*After waiting for a few moments, seeing that no one else was making a move to step up to the podium, he stood and made his way down from his seat. He noticed many faces watching him and he approached the podium. Some were familliar, others were new to the cause. There were others among the crowed gathered here, guests and visiting dignitaries, who were here for there own reasons. He did not concentrate any further on who was around him, his hands were behind his back and he went over what he was to say in his head. Finalizing the final details of his speech, making sure that nothing was out of place. The wrong words could set someone off, and he was here to make some quick points and then leave the floor to other who wanted to speak. He cleared his throat, the room quieting as he did.*

Ladies and Gentleman of the Confederacy and esteemed guests. I will but take a few moments of your time, mostly to strength the several points brought up by Stee. Let me get down to the business at hand.

*He paused a moment, to take a breath and relax a little. He felt confident, but there was always a tinge of worry in the back of his head. He felt as if he released it as he released his breath and continued.*

First I would like to let it be known I am running for the position of Chairman of Scum. I plan to if electeded to fill this position to the best of my ability, and also bring forth many policies so that future chairman of Scum will be better off then I. I look forward to the election, and I wish those also running good luck.

Secondly, I would like it to be known that I am putting my full support as Chairman of the Confederacy. He has done an excellent job in the first term, and should be allowed to continue in this capacity. I look forward to seeing him relected, and I know that he will lead the Confederacy to greater glory.

I would like to add to the Stee's point of those who left us during the long war with VeV. While the lost of any person in the Confederacy is indeed a loss, those who left because of the pressures of war are better off forgotten. They would have only made us weaker, as this will not be the only time the Confederacy faces a war such as this, and we do not want those who would run everytime this happens. I hope those among us can understand my position on this.

Lastly, I would just like to add that it was an excellent first term for the Confederacy and that I hope to see many more. I thank you for your time.


*He made a bow, and stepped down heading back to his seat. He surveyed the crowd, trying to get a sense of the affect of what he had said. As he finally sat down, he was still unsure, but with time he would know more. He would wait and see what else was to be said.*

The sun pokes out behind a cloud, the light catching the dew on a Morning Glory. Sparkles of rainbows flow across his head and dance across his eyes. The wind blows gently throw the trees russling them ever so gently. Somewhere in the distance a bird sings. The smell of the earth fills his nostrals.

inhale . . . one of the clouds looks like a rabit . . .

exhale . . . ripples flow across a puddle . . .

inhale . . . the sunlight warms his soul . . .

exhale . . . the breeze cools his mind . . .

inhale . . .

The eyes are closed as the sun once again is covered in cloud, and Edward Barnard lets go of a deep sigh.

"The meeting should have started already, so I suppose I'm late. Such a nice day too..."

Closing his eyes just once more, he takes one last breath of clean mountain air and contemplates getting up to continue to his destination. There are speeches to be made and people to talk to, but just for this moment he is alone with nature.

"Just one more minute...."

Tallula lowered her quill as she finished scribing what was being said. The air almost seemed to vibrate under all the soft murmurs and excited (if hushed) conversation following Lyven's comments about those who left the Confederacy. Even Tallula had raised her eyebrows in surprise at what he said. Must be a War Hawk She thought to herself and smirked.

There were three real parties in the Confederacy, each with equal voice, each with their own approach to every situation.

There were the War Hawks, a brash group of war-minded men and women. When there was an issue or instance of struggle, they were the first to "cry havoc" and the last to leave a battlefield. The War Hawks were not a group of people to trifle with.

There were the Protectionists, who were more likely to try and arrange a peaceful outcome and conserve their resources. It was not that they were weak or afraid or war, but the Protectionists tended to shy from war, viewing it as a final means to an end.

Then there are the Independents, those who fall on neither side of the fence and simply run along it. When a problem arises they would value every side of it, both the peaceful and the aggressive, and choose to vote for which ever carried more benefit. Tallula was an Independent.

