Empires of Ashes Reboot

Ket laughs "I understand your meaning. Many base their business, their power, upon slaves. They will not take kindly to me."

Akari: I give you six months alive If you win.

Ket: "I have a plan for the rebellious nobility."

"is that so?"

"I will offer them the open palm, positions in my court, opportunities for glory and fortune, but should they move against me, they will receive the iron fist."

Akari: you are far too trusting.

"Perhaps. To be safe i could slaughter every slaver and noble in kelthro. But then who would run my farms, my mines? Who would attend my great universities and gather my taxes? This risk, i must take."

Akari: find someone else.

"The slaves cannot, they have not the education, and i cannot import the educated from outside kelthro, i could trust them even less. At least the nobility would be loyal to kelthro, if not me."

Akari: I'm fairly certain there are other solutions....besides. Your new 'people' will desire justice, and keeping their oppressors around will not grant it.

"I will give them plenty of blood. I would not worry about that."

Akari: *sips* I would.

"My uncle did not do away with my father's torturers. Neither will i. The people will have their justice."

Akari: and if they don't have the justice they want? if the very people you freed see you as another oppressor, or as shielding those who oppressed them?

"Then in their eyes an oppressor i must be. Progress can not always be made by appeasing the people."

Akari: you may tear your realm apart in doing this.

"Better that, than have it rot and be eaten by the north."

Akari: either way, the north will take it. Be it through rot, or through burning itself.

"But it will have a chance, this way. With Dracia and kelthro at peace, our northern border is safe, and my immortals can hold the east and west while she recovers from the war. By the time this alliance wears thin, a new army will march to meet dracian aggression."

Akari: I admire your ambition...but I doubt your capability.

The young prince has stopped smiling. In his eyes, etched across his face now, there is only grim purpose. "I will forge a new nation out of the old. One to last against time."

Akari: *sips* Do you wish my aid in such?

"That depends... What would you offer, and what would you ask for in return?"

Akari: You are more direct than I expected.

"What use is there in bandying words. We understand eachother well enough."

"Do we?"

"We are not friends, anything we give one another would be a purely selfish act."

Akari: and beyond that?

"We both care for our nations, you will not be bribed with personal gain, and neither will i."

she finally turns away from her canvas to properly face him

He patiently waits for her response.

Akari: all that could be said of almost any ruler.

"Unbribeable? If only."

"What makes you so sure I am?"

"I believe myself a good judge of character."

Akari:..go on

"You appear the image of a Voldomanian warrior. Your code of honour would preclude bribery. Or have i misjudged?"

Akari: is that all?

A smile pricks the corners of his mouth. "Reputation."

Akari: that's not really judging my character is it?

"I've heard about you, and i had an opinion, now i have met you, it changed a little."

OOC: Nevermind then...

Akari: Is that all you think I am? A warrior who cannot be bribed?

"You are the wife of a shogun. I assume you have a political agenda."

Akari: ...*sips* You think yourself different to the other lordlings of kelthro?

"I think them pampered children, playing at war. At statecraft."

Akari: what makes you so different, beyond your lofty ambition?

"At the age of eight i was orphaned. At ten i was sent to the immortals to learn. By Eighteen i commanded them. My cousin is General of the Grand Army. He has not fought a single battle in his life, i doubt he can swing a sword."

she stands up, putting down her glass. She gestures, and her dragonriders leave. "Walk with me"

He pushes himself to his feet with a small grunt of discomfort. Rolling his shoulders and hips to work the stiffness out.

She begins to slowly walk along the ramparts, hands loose by her side