The Second Meeting [Pugasus Please]

[Kura Wolfsdotter]

Timestamp:53rd of Ymiden, 717
Location: Scalvoris Proper Council Building

There had been some confusion about where she was to meet Albarech Brandel, but Kura had finally pinned down a dat where he would be in the Scalvoris Proper council building and had made her appointment. She was there, a little early as was prudent, with the dossiers she had made for each candidate, and she was dressed in the same outfit from last time, as it was comfortable, simple, and not an Imperial uniform.

She smiled at Felicity as she walked in. "I'm here for my appointment with Albarech Brandel." she said, her tone cheerful. Felicity nodded and went to make sure that Brandel was ready. Kura, meanwhile, sat down in a chair and waited until she was called in. If everything went according to plan, she'd leave this building a member of the Scalvoris Council. If things didn't go according to plan, and she didn't discount the possibility of road blocks, she would deal with them as they arose. She smiled slightly to herself. It was good to know ones own capabilities, but she had to be careful not to become arrogant or overconfident. She wanted to be at the top of her game, for the sake of the people of Scalvoris, and a weakness in her political edge was a weakness in their safety, and as such, completely unacceptable.

[Pegasus]

Brandel was there, waiting for her and Felicity was pleased and happy to show Kura in. Brandel stood and smiled as she came in and motioned for her to take a seat. "It's good to see you again. You're well?" She looked well, he thought and he gave a smile. Scalvoris was a bit of a love-it or hate-it place for most people and Kura seemed to be falling in the "love it" camp of that.

Felicity checked what they'd like to drink and, if Kura had something then Brandel would, too. His preference, it turned out was coffee, black and strong. His desk was tidy with a small stack of papers on his left hand side and a smaller one on the right. A quill and inkwell and that was all.

"So, how have you got on with getting reacquainted with Scalvoris?" Brandel asked her with a smile. "It's changed some, hasn't it?" He gestured out there and sighed slightly. "And in other ways, it's remained resolutely the same."

Once they had their drinks ready to go and Felicity had exited the room, Brandel spoke again. "So, what news do you bring?" Brandel asked.

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[Kura Wolfsdotter]

Kura smiled at Brandel as she entered his office and sat down. "Better than I've been in a year." she said honestly. Her coffee tastes were the opposites of Brandel's as it showed when she ordered a cup for herself. As he might have inferred from their last meeting, she added a lot of sugar to her coffee. "Oh, I've been makin' use of the library, seeing what the locals are up to, and even hunted the forests a bit. It's changed a fair bit, but there's a lot of similarities as well." she said, grinning slightly.

When he asked her about what news she brought, she grinned and handed him the dossiers she had made, four in all. "Candidates for the positions, myself included. Experience, political background if any, all the goods." she said, her tone satisfied. "Mine is...limited down to hide my real age, admittedly." Kura shrugged, but she knew that her status as a Mortalborn was potentially volatile information. Best to hide it until it was needed.

"As for the others, the only one I wasn't able to find a concrete candidate for is the proposed treasurer/trade minister split. The only person I could solidly find for that was...unpleasant. Introduced himself by calling me a bitch and assuming I had slept with him, not exactly prime material." she said, shaking her head.

"For natural affairs, I found a local who was already involved in the political scene here. Amaris Nyme, you might have heard of them. Very clever, that one. Unrefined still, but the potential is very clear." she said, grinning slightly. "For arcane affairs, Arwel Kyric. He's done some work for the island already, I think, along with Amaris. He's almost painfully shy, but a good teacher will get him past that. Even I had trouble with that when I started out."

"Faith Nardovino, she hadn't decided if she wanted to go for full politician or be an activist yet. She's very clever, though, has a lot of potential. Also has bedrock ties to the community through her restaurant, Cally's. It both employs and teaches people across a decently wide range, including farming and cooking." she said. She actually had a few suggestions about that, but she'd wait until she actually saw the place before she made any.

"She's also stubborn, fiery, and opinionated, so she'd be very good in either role, though I wouldn't let her deal with foreign diplomats, at least not this early. Good head for business, though, so she might be good for trade if she goes for politics. Might actually get the government to make a consistent profit, which is virtually unheard of for any government." she said, before shaking her head.

