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[traumaticus]

Salutations to all The Chosen of Aldrip,

My name is Richard Plantagenet, the Duke of Gloucester of England and the son of Duke of York. My time in this world may be merely a blink of an eye compared to some of you who have been residing here for over a full calendar year, experiencing the change of all four seasons under the sky. However, during my brief stay I have come to notice that there are plenty of wrongs in this world, which threatens the peace of our lives here. Now, some of these wrongs might be out of our control, such as the afflictions plaguing our environment. Or the activities of the council. However, this does not mean that we are completely powerless.

It has come to my attention that thee has been a several times when we have been faced with a violent threat and an attack, be it from monstrous creature from the depths of the ocean or a curse spreading among ourselves. I fully believe that we, as a community, could benefit from organizing ourselves so that we might be prepared when the next crisis arrives to our doorsteps.

I call forward anyone with any combat training, be it from military training, self-taught or magically oriented, and share their knowledge to those who might lack skills in self-defense. It is not in my intention to position myself as a leader, nor a raise an army, but to strengthen our teamwork and cooperation as a community. I am myself experienced knight who fought and served my king in a civil war known as War of Roses, and currently I'm learning the usage of firearms under the tutelage of Mr. Valentine. I am willing to train and pass down my knowledge to anyone who is willing to learn. However, I am aware that I am out of my depths and that many of you possesses abilities both as fighters and as tacticians that I could not even fathom. Which is why I sincerely hope those individuals to answer my call and step forward and help create a safer city.

Signed,
Richard Plantagenet, The Duke of Gloucester

[ooc: ooc info can be found here!]

Comments

[nitropowered]

Quirks. abilities above the standard human ability. like mine, I can make the sweat on my palms explode

[entreats]

Thankfully not.

[ She could talk about how the locals here used to be a little culty before in the past, but.. it hardly feels like it matters by now, considering how much the town has changed by then. It hardly feels relevant anymore. Not enough to spread it, anyway.

Besides, this concern is much more real, so she might as well pass it on to him. ]

I don't really think it went anywhere either. Guess the people dragged in this place like you and me aren't really receptive to something like that. I just hope whoever that was didn't move on to try and recruit other people in this place into such a thing.

It could end up being a real pain. Especially when there's enough to deal with here already.

[traumaticus]

do you take habit to always assume the worst outcome?

[baldrshand]

Is that so? In that case I must know a lot of women with weak hearts, because they were only too willing to take themselves to the battlefield and cut enemy soldiers apart. Perhaps if they ever come here, you can explain that they would have better served their families, and their country, by pacing around indoors.

[She's really amusing herself by imagining what any of her lady friends would be saying in this conversation.]

I hope it will be acceptable to you that I ride out and heal people myself, and sometimes defend my patients with a sword.

[bulleting]

I was lucky enough to have my rifle from home turn up, one day. When I first arrived, there were no sources of weapons or even ammo, so we had to work with the locals to get these made. It was challenging. It's gotten much easier, in the last year.

Of course. I understand, completely. My world is considered behind, too. These tablets and most of the technology here is beyond me. But a gun is a gun, at least. They change, somewhat, but the basics seem to stay the same.

[entreats]

Yes.

You would be surprised how often that assumption ends up being right in this place.

[traumaticus]

that does not surprise me.

however, as a veteran to this world, would you care to share your previous experiences here where that might have been the case.

[melnik]

[ Although the first time they met he might not have been able to say the same, this Richard certainly does fit into the archetype he would imagine when picturing a duke of England. There is an air of almost put upon decorum to everything he says. Miller finds himself a little stilted and strange, in turn... but it's alright.

It's a far cry from what he could ever have expected, speaking with any bigshot from the home of the man who had coined the "iron curtain."

So, he allows the awkwardness to be, folding his hands upon the table—because at least they're able to talk like this. ]

I see. It is no wonder I felt compelled to tell you then. Knowing you've had this experience, I can trust your judgment in arranging this assembly even more. The inner workings of this military force that I speak of are highly classified; our ranks are known only to those who are trusted to join and, needless to say, newcomers are rigorously tested. However... the likelihood of encountering enemy saboteurs in this place is incredibly low.

[ If not... outright impossible. He says this much as though the realization has still somewhat newly dawned upon him. It's not new, in actuality, but knowing it has not made it easier for him to start changing thirty, forty years of uncompromising secrecy. ]

Even if you do hail from an enemy nation, I am sure that we have led very different lives. I wish to use what I know to help us all.

