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Post by XuLiang on Jan 20, 2024 1:46:07 GMT
“Paranoia is only properly diagnosed when the concerns for personal threats are out of proportion to their likely hood of being real.”
“Queen Moira has commanded a kingdom of considerable power and influence for many years and from what little I have heard she seems a proud and capable ruler. If she wanted the throne, she would not announce her intention in such a … crude manner. She would either march up the stairs with an army or perform a coup with precision and surprise. If either of those are going to happen, this message will have tipped their hand.” Xu seems to be warming up to the topic. He stands up and begins pacing back and forth as he speaks.
“Are there plots in Remba? Almost certainly. Are they plotting against Amber? Unlikely but possible. More likely they are planning to support someone they feel will be amenable to their causes when they make their play for the throne. Perhaps these people traveling to Remba is the search for such a person and these people’s search for support.” He pulls out a small fan from his sleeve and absently taps it against his chest and looks over at the Regent, “But is there any reason you could not be that person whom they support?”
“This,” he waves at the vellum with the closed fan, “is another distraction. Kill it with kindness. Send it with a polite private and unofficial note of sweetness and light to Queen Moira,” He looks up like he is dictating, opening the fan and idlily fanning himself. “I would like to believe that this is not a sentiment that you share and I am looking forward to improving our relationship in this troubling time. I hope that you would like to clear the waters on your views in this matter.” He shakes his head. “Ugh… I should have paid more attention in my political language classes. Surely you have someone who is a better wordsmith than I on staff.” He resumes his pacing which seems to help his thinking, “Her answer to the message will let you know where she stands. And by your note being secret and unofficial it gives the statements zero credibility to the wider world and gives Queen Moire a free hand to deal with these …” He stops, hesitates wanting to use something stronger but not remembering a Thari equivalent, “fools.”
He wanders over to a book case, “As for this Cody.” Xu turns and waves his hand, “Currently he is a nobody. He has no titles that we know of and his parentage is dubious at best. If he wants a say in what happens in Amber he should prove his claim by swearing fealty to the Crown, walk the Pattern and serve the kingdom.” He punctuates the last three points by closing the fan and using it to tick off three fingers on his hand.
“A more pressing concern is what is it that these distractions are supposed to hide. Who benefits if relations between Amber and Remba are soured? Where are they and what are they planning?” Abruptly he realizes what he has been saying and who he has been saying it to. (OOC – He will gauge her reaction to his impassioned speech and either nod his head or bow to her.) “My apologies if I have overstepped my station or stated things that are obvious to you. The loss of Lord Rexin has stirred my Chi into anger and the desire to act.”
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Post by Admin on Jan 20, 2024 7:04:33 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/j5FLskF/Florimel~jpg "Overstepped? No, I value your honest counsel. That is your fault: to be honest and trusting in the goodness and rationality of others. This is becoming a time of irrational ruthlessness.
"First, I have to say that I will under no circumstances be sending any friendly grovelling letter to Moire. That bitch has spent her life bedding your uncles in the hope of producing an heir to Amber and to spite her sister's designs for power. We should thank Random for killing her daughter and producing a child so opposed to her plans.
"Yes, Cody can make all the claims he wants, but until he has survived the Pattern, we don't need to take him seriously. We can't denounce him, for if he walks it and survives, we will be shamed. It would be best if he dies on the thing. All we can say is that he was too much of a coward to enter the castle and confront me.
"Rebma itself is nothing but a weak reflection of the real thing. It poses no threat to us militarily. Bleys could grab a few soldiers and slaughter every last one of them without breaking a sweat. As you should have immediately realized, the real issue is how your cousins and elders will react to this proclamation. I've kept them balanced and unbalanced out in shadow, but once they learn that Moire is trying for the throne, they will come with their armies to claim it first.
"I was trying to contact the others before you arrived. Calvera will come up from the port soon. No contact with Fiona, Bleys, or Rinaldo. It may just be the three of us against the rest of the family."
