[open] March Catch-all and Event

[towards_okeanos]

Who: Iskandar, Waver, Judar and whoever else Iskandar is going to recruit for the war research effort.
When: All Mareuer
Where: All around the city.
What: A Catch-all for all the March Mareuer Madness
Warnings: none yet, will definitely add later.

Α. It had been far more noble to have died the victim of the enemy than fall a sacrifice to the rage of my friends.

Barely have they been able to rest after the expedition to the new outpost in the depths of the Wilde, it's effects still lingering when Iskandar threw himself into a new quest. One, fortunately, much closer to home. Seemingly leaving the city must have done him good this time. Or all this frenetic planning and making himself busy is just a way to cover the fact that he's still shaken after all the events of the past weeks and can't sit still lest the nightmares catch-up with him.

In short, he moved from the apartment he and Waver occupied for so long to a proper house with a library, a garden and all the associated problems. It was a necessary move. Doubly so now that Judar is also living with them.

There are plants he hauled from outpost expedition to take care of, rooms to furnish, a space for combat training and magic practice to organize. It's good to have more room to breathe but it's a headache too.

Ω. For nature hath placed nothing so high that it is out of the reach of industry and valor.

[ooc: The good old wildcard or drag King of Conquerors to your shenanigans. I'm open for plotting on plurk at bitweaver.

Iskandar has a few places he frequents.
- Coven for mid-level lessons on abjuration (healing and barriers are already his specialty) and basic enchantment lessons
- Inkchanted
- mingling (and drinking) with the Wilders
- Sly Seadog for drinking
- he helps people outside the city in the slums so can be found there too]

Comments

[gilgamess]

[ it is only natural that, at Iskandar's description of the Wilde, Gilgamesh's eyes should brighten with a certain thrill for travel and for heroic journeys. he does not bother to conceal that little frission of excitement.

having experienced the Wilde when he assisted at the Northern Outpost, he could not say that it is any landscape that could inspire adoration in a man's heart... truly, if anything were to remind him of the dejected wanderings he had experienced when he sought Ziusudra, his Great Ancestor, it would be the lifelessness of those lands and the pale and ambling wraiths he had seen among the trees. no, this is no continent fit for a hero-king. still, to roam freely -- that desire exists in Gilgamesh's heart just as it does in Iskandar's.

though Gilgamesh was created by the gods to rule as an absolute King, adventure is his preference, not the demands of governance... but that is not to say he has no understanding of governance: it is only natural that one who oversaw a kingdom would have thoughts upon this matter. ]

Ah. [ he takes another sip of his drink, almost lightly. the shadows of the dark alehouse fall across the amber of the liquid. at a glance or if one knew them in other ways, one might suppose Iskandar would be the one to prefer beer, with Gilgamesh being as finnicky as he is... but then again, if one knows Sumerian history, then it is not so surprising to discover certain of the King's appetites. ] When I think upon it, I do recall that a certain woman mentioned different ideas of governance within this world.

[ he and Caren briefly discussed it, but that had been when Gilgamesh was a complete newcomer to Aefenglom and merely conceiving of the world in terms of his own perspective and rule. ]

The situation between these two cities is not dissimilar to what I experienced during my rule. [ ... well, you know, besides the Monster transformations and Witch hierarchies and shit. look, he just means that city-states tend to clash over internal political strife. ] Ur, Lagash -- and Larsa, Eridu... yes, those cities opposed my own. Yet they counted no success when I was King. Moreover, they unified when I opposed those other powers.

[ the gods, that is. Iskandar, like many heroic spirits, no doubt has a more positive relationship with his own gods than Gilgamesh did. so too is it for Ozymandias. Gilgamesh remembers those warring city-states, but more so, he remembers that what brought them together was the birth of humankind. should this Cwyld infection not do the same for Aefenglom and Dorchacht? and should it not unite the Mirrorbound and natives across class strata? this is the possible apocalypse, after all: even Gilgamesh recognizes the level of threat from what he saw outside. ]

As to the situation within Aefenglom you speak of, those vermin have been executed, have they not?

[ Gilgamesh himself was rather busy with Friend Reunion Times during the Rathmore Trial, but needless to say he caught the cliffnotes of that. ]

The important matter is whether you believe there shall be forthcoming problems. Plainly speaking, do you believe further trouble shall come from this Dorchacht?

sorry for the terrible delay:( all the fact checking took more time than I expected

[towards_okeanos]

[This when one's assumptions may easily fail them and the appearances deceive. Of the two, Iskandar is the one with a preference for wine. He'd take it over even the most artfully crafted beers. But he's also not the one to complain when he doesn't get the drink of his choice.]

