RP:Vailkrin Politics 101

Part of the Rest in Pieces: Vailkrin! Arc

Summary: In which Kasyr approaches Larewen to discuss politics, her temper, and what might happen if she goes nuclear on Vailkrin.

The Hanging Corpse

Within The Hanging Corpse, the atmosphere is abysmal. The Lady’s return, coupled with her behavior, is most unforgiving to those that she’d considered her own. Outside the establishment were the heads of two Dragana soldiers, piked and defanged for all to see. A growing pile of bodies bearing the Dragana colors sits just outside the establishment, their wounds physical—after all, harmful magic does not work inside the corpse. Within, there was a heavy aura of fear and an appalling amount of distance between the seated woman and the nearest of her men. Her features are cold as she sips a glass of wine and pours over hastily put together reports of what has happened in her absence—or lack thereof. Before her, one of her most loyal stands, a bloodied blade at the ready and at his feet, a corpse of another slain guard. Larewen is making it clear that lack of fealty will not be tolerated. She raises her left hand, bones and rotted flesh twisting as she gestures for the corpse to be taken outside. “Take it out,” she commanded, her voice venomous.

Kasyr is civil enough to wait until the soldiers are able to drag the body past the Corpses threshold before he carefully steps into the edifice, left hand hand loosely grasping at the scarf that's wrapped about his face. Whilst it's been long months since both the Kensai and the necromancer had gone to ground, The Lady of House Dragana's return had hardly been a subtle affair- and served well enough as motivation for the Kensai to cut his recovery time short to pay both her, and the corpse, a visit. The kensai can't help but give the inside of the room a cursory glance, trying to pick out the faces of anyone else that might be notable or familiar- but he's quick to dismiss those present and begin striding towards Larewen, his right hand resting upon his hip, almost wholly covered by his coat. " . . . If you cannot rule by love, make sure they fear you. Ou something like that, J'imagine. I take it you've lost all patience for motivational speeches at this juncture, by the looks of it."

Larewen arched a brow upward, turning her attention to Kasyr as he approached. “Come to mock me, have you?” the woman replied bitterly. “I made a mistake, and I have paid its price. Those without loyalty are useless.” She leaned back in her chair then, reaching into one of the flickering shadows of the establishment and withdrawing a case of cigarettes. One is put to her mouth, lit with a twist of her fingers. Inhale, exhale, glower. Yes, the woman is frustrated. “You know what I possess, and I’ve half a mind to use it at this point—no matter the cost. It seems as if it’d be easier than dealing with these… fools,” she breathed, gesturing toward the remaining men standing and awaiting their Lady’s judgment. When the one carrying out her dirty work returned, Larewen lifted her chin toward the others. “Take them back to House Dragana. They know the cost of their actions now, should I find them undesirable.” The man nodded and soon only Kasyr, Larewen, and a few curious patrons are left within the building. And Steadmen of course.

Kasyr can't help but quirk an eyebrow up at Larewen's comment. "If the only thing I had reserved for you was mockery- it wouldn't have even been worth the while to seek you out. Though, I can't imagine the crux of fault lies strictly with your men, given that you've had -years- at this point. For a transition that was partly laid out for you following my abdication. But I'll be kind, for the moment, and leave it at that." Whilst normally, a threatening pall might hang about the swordsman- his presence currently comes off as far more subdued, even as he pulls up to a seat near Larewen. "I would suggest against a scorched earth practice when it comes to leadership decisions. I've been rather happy with the -not- needing to intervene more directly in this cities affairs. ...If you don't count the flaming sinkhole that appeared in the forest, anyways." A pause, and then he simply adds, "So. What are you going to do?"

Larewen maintained a straight face, save for the twitching of her green eye and a faint spasm of her lip. Kasyr’s bite was worse than his bark and for the briefest moments, she’d rather have been fried extra crispy once more than suffer the insult laid upon her. He’s right, of course. Three years have passed since the male abdicated the throne and only now, when some semblance of progress was made and set back, was there anything to show for what the woman claimed to desire most. Three years, and Vailkrin’s throne somehow sat empty still. Larewen failed and now her dreams were in the throes of an agonizing death if she didn’t do something soon. Another inward draw of breath suckled from her cigarette came before the breaking of her silence. “Whatever it takes, Kasyr. Whatever it takes. Once my men have been dealt with and the dead raised once more, I will personally return to the field of battle with renewed vigor. I have no desire to raze the city, despite the ease with which it could be done. Rebuilding is expensive, after all.” She turned her mismatched gaze to the revenant, fixing him with a stare. “First, with House Trintus. Either they fall, or they fight with us.”

