open | The Commander's Audience at the Palace of Landed Sky

[alderwood]

Characters: The Ironwood Emperor Alderwood Commander and anyone who came to speak with the Ironwood Emperor.
Date: June 15th
Location: The Palace of Landed Sky
Situation: The expected holding of an audience for any that care to speak with the Ironwood Emperor, though they will be met instead by the Alderwood Commander.
Warnings/Rating: N/A; to be updated if necessary

The hall is still and white, strung with softly glowing lanterns that are strung up high beyond reach. Outside, the sun is at its zenith, and it filters down through the cloudy glass roof to create a brilliant, nearly blinding ambiance.

The floor is marble, inlaid with mother-of-pearl and ruby quartz. It catches the light, and casts strange patterns on the walls.

The room itself is almost eerily silent. No noise, no echoes. No one and nothing vaguely human, excepting the presence of Evandau. The Alderwood Commander stands before the Emperor's empty throne with patient expression and posture reminiscent to the at-ease bearing of a soldier. He waits to receive the petitioners, kedan and Foreigner alike, in Eshai's place this day. As with her audiences, those wishing to make their case must approach him and he will make not move to shorten the distance between the grand entryway and the throne that he defends.

The 'audience' is an open one, and no one will be turned away. So come one, come all, to the Palace of Landed Sky.

[Actionspam or prose are both acceptable! The Emperor has delegated the audience to Evandau this month and he has been temporarily granted many of the authorities that she naturally holds. Why is that? Well, telling y'all would be too easy, wouldn't it?

Characters will only be admitted into the hall one by one, so there won't be anyone present for anyone else's conversations, and there won't be any 'mingling' in the chamber itself.

By popular demand, we continue to allow mingling for those waiting for an audience in an antechamber. There is a thread header below to allow for that!]

Comments

[oathwalk]

Richard sets aside the dryness. There would be nothing productive in responding to it, so instead, like the matter of them being brought here to die as cannon fodder or the name of the threat itself, Richard leaves that out. As measured as before, he makes his proposal.

"It is something of an open secret now among the Foreigners that we're brought in to fight a threat whose name can't be spoken outside this palace. But the information comes scattered, and each newcomer is only warned if they think to ask or it comes up by chance in conversation. I propose that a recording be made of what the throne knows about the war we approach and the foe we face and, if any information must be withheld, the reasons for that discretion. The recording can be posted to the network and given to the new arrivals. The goal is to build understanding between Foreigners and the throne, prepare us as much as possible for what is coming, and end the repeated questions by ensuring that all know it is that may be known."

[alderwood]

"Do you know why we do not share much information, Richard?" Evandau does not add that allusion of title, seeking to bring this down to a matter between men and not the address of an emperor's proxy. "We lack. I lack it. And so I seek to give you all some comforts before I must call you to the forefront."

He does not want pity for this, merely understanding that they are not so prepared as the Foreigners assume. That is why they are needed -- to combat what is not yet known. That is why their skills are so varied. "Knowing that, I ask you: Would hearing that upon arrival build understanding or foster resentment? Would that inspire some to take up arms and investigate more? Would that risk what intelligence we do have by driving it underground at first pry?"

[oathwalk]

Whether it is a formal discussion in a throne room or a debate between trusted allies, it is Richard's way in discussion to consider the perspective of the other and test his own against it. He has sympathy for Evandau's arguments, and he is willing to trust that Evandau lacks the information he does. But he has also seen the rankling of discord among the Foreigners.

"If we do not, I doubt our progress in investigation will be more than halting and full of repetition. Resentment has already been fostered, and it is now evident to anyone that cares to look that the Foreigners are prying into these questions in their disparate ways." There is no resentment to Richard, however. "Many of the people here are willing to help, but they disorganized and distrustful. They do not know what you do or do not know, and information comes to them by chance, as a secret, found, they say, in this very palace. It breeds more distrust. They will work to protect Tu Vishan and the people of this city regardless, but if they have trust in your good will and your reasons, a way to prepare each other, and cause to bring what is learned back to you, what they do will be done better."

[alderwood]

This is why the simplicity of the kedan has long comforted him. Evandau regrets that they lack certain traits, yes, but they have long been loyal and compliant. Independence of spirit, then, is the cost of competence he supposes -- and yet it causes him trouble to no end.

"What would have this recording state?" He does not mince words with admissions or further discussion; the fact that he proceeds forward with the conversation is, in his mind, evidence that Richard's points hold some degree of credibility. "In as exact words as possible."

[oathwalk]

Richard had already considered the matter before coming to Evandau. "It may be best structured as Javert has structured the lawcode recordings, with separate soundfiles for each area of information. That will encourage us to come back with new information and add to what is there. As such, I'd recommend that the recording first state something to this effect: 'You've been brought to Keeliai to face a threat whose name can't be spoken outside the palace and so won't be mentioned here. This audio recording contains all the information that can be shared without compromising sources or the battle itself, gathered both by those brought here and those who brought us. If you wish to investigate, you are welcome to do so. If you discover more, please bring your information to Commander Evandau to be added to this recording.' As a separate file, then, the information on the threat itself would be along these lines: 'Of the threat itself, we presently know that it cannot be killed, that it can shift its shape, and that it has come before.'" Little enough information, but it is a start, and it would perhaps encourage people to come with answers and information rather than questions to which no answers were yet known.

But then there are the other things that Richard has learned about, the reason most of all that he wished to speak to Eshai. He brushes his hair from his eyes before continuing. "There are two other matters about which I had such little information that I could not compose a statement for them. I had hoped that the Emperor could clarify. First, of the cloning facilities that were found beneath Tu Vishan. Second, of those like us brought here before who are all now gone. Neither matter is very confidence-inspiring; however, they are not difficult to learn about. If they are left out and discovered by other means, half the purpose of this recording will be defeated." It will still get information across, but it won't foster trust, and it certainly won't stop people from asking Evandau and Eshai the same questions over and over. They will be more or less in the same position they're in now. "When the Emperor is has the time, it may make things simpler if she explained both of those matters for the recording or stated that nothing else is known of them."

Richard believes what Evandau has said, but he hasn't met the Emperor. For her, he has the trust he offers all: a willingness to listen and try to understand her reasons.

[alderwood]

"Draft this script in detail, then, but I do not promise it will happen." Evandau may see purpose to it, but he is ultimately only a proxy and can be overruled by Eshai if she sees fit. It is his opinion that little enough information exists that can be shared, thus he chooses not to burden the Foreigners with that concern, but while this is a gift to one of his culture, it is evidently treasonous conspiracy to others.

"To your other questions, the answers are entirely too simple for such a suspicious lot to believe," he continues flatly. "All brought here needed bodies. Do you think we simply conjured them when the soul arrived?" A wry comment, spoken many times now. "And Eshai's system is brilliant, but not perfect. I do not understand it fully, but I know there are instabilities that may sees parties disappear. It is like filling a glass with water from a tap that drips -- much of the water may remain the same, but new drops arrive and others disappear. It is not capacity which influences it here, but that may help you understand."

[oathwalk]

"Of course." To Evandau, he briefly inclines his head. "Thank you for your time and your consideration, Commander."

[alderwood]

Evandau nods, acknowledging that, than raises his hand briefly before letting it fall -- it's an old gesture of a soldier. A salute meant to a lower ranked officer, but to an officer nonetheless.