Scene #7914: The Hell is a Runecipher Anyways?

Owner	Pose
Undivided Queens	Elsewhere, the fallout of Darren leading a civilian insurrection, Chains creating a political incident, and Staren helping nobody and harming everybody, should be more or less wrapped up. At least as far as immediate conclusions go. A significant amount of capital shipyard is on fire, a lot of generic mooks lay generically slain, a team of elite mercenaries is blaming each other up and down for botching the job, given that they haven't yet been given reason to understand that they were functionally double crossed, and Tamamo still has her pleasant company that she's invited elsewhere. That is to say, the both of them are low-grade mind controlled at the moment, but the currently unnamed military officer has been on his radio (darn, the power of leaders attempting to integrate to the Multiverse at all) for a while to keep apprised of the situation, seeming more or less satisfied (depsite frequent face rubbing) that their primary goals were executed on, and the Imperial Reconciliator, Orinoka, has been spending time pleasantly insisting on providing or performing roughly a third of whatever items or tasks seem necessary to get a comfortable setting for 'diplomacy' ready. With the ever pleasantly expectant, "Of course you have my deepest thanks. Because of your efforts, a great deal of needless difficulty and potential future suffering has been averted. I would be more than happy to speak with you at length about what it is you desire, before returning to my post. If I may ask, what concerns of yours were so grave that they necessitated such a sudden divergence from routine?"
Tamamo	Tamamo-no-mae has opted for the sort of hospitality with which she's most familiar, which means a good deal less of experimenting with Western customs. The Heian period and the Song dynasty still take up a greater portion of her memory. In all likelihood, her guests wouldn't be any more familiar with the former than the latter, in any case. For her own part, she's very accommodating of cultural differences. With that, too, she's quite familiar. She allows Orinoka to carry things, but given the nature of the visit, she doesn't expect it would be appropriate to make anything more consuming of her time than tea, and those snacks she has on hand, stored away in her mystical sleeve-space for any occasion as necessary as this. Cookies are a given, dry foods being the easiest to keep, but in small, paper bags, she's prepared larger pastries with sweet bean filling, as well. Given the way most of her craft works, it pays to be prepared, in many things. Talismans take a good deal of time to replace, at the quality she demands of her work. "My, what a thing to say. Could one truly call these events 'routine'? The situation seemed quite dire, from all perspectives, moreover, beyond what I had, at first, expected. Oh, but was it not so, for you? Between the events within the city, and without it, were these within your expectations? If so, I apologize for my assumptions." Tamamo doesn't allow anyone but Trudy to help her with laying out talismans to set up the room as a bounded, controlled space. With preparation like this, and control of an area, it's the optimal situation for any other magic she'd like to use. The first task is analysis, which she can do on the officer as well as Orinoka. (Why he hasn't given his name, she's unsure, but can blame it on differing customs.)
Trudy Grimm	Though the peculiarities of ceremony are clearly on Tamamo's mind, Trudy comes from a much different sort of culture. And so she's left more or less observing the shrine fox's preparations and chipping in where she can, somewhat lost in all the formality of an Eastern tea ceremony. On the subject of snacks, at least, she does come prepared with something ... unique, but harmless enough. Her contribution to the table is a long submarine sandwich filled with cold cuts, cheeses, and greens. Neatly sliced into servable portions, each section has a pretzel sticking out of it with a big flat bit on the end; resembling an oar. It's not a submarine sandwich; it's a longboat sandwich! On the subject of talismans she is far more diligent, managing the array to the desired privacy and safety. Even if it only amounts to checking Tamamo's work, one can never be too careful with such things. "That is a good question, yes. What were your expectations, miss Oronika?" With a hum, she adds on, "It certainly seemed to be quite an undesirable situation from my perspective as well. Your safety was certainly in question for a bit, there, but you seem rather calm about it." Her gaze flicks to the officer and she gestures to the cookies and longboatwich, "--Ah, please help yourself."
