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Post by Raphael Relelhart on Dec 2, 2017 0:02:38 GMT -5
Raphael nods in agreement. "I'd like to work together with you -but would have it in equality, and no other way." Sensing the emotion from her, he doesn't push the accountability issue.
"Will you give me leave and authority to put my tasks to action?" He looks back at Sharara, and presses for an answer.
He produces a carefully written letter and quill with ink. The paper says,
"I, Sharara, Squire of Cynderfall give Raphael Relelhart my full permission and support to: - Create and enforce a system of taxation. - Delegation to run and maintain defenses for the city through the use of it's occupants. - The power to maintain and utilize a military. - Protect Cynderfall and it's occupants from any and all harm. - Investigate and enforce all crimes.
And to delegate these powers and responsibilities as needed for the good of the land.
Signed this day, the 1st Day of the Winter Month."
"There are things that will specifically need your attention now - handling the matters of treaties, getting the town's gold and silver that Q'tar had, and handling the politics that your position hold. In addition, we need a written rule of law for the town that you need to write. It's the time to stop asking who will be responsible for things, and just to do it. I am looking for people that will get things done. Will you be one of these people, Sharara?"
He grins playfully at her. Though the air is serious, you can't help but feel like he is being genuine.
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Post by cjsolo on Dec 2, 2017 5:02:31 GMT -5
After a moment, she takes the letter from him and reads it over. Sharara sighs softly as she carefully, and neatly, folds the letter up. She speaks gently. "It's not in my authority to grant you this kind of equality, Rafael. Perhaps one day I will, but not at this time."
"However, you're right. There is a lot to be done. I can't be as involved as I might like anymore." It was a painful fact that she had come to realize, one she had tried to share the depth of with Q'Tar before he made his decision. "Before you say no, before you walk away, hear me out."
Sharara looks at him. "My idea for you is more of one as a specialist. You have a specific set of skills that you are good at, certain areas of knowledge that you possess and I want to focus those things where they'll be the most use. I would ask that you be in charge of a small team to this end, specifically the Relehart clan. Among you, you already have complimentary skills to aid one another in the field and you already have a built relationship with those individuals." Her fingers trace the folded line of the folded letter absently. "You would be my martialist. There are threats that make it in beyond the wall that need to be dealt with from time to time and many more outside the perimeter that are simply more powerful than we have resources in the guard to deal with. I need someone that I can draw upon to handle such things as they arise. With the persistant attacks at the perimeter from the Kregen and those working for them, there are rarely men to draw on for other things. You are an excellent fighter, Rafael, you've proven that. In addition to dealing with these threats, I would have you keep me advised of what is happening and what you think should be done, much as you've done here." She lifts the letter a little. "I may have you look into certain crimes, such as the murders during the festival or hunt specific threats, such as the vampire that set himself on me because I know you're the right person for those things. If you wish to instruct other adventurers in the use of martial skills, you're free to do so. But, it won't give you command of them. If you assert yourself during battle, much like Haka does, and they listen to you then it will be because they choose to. I can't be more specific in the things that I would set you to, Rafael, since I simply can't predict what will come out of the Ashwood, the wastelands to the south or who will decide to challenge us next. I would expect, to a degree, that you take the initiative with your team to deal with threats; I don't expect you to ask me permission for every little thing. If there's a deathknight threatening people, by all means destroy it. On more complicated matters, such as the Kregen, I would want to be consulted before action is taken."
