(1874-03-30) Enter Pompey
Enter Pompey
Summary: In the wake of Darius and the legions visit, the consul, Pompey comes to talk.
Date: 30th march 2018
Related: http://eternalcrusade.wikidot.com/log:1874-03-29-short-notice
NPCs: None
Players:
Pompey  Ludovic  Imogen  Cervantes  

A road fort in Hellsmouth
Room description
1874-mar-30

The spot that Darius chose to make his dramatic statement with a force of 3000 mixed legionnaires and cavalry is a modest roadfort that is quite large by landed knight standards, and no doubt held by a close family member of Ludovics, but certainly no sort of challenge against a force of that size. Now though Darius has withdrawn and some of the aequorian forces that gathered to face them have flowed away. The guards are attentive and a little rattled and there is a fairly significant force of cavalry nearby. The command tent in that cavalry force flies the The black bullshead on gold of d'korbina and the wolfhead on green and yellow of Arkanin.

A Imperial horn is blown as well as the standard of not the XIIIth legion, but the office of the Consul as a small honor guard ride with the Consul of the Chancery, and the Second most powerful man in the Empire.

Dismounting from his horse the man wears armor and a blade, but removes his helmet and hands it off to one of the horse minders as he looks upan the group assembled. "Viscount d'Korbina, a word with you if I may?" Pompey magnus Cassius says in a smooth voice that has a strong Imperial accent, a man that just oozes with charm, that charm on display as he shows a very warm smile. "I hope I am not bothering you overly much, I do have a gift." He says as from within his riding toga he shows a very rich bottle of red wine. "One of the few bottles I could bring from the capital." The man, show is rather short, but you'd swear has to stand taller than others just by his stance alone, offers the bottle to Ludovic.

Ludovic groans visibly when one of his men brings the news of yet more imperials approaching. "Lets hope he hasnt changed his mind." He reaches across for his helmet, settling the horned open face helm back over his shaggy hair. "Right then." Up to his feet. "If they attack go for reinforcements." And he walks towards the other party. His gaze flickers across Pompey and he seems to have missed all the charm. He looks suspicious actually as he reaches out to accept the bottle. "Thank you" There is a hint of a question in his voice. "Is this why you came my Lord?"

Cervantes looks to the messenger as he arrives to tell them all that another Imperial is coming to see them. With a soft sigh, Cervantes turns his head to Pompey as he arrives, tilting his head at the fellow as he brings a bottle of very good red wine. "Hm."

Pompey smiles. "No Viscount, I came because as Consul of the Empire, I would like to open a diplomatic rapport with you. While I'm to understand that your Liege is of course, The Duchess, and to a further extent, King marius, You are the … Um.. well in my language we would call you -Proconsul- of thease lands." He says, useing the imperial word for noble govenor. "That in mind, While my cousin's first duty is of course, the Qatunax and their complete oblitheration, Mine is to make sure that things run smoothly for all parties involved."

Imogen tenses for a moment before barely biting back a groan. Sure she may not deal much in courtly politics but she knew beaurecratic bullshit when she heard it. Which is probably why she suddenly decided gulping down the rest of her drink was a good idea, the better to numb her against the oncoming headache. "I think he's about to get into the flowery language with us," she whispered conspiratorially to Cervantes.

"The way he made it sound." Ludovic gestures for Pompey to enter the camp. "His goal is the revival of the vir sidus empire and we're all to become subjects again." He looks to his companions. "Viscount Arkanin and Lady Imogen." The bottle gets placed on the table. "This is the Consul of the Empire." Like most quickly set up camps the command tent interior basically has a table and some chairs. He's feeling kind of belligerent to be honest and so once they are inside he sits back down without waiting for the consul to do anything first. Whats his rank really anyway?

Pompey smiles and looks right at Ludovic. "You are quite as my bethrothed has said, Viscount… Granted, finding her in a qatunax camp was quite a surpise, but you will be glad to hear she is well and still sane… if that's the right word." He says as he pops the cork with a deftness that shows he has done that many of times. "Like I said, our first order of business is the Qatunax, by the time they are dealt with, who knows if the senate will still want a war or not… it helps to have friends in the senate no?" he says as he pours a glass for each of them, and takes a small sip first, to show that it's not laced with anything.

