with flaming locks of auburn hair [closed]

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with flaming locks of auburn hair [closed]

Who: Thancred Waters & Jolene Sybell
When: Early June
Where: Jolene's office, Castle Thorne
What: A proper meeting as they suss each other out.
Warnings: None for now!

[ As far as Thancred's concerned, this has been on his mind for half a year now. He's been meaning to speak with Jolene and get a sense of her feelings about the politics between the Castle and Nott ever since his chat with Lyle all those moons ago, prior to the diplomatic trip to Luna.

But then so much happened, Josselyn's cult and their actions forcing him to set aside any thoughts of how to assist Nott or how to deal with the Queen. It doesn't matter to him that Ellya assisted in finding those who were captured, or that she worked with Ikorr to receive more of that sap to bolster their healing efforts following the ritual.

She still rained unholy fire down on an entire city on little more than a whim.

He's been tracking Jolene's comings and goings from the graveyard for some time now, remaining in the shadows himself so as to not earn anyone's attention in the process. It makes it easy enough to finally approach her when he's ready, at a time of day when they may as well be the only two among the tombstones. Of course he's curious why she spends so much time here, and who she might be mourning, but even the lichyard doesn't feel quite private enough.

He's spoken to her a few times before this, when accepting that quest to quell the fires in Nocwich some time ago. It's enough that she should recognize him as one of the Summoned who's been here for quite some time now, even if his presence in the Castle itself is kept to a minimum.

Who's to say what else she might know? It's time to find out.

She's kind enough in engaging with him and says that if he desires privacy, they can meet in her office. And thus, a few bells later he promptly arrives, knocking on her door. ]

Lady Sybell? 'Tis Thancred.

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[ When Jolene was approached in the graveyard, she was visibly guarded. Perfectly polite and amiable, given the setting, but guarded nonetheless. She offers to meet him in her office instead.

She greets him at the door when he knocks with a small smile, and ushers him into the office. The wards automatically reseal themselves as she closes the door behind him and ushers him to sit in one of the chairs across her desk. She places her hands on the desk, folded together. ]

How can I help you, Thancred?

[ Thancred hadn't taken offense at her guarded nature, especially given where he'd chosen to approach her. But it had seemed like the safest option, as one of the few places she was bound to be alone.

He shuts the door behind him, feeling a brief surge of magical energy that moves with it. He can only assume that's some sort of warding. With a measured smile, he moves to sit in the seat that she offers. ]

I'd first like to thank you for agreeing to see me. I know you're a busy woman. [ Which also means he shouldn't take up too much of her time, he knows, but he does need to ease into this. ] More than that, I have it on good authority that you have been a friend to the Summoned in the past, which is why I felt I could approach you.

I like to think I've been a friend.

[ Her smile grows a bit wry. The sunlight shining through the window makes objects on shelves glint. In the far corner, there's an ornate cage hanging from the ceiling, home to two rainbow-hued doves coo and twitter softly as they hop between perches. ]

Is something the matter?

[ While at first glance the doves seem to be little more than pets meant for decoration, they do stand out to Thancred due to their interesting appearance. As someone who's trained to take in every new environment as a list of potential threats, he does make note of it in the back of his mind, but doesn't react to the cooing birds beyond that.

From his seat he does what he can to study the various glinting objects on the shelves as well, just in case there's something of interest there. ]

Not perhaps a particular issue, Lady Sybell, though I do have some concerns about Nott. [ He folds his hands in his lap and straightens his posture. ] Or rather, the unrest that seems to be mounting there. I visit fairly often and spoke with a few of the farmers while accompanying another Summoned to perform the incantation for their crops, and... well, the people there don't seem too thrilled with the Castle these days.

[ He watches her carefully, but his own expression is open, genuinely interested to hear her opinion. ]

[ Other than their color, the birds do nothing that appears anything but ordinary. The objects behind her also seem to be just a normal mix of personal effects and interesting artifacts. Crystals, candles, a few framed portraits. A large variety of books take up the majority of the shelf space. Mostly hidden behind a stack of various arcana decks is something gilded and round on top.

Jolene grimaces and sighs. ]

The people of Nott haven't ever been thrilled with the Castle. [ She doesn't say it coldly. Her tone is more one of resignation. ] Nor has the Crown ever been thrilled with them. If you're waiting for the two cities to embrace their relationship, I'm afraid you'll be waiting for many years to come, unfortunately.

[ There's something about seeing another person's space, if only because it gives a glimpse into the material items that they value. While some of this may be for show, there are plenty of clues into the sorts of things that Jolene finds interesting, and Thancred can't help but take subtle glances at all of it, noting down information for future reference. It's always helpful to know the sorts of thing that a person likes.

