Masquerade - These Masks We Wear

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden cleared his throat. "Right, yes. Caden Praetorium, general to the King, Scourge of Anadlas, yadda yadda yadda." He turned towards his food again, but paused and looked towards his wife. "Good enough?"

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

She rolled her eyes and turned to Nicolae. "He's much more of a softie than he first appears, Nico, I promise. He even baked me a pie once." That brought a small smile out of the manservant. 

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden grunted. "I am not soft," he protested. "I am the feared and respected general of the realm." He glanced towards Fischer, who nodded.

"Uh, yes." The soldier agreed with his commander. "Strong and fearless."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

"Sure you are, sweetheart." She reached over to squeeze his hand and winked. "My husband has a fragile ego, as you can see. But don't tell anyone." 

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"Not as fragile as my wife." He smiled at her, holding her hand gently. "But enough about us."

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Riva blushed, but continued gracefully. "I suppose we all know lovely Fischer. He's been a wonderful bodyguard for me the last few days and I trust he will continue to do so. I am very curious, young Nico, what was Fischer like when you knew him as a boy?"

"Uh..." Nicolae paled slightly. "Well, 'e..." A sudden smile crossed the boy's lips. "'e didn' 'ave no fancy accent back then. An' Oi spoke - ahem - like a noble. It was Fischer's influence that corrupted me, and I guess that's stuck with me. A way of... remembering him, I suppose."

[Channelknight Fadran]

The first snowflakes were trickling down from the sky. None stuck due to the recent rain, but they were there: little harbringers of the winter to come.

Wendy had pressed Katie's hand to her stomach to feel the placenta inside kick around. The child seemed to be in awe of the unborn life; enough so that she hadn't said anything in several minutes.

"'S it a boy or a girl?" Katie asked.

"She's a girl." Wendy replied, smiling slightly.

Katie grinned. "Heck yes."

"The nurse says she'll be a late Spring baby." Wendy said. "So a few months left."

She looked out the window, watching the wind blow the snowflakes into spirals. Mendahar was known for its powerful winter storms; soon enough, they'd all be trapped within the castle walls. Fortunately, though, her future child would come during the thaw. After that, too, her and Arabella could maybe find somewhere else to settle down.

"Can we name her Katie Two?" Katie asked.

Wendy chuckled. "No."

"Darn."

---

Winter.

It always comes too soon. Ivian thought to himself, looking out the window at the snowflakes. Growing up with his mother in the south, it was always hotter around now. He still wasn't used to seeing snow before December.

That was unimportant. What mattered now was the Spring coming after. He turned around, pacing back into his room and to a map of the known world laid out across a table. He'd opted to make first observations before consulting with his officers; to quietly mull over his options before they started throwing shouts at each other. Mendahar was placed just West of an ocean, across which were their few young colonies. To the North, South, and East were a number of other nations--namely Kierash and Jhavva--from which they'd been battling for territory year after year. As soon as the Spring came, they'd be throwing soldiers at each other once again for the same contested stretch of fields, forests, and mountains.

He'd spent too much time unifying his own kingdom. It would be, of course, simpler to wage a war without every duke and duchess raising a militia to attack their neighbors, but it would still be difficult to shift his goals so dramatically. His officers, of course, would have a million plans they'd demand to be implemented, but they never took everything into account.

Ivian needed someone else. Someone stronger.

"You there," Ivian said, pointing to the closest servant. "Summon General Praetorium to my palace. Tell him we need to plan for Spring."

@Zephrun's Imperium @The Ward's Guard

Edited November 17, 2021 by Channelknight Fadran

[Zephrun’s Imperium they/he]

Quote

.... why did you tag me and not Guard?

 

[Channelknight Fadran]

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Hm. You right.

 

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

On 10/31/2021 at 5:28 PM, Zephrun's Imperium said:

Riva blushed, but continued gracefully. "I suppose we all know lovely Fischer. He's been a wonderful bodyguard for me the last few days and I trust he will continue to do so. I am very curious, young Nico, what was Fischer like when you knew him as a boy?"