"That's what I've got, for now at least. The island is, politically speaking, very young. You don't have many aspiring politicians yet, and even fewer trained ones. You do have plenty of folks who want to make it better though, so if we start with them, Scalvoris should do fine, short of Rynmere or Viden deciding they want to take over." That was, in her mind, a very real threat to the island, and part of what motivated her actions.

[Pegasus]

"Amaris? Yes, I know her." Brandel said and nodded. "Political experience? None that I'm aware of. She helped discover a very strange pair who were obsessed by cats and she took part in an expedition for the university last season. A group of them did." He looked at the next one and his eyebrow raised further. "Arwel? New to the island, went to the ice caves, too."

Brandel did not, it have to be said, look convinced. Nor at the third one, either. "She's more qualified, but what experience in politics does she have? I'm not aware of her background?" He sighed, slightly. "I'd hoped that you might get some people who are more experienced, I have to be honest. Still."

As he spoke to her, Brandel gestured. He was, as always, genuine and honest. "You're not native, neither is Arwel nor Faith. Amaris is, but she's a bit... well, odd." He sighed slightly and looked at Kura with an open gaze.

"I think we might have a bit of an uphill struggle going on."

Patting the dossiers, he nodded his head. "Alright, for the three of them, in case we get all three. Tell me, what are their selling points to the council? Not to me. But to the council?"

It seemed that Brandel had been getting some less than positive responses to his attempts to introduce this. Kura seemed to have her work cut out for her a little.

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[Kura Wolfsdotter]

Kura grimaced slightly as Brandel brought up the lack of political experience in all three candidates, as well as the fact that two of them, three counting herself, weren't locals. "In all honesty, I'm pretty sure every Scalvorin native with political experience is already on the council. The islands government the past century didn't exactly use political skill as it's primary drivin' force. That said, I knew this likely wouldn't be easy." she said, her posture completely relaxed. To Brandel, she might look a like she wasn't taking this too seriously, but in reality, she was giving the problem her full attention, so much so that she wasn't giving any effort to keep herself looking alert, that would be a distraction she didn't want to waste time on.

"Amaris is ambitious, clever, and already has ideas for how best to keep the natural ecosystem of Scalvoris both protected and useful. Bringing her onto the council would allow the council to act on those ideas, which would prevent an outside party from strippin' the islands resources because no protective measures were put in place, as well as prevent another group trying to take control of the island from makin' the council look bad by making it appear as if the council doesn't care about protectin' Scalvorin resources." she said, before pausing in thought a moment.

"Bringin' the mages in is a three-fold advantage. It keeps them from accidentally hurtin' themselves or others because they have no safe place to practice their craft, it makes them more likely to be willin' to use their magic for Scalvoris's benefit, and it weakens any outside faction trying to take control by takin' "freedom for mages" out of their arsenal and puttin' in the councils. That said, mages tend to trust other mages more than anyone else, due to their history with persecution. Arwel is more than willin' to work to bring mages out of hidin', and he already has ties to the local mages, which is significantly more valuable than political experience in this case. They'll actually listen to him." Arwel was probably her hardest sell.

"Faith doesn't have that much political experience, but she can get people to like her with almost effortless ease. She puts a passion into everythin' she does that it's hard not to get swept up in. She'll be able to tell, and swing, the mood of the common folk fairly easily. Despite not being Scalvorin born, she's also got fairly deep ties with the local community through her restaurant, Cally's, which employs and teaches people that may not otherwise learn useful trades. She's also boosting your hunting and farming economies, since she only uses fresh foods, so she knows how to boost specific career fields."

Taking a deep breath, she reached over and took a drink from her coffee. "There is also nobody more capable for those roles than those three on the island. At least, none that are willing to step forward yet. They may be lacking in political experience, but the other benefits they bring far outweigh that." she said, her tone serious. "If the council wants to hold out for normal natives with political experience and the ability to perfectly fill those roles, they'll be waiting for Arcs for someone to get the necessary skills, because those three are the best options on the island for the foreseeable future.