Her fingers tap lightly on the table once before she unfolds his letter. "To address your list here. Taxes, I have already began drawing up a plan for this for individuals and businesses. You can delegate within your team to carry out the things I ask you to do and in the general defense of Cynderfall that adventurers provide. You're free, of course, to ask others to help you if you feel you need the numbers, but they have the right to refuse without concequence. We have a military here already, one that is under my command and my responsibility. I'm asking you to be an outside extension of that military as the leader of a specialized task force." Sharara looks at him again when she gets to his next point on the list. "I shouldn't have to grant you leave to protect Cynderfall and its people. That is something that I would hope any adventurer coming here, citizen or not, would stand up and do on their own. There are a lot of civillians here, people with little or no skill to defend themselves. It's my intention with your specialization and the specialization of select others to make that defense even more efficient than it's become over the months." She folds the letter again with a sigh as the last point comes up. "I will undoubtedly at some point ask you to investigate certain crimes, but not all. Not because you aren't capable, but in a case to case basis to ensure there is no conflict of interest. The recent trial, for example, would you have wanted myself or Q'Tar to have investigated that or someone you believed to have less opinions of you, especially since we were the ones that had you arrested?" That, in itself was a source of annoyance for her. That whole situation from the moment she had told Q'Tar that she was going to have Rafael and Rori taken into custody, it had all gone all sorts of wrong. "More often, crimes and complaints of crimes are civil and petty. Dealing with things such as someone accusing another of breaking a wheel on their wagon would frankly be a waste of your skills and time, Rafael. That being said, to enforce law you need to be impartial and willing to follow it yourself. I would expect that a law broken by a Relehart, if that were to happen, to be handled the same as it would for anyone else. As comes with command, Rafael, you would be responsible for the rest of the Releharts. Any wrong they do will come down on you as well because you're the leader and you're the one expected to keep them in line."
She takes a breath and releases it as she thinks about a drink. "There isone other thing, Rafael, if you're willing to work with me in this way, that's not on your list. You are among those I've chosen to be a part of this military extension because we don't always see eye to eye. This is a more important thing than it might seem. However, as knowledgeable and experienced as I may be, I don't know everything, I don't see everything and I'm not perfect. In those things that that come up that we don't completely agree on, new insights into a situation can be garnered and lead to a better solution than any of us may originally have had. Communication between us would be key. I would call on you to speak as we are now and at times with others that agree to work with me in this capacity to discuss what is going on, the things that have been done and what needs to be done. I would want your opinions, though, I would ask that objections be handled in a polite manner and brought to me privately." She lifts a finger momentarily to hold off any immediate objection he has on that. "I say this because the appearance of respectful cooperation only serves to bolster morale, something that's as much needed in a place like this as much as physical muscle for defense. I'm not unreasonable. I will listen to you as I always have, even if it's not always seemed that way."
"Will you agree? Will you accept being my martial specialist, Rafael?"
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Post by Raphael Relelhart on Dec 2, 2017 17:43:35 GMT -5
Raphael yawns as Sharara gives excuses as to why she can't treat him like an equal.
"Sharara, I personally do not like being treated like a dog." he says, quite bluntly and abruptly. "You've got plenty of people who will come when called, and when you tell them to jump will ask how high."
He continues, "Everything I've asked for is in your hands to approve and delegate, and my being here with you privately is a great example of how I'm willing to work with you. I won't work for you, but I will work with you."
He holds out a quill. "I think that by asking you to treat me as an equal, you are concerned that I'll turn into a raging wildfire that can't be extinguished. We need a mutual trust here, and thats going to require something from both sides. It's going to be scary, but I can guarantee you of my effectiveness."
"With this signed contract showing our working together, I can likely obtain the status of Paladin within the Order of the Four Pointed Star, and start down the road to nobility myself. If the current Squire is willing to exhibit enough trust, then likely that will be enough for the knight, Sir Jacob."
"Before we talk about specifics with the Kriegan, things in the woods, how to handle crimes, guards and military, I need to know that you will treat me like an equal and share your power as a noble with me to see this done. I'm asking for your full permission and authority - which is only yours to give."
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Post by cjsolo on Dec 3, 2017 2:00:47 GMT -5
Sharara takes the quill from Rafael, then simply sets it on the table unused.
