Birthright: Chapter Seven

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ewancummins
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Re: Birthright: Chapter Seven

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Varrus the Ethical wrote:CATHEDRAL


ewancummins wrote:“No good can come from those unprincipled money-grubbers being thus enmeshed in the politics of our neighboring duchy
They have grown quite wealthy by means of usury, trafficking in contraband, and receiving stolen goods.’’
Roald purses his lip in throught.

"Your Holiness, it is clear that these Celestial Jewel folks are not high on your list of favorite people. However, being myself an unprincipled money grubber, I'm curious how you think that I of all people can serve the interests of the Church and the Realm. I've made no secret that of that fact that I'm motivated by personal profit."

The Archprelate smiles sadly.
"Indeed.
But is lucre the only thing that speaks to your heart?"
He stares at Roald for a moment, looking not only into the mercenary’s eyes, but seeming to trace every line of his face.
He shakes his silver-haired head.

“In any case, if your aim is to get rich, why not seize the ill-gotten gains of the Celestial Jewel? I don’t suggest, of course, that you simply ambush and rob honest merchants who are misguided in their religious sensibilities. No.

But the corrupt and lawless clergy that runs that church—for years they have gotten away with all sorts of crimes. I would not count it a sin if some of the things they have gained by theft and trickery were reclaimed from them. Stolen heirlooms, items that may be readily identified; those would need to be returned to their rightful owners. But the mingled heaps of coins, precious stones of unknown provenance, and other valuables the villains have hoarded—those would be fair spoils.’’
Delight is to him- a far, far upward, and inward delight- who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self.

-from Moby Dick (Hermann Melville)
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Re: Birthright: Chapter Seven

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CATHEDRAL
ewancummins wrote:

But the corrupt and lawless clergy that runs that church—for years they have gotten away with all sorts of crimes. I would not count it a sin if some of the things they have gained by theft and trickery were reclaimed from them. Stolen heirlooms, items that may be readily identified; those would need to be returned to their rightful owners. But the mingled heaps of coins, precious stones of unknown provenance, and other valuables the villains have hoarded—those would be fair spoils.’’
Roald shrugs. "Getting rich of the spoils off war is the dream of every sellsword, Your Holiness. However, you must understand if I have certain misgivings. It's one thing to involve yourself in a conflict between duchies. It's an entirely different matter to involve yourself in a conflict between temples."
"Most men would rather deny a hard truth than face it."

George R.R. Martin.
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Re: Birthright: Chapter Seven

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ewancummins wrote:COMMAND TENT

Renn arrives to find his father, dressed in a light suit of brigandine and wearing sword and hand axe on his belt, standing in the tent talking with a couple of men-at-arms of his household guard.
"Renn, welcome! Are you well enough for a hunt today?”


Cormac enters from the other side, followed by Dietric as a sort of squire for him.
"As always, Lord Father," Renn replies. "How many troops do we have to bring to bear against the enemy, altogether?"

The Watch Commander nods to Cormac and his man as they enter.
"You said I killed you--haunt me, then!...Be with me always--take any form--drive me mad! only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you!” -Wuthering Heights
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Re: Birthright: Chapter Seven

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Varrus the Ethical wrote:CATHEDRAL
ewancummins wrote:

But the corrupt and lawless clergy that runs that church—for years they have gotten away with all sorts of crimes. I would not count it a sin if some of the things they have gained by theft and trickery were reclaimed from them. Stolen heirlooms, items that may be readily identified; those would need to be returned to their rightful owners. But the mingled heaps of coins, precious stones of unknown provenance, and other valuables the villains have hoarded—those would be fair spoils.’’
Roald shrugs. "Getting rich of the spoils off war is the dream of every sellsword, Your Holiness. However, you must understand if I have certain misgivings. It's one thing to involve yourself in a conflict between duchies. It's an entirely different matter to involve yourself in a conflict between temples."