[Pegasus]

Kura responded to him and Brandel listened to it. However, the idea that every Scalvorian native with political experience being on the council prompted a shake of his head. "Not at all. Far from it." That, of course, was part of the problem that Brandel was seeing. Kura spoke in absolutes, like she knew this place. She didn't. He was reminded of that as she continued to speak.

Her points about Amaris, first. He listened, he attended and then he nodded. Those were true, but it wasn't really the point he was making, nor did it address the point he was making. Arwel, then, and the idea of mages caused him to sit back and look at Kura with a slight frown. "There's no restriction on magic here, there are safe places they can practice. That isn't the issue." Freedom for mages was already very much here, so why would it be used by any outside force? Also, she was failing to address the counterpoint of 'freedom from mages', which was equally difficult.

"Mages aren't in hiding here, Kura. That's never been our way. Did Arwel suggest that they were, because this is exactly the kind of thing that is making the council twitchy. Being a mage and hiding it, if that's what he does, doesn't mean he can represent mages. What links does he have?" Brandel asked, honestly. "He's been here a season. Has he made contact with the Institute for Metaphysics? The Seekers? What links does he actually have?"

Arwel was going to be a hard sell indeed.

But then, he went into what was fundamentally the crux of it. "Faith, you know her. Yes, she has good links with the community, already, and has become a known face quickly." He shook his head. "But you speak of these being the best three. How do you know? Who else have you asked? Where have you been to ask them?"

He looked at Kura and concern was on his face in a very genuine way. "It's been six trials. You can't sell these to me as the best the island has to offer because you don't know this island and neither do they." He sighed, gesturing to the dossier. "It just seems rushed and not thought through. If it seems that way to me, it will seem that way to my council members."

Tapping the dossiers he nodded to Kura. "We need more. Or a suggestion that these are temporary positions to be filled ad intern, all of them. Probationary period with a vote at the end or... something. We need to acknowledge the weakness or I'll get laughed out of the room when I suggest it."

Gesturing around, he shrugged. "Give me proposals for projects they will do. Time sensitive, specific projects that will be to the betterment of Scalvoris. During that time, they are on a temporary basis and we reconsider afterwards, if they've been successful, we consider if they are taken on fully." He looked at her and nodded. "You included. I'm not going to be able to swing this otherwise."

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[Kura Wolfsdotter]

Kura fell silent as Brandel voiced his objections to her plan, her expression changing slightly with each one, becoming increasingly embarrassed. Finally, when he said the plan seemed rushed, she let out a sigh. "I think I've gotten arrogant in my old age. Or perhaps foolish. I'm used to knowing the area around me like the back of my hand. I got an early impression that mages were still largely in hiding and ran with it." she said, shaking her head. "And there's the other assumptions." she said, looking rather like she was about to kick herself.

"Arwel might not be as good a fit as I thought. I wouldn't know if he has any connection to the Institute for Metaphysics, to be honest. I can't exactly ask the university, as it's a Videnese institute." Kura grimaced. "Some bad blood between my family and Viden. As long as we stay off each others territory, and she'd consider the campus hers even if it's on Scalvoris, we're fine. So I literally can't learn anything from them unless I catch the right person off campus." she said, her tone resigned. The War of the Immortals and its fallout made her life so much more interesting than she wanted it to be.

When he mentioned what they would need to do to get the council go along with the new positions, she nodded. "In truth, the positions are more important than the people who fill them. I'd be fine with an interim period where we're all judged on our performance." she said, glancing back at the dossiers as Brandel asked for projects the group could complete.

She considered that for a moment, looking at the dossiers. "For natural affairs, have Amaris gather a group, preferably volunteers, to identify endangered species of flora and fauna on the island, then present a plan that can go into effect immediately to regrow the population. Alternatively, have her come up with a plan to keep the oversized rodent population under control. From what I've been told, they're a real problem." she said, grimacing.

"Arwel is harder, but not everyone will want to work with the college, for a variety of reasons. And certain magics, especially empathy, are dangerous to those who don't know how to protect from them. He can either set up a workplace for them not attached to the college, or find a way to educate the common population about how to protect themselves if a mages spells go awry." Arwel might not be too fond of that last suggestion, but he'd have to deal.