Undivided Queens	Orinoka considers the very obviously, perhaps even slightly rhetorical, question very seriously-- or perhaps 'earnestly' is a better reflection of how she receives it. She appears to habitually take everything said to her in good faith, without intent to ignore anything at all unless explicitly asked. It appears intentional too. "The times we live in, of course, are anything but routine. You could even call them unprecedented. That's what makes them exciting, don't you think? I've heard something akin to 'may you live in interesting times' is a curse elsewhere, but I feel that living through these kinds of great changes is an enviable thing. In that way, each year is better than the last; it's a very rare thing, to experience that sense of meaning in one's life. Ah, however, once you've settled down into the same area, doing the same thing, for a few months, even the abnormal begins to feel routine, no? Of course no such thing as the integration of Pharsei has happened in living memory, but one's mind finds similarities between today and yesterday and extrapolates them into tomorrow regardless. I think that's a blessing." Neither Ilenjeh has an objection to Tamamo doing her magic, nor Trudy helping. They've both proven themselves as concerned allies, after all. The results of analyzing them mystically are slightly unusual. The both of them are slightly magically 'tainted' in a way that is difficult to fully identify. It doesn't appear to be any form of enchantment or witchcraft 'cast on them', but very vaguely proximal to 'a congenital curse', which she could likely estimate has something to do with their 'body additions'. Given how benign --possibly even useful-- that injection of foreign magic into the body might be, it may even be intentional. The runeciphers themselves are obviously highly magical items. They appear to be passively soaking up their personal energy pools over time and storing it in large quantities. As far as Tamamo can determine, they're mostly comprised of incredibly complex and dense 'recording' magic; in a sense, there's a similar premise to Trudy's runes and her own talismans involved, but broken down to a much lower level of 'inherently magical' iconography, until the symbols do nothing on their own; splitting a magical molecule down to magical atoms. While she finds no evidence of active mental effects cast on either of them, she does find that Orinoka in particular seems to have a lingering trace of 'arcane connection' to some greater benefactor or entity, which does certainly appear to have a strongly mental bent to it. It strikes her as a familiar sort of thing, as if Orinoka had inherited a drop or two of 'divine blood' as she knows it, though it appears to be assumed (by station?) and not congenital.
Undivided Queens	Orinoka obviously just keeps talking without really worrying about this. "Of course, nothing about 'the situation', as you call it, is ideal. However, there is little room for an alternative in which most of all those deserving of happiness will find it come the new year. As one dedicated to seeking paths between sides that benefit all, rather than simply being equally hated and pleasing no one, I must accept and move forward with whatever transpires. I am grateful a bloodbath was avoided, first months ago, and now today." She laughs a tiny bit with Trudy. "I couldn't help but feel safe while paired with Kunoryohu. Even if our enemy was more devious than I anticipated, I have absolute faith that everything is within the expectations of our Queen. Such a small, single deviation could never disrupt her plans too greatly. Even if you hadn't intervened, I have no reason to fear for my life, but I am fully grateful nonetheless for your selfless efforts in saving me the grievous displeasure of falling in with the enemy's desires." "If you wish to know my own expectations . . . Well, I am no tactician myself, but I believe that if the citizens' displeasure has been made fully known by now, Queen Isahane Dragon-Eater will begin a wisely-conceived strategy of supporting them in the forcible overthrow of those of their kinfolk whom they rightfully despise, with minimal harm to any other parties in line with the vision of Empress li Gelentia. After this transfer of power takes places, those of the Pharseian community who stood actively for the rights of their fellows have chosen those amongst their ranks to elevate to representative status, it will be the long and difficult work of Reconciliatiors like myself, as well as the church broadly, and Imperial policymakers and logisticians, writers and artists, community consultants and council speakers, to win over the hearts and minds of the remainder." Once actually offered food directly, the officer (ostensibly Kunoryohu), returns to the table and seats himself next to Orinoka, adding a more casual gesture of thanks to Orinoka's more formal one, and after going through precisely one full sandwich slice, he himself finally asks Trudy and Tamamo quite directly, "I don't mind clearing any misconceptions from the air like this, but first I simply have to ask something of you. If you aren't allies of that state, or those of it wealthy enough to call for foreign aid as they already did, what are your expectations for all of this? What do you hope to see? Why intervene? Is it just that even a shadow of a war tastes ill on your tongues?"
