I'm a Nightmare dressed as a Daydream
Elder
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Post by Quinn Mason on Dec 9, 2014 3:49:51 GMT
"I needed a new place and I have an acquaintance here in town." she says telling the half truth, but did she really need to explain the details? She adjusts her legs, now one sitting more like a lady. "I have spoke with both Sir Malcom Bennett-Gray and Madam Liah Crassus and I am stuck between the Movement and the Invictus. If an argument were to be made for change. I would listen to it and if it made sense I would put my weight behind it. However I think the system works just fine as it is. So you can see how my thoughts put in between a rock and a hard place. Any thoughts?" she explains and finishes off her sangria.
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Post by Sebastian Ainsworth on Dec 9, 2014 15:01:19 GMT
Sebastian snorted, he'd run through similar thoughts many times. Why the old ways? Why the tradition? Why, why, why. It wasn't until he really started to understand the Invictus that he stopped asking those questions.
"I think you have a misunderstanding of the Unconquered and their function in the world. It's not about which system is used or how it is used. It's about power and respect. The Invictus has been around for centuries because we understand the we must change to stay the same. We hold the traditions tightly but if the world were to change tomorrow, and a tradition proved to be cumbersome or obsolete, we would change it or get rid of it. The old trappings are the easiest to understand for many of our kind. It's the accepted vernacular. But tell me what the real difference is between a Carthian state, that has laws and traditions, with a democracy and the current ways of handling Court. One has a senate, with elected officials. These kindred serve as a council. The other has a Prince and a council of advisors or Primogen selected by the Prince, and the people have their Prisci which no Prince may appoint."
He turned the glass of untouched sangria around in his hand, watching the alcohol coat the glass. He raised an eyebrow absently as he watched it apparently displeased with the coverage.
"But let me also posit this. With the Invictus you always know what you're going to get. A Prince, his council, a sherif...etc. With the Carthian's there is no consistency. They try all sorts of things. The most common is the democracy, but there are others out there. Some are totalitarian, or mimic dictatorships. Imagine living in this world under the thumb of a Carthian that loved Orwell's 1984 and modeled his state after it. Can you imagine how horrible that would be. You would have to learn Newspeak just to understand what was happening at Court. Imagine Hate Week, where you would have to stand there and scream obscenities at someone whom you know nothing about except that the current establishment wants to make them an enemy of the state. If you don't, you disappear. You are no less trapped in that than you are in what you think the Invictus is. It is unfortunate that the Invictus in the area have made a mockery of my covenant. They were fascist in their belief that we must be respected, and in turn they showed they were not worthy of respect. A true monarch listens to his people, he listens to their struggles and then he turns to his advisors. He is not afraid to look into the face of difficulty or challenge. He welcomes it and learns from it. My point is, it's not about the system. It's about power, respect, and secrecy. Secrecy to keep our people safe from the 7 billion humans on the planet, power to keep that secrecy, and the respect to wield that power. These are the three pillars of my society, the rest is just window dressing."
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I'm a Nightmare dressed as a Daydream
Elder
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Post by Quinn Mason on Dec 9, 2014 19:02:50 GMT
"In my views of the Carthians is that they would agree on how to rule. So if the majority voted against Orwell's 19984 or Hate Week, then they would not implement it." she says but thinks of his words. Her eyebrows knit as she thinks of all the Invictus and the rules she has seen.
"I worry about how eccentric I am and how solitary I can be sometimes. How some Invictus hold to the zero tolerance for messing up and before you know it, it is your final slumber." she says honestly, looking at the Prince for guidance.
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Post by Sebastian Ainsworth on Dec 10, 2014 15:23:45 GMT
Sebastian actually laughed a joyful chuckle of genuine amusement, "Again you assume that Carthian's all vote. That may be how it has been in this area, but I assure you they don't all do that. The Carthian's have a curious way of holding together several different political factions under one roof, but unlike the Invictus they are truly a mixed bag. There is nothing in their 'credo' preventing one Carthian from gaining power and doing what they want with it. It just needs to be different from the norm. Conversely, the Invictus are unified in their rule set. Now, it's true some of us are more zealous about our ideals, or less secure in their power and lash out with fear and pain. But there is a reason that the Invictus has outlasted even the fabled Camarilla of Rome. We rule and adapt to the social climate, but we have been the ones to establish all of the traditions of Kindred society. There is no disputing that. A Invictus lord that crushes his people under heel will find those same people rising up to crush him back, at the same time if a lord is proven to be too weak, he will be replaced."
He pushed blood into his veins, feeling his heart come back to life uncomfortably. He took a sip of the sangria that he'd been ignoring for the past several minutes and was surprised to find that his face didn't turn completely inside out.
"I've also hear Kindred call the Carthian's 'The Movement of the People!' which is complete bullocks, if I may be so bold to say. They are just as capable of mismanagement and tyranny as any of us. I distinctly recall unveiling a group of armed Carthians in the middle of Elysium, 'protecting' their so called prince. They attempted to weasel and cajole their way out of it when caught, using every power they had to convince myself and the other members of the ruling elite that they were the good guys." He leaned in close to Quinn, his beast rising at the mere thought of that fateful evening he seised power back from the Carthians, that same night the Villain family burned everything they had and left Muncie, seemingly forever. "Do you have any idea what my family has done for this city? How much money and influence we've brought to keep this backwater town of mortal refuse from collapsing in upon itself?"
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I'm a Nightmare dressed as a Daydream
Elder
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Post by Quinn Mason on Dec 10, 2014 20:16:15 GMT
Her beast sniffs at his, wondering what kind of monster lies within. It tilts its head and blinks inside her chest but outward she gives a sad smile "I'm sorry I do not. I have not lived in this state for a while. I do not know of your legacy." but she did want to know. Finally someone was giving her a true meaning of the covenants, and this one. This Prince was making a very convincing case.