[traumaticus]

there is no need to take such tone with me, my lady.

i am not your lord and thus where you ride or not is not in my control.

[entreats]

One time a bunch of people from our group here disappeared.

Not the way people usually disappear here. We were out of town back then, and it was a much bigger group all at once. It turns out they disappeared because the locals over there kidnapped those people to sacrifice them to some sort of huge sea monster.

I'd say that's pretty close to a worst possible outcome.

[traumaticus]

i see.
that is indeed something i would describe as worst case scenario, yes.

however, i hope that with these training practices we can have people be more prepared and prevent such instances from happening again.

how did this trial end?

[traumaticus]

[Richard's usage of words here are all part of the performance that he had learned to put up in situations like these where he needed to talk business with another leader of sorts. How to use his words to give people a sense of trust, spark the flame of inspiration in their souls and what not.

In private, Richard preferred to spare his words. Keeping the thoughts to himself. To much dismay of those who he'd include in his inner circle.

He hums thoughtfully at Miller's words, a small smile appearing to his lips.]

It is exactly as you say, my good sir. Holding onto limitations of our nations will do us only harm in this unknown land. Nay, I would rather cross such boundaries, stand by your side and call you my friend if you were to allow it.

[How's that for smooth talking? But at least he means it to some extend. Miller appears to be formative soldier, it would do good for him to be allies with someone of his standing.]

I thank you for your trust. However, I am merely a newcomer compared to you. Do you have suggestions to which individuals I should reach out for in hopes or cooperation?

[baldrshand]

Forgive my cheekiness. But your way of thinking really is so foreign to me, I have a hard time understanding it.

If I might make a genuine suggestion--maybe do consider putting a sword in your ladies' hands someday. You might find your wars end more quickly when it's being conducted by wives and mothers who are plain fed up.

[melnik]

[ For someone with an at least slightly similar level of familiarity with diplomacy, this veil that persists over Richard's behavior doesn't go unnoticed. But Miller is alright with it — it's normal for someone like him probably, and he does not wish to show disrespect. ]

Of course... It would be my honor.

[ Even if it is simply an alliance out of convenience right now, it is undeniable that one looking to affect this place needs allies. People do not listen with a reason to. ]

To be honest, it has not been easy to get others on board with any organized efforts. There are many here with great fighting abilities, but getting them to cooperate... is another matter.

There is an entrepreneur known as Silco who has been a great ally to me since day one. He seems to be interested in any investment that would build this place up. There is also Toph — she is young, but incredibly trustworthy and she has these "earthbending" skills that make her formidable in battle.

[entreats]

We tried to stop the sacrifice. It was half-successful. Some people survived. Others died.

The same thing happened to the people that died that always happens here when someone dies.

[traumaticus]

that is very upsetting to hear, indeed. i can understand why one would grow jaded under such circumstances.

but still, i hope that you can one day place your trust in me, my lady.

[traumaticus]

[Richard is not quite aiming for deep, personal friendship. After all, those were luxury for someone like him. To him the word "friend" means an ally, someone who's support he could count on to have. And as a man of military, he believed that the colonel could follow his logic.]

I know Silco. [Intimately so...] I am more interested in this young lady you speak of. Do you believe she would be interested in joining a cause to secure our numbers?

[traumaticus]

it would do you good not to turn your nose up at the other people's cultures, my lady. i do not claim to understand your world nor its ways, but i would not dream of trying to restrict you or give you unwanted advice.

[entreats]

[ .. huh. It's a little surprising to her. Not the first part - people are a little more understanding about that sort of thing here than they ever were back home, in her experience - but that last part. ]

Do you really care whether I trust you or not?

[traumaticus]

of course. we can never truly be united and stand together if there is no trust between us.

[melnik]

[ Oh, he already knows him. Well, that's good. It shouldn't come as a surprise that Silco would already see the opportunity in aligning.

Miller nods. ]

I would imagine so. She is not one to accept sitting idly. If you wish to meet her, she manages the security at the Queens casino.

[entreats]

If you need to convince everyone of unity, then I really don't think I'm your biggest obstacle.

I'm just a sceptic. That's not so bad. The ones you really have to worry about are the loose cannons.

[traumaticus]

then who would you describe as a "loose cannon?"

[entreats]

The people who go around blowing up stuff here?

That one seems obvious to me. Especially when it's not like it only happened once.

[traumaticus]

really? unfortunately i have no information of such events. but if true, that is very concerning to hear.