 GMT -5
"Yes I'll forgive them for being heavily armed and marching into territory that is not theirs. I will forgive them for towing wagons with even more weapons and parts for war machines inside. Didn't you ever look inside those crates and barrels not many of them carry supplies. I don't know what you're orders are, but my spies tell these soldiers orders are to conquer Surda," Jaygon said. From somewhere behind Mattheus an arrow was fired. Just as it was about to hit him Jaygon lifted his hand. The arrow stopped in its path and turned to dust. "See my friend as soon as you are sleeping they will march to take Surda from its people."
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Post by ullak on Feb 22, 2012 17:21:31 GMT -5
Mattheus felt the air from the arrow that was meant to kill him, and flinched. He had enough time before the arrow disintegrated to see its fletchings; and deep down - past his diplomatic stoicism, far into his unconscious - righteous indignation swelled wildly, before calming down. How insulting of the Surdans!
" I fully expect this town's guard to punish the man who just attempted to kill a diplomat. Also, I expect a recompensation for any man of the diplomatic guard who suffers deliberate injury in this town. They have families, too. Would you care to follow me, good sir?"
The young diplomat strode over to his diplomatic envoy, ordering the captain to issue a stand-down. With a quick word, the covers from their wagons were removed. Under the wagons, a considerable amount of coinage and precious commodities lay stacked against sacks of hardtack, dried meat, and treated water.
"What make you, then, of these? Peace offerings and emergency rations for war-torn regions. Do you still doubt our inclination toward peace and hope, master rider? Why do you doubt the King's wish for peace and order?"
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Post by altrasky on Feb 22, 2012 19:51:10 GMT -5
Altrasky fell and yelled out "Letta!", causing himself to be suspended no more than ten feet from the ground, from where he released the magic. He walked over to the elder ride, quickly seeing the peace offerings. he griped the shaft of the arrow, breaking it off. "Peace, huh. I'm touched."
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Post by ullak on Feb 22, 2012 22:29:54 GMT -5
"Yes, master rider. Our king is no more a monster than you or I, and he wishes peace. Before the Varden's uprising, Surda remained its own country, and the Empire has no wish to take their lands and traditions. Surely, you must believe the Empire is vast enough without additional conquest? Why would our great Empire sacrifice a potential ally in exchange for additional claimed land and a million angry former Surdans? That makes no sense at all, correct?"
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Post by Jay on Feb 23, 2012 0:29:42 GMT -5
"No as long as the truth that Galbatorix murdered an entire civilization, with exception of myself and however many others were not in Alagaesia at the time, there will always be rebellion. Since there will always be rebellion there will always be something to conquer. Galbatorix's true goal is to rule everything in this beautiful land and maybe even expand further. Galbatorix has killed his own kind, he will not hesitate to do the same to Surda!" Jaygon exclaimed. "I'm sorry no matter how much you think you know his goals, Galbatorix has hidden his true self from you."
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Post by ullak on Feb 23, 2012 17:43:22 GMT -5
"But of course, master elf. Let me humbly remind you of your own kind's history with the very beings you so trust and revere as companions and equals. Was there not a war once, between dragons and elves? so there are conflicts between humankind; between urgal-kind, the dwarves, and between races. War always springs up between groups, but the loss of life never justifies the end. I, being a mere diplomat, may not know the intentions of King Galbatorix. However, I expect you to respect my position as a representative of all imperial families that so greatly desire peace. Is peace so very wrong, or must a lust for vengeance always fester within the rebellious souls here? Surely, our king failed your order, and you have every right to feel angry. Yet as a rider, know that the people below you entrust your leadership and councils. I offer my condolences and ask your forgiveness, on the king's behalf."
It was a bold move on Mattheus's part, to openly represent his king. Certainly, he was going to be given grief once word reached the aristocracy back home, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to try. If it did...well, then it wouldn't matter how angry the aristocracy would be. He'd probably be dead.
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Post by altrasky on Feb 26, 2012 13:11:57 GMT -5
Altrasky gritted his teeth, his anger obvious to any who may see him. "My good man, I give you till tomorrow to pack up and leave. If you are not gone by then...... well, let's say not all of you are going to be leaving."