Imogen nods softly scooting over to join the discussion now that she no longer has someone to gossip to. Resting her chin on her hand she studies Pompey for a long moment before finally speaking up. "Well, we had an encounter with them recently, the one your fiance got caught up in, do you know any effective quantax strategies?" she half joked.

Ludovic gives Pompey a long look, his posture improving as he leans a little towards the consul, his interest clearly piqued. "Your betrothed?" he asks. "I dont know anyone who was betrothed to a consul." He knows better than to refuse wine poured in such an offering, placing his whiskey back on the table and lifting the wine instead. "If you wanted to be friends why did you bring the sabre? If you know me, like you claim, you must have known that would never work." There is a nod. "I would like to know what you know about the situation we face."

Pompey smiles. "Ah, so I must be mistaken, you arent the only viscount of Hellsmouth then?" He says with a smile. "I shall have to tell Olivia that you don't remember her… I'm sure she will like to be kept abrest of the situation." he says as he takes a seat. "I bring the sabre, because there are qatunax, I wear armor, because there are qatunax. You are not my enemy Viscount, reguardless of what you percepvie, the qatunax are more than just a band of savages that drink blood and use sorcery to level cities, they are methodical, diabolical, and every one will die, they took my parents, and used their heads for their unholy rituals." He leans forward. " My cousin is here because he wants to rule the world, I am here because I want revenge, and the only true way for revenge, is an allied assault and complete genocide of those monsters. War amoungst ourselves is not the answer, and to avoid our peoples going to war, I need you to work with me, not against me. Once this is done with, once the qatunax are eradicated, and the last vestage of their horrible civilization is growns into oblivian, then there can be trade, goods, alliances. My cousin is brash, because he beleives that otherwise is to show weakness. We are not weak viscount, but I see far beyond that of others. So, perhaps I can convince you to hear me out, and we can work together and kill off this evil, or will me and mine have a war on two fronts?"

Imogen sighs quietly and glances over to Ludovic, she has no right to speak, or really even be here, but she looks on the edge of doing so anyways given her expression. Still in perhaps a rare show of wisdom she just places a gentle hand on the viscounts arm before turning her attention to the diplomat. "We're just all a little uneasy, your cousin did just come in, unannounced, and try to subjugate us today. I can't speak for the viscount, but personally I am interested in any advice you might be willing to give when it comes to ridding us of the barbarians. Granted I am no one of consequince, but I agree that they are of far greater threat than any foreign noble and his ambitions," she agreed quietly.

Ludovic perks up, obviously recognising the name Olivia and interested in it, only for a flash of dissapointment to pass through his eyes. When Imogen touches his arm he looks at it for a long moment before leaning down, picking a fist sized rock up off the ground and starting to tap it against his knee. Thankfully the heavy wool of his coat prevents the rock from clanging against the metal underneath. Tap and his fingers slip from the bottom to the top of the rock, he turns it over, and repeats the process. He doesn't look at it, its not that he's focused upon the item, he's just using it as a fidget-toy. "And I want to know what are you trying to say" He adds bluntly once Imogen has finished asking her questions. "You speak in the typical way political sorts do where you leave half of it all up to interpretation. I don't like that. So tell me what you actually want from me? Are you tryin to prevent your cousins success?" He frowns, eyes focused on Pompey as the rock stills "If you are not weak Consul then why are you trying to build marriage matches with Aequor and incite her vassals to betrayal? Those don't seem like the sort of things a strong Empire would be doing."

Pompey slowly lets out a breath. "What I'm trying to do, Viscount, is secure an alliance. What I'm trying to do, is put a crown, -the- imperial crown, on my cousin's head, what I'm trying to do, is rid the world of Qatunax. He wants to marry your duchess, That's a matter that is beyond my control, I'm not his father, nor am I of a rank to hold the princepts back from such a… dealing. What is in my control is to gain a military alliance, as it stands Viscount, there are ten thousand men in that camp, and beyond that, there are many times more qatunax. Then there are the Mitganga. Do you wish to aid us, and count those ten thousand as allies, or do you want to snub my offer of friendship, and deal with the princepts yourself? War between us will come to no good, it will deter our focus, and then the qatunax will sweep in and take everything, so… shall I set up a formal meeting between you and my cousin? ore go back and tell him that you refuse to listen?" He says as he leans back. "And I'm not threatening you, or coercing you Viscount, I'm just telling you the course of things."

