Fantasy RPG Forum - Standing Trials

Timestamp: 47th of Ymiden, 717
Location: Scalvoris Council Building

Kura looked around for a moment, noting the atmosphere of Scalvoris. It felt happy, but she could see how unprotected they were without the Imperial navy around anymore. Letting out a sigh, she turned and continued on her walk to the council building. Hopefully she could change that lack of protection, and she'd need to start here. Faith had led Kura to where she could make an appointment with the Albarech of the island, and it was almost time for her to meet with him.

Walking into the building, Kura smoothed the front of her simple black skirt and dark purple blouse. She was also wearing the black cape with the red interior she had bought at the same time she had gone shopping with Faith. All put together, the outfit looked good. Enough to be work-wear, but not so much as to be an official Imperial uniform. Once she was sure everything was in order, she walked up to the receptionist. "I'm here to see Albarech Brandel. I have an appointment, my name is Kura Mareth." she said, her Atvian accent showing clearly as anything that she was an Imperial.

Kura followed Felicity into Brandel's office without another word spoken, though she smiled at the secretary when she offered refreshments. "Coffee, please. Lots of sugar." she said, before turning to Brandel as Felicity left to retrieve the drink. She smiled warmly at the salute and returned it with a crispness that over a century of practice had given her. "A pleasure to meet you as well, Albarech." she said, showing that she considered his title official enough to be used, something The Eternal Empire didn't always do with foreign nations.

"I've only been on the island for three days, countin' today. Part of that was spent sleepin' off the affects of the trip here. Sea travel and I don't always get along." she said ruefully as she sat down across from Brandel. At his next question, however, she smiled delightedly. "Spoken like a true son of the Empire, Brandel. Too many other places would have spent the next half a break exchangin' pleasantries. It's quite refreshing to have someone get to the point." she said, her tone showing genuine happiness.

"As for why I am here, however, that's...complicated. I have been away from Korlasir for roughly an arc now, so I am unaware of what the Empress plans to do now that the both the Navy and the Lords are missin' from Scalvoris." she said, before taking a deep breath. "But you should know as well as I do that she will not be content to let Scalvoris remain autonomous. She considered it part of the Empire." she said, her tone now entirely serious.

"If Scalvoris decides to resist, you know how she'll answer. Lives would be lost in a pointless conflict that would merely delay the inevitable. That is why I am here, to make sure that doesn't become necessary. You, I see, are loyal to the Empire still, and from what I hear, we are still well thought of in the streets." she said, leaning forward and meeting Brandel's eyes unblinkingly. "With some luck, determination, and skill, at least two of which I can provide in abundance, we can grow that into outright support for the Empire, a willingness, if not outright desire, to be brought back into the fold." she said, before grimacing slightly.

"I also worry about trouble from within Scalvoris. No offense intended to you or the rest of the council, but you are a new government yet. There is every chance that someone will try to take control of Scalvoris for themselves. We still have to deal with that in Empire proper, such things are inevitable. I have...experience in puttin' down such rebellions." she said, smiling coldly at that point. The ruthlessness of the Imperial leaders, Kura included, were well known. "I am here to offer my aid, in the government of Scalvoris, in helping to make sure there is no fight with the Empire, in putting down any rivals to the councils power from within."

Kura raised an eyebrow when Brandel mentioned the Imperial navy having left at the same time as the Lords, then shook her head. "Knowing both the Lords and the navy, neither group is likely to have left willingly, and that worries me as well. The possibility that the Lords will return and attempt to reclaim control of the island." she said, before falling silent as he explained the reports to the Empire and the responses he received.

When he paused, she considered that for a moment before replying. "There is, I believe, a three fold reason why the council is being left alone. The first is that we never had a good way to reinforce the navy. Sending more troops to regain control of the island would be difficult. The second is that shortly after I left Korlasir, the Empress started an invasion of the Hotlands, something we had been preparing for a decade. Diverting resources from that would be costly." she said, before smiling at Brandel. "You and your reports are the third, and probably the most effective. Because of them, the Empire, and by extension, the Empress, knows that Scalvoris is currently being well taken care of and that people they still consider theirs are protected." she said, her tone showing she was reassured by this knowledge.

Then the conversation turned to the Scalvoris itself and it's future. At his question, she grinned slightly. "I'm under no orders and am, currently, a private citizen." she said, before she broke into a short laughing fit. "And I think this actually the first time since in over a century I've been able to say that. It's a very weird feeling for me, I'll be honest." she said, grinning slightly as she calmed back down.

When Brandel mentioned having the other political factions work against each other, Kura considered that and nodded. "Certainly possible, especially if we help such things along to a degree." she muttered, still thinking of the possibilities that presented. "And that would be the trick, though, keeping the citizenry out of the line of fire, whether they be fighting each other or us." she said, bringing herself fully back to the present with a shake. Time enough later to consider how to deal with the upstarts.

The condition of the military was not a surprise, but Kura herself could only help from the political end of that. She had never been part of the Imperial military except a few times as a commander. Training them was outside her skill set, though she could perhaps help in finding trainers and equipment suppliers if need be. She'd have to see who and where their current trading partners were before she could even begin to give advice about that, however.

When Brandel asked how, exactly, she was offering her help, she grinned slightly. "I've been in politics and government for most of my life. That's the field I'm offering my help in. I took a look at what the council handles, and I noticed that you don't have anyone dealing with things like mages or Scalvoris fauna issues. However, more worrying to me, is that you have no one who handles issues from outside Scalvoris. Such a thing could be very useful to you, securing trade agreements or preventing outside conflict, if it comes to that." she said, her tone serious. "Where I would be of the most use, to everyone involved, is involved in the government here in some fashion."

Kura listened as Brandel made his offer to her. She hadn't expected for a moment that he could just make her a council member without a single hiccup. She was, after all, an experienced politician, not some young village girl just considering getting into government. When he asked her thoughts on the issue, she paused in thought for a moment, staring down at the coffee in her lap. It was a good bit before she spoke again.

"I know many mages, but not here in Scalvoris. However, I already have some connections with the Scalvoris community, I'll see what I can find." she said, before pausing in thought again, this time considering the council members and what they lacked. One member in particular stuck out to her in particular. "Accountant. Does that position manage trade affairs or the council treasury? If both, you want to divide that role between two. Managing the Council funds should be a full time job, as should managing trade agreements. Commerce is a strange thing, independent of other manner of alliances." she said, before shaking her head.

"The people I find for the other positions may not be politically experienced. If I find them, I'll need permission to teach them. Best way to do that is on the job with a guide." she said, before nodding to herself. "Four roles. Foreign Affairs, Ecosystem Management, Arcane Affairs, and either Minister of Trade, or Treasurer. I'll find you three of them, at least." she said, smiling slightly. "Is that workable to you?"