Spirit and Steam, The SRB's first fantasy RP!

[The Vidit of Light]

Amestris Countryside

Didymus listened intently as Garnet spoke.

"Peace is a noble goal, indeed." he said, as she finished. "As for forging a lasting one...well, as you know, Galdwin and Alexandria, despite their immense differences, were historical allies. At least, they agreed to mutual support against Amestris should it attack either one. And this alliance was forged AFTER, albeit significantly, the Witch Hunts in Galdwin, which were themselves immediately after the Fiend War...even though there was mainly a sense of political acumen behind them, it wasn't really in the spirit of brotherhood...but as for unity...well, political bonds aside, I doubt Alexandria and Galdwin will be merging anytime soon...but you saw how we treated you at the Enclave-the Order's main base in Galdwin. The Elders knew you were a mage. I know you're a mage. The Elders and I-Paladins. What I think of magic is no secret. Yet here I stand at your side, acknowledging, as you pointed out, the value of your goal in this quest. Standing opposed to magic, yes, but united with you at least in this objective-if deeply divided in other matters."

He inhaled.

"So as for getting peace, well-" he grinned/smiled-""Blessed are the peacemakers.""

"And you don't need to apologize for "unloading" that on me. We DO have an important task ahead of us, but look around." he said, gesturing at the countryside around them, which they were to cross on foot.

"We've got some time, it seems. We may as well talk." he said. "If it helps you to let things out like that, I'm glad to listen."

[GoldenSama]

Amestris Countryside

Garnet listened to him talking about the shared history of their two nations. Of course, there was nothing in his history lesson that the princess was not already aware of.

"Our countries may have been allies historically, but it has hardly ever been a smooth relationship between them. The Enclave has been a great help to me, and I cannot repay you for all you've done... but it will take years to forge any kind of lasting peace between our nations."

She gave a sigh. "And such a peace may not be possible with my mother in her current state... seeing that creature... knowing what depths she's gone to..."

She paused, stopping in the field and looking around. Amestris was a beautiful country, despite the ferocity of its leaders.

"... If it comes down to it... if I cannot find a cure... if she continues this mad war... will Galdwin destroy her? Will my people be destroyed?"

[The Vidit of Light]

Amestris countryside

Didymus listened intently as Garnet spoke her piece, nodding as she spoke of the tension between their two unlikely-allied (previously) nations.


"... If it comes down to it... if I cannot find a cure... if she continues this mad war... will Galdwin destroy her? Will my people be destroyed?"

He tensed up. Boy, was THAT the proverbial elephant in the room in his mind, especially when he was traveling with the Rangers. He had discussed this with his brothers and sisters (yes, referring to fellow Paladins) in their dinner table small talk and otherwise socializing. What would happen. What would come about. How Galdwin would handle a threat from both Amestris AND Alexandria.

...most of it was talk Garnet would probably not have liked. It was talk of a blitz, a use of Galdwin's technological edge and greater power overall to try to quickly subdue Alexandria before Amestris could bring its full strength to bear. Talk of the Galdwinain air fleet quickly steaming to Alexandria City itself and FORCING Alexandria to be friendly.

...and talk, finally, of he and his brothers being sent in to fight, especially to deal with any of the more powerful mages Alexandria would use...

...and that was BEFORE they had learned Garnet's more preferable vision for her country. THEN, the talk was different. Then, another, less bloody, but to Garnet, it was doubtlessly a still grotesque option that was talked of: sending in the Rangers. With Brahne hostile, and her heir friendly, it was obvious. Everyone knew that Galdwin's leading generals had doubtlessly proposed it to the president (yes, again, Galdwin's a republic, more or less, at least, somewhat comparable, perhaps, to a mix of Arthurian England and late 1800's/early 1900's America).

The Rangers were Galdwin's covert troops. Spies. Snipers.

Assassins. Rather than many lives being claimed by a massive war against a ally-turned-enemy, it was theorized that a single life was all that stood between war and peace between Alexandria and Galdwin. Brahne's.

Those thoughts, and memories of that talk, played through Didymus's mind as he pondered on an answer to Garnet's question.

"Well..." he said, eventually. "...if indeed your mother leads Alexandria to war against Galdwin...Galdwin WILL defend itself, and act to neutralize the threat Alexandria-and your mother-pose. This could mean a number of things...either full-scale war...or another option. As long as draw breath, um, Dagger..." he decided not to directly mention that the Rangers were waiting to be given the order to attempt to dispose of Garnet's mother. "...as long as you draw breath, Galdwin knows that Alexandria need not be destroyed for its safety."

"Which is why your survival is so VITAL. Should you leave this world while your mother, in her dementia, still remains in it, Galdwin will, I am afraid, see that nothing short of a full scale war or a total destabilization of Alexandria's government would be called for...and Galdwin likely has plans to bring about either option, whether they would work or not..."

He shifted. This was doubtlessly uncomfortable conversation for her.

"...again, this is why you MUST be safe...ruin will likely befall Alexandria one way or the other should you be gone. Should your mother and you both be struck, Brahne's appointed advisers-possibly that dark knight your tutor mentioned when we...first met...would seize your nation...but to answer your question directly..."

He sighed.

"Should we be unable to find a cure, then yes...Galdwin would move to either...move to subdue Alexandria, to deal with your mother..."

He stood there, and shook his head, locking eyes with her for a moment, then glancing away, then looking back at her...it was obvious this talk made him nervous.

This post has been edited by The Vidit of Light on Nov 23 2009, 09:52 PM

[GoldenSama]

Amestris Countryside

As Garnet listened to everything Didymus had to say, she was not truly surprised. She knew that Galdwin would not have placed all their trust in the daughter of an enemy; even if they believed her intentions.

