Home again

[Ebiris]

"As things stand I'm confident in Cauldron and Celestia's triumph, but when others join on the side of the efreet we'll be there to counter them and help carry our friends to victory," Alicia says, seeing that moment come closer with every breath.

[Anastasia]

The Red Knight nods to you, "So you will. War comes - you understand. A great war, a war that will resonate beyond these paltry opening acts."

[Ebiris]

"The cause of it is just, and I hope that isn't lost sight of as things escalate," Alicia says. "But I must ask, are you happy to have your followers fighting on both sides?"

[Anastasia]

"I am," The Red Knight declares as the forest blurs all around you. "When it comes to war between law, I have an even hand on both sides of the scale. My faithful there are to grow and prosper in war, to exercise their brains and grow in wisdom in these battles - and to make inroads on both sides of the conflict. Why, should one of mine deal a heavy blow to the other side, my faithful on that side will be there to instruct them and bring them around to my service, for they then understand the power of strategy, tactics and the mind."

[Ebiris]

There's little point in debating morality with someone like this, but still that leaves an angle that surely not even Red Knight can ignore. "What about when your faithful on one side have to fight and kill their fellows-in-faith who fight under the other banner? Doesn't that grieve you?"

[Anastasia]

"It does," The Red Knight admits openly, "Does it not grieve you when yours come to blows, be it fists or naked steel?"

"It does," Syala echos the Red Knight, "I've had a few times - relationships gone bad, friends turned enemies or people incapable of getting along. It's like watching family members fight." Her voice is quieter now, closing her eyes and softly sighing.

"But..." Here the Red Knight looks ahead, "Those who serve me spend eternity competing against others here. From the simplest games of strategy to the greatest war games, they learn against one another and learn to maintain the bonds of brotherhood through that. When it happens, I am there to comfort those who spilled the blood of their spiritual kin and to praise the spirits of those who laid their lives down in my name."

After a moment to let those words end, "There are no winners in civil wars, Alicia, and while they will never agree on good and evil, Hell and Celestia are both of the same house of Law. Be thankful the house of Good has found a lasting peace between its dissenting siblings."

[Ebiris]

"I am thankful, and I know well the work it takes to maintain that understanding even with Good's simple better nature helping the way," Alicia says. "But this is no civil war where a country is rent asunder on rival claims to power, this is a battle of ideas and meaning, of the right to freedom and dignity. Picking a side is natural, staying out of it is understandable... but choosing to join and having your banner fly for both sides? Spilling blood one day to free slaves and the next to kill their liberators?" She shakes her head as they ride along. "I can't understand it."

[Anastasia]

"Said the archon to the inevitable," Jessica murmurs, and when Syala's eyes glance her way, "That's what this strikes me as. The priorities of law vs those of good. Laws are what they are, even when hurtful and cruel. A good man who values the law still does not uphold a cruel and hurtful law."

"It is not an easy burden, but it is what I am," The Red Knight agrees, as you come to a stop in a sun dappled grove, surrounded on all sides by primeval forest. "I do not relish this or relish when the forces of law put me in such a situation."

[Ebiris]

Alicia straightens up on horseback as they stop, looking around their surroundings.

Take 10 for 57 on perception and survival to look for any great stag traces.

"On a similar note, Seira has done better than I ever expected at balancing the conflicting needs and natures of her widely spread elemental allies. This is the closest its come to being tested, but so far things are holding," she says, rather than pushing further on Red Knight's contradictory support for both sides.

[Anastasia]

Ahah! A tell tale hoof print - one far bigger than a normal deer, but heading off into the forest.

"That speaks well of her diplomacy," The Red Knight agrees,  "Even if Water clings to neutrality, but Air gusts in even now."

"I've been meaning to make inroads with the djinn royalty," Syala remarks at that as she starts to look around herself, focusing right on the same print you do. "Unfortunately, my one connection is through a disgraced caliph lingering with Aurora."

[Ebiris]

"Westwind, yes?" Alicia asks Syala. "Yes he's not exactly in good standing over there. But Water's neutrality I wouldn't necessarily see as a bad thing, back to the current war. A heavy incursion from there against the efreet would seriously strain Seira's friendship with Zaaman Rul, and likely prompt Kossuth to have Fire show a united front against Water. I know she's disappointed not to have more support, but I think it's for the best without risking the war completely changing its character and scope."

[Anastasia]

The Red Knight smiles as she gestures at that track, "I see you've found a trail," she invites. "Water's choice is but another move in the endless game between Water and Fire. A defensive and deceptive move that may yet become an offensive masterstroke."

At this Jessica smiles, "It reminds me of a sneaker from the shadows - effective, even if dishonorable, yet what is honor when your blade is sunk into your enemy's heart?"

With a warm chuckle at that, "Ah, that sounds like something Jarem would say. He's one of my most promising up and comers in a long time," The Red Knight says. "I believe yours crossed paths with the mage I have lending aid to. He may be a knight, but he has a streak of pragmatism in him."

[Ebiris]

Alicia smiles at Jessica as she confidently contributes to the discussion with the sort of concepts that will no doubt define her divinity.

"I met him briefly," she confirms when Jarem is mentioned. "Though a scholarly academy of mages is an odd place to find one like him, that mage has managed to capture one of Seira's daughters in her orbit as well. Expecting a lot out of her?"

[Anastasia]

"She has potential - raw, unfettered potential," The Red Knight says, "She gained a vast deal of power under unusual circumstances. What fool does not attempt to nurture and direct that?"

[Ebiris]

"Potential is often squandered, and just as often greatness crops up in unexpected places," Alicia says, thinking how Io expressed similar sentiments to Red Knight about Alyssa's potential. "Even if she could have her power directed for greater purposes, I would prefer to see what she's capable of in practice on her own initiative first."

"Of course as we talk our quarry waits - shall we pursue?" she asks, dismounting off her horse.