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Post by Daos on Jun 10, 2019 15:41:05 GMT -8
"You haven't heard?" Gladwell asks. "Ah, perhaps not. Buho is a fairly quiet and small place. A blessing at times, as it means trouble tends to pass you over. Lohman's Blades used to be only a problem out in Dragonwine, to the west, but they have branched out east. They attack caravans, extract illegal tolls for use of roads and bridges, and even have been known to raid towns and villages. So far they haven't made it as far east as Solanshire, but it's only a matter of time. Normally, the Tardish Knights would have put an end to them long before they got big enough to spread beyond Dragonwine, but they've all been recalled to the capital for the past couple of years."
He adds, "As for the Equalists, they seem to be everywhere these days. They aren't a central group with a headquarters or chain of command, so it has become all but impossible to ferret them out. I grow concerned that if they are not dealt with soon, they will eventually become a problem too large to solve--like termites left to infest a cabin. The whole thing will come down on top of us sooner or later."
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Post by GravityEmblem on Jun 10, 2019 15:46:44 GMT -8
“The name ‘Equalists’ doesn’t sound like a typical bandit group to me. Do they have some sort of goal in mind?” Lillian asks.
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Post by HorizonsDream on Jun 10, 2019 19:31:42 GMT -8
"I know you have heard if them, Lillian," Ladonna says. "They are mostly comprised of low born people, targeting the nobles for equal rights."
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Post by Daos on Jun 10, 2019 20:15:56 GMT -8
"Or so they claim," Count Solan says. "But from what I've heard, they are little more than murderers and terrorists. 'Equality' is a noble enough goal, in of itself. But it cannot be brought about with bloodshed and fear mongering."
The countess adds, "The fact that these lowborn think they can get what they want by killing nobles just shows they are not yet responsible enough for the freedom they believe they deserve."
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Post by HorizonsDream on Jun 10, 2019 21:50:25 GMT -8
Ladonna carefully chews some of her food as she thinks about what to say. She doesn't want to sound like she sides with the Equalists, but she doesn't quite believe what the countess said either. "How did the nobles become noble, my Lord and my Lady?" Ladonna asks. "Now days most nobles are born that way, but long ago it wasn't that way. Someone had to take up arms, and fight for what they wanted," she explains. "Their tactics, while brutal, do manage to gain attention to their movement."
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Post by GravityEmblem on Jun 11, 2019 3:10:37 GMT -8
“Also milady: I beg you not to generalize,” pleads Lillian. “I understand your logic when it comes the Equalists themselves, but I don’t think that should apply to the rest of the commoners.”
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Post by Daos on Jun 11, 2019 13:24:55 GMT -8
"Actually, the Solans have been running this area since before the fall of Eonia," the count states. "Nevertheless, these people aren't fighting to become nobles, but to kill nobles. They don't seem to realize the importance nobility plays in our society. It is we who protect the common folk. It is we who ensure that their roads and bridges are in working order, that their homes are safe from bandits and monsters, and that foreign threats remain outside our borders. It is a sacred contract between highborn and lowborn. Without it, civilization would fall apart."
"Yes, perhaps so," Miriam says. "The commoners here in Hart are well behaved, for the most part. There is almost no crime at all here."
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Post by GravityEmblem on Jun 11, 2019 14:04:21 GMT -8
“I acknowledge the importance of the relationship between those in power and those that are not, milady,” Lillian says in response. “But perhaps those positions were not limited to people with a birthright-perhaps they would be held by normal men and women, chosen by the people.” She thinks on this for a moment and adds, “Although, that might put people without any skill in ruling into a position of leadership...and open the door to greater corruption...well, no system is perfect, I suppose. Nobility has worked in Gontoria for for generations, and things haven’t gotten bad enough to warrant a change...forgive my ramblings, milady.”
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Post by HorizonsDream on Jun 11, 2019 17:07:08 GMT -8
"Hart seems to be in good hands, my Lord," Ladonna says. "I have no doubt that you and your family are doing all you can for the people, which is probably why you haven't really seen any threat from the Equalists in Hart, my Lord."
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Post by Daos on Jun 11, 2019 19:50:19 GMT -8
"The problem with letting the lowborn choose their own leaders is they are uneducated. Most of them cannot even read. And why would they bother, even if they could? Philosophy, literature, economics and politics are of little use to a dairy farmer or cattle rancher," Miriam states to Lillian.
"I agree, Hart, and Solanshire itself, is made up of good, honest Gontorians, overall. Lohman's Blades are from the west, and many suspect the Equalist movement is a front started by Ruaran rabble-rousers. Only the Wyld Boys are native to this area, and I half-wonder if they are being influenced by outside interests, as well," Count Solan says to Ladonna.
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Post by HorizonsDream on Jun 11, 2019 21:36:23 GMT -8
"Well, the bandits that Lady Escott mentioned were actually the Wyld Boys, my Lord," Ladonna says. "And I agree with your assessment, that they are most likely being influenced by outside elements," she adds. She can only hope that Katya doesn't get suckered into whatever might be influencing Jherek. With that said, she looks towards Miriam. "My lady, you are technically right. Though, if given the chance, which many of them aren't due to their heavy work load, lowborns have a variety of interests."
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Post by GravityEmblem on Jun 12, 2019 3:28:11 GMT -8
“That does make some sense, milady,” admits Lillian, who stays her tongue for now. She still has much to say on the matter, but having a fierce ideological debate on the role and existence of nobility with a baroness, mere minutes after meeting her, is probably not the best idea.
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Post by Daos on Jun 12, 2019 12:48:05 GMT -8
With that, the rest of the meal passes without incident. When breakfast is done, the count says, "Well, that was some stimulating conversation. But I am sure you are ready to rest after your journey. Joy, why don't you show the Lady Escott to her new room?" The eldest daughter, who seemed to be day-dreaming through most of the meal, snaps out of her reverie at the sound of her name. "Of course, father," she says, getting to her feet. "If you will follow me?" she says to the group.
Joy leads the group back out the way they came, and then to the left, into what seems to be a waiting room of sorts. From there, they head through another door which leads to a very long hallway, at the end of which has a door. Stepping through it, they enter a small chamber that houses a set of spiral stairs leading upward. "This way," she says, and begins climbing the stairs. "I'm sure you'll enjoy your time here. The staff is very nice and courteous."
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Post by HorizonsDream on Jun 12, 2019 14:36:05 GMT -8
"Does everyone live so far part from one another, my lady?" Ladonna asks Joy curiously.
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Post by GravityEmblem on Jun 12, 2019 14:40:03 GMT -8
“It’s a large manor. They have to fill space somewhere,” Lillian jokingly remarked.
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