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Post by Sebastian Ainsworth on Dec 11, 2014 15:40:58 GMT
The beasts of Gangrel are not small creatures, and despite his attempts to look civilized and act the lord, Sebastian's beast is no different. It crawls just beneath the surface, ready to pounce on anything that crosses it's path. But there's more there than just his beast, it's like there's more than one crawling around in his head. Like a pride of lions pacing patiently inside a cage, watching her.
"More money than you've probably ever seen in your life. We started a bank for Gods sakes." He leaned back. Now contemplating the merits of starting up a new financial institution. He refocuses on her, "You must have actual questions though, your hesitation must be more than just fear of making a decision?"
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I'm a Nightmare dressed as a Daydream
Elder
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Post by Quinn Mason on Dec 12, 2014 1:14:44 GMT
When her beast meets the pack Quinn actually pulls back from the Prince "Mostly I haven't chosen because I haven't heard a strong enough case for either covenant." she says honestly and she looks towards the kitchen door. I might need another drink if he's going to stay longer. she thinks, not used to the beasts of others. Just acustom to her own and His. Heaven help her when she meets an elder with blood to match.
"Until now. The Invictus here make a good case." she says. She takes a stolen breath "I need..." she begins but her words fall short and she has to try again "I have been running for a long time and I'm tired. I want this place to be my home. I want to make Muncie my home. I want, I need friends, allies. Not only the feeling of safety but the knowledge of it." she explains tired of running.
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Post by Sebastian Ainsworth on Dec 15, 2014 16:02:36 GMT
Sebastian looked at her. In a previous life he might have been moved, but this monster had grown too old and seen too much.
"I can never promise complete safety. We live in a world of monsters and demons and just by virtue of being what you are, everything is out to get you. I can promise that if something comes to Muncie, I will do everything I can to protect my people. Like the shadows that plagued us. But I need good people around, people with the will to follow my laws and to help keep this place peaceful. I have no room for free loaders. The resources of the city are finite, and everyone must pull their weight. If you join the Invictus, the weight of my commands will bear even more weight. Those of us that have been in the covenant longer will have dominion over you until you swear fealty, and then whomever that is, is bound to keep you safe in exchange for your service. Is that something you want?"
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I'm a Nightmare dressed as a Daydream
Elder
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Post by Quinn Mason on Dec 15, 2014 18:56:03 GMT
"Explain fealty and...services." she requests as the Invictus before never explained them.
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Post by Sebastian Ainsworth on Dec 16, 2014 14:32:53 GMT
"It is in essence an oath of loyalty between two parties, a vassal and a lord. The vassal swears to be loyal to the lord, though not as a servant, but as....a retainer of sorts. The lord in return grants favor and guidance. In some situations the lord is able to provide land or other resources as needed. The vassal is helped by the older and wiser lord, and the lord is helped by having an additional hand to organize his nightly affairs."
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I'm a Nightmare dressed as a Daydream
Elder
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Post by Quinn Mason on Dec 16, 2014 22:53:15 GMT
"So wouldn't it be better to be available to all?" she asks with interest.
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Post by Sebastian Ainsworth on Dec 17, 2014 4:33:07 GMT
"You would think, But there can be benefits to it. Depending on whom your patron is, and it's not something that's necessary. "
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I'm a Nightmare dressed as a Daydream
Elder
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Post by Quinn Mason on Dec 17, 2014 4:50:54 GMT
"Then it sounds like The Invictus would be a good fit for me. If they can overlook my eccentricities at times." she agrees then stands. "I have to feed my colony. Care to join me?" she asks. The dogs looking up at her then lay their heads down, a very large Maine Coon slinks down the stairs.
"Ah, Gough. You grace us with your presence in the lower half. How very thoughtful." she says mocking the cat but he just looks to Sebastian then to Quinn and yowls a deep sound. "Oh I'm so sorry. You can go out too." she says and looks to the Prince "I guess the house must be mouse free." she says and shrugs.
"Yes I think the Invictus and I can work together nicely. I just hope that I can prove to be of use." she says continuing on the earlier topic.
Nothing worse than a useless slave....nothing worse than that at all. I wonder how long. No! Put Him behind you. Think of what this place has to offer. Who it has to offer. It sounds like The Invictus could be interesting Masters... she argues within her mind.
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Post by Sebastian Ainsworth on Dec 17, 2014 5:04:53 GMT
Sebastian rises with her.
"We can, but there is one more thing you should be very aware of. The Invictus has a very complicated set of rules and pieces of etiquette. You can be taught but there will be a lot to remember and wrong steps can be...painful."
He looked at the cat as it came down the stairs. Noting how many animals Quinn had, and raising an eyebrow when she mentioned her colony.
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I'm a Nightmare dressed as a Daydream
Elder
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Post by Quinn Mason on Dec 17, 2014 6:18:00 GMT
"Rules are something I am used to." she says flatly but is that a small hint of joy in her voice? She walks into the kitchen and opens the door to what is a small fridge, however when she closes the door, one would be hard pressed to find it again. She places a thick bag with red in it in the microwave for a short time "Yeah I have the five inside, this place is almost too small. I am thinking about getting a couple of ferrets and two baby skunks but I would have to sea up the backyard even more. I don't think there would be room for them inside the house." she says with a smile. The microwave beeps and she grabs the bag. She walks with the Prince and Gough, opening the door to the back porch. Gough patters off in search of a mouse for his dinner. "I just hope the Invictus can overlook my eccentricities when they flare up." she says as they step out into the backyard. She walks to a silver bowl and cuts the bag open. The liquid, clearly blood carefully spills into the bowl and five flitting bats can be seen making their way to their meal.
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