Video | Forward dated to 4 Jan

[gordianknots]

It has been about a month since the passing of Reynard the Fox. While I believe we can all agree that his death is a good thing, it is worth noting that some of his ideas have not died with him.

For those not paying attention, or staying close to the castles, one of the major ways that Reynard won over the local population was by sowing seeds of sentiment against shard-bearers. If what he said did not have a grain of truth in it, then those sentiments would not be lingering with us still.

I know that for many, our perspective is what informs how to handle this. We don’t want to be here any more than the local populace wants us here. We’re outsiders from different worlds, playing at a grand game of war while they suffer from our decisions.

We need to continue to combat the legacy Reynard is trying to leave for himself - that of a champion of the people, who rose against shardbearers only to be slayed by them. Become their friends and protectors rather than distant individuals whose mere presence threatens their lives. They don’t have a fraction of the information that we do, and considering how information is hidden from us, that says a lot.

To form cohesive action will take time. With that said, changes can begin on an individual level, one that affords respect to whoever you encounter, even if it is not returned.

If you do this for no other reason, do it because it deprives Reynard of any remaining power.

Thank you.

[With that, Waver ends the communication. Anyone who was present at Alyosha’s talk at the Barrel is likely to understand why he’s made this message, and when it’s come out as it has.]

Comments

Video

[starspangled]

Ideas don't die as easily as men.

[He thinks of Hydra, Red Skull, how it continued to grow without him. Cut off one head, two more will take its place.]

Harder to fight too, but I like your plan.

[gordianknots]

[Waver smiles wryly at that. He's had to fight off enough insidious and toxic ideas in his teaching post to laugh a life time.]

No, they really don't. And when countered, they can transmute into even worse, nastier ones, if people are suddenly pressed into worse situations.

[Say like, an upcoming battle?]

I'd love for it to be more coherent, truth be told, but it seems like there are other things on everyone else's mind.

[starspangled]

Maybe they're thinking about their own worlds, their own families.

[Steve sighs. It's not an excuse though, and again he wonders exactly who's winning from these wars.]

I think you made a good case. It's something I'll remember and do more of.

[gordianknots]

I don't doubt that. Finding a way to balance that and the impact of everyone here though, that's a hard thing to do. None of us have been here long enough to be experts, and enough stick close to the castles that it's less of a thought.

[And even then, knowledge of this perspective isn't because Waver's left the castles. It's because he's been so involved with the Reynard situation.]

I hope that your example is one that's followed.

[starspangled]

Lots of good people on both sides, I imagine it will be.

I'm Steve.

[gordianknots]

Lord El-Melloi II. No relation to the other one that's here.

Video;

[digophelia]

Well, it may not count for some, but there are quite a number of children affected by these wars.

[ That hasn't gone unnoticed. ]

I want to do more for them, too. Clothing and food, or provide them a safe space.

Locking this one up

[gordianknots]

It definitely counts, and it is something that I think people overlook in these matters.

[Waver breathes out. He trusts Alice with this.]

I've been trying to get people out of the way of the incoming fight.

private;

[digophelia]

Why am I not surprised? Any time that the natives of these lands are killed or die of illness, they leave their children behind. There are plenty of them in Redgate, I shiver to think elsewhere.

[ Alice doesn't bother rolling her eyes. ]

I was told the Seelie want to march in Caer Scima. What, exactly, happened?

[gordianknots]

I don't know. For all I can gather, they've simply made a management decision, and the Unseelie are responding in kind.

[There's a weary breath, and Waver doesn't bother to hide the stress of the whole situation.]

I've started arranging evacuations based on where it looks like troops might be marching.

[digophelia]

Speaking as someone who lives in Caer Scima, can you fault us for any of that?

[ She is not even going to bother hiding her irritation. ]

As good as we are at responding in full force at threats, the Seelie continue to follow orders blindly. How much room do you have there? How many more can you take?

[gordianknots]

With centuries of war like this? No.

[But Waver's opinions will always be kept to himself. It's fucking stupid, this. Even after everything Alyosha's said.]

I have groups arranged to meet along certain points on the roads, as we're overrun and honestly it looks like the Barrel might take blows itself. [Waver's accepted that he might need to leave it be, and come back to find it a ruin. He's started packing already.] People have volunteered to take groups to designated areas where I've arranged escorts.