"I'll get us a new alliance, one with a partner we don't currently have political ties to. It can be near or far, council's preference. Near means more immediate reaction, but a long reaching one would give us access to goods and supplies we wouldn't be able to acquire as easily." Kura's job, comparatively, was easy. Dealing with foreign political powers always ran on the same principals, but she would have to more extensively familiarize herself with what Scalvoris would be able to bring to the bargaining table. And with Alistair running Kaernhaed, her job might be even easier if they wanted a long reaching alliance.

Looking down at Faith's dossier, however, she realized something. "Is anyone on the council overseeing the welfare of the island? Medically, I mean." she asked, her tone curious. She couldn't remember any council positions having that as part of the job description, but she might have overlooked it. She appeared to be doing that a lot since she got the island.

[Pegasus]

Brandel listened to her and as Kura came up with ideas and before he spoke Kura could undoubtedly tell that he felt better. He relaxed and listened, nodding along as she suggested what Amaris might do. Arwel, he was less sure, but he understood where she was coming from and then her own suggested project was good.

"I'd be interested in trying to ascertain what the general population feel about magic, what they think of it and how they'd like us to be dealing with it," Brandel said. "It would be eye opening and it would put magic on the map for folks, get them thinking about it. Use that information to then work with Education, and see what sort of classes people might want. They might want information, for example, or protection. Yes?"

For the building of an alliance, near or far, Brandel shrugged. "Lady's choice," he smiled as he said that and then shook his head at her last question. "No. We've got the Order of the Adunih here, they take care of the medical needs. But it might make sense to, in fairness." They tended to have a lot of very Scalvoris-specific diseases. He tapped the dossier in question. "You suggesting her for that?"

So, he suggested, put together proposals in more detail. Whilst Kura did that he would sound out the rest of the council about them and therefore gain information on what they thought. That could only be useful as far as he could see. Then, the next full council meeting in 30 trials and they'd vote on it. They'd need the proposals ten trials before, he said, in order to ensure that they'd had time to read them and so on. That gave her twenty trials to make sure that she had all her ducks in a row, so to speak, and she was prepared to answer any questions he might have following his discussion with them.

"What do you think? Achievable?"

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[Kura Wolfsdotter]

Kura nodded as Brandel said he'd like to get an overview of how the population of Scalvoris felt about magic, and what action they wanted the council to take. "Makes sense. A survey of sorts." she said, her tone thoughtful, before she looked at Faith's dossier and nodded as Brandel caught on to where her thought train was going. "Aye, I am. Faith's already a member of the Order of Adunih, I think she actually teaches medicine at the university, though I might be mistaken there, and I believe she's already managed to cure one of the local diseases, something called Light-Blind, I think." she said, before grinning slightly. "I can say she's the best candidate for a medical council role for certain. You'd be hard pressed to find a better doctor anywhere in Idalos."

Then Brandel presented his plan for getting this whole plan approved by the council. After listening to it, Kura thought for a moment, the nodded her head. "That's perfectly fine. 20 days gives me 15 days to make sure I don't make another amateur mistake in the proposals. Then 3 days to write them all up and 2 to make sure they get here on time." she said, grinning slightly. It was good to be back in the world of politics, felt like putting on an old coat.

"Do you want a proposal for what Faith could do as the councilor for medicine? Or do you think she's actually got enough qualifications to swing her vote without the need for one?" she asked as the thought occurred to her. In a lot of places, Faith's lack of political experience would be a big obstacle, but in meritocracy's or smaller governments, and Scalvoris seemed to be a bit of both, her actual medical expertise could very well be the deciding factor all on its own.

[Pegasus]

Kura laid out a much better timeline as far as Brandel was concerned and he nodded his head. "I think that's fine and as for the medical, welfare role?" He considered it. "Lightbane? I heard that had been cured. I think still put one together, for her, better to have it and not need it." He was being cautious, there was no doubt.

But what that meant? Well, it meant that they had a plan and they could go forward from there. None of the candidates had political experience, except Kura, but they all had reasons and, with a proposal put forward, it would work.

He hoped. Still, he stood and shook hands with Kura and smiled. "We'll do fine together, I'm sure."

Off Topic

I know that you're dealing with this in individual threads, so I'm going to go ahead and review this thread, which will also act as your job thread for this season. Hope you had fun!

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