I would be much surprised if they did. Otherwise, I would have heard of it. To claim a victory from you, that would be a feat worthy of legend.

[Iskandar himself has used the threat of common enemy in his campaign. It helped him to keep the quarreling between his allies to a minimum. Still, Persian invasion was more visible threat for many too with border cities changing hands and allegiance all the time. Cwyld is ... less tangible. Iskandar can't shake the feeling that many have resigned to he thought it would never go away. They got used to it being just a part of their world.

He shakes his head.]

I don't think Dorchacht will be any source of trouble. But let me give you some more context for why I think so.

I was part of the original delegation to the city so I saw how bad the situation there was. All of the Monsters in the city were enslaved. The head witch in power, Morgana - may her name be forever cursed - had the rest of the citizens put under mind control spells. Fiendishly difficult to resist.

[Iskandar would have understood slavery. He wouldn't have liked it but it was a sad reality of his times so he would be surprised they have a need for it. What he did not and would not understand, nor forgive, was mind control.]

But there was already discord brewing among the populace. A resistance movement. Though I was not myself involved in it, I know that some of the other Mirrorbounds helped immensely the resistant movement there.
For one, they uncovered what was exactly powering the horrid spells and that information was for many in Dorchacht enough to act against the ruling witches.

[Iskandar doesn't mention what it was. It is still too abhorrent for him to foul the light of day with even a mention of those horrors.]

But this was after our delegation came back to Aefenglom. So we didn't know until the visit from Dorchacht of their own delegation. This time though consisting of the resistance leaders. As they have succeeded in overthrowing their city's previous ruler and her supporters and came to express their gratitude as well as open the route for trade and travel between both cities.

[Iskandar is not a fan of uprisings himself. Those are always awfully messy to deal with. Even if the Dorchacht's one was to be expected. The state the city was could not continue, all it needed was one spark. The Mirrorbounds provided it. Though one might as easily say that the gods have intervened. Iskandar would say so himself if only he knew what gods this place had in the first place.]

Sadly, not everyone in Aefenglom was equally happy that the Mirrorbounds, being an alien element already, helped overthrow the government in the sister city. What happened as a result you know already.

Now, the vermin have indeed been executed, and yet I see them as a symptom of a larger problem. If I foresee any trouble it would be from within this city, not Dorchacht. In fact, the Mirrorbounds are treated better there than here.

NO WORRIES, and likewise. I'm slower on game plot type tags... trying to ensure I remember things

[gilgamess]

[ Gilgamesh has nothing whatsoever against uprisings -- in principle.

were it an uprising against himself... well, that might have been interesting. once, he would have said so. in his worst days. you know, all the better to crush them.

but, no, in his better moments, as one who supports humankind broadly, he is able to appreciate the sort of rebellion Iskandar speaks of. it is ennobling, fighting back like that. but it is also messy. a revolution is never without violence, death, torture.

and... his friend. where had Enkidu come into this? ]

That is quite a complex web, King of Conquerors. [ even for Gilgamesh. but he ponders. ] Moreover, who is in power in Dorchacht now?

[ that part, so far as he can tell, has been omitted. but at least now he better understands what has transpired in Aefenglom, even if he is still learning of his friend's role in these affairs. ]

[towards_okeanos]

In truth, it is more headache that is worth it but the locals seem to revel in complications.

[He used to solve problems of similar matter with a sword. Sadly, such straightforward solutions are out of his reach still.]

Though I must admit that given how despicable a tyrant their previous ruler turned out to be, I can't even blame them.

To answer your question, King of Heroes, Dorchacht is ruled by a triumvirate now. They call themselves the Circle of Three. Two of them are former leaders of Resistance and third is a dragon who serves as a representative for the city's monsters.

[Serves is a bit of a stretch. Iskandar knows precious little about the dragon. He never spoke during the delegation's visit to Aefenglom. While the other two ambassadors, the stern-looking lady and a constantly babbling inventor, Iskandar instantly liked, he had trouble with the dragon. Honestly, he still doesn't know what to think of this man.]

I visit the sister city quite often now on my own business so I can attest this system seems to be working well. Surely, they are inexperienced but they are enthusiastic and most of the city supports them.

[The remaining supporters of the previous regime are swiftly dealt with.]