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Post by XuLiang on Jan 20, 2024 15:42:26 GMT
With a bit of relief, he nods and accepts the criticism. He hides the horror at the irrationality, because he agrees that it is a time of ruthless decisions. “There is certainly a lot for me to learn. Thank you for being patient with me.”
He is puzzled by something though, “When we are in court we must act and speak obliquely to our personal feelings to give a certain appearance. Is it not the same thing in writing? Perhaps my command of Thari is insufficient. I was not meaning to write a letter of true friendship … tone? What I meant was to write it in the court speak of ‘You should really do this if you know what is good for you’. A more direct note might be ‘You better not be thinking seriously about this. You should really announce that you want the relationship with Amber to improve and that this idea of you on the throne of Amber is rubbish.’ Is that not something that is done in writing?” He cocks his head to the side like a puzzled student trying to work out a particularly difficult problem.
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Post by Admin on Jan 23, 2024 3:55:28 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/JqHz032/nayda~jpg "The ambassador can give politely worded threats. Moire is canny enough to have seen all these angles. If I write anything, it will be to tell her to keep her people in line, or I'll send Calvera down there to cut them into chum. Moire likes her sharks; wouldn't it be just to feed her to them?"A pair of castle guards open a door and usher a dark-haired woman into the room. One guard leaves, and the other stands at attention by the door. "Lord Xu, this is Rinaldo's consort, Nayda. Question her and find out where her boyfriend has disappeared to."
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Post by XuLiang on Jan 26, 2024 15:11:12 GMT
“So that type of communication comes from farther down the hierarchy, I believe I understand. Please forgive my ignorance, I will endeavour to learn the art of Amber diplomacy as quickly as possible.” I wonder if there are unofficial back door lines of communication. I would bet a gold Sovern that Lord Rexin was one of those lines.
When she is shown in, he turns and looks at her with curiosity, wondering what type of woman was considered a suitable consort for a Prince of Amber. His fan disappears into a sleeve. (OOC – he is looking to see how she is dressed and her condition/attitude. IE was she ‘asked’ or brought unwillingly to this meeting.)
Xu considers winking at Flora out of Nayda's view to convey that his method is a bit roundabout, but decides that someone of her experience would know the method of soft interrogation. “Lady Nayda thank you for coming. I do not believe we have been introduced. My name is Lord Han Xu Liang, but please call me Xu.” Unsure of the protocol for this questioning he decides that she has given him this task so she can concentrate on other matters. “Would you please come and sit down with me.” He indicates two seats separated by a small reading table in the far corner of the room. Though because it is a small room, Flora can of course overhear the conversation and choose whether to take a more active roll in the conversation or attend to other matters while listening with half an ear.
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Post by Admin on Feb 6, 2024 4:53:04 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/JqHz032/nayda~jpg She is dressed in fine clothes suitable for staying in the castle. There's no sign she was trying to leave. She seems a little confused at the summons to Flora but is still a haughty daughter of the Prime Minister of Begma. "I don't understand the need for guards. I have always been willing to assist the Regent in every way," she says to Xu.
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Post by XuLiang on Feb 7, 2024 3:33:37 GMT
“Have you heard about poor Lord Rexin?” (OOC – If she hasn’t he will inform her of his assassination but not the details of it.)
“Everyone is a bit on edge right now, and the last thing we need is for something to happen to someone as important as yourself. We are contacting our friends and allies to alert them that his murder is likely the beginning of something larger and that they should be extra careful. They are also coming to the castle to pool our information and develop a strategy to move forward. Prince Calvera is already on his way, and we were hoping that Prince Rinaldo would also join us. Unfortunately, the Regent has been unable to contact him. I hope that you might assist us in reaching him.”
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Post by Admin on Feb 11, 2024 1:17:13 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/JqHz032/nayda~jpg Nayda seems to be genuinely saddened by the news of Rexin's death. "He was a good man. Always friendly to Rinaldo and me. I suppose that's the murder weapon on the table?
