Romani Montclaire - Rinn Check In (4/21)

[03:23] Romani cos Montclaire says, "Hey Rinn."
[03:23] Rinn says, "Yo."
[03:23] Romani cos Montclaire asks, "Is Amara safe?"
[03:24] Rinn says, "Yeah. She's fine. Dozing."
[03:24] Rinn says, "We talked down here for a while."
[03:24] Rinn asks, "Maybe could wake her, if you want?"
[03:24] Romani cos Montclaire says, "That is good. And that sounds nice. And no, I do not need her awake. Just checking in."
[03:24] Rinn says, "Mmkay."
[03:24] Romani cos Montclaire asks, "Did she tell you what happened earlier?"
[03:24] Rinn says, "I think the only people who give her toruble are Hellebore and crew, and whatever."
[03:24] Rinn says, "Trouble."
[03:25] Rinn says, "Tiernay, whatever he goes by."
[03:25] Romani cos Montclaire says, "Yeah. That one."
[03:25] Romani cos Montclaire says, "I tried to stop it but I failed. For that, I apologize."
[03:25] Rinn says, "Yep. He continues to attack pretty much everyone he feels like."
[03:25] Rinn says, "Even after he lost his eye to one of mine."
[03:26] Romani cos Montclaire says, "Sounds like a violent type."
[03:26] Rinn says, "Annoying, but I've tried him and failed."
[03:26] Rinn says, "Thus, my own missing eye."
[03:26] Romani cos Montclaire says, "I did not even notice."
[03:26] Rinn says, "Mhm."
[03:27] Rinn says, "I wanted to mess him up for mugging my people relentlessly. Wasn't up to the challenge."
[03:27] Rinn says, "I'm probably going to attack him next time I see hi anyway."
[03:27] Rinn says, "Him."
[03:27] Romani cos Montclaire says, "I know that feeling. And I will likely be attempting to stop him if I see him mugging again."
[03:27] Rinn says, "He will."
[03:28] Rinn says, "Osrona will probably hire him for war again, next time they attack us for whatever reason it is this time."
[03:28] Amara Chance says, "Probably."
[03:28] Romani cos Montclaire says, "I do not doubt it. And I would hope not. The lucky thing would be for him to stay out of it, but.."
[03:28] Romani cos Montclaire asks, "Also hi Amara. Any wounds?"
[03:28] Amara Chance says, "Just my pride."
[03:28] Rinn says, "Mood."
[03:28] Romani cos Montclaire says, "Likewise. Very likewise."
[03:29] Romani cos Montclaire says, "I do want to ask; Have you seen any black wing occultic Drakanites? "
[03:30] Rinn says, "... There's a million ingredients scattered throughout the fields of your tri-faction alliance, and still you gotta go check the mountain instead."
[03:30] Romani cos Montclaire says, "Who mainly wear hoods and the like."
[03:30] Rinn says, "Black-winged Drakanites... wearing hoods and the like."
[03:30] Rinn says, "That doesn't, uh."
[03:30] Rinn says, "Immediately ring a bell."
[03:31] Rinn says, "I know a Drakanite who has black wings, but he never plays incognito and stuff."
[03:31] Rinn says, "... And also I haven't actually seen him around in forever."
[03:31] Rinn says, "I don't know if he lives in Theria anymore."
[03:31] Romani cos Montclaire says, "Occultists? Phantasmal, maybe shadow? I was not given a lot to go on. And hm."
[03:32] Rinn says, "..."
[03:32] Rinn says, "Uhhhh."
[03:32] Rinn asks, "... Nnnnno...?"
[03:32] Rinn says, "I don't know EVERYONE in my city, to be fair."
[03:33] Romani nods.
(Romani cos Montclaire)
[03:33] Rinn asks, "Are they being a nuissance?"
[03:33] Romani cos Montclaire says, "Yes."
[03:33] Rinn asks, "Doing stuff I need to know about?"
[03:33] Romani cos Montclaire says, "They have reportedly attacked two people. Siegfried and Reese."
[03:33] Romani cos Montclaire says, "I was trying to stop Amara here earlier to ask if they had seen them. Also to ask why she stabbed someone."
[03:33] Rinn asks, "And I assume neither of those are dudes part of the war effort, huh?"
[03:33] Romani cos Montclaire says, "I do not know, actually."
[03:33] Romani cos Montclaire says, "Reese is not in the war effort."
[03:33] Romani cos Montclaire says, "Siegfried, I am uncertain."
[03:34] Rinn says, "Annoying."
[03:34] Rinn says, "I'd like to help more, but. I mean. We're still at war."
[03:34] Rinn says, "Shit, you guys have all ganged up on us."
[03:34] Romani cos Montclaire says, "Of course. If you see anything, do tell me. And I hope the war ends soon."
[03:34] Rinn says, "I do, too! I sure fucking do, too."
[03:35] Rinn says, "And I'll, uh."
[03:35] Rinn says, "I'll let you know."
[03:35] Rinn says, "I'm not sure it's mine, but I'll try and-"
[03:35] Rinn asks, "Can you describe them again?"
[03:35] Rinn says, "As in-depth as you can."
[03:36] Romani cos Montclaire says, "Shadow or occultic magic. Black wings. Hood or mask. I apologize for not having a more comprehensive detailing, but the two who I asked did not tell me much."
[03:36] Rinn says, "Shadow or occult. Black wings. Hood or mask."
[03:36] Rinn says, "Black wings are distinct, at least."
[03:36] Romani cos Montclaire says, "That is true. And we do know it is a drakanite so anyone not is out."
[03:37] Romani cos Montclaire says, "I also have something more personal to ask."
[03:38] Romani cos Montclaire asks, "My cousin, Yani. Has he been well in Theria?"
[03:39] Rinn says, "Yeah. He's good. Outside of the losing his arm, part, he's been in pretty good spirits."
[03:39] Romani cos Montclaire asks, "I did not hear about the arm. Bandits or war?"
[03:41] Rinn says, "War."
[03:41] Rinn says, "Last battle, when we tried to blow up this bridge to stop the muggings that are still happening."
[03:41] Rinn says, "Literally feet from said bridgwe."
[03:41] Rinn says, "Y'know."
[03:41] Rinn shrugs.
(Rinn)
**At this point, peeing on the bridge was mentioned by Amara, and I have removed that part of this scene. My apologies. It is the reason for the huge gaps in dialogue from this point forward.**
[03:42] Romani cos Montclaire says, "I would like to try to stop the muggings on the bridge."
[03:42] Romani cos Montclaire says, "Or near it."
[03:42] Romani cos Montclaire says, "All I can. So I will be frequenting the area more."
[03:43] Rinn says, "Better make sure Osrona hasn't hired them to do it, first."
[03:43] Rinn says, "I literally would not even be surprised."
[03:45] Romani cos Montclaire says, "If Orsona wishes to mug people, they can send their knights to do it. Not mercenaries. Orsona should send people who they have hired, not neutral parties."
[03:49] The Lightbringer certainly wasn't expecting this at all. To happen upon not one, but two Therians, one of which being the leader of Theria herself.

