dev 9 - what we stand for

"Everyone knows why we are here. To start, this will be the meeting about Illburg's relations with Osrona and Myllenoris. The goal is simple, peace."

Alexander says, making it clear. A glance taken to all those around as he goes to speak further.

"The rules are simple. It will be High Lady Asta, High Lady Penelope and I speaking. We will start with terms and then we can move onto the issue Illburg is facing with their.. spirits issue."

"First and foremost, High Lady's Asta's demand for peace without her death -must- be met. Once we can clear that up, I will move onto what I suggest is best. Speak freely, High Lady Asta."

The Petrakis King looks over her, allowing her to expand her requirements.
(Alexander rei Petrakis)

Asta remains with her eyes closed, for a moment even after King Alexander is finished speaking. A brief thought might enter the minds of those present: was she ignoring him?

But, soon enough, her eyes open, and she removes her hands from her lap. Rests them on the table.

"The Kingdom of Myllenoris officially recognizes that what the whispers of the unseen world warned of was not witchcraft or occultists in refuge within Ilburg. It was instead this gateway to Helheim that I'm sure we are all now aware of. As bearer of Crown of Aschea, I take responsibility for this mis-divination. It is my duty to be Their speaker, Their representative in the physical world, and in this, I have performed imperfectly."

She raises a finger to the air.

"For this, the Kingdom of Myllenoris is willing to foot some of the blame. Some."

"Our terms are simple. The cessation of war actions between Ilburg and the righteous Kingdom of Myllenoris and her honorable peoples. The bestowing of ten-thousand acres of fertile lands for use by Ilburgian agriculture. Amount negotiable."

She scans her eyes briefly across the Ilburgian delegation.

Almost every single one of them...

She has defeated in combat.

The thought brings a strange smile to her face, one she can't hide.
(Asta Hargrave)

The glance from Serea is met with one of her own, yet she says nothing to the lightbringer. Penelope takes a seat, resting her hands upon her lap, listening to the words of the King. Where her mind may be elsewhere, and the Dark Essence upon her may provide numerous distractions, bringing the proof of their find was necessary.

For it is the only reason she is here.

From Alexander to Asta does her gaze shift. Staring across the room with her features veiled. The warrior within her burns, yet this goes well beyond her whims and simple desires. And thus...

"Mn…" She isn't sure what to think. To see Asta admit to her mistake, happened to surprise her, but the offer is one she simply can't...

"Ten thousand acres, I'll remove tha' bounty an' claims on ya' head, an' we won't wage war." However, the smile she fails to hide demands that Penelope ask for more. "An' I want a favor. A personal one. Has ta' do with spirits, an' not tha' kind tryin' ta' break outta' Ilburg. 'fraid I can't say more in a place so crowded."
(Penelope Dayndros)

"..."

There's a long stare given unto Asta- and something about the way that she smiles caused him to only narrow his gaze; as much as he was still young and inexperienced in many matters, he could tell what that smile was probably meaning. But..

If only out of respect to Penelope, he doesn't speak, even if he particularly doesn't find joy in just about everything.
(Basil)

"Good," is all he has to say on that.

Now it was his terms. And due to the way every other meeting he has had been conducted, he is swift to make his point.

"I am offering an alliance with Illburg. An apology will be given for the indentured servitude your people went through in the past. The Church, as Del can speak for will offer food and provide it for Illburg. The Crown will give you land, much like Asta has but not only farmland. You will be allowed to migrate to a plot of land north of Illburg."

Though, he was not finished there. A glance is spared to Kofe, and then back to Penelope.

"Given future possibilities. I want Illburg to come under the Crown's law. You will be a city with your own leader but you will be allied with us. In return, you will be able to act as another army like the First Light. You will still be allowed your practices, but there will be some laws that extend over to you. No killing, no more banditryand thievery, and a ban on occultism and witchcraft like is in place with Myllenoris."

"If we want to put the past behind us, this is the only way to do it. A united Esshar with Osrona, Myllenoris and Illburg. And the first thing this alliance will accomplish will be simple. We will march on and defeat the occultists in Theria's mountain. I will tell Rinn to give them up but I doubt she will. In the worst case, the three of our cities will stop the threat of Helheim before it grows too great. Kofe told me of how Njorun battled countless evil spirits, this is the exact same. A battle against a threat against the whole of Esshar."

Now, the Petrakis King stands his eyes a stark blue and his hands place onto the table.

"This is the only war that matters."
(Alexander rei Petrakis)

There's something about this offer that seems to terribly disturb Basil to his very core.. and while one could argue that the peace talk itself is something that would be happening regardless? There's something on this that just almost sets him off.

If it wasn't for the earlier talks, the earlier conditioning of a peculiar someone that had prepared him better for environment such as this.. maybe he wouldn't be talking - but reaching for his weapon instead.

He audibly clears his throat, but..

"..."

It seems that he fidgets in single place- adjusting himself enough to speak quiet; enough for the likes of Cayden to hear it because he's nearby, but..

Not enough for others to hear it.
(Basil)

Basil whispers: They were never meant to come there. Caleb Pelleaux was never meant to do all of this to us - nor all that Osrona has done.

