eachdraidh

[Well. Looks like Tzilan was right about the Seelie going on the offensive. It's one of those odd occasions where Saralegui wishes the vampire wasn't always right, but nothing to do about it now besides damage control. If that happens to be good for his image, then that's just bonus points.]

I'm sure everyone is aware of the upcoming fighting by now. And I'm sure there are those who, like myself, have no skill whatsoever in that area or just no interest in it.

[Just look at him. He's a twig, and that hair is absolutely not at all practical for fighting. The self-aware, slightly self-deprecating little smile he wears is only further evidence of that. And better, of course, to play up that helplessness. He prefers to be underestimated, and the knife the Brucolac had given him is very easy to keep hidden.]

So I'd like to offer up Redgate as a safe haven away from the fighting. Others have made this offer, I know, and I hate to be redundant. But I would hate myself more if I didn't make it at all, and I can at least offer a place well out of the line of fire. It's very defensible, and kinder to shardbearers than most places have been lately -- the result of having been founded by a shardbearer, I assume. The distance might seem great, but for shardbearers it isn't really that bad -- only a few days from the nearest fairy ring in Daonna.

Truthfully, I am Unseelie myself, but I make this offer to anyone who wants it, from whichever court. The politics of this world mean little to me. I only want to see those who can't defend themselves kept safe.

[Saber had asked him as the Unseelie General to take Unseelie-aligned individuals into Redgate's care, but she hadn't technically asked to only take those from their own court. If she has a problem with how he does things, then she can bring it up with him personally.]

curser

[Maleficent appears to be at the Falls as she makes one of her rare broadcasts, seeming to also be calling from her nest. Interwoven branches and greenery were her background and her soundtrack seemed to be the echo of the Falls interspersed with birdsong.]

Greetings to those who bear a shard and dwell within this land. For those not familiar with me, my name is Maleficent and I reside at the Hidden Falls to the southeast of Caer Glaem. I'm sure that by now we've all heard the... call to arms, as it were. I've made no secret of my desire to keep myself out of this war that I have no stock in. Fairy fighting against fairy is... well, it's an abomination. If those that reside here wish to clash their clans together, that's their prerogative, but that was not what I agreed to when I arrived.

I know there are others here who share my thoughts on this. Who wish not to fight or make war with those they might be friendly with -- or even related to. Asking blood to fight against blood is another cause I cannot support.

So I would offer the Falls as a safe haven of sorts to all those who would wish it. Seelie and Unseelie alike. Those that wish to pick up arms and join the fight, I only hope that little blood is shed. Those who have no heart for war or who do not know where to go, you are welcome here. There is no keep and no castle, but the climate is temperate and you are welcome to make a place for yourself here as you need it. All I ask is that you respect the lives of those that live here as well and do not cause strife or discord while here.

[With that, she gave a slight nod of her head, a signal that her address had reached its end and she waited for those that might accept it.]

firith

[ Thranduil hasn't vanished off the face of the Drabwurld again, contrary to popular belief, despite keeping his head down since Samhain. Ensconced in the Caer Glaem library pulling up certificates, maps, and all the other ridiculous paraphernalia required for a legalised contact to take place, he flicks on the locket from his desk in a corner of the vast halls, surrounded by stacks. There he sits sipping a goblet of the last keg of leftover Dorwinion ~~which is currently under strict guard in the cellars (looking at you Samhain revellers)~~. On the table are scrolls and books, all of which have been tidied, while in front of him lies a black leather-bound folder, ostensibly containing the point of the broadcast. ]

The High-King and I have come to an arrangement. In exchange for fair recompense, I have bought the rights to the woodlands south of the forest river and west of the Hidden Falls, within a crux of the mountain-range, to be easily identified on any common map. [ It's not quite as simple as that, of course, but he'll save everyone the pointless politicking. That, and he doesn't want to bring up Celegorm's shard in public; it would be bad taste. ] Aelfen and Elven tribes alike will be travelling to Caer Glaem over the next week or so to replenish their supplies, tools and gold, well within their rights to do so, before continuing on to their new homeland. Please show these former refugees every kindness.