"Uh..." Nicolae paled slightly. "Well, 'e..." A sudden smile crossed the boy's lips. "'e didn' 'ave no fancy accent back then. An' Oi spoke - ahem - like a noble. It was Fischer's influence that corrupted me, and I guess that's stuck with me. A way of... remembering him, I suppose."

Fischer scoffed, and looked down to pick at the table. 'Is that the only reason?"

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Since Caden is in this interaction, technically, do you want to wait until this is done, or screw around with the timeline again?

 

[Channelknight Fadran]

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Let's screw over the friggin timeline

 

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Shrugging away another attendant who tried to grab his attention, Caden pressed forward through the castle. His once obvious slouch was receding as he walked closer to his full height, striding through the castle to a destination that he had travelled to more times than he could count. In all honesty, he hardly needed to wonder on what he was being summoned for, as until recently, the king had little other reasons to summon him. That, and the messenger had told him why. He paused for a moment at the door, nodding to the guardsmen before passing through the entryway and bowing before the king, though not as deeply as he had in times past. 

"You summoned me, my lord?"

@Channelknight Fadran

Edited November 24, 2021 by The Ward's Guard

[Channelknight Fadran]

"I did, Praetorium." Ivian replied. "To discuss our kingdom's situation, considering that Spring is nearly upon us."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"Very well, my lord. I trust that you are up to date on the report of my spies."

[Channelknight Fadran]

"More or less, I presume."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"Then I present two options, my lord." Caden stood up straight, meeting Ivian's eyes. "Either we fight a strictly defensive war, relying on our knowledge of our homeland to give us the advantage. Or," Caden added with a grin, "we deploy a senseless grin, pushing them to be constantly on the backfoot. While risky, it lowers the chances that your lands will be burned by the enemy."

[Channelknight Fadran]

"I would have preferred diplomacy, of course, but that has never been a very... realistic option." Ivian tapped his map. "I am unsure of which option would be most optimal."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"They sense weakness, my lord. Since we did not remind them of our strength, instead focusing on dealing with internal rebels, they seek conflict. I am sure of it."

[Channelknight Fadran]

"Weakness?"

Part of Ivian truly did want to bring together the armies of Mendahar and march through the north and south. A carnal lust for power--one he could never truly quench--showed him the prospect of an empire. He pressed his knuckles to the table, incapable of pushing away the subconscious desire to rule everything. The other kingdoms were fractured, frail; a pushover for the now-unified armies of Mendahar. He could march through without mercy, showing the true strength of his kingdom.

But was it weakness to find solace? Was it weakness to reserve himself?

An old memory weaved its way into his mind: when he was first named king. He remembered his soldiers marching against the Baudelaire estate, and the very general who stood before him moving to destroy the old church without question. They were unflitching, unhesitant, relentless. Rebels, as Ivian had called them, were to be quelled.

But now his messengers negotiated his terms to the family, and he longed defend his lands rather than expand them.

Still, though... the other kingdoms remained.

"We needn't conquer our enemies, Caden. We need merely send a message." He slid his fingers to the borders of Mendahar. "Conquer the lands nearest to us. The people will keep their lands and farms; we will, too, grant asylum to those without. Those we conquer will become our citizens." He tapped the map again. "Hopefully that will be enough."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Caden looked towards the map with great concern. "My lord, a reserved assault would put us at risk." The general didn't understand politics, only the numbers of warfare. The enemy forces they had the potential to fight far outweighed their own. "Surely upon seeing an offensive from our men against a few will bring the many to our door."

[Channelknight Fadran]

"If it's aggression they want, then it's aggression they'll get. If they fight back we'll push farther."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"I cannot agree with you more, sire. However, matching their total strength could be difficult." He cleared his throat. "But if this is your command, then it will be done."

[Channelknight Fadran]

"What would you suggest?"

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

"While some are slow to remember our might, the Anadlas can't forget the death that I brought to them. Using their fear could secure their border, and limit the scope of a conflict."

[Channelknight Fadran]

"Of course." Ivian nodded. "But the north and east still remain."