Kasyr continues to study Larewen for a few long moments, before he nods and turns his attention towards Steadmen, "A glass of whiskey, S'il te plait. Leave the bottle." With that said, the swordsman adopts a more pensive look, if only to finally inquire, "Which houses are offering you support at the moment. I'm curious to know what's been your hurdles in negotiating with them." He pauses here, and then carefully adds, "And which houses do you have little desire to negotiate with?" That question is less pointed then it might seem, if only by tone- The kensai had plenty of familiarity with the unpleasentness of vailkrin politics, and the constant desire to immolate the holdings of those who were being difficult on a given day.

Larewen exhaled a long, deep sigh, the faintest tinge of frustration lacing it. Adjusting in her seat, the necromancer regarded Kasyr for another long moment. “I have the allegiance of Alnwick, the first daughter of Nasar, and some of yours,” she replied finally. “The other Houses did not take well to an upstart stepping in, as expected. House Mahara and I are on civil terms at best, and they are not partaking in the skirmish. They’ve removed themselves from much of the politics. For the time-being, at least.” She finished her cigarette and crushed it out into an ashtray before refilling her glass of bloodwine from a bottle that sat upon the table. “Lady Colette of Nasar leads those who stand against me, having cowed many of the other houses into aiding her. Talene’s fealty comes at the price of her mother’s death, when all is said and done. Torrador has also taken no sides. Nor has Ventra, their only concern being profit—as you know. The rest… The rest sided with Colette and colluded against me in an attempt to frame me for the mass slaughter of innocents. I have little desire to forgive them their sins against me, but those that surrender will be spared my wrath.”

Kasyr can't help but smirk, "An upstart that had been put into place by another upstart, no less. ...Still, Noblesse M'oblige... It es not Trintus' motto, but may as well be. I am...curious as to what motivated their decision to turn against a candidate I had vouched for, especially when we had worked together, in passing." Before he can continue further, both a glass of whiskey and bottle are plunked down on the counter near him- something which leads to the Kasyr distractedly taking a swig before he can properly gather his thoughts and resume, "What had been your strategy in trying to gain Trintus' favour? And do you have any idea on how Collete may have succeeded?"

“Things with House Trintus were going well at first,” Larewen began. “We had our differences, but I convinced Marcus’s son that what I desired for Vailkrin was exactly what the City needed. After all, it was Mahara I expected to be the problem and I think therein is where my mistake was. Collete had her fingers in Marcus from the beginning, whispering her lies regarding House Dragana. It created a rift in father and son, and I have not seen nor heard from him since shortly after, when he promised to bend his father’s ear toward me.” Her lips pressed into a thin line. “Whatever Collete offered Marcus must have been worth more than Vailkrin’s glory.”

Kasyr cants his head first to one side, and then the other, a look of intense concentration on his mind. "I'm not familiar with his son- just the father. But what I could place fo him, it wasn't just a sense of glory that drove him. It was certainly notable, and even led to some...instances of recklessness, but- there was a genuine concern for this city. ...Which makes me wonder if you've been slandered to appear as though you were a hazard to this place. ...And it's people." He casually points with his non whiskey bearing hand towards the front door, and the long streaks of blood which lead up to it. "...That said- when -was- the last time you saw his son? That anyone's seen hide nor hair of his son? Just curious."