That gilded object he might need to take a closer look at when they're done here.

He responds to her words with a tight, wry smile, and nods. ] No, I don't suspect there will be much progress made on that front any time soon. In fact, it feels as if matters have only been worsening as of late. That's the sense I get, at least, but you've naturally been here much longer than I have. Do you feel the same?

[ She shifts in her chair, sitting back in a more comfortable slouch, resting one elbow on the armrest. Her expression is thoughtful. ]

The history between Nott and the capital goes back nearly two thousand years, Thancred. While I do, in fact, feel the tension picking up, you must understand that this state of affairs is nothing new. Ever since they built this city and moved the Crown out of Nott, they've been hot and cold to varying degrees. I am not from Nott, and cannot speak for their people, but I believe they view certain actions through certain lenses that the people of our other cities don't.

[ With another heavy sigh, she murmurs a spell under her breath, and two teacups appear, one in front of each of them. Flowers float on the surface of the tea. ]

Some of their grievances have more merit than others. They have suffered inequalities in resources over the years. Their representation in court has become minimal, though this is as equally due to their own decisions as it is to opposing political forces pushing them out. There have been more metaphorical blows between the two than I could ever possibly recall off-hand, and neither side is clean. The library here has dozens of books about the history of Thorne and Nott's place in it, as do the libraries in both Nott and Hayle. Borrel as well, I would assume.

[ Raising her eyebrows, she takes a sip from her cup. ] Why? Have you heard anything that sounds particularly concerning?

[ Thancred doesn't at all mind the impromptu history lesson. It's true that he could sift through book after book in the library, as Urianger has no doubt done, but he finds it far more illuminating to hear it all summarized by someone who grew up in this world.

Jolene seems to take a rather neutral stance on it all, not wanting to blame one side or the other when it comes to Nott and the Castle. Which is the safe and clever way to go about it, though Thancred wonders if this is a representation of what she believes. ]

I have noticed some of these things as well, in the short time I've been here. The inequality in resources, as you call it, despite the work that's done in Nott with the croplands and their fisheries. The fact that the Castle refused to send anyone to investigate when people around Nott started disappearing, and we all know what ultimately happened there.

[ He pauses for a moment, lifting a hand to rub at the bridge of his nose. Then he reaches out for the teacup, nodding in thanks as he samples a sip from it. The floral taste is quite nice, but he's a bit distracted by the conversation at hand. ]

And, of course, the fact that Nott was targeted for retaliation after the Queen's attack on Libertas. I doubt that is so easily forgotten by Nott's people. This is only the impression of a relative outsider, but it does feel like things might be coming to a head. [ He isn't going to reveal what Lyle Vela told him, not until he can be certain he can trust this woman, but framing it as his own hunch seems like a decent compromise. ] What if Nott tries to secede entirely?

It sounds as though you hold the Crown directly responsible for these things, Thancred. People were not disappearing from Nott en masse, certainly not to the extent that we would have uncovered a deranged cult operating throughout every human-occupied territory in Abraxas. No one in Thorne is omnipotent. People go missing in Nott. Their crime rate far outpaces that of anywhere else in the kingdom.

[ She says this grimly, pointedly. Almost tiredly. With one hand, she rubs her cheek. ]

Marlo Reiner is to blame for the attack of Nott. I will not plead innocence on Queen Ellya's behalf, nor do I believe her to be innocent, but you should be aware that the Castle was prepared for a retaliation. Our defenses were raised. Libertas was a large, wealthy city with the protection of the Cities' military. Marlo Reiner made the decision to attack impoverished farmers. She subverted the protections that Nott is under, their wards, the existing city guard. Crossed the lake in a – a death machine. For goodness sake, Thancred, do you think such a craft simply materialized in the middle of the desert? The attack on Nott was something that had been long planned. It was inevitable. Reiner was waiting for an opening, and she would have made one if Ellya hadn't struck first.

[ Her tone grows more passionate as she speaks, in a way that indicates she has done quite a bit of ruminating on this subject. Inhaling deeply, Jolene takes another sip of tea, reasserting her placid demeanor. ]

Neither side was right. But an unplanned act of passion does not outweigh calculated acts of aggression.

[ Eyes narrowing slightly, she cocks her head. ] To what end? Secede to join those who perpetrated the attack? Or perhaps the zealots who birthed an international death cult? There is no better option for Nott than Thorne.

