eachdraidh | [ Voice; Seelie Locked ]

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As some of you are aware, there was a fire in Caer Glaem's library. An intruder was in the buidling.

As it stands, we as shardholders are the strongest thing our court has to defend itself. If the shardholders of the other court come to us the footsoldiers will be cut down all too easily -- a shardholder is worth 30 or so of the other soldiers.

If we are to defend Caer Glaem therefore we must help in not just leaving her to pursue alliances and fight enemies, but by the stationing of guards. We must keep track of who enters and leaves our city, be vigilant against agents of Morla scouting us out or attacks against us. As you may already be aware myself and Sir Grimm are holding training all through this month for anyone who wishes to learn, but this will require people good at keeping records too.

If anyone is interested in this effort please contact myself or Lady Gwenllian. Thank you for your time.

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Many have spoken of an offensive, but I am reluctant to launch such a thing while we are still vulnerable. Even one shardholder can be destructive if they get within our walls and our best are out elsewhere. I have a fear that this may require more political tact than I possess, to persuade people to work as a unit. I have a friend better at such things than I am, I hope to ask his advice. Leadership is not something I am.... used to, this learning curve is rather steep.

There are two parts of every battle. Offense is very important, but what good is fighting and defeating the enemy away from home, if you lose the home you are fighting so hard for? No, defense is just as important as offense. Perhaps, even more so.

[When it comes down to it, fighting is so much more than just striking blade against blade. Too many people forget that.]

I hope that your friend can help. I have led men, but I am still new and I don't know how much help my advice would be here. I am still learning about the people and the battle we fight. Uninformed decisions are just as dangerous as not remembering how complex battle can be.

What you say is true -- but on the same note, different perspectives can be valuable. You may not know all there is to know about this world but that also means your decisions have not been coloured by it yet. The benefit of having more than one person making a decision is that it can be discussed, and information shared. Your advice will never not be welcome.

[A relieved look crosses Diarmuid's face.]

I am actually very glad you think that. Not because I think my advice is that great, but because we are in such a unique situation. There are so many people with different experiences here that the information we can gather is unimaginable. All we need to do is have an open mind and be willing to work together.

It is as you say -- and I have been doing my best to learn quickly, to collate opinions, but I know I am only one man. Please know you can always speak your mind, I am not so arrogant as to think I can never be wrong. I will listen. All our lives are at stake, mistakes cannot be afforded.

And know that I will do the same.

[Diarmuid falls silent then, thinking over the current situation.]

Do you have any idea how many shardbearers there are here who are trained to fight?

I could not say. There must be around a hundred or so of us -- shardbearers specifically. Of them less than half have come to be trained by me each time I offer. Perhaps the others do not need it, and do not desire to come teach others or do not wish to be seen to waste my time. Those that came are across a wide range of skill. Some can find as knights, some have never held a weapon. That said, Caer Glaem also has its native forces numbering in the thousands. They are not as strong as shardbearers individually -- Caer Scima's shardbearers could cut swathes through them likely as not with the power difference -- but they are still feet on the ground and weapons in hand, and they can fight.

It is very hard to plan a good defense when we don't have accurate numbers on who can fight. Do you think doing an post on the lockets--locked to our side, of course--might help us with that? I understand some people may wish to keep their abilities secret, but at the same time we are all on the same side here...

While I realize that the normal troops are here to help us, I am leery about depending on them too much. Not because they are weaker than we are, but because I do not wish to see them all killed should they run into a shardbearer...

[Oh, how he wishes there was a way to make those troops stronger, so using them would not put them at such risk.]

You mean a census of sorts? I was considering that, myself, but there is no way to guarantee all would answer, and the trouble would be keeping such information updated. People leave so much as they arrive. It would be a start, of course, but I fear we must be aware of limitations of such a thing and the way all our members our scattered. As much as that, a person may be capable but unwilling to fight. We must make sure we do such a thing with evidence of good faith, and the assurance that we will not abuse the information we collect.

[Diarmuid nods in agreement as Lancelot speaks.]

Yes, sadly there are some big stumbling blocks with the idea. Not the least is that many people don't trust each other and others don't trust the High-King and High-Queen.

[He sighs and runs a hand through his hair.]

It is hard to run a fighting force when people do not trust each other...

It is as you say. I hoped if people came to train together they might... bond more, perhaps, learn from each other and then learn to know each other in the process.

[ You know, like knights do. Hit each other with swords until they can tolerate each other. ]

Don't give up hope yet. Yes, it would be nice if it was as easy as getting everyone together at once, but it can also be done with smaller groups. You get small groups of fighters to trust each other and then get the groups to trust each other and so on. It takes more time, but the result is the same.

[That is...people who come to know each other by beating each other along side the head with swords.]

You are right, of course.

[ He lets out a slow breath, smiles to himself -- although Diarmuid cannot see that he may hear the slight lift in his voice as he regroups. ]

Well, I am glad to have your assistance if nothing else. Perhaps if I cannot inspire you, at least, will. You have a way about you.

[ You know, a way. An air of heroism. ]

[As long as it is his air of heroism inspiring people and not his curse, he will take it.]

I think you are exaggerating my skill, but I will do my best. Please keep me up to date on your efforts building the defenses and let me know if there is anything you need me to do.

I will do as you say, Lancer. I have no doubt we will have need of your skills sooner than we would like.

Sadly, that is how war is and this is definitely a war we are in. Be well, my friend. We will talk again soon.

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