Tamamo	"Ah, 'to live in interesting times' is a phrase with which I am rather familiar. It is so, that for many and most, to live a peaceful life is to live one in which each day is much like the previous. One's life may be interesting, yet 'the times' are dull. 'The times,' after all, refers to that outside of oneself. When that becomes interesting, now... it follows, soon after, that there are some who shall become wealthy, and others who shall become destitute, and yet more who lose their lives. For the first group, those who are successful in war, it can be said to be a blessing. It is only a curse for those with less love of violence, as well as those of less talent. So has it ever been, in the histories of humankind to which I have been made witness. More tea?" She doesn't say anything out loud about the results of the analysis, but confers with Trudy through magically covert means. "Oh... I had meant your expectations of those events that have already occurred, though I do not mind, whatsoever, listening to that which you predict shall come to pass. You had spoken of reasons for urgency, no? There are matters, still, that lay outside my knowledge, concerning your world. These are quite many, of course, being, as I am, descended from a different Sun. I had word from those of Pharsei -- rumors, in truth -- regarding your queen, your people, and your empress, and it was necessary to see what of these I might confirm, for myself. There is also the matter of 'that which is the business of the Paladins,' which does relate to the call for my presence, and on which basis I did ask for aid from Ms. Grimm. It is quite fortunate, for all but the people of Pharsei, that there exists no alliance between their state and the Paladins, as such. Had this been the case, there would be a wider war. In that respect, one may think of them as sacrifices, as unpleasant as it is to do so. Such has occurred before, in many cases. It is all too easy to push aside thought of what happens to distant neighbors, so long as the conquest stops there. Rather, it is always hoped that it shall, and that those flush with victory will settle either into rulership or into pillaging, and in either case, be satisfied with what is done. It is not ideal, but such compromise is the fate of those with limited power, that they not reach too far when they seek to grasp. Oh, if the sweet filling is not to your taste, this one has unsweetened anko, leaving more room to taste the salt." After gesturing to the shio daifuku, Tamamo answers, "I do rather dislike the long shadows cast by approaching wars, as you have guessed. I shall not demand you cease, having no right to do so, though others may. At least, in the case of wars fought between humans, however distasteful they may be, I take it as inevitable that they shall continue, as ever they have, and full fruitless have I found it to request an army to turn back, and return home." A brief, felt pang of sorrow. "What did catch my attention, then, was that there was speech of a divine empress. Should such a thing be true, it would not be a war between humans, and the details of the conflict might become my business." In the pause that follows, the phantom heat of her presence subsides. "Oh, but I did mean to ask of the runeciphers. I can tell some small amount by merely looking at them, but might you speak of how they came to be, or, at least, how you came to have them? I believe there was some mention of the importance of not permitting them to be taken by those outside the empire. Might you speak more on that point? What ill might befall, should they be given away? Come to that, has no soldier ever fallen, and so, had their possessions taken? This strikes me as implausibly fortunate, for some force that has had the experience needed to become accustomed to war."
Trudy Grimm	"I'm no fan of war, myself," Trudy admits once Tamamo has said her piece. Eyes closed, the witch raises one finger to point upward, "And I'm certainly no fan of tyrants or warlords. So it helps to scope out those who are going about starting wars to see where they stand." An eye opens, "You're no marauding pack of foam-mouthed warriors, so there's that much going for you. No skulls and bones, no rusted blood-caked cleavers. None of the usual dark overlord hallmarks." That hand flips into a dismissive gesture, "In all honesty I hadn't thought to get involved until recently, so I know little of the Pharsei folk or their leadership. So this is seeming less like one overlord conquering a kingdom and more like a relatively benign conflict between political powers." "However--" Trudy leans forward, curling one hand up under her chin and resting on an elbow, "I'm also simply ~fascinated~ by new magics. Especially magics that claim the use of runes such as mine. It's a hobby, you understand. Mystical teachings and unusual artifacts are always so fascinating." Her other hand shifts and she places the Grimoire on the table beside herself, resting her other hand on the cover, buckled tightly shut, "These Runeciphers are, in fact, why I opted to accompany miss Tamamo as a bodyguard, to see them for myself." Eyes closing, she laughs, "Though it turns out I didn't see a whole lot, in the end!"
