[HQ Ignorance] Re : Scene 23: The Overlord of Senatos

[Lev Lafayette]

--- Nic Hughes <nicolas.h at virgin.net> wrote:

> 
> Aalmon smiles as several of the fellowship speak
> out, when they have had 
> their say he speaks up
> 
> "Your ladyship even if we were assassins, which we
> are not, the death of 
> a king only brings a new king to the throne. You may
> hope for a king 
> more to your liking but a new king bent of revenge
> is just as likely.
> 
> There is, as Jareena's people say, always another
> way. If you feel 
> threatened then you are wise to build alliances
> against so powerful a 
> kingdom, how much wiser then to take this further
> and make friends that 
> the king of Seshnela will find mysterious - that
> which he does not 
> understand he will fear and in his fear he will nor
> risk an adventure 
> against you.
> 
> Our fellowship have not finished their dealings with
> the wolf-men, yet 
> having shown that we are not to be taken lightly or
> attacked with 
> impunity now I believe we have a chance to meet them
> in peace. There was 
> a moment when I could easily have slain their king
> as he lay unconcious 
> at my feet yet Kerala's expression alone would have
> been enough to stay 
> my hand. He may be the leader of a wild and unruly
> people but he is a 
> man who can be dealt with, a man who will listen to
> a reasonable offer. 
> We have propositions of our own that we may try to
> put to him but think 
> for yourself how much you have to gain if you could
> turn an untamable 
> threat at your back into an ally whose very presence
> would send a shiver 
> of fear down the spines of any who might attack you.
> There would be a 
> cost, there always is in such matters but compared
> with the price of war 
> - or the revenge that would follow less open attacks
> - I believe the 
> price would be reasonable."


"Aah, Aalmon Far Rider, so the rumours of your love of
peace are not under-rated. If we were to make an
alliance of the King of Seshnela, all of Safelster
would be at our throats within days. Not to mention
the possibility that the mad but devious King would
take the opportunity to establish diplomats and
following diplomats, the assasasins to turn Senatos to
his own client state. This is how he has operated in
the past and there is little chance he will not do so
in the future."

"Even if this were not the case, and I made reasonable
offers to the King, that would not prevent his
neighbours and the lords of Salfestar of launching
their own attacks. This *is* a time of war, Aalmon,
whether we like it or not. He *will* be replaced, and
by a person probably from the remaining lords of the
Kingdom."

Her voice softens.

"I am just trying to find a way to minimise the
casulties. If you are brave and skilled enough to
capture him and make him abdicate the throne, for
example, that would be truly heroic. But be aware, for
each day whilst he lives and rules the people of
Seshnela suffer - and the greed of her neighbour's grows."


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