As she laid the quill down she flexed her tired fingers and began to rise slowly. She was in no rush as she made her way to the podium. She seemed to glide as she passed before Chairman Apparent Stee Jans and offered him a nod and smile, then turned and faced the assembly.

My Lords and Ladies of the assembly, I greet you and thank you for journeying so far to be here. I note there is an eclectic mixing of people in this great hall, and am quite pleased by it.

In the last age, we of the Confederacy of Free Cities were brought together under a banner of unity, but what set us apart was our independent Sovereign Rulership. We had the choice to aid the union in battle or to allow our people to continue life as though there was only peace in the lands. This is to my knowledge an unprecedented feat, and I am pleased to note that at the end of the last age, we were one of the most powerful forces in these lands.

Her face darkens


Had it not been for a foreign group raping one of our most powerful kingdom's lands, we surely would have ranked as the second, if not THE most powerful influence upon our world. More is the pity that the war we were involved in was still ongoing when this other union invaded the Third Prince. Such things are not forgotten, just as I would not expect them to forget if we did the same.

The war with VeV did cost us. Some of our ranks did not wish to be attacked in the dark of night any longer, or wake to find nothing but dead bodies surrounding their keeps, and so they moved their loyalties to other places. I do not fault them; I wish them nothing but well so long as they continue upholding the ideals of our Lord Darden. I ask each of you to remember that with each war, each battle we engage, we uphold a good far greater than we could comprehend. We battle heathen armies at every turn, let us not battle our brothers of faith as well.

As you may or may not know, I have made my request to serve as the Chairman of the Interior this age. I would be returning to the position, and have many things left to do before I feel it is in proper order. I have opened secret halls for you to relay important messages to the Confederation as a whole. I have taken reports of activity in your realms and build easily understood reports for Chairman Jans from them. I would hope that I might continue in this capacity so that the Chairmen of War, Sorcery, and Stealth Operations will also begin receiving these reports. I hope to organize time schedules so that we know who will be active when, so that if you find yourself fending off invading armies, you know whom to seek out for aid.

We have the talent. We have the knowledge. We have the Almighty Darden's blessing. We need not shirk from the calling.

Again I thank all of you for making the journey. Should you need anything while here, you may seek me out.


With that she turned back to Chairman Apparent Jans, smiled warmly, and leaned over to whisper in his ear.

Welcome back My Lord Chairman, I have no doubt in your right to the position... call on me if you need anything.

She straightened and nodded to the other members of the Confederation, smiling at each in turn. Then after a moment she returned to her desk and picked up the quill once more waiting for the next speaker.

The Senator from the Foundation smiled deeply, it had been a long time since he had been to an actual Senate Proceeding. Reylan waited in turn like the rest of the honored delegates from around the Confederation. He saw very few faces he did not recognize, and many he did remember quite well, including that of the Interim Chairman Jans.

Reylan saw the honored Karhedron take his seat once again; it was now time to speak.

Honored Senators, distinguished guests, and visitors from around the realms, I am Reylan Talonspyre, Dauphin General to the Armies of the Foundation and Supreme Chancellor of the Ruling Council of the Foundation. I come before you today not as a titled lord, or a wealthy aristocrat, but instead as but a Citizen of this fair Confederation. I come before you to lay what I and the Foundation have to offer this struggling confederacy in the hopes of creating a better, stronger nation in the future. We do this without hopes for recognition or reward, compensation or praise. Instead all that we ask is that we be allowed to continue the proud tradition of this body, this Senate, and voice our opinions and concerns as well as our input and advice as time goes on.

Our alliance to this union is firm.

Our men are devout.

Our cause is just.

We shall prevail; together none can stand in our way.

Darden bless the Confederacy.

Thank you.

Reylan took his seat hoping this introduction was not to over the top. He had his eyes upon the chairman’s seat. And he would be sure to watch others in this Senate with careful attention as the days passed.

