video

[awryprincess]

Name: Heralia il Gardlanda | Heralia
Date: 10/5 morning
Format: Video

[The camera opens on a brief shot of... a ceiling. Then, the upper half of a head - auburn hair, red eyes, a splash of freckles across the nose slips in from the bottom.] Ah-ha, so that's how it works...

[And then it tilts upward a bit, and there's a full shot of the face that some may recognize, others may not. She's never made a post on the network, but she has responded to a few. She grins when she realizes she has this working, big pointy fangs that probably don't look entirely as friendly as before she started this whole "monster transformation" thing peeking out proudly from under her lips. Also, sorry, everyone, she's pretty new to this sort of technology.

Her voice is bright and chipper, gently lilting into a bit of a sing-song. Isn't she just so friendly.]

Greetings, everyone! To those I know, hello again, old friends. To those friends I have yet to meet, my name is Heralia! I know times are a bit tense and scary at the moment - a whole city asleep! - but if I might have your attention for a moment, even if it's just for a distraction, I have a question, and I have a request.

I am a member of the Mirrorbound Council. We, and I as well though I am newer, have of course been working on things with Parliament to try to improve lives; for the people called Mirrorbound, and for the native citizens alike. What I haven't seen since I've been here, though, is any of the council directly address the other Mirrorbound like this. So I'm going to ask a question: What has become most important to you since you've been in Aefenglom?

I imagine for some people it's quite different than their primary tasks back at home, but maybe for others, it's the same! I'm curious to hear it, and to see what can be done in parliament to try to make some of those things come true. Or at least to give some extra direction to things for us to fight for.

My request is one of my own motivations, of a sort: I'm looking for Witches! Specifically those unbonded, or only bonded to other Witches, but others are free to chime in as well. You see, I'm a Monster, obviously. Turnskin, for better or worse. And I'd like to offer my services as a mana sink for as many as I can realistically Bond with. Yes, I said that - oh it seems a bit dreaded - B-word. I'm not looking for love, or romance, or... dating... that's what they call it, yes? It would be a business partnership. Mutual beneficence, and more than that, whatever bogeymen have stopped you from Bonding before are not likely to scare me off. Or even really get any kind of rise out of me, unless you want them to, I suppose. I am just as well minding my own business in my own mind; it's easier than I thought it would be to keep the connection relatively mute.

Comments

text, username: Hresvelg

[unyieldingmarch]

Hello there, Heralia. I do not believe we have had much cause to speak as of yet. I am Edelgard von Hresvelg, also on the Council.

What has become most important to me is my Ward. I have taken on the care of a young girl since I arrived here, another Mirrorbound named Leslie. She has become a deeply important part of my life.

[awryprincess]

[Oh now this one is more interesting than what she was expecting for an initial reaction. Also, she hadn't realized there'd be a little kid among the Mirrorbound. The youngest she's met so far was Sae, poor girl. Teenaged is still very young. It's easiest to just respond with text, so she does:] I see! It can be quite enriching to take care of another in such a way. Might I ask what brought you two together?

[unyieldingmarch]

Happenstance. We met in the dream before her arrival and I could not, and would not, allow a young girl to dwell on her own.

She has proven herself to be a clever and resourceful child, and I am privileged to see her grow. This has only deepened our connection.

[awryprincess]

It sounds like quite the bond you've formed together. I wonder why the mirrors decided to take someone so young, though I suppose there is a number of teenagers among the ranks of Mirrorbound.

I don't suppose we know what their motivation is at all...? Or whatever's controlling them, if it's not just a happenstance of magic. Though speaking of which, I suppose it depends on how old she is, but have you a contingency if you're not able to care for her any longer?

[unyieldingmarch]

That is difficult to say.

But no, we do not. It is not just happenstance. It cannot be. I do not believe in coincidences.

And yes, I do have contingencies in place. If I depart, and if my retainer and my grand marshal depart alongside me, then she will have all of my accrued wealth at her disposal and a home. And I have spoken at length to friends about her care. People I trust.

[awryprincess]

Interesting. It seems you to be a very steadfast guardian for the young lady. Ah, but I love kids, so it's hard for me to imagine just leaving her be if you can help it. At least she'll have resources!