"This, Rafael," she taps a finger on the folded paper in her other hand. "is an agreement to give you control over Cynderfall. That is not only not properly in my authority to do, but would be dereliction in the duties that I have been given by Sir Jacob, my Knight. I'm not willing to abandon my responsibilities nor am I willing to betray Sir Jacob's trust by doing so."
She taps the folded paper once more. "The agreement on this paper is not the key to your becoming a paladin of the church. The very path you're on now is what distances you so far from obtaining that goal, which I've tried to get you to understand and even then you were in danger of losing your candidacy."
Sharara sighs. "The impass you're at now, Rafael, is that you stated to me just moments ago that you're a simple man, you seek honor and glory, not fortune and title. Yet, you're accepting nothing less than fortune and title."
She looks at him for a long moment. "It's unfortunate that the only opinion you have of all of this is that I'm treating you like a dog, because that isn't the case. If I were, I would simply order you to do it and expect you to obey; there'd be no need for this conversation at all. I'm asking you to take a different role, to take a place in the hierarchy of Cynderfall. I'm asking you to take a role that informs, advises and gives different view points when they arise, to be ready and willing to deal with threats that most aren't experienced enough to handle on their own." Her finger runs down one edge of the paper in her hands, almost thoughtfully.
"I understand that you want to be significant. You want to be a paladin, you want to be a noble. Otherwise, you wouldn't have put in to be Sir Jacob's next Squire nor would you have gone through the tests of the church to be initiated." She shifts her arm to place her free hand on Rafael's forearm. "You have to understand, Rafael, that both positions require far more than physical prowess and desire. There are other qualities needed as well to temper those things. You still need to work on some of those things, my friend."
Sharara draws her hand away. "The truth is, Rafael, one day it'll be my time to return home and to the memory flame. When that time comes, I want to have complete confidence in those that I leave behind to maintain and build upon what's been built here, to treat its people fairly and justly, to not only display intelligence but also wisdom."
"I know your first reaction is to say no, roll your eyes or some other such thing, but give it some thought for me. It helps me, it helps Cynderfall and probably most importantly it helps you."
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Post by Raphael Relelhart on Dec 3, 2017 10:22:08 GMT -5
He shrugs, and rolls his eyes on que.
"You've been a noble for almost a year, and yet... Creatures, monsters and enemies roam the encampment without warning. People die in their sleep, and nobles are arresting those they have vendettas against instead of investigating the crime. You get caught and turned into a vampire. The Kriegan, who are so unafraid of the nobles, are hunting this city's citizens like deer in the forest. You've let a noble order the needless death of one of your own - and beg people to believe you had no say - but the fact is that you could have stood up to his order and stood trial before a higher noble. To watch the people you're supposed to protect get ordered to die, and say you couldn't do nothing to stop it, when under the law you have the full authority to refuse orders. This incompetence is the greatest failure to Sir Jacobs - to sit high up in your noble chair and not treat people as equals while the settlement sinks slower into the status of a S***hole.
After a year of watching you and Q'tar blunder it all, I come here with a laid out plan to save this place and make it better, and you twiddle your thumbs and offer me a position as your dog."
He stands and turns to the door, walking away. As he leaves, the light (much like the life-force of Cynderfall) slowly fades into darkness.
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Post by cjsolo on Dec 3, 2017 12:12:53 GMT -5
Sharara sighs to herself once he is gone. She had had no expectation that he would accept working with her, not even under a compromise. However, even though it ended much as she had expected it to, it had gone somewhat better than she had thought it might. Perhaps he would see things a little differently once the rest of it was in place and working; or perhaps he would not.
Sharara places the folded up agreement into a pocket and remains there a little while longer, sitting alone in the relative silence with her thoughts. Now was not the time to get discouraged. There were mistakes made, there were difficult decisions made and it was rarely the good things that stood out about someone; even for Rafael. Eventually, she stands, collects Q'Tar's items and leaves the Lightning Lounge to return to the barracks.
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