Basil whispers: Don't belittle everything our people have suffered just for a golden cage.

Basil whispers: --Please...

The nod to Asta is returned. She didn't expect a blind agreeance, but fully intended to discuss the matter later. With Myllenoris handled, what follows is...the proceedings with Osrona.

"An' apology...won't change nothin'. Land would help, sure, sure..." Those golden, blood-shot eyes come to close, and Serea's claim is one that she could honestly agree with. Which is why, she doesn't want to apologize, Nor, does she want an apology.

"Ya' reachin' for tha' stars. It's bold. Shows ya' got guts. Shows ya' got backbone. I can respect it, but with all due respect, King Petrakis." Penelope breathes in, taking in a rather large sup of air. Making sure that all within this room hear her response.

"Hel'. No."

It isn't quite a battle cry, but those closes to her could feel the shaking of the table. Yet, she doesn't end there. No, while it would be easy to be unreasonable and stubborn, the woman at the very least provides a counter offer.

"Most already don't care for witches. I, don't care for witches. We ain't got no occultists. An' if Rinn woulda' been invited, which, she should have, that could be cleared up right now.

Now let me tell ya' a story."

Penelope rises from her chair, abandoning the seat and all notions of political correctness. Half stomping towards the center of the room, taking the floor.

"Caleb Pelleaux, someone most of ya' have probably never heard of, is tha' one. Tha' Osronan responsible for delvin' inta' what used ta' be Ilburg. Brought some of ya' state of tha' art technology, dug inta' tha' ruins, until he found that gate. Ya' peoples ancestors and mine are just as responsible for it bein' uncovered."

She stops, only to reach into her pocket, fishing around for the cursed little object. The source of her woes, and haunter of her dreams. "Now let me tell ya' an offer-- Asta, Finley. Ya' 'bout ta' get uncomfortable." An offhanded warning, yet a warning all the same.

"I'll call of war declarations if ya' do tha' same. I'll take whatever help ya' willin' ta' give. What I ain't doin' is betrayin' Rinn, not without hearin' her out. What I ain't doin' is sellin' out my people."

The Dark Essence, the remains of a Nethradin, is thrown into the center of the floor. It's whispers, and the ancient evils connected to it now spread into the minds of all present. Even if, for most, it would be subtle.

"What I am doin' is wagin' war against Hel'. With. Or without ya'."
(Penelope Dayndros)

A sigh of relief.

He knew that Penelope would not do this; that she would not simply step under Osrona's wing the moment that they're offered something which could allure them in such fashion. After all, there are things that matter more than mere coin, or even land, or any apology that could be offered..

Then again, it's a bit too late for mere apologies, is it not?

These apologies would not fix what felt like eternal damnation to their people; it would not fix the butchered clan that had to sacrifice themselves to prevent the invasion of Nethradin and the dark - only to be torn apart by the knights and those that served them.

It would not fix all that has been done to them.
Unjust. Uncalled for.

For such actions were made a long time ago - before the raids of the Rhoynish have begun.. and he's more than certain that these raids were direct response to all that Osrona has done. But.. the history is written by victors usually, is it not?

Only now the true cause is uncovered.

"...Can't just buy Rhoynish like that."

And as much as he knows this was merely an attempt of political resolution.. wouldn't that be just a golden cage for them?

Something meant to keep them down in exchange of goods- but as much as it stirred him from within to say that..

His attention is glued onto Nethradin's Essence.
(Basil)

Alexander watches it all with a steely blue gaze, focused to the edge. From Penelope's defiant scream and her words that do not quite answer what was asked to the shard of dark essence that falls to a halt in the middle of the room. Whispers reach out, low callings from a realm not from this one. Whispers of the Damned.

They're subtle though and almost white noise on Alexander's ears. But it is quite clear the evil it provided.

"You do not get to pick and choose what suits you. That right there is why the occultists in the mountain must be stopped," he points to the matter of dark essence. "Rinn has said herself she is harbouring occultists. They will bring about worse than that. They have in the past," he says, making it clear. Mordred. The Battle of Osrona only so recently. There was no mistaking it.

"This is where you need to act as a leader, Penelope and make the hard, right decisions."

The Petrakis King makes it clear before Regulus offers something more.

"We can do a treaty but I was under the understanding that an alliance would be made here. An alliance based around the future," quite clearly talking about to the marriage that everyone seemed to thrust forward.

"If there is a treaty, it will be clear. Peace. No more pillaging, banditry or thievery. No more killing. War declarations called off. And if Illburg does not want a war against all of Hel, then, they will stay out of the battle against the occultists. They will not defend Theria when Myllenoris and Osrona work to stop the occultism there."

"In exchange, Osrona can lend it's aid to stopping the problem beneath Helheim. I imagine Myllenoris will consider it as well."

"To me there is no two ways about it. You do not get to ignore one threat of Helheim and help the other. Otherwise, you will only bring about a greater threat in the future. Worse than that."
(Alexander rei Petrakis)

"No occultist is gonna' manage somethin' like this. This is beyond, what a human can do. Or, Hel', even a group of em'. Beyond that, it's witches who get their power from Helheim. Not them types."