[ As much as Thancred might personally believe that an investigation should have been conducted when people started to vanish in Nott, he does silently concede to himself that even Lord Vela hadn't put much thought to it at first. With the state that Nott is in, it was perhaps all too easy for those in power to write it off.

The assumption that the attack from the Free Cities would have happened either way still seems like a large conclusion to draw without any real evidence, but perhaps Jolene is right on that count. Perhaps all of this was inevitable, but he can't help but wonder if Jolene is saying all of this to convince herself, in order to be able to live with the situation. ]

I won't mince my words here. I believe that Queen Ellya attacking a city comprised primarily of civilians when, at least as far as I know, there was little evidence that they had anything to do with Grigory Jannus' death, was wrong. [ He lets that statement weigh heavy in the room for a moment. Jolene has more or less said as much herself, if not in so many words. ] Perhaps you're right and the Free Cities would have attacked regardless, but I don't believe the Queen's actions can merely be swept under the rug.

[ And here he leans in slightly, fixing Jolene with an entreating stare. From one human being to another, rather than because he's going to make some politically maneuvering statement. ]

I hoped, based on what I'd heard of you from Geralt, and about Anastasia from my friend Himeka, that you would have care in your heart for such loss of innocent life, even in a faction not your own. Would that be a correct assumption, my lady?

You are not the only person who believes that she was wrong. It was not a decision made on advice of counsel. It was a rash reaction, made out of emotion. I have never hidden my feelings on this subject, and neither has anyone else. But what would you have us do, Thancred? She is the queen, and in any case, the damage is already done. That is true regardless of how anyone feels about it. Neither can the Cities undo the loss they caused. We are all captives of time's march.

[ She slumps back in her chair, one hand framing her face as she looks at him. She seems terribly tired all of a sudden. ]

Of course I care. I care deeply. You have no idea how much I have struggled with the events of the past year. The Duchess as well, I happen to know. Keeping our thoughts quiet does not mean we lack compassion.

[ What would you have us do, Thancred? She is the queen.

Were he someone with less ability to hold his tongue, Thancred might have blurted out a response right then and there. If the one on the throne is rotten all the way down, something must be done. Perhaps Jolene has even harbored that thought herself, but it's not a subject he can try to broach just yet.

But he does send her a look for a moment, one of steely determination. A silent hint that he is willing to do what needs be done to stop such a tragedy from happening again. ]

... I understand. [ When her more personal statement follows, he heaves out his own sigh, allowing some of the tension to leave his shoulders. ] I've felt the need to keep much of my own thoughts about the situation quiet as well, but knowing that there even two people among Thorne's ranks who feel the same is... well, it certainly counts for something.

[ There's a brief pause before he sits up in his seat, taking another sip of his tea before he folds his hands lightly over his midsection. ]

Lady Sybell, might I ask you where in Thorne you're from? Did you grow up in Hayle, perchance? Is that how you came to know the Duchess?

[ She returns his look with only an expression of exhausted frustration. As if she is running thin on patience for a discussion filed with assumptions and near-treason. ]

I would dare say that there are more than two of us who disagree with Ellya's actions. The High Council made clear to her that we did not appreciate the lack of consultation or real time to prepare ourselves. What she did was risky, unnecessary, and cruel. Even the queen's uncle sent word to reprimand her for thinking with her emotions before her logic. Believe me when I say that the entire court was surprised to hear that one. But the idea that there would be loud, widespread condemnation... Thancred, do you know the story of the Almachs?

[ She takes a drink from her own cup, then rests her elbow on the arm of her chair. ]

Yes, I am originally from Hayle. The Duchess is the head of the university. She works closely with those of us she sees fit to send to court.

[ The queen's own uncle? Perhaps it had only been a political move on his part, one that he'd felt the need to make somewhat public for his own purposes so that he was not judged in turn, but it's still interesting.

Along with the revelation that if Jolene is to be believed, the entire council admonished the queen for what she did. Not that it's changed anything. Nonetheless, he does catch the implication that an attack on the Free Cities might still have taken place, but that they would have gone about it differently.

Before he can ask any further questions on that point, Jolene poses one of her own. Thancred sits up further in his seat, almost like an attentive student, though his lessons were rarely like this when he was young. ]

I assumed as much — about your collaboration with the Duchess, that is. And I would be curious to hear how you first earned her notice, but to answer your question... [ He nods. ] The Almachs. The royal family primary to the current rulers, correct? [ Naturally he's done his reading, even if he isn't quite as much of a stickler for details as certain friends of his. ]

Yes, the previous reigning house. They ruled for thousands of years, one after the other, all the way back to the Fey wars. The Almach family no longer exists. Every one of them was executed in the wake of the Free Cities' unification. The people held them as responsible for the rebels coming together, and they reacted as such. When the king was executed, his body was literally torn to shreds by the crowd. When the Galdwins took power a few years later, they kept a single reminder for themselves — one of the king's fingers, preserved in a jar. A warning to all the future rulers, to be proactive and strike down the enemies of Thorne.