"I'd prefer if you refrained from peeing on our bridge, thank you."

Why exactly were they having this conversation to begin with? Who knew! Though her attention shifted over to the Dragonlord herself...

It had been a while.

"Missed you at the summit earlier."
(Serea lux Astor)
[03:49] Romani cos Montclaire says, "Thank you."
[03:51] "Wasn't invited. Wonder why."

Attention turns, lazy, over to Serea's approach in tow with her mans. She's idle, and a little annoyed- but it's by AMARA, and not their approach. She's pretty deadpan, when she addresses them.

"Or I should say. At least. I wasn't invited with anything that didn't look king of like a joke, or give me any real details, dates and times and locations and so on and so forth."
(Rinn)
[03:51] The Radiant offered a wave to Rinn. A friendly smile.

"Nice eyepatch."

Unfortunate how things had gone, at a time, he considered her a friend.
(August lux Astor)
[03:51] Romani once more does the very thing that he did when he met Amara. Moving to the side, his fingers would move to his backpack as he heard the words of Serea.

"Greetings lady Astor."
(Romani cos Montclaire)
[03:53] It was odd, most certainly, to encounter the girl in this sort of circumstance. Though, surprisingly, Sereea didn't seem outwardly hostile.

With talks of peace ongoing, she wasn't sure if it'd be within her right to make an aggressive move. Her son still had things he had to do, after all. Though-

"I heard you're protecting occultists and witches up there. Any truth to that at all?"

While they were supposed to correspond via letter, Serea wasn't at all afraid to ask directly.
(Serea lux Astor)
[04:01] She claps, once, bringing her lax arms up in a sudden POP as hands meet.

One can never, ever, say anything about Rinn's directness and sincerity, challenge that much. Perhaps anything else, but not that. The time has come and gone in her life where she will lie about matters this important.

"Wish we weren't. I really do. But when you won't stop attacking us and have a new reason every few months, I have to take whatever allies will defend us. Just like you take bandits to attack with."