Hank rises to approach the podium, only to see that new Foundation guy move towards. He stands there, conspicuously embarrassed. For a moment he blushes and fidgets, then in in a flash of brilliance he smiles and picks at the seam of his britches.

Ridin' up. Uncomfortable. He announces to his immediate neighbours as he extracts the cloth grasped between his firm buttocks. Completing his task he sits again and waits for Reylan to finish.

He claps louder than anyone else when Reylan steps down from the podium, and fairly sprints to take the lectern, arriving breathless.

Alright.
I'm Hank the Wizard.
Alot of you know me.
Alot don't. I'm the Mayor of Harmony.
Peers into the audience.
Is Edward here? no? Anyway.
Harmony is my home.
You know. Party City. Crossroads of trade
Best hookers in the south
I run a bar there, called
the Midnight Sigh. Best bock too
Anyway.
We also got the best thaumaturge school around
I'm in charge of the sorcery end of things
All I can say is I'm glad to be here.
You're all good people
If you need anything, give me a holler.
I'm happy to help.
All I ask is you all help me with a little protection.
We're an open city.

Now about VeV.
Those who left us during the war
I don't ever want back.
My people bled and died to protect you all big kingdoms
Over and over I was ransacked and destroyed
Still we come out and bit the VeV so the big guys could be safe

And they cut and run. For those of you who stayed.
I'll always stick with you. Thanks.

Uh. That's all.

Oh. Build more temples.

Reylan smiled slightly as Hank finished his address to the Senate. His simplicity intrigues me. This Confederation has alot of devouted fiefdoms within its employ. Perhaps I have not made such a bad choice for my people.

Reylan finished his inner monologue and waved over an aide.

Please take this note,

Reylan finished the last bits on the hastily written note and signed his name.

... to Mayor Hank. Thank you.

The paige nodded and made his way towards the Mayor.

Reylan reclined a bit in his leather seat and lit his pipe.

The quill dipped and hovered over the vellum, a tiny droplet of ink falling, as if in slow motion, marring the almost perfect creamy whiteness of the page.

Frowning at the offending drop, she pondered how best to disguise it. It would not do to have a sloppily written letter delivered to The Confederacy, not when she was trying to.. well, what was she trying to do?

She sighed and absentmindedly started to draw swirls and curlyques upon the page, as she tried to collect her thoughts. It was quite some time before she realised with a start what she had been doing. She stared at the page. The droplet had disappeared and in it's stead was a beautiful design of intertwined lines, in a chain across the top of the page.

Pleased and motivated she took the quill in hand once again.

Reylan read through the message that had been laid in front of him by the young female paige. He read over each word carefully, attempting to place the attitude of the letter. It was an odd thing to receive a message, or have one placed in front of you, and not have it belittling or overly passioned. Reylan had has his time in at the helm of the Foundation, yet now the concept seemed rather boring and dull. He had commanded armies, yet that too seemed less of a happy experience than it once had been.

Now he was a Senator, a Senator reading the carefully scribed letter from one Cruella of the alliance of sovereign nations known as the Covenant. The attitude of the letter was calculating and even more importantly, it was curious. There was truth in her words ...

"Your confederacy can be tainted by this weakness."

As Reylan mulled over some issues he had been holding back on during his nomination to the Senate. Perhaps this letter would serve as a useful incentive for the Senate to begin deliberations on his written Security Measures Act.

All in good time though, no need to rush things my first day in Council, Reylan thought.