I'm speaking to the people in my town next, and getting them to Redgate.

[digophelia]

I don't want to involve myself in it. But should yous and yours become threatened, I will not hold myself back. As ridiculous as this whole war is, I have less patience for those who blindly follow ideals and orders for the sake of so-called honor.

[ There's a reason she's an Unseelie and that's it, right there. Her dislike of authority and honor codes. All of it's stupid and Alice will likely be bitter about the silmaril and Redgate for a while. And she's still very bitter about those who promised to treat her and others and only made it worse. ]

I won't be kind.

[ She'll make a point to be very, very cruel. ]

I don't have the ability to teleport, but if needed, I will help you and others get out of harm's way. The majority I know are Unseelie and may be in Caer Scima. I'll check in on Mister Maglor and his family, to make sure they're not near it. I'll make sure that any non-combatants know where to go. Although that makes me wonder -- what of the natives in Caer Scima? As lovely as it is to find my friends and comrades so confident, it's best to think of the worst case scenario.

[gordianknots]

If you participate in the fight, and can simply try and direct people around the structure, that's all I can ask. No matter what, I will be very, very far away from the Barrel when this happens, as will Miss Tohsaka. I don't know what my other household members plan to do, but I will make it clear that there are options beyond participation.

[Waver's always had a horrid streak of anti-authority in him, but fuck if the Drabwurld hasn't screwed him up. Waver Velvet, Lord El-Melloi II, wants to maintain the status-fucking-quo. What a laugh.]

If you can get them to the Station in a decent amount of time, that might be the best. I can't tell if it'll be caught up in the war path, but I have people working on evacuation plans for it. The other option is to direct them to Redgate, as those arrangements are already made.

[digophelia]

My participation is inevitable.

[ HA. Hahahaha. ]

iI will help them and pass along the words to get natives prepared, then, as well as if it comes up in between any of the major Unseelie commanders. Hopefully they are well aware of that possibility.

[ A huff. ]

I know that I asked Mr. Celegorm this before, but is there really no other option?

[gordianknots]

Thank you. I do appreciate it. [He leans forward on the table, resting his chin in his hands.] I'm a bit leery of how the monarchs might take this, taking bodies that could be used to hold swords, but it'll be what it'll be.

[The question, however, gives Waver pause. He turns it over in his mind, trying to find the right angle to approach it.]

I always think the answer is yes, Alice, but I have so many biases that I don't know if it's fair to ask me. And you know I've been against this from the start.

video;

[meloncholy]

From what I've been told about it all, I agree. I've seen similar enough events back home, although nothing on this scale. [Vadim wasn't the only one to try and start a people's rebellion against the King and he likely won't be the last, no matter the endgame.] People only want to get by, make sure their families are fine, and if something threatens that -

[Then there's no longer any reason to simply get by. Not when what they're living for is taken away. Porthos communicates as much with a side tilt of his head.]

[gordianknots]

Mmm. And this whole war is a threat. It's just easy to look at shardbearers, and assign them the blame rather than go to the higher ups who bring folks here to begin with.

[Not that Waver can blame them for wanting to avoid that. The monarchs are absolute and eternal. Shardbearers come and go, easy to risk angering them. Waver leans back in his seat, thoughtful.]

[meloncholy]

And they need someone to blame. No one wants to anger anyone with real power and, even though it's difficult being brought here, we're the one who get to live in a castle with servants, free food and clothes. [He can understand it. He'd been there once.]

[gordianknots]

You've hit the nail on the head precisely. Then you just throw a lit match in and you get what we've got now.

[meloncholy]

I have to wonder, has anyone tried to step into his place yet? [Power vacuums and all that.]

[gordianknots]

Reynard? His daughter, Servine. Although how active and involved she is is something I can't tell.

[meloncholy]

Could be something to keep an eye on. [If experience has taught him anything.]

[gordianknots]

She makes it hard. Woman's half-slyph and can pass almost anywhere unnoticed, and overhear most things.

[meloncholy]

Ah. Of course. [ - because nothing is ever simple in this bloody world is easy to pick up in the way he punctuates the sentence, if not physically heard.]