Imogen purses her lips and sighs. She knows he's right, and she hates it. Sure she may be less than intelligent and low ranking, but his points are valid, because she knows combat, and war, and loss. To snub him is to create more loss and more war than either kingdom can handle right now. The archduchess will make her own decision on the marriage, but when speaking of tactics, they needed this alliance to get rid of the quantax. "My Lord, with respect, his words are tactically sound. The archduchess will make her decision, and we must make ours. It is my humble opinion we take what forces we can to aid against the barbarians, after that, then i'll leave the politics to you and your highborn friends. But, myself, I can only think of the lack of death more allies, even imperial allies, would grant us on the battlefield," she says, her respectful and careful tone indictive of how nervous these subjects make her.

"Funny." Ludovic reaches up to remove his helmet again, setting it on the table and running his hands through his hair until it sticks up at a dozen different angles. "Language like that. I -feel- threatened." He shifts in his chair, the rock moving again, and gives a soft grunt of acknowledgement to Imogen's words. His next words are a little less hard. "I'm glad for the news about Olivia. I was upset about losing her. But you're here to soon." He looks at Imogen. "Your not wrong Imogen. You're not." And back to Pompey. "But you cant demand my surrender and subjugation and then expect me to be friendly on the exact same day."

Pompey blinks. "-I- am not demanding anything, that's old imperial policy, we see it, it's ours, a policy that I am trying to change… which is easyer now since the older senators are dead thanks to the qatunax." He says as he stands up and gives a bow. "I shall convene with my cousin and see if a diplomatic solution can be agreed upan from his part of this, I'll send you a messenger for said talks, should the princepts be agreeable." Or if pompey can get through his thick skull and not get so pissed off that he simply returns to Velasca. Turning to walk out, he gathers his horse, and his lichters in tow as he rides away.

Imogen deflates a bit as he rides away, seeming to grow less tense the farther he gets, though it is a long while before she says anything, most likely nervous about the things she said, admittedly in the moment, in front of someone who is technically her better. "Am I in trouble for speaking out of turn?" she asked quietly, suddenly finding great interest in the ground, the alchol, and really anything but Ludovic himself.

Ludovic moves to his feet almost the moment after Pompey's left, drops his rock on the table and starts to pace in the restricted space. "Do you believe that man?" He asks Imogen somewhat rhetorically. "All I heard was a bunch of flowery words offering what we'd already been promised but at a higher price." He keeps pacing until the rock on the table gives a short crack as it splits in half and the sound brings the viscount up short with a start. He eyes the rock almost as if he is challenging it to do something else and then pushes his fingers through his hair again. There may actually be a tiny tremble in those fingers and his breathing is certainly very slow, deep and purposeful. Forcing himself into a calmer place he shakes his head at Imogen "No. You didn't do anything Imogen. I just" He rubs at his beard. "I need to cool down. You helped." He scoops the broken pieces of the rock up, pressing them together in the palm of one hand. "Might have to name you an ambassador. Doesn't seem like I'm good at dealing with them any."

Walking into the tent is a Blackstaff, brilliant red hair and forest green eyes. "Milord, The Imperials have ridden back to their camp. Should I have taken the shot?" The man asks as he idly twirls his bow in his hand.

Imogen laughs in spite of herself at Ludovic's 'threat' of making her an ambassador, standing from her spot, she grabs the ignored alcohol and places a soothing hand on Ludovic's arm. "Yeah, well that man is an ass, all imperials are. They're puffed up soldiers who think that because 'might makes right' in their disheveled empire, they're better than anyone else. But you know what? We at least have leaders for our lands!" she counters with a grin, doing her best to be cheery and upbeat. "As far as making me an ambassador….with all due respect, you're insane. So rather than hand out titles to the worst candidates, why don't the two of us just drink the memory of both their pompous asses away?" she asked with a wink, offering him the bottle.

The touch settles Ludovic, just like it has every other time she's done it. It doesn't make him calm per-se but there is no doubt that it is part of the secret to handling him. He slumps back down into the chair and drains one of the cups of alcohol in a couple of gulps. "Been called worse things." He starts pouring more drink. "Gonna take you up on that offer. Hope you know how to drink." The blackshaft he looks at before looking back to his drink, dropping the once again whole rock on the table besides the cup.

Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License