Undivided Queens	Orinoka smiles ever so pleasantly, not ungenuinely, and yet fixates on the oddest thing first. "Have you ever wondered who first said so about interesting times? Who said that interesting times must be so? Or rather, when it was decided that events that meet your description are a regular, unavoidable kind of natural upheaval? Why is it that we treat such a thing like the movement of winter into spring? That whenever historical events transpire, it is inevitable, blameless, that a few grow rich and most everyone else suffers? I wonder if you know just how much that you've brushed the heart of the matter." "You have told no untruths, and so I will do no such thing as try to change your mind about what of it is obviously only a correct observation of history. Rather, even if I accomplish nothing else today, I would wish only that I succeed in encouraging you to think about 'why?'. Why should history --why should change-- be something made of the misery of most? Why are things such that any disruption to the way things are causes people to suffer? Whether as large as between countries, our as small as between lovers, why is the only kind of 'interesting' something so terrible?" "Wouldn't it be better if 'history' were a good thing? A proud thing to live through? Why shouldn't memories of challenging events be something to look back on fondly? Why not shake up the way things are and make most people happy instead of destitute? Shouldn't change be a good thing too? I volunteered to come here because I really believe that. I believe in our Empress, that we might and should do better than close our eyes and accept bloodshed and poverty and suffering as something to simply be expected, whenever we seek to chase our goals. I --we-- don't believe in that kind of 'necessity'. No more between nations, large and small, than one should make a lover suffer to strengthen their bond." "In the name of the Empress, I implore you not to think of them as sacrifices at all. I beg of you to think of war, as you know it, to not be something inevitable. Even if you disagree with everything we stand for, it is better that you and yours work against it than merely accept it. Participation in process --everyone coming together and deciding how the people of the future should live-- is almost an inherent good, even if it's an argument or a fight. The only sin is shedding blood in violence so that one might continue to shed blood in peace. 'Tyrants and warlords'; yes, these are self-evident objects of our contempt, as they should be, but so narrowly applied. In your future lives, think not only of whoever should be the most violent, but what way of life it is that people are willing to fight for; then you will find those who make the times 'interesting', rather than 'momentous'." Coming out of her strangely eloquent little digression, all one train of thought, Orinoka laughs politely, and slightly sheepishly. "Apologies! Thank you both for entertaining my not quite answering your questions so straightforwardly! Allow me to be more direct to thank you for your time!" Kunoryohu makes the minor transgression of carefully smelling the anko bun Tamamo offers, before deciding to indulge her hospitality. Well, that is sort of his job with the Reconciliator. "Matters of theology are somewhat outside the purview of my order, and so I can only repeat the stances of common knowledge and general education. It is commonly understood that the Imperial line is not, in of itself, divinity, but rather that their blood runs from those that the Goddess has chosen through history, starting with Algilian herself, mother of the Empire and the first to receive the Holy Runecipher. I was not raised an Imperial citizen, but it is common knowledge that believe in the divine mandate, and the strain of godblood, within the Imperial family has waxed and waned over time, and most believe Empress Seilatiya li Gelentia to be far more greatly gifted than any before her for a very long time."