The Assembly Hall at last. Now at least for a day or so he might have some respite from the turbulen times surrounding him. The past few days had been as taxing as he could remember. It was as if a great evil had decendend down upon Tau Ceti. Legions of bandits had appeare out of nowhere to take almost half of the outlying settlements. And heatanous zealots, Isonians he was sure of it, had gone around defiling his temples. Vandalizing holy property, deficating on altars, painting wall with goats blood, these things were all new and horrible to him.
Thousands had died at the cruel hands of the bandits, murdered in cold blood. The thought still made him sick to his stomach. Dirty, skantily clad men and women with nothing but the will to kill, maim and murder. Little better than the dirt they walked on. Yet he had allowed himself to be taken by such filth. So much for affinity with nature, and your fellow man. His father had once told him of people he had met who lived under the belief that peace could only come from within, and that to cause harm to another even in self defense was a sin. Oh how he had dreamed up a wonderful world full of such people. This past week was a dreadfull awakening. He had thought that by offering peace, food and even shelter to these broken peoples that he would get it in return. Instead he was given his own heart, broken, and served to him on the blood of his people.

"Curse my idealism, too many have died in my hands, the time of thinking has past, for now at least, I have been thrust into a time of war. And I don't loose."

Pulling a wallnut from his pocket he paused and looked at it for a moment. He used to armire how nature could perform such feats as to create things like walnuts. Hard round coating, soft fleshy innards. Much like a human, and nearly as prolific, yet so much more resilient.
Willing his anger into his palm he crushed the walnut in his hand with a grimmace.

"This filth will be crushed as easliy as I crushed this nut. Yet I need to meet with my friends first. We have much to discuss on the upcomming strife headed all our ways. There is much to do..."

Pausing at the doors to the assembly, he craned his neck skyward once more to regard the beauty of the clouds...

"maybe just one more minute . . . "

He stepped into the hall and was instantly surround by more noise than he carred for.

ED! HO! ED! OVER HERE!!
Barnard seems to flinch in the doorway as the noise assails him.
ED! COME ON OVER! Hank yells again.

Goddamit he can't hear me. Frowning, Hank looks around. Edward looks around the room warily, and moves back towards the door, as if to bolt.

Hank stands on his chair and waves a long, bony arm to the typically tardy Barnard.
EDWAAAAAAAAARD BEEEEEEEERNAAAAAAAAARD! GET YER ASS OVER HERE!

You there, push over! Make some room. Ed's coming over. Move goddamit! Hank hisses at some junior senator. The fellow arches an eyebrow at the greasy bartender posing as someone important. I don't think so.
MOVE YER FAT ASS NOW DAMNIT!!!! Hank bellowes at the recalcitrant functionary. Red flames shoot out of Hank's nose and ears igniting the perfect eyebrows of the functionary.

Scuttling like a crab the fellow flees to the end of the row, leaving a trail of smoke and the stench of burned hair. Hank beams and waves at Ed again.

The assembly hall was crowded as usual. People standing in the back, the benches packed beyond their capacity. The hall had the usual scent of sweat and anxiety, but today there seemed to be an aura of happiness that he had not seen before. Maybe this meeting had triggered something in the hearts of the people. It had been so long since the commons had had a voice, that the first years of the Condefederacy had been filled with doubt. Today he felt joy, pride and honor comming from the people. Maybe he wouldn't dread this place after all.

Down in the front pews he could see Hank jumping up and down, waving and shouting his name. The obnoxious natue of the wizard was just what he liked about him. The man had no shame but always did the right thing. There was no shame in that Edward supposed, but public outburst were never really his style. That's why he thought Hank made such a good friend. Opposites attract he had heard people say, but Ed thought there was more to it than that.
Shaking his head, he suddenly realized he was standing in the main isle staring blankly at the empty podium. Taking a few quick strides he thought now was as good a time as ever and took the stage for himself.

" My friends, countrymen and fellow senators, I arrived late and appologize most humbly. My name is Edward Barnard and I represent the Tau Ceti. I stand before you their ellected senator, and commander in chief. The Tau Ceti are an old people, stubborn in their ways and I like them, am a dreamer. Farmers dream you see, they dream of endless summers and the sun in their faces. Unfortunetly dreams are not reality. Reality is war, death and thievery. The times ahead are grim but we all must stand together and remain resolute in the fact that we, the people of the Confederacy are stronger than even the greatest evil. We will stand together against the wrath of false gods, and stand together against any foe who dares defy our feedom. The will of our people is to live. To see this war to its conclusion alive and prosperous, and I, Edward Barnard, will die to see this dream come true. I live and die for you, the people of the Confederacy. Thank you all for listening, and I once more appologize for my tardiness. Good day to all."