She wasn't going to sympathize with either, but she wouldn't simply stand there and be told that users of the occult were of the same threat level as an Armageddon delivering portal to Helheim itself.

"Nah. I'll tell ya' what I told Kofe. I ain't gonna' get in tha' way of his heart, but his business an' mine aren't tha' same. A treaty..." To stop the pillaging, the thievery, the banditry that she'd known for so long?

"I'll call off tha' war declarations. Won't need ta' steal ta' keep mouths fed after Asta comes through with her deal. Least, not from you people. We'll call off tha' pillagin' of Osrona and it's territories." The nations outside of Osrona? The Demon Kingdoms, Barsburg?

There would always be someone to rob.

"Much as I like Rinn, I ain't sacrificin' people ta' protect witches. I'll have a word with her."

A deep breath is taken, attempting to touch upon everything spoken.

"An' there are two ways 'bout it. A million of em'. I don't do black an' white shit. Fact of the matter is-" Her gaze averts to Serea, and much as she hated to think it, her terms were the least unreasonable presented so far.

"I'll agree ta' Asta's terms. We'll quit fuckin with ya' people if ya' agree ta' do tha' same. An' Kofe. My pride an joy."

She turns, to stare him, directly in the eyes.

"If ya' break that girls heart I'm removin' ya' family jewels in front of everyone in this room."


(Penelope Dayndros)

"Yes, yes," Asta says, waving her hand in the air dismissively.

"The threat that dwells underneath Barsburg is what the spirits were attempting to warn me of. I believe that takes precedent. The witch, Duana, is likely acting alone... although, that will undoubtedly change. It'll change when they begin to spread their curse to others. Organize into underground covens that span every Kingdom of Esshar."

She raises her hand to the air to try to silence the others speaking out of turn.

"As agreed, those that will be speaking are King Petrakis, High Lady Dayndros and myself," Asta says, loud and coldly. She shoots a piercing gaze over at Basil... eyes like a ghost's. Eyes that seemed to be able to stare directly into a person.

Spectral eyes that could not be hidden from.

"... Theria is a problem," she says.

"But what else is a problem is magical wars of men disrupting the natural order of the world. For every spell that is cast in the battlefield, the spirits stray further into fell territory. I believe there have been reports of wraiths and other supernatural creatures prowling the countrysides. A mere taste of what's to come if we keep up these wars.

And this is uniquely a problem for Myllenoris. For Aschea's Faith. The Vale of Myllenoris is sensitive to these wars."

She doesn't clarify.

"If Ilburg agrees to cease hostilities with Osrona and Myllenoris, then we our agreement of ten-thousand acres of fertile land withstands."

She withdraws, leaning back on the chair and shooting a curious glance at Regulus.

Odd, she doesn't seem upset when HE speaks out of turn. Favoritism...
(Asta Hargrave)

Alexander allows everyone else to speak before concluding. Basil's gaze is not ignored, though, as Asta says, it was not his place to speak. The Petrakis King addresses it anyway.

"The offer for an alliance was Osrona extending a hand and giving it's protections to Illburg. A mutual agreement. Not everything is a slight against your people."

The Petrakis continues on, addressing Penelope shortly. "Stellus Pericles told me you wished for an alliance based around that marriage. But. That is clearly not the case. A misunderstanding."

And finally, he still stands, straighter now. Hands peeled away from the table where they rest.

"It is decided then. Peace between Illburg, Myllenoris and Osrona. We will not get involved in each other's affairs. Much like Myllenoris is offering land, the Church will provide food to Illburg as well. In the case that the threat below Illburg can not be stopped, Osrona is willing to offer land north or west of Illburg for your people to migrate."

"Meeting adjourned. Illburg, you are free to go. I will tell my people soon. High Lady Asta, Myllenoris if you would remain so we can talk of the best way to deal with Theria."

Alexander glances to everyone else that sat around, there was permission for them to go as well. Hopefully that shed some light on how these meetings work and how difficult it could be at times.
(Alexander rei Petrakis)

Not everything is a slight against their people.

There's something about this phrase that seems to almost evoke an ironic smile upon Basil's countenance.. and truthfully, even if his heart tells him that he should be mad about Alexander even saying that - the mind tells him that he's simply unaware.. or perhaps, is forced to tell such a thing.

Or even maybe he truly believes that..
But does that make a difference?

"History begs to differ."

It is there that he cements his own statement with a single phrase; but he does not feel the need to elaborate, nor he chooses to- here, to continue argument would be futile at best - for he knows that this is neither the place for that nor it would be falling upon the ears that could listen.

Whatever necessary reference comes from this is something that those aware should know all too well about.

But.. to say that the gaze of Asta is ignored? Not in the slightest. There's an evident glare given to the High Lady of Myllenoris- an unspoken tension, perhaps; for the young warrior of Rhoynish had a lot of bone to pick with her, but..

Penelope asked of them to not start trouble, didn't she? At least, that's how he interpreted.

Instead, when it is said that they'll be leaving..

"..Ain't a need to sit around, then."

"On your go, Penelope."

He awaits the further word; assuming that they'll be leaving.
(Basil)