| Meeting on the Hawks Tongue |
| Summary: | Ludovic, Jasmina and Darius meet to talk about peace and war on the banks of the river that divides Ludovic's lands from the remainder of the al'Mordran Duchy. |
| Date: | 5th March 2019 |
| Related: | Stuff on Ludovic's Rebellion |
| NPCs: | None |
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The hawkes tongue river forms a natural and fairly imposing border between the defensive forces of Hellsmouth (mostly cavalry by the looks of it) and whatever Jasmina has brought this far south. Ludovic's letter suggested that they meet either on Jasmina's barge, or on the banks of it, and it is on the banks that Ludovic and Darius are waiting for the meeting to take place. Theres a pavilion set up here, just in case Jasmina should choose to risk stepping off her rivercraft, along with the normal servants, honor guards and the like you'd expect for such an endeavor. It is a reasonable distance from the forces who owe allegiance to Darius or Ludovic though.
Ludovic's standing with his arms folded across his chest and the lighter segmented plate covering his body and the czekan propped against his thigh. No helm hides his dark hair. Its all rather typical for him with the exception of that serious expression he's holding. In fact the only things about his appearance that could be offensive exist in the fact he's very clearly wearing both spurs and his knightly coat of arms.
Standing near Ludovic, Darius has his new Glaive with him and stands as non threatening as he can. The Princeps watches the river casually, noting the eb and flow of the river itself. He is in armor, Lorrica shined to perfection. A cloak hangs off his left shoulder, blue with black trim. He wears no helmet, instead wearing an iron circlet.
Archduchess Jasmina al'Mordran comes ashore, flanked by two men on either side of her. Ludovic did say she could bring four men with her and she'd be foolish if she were to try and come alone. The woman is dressed in something the former Viscount has never seen her wear, that being a set of gleaming, new plate mail that had been made for her in case she needed it. It is decorative but also very obviously well made, made for protection despite it being beautiful. She has her helm tucked under an arm, her hair left down saved for at each temple where it has been pinned back, and a purple-and-black cloak flows behind her.
Approaching her former friend and the Princeps, her expression growing more and more stormy the closer they get. By the time she's about ten feet away she looks positively livid. Cool looks are leveled at the both of them with the coldest of those glances being spared for Ludovic. "Speak." There's no sign of the former fondness she once felt for either of them, the woman's voice as icy as her expression is.
Ludovic's arms remain crossed loosely across his chest as Jasmina enters the area, his body language uncharacteristically closed off, but his own face reflects none of the anger shown by the duchess. He glances once across at Darius as the full impact of Jasmina's expression strikes the pair but has firmed his expression into the same sort of resolve he held whilst riding to meet Darius that first time. "You wanted to put an end to all this 'foolishness'" he says directly. "So lets talk." he turns towards Darius. "As I informed you the Princeps Darius Firebrand is my new liege."
Smirking, Darius folds his arms over his chest. "Ah. I see we've been delegated to the status of Dogs." His head rolls over to look at Ludovic. "Perhaps she could benefit from a glass of wine?" he looks back to Jasmina, "Would you like a glass of wine? You sound stressed." He pauses and raises an eyebrow. "No?" He shrugs a shoulder. "Your loss."
The Princeps gestures Ludovic. "He has given his loyalty to the Empire. This is because your so called King has broken the pact that was sworn to him. Perhaps, if he was more civilized and less murder like, this wouldn't have happened."
Jasmina addresses Darius first. "I asked Ludovic to not do anything foolish as I had hoped to speak to the king on his behalf." She speaks as if Dovi's not even present. "I wasn't even given the chance to do so. He instead decided to run to you and… what. What promises did he get out of you, Darius? And how long will it be before you are longer any use to him and you too are betrayed by him?" Yes, Jasmina's angry but she's not holding back, much to the surprise of those who accompanied her here. Sure, they've seen her annoyed, even mad, but she is known to keep a level head. To keep calm under all circumstance.
She is anything but calm and level-headed right now.
Glancing to Dovi, now, she shakes her head. "You forfit your right to my lands when you turned traitor. You want land then let your new liege here give you land in the Empire. But you no longer have any right to any lands in Aequor and I will take them back. By. Force." Rolling her eyes, she adds, "I would implore to you to let common sense prevail, but we all know by now that you and common sense are by no means bedfellows."
A surprised glance is cast across at Darius as the princeps manages to be less diplomatic than he is being. "Some hospitality bread if nothing else?" He adds after Darius' invitation to wine. "So that we can all relax." He sends for some of it if Jasmina makes no sign that she'll enter the pavilion. "I did it in response to your actions." he points out to Jasmina. "Was i really supposed to wait until your men were crossing the Hawkes Tongue?" His mouth twists with the first traces of irritation when her words imply he cares about lands in that sense. "You can't win that fight Jasmina. The only common sense there is here, today, is for you to back down."
"Jasmina." Darius says calmly. "Don't be stupid." He says it casually, and gestures with his hand as he takes a deep breath. "You need to think, and you need to think clearly. Forget about your anger, and think rationally." He gestures behind him to the troops there, the Hellmouth troops. "How many soldiers do you have Jasmina? How many real soldiers do you have?"