Undivided Queens	Kunoryohu actually chips in here "The cause of the Empire's not-so-long-ago civil war was a disagreement of succession based on these facts. The faction that thought succession should fall to the statecraft-minded elder siblings with the most corporeal interest in running the country, and the larger faction that thought succession should fall to the younger daughter, for the obvious meaning to be taken in her being able to use the Holy Runecipher, and her storied embodiment of the nature of the Goddess their mandate of rule is based on, even as a 'naive romanticist'. That idea that she was touched directly, or that a confluence of godsblood runs strong in her, comes from the impression she leaves. The way she pulls open men's hearts and knows exactly what to say to them, the way her beauty leaves them on their knees, even just for the sound of her voice, and obviously her talent in magic." "Those who spend time in her presence often think she must be 'chosen'; something the Empress hasn't done much to deny or encourage either way. The only thing she's ever made an official position is that she doesn't 'receive visions', or speak the will of the Goddess; that her choices are simply her own beliefs. Doing what she believes she should with her gifts, and what the Empire should with the Empire's gifts. If you're hoping to hear that the Goddess demanded conquering Pharsei, I have to disappoint you. Everyone saw Pharsei's collapse as inevitable, after the Empire's borders opened up, and the Empress has been planning with the Queen for years with the assumption that it is the more fortunate people's imperative to take responsibility and share what they have; and in what form." He shrugs. "My Queen isn't wrong to maintain, even bolster, the strength of our armies, though. One's dreams are exactly as fragile as their cutting hand, always. Even if not one soldier or warrior should fight, there is obvious value in all the world knowing that they would, should someone seek to enforce 'unchanging times' through bloodshed. Words must be backed by the implication that others can't just ignore them and go around through force." With an amused little sound, Orinoka thanks him as if the two might be older friends, and answers the final line of questioning. "Ahaha, that one is easier to answer, and so I would be glad!" Her own runecipher floats around from behind her to rest in front of her within comfortable reaching difference. Her fingertips fondly trail over its surface. "All runeciphers today are derivatives of the original divine relic, the Holy Runecipher. It is said to be a fragment of the Goddess' authority of divine creation --the transmutation of the immaterial aether into the world we live in-- but it is an object of shared, similar myth by different names to my people as well. Only a very select few have ever truly tapped its power, but it is an unmistakable badge nonetheless." "The Empire has made much of itself, its size and strength and prosperity, by the study and minor replication of the One, into the Imperial Runeciphers you see now. Not long ago, they were a symbol of the elite class; rare and expensive things only accessible to the nobility, high clery, and military champions, instructed from birth in their use such that they should maintain the limitless wealth of the line and live in 'goddess-given' luxury. Since the civil war however, Empress Seilatiya li Gelentia has focused tremendous efforts in expanding their production, and making available more common and easily used variants, so that even ordinary citizens may enjoy, always, some level of abundance, and empower every Imperial-Ilenjeh man woman child and otherwise, with the radical knowledge that, no matter what they should choose or for whom they should labour, they will never be threatened with starvation and deprivation."
Undivided Queens	"Her 'honest empire', where all participate without coercion. It is something very important to our people too; our culture has long been shaped by our long-ago expulsion from our homeland of abundance, and what the fierce western reaches demand for survival. It is . . . a fundamental reclamation of heritage." "The purpose of a runecipher is to 'describe the existence' of pieces of reality; the exact physical qualities of everything from the fish in the water to the light of a torch to the craftsman's hammer, down to every last detail, in such a way that can be stored and recalled without an immense library and the laborious efforts of scores of ritualists. Fundamentally, they are a tool that eases one of the three most ancient magics that are said to distinguish divinity from mortals by their innate, inherent mastery of them. Of course, as with any act, the use of a runecipher is a learned skill, and the simpler models have less stored and creative ability than the greater, but none are withheld from the greatest they can make use of." Kunoryohu speaks up again, with some cynicism in his voice. "Of course, after the bulk of our combined peoples became literate and skilled in their use, the nearest economies on the continent were bound to collapse. Merchants number amongst the lowest class in our culture for this reason. The Empire is able to export immense surplus of nearly anything for fractional cost, and so those who make their living from moving goods from hand to hand for a fee would inevitably find themselves obsoleted. That their state should be absorbed and made part of the Empire is the kindest of all possible fates. And it's just as inevitable that the class whose greed has driven that state further into the arms of mercantilism would covet runeciphers of their own, so that they might realize even greater dreams of wealth. It was within their lifetime that the Algwyll Empire was an inaccessible and xenophobic holy land, and runeciphers were romantic objects of folklore brought back by the few visitors permitted. Most people have at least heard of the backbone of one of the three 'holy states'." Orinoka nods quietly. "That vision, of an empire where all participate in their own lives, without the silent coercion of destitution, can only be realized if all its citizens are given such abundance freely, and not only some. To allow an elite class might take plenty of them for their own, flee away, and become gods amongst men, coercing the poor in some other land, would be a dereliction of our duty in wielding the generosity the Goddess has given us. It is equally obvious that they cannot be simply given freely to those who reject the act of seeking consensus. And it should go without saying that simply introducing them without care into another culture that has never lived with them may breed disaster. Those who wish to enjoy the gifts of the Empire must naturally acclimate to the culture that has formed around them."