A little pause, and she looks away, frowning. She isn't harsh with it, and- perhaps she's a little morose, melancholy in undertone.

"If you'd invited me to the summit, maybe we could've talked about it. I've been eager for peace a lot longer than you, remember?"

She doesn't look back, and keeps dazing off into the fields.
(Rinn)
[04:05] "For the sake of my son-"

And the 'Peace Brigade.'

"I will not escalate hostilities more than necessary. While you attempted to attack our bridge and destroy it.... Perhaps we can overlook it. I mean-"

Serea turns on her heel, gesturing widely to the bridge and new fortifications.

"This will serve as an example of what happens when you poke Osrona. We rebuild, we simply become stronger as a result of strife."

It was definitely a lot more impressive than it had been prior. A decent garrison, not to mention a strengthening of the integrity of the bridge itself.

"But make no mistake, we will not abide by Theria harboring occultists and witches. Whatever your reasoning... It is evil, corrupt magic."

"I will allow Alexander to make the decisions moving forwards, expect correspondence from him in the coming months. But as an early warning-"

Serea's gaze remained upwards, looking at Rinn.

"We will march if you don't rid Theria of the corrupt magic. If you hand them over perhaps this peace you seek will truly be achievable. Who knows."
(Serea lux Astor)
[04:14] "The destruction of your bridge was the end of war. The end of either of us being the threat to another. I am sorry your sight was so short that you cannot see that, really."

She mimics the gesture, turning back. It wasn't lost to her at all. Of course she was paying rapt attention.

"And it could have ended banditry against humble civilians where we stand, as well. But that rages on under your... questionable watch, and forces us this far south to do it in your stead."

She clears her throat, and looks away, half shrugging without the heart for a full gesture. The numerous people who continue to complain about muggings and assaults from Tiernay justify the reaffirmament of her position where she stands.

"I don't want to harbor 'evils' that can corrupt what I make my city out to be, Serea. I want nothing to do with perverse taints that do only harm, even in the city I want to paint as a place free to worship and be what you want.

But you've shown it through your own words and actions. If it's not witches, and it's not occultism? It's then our allies. And it's then the beings we worship, and your own little personal vendettas.

Tell me why we should trust you, Osrona, at all. I'd love to hear that explanation from your end. Really. I've actually been talking to this about others a lot, and you can finally give me a real answer."
(Rinn)
[04:21] "As much as you think yourself the victim, you never have been. While you personally may not have pillaged and killed, your people have. Those in your ranks, in your armies, they participated in the countless assaults upon Myllenoris, killing and stealing in the name of your draconic overlords."

Serea very much remembered, even if they young generation wasn't around then. There were no doubt elements of that still within Theria, even if they claimed to be simply defending themselves.

As for Ilburg?

"They are just as guilty. It was your people who struck first, not mine. We simply act in defense of our interests, as well as to uphold that which is righteous."

"Appeasing a deity which requires tribute every half decade is not our idea of something which is good, I'm afraid. For a being supposedly so benevolent and intelligent, he sure is greedy."

To the Lightbringer, they were little more than slaves. They might not know it now, but it would become clear once the shackles were struck off.

"I have never acted cruelly towards any of your people. If you lay down arms, give up your idols and barbaric practice... I will treat you with nothing but fairness and respect."

"It is not hard to walk the path I tread, but it has been clear to me since the beginning that Theria has no interest in doing so. Harboring evil, corrupt magics simply proves that which I predicted from the very beginning."

A shake of her head, before continuing.

"Ilburg has promised to not hurt our people, to stop war against us... And I- I didn't strike them."

Even if it was difficult, her son came first.

"If you do the same, give up your corrupt practice.. Anything is possible."
(Serea lux Astor)
[04:23] Romani cos Montclaire says, "I would advise most things be written down. Words can be denied, but a document presenting all arguments signed up that people know and is released for people to read is a document that is binding."
[04:27] There was another yawn, as she jerked a thumb towards Rinn now.

"Rinn's entire house is like rolling in coins. She probably stuffs her mattress with them." She said with a sleepy little nod. "... Kidding. Or am I?" She questioned, before now she set her sights upon Serea herself.

"And seriously. Dragons have a thing - we like to hoarde stuff. I hoarde my cliffs and little glasses that I consider momentos from the bar." She commented, eyes half closing as she stared at the woman. "But Rinn was right. I can tell you are a B word as soon as you open your mouth up."