"Wise words.
But I think you will find that these secular conflicts affect our spiritual interests. The temples must operate in the material world, among the people both noble and base.
Duke Carilon officially belongs to our church, my son. But in recent years he often takes council with the Celestial Jewel.
Weaken their power, so much of which flows from their coffers, and you will bring Carilon closer to my influence. That in turn will better serve the cause of Duke Devlin.
Paid man or not --you do serve Duke Devlin, don’t you?”
Delight is to him- a far, far upward, and inward delight- who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self.

-from Moby Dick (Hermann Melville)
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Re: Birthright: Chapter Seven

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Brock Marsh Runoff wrote:
ewancummins wrote:COMMAND TENT

Renn arrives to find his father, dressed in a light suit of brigandine and wearing sword and hand axe on his belt, standing in the tent talking with a couple of men-at-arms of his household guard.
"Renn, welcome! Are you well enough for a hunt today?”


Cormac enters from the other side, followed by Dietric as a sort of squire for him.
"As always, Lord Father," Renn replies. "How many troops do we have to bring to bear against the enemy, altogether?"

The Watch Commander nods to Cormac and his man as they enter.


Coun Robin strokes his long gray mustachios and considers for a moment before making reply.
‘'We have about two hundred heavy horse, plus maybe two score lumberjacks with wood axes, hunters with bows, crofters with pitchforks, and some better equipped volunteers.
Sir Ranald’s sworn sword, Gunnar, has been training the volunteers. The man seems to know his job quite well, and I'm impressed with the progress -- but it takes time to make soldiers. I think most of the volunteers aren't ready for a stand up fight. They can be used to guard the baggage, help with scouting, maybe harass the enemy flank with a little archery. But I wouldn't throw them into the fray with wargs and goblins, and certainly not line them up against the Black Tower's heavy horse.

Ask Gunnar, though. He may have a smaller corps of men who are better prepared.”
Delight is to him- a far, far upward, and inward delight- who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self.

-from Moby Dick (Hermann Melville)
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Re: Birthright: Chapter Seven

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CATHEDRAL

"Of course, Your Holiness. And quite well, too." However, I think the cause of Duke Devlin is to put Carlion's head on a pike, anyway, Roald didn't add. "However, Your Holiness, if your goal is to get Carlion to break his ties with the Celestial Jewel, wouldn't it be more effective to damage Carlion's ability to pay the interest on their his loans to him? If the Celestial Jewel thinks Carlion may default, they may end up driving him back into your influence."
Last edited by Varrus the Ethical on Thu Apr 11, 2013 11:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"Most men would rather deny a hard truth than face it."

George R.R. Martin.
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Re: Birthright: Chapter Seven

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Varrus the Ethical wrote:CATHEDRAL

"Of course, Your Holiness. And quite well, too." However, I think the cause of Duke Devlin is to put Carlion's head on a pike, anyway, Roald didn't add. "However, Your Holiness, if your goal is to get Carlion to break his ties with the Celestial Jewel, wouldn't it be more effective to damage Carlion's ability to pay the interest on their his loans to him? If the Celestial Jewel thinks Carlion may default, they may end up driving him back into your influence."

''It might work out that way, yes.

Or they might forgive his debts in return for political appointments, favorable decrees, and so on. This has happened in the past. It’s something we don't want to happen again. They already have too much influence across the river.”

He removes his garnet and red gold ring, setting it one the desk near to him.

“Understand that while I don’t personally like Duke Carilon, he is the rightful ruler of Alamie and a member of our church.
Duke Carilon has been accused of not only ordering the murder of Duke Gilgead and attempting to assassinate His Grace, Duke Devlin, but of manifold other crimes, great and small.

Yet where is the proof?

It’s true that he hanged women and children during the siege. But he claims that they were spies and assassins.

If evidence were brought forth showing that Carilon had ordered Gilgaed’s murder, or other great crimes, then the position of our church would become quite different. Barring such revelations, I cannot and will not sanction lawless strikes against Duke Carilon. None of your actions to date have violated the laws of war, but know that the church will not support you if you go too far.”
Delight is to him- a far, far upward, and inward delight- who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self.