And to think! That's something that wouldn't be possible without us being brought together via the mirrors. Unless you have a habit of adopting stray children back home?

[unyieldingmarch]

I have not had the opportunity. My duties as Emperor have kept me preoccupied for much of the last few years.

But, I hope to eventually.

[awryprincess]

I see, I see. Uncommonly kind for an emperor. [A weakness or just an oddity? Well, Heralia will file it away either way. Her experience with "emperors" is significantly less kind and friendly.]

Ah, forgive, that's probably just a difference in our worlds. There's rarely a bad time to give children new opportunities they wouldn't have otherwise. Or teach them things. You never know what they might end up becoming, unless you give them the chance to become them! [And you never know when you might need to use them for things.] I assume you do other work with the children here then?

[unyieldingmarch]

Is it? Have you met many emperors, then?

I do, yes. I make most of my living here in mercantile endeavors. I employ refugee children for simple deliveries to ensure that they have a steady supply of money, and I also donate liberally to orphanages and other refugee-centric causes. I'm afraid I'm not a good teacher, but money goes a long way towards employing skilled tutors for them.

voice; un: magicowl

[getting_better]

[ He thought this was just something in passing, one of those people who likes the sound of their own voice. He can related to that, but that question cut surprisingly deep and really made him think. ]

...Nothing has become important to me. The smart thing to do in this situation is not get attached, after all people leaving is all to common, and I'd rather be spared the pain of loss.

[ Not that the pain ever stopped for him anyway. ]

That being said, it's not like I don't see the value in things and people. What I find important are the refugees outside the city walls. They're in constant need of food, clothing, and more stable shelter. We do our part, but they're band-aid solutions at best.

[awryprincess]

Ah, then you have a similar concern to many of the council members! Have you thought about becoming one? We've been working with parliament to do what we can for them, though parliament's been... ah... obstinate.

[She laughs.] Unfortunately, sometimes you end up getting attached to things even when it's transient. But the question wasn't necessary for a person, either. Could be something as simple as the concept of the work you're doing as... I don't know what you do, but say clearing the Wildes, or something. The concept of helping people out, which maybe you never had the chance to do back at home in any meaningful way, and now you can! That sort of thing. People are just one of the easiest and most obvious things to get attached to.

[getting_better]

Politics and I don't mix. Too much red tape and I just don't have the patience to navigate that.

[ Not that he thinks he couldn't do it, but cooking was just so much easier. Her talk about being attached to things was almost lost on him if it weren't for the sudden, soft, but demanding meow of the cat asking for her meal from him. Which he promptly got up to do, almost on auto pilot.

'I guess there's her' he thinks to himself.

Too long has he lived ready to let go of everything, such was the nature of his own world. War, after all, was fond of taking away anything and everything. ]

Well, I don't know about people but my cat has grown to be demanding of everything involving me. Food, pets, even my own body heat. But I guess I understand what you mean.

But back to the matter, I don't particularly need a bond - I have one already, though since I have a member of the council on the line it couldn't hurt to discuss the state of the refugees. Like I mentioned, they are important, not just because they live and breathe, but also because they're an untapped resource just ripe for development.

[awryprincess]

Ohhh, yeah, I can see that. [To her, politics is merely a game. A game she plays using peoples' lives as bargaining chips, but who needs to know that? Not him.]

It's fine if you don't need a Bond! I thought I would just offer my services, either way. You're in luck about the refugees, though - there's a lot of untapped potential there, and I think the Council does see that. That, and the people that live out beyond the Bright Wall. Those at the bottom reaches of society or that are sick with the blight. There's some stuff in the works for them, but I'm always willing to entertain more ideas if you think of anything specific.

[getting_better]

Well...

[ He has a few ideas, but unsure which to share. Certain ideas whispered in certain ears could lead to disaster faster than profit. ]

The most obvious is workers. Tasks that no one wants to do, we can turn to the refugees. Whether we pay them in coin or pay them in supplies doesn't really matter, what does matter is we weed out the ones who aren't or are dissatisfied with the Coven, Council, or Aefenglom in general.