"But anyone, why would we give up what we worship? It's not like we're demanding you to stop looking at the stupid stars in prayers and guidance, or whatever it is you guys do in your fancy walls with your fancy lack of snow." She said, a hand now gesturing vaguely towards Osrona.

"To ask us to give that stuff up is tantamount... Testament? Tanta-- Whatever. It's the same as if we demanded it of you. Leave us alone. That's seriously all you have to do. Easy!"
(Amara Chance)
[04:41] "Willful ignorance and ancient-drawn assumption does not a scholarly understanding of our city make, Serea. I'd be happy to educate you to the very depths of our activities religious beliefs and activities in the modern day under no veils of deceit." Her dull stare does not blink, nor flinch, when she speaks again after her attention is held long by the lightbringer.

"I've never been anything but an open book since I took over. I want what's best for Theria. It's nothing more complex than that. If your words were convincing me that working with Osrona was best, I'd be leaping at you with hopes to take me to the King this very instance, and hash out a treaty to very amicable terms.

But you're not."

No, Osrona was a threat. Osrona was a hungry empire, that had already shown it didn't need to feel threatened to go to war. It didn't need deeds done by those in power or even those still alive to wage a war of retribution. It didn't need an understanding of the way things had become in the place they targeted, to thusly target them.

When Rinn first became a Dragonlord truly, and Bastiel stepped down, she'd no idea how hard is would ever be to get this very woman- Serea, to even simply speak to her. How many of her pleas for even a simple convening, before witches and before occultism, had gone completely ignored?

'It is war', the response to one of her kindly letters, begging for a summit when they were most certainly too weak to mount a military defense. She still remembers that. That was the moment she lost her faith in the people that lead Osrona.

"You're not righteous. You're as greedy as you'd call Garljing. You demand parts of our mountain vital to our wellbeing, demand subservience to your laws, give us no recourse or room to solve our own issues."

She pauses. Now, there is a cut, and a growing harshness to her stare and to her words.

"You have never once allowed me the simple luxury of not worrying about a war and trying to let me fix my fucking city in going on three years. And in those three years, I've never wanted a second of it. Every action I've made or I've endorsed, has been to put an end to this.

Do you understand that? And better yet, do you care? Does it really matter what I have to say at all? or are you just letting me believe that my words matter so I feel better?"

… She's wounded, clearly. Worn down. The weight of leadership has hardened her, and then worn away at whatever softness had remained. Three years had come and gone so terribly slowly. She used to be a plucky, hopeful child.

Now it was hard to tell if her shell wasn't soon to become as coarse as Serea's own.
(Rinn)
[04:45] Romani pauses in the middle of things, turning to the side and walking to a nearby tree. Leaning against it, he would take out a piece of paper, and begin to write.
(Romani cos Montclaire)
[04:50] "There's no greed in wishing to bring all parts of Esshar under a single banner. We wish for unification, a better tomorrow where we all tread the path of righteousness."

Serea's tone remained cold, apathetic, her countenance austere. As always, she remained uncompromising, blinded by her own sense of justice and self-righteousness.

"What is so wrong about our laws? About us having control of Silverwall mine?"

Serea asked, tilting her head just slightly.

"The Crown is fair, it is just, and it is most certainly merciful, but it also has a firm hand. You would all be protected, the mines would be open to you as new citizens of Esshar."

"There would be no loss of freedom at all whatsoever. The only case where that would happen is if you resorted to corrupt magic, as well as barbarism in general."

In her perfect world, all would follow the laws of the Crown. They were not tyrannical, nor were they unjust. It all depended upon individual action.

"If you truly wish for this peace, this time to rebuild your city and usher your people into a new, productive age... Then-"

Serea stares deadpan, as blunt as ever.

"You should submit immediately. There will be no death, no strife, and you will fall under the fair laws of our people. We will even handle the dragons on your behalf. But I do wonder, Rinn-"

Serea paused, a hand cupping her chin.

"What would happen if you were to not offer tribute to your dragons? What would they do? As far as I'm aware.. It's to appease them."

The Lightbringer waited, though she had her own ideas of what would happen. None of which were pretty.
(Serea lux Astor)
[05:12] "Theria is a city of freedom. The city of dragonkind, patron. It is defined, controlled, and shaped not by born privilege and royalty. It is an identity loose, allowing worlds within worlds behind it's walls that are not predefined as acceptable or unacceptable-usually barring few, obvious circumstances that you end up forced into when an overlording empire desires everything that you fondly consider your own."

Her anger calms, her countenance flattening back into simple neutralities. It was a dance with words, between two who were decent, but most certainly not on the same level. Serea was seasoned, calculated and cold. Rinn was youthful, passionate and hot- as much as she tries not to be.