Tamamo	'I beg of you to think of war, as you know it, to not be something inevitable.' "I do not think it inevitable, yet I do find it strange that you should say so, being part of an army engaging in wars of conquest. How can this be seen as anything but a continuation of the ordinary? Ah, but do pardon me. It is not that I request you prove to me the extraordinary nature of your empress, nor of your cause." Rather, it would be pointless to do so. This isn't the first time someone's talked to a loyalist for a victorious empire. She's too familiar with the topic to be vulnerable to self-important enthusiasm, but polite enough not to call it that. 'In the name of the Empress, I implore you not to think of them as sacrifices at all.' Tamamo appears to consider this, before saying, "For the sake of civility, I shall refrain from using the word, if that is your wish." That's a clear refusal of the spirit of it. Tamamo continues to listen, as something in the description of the empress's way with hearts strikes her as unpleasantly familiar. There's less issue when it comes to the description of the runeciphers, though certain points solidify a conclusion in her mind. Being against the interests of her guests, she makes no mention of it. It's not as if there's anything surprising in their attitude toward foreigners. Finally what she does say is, "Oh, I suppose there is some aspect of this that is disappointing, in that I shall find no truly divine aspect of this case that should necessitate my own involvement. By the same token, it is a relief that I might do so, being, by far, less fond of the use of arms to coerce others into my own service. Ah, but please do pardon me, once more. I could hardly think to convince you to take some attitude other than that of the confident conqueror, who need consider no rivals in authority. Rather, I could change your minds, with ease, were my surety in an obligatory enlightenment as arrogant as yours. As I have not such a mind, I shall instead thank you for your instruction in these matters." That seems to be all she has to say, with the spirit-caressing fire of he presence switching on and off like the covering of a lantern. "You may take any meal as you wish, for the journey home. It shall not be difficult to return to your own lines, I imagine." Tamamo won't be interfering, and as far as the Paladin security is concerned she just had some guests, who will now be returning to their own world, the military situation being of no relevance to either their stay or their return.
Trudy Grimm	Trudy keeps herself quiet for most of the priestess' speech, only glancing from her to her companion when the pair speak and when they bounce off one another. A little smile touches her lips. These two clearly are fond of one another-- it's clear why he opted to be her bodyguard. Or at least, that's the role Trudy has assumed he fulfills. Her attention shifts to Tamamo when she shares her piece as well, until at last she opts to contribute her own words. "Given the nature of humanity," Trudy comments grimly, "There's always going to be something that they'll fight over. Unless unified under a singular mind, disharmony is simply a thing that will happen. Seeing to everyone's needs and desires is one way to control that..." She closes one eye, "But it's not going to fundamentally change humans, in the end. Someone is inevitably going to want more than they're given and take strides to seize it, and I am certain your Empress has a plan in mind for such a thing. The Law is the Law, after all, and it is there to protect people from such malcontents." "Though the only true answer is to strip humans of free will entirely, and that's not something I think I could let slide." She admits quite clearly with the other eye closing, accentuated with a shrug, "Even my cute friends are allowed to voice their thoughts and are welcome to decline my requests. I won't force them to do something they don't want to. You're unlikely to see that with most who practice my sort of magic." When the matter shifts to runecyphers, though, her eyes open immediately and the witch leans forward in her seat. A little 'oh' escapes her lips as she examines the artifact from this modest distance, "I see, I see. There's certainly a similarity, then, with the runes that I wield. These too are connected to gods. Words of divine creation with which the world was written." She closes her eyes again, gesturing dismissively, "Well. Words which reshaped the chaos of Ymir into the world we see and live on today, at any rate. That's the legend I'm familiar with. The runes give definition to such primordial chaos, granting it a defined form and function. And those of us who can read and forge the runes can tap into their power as well." An eye opens, her chin resting on her hand again, "It seems that this artifact of yours works similarly. Though perhaps simplifies the process. Makes it more accessible, if perhaps more limited... I suppose that much is to be expected." Her eyes shift back towards Tamamo when the pair are granted their leave, then back to the priestess and her guardian. Both hands are lifted, presented palm-outward. A rune traces itself above her hands in shining gold, resembling a capital 'P' crafted by placing a triangle atop a straight line. Wunjo, the Joy rune, "It was lovely to speak with you, no matter our agreements or disagreements. Please go in peace and continue to know joy."