Darius holds up hand in a forestalling gesture. "You won't tell me. I get it. You think we're at war. Well," He chuckles softly. "I'll tell you my numbers." He spreads his arms wide, "Over Fifteen Thousand. I'm not talking about farmers given sharp point sticks, your levies. Or your half trained militia. I'm talking Fifteen Thousand professionally trained soldiers. Ten Thousand of which came with me after fighting the Qatanex for years. That's Ten Thousand Veterans. I imagine Ludovic's troops have veterans as well." He tilts his head slightly. "So. Jasmina. I need you to think. Think clearly. Do you really want to be at war, while your nation crumbles form the inside and White Hallers pillage your lands? Think. Don't be fucking stupid."
They're right but Jasmina won't give either man the satisfaction of hearing her say so. No, she's still angry and the betrayal she feels thanks to Ludovic. "Why do either of you care about Hellsmouth or Paras or any other area of this kingdom? Why is it so damn important to you that you'd risk the wrath of not only my house but an entire kingdom?" Glancing to the former-Aequorian, she blurts out, "I loved you as a brother and this is how you repay me? I haven't done anything to you. I only threatened out of response to your actions. YOUR actions, Ludovic. Whatever fate falls upon us… all of us… is your fault. Any blood shed? Any life lost? It hangs on your head."
"I am not fucking stupid," she hisses, wheeling back to look at the Imperial. "If I was I would have had my men attack blindly, no matter the cost to my house and to The West. Yes, you might out number me militarily, Darius. The only one who is being stupid is you for trusting this man." A finger gets jabbed in Dovi's direction.
"All the soldiers that Hellsmouth fields are veterens" Ludovic comments on Darius' words. "They had no option given the fact I've not had even half the men we've needed since the qatunax came." He moves both of his hands back to rest on the head of his glassy black weapon. The colour of his knuckles changing as he tightens and releases his grip.
"Why do I care about Hellsmouth?" Ludovic repeats as if she just asked something crazy. "Jasmina. Do you have any idea just how many of my men knew what I was? Do you think - for one minute - that the church would have been happy just killing me?" He starts to gesture as he talks, his passion bubbling back up the surface. "I did this to -save- lives Jasmina. Not to save your damn pride. Not to save my life. Not even to keep the hall my family has held for a thousand years. And if you really loved me like a brother you'd never. Once. have doubted that. Not once!"
He jabs a finger at her. "If I was trying to spite you the first thing you'd have known of it would have been your city burning. Instead the first thing I did was come to /YOU/ asking protection. You couldnt give it." He jabs his hand in Darius' direction. "He can. Hell" he's back to Jasmina. "I did you a damn favor by swearing to Darius. So stop pushing everything on my shoulders. Not one of us is innocent of all this. Not one of us."
"Well," Darius says smuggly and looks to the finger nails on his left hand, "I might be innocent."
There's silence from Jasmina, allowing Dovi to speak. "This has nothing to do about my pride, Ludovic, and to hell with you for thinking that." Snorting, her head turns away, the Archduchess' anger deflating, albeit only slightly. "I will send a scribe and a representative to present my terms. But, for now, I grow weary of this conversation. Gentlemen." Ducking her head in something of a polite nod, she turns and is about to depart unless she is somehow stopped.
Ludovic gives Darius a sideways look but says nothing. Jasmina's leaving just makes him look surprised. "Jasmina" he says. "Can we at least get an armistice before you go?"
"Your representative will be recieved and your terms, such as they are will be gone over." Darius says finishing looking at his fingernails and then back to Jasmina. "You should know, my offer of marriage was real, still is real, despite your anger toward me." he clears his throat. "Please bear this to your king. If he wants help defeating the Savages from the North, these White Hallers or Njorvolk or whatever they're called, then the price for that help is very simple."
Darius places a hand on Ludovic's shoulder. "Ludovic d'Korbina is to be forgiven the crime of treason and of Sorcery. He is to be left alone as a member of the Vir Sidus Empire. In exchange I will send One Thousand Legionnaires to help you with this Bitralund. If you wish to make war, then I will send Ten Thousand Legionnaires to help this Reist Ragnesson. The choice is his, and ultimately yours." He smiles roguishly. "But. Do have a pleasant trip Jasmina."
Jasmina gives a quick look to those she has her back to. "Thank you, Ludovic. And…" Here is where she looks away, her shoulders slouching slightly. "I will… consider your proposal." Wait. She'll what? Surely she can not be serious? Not after she turned him down, gently as that refusal was. "And consider your offer to His Majesty sent." Fighting back tears, now, she returns to wherever their had moored their boat, ready to go home as are her men, undoubtedly.
Ludovic looks at Darius when the hand is put on his shoulder, surprise evident at Darius' words. He doesn't say anything until Jasmina and her men are well out of range although its obvious he wants to. "You can't mean that Darius."
Darius watches Jasmina leave. When Ludovic speaks he squeezes the other man's shoulder. "I meant it. We need to find peace, and the only peace your former King appears to understand is the peace of the Sword." He shrugs. "So we have to offer him both edges."
"But to help a man like Reist?" Is Ludovic's response. "And to send so many?" He almost looks as if he might say more but instead gives a slight shake of his head before squaring his shoulders. "Thank you. You wanting to save my name means a lot."
Darius shrugs. "You are a good man Ludovic. The King of Aequor may be a jack ass and not notice it, but I did." He turns to head back to the troops. "We'll see what the King says. Worst case scenaio is I have to follow through on my threat."