She knew, and even suspected, that her mother’s death may be imminent. Garnet was confident she could find a cure for her mother’s madness, but in reality she did not know where to start. None of her magic could break the insanity in Brahne’s mind, and unless her summoning skills truly held some great secret . . .

Garnet closed her eyes. “… I appreciate your honesty, but… I cannot bare the idea of losing my mother. I do not want to be Queen, at least not now. However, if it does come down to that, I will do what I can to restore the peace between our nations.”

Garnet sighed. In truth, if she did ascend to the throne, she could change everything now. She could dissolve Alexandria’s alliance with Amestris, and between the two nations, Galdwin and Alexandria would be able to dominate Amestris and end their bloody ambition.

Yet Garnet did not want to wage a war. She wanted to stop the one that was happening; and she did not want to see her mother die.

“… She was not always this way. My mother was a wonderful woman. I cannot explain the change that has come over her, but… I believe it can be undone.”

[The Vidit of Light]

Amestris countryside

Didymus watched Garnet slowly take in what he had said. She was handling it well enough-of course, he expected no less of her. She had been likely thinking about things like this for quite some time...and he had seen her ability to control, or even hide, her emotions (such as when she was talking to the Ranger who had made his snide comment).

He nodded at her sentiment, of not wishing to be queen, but her promise to restore peace...

"My honesty, Dagger? Of course. I am a Paladin. Was I to lie to you? Could a greater evil than lying have been prevented if I did?" he said, somewhat rhetorically.

...then her talk of how her mother once was. Didymus had heard that Brahne was once very different. Alexandria's affection for her was no secret, and he had heard, even in Galdwin, that she seemed an honorable woman, even if not at all in agreement with many of Galdwin's laws, or many of his own-and the Order's, and so many other Galdwinians' beliefs. In truth, he had not respected Brahne that much when he first heard of her new direction. He saw her as dishonorable, backstabbing, trecherous. But as rumor spread of darkness and taint in Alexandria, he had began to wonder...was her new madness truly her own? And what little he had heard of Brahne's husband...scant, but one day, his disappearing?

He couldn't presume to know what Garnet was going through.

He nodded at Garnet's last comment.

"Such is in my prayers, Dagger." he said, trying to smile at her. "Whether or not they believe it is possible, well, I am with you. As I said, the only place they told me not to follow you was Hell-they simply said I should try to keep you away from there, and follow you anywhere else, till I am relieved of such duty..."

This post has been edited by The Vidit of Light on Nov 23 2009, 10:25 PM

[GoldenSama]

Amestris Countryside

Didymus was right; Garnet could hide her emotions quite well. After all, no one in the castle -- save Doctor Tot -- had suspected her discomfort in the days prior to her escape.

She listened to him as he spoke, but her thoughts were still on her mother; and on those strange people who had been at the castle. The armored man whom had said no more than two words to her, and the mysterious woman in black whom had said even less.

Her thoughts were broken, though, when he finished speaking.

"Hmm... I shall do my best not to lead us to hell, then." She replied, an attempt to lighten the mood.

Suddenly, there was noise. A loud hum in the distance. It was the sound of truck tires grinding the grass beneath them. Slowly, on the horizon, a square-shape appeared over a hill.

It was a truck full of Amestris troops.

[The Vidit of Light]

Amestris countryside

Didymus chuckled at Garnet's remark, even as he wondered how seriously she took the place (or at any rate the idea of it) he had been instructed to avoid.

Nonetheless, as he chuckled, he heard/saw the truck approaching. His eyes widened a bit, then he shook his head. Looking around, he found a pleasant-looking spot of grass in the meadow next to them, next to a stream.

"Come on!" He said to Garnet.

There wasn't really any place to hide...except in plain sight. He walked, briskly, Amestris' troops could be watching, to the spot next to the stream, set down his pack, and started rummaging through it.

"Packs down! Packs down!" he said, and eventually pulled out some food the Rangers had packed in it. He handed some to Garnet, and sat down. He had retreived his thick brown overcloak, so his Paladin's robe and sword were concealed. If Garnet had followed him and taken his cues, then, even though the Amestris troops would doubtlessly see them, they would look like more or less ordinary travellers (on foot at least) just breaking for a meal...

[GoldenSama]

Amestris Countryside

Garnet did follow the Paladin's lead. She might have been a good actress and skilled at hiding her emotions, but actually hiding herself was a far greater challenge and one she had never successfully done.

"Do you think they will simply pass by?" Garnet asked, her voice a bit concerned. Even with her magic and his skills, could the two of them alone defeat an entire truck of soldiers?

The truck slowed down, and came to idle nearby; but no one jumped out with guns blazing.

"You there!" A dark-haired soldier sitting at the driver's seat called from out of the window. "We got a tip that some dangerous spies had been seen in this area... you know anything about that?"

It was hard to tell if the man was accusing them of being the spies, or just asking if they had seen anything.

[The Vidit of Light]

Amestris countryside

"Just eat, or relax, act like there's nothing to worry about." he whispered to Garnet.

When the truck stopped and its driver called out, Didymus called back, calmly.

"Spies? Dangerous? You know, now that you mention it...for whatever it's worth, I saw some crazy stuff going on in the sky a little bit earlier..." he said. He wasn't lying. He was there, he HAD seen it.

"What if it was one of those Galdwinian flying machines?...would that count?" he said.

"Well, if you're gonna be looking, do any of you need any water? Anything of that sort? We've got a few items we could spare, if you think it would help." He said.

Look friendly. Be truthful (although he would not deny that he was being somewhat misleading), and be helpful. The best way to hide their secret was to act like they had none. Simply trying to avoid notice or flee would draw more attention from them than it would lose, as would being standoffish or flat-out denying they had seen anything, right?