Undivided Queens	Orinoka's face falls a little bit listening to Tamamo. Rather, it seems as if she has 'first allowed it to fall'. "Did I not say 'as you know it'? Or is this how wars are fought all the time, from your world? I admit I have no way of knowing." A little further. Her voice lowers slightly. "Lady Tamamo no Mae, I am not oblivious to the idea that you have little fondness for me or our cause. I can only guess as to why, specifically, for you, but this series of events would be very unlikely for someone with only scholarly curiosity, or with an intent to help." "It is my role to engage in all things in good faith, to speak in heartfelt truth, and to find resolutions to the conflicts of others, and so I have spoken even though I suspected your mind to be made up. As of now, I can only hope that you will one day see past that superficial facade of convenient terms, woven by those who most love misery, and treasure human beings more than their abstract ideas." Somehow, she only looks even more disappointed for Trudy. Somehow, her face conveys that 'for' and not 'at'. "Apologies, but you aren't the first, or thousandth, or millionth, to repeat such a thing. It is a stubborn and persistent lie. A weed sown in every field. My heart never grows any less heavy hearing it, to think of where the speaker has learned such a lie." Orinoka closes her eyes, and then raises her voice to the firmest and unsweetest it's been. "Human beings are fundamentally good. People wish to be loved and needed. When someone is safe, physically, socially, emotionally, spiritually, they turn to their dreams; to making and giving and being remembered. Greed and cruelty are not arbitrary; they come from somewhere. No one is born evil; they are taught. The idea that the fundamental nature of people is to be savage and wicked --that it is simply normal and inevitable-- is a fiction perpetuated by the most savage and wicked amongst us who wish to continue to be so." Eyes open. "This I will not discuss. It is no point of contention. Every day it continues to be proven true. Whether you will allow yourself to believe this or not, just like the people of Arsiene, is all that separates you from our welcome." "We do not believe in the necessity of any evil. And that is why Arsiene is allowed to work through its denial and it's anger and it's bargaining, even though its vassals so readily joined us. The ones we will not tolerate are those who glorify the needless evils designed by twisted men as 'human nature'." The officer grunts his dissatisfaction, but returns, unreservedly, "Go in peace. That wish finds greater need in you, I'm sure." as he stands, taking Orinoka by the arm.
Tamamo	'I am not oblivious to the idea that you have little fondness for me or our cause. I can only guess as to why, specifically, for you...' "Ah, no, did I not make myself clear? I suppose I have been a bit roundabout. You engage in war and take control of others by force. You dress your intentions in well-meaning arrogance, proclaim the goodness of people, while declaring again the inferiority of the foreigner. You speak of all acting without coercion, while you coerce. But now, be at ease, on this count. I do not despise a hypocrite, nor do I hate to witness zeal. It is only your love of war, that you cling to even while you deny it, that causes my unavoidable disapproval. I do not doubt that you believe your own excuses, but this in no way requires that I accept them."