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Post by Rainbow Dash on Feb 27, 2012 1:05:16 GMT -5
"Altrasky, there is no honor in slaughtering a diplomat based on his beliefs no matter how untrue they may be." Therin told Altrasky as he stepped from the shadows. "Dwarf I once served your mighty king as well, tell me if peace is what he seeks why are children suffering, families starving, and aristocrats profitting from their misery? Is that the peace men want? Or is freedom what every man truly desires? That is why I managed to escape the kings grasp, to change my true name with Jaygon's guidance. His peace is a lie friend." Therin spoke to Mattheus.
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Post by ullak on Feb 27, 2012 1:19:31 GMT -5
As foolish as it may have seemed, Mattheus stood his ground. He may have only been human, but he knew more about the wranglings of government and law than this rider seemed to. Rather than stepping down with his head bowed, he stood firm and stared down Altrasky; his eyes were courteous and polite, but ice-cold.
"Under terms of war set down by Imperial doctrines seventy-seven years ago, a diplomat of any governing body within direct conflict with the Empire is granted impartiality and complete security within Empire-held territory from Imperial attack. Since this war has begun, the Varden and her supporters have not yet turned down an Imperial diplomat in turn, though their standings have been partial in the Varden's standing. To break legal doctrines that have thus been kept by both sides would be fatal to the Varden's cause, and you know it. Don't walk down an impassable route such as that, else you'll fall off a cliff."
"Were true equality to exist within a nation, master rider; its citizens would be less free than how the Empire is currently structured. True, there is considerable economic stratification, but trade and commerce within the Empire is, with a few exceptions, completely at the will of the market. Imperial citizens range from the aristocracy, the old money; to the destitute that were not born into wealth. I myself come from what you would call a 'new money' family. Simply because a largely free market results in a stratified community does not make its people enslaved, any more than choosing to work. Are you not entitled to the expectations of a rider? Does this make you a slave to your boundaries, or not?"
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Post by Rainbow Dash on Feb 27, 2012 10:00:57 GMT -5
Occ: Therin isn't a elf  |
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Post by altrasky on Feb 27, 2012 20:20:54 GMT -5
Altrasky glared at the diplomatic idiot. He growled softly, his eyes murderous.
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Post by Jay on Feb 28, 2012 0:28:16 GMT -5
"You're mistaken diplomat," Jaygon said putting a hand on Therin's shoulder, "Imperial doctrines don't exist here we will ask you once more to leave. You are trespassing here and trespassers must be punished."
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Post by ullak on Feb 28, 2012 17:08:06 GMT -5
Mattheus's guards shuffled about uncomfortably, as hands grasped pommels. The diplomat's eyes became icicles; a death glare that might have turned the riders into icicles, had he any affinity to magic.
"A diplomat has no boundaries, for they are peaceful men with legal immunity. You go ahead and punish me for doing my job. I can assure you, it'll make a martyr out of me, and it'll cost you the lives of a few men. My guards would be more than happy to take a few lives before losing their own. You go ahead and assault a diplomat, rider. The Empire will find out and send a full invasion force against Surda. Your disgrace will be all-encompass; you'll never lead another soldier into battle. The Varden will hang their head with the burden of killing a peace-going diplomat, and your growing number of new recruits will dry up. As a fellow civilized man, I strongly advise you reconsider."
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Post by Jay on Feb 28, 2012 18:16:49 GMT -5
"I'm sorry did I say I was going to kill you?" Jaygon asked. "I don't think I did. I believe I said "trespassers are punished". I know what would happen if I slew you in cold blood. I could just speak a single word and could transport you half way across Alagaesia," Jaygon fixed Matthias in a cold gaze, "but you wouldn't want that."
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Post by ullak on Feb 28, 2012 20:54:24 GMT -5
"Are you certain you want that, master rider? Be aware that any one of my guards could easily travel north to the nearest town under Imperial rule. After that, there's no knowing how many couriers will ride out from there. I'd be safe to presume that magic directed to remove the diplomat in question can and will be assumed hostile in action. You'd have a legion marching against you within days for inhibiting free speech. Freedom to voice one's opinion, yes? Small towns all over the Empire complain about their king and his rule, yet they aren't removed for speaking. You would contradict your own reason for rebelling.
That is, if you can pull me into any unknown location. From what I know of lore and history, magic is inhibited to the strength of the speaker."
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