"Rinaldo left Arden a week ago. He told me he had urgent business in shadow and would be gone for three days. I worry about the delay, for he is usually punctual and has a good mind for estimating the length of his jaunts. And before you ask, he didn't tell me what he was doing. He doesn't give me details to prevent my being interrogated like this."
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Post by Admin on Feb 13, 2024 4:37:53 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/j5FLskF/Florimel~jpg A messenger rushes into the room and hands Flora a note. She reads it and then gives her a reply. "Guards, take Lady Nayda back to her rooms and keep her there."Once they are gone, she says to Xu: "Are you suitably armed?"
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Post by XuLiang on Feb 15, 2024 14:00:56 GMT
(OOC - Sorry I was delayed in replying. It's Lunar New Year and things are a bit busy. )
“He was an extraordinarily competent and intelligent individual. I respected him greatly. We did not speak often but my impression was the same as yours.”
“That is a wise policy of your husband’s. I shall have to remember it. It is distressing to hear that he is overdue.” He frowns while thinking on the problem. “Would you know if he was called away? Or if this business of his own instigation? My fear is that perhaps Lord Rexin may not have been the first action taken.”
“If it was his own business, then he most likely was delayed in one of these frequent storms or some other mundane reason. If he was called away my worry is that he was led into some sort of trap”.
(OOC - We can assume the messenger saves her from a response...)
Xu stands and strides to the door and opens it. "Kai. Bring me my sword, Hěn kuài."
He returns to the desk and picks up his dagger and returns it up his sleeve. He then picks up the murder weapon testing its weight and balance. Frowns and puts it back down, hilt toward Flora in case she should wish to take it. "Is there a particular imminent threat we should prepare for?"
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Post by Admin on Feb 18, 2024 5:06:43 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/j5FLskF/Florimel~jpg "We should always expect danger from family in these strange times. Right now we seem to have another long-lost bit of family returning to the castle."
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Post by XuLiang on Feb 22, 2024 4:23:42 GMT
“Ah. Perhaps it would be wise to let me know who we can expect trouble from and who should be more aligned with our goals. Some of the pieces in play are familiar to me, but what their overall strategy is either too obvious to be trusted, such as Prince Calvera’s desire for the throne or outside my experience so far, such as why Prince Rinaldo accepted the post in Arden.” He smiles a sad smile and shrugs, “At least the first dictum of Sun Zu is clear to me. ‘Know thyself.’ I am here to do my best to support your efforts to maintain the realm and to learn as much as possible to help me in those efforts. Now comes the difficult path of learning the motivations of others.”
(OOC - He will pause here and see if she will illuminate him on what is going on in Amber.)
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Post by XuLiang on Feb 22, 2024 9:09:36 GMT
(OOC - Finally got a chance to see the other threads. Now I know why things were going a bit slowly. I guess we'll see if she goes through the Trump, comes in or runs off...)
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Post by Admin on Feb 23, 2024 6:24:09 GMT
test
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Post by Admin on Feb 23, 2024 6:36:18 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/j5FLskF/Florimel~jpg "You are correct in assessing Calvera's goals. There's no doubt he could succeed if he could find allies. His ego and stubbornness have kept him for being able to get up the mountain. The navy is good for him. He might find allies there and it keeps him busy and out of my hair.
"Rinaldo hopes for better trading concessions with Amber. he works hard in the fear that Julian will return and leave him with no prestigious role.
"The Rebmans want to rule. They would have been better focusing on LLewella as Queen. If Benedict doesn't want the throne, then she is the oldest in line.
"The others all have their little plots and schemes. It is easy to get a few people together and plan a coup, but not as easy when one has to place oneself in the line of fire. Cody paled before entering and now my long-lost nephew Jacob found himself weak in the knees when allowed to enter. If all our foes are so spineless, then Amber will continue to stand for another age."
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