"There is nothing that Osrona can do for Theria, that it can't do itself better. You're... clearly all ignorant to our faith? And you don't either understand, or at all respect the idea of freedom and sovereignty!!! Yeah?!"

She throws her hands up into the air! It's indignant. Her composure once more cracks.

"And- so what!! So what if we appease our god? HOW does it hurt you? How many people has Garljing's rage over our failures claimed in your lifetime, Serea? Because I can't tell you the last time IT'S EVER HAPPENED!!! And tell me?! If we have yet to fail to appease, what is the one thing that could make us find out what happens? Would it be... being choked, or artificially hindered and overly managed by an meddling exterior force?"

Aggressive hand gestures. Snapping shoulders as she lurches. Wings, shaking and tensely spread wide. She's gotten to. She's burning up.

But they lower. She cools, as quickly as she heats.

"I- just want. To be left alone. I wouldn't treat your faith like this, if we were in opposite positions. I would want only mine. I wouldn't care about empirical unity. About... all this shit."

Even talking is making her tired.

"I just want to live and see my people and my city prosper and bloom in their identity, and be something respectable. That's it."
(Rinn)
[05:27] "But you will never be free, Rinn. So long as the threat of a draconic entity looms over the head of your people you will never experience what it is truly like to be free."

It seemed sad, almost, at least from Serea's perspective. Perhaps ignorant, but she couldn't justify the demands of tribute.

"Because what happens if you do mess up...? You answered the question yourself, you'd be left to the mercy of Garljing himself, as well as his children."

"That is not freedom. It is simply the deluded reality he has put you in, a reality where you've lived and grown up. But worry not-"

Serea nods solemnly, not at all fazed by her outburst.

"We will put an end to that tyranny, to that slavery. You will never have to worry about offering tribute again, nor will you face the threat of retribution should you fail."

Big words, though Serea was always bold and full of bravado.

"I am glad we got the opportunity to speak regardless, so I could better understand the circumstances your people face. It's sad, truly.. But I promise to strike these shackles off."

"If there is nothing more, I will return home. Do not consider my words to be that of the King's, as he will send a letter soon."
(Serea lux Astor)
[05:41] Her eyes lower, half-lidding at Serea's first words. Her stomach turns, but she can't even... hate, Serea for this. She can't be outraged. It's the exact response she expected.

She is tired. But alas.

"I am filled with dread, that your broken mindset and ones like it might decide who lives and dies.

And I hope that it does not come down to them. War made you a monster, at some point in your life. I'm sure I'm not immune to it, either."

Those are cold words. Cutting words. Words hard with disbelief and cruel reality mixed and stirred into the same breaths with which she speaks and then goes quiet.

But that was all she had to say.
(Rinn)
[05:43] There was little more for Serea to say, given how things went. Resolved, though not fazed by Rinn's words. She had been called a great many things in her life.

"I admire your tenacity and strong will, if anything. Farewell."

If not interrupted further, she'd move off to depart!
(Serea lux Astor)
[05:44] Rinn says, "... And I can begrudgingly respect. Your unflinching devotion to cause."
[05:45] Rinn says, "Ugh. Fuck."
[05:47] Romani licks the tip of his ink covered Quill. As the words finish, Romani finishes leaning against the tree, and rolls up one of the papers. Following this, he would once more walk up the stairs of the mountain, holding out the quill and a paper to Rinn.

"If you would;"

"Please write down the terms you would like for the war to end on on this piece of paper. I would also like for you to specify what the tributes to Garling amount to. What they are, essentially."
(Romani cos Montclaire)
[05:58] Rinn stares, and writes slowly.
(Rinn)
[05:59] Romani files around differnt papers in his bag.
(Romani cos Montclaire)
[06:00] {Item} You picked up Rinn's Desired Outcomes. Dropped by Rinn. .
[06:00] Romani cos Montclaire says, "Thank you. I will deliver that shortly."
[06:01] Rinn says, "... Thanks."
[06:01] Romani cos Montclaire says, "You are welcome."
[06:01] Rinn says, "Amara, come back up the mountain with me, please."
[06:01] Rinn says, "I don't want you out alone this late."
[06:01] Romani cos Montclaire says, "If there is peace; I would also like to see if some of Theria's members could assist in defending the bridge, and the surrounding areas. Noting that now and early."
[06:02] Rinn says, "Would love to."
[06:02] Romani cos Montclaire says, "Great. I will be seeing you both later."
[06:02] Romani cos Montclaire says, "May your paths be bright."