[ This hangs in the air for a moment, then she sighs and lifts her eyebrows. ]

So, as you can see, you will not find the sympathy you seek in the people of Thorne. There is disapproval for Queen Ellya's actions, yes, but it comes from the way she went about them, not what she actually did. The Free Cities are an enemy of Thorne. Libertas is an enemy of Thorne. You will not find the support you are searching for. Any ruler of Thorne who seeks more than a continued ceasefire with the Cities will surely meet the same fate as the Almachs. And even if you think that's what should happen, you must be aware that it will not lead to some kind of idyllic peace accord with Marlo Reiner and the Free Cities' government. They will seek to conquer Thorne for themselves, and as you have seen in Nott, they will not do so kindly. And they will use you, the Summoned. They have already done so once, at the first Dimming after they learned how to summon.

[ Her hands fold back into her lap, and she sits back in her chair. ]

I understand that the Summoned are united across the factions, at least as much as possible. But the people of Abraxas are not the Summoned, and they do not see things the same way as you do. Your job, as one of the Summoned, is to protect the Singularity and the people of Thorne. That is what they, the people, want from you. If your goal remains as it was when you walked through my door, then you would be wise to realize the delicacy of the balance that must be kept.

[ While it's no secret among the history books the Summoned have access to that the previous ruling family was cut down by the people of Thorne themselves for allowing the Free Cities to rise up and rebel, Thancred had not realized just how brutal it was. Or that the current rulers kept a finger as some sort of grisly reminder. His face twitches with mild disgust at the story, but Etheirys has its own set of dark tales like this. As just one example, Theodoric the Mad King's cruel actions, which inspired an uprising and could have just as easily led to him being torn apart, had he not cowardly taken his own life first.

Thancred never believed that the Summoned's actions would be enough to stop a conflict that's existed for hundreds of years, and hearing that the people of Thorne would take issue with a ruler that brokered peace with the Free Cities is no particular surprise, either.

He lets Jolene's words settle in, nodding along with an understanding of the delicate position that she is in as well. ]

I suspect most of the Summoned realize that any sort of permanent peace between Thorne and Free Cities is unlikely, if not impossible. That being said, I would be betraying my own moral code if I simply ignored that I've been summoned to a realm whose ruler is willing to brazenly murder civilians, even if those civilians belong to the Free Cities. Nor do I think I'm the only Summoned who feels this way.

[ He heaves out a sigh and drags his hand across his mouth, eyeing the cup of tea that's quickly growing cold. ]

May I ask you this, Lady Sybell? What is you and the Duchess' hope for the future of Thorne? Are you happy with the state of things as they are?

Again, Thancred, you seem to ascribe guilt only to Ellya and Thorne, which I think is an odd way of looking at it. Were the lives lost in the farmlands worth less than those in Libertas? Are the lives of the Thorneans who may starve from the loss of crops worth less? Is one large-scale attack worse than a smaller one with roots that stretch out for years to come? Allow me to repeat the point that no one is particularly pleased with the queen for this, but in the same breath, allow me to underline the fact that Ellya's assumption that the Cities were responsible for what happened to Grigory was not entirely unfounded. If I recall correctly, you were summoned a month after that first Dimming, in which the Cities and Solvunn made the first attack. They sent their Summoned to attack ours as they performed the sacred duty of delivering the caskets to the Singularity, sent them to steal magic from the Singularity. Is it, necessarily, wrong to assume those who have attacked recently are doing it again?

[ There is some degree of emphasis on this fact, that caskets were stolen from the Singularity, that this attack was performed with the knowledge of Thorne's ancient traditions.

Jolene seems quite tired. ]

Our hope? We hope to keep the Singularity strong. To keep Thorne strong. We do not wish for a war, or at least I don't. It is our sworn duty, as both members of the court and as Abraxans, to care for the Singularity and maintain the balance of this world. Do I think there are better ways to do so, in an ideal world? Of course. But this is the world, the Abraxas, that we have, and so we will work within the system that has served us for tens of thousands of years.