With his mind cleared of his thoughts, Edward ignored the applause and moved down to talk with Hank. Maybe the wizards loud voice would overpower some of the noise inside the building. He hoped it would.....

There were a few faces missing from the Convention Hall. The damage SAO had wrought was painfully apparent to Hank, but it had been an honorably fought war, with a decent peace that all could respect.

What filled Hank with bile today was the cowardice the bastard children had perpetrated upon his realm. Harmony lay in desolation thanks to the infamy of Nobodys Children.

Undefended, the peace declared but the day before, his lands had been quiet and still. The people had stepped away from their defences celebrating the newfound peace. Innocents outside, the children were in the sunshine for the first time in a while. Their pale faces gleeful in the light, the cries of joy at the newfound freedom had carried far. They played and frolicked free from threat and hiding.

Hank had been at ease, until out of nowhere came the assaults from the wretched association known as Nobodys Children. The cries of joy became high pitched screams of pain and betrayal, Hank's the loudest. His people, his city, his trust destroyed.

He strode to the front of the assembly, haggard and downcast. When he was before the assembled Confederates, his voice carried, but in a low and aggrieved whisper.

I don't know about you, but I'm angry. And I'm not gonna stop bein' angry for a while. Just about the only thing that'll assuage me, is, well, the complete and utter destruction of that rotting offal called Nobodys Children.

He took a ragged breath.

I want their soldiers dead. I want their women dead. I want their babies and their young folk ripped from them. I want the memory of that wretched guild to be a distant one, and the children of that guild will be good and honest folk like us, not Nobodys Children at all, but free and somebody after all.

He looked out across the hall.
Total annihilation. We don't stop until they disband. We kill and kill and kill them over and over and over. Make it so that it's useless to be a member of the guild. If need be, put me in charge of the folks necessary to focus on that piece of shit crew so that everyone else can move on. I want them all dead over and over and over and over until they just quit forever. That's what I want goddamit and I'll do whatever you all want to make that happen. That's the only way. We have got crush these people once and forever.

Soul watched the Chairperson of the Confederacy retake his seat. He hoped that the grin on his face wasn't mistaken by any who had taken to staring at him for conceit or mockery at the the stern statements Chairperson Jans had just delivered. The grin was for reasons quite the opposite.

In Soul's opinion, The Chair had, in mere minutes, disarmed what was looking like turning into a very volatile stuation. Hell, Soul himself had been so taken by the moving words spoken by Hank that his fist was stiil sore from gripping his swordhilt when hearing the report of the devastation these NC people had wreaked on the Populace of Harmony. Soul's grin was in respect of the stance taken by the Chairperson of the Confederation of Free Cities. A stance not dared by many in such a hostile world as Tonan.

Soul's grin continued anew as he watched the tension ebb away from those seated closest to him

<ooc:Psst - as of yet, Karhedron 'ent actually ~said~ anything.. just pondered stuff. Now he says summit tho!>

As Karhedron sat and listened to Jan's words, he too felt the tension slipping from the hall... He too ~nearly~ felt the guilt that he knew Jan's speech was intended to provoke. But pulling his will and wits around him, he weathered the chairman's words and emerged unscathed and and unchanged in mind.

The Confederacy was about bringing freedom and equality to the lands of tonan. That much was true. But it was also about doing so under the banner of the Confederation, or at least the banner of Darden!
Jans spoke only of the flaws of blade and blood, and though Karhedron himself sometimes wished the the use of such things was no longer in the land of Tonan, the harsh truth was that without them or without enough of them - you would fall. That's why Karhedron had joined the Confederacy - To unite the military might of his great Hirudo with that of others, so that through blade and blood he could provide freedom to his people, the San'Guin, and to the other peoples of Tonan - Lest they suffer under the dictatorship tyranny of other great powers, possessing more might in their blade.