[ As dapper as he looks, he clearly doesn't intend to faff about chatting idly about inanities; someone wants a nice long sleep. ]

If you have business in what will be renamed the Maechenibryth, come the turn of the winter season, or have done in the past which you wish to pursue in the future, you may bring the matter to myself, Thranduil, or to my son, Legolas, who will pass it on accordingly. There is much yet to do and I have little enough time to spare.

[ Sipping his wine, he shuts off the locket. ]

( ooc: if you'd like to continue anything from samhain just pop me a pm and i'll get on it, otherwise i'll take this opportunity to declare tag amnesty on that front as it broke my inbox and burned me out, sobs. tagging will generally be slow until after the weekend because of work. ty for waiting! )

steeledskin

[ before the lockets sits a well-composed and well-turned-out lady: her face is set with discipline -- though below it she wants to crack and cry. but sansa stark has a duty -- some imperative -- to speak calmly of grave matters. nothing about this is comfortable; nothing about this is within her conventional grasp. she could compare it to her makeshift trials before the lords declarant or her audiences with the king, but this stage is far wider. out of frame, her fingers tremble. ]

Dear Shardbearers of either court --

[ if her voice shakes then it is by design. some honest fear is permitted into her tone, for what better to move the hearts of strangers than to express genuine dismay at this great knotted problem? she would not have thought to even sell it as injustice until living here and meeting many a person who appeared outraged over these alliances. these marriages. these common cages. ] One turn of the moon ago, High Queen Morla delivered onto me an ultimatum: to marry some Unseelie lord of her choosing, or else invite war upon the Cothromach. Whatever your loyalties, I beg you all to recognize the attempt for what it was --[ and do please fill that blank with your own outraged conclusions. ] I call for aid and support.

[ some words are permitted more of a quiver than others: morla; marry; aid; war. ] But I fear war has come already -- has long already been present -- and today I will refuse the proposal offered, because I fear it was only ever a blade's poisoned edge. I would prevail upon some soul from that queen's court to speak my refusal to her. [ powerful men have met her vulnerabilities with laughter, only to turn and shake their heads when she took small careful steps towards decision. what else is she to do? if she will not play the game by their rules, she must try to write her own. but even now, she hinges her action upon the passion of someone else's protest. someone else's judgement -- for better or worse. ]

The Lady Keeper of the Cothromach will not swear away her city to another court by marriage vows or by vows of any kind. [ except for other partial vows made in quiet rooms with would-be neutral parties. but those meetings are a secret and her announcement today comes instead to engage the hearts and sympathies of prospective champions who might grow incensed over a bully's tactics. lady sansa is not above playing upon their pity if said pity will protect her, her family, and her new city. anyone's pity will do: seelie or unseelie alike. ]

High Queen Morla's dogs are at the gate; let us be wolves when we meet them.

( ooc; i know some efforts have already been made re: the unseelie camps by lancer and others -- there's also a fresh log for the battle itself. )

curser

[Have a curiously peering fairy, Drabwurld. It's a close up of one oddly colored green eye before it's drawn away and the rest of the face comes into focus, along with the horns and large wings as a backdrop.]

Is this some form of scrying stone? How curious. And I'm to talk into this?

[She turns to look at a pixie, one who's hovering near her head and giving her directions on how to use the locket.]

And one can address everyone this way? Marvelous.

[The pixie tells her that it's on and that currently everyone can see her and she eyes the locket again, wondering at how this particular bit of magic works.]

Greetings. To those that do not know me, my name is Maleficent. I'm curious to see if a girl has wound up here as well. Golden hair, blue eyes, and quite likely charming those around her. Her name is Aurora and if anyone has seen her, I'd very much appreciate being informed of this.

[She looks to be about to turn the locket off, but there's a small twitch of her lips as she begins talking again.]

I suppose I'd also like to be informed if anyone finds a raven who is not a raven. He's incredibly cheeky, but he's also mine.

[And that would be the end of her speech. No need for pleases and thank yous. Someone's clearly used to being obeyed.]

Entries tagged with maleficent: maleficent

[video / both courts / backdated to january 7th]

Video - Seelie/Unseelie (Postdated for the 7th)

❧ VIDEO; 04 (both courts)

(sixth lemon cake) video ✧ open to both courts

Video - Seelie/Unseelie (Post dated to after the feast)

Links