-from Moby Dick (Hermann Melville)
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Re: Birthright: Chapter Seven

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Cathedral

"Your Holiness, to be blunt, Carlion's guilt or innocence is immaterial to me. I am in Duke Devlin's service." Road straightens his posture. "It's my duty- which I know is an odd word coming from a sellsword- to fight Tuornen's enemies. And until a truce is called, Duke Carlion Alamie is one of those enemies."
"Most men would rather deny a hard truth than face it."

George R.R. Martin.
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Re: Birthright: Chapter Seven

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ewancummins wrote:FOERDE
RocEter wrote:Foerde turns to see what is behind him, one hand hovering above the hilt of his war sword.

Empty air.


Maybe it was the hawk that he heard. Maybe not...
Foerde looks back over the ridge one last time to check on the figures. If nothing has changed about them, he will move on to the next recon point, making a mental note to check this area on his back.
History prefers legends to men. It prefers nobility to brutality, soaring speeches to quiet deeds. History remembers the battle and forgets the blood. What ever history remembers of me if it remembers me at all, it shall only be the fraction of the truth.
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Re: Birthright: Chapter Seven

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Varrus the Ethical wrote:Cathedral

"Your Holiness, to be blunt, Carlion's guilt or innocence is immaterial to me. I am in Duke Devlin's service." Road straightens his posture. "It's my duty- which I know is an odd word coming from a sellsword- to fight Tuornen's enemies. And until a truce is called, Duke Carlion Alamie is one of those enemies."

''Your sense of duty is commendable. So long as your actions are noble and just, you have my support. I have nothing further to impart, except my blessing if you seek it.''
Delight is to him- a far, far upward, and inward delight- who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self.

-from Moby Dick (Hermann Melville)
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Re: Birthright: Chapter Seven

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RocEter wrote:
ewancummins wrote:FOERDE
RocEter wrote:Foerde turns to see what is behind him, one hand hovering above the hilt of his war sword.

Empty air.


Maybe it was the hawk that he heard. Maybe not...
Foerde looks back over the ridge one last time to check on the figures. If nothing has changed about them, he will move on to the next recon point, making a mental note to check this area on his back.


One of the figures, the wobbly one, appears to have just fallen over or settled down on its side, while the hawk distracted Foerde.
Delight is to him- a far, far upward, and inward delight- who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self.

-from Moby Dick (Hermann Melville)
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Re: Birthright: Chapter Seven

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Something isn't right about this, they aren't moving..Foerde thinks to himself as he watches from his vantage point. He watches to see if the wobbly one gets back up of his own accord.
History prefers legends to men. It prefers nobility to brutality, soaring speeches to quiet deeds. History remembers the battle and forgets the blood. What ever history remembers of me if it remembers me at all, it shall only be the fraction of the truth.
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Re: Birthright: Chapter Seven

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FOERDE


He waits and watches for several minutes, but the fallen one does not rise. The other figures remain seated, all quite still.
Delight is to him- a far, far upward, and inward delight- who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self.

-from Moby Dick (Hermann Melville)
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Re: Birthright: Chapter Seven

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Foerde moves on to the next recon point.
History prefers legends to men. It prefers nobility to brutality, soaring speeches to quiet deeds. History remembers the battle and forgets the blood. What ever history remembers of me if it remembers me at all, it shall only be the fraction of the truth.
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Re: Birthright: Chapter Seven

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RocEter wrote:Foerde moves on to the next recon point.

...




The change of perspective reveals nothing new to his eyes but more patches of bright wildflowers thrusting up from the rain-swept grass and more green heaps of shrubs crouched on the crests of the little wind-brushed hillocks.
Delight is to him- a far, far upward, and inward delight- who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self.

-from Moby Dick (Hermann Melville)
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