Thlayli
Le Pétit Prince
An address to Parliament, on peace by arms
My noble lords! My noble lords.
*waits for murmuring to subside*
The address of the good brother Karpyr is well taken, in the spirit with which it was intended. However, I will tell you exactly how our "friend" the Magister would respond! Yes, indeed, he will see the light. The light from the bonfire of the two brothers of Orebhas he has just burned at the stake!
*waits for supporters to stop chuckling*
In truth, my lords, would that we might live in a world where Magister Keros responds to such...enlightened criticism. However, if that is our city's response, and the magister acts as such collegial individuals do, namely with torture and execution, we would then have no recourse but to blood at the abuse of our city's chosen representatives! And at such bloodshed, we will gain reputations worse than the bandits of Horizan or the tyrants of Mitteram! That is not the reputation which will restore prosperity to our city.
No. In truth, my lords, we have an opportunity. For the brothers dal Esier are at odds. And in their quarrel, the seed of an opportunity is born. If we bring the magister's brother over to our side, gain his support in arms and gold, in return for recognizing his rights over his brother, we earn ourselves a powerful ally at no cost. With Konte dal Esier's troops to supplement our militia, and those of our iroen who might join us, we will far outnumber the magister's guards. This will gain us the position of strength from which to negotiate for Sul.
In fact, there is no division between us. Strength of arms will win us a rightful peace, but it must be confirmed without bloodshed, in spite of Keros' barbarism! Once the magister realizes his situation is dire, he is outnumbered and his brother has turned against him, he will be a prisoner in Cherid Mount! We will force Keros to sign a treaty under a state of siege if need be, and return him to his precious Collegial Palace he wants back so badly - in chains if he refuses! In this I agree with the good brother Karpyr.
However, I believe that it will not get to that point, noble lords. Keros looks to his self-preservation above all things. Offer him a portion of his dignity back, stripped of the power he once held over Sul, and he will jump at the opportunity. This is the policy which we must pursue, in order to save the lives of our citizens from his foul magics. And if, at the end, it still comes to bloodshed, we will fight knowing that we did so as the last resort of a peace-loving people. At that, all the peoples of Tesch will marvel at Sul's example to our strife-torn kingdom, an example of enlightenment and civil order not to be equaled!
My lords, I cede the floor.
My noble lords! My noble lords.
*waits for murmuring to subside*
The address of the good brother Karpyr is well taken, in the spirit with which it was intended. However, I will tell you exactly how our "friend" the Magister would respond! Yes, indeed, he will see the light. The light from the bonfire of the two brothers of Orebhas he has just burned at the stake!
*waits for supporters to stop chuckling*
In truth, my lords, would that we might live in a world where Magister Keros responds to such...enlightened criticism. However, if that is our city's response, and the magister acts as such collegial individuals do, namely with torture and execution, we would then have no recourse but to blood at the abuse of our city's chosen representatives! And at such bloodshed, we will gain reputations worse than the bandits of Horizan or the tyrants of Mitteram! That is not the reputation which will restore prosperity to our city.
No. In truth, my lords, we have an opportunity. For the brothers dal Esier are at odds. And in their quarrel, the seed of an opportunity is born. If we bring the magister's brother over to our side, gain his support in arms and gold, in return for recognizing his rights over his brother, we earn ourselves a powerful ally at no cost. With Konte dal Esier's troops to supplement our militia, and those of our iroen who might join us, we will far outnumber the magister's guards. This will gain us the position of strength from which to negotiate for Sul.
In fact, there is no division between us. Strength of arms will win us a rightful peace, but it must be confirmed without bloodshed, in spite of Keros' barbarism! Once the magister realizes his situation is dire, he is outnumbered and his brother has turned against him, he will be a prisoner in Cherid Mount! We will force Keros to sign a treaty under a state of siege if need be, and return him to his precious Collegial Palace he wants back so badly - in chains if he refuses! In this I agree with the good brother Karpyr.
However, I believe that it will not get to that point, noble lords. Keros looks to his self-preservation above all things. Offer him a portion of his dignity back, stripped of the power he once held over Sul, and he will jump at the opportunity. This is the policy which we must pursue, in order to save the lives of our citizens from his foul magics. And if, at the end, it still comes to bloodshed, we will fight knowing that we did so as the last resort of a peace-loving people. At that, all the peoples of Tesch will marvel at Sul's example to our strife-torn kingdom, an example of enlightenment and civil order not to be equaled!
My lords, I cede the floor.
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