If they work, then we could address other problems too, like shelter. Have them build their own solid shelters, it might take resources but if it meant a roof over their heads no one will say no.

[awryprincess]

They are working on some of those things. Aefenglom seems to think it has a problem with space as far as where to build shelters for those less fortunate.

Still, with the receding of the Cwyld, we have an opportunity, I think, outside of the walls.

As for workers... yes. Now that you mention it, it may be a good idea to recommend them as workers where those children were once employed.

[getting_better]

I come from a place with limited space so, I can tell you that we're still maximizing the space we have here.

[ He means skyward. Skyscrapers, the housing of the future. Although before any construction happens he thinks a little destruction is needed. On businesses that illegally employ children. Or legal ones that treat them poorly. ]

They're also not limited to workers. Soldiers and guards, you'll find a surprising number of already able men. Sure there are a lot of sickly among the refugees too, but the ones who are able, the ones who've been taking care of the sick, young and elderly, you won't find a more loyal and hardened soldier than there.

[ Speaking from personal experience. ]

Of course you gotta make it worth their while, and maybe some training.

[awryprincess]

You're talking more... employing those who may not do so well in combat into a support role it sounds, aye? I find it fascinating that, in truth, you can't field soldiers in this place. Oh surely, you can employ them, but for what? The Wildes are no place for an army - that many people over that much space is just asking for an outbreak of Cwyld amongst the army, and then you've crippled your fighting force. Attacks to the cities are relatively uncommon, which I think is why they have the specialists in the Wilders, the City Guard if they do get too close, and the Mirrorbound who more or less have taken up arms, it seems, to defend what little actually does come through.

What I'm seeing is, a soldier is useless here. The city-states do not fight amongst themselves much, and even if they did, you couldn't wage a traditional war. You need smaller, more specialized units, and by then, they'll only have the most part time of part time engagements, so you wouldn't be maximizing their usage. I can see how the aristocracy will shoot that down immediately, because they're basically paying people to stand around and look intimidating and do little else. You'd just have... the Wilders, if you send them out, really. Who are, if you are not aware, their own faction. They're only loosely beholden to the Parliament, and even then, that's really only within the city, and any codes of conduct they choose to retain out of the city.

Perhaps appealing to the Wilders is actually what we should be doing. It is riskier, but they can carve out their own societies within the Wildes without even needing to worry about Aefenglom and its rules.

You just... are taking a risk by doing that, as well. Same reason you can't field an army is what would make building even a village risky.

[wylderrant]

What's important? Trying to live, I suppose. I've had the worst luck with bonded and companions. Everyone keeps... vanishing...

So there's just me and here I am stuck being mortal and it's awful.

[awryprincess]

I can't discount 'survival' as an important thing. Either at home, or here. I suppose that's all we're all trying to do in the end. Has the lack of Bonded and companions bothered you so much? Sounds a bit lonely.

[But from somewhere off-camera (even if she has to move her head a little), she grins.]

Mortality is the worst, it's true. So little time to get anything important done.

[wylderrant]

Not the lack so much as they keep... vanishing.

[ Iramaat sounds a bit sour. ]

You start to get to know someone and depend on them and then poof! They're gone! As if they were never here!

[awryprincess]

Ohh yeah. Taken back by the mirrors or something of the like, yes? I can see how that would make it difficult. I suppose that's a lesson to keep things light and fun. Getting serious here just sounds like it would be... difficult.

[wylderrant]

Doing my best, but it's rather hard to avoid getting attached at times. Tsk.

I'm a creature of romance, after all.

[awryprincess]

Ohhh, that explains that courtly charm I get from you!

[She giggles.] A pity, really. That we don't know an easy trigger to stay or go. I can't remember - did you ever mention if you'd rather get home or be here?

[wylderrant]

Much rather be home, honestly.

[ For a variety of reasons. ]

But I'm doing my best not to complain about it too much.

[awryprincess]

Well, we have another thing in common! That's where I'd rather be, as well.

[She laughs.] But aye, sounds like we just have to make the best out of a bad situation. A pity Monster Bonds don't work half as well as Witch ones for Monsters. This entire place's magical rules don't make sense.