[ A diplomat's answer. ]

It's not that I think the leaders of the Free Cities are blameless in this. [ Thancred gives a quick shake of his head. He's never even stepped foot in that faction, and so he only has the reports of the Summoned who are stationed there to work from, but the fact remains that Queen Ellya attacked first. Then again, when it's a conflict that extends back hundreds of years, trying to decide on who "started" it is a fool's errand. ] However, I'm here in Thorne, and therefore it's the actions of the rulers of Thorne that concern me most.

[ He's heard about the Dimming in general terms, and how it's one of the few times that the Summoned were pitted against each other, but that took place well over a year ago and many of the current Summoned weren't even present at that time. It doesn't strike him as any kind of solid proof that the Free Cities had anything to do with Grigory's death. ]

I believe a proper investigation should have, and still should be, conducted regarding what happened to Grigory and the other delegates in Nocwich. Is it not possible that it was some unrelated party, unattached to any of the three main factions? Delegates from all three factions were attacked.

[ The fact that such a detail has simply been set aside to instead continue to wage war because that is historically what's been done seems foolish to him. Then again, it does seem to be human nature to draw out conflicts, something he's seen both back home and here in Abraxas.

He considers the next part of Jolene's answer for a few seconds, finding it lacking even if he can understand her position. ]

I also don't wish for a war, if it can be avoided. And I happen to believe it's always worth forging ahead toward a better way, if we can find one. I believe it's worth the extra effort, to avoid more pointless bloodshed on either side of the conflict.

I don't disagree, and an investigation has been done since. Inconclusive, I'm afraid, in terms of pinpointing those responsible. The results were not made public out of fear that, should they realize they have remained undetected, the perpetrators might strike again.

[ Jolene fiddles with the pendant on her necklace, the sign of the Chariot. Her brow is stitched. ]

But we remain firm in our conviction that our initial suspicion of the Cities was not unfounded. The attacks were initiated via small devices reminiscent of New Magic, though the one we retrieved was too destroyed to do much in the way of deeper analysis. The Cities are the longest-standing enemy of Thorne, save perhaps the Fey. The potential sacrifice of a singular Summoned of their own — one that was originally summoned to Thorne, I might note — would be greatly outweighed by the possibility of striking down not just our honored delegate, but also one or more of our highest ranking mages. Regardless of the Queen's actions, they would have always been the primary suspect.

[ From somewhere on the shelves, a clock loudly begins to chime the hour, and Jolene glances toward the sound before she looks back at Thancred. ]

Your qualifier is noted. [ Said archly. ] But I would like to highlight the fact that a better way is not a one-sided affair. Unless your compatriots in the other nations are similarly broaching this subject, you'll find few willing to weaken Thorne in the hope that we will blaze some trail without guarantee that the others will follow. Millions of defenseless people in this kingdom depend on us, on the Crown and on the Summoned, to keep them as safe as we can. Any internal redistribution of weight must still be balanced with the scales beyond our borders, and that is not a solution as simple as merely swapping one piece for another. I warn you, do not disturb the scales before the equation is deciphered.

[ Though the clock has finished its chimes, a secondary alarm sets off, from a small golden orb on the desk that begins to emit a birdsong and a small but pretty display of lights. ]

I'm afraid we must continue this discussion at a later point. I have another meeting that I must be present for. Is there anything else I can help you with today, Thancred?

[ The investigation that was supposedly performed behind the scenes ultimately being inconclusive seems rather convenient to Thancred, but he bites down on saying as much. He does recall that Stephen ran into the same dead end regarding the destroyed device when he tried to look into it himself. It will continue to bother him that they don't have a clear answer on who attacked Yennefer, Himeka, and Jaskier, but it doesn't seem he'll be finding any more details through official channels.

Jolene seems to feel that the Free Cities would risk targeting one of their own Summoned, Jaskier, for the simple fact that it might take suspicion off of them. Thancred can't speak to that, but he does know that Jaskier is one of the most well-known Summoned in all of Abraxas. Would it really make sense for the Free Cities' officials to target such a high-profile figure?

Not to him, but it appears that his opinion here isn't going to be considered any further.

Nonetheless, he takes note of her final point about how power cannot just be redistributed on a whim, and that the other nations will also need to be considered in the rebalancing. He heaves out a sigh, nodding as he stands from the seat and offers Jolene a polite bow. ]

Of course, don't be late to your meeting. I know you're a busy woman and I appreciate you taking the time to speak of this with me. I only ask that you keep this chat in mind, if you or the Duchess are ever in need of any aid.

[ He leaves it at that, bidding her farewell before he makes for the door to leave her in peace. ]

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with flaming locks of auburn hair [closed]

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