This was what he believed, and this is what he had fought for in the many battles under the Confederate banner. If the Lords, Ladies and commonfolk of the Confederacy had learnt nothing in their time together, surely they had learnt that whether through their choice or that of others, Freedom had to be fought for to be gained and Freedom had to be fought for, else it would be taken away.
Freedom had to be defended.
And now when the Freedom of the confederacy had been assaulted - when thousands of free people had been robbed of the god-given right - when a heathen dictatorship had assailed the very meaning behind the Confederation - to defend freeom- , Jans was willing just to talk and not an acre of compensation had Karhedron ever recieved.

He sighed. But to each his own. If freedom was truly to be respected - along with Jans' position as Chairman - then Jans was free to express his own views and follow his own paths, without critisism.

But it was the last part of Jans' speach that interested Karhedron most.

He had never really given much thought to where he stood within politics of the Confederation. His realm had joined late, only once all the realms around him had given the Confederacy their will, and thus Karhedron and Hirudo were a member of neither of the distinct political factions.
He quickly reviewed each factions views. And then his own. And it was obvious where his loyalties lay, and to which faction his will was most suited. Both his own character and his position of Chair of War told him he was a Warhawk. And the Chairman's speech just moments ago, told him the Chair's heart was not, at least not now.

Perhaps once, Jans had been the obvious and true leader of both the Warhawks and the Confederation in it's entirety. But now Karhedron presumed that his position of Chairman - sitting balanced between two such contrasting factions - had slowly but surely worn Jans' will so that it now sat far nearer the middle of this poitical spectrum. Truly, the Chairman looked worn and tired - his job was not an easy one.

And now, nor was Karhedron's, for he knew what had to be done. Jan's position in the middle of the spectrum was probably perfect for his position as Chairman Interim, but not for the Leader of the Warhawks.

As the hubbub following Jans' speech calmed, Karhedron made his way to the podium.

"Those...."

Oh how he hated public speaking. Rallying and inspiring his armies was one thing - it had to be done - and besides, he always had Fellace to do it for him!
This was entirely different... The hubbub had died, people were aware of his move to speak. So many faces stared intently at him, alone and vulnerable as he was upon the podium.
He bowed his head and breathed deeply.

"Chairman Jans' were not the words of a WarHawk."

A small scatter of noise across the room.

"And nor do i think will they be or should they be while Jans holds his position as Chair Interim of the Confederation of Free Cities. Now, I would not ask you people to remove him from that position of such power, for Jans - as i know him well - is the most suited among us all for it. Indeed, he seemed destined to hold such a place in Darden's favour. And so, without further ado..."

He looked to where Jans sat, next to the lithe form of Tallula chair of the interior. The man looked tired, and yet even from this distance Karhedron saw the strength of mighty Darden behind his eyes.

"I move for a vote of No Confidence, in Chairman Stee Jans' position as leader of the WarHawk faction."

A tumultuous wave of noise spread across the room.

He grimaced hearing the words, yet knew at the same time they were nothing but the truth. He simply stood from his seat and began speaking, rather than traveling to the podium once again.

"What you say is the wisdom of the warhawks, Karhedron, a wisdom that is now denied to me in my position as Chairman of the Confederation. I have found in recent weeks that to be such a leader removes the luxury of absolute standpoints in opinions and actions, as I now have to mediate with consideration for all sides in every situation. I will not deny that it a grievous wrong that was done by NC, but I can only say that the situation determined it as being contrary to Confederate interests to pursue a vendetta against a failing 2-member guild. It would be comparable to wreaking havoc on the bannerless for the treachery of one.

But I will make one thing easier on you, I will not offer my resignation as Chairman of the Confederation quite yet, but I will abdicate my position as leader of the War Hawk faction, taking instead the mantle of independence."