Larewen frowned at Kasyr for a moment and then extended her hand over the table. Fingers began to bend and twist, a spell of illusion and memory cast upon the vacant space between their respective drinks. “This was the turning point, in which I was wrongly slandered,” she said simply and before the pair, the events of her Halloween Bash would play out. A necromancer bearing House Dragana’s colors appeared among the festivities. His magic conjured ravenous undead and they bore down on the revelers, slaughtering innocents under the guise of Larewen’s House. Then, after things were finished, Collete and a few other House leaders were seen berating Larewen, blaming her and showing what the woman’s true intent with Vailkrin was: death and destruction. Marcus Trintus stood at Lady Nasar’s side, frowning at the apparent revelation that came to pass. “As for Marcus’s son… It’s been more than a year. A few months before the ball, actually.”

Kasyr is stuck somewhere between annoyance, and a subtle appreciation for the tactic that's displayed. It's certainly not the first instance of sleight of hand that's occured in regards to a sides political affiliation- but it's certainly a more egregious example. With a drawn out breath, the Kensai gradually rises up, downing the remnants of his glass in a swig, before he begins to pour out another glass, very casually directing a hand towards the stairwell leading up. "Mmm. That's a grandiose display, et all, horrifying, et all that- but it seems a bit too ...reckless, especially given what you're aiming for. Et I think just about any fool with more than inkling as to you might be aware of that. Though, certainly, you've risen to the intended provocation of that assault, especially with how your name was marred, and became ruthless enough that someone less informed might be able to...mistake those lies for the truth." The Kensai's march towards the stairs pauses mid stride, one foot half balanced on a step, whilst the other dangles in the air. "But would that -really- be enough to convince Marcus. He's been around for some time, J'imagine. He's seen all sorts. And whilst you might certainly give some credibility to the idea that you may... become dangerous if pressured- I feel you may be overlooking the smaller details. Where, oh where, is the Heir? Certainly an allegiance could be won, if they had happened upon the father's son. Whether by providence, or..."

Larewen caught Kasyr’s intent, even as he continued to speak. To be fair, actions Larewen has taken since the massacre have fallen into that preconceived image—she has, after all, started a war within the City of the Dead. Rising to her feet, Larewen took a moment to drain the last of her glass before following after the male. A glance was cast back toward the table and, with a wave of her hand, the battle reports vanished from its surface. “You’re suggesting I find Marcus’s son to win his favor peacefully?” she asked, putting his suggestion together as they ascended the stairs to somewhere more private.

Kasyr can't help but grin at Larewen, taking a good long sip of the whiskey as he continued to ascend up the stairs, though it's only when he's reached the top, and opened up the first door to his right that he provides elaboration. "To find the Trintus Heir, and to deliver him from wherever, and -whoever-, is holding him. I imagine that would be the best way to keep someone like Marcus under their thumb." It doesn't take him long to finish the glass, and from there to simply start working directly on the bottle." It should also go a bit towards...redeeming your reputation. To allaying some of the worries that you'll become a bloody handed Tyrant. And may also help to win over some of those who are only with Colette out of fear or uncertainty. " The kensai pausses to glance about the room they've found themselves in, if only to shuffle his way over towards the bed and sit on it's corner, facing the door " That said- I know have to wonder, have you had any luck in establishing negotiations with any of the other factions...Asharam, perhaps?" The ball was sloppy- it didn't seem their style. But something like the quiet acquisition of a houses heir . . .?

Larewen swept the room with her mismatched eyes, the left studying its finer details and the right reading any magics or wards that might be present, such as the protection spell cast upon the Hanging Corpse. Satisfied with her appraisal of the room, her attention returned to Kasyr and she clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. She saw what Kasyr was getting at, and it was something the necromancer should have picked up on her own. Her lips twist downward into a frown and she lowers herself onto one of the sofas. Leaning back, one leg lifts beneath her gown to cross the other and she taps a skeletal finger against the verdant cloth. “I remember Kaegan’s smell quite well. A simple scrying spell should at least point me in the right direction,” she said, more to herself than the former king. Her head lifted slightly in lieu of his query. “Asharam refused an audience with me.”

Kasyr falls quiet, the bottle of whiskey once more drawn from before he begins to stare fixedly at the ground, "Well, that's at least more courteous than trying to slit your throat. ...Marginally. ...But that's still a problem, because of how House Asharam operates. They're not the most visible of the houses, their numbers are somewhat difficult to keep track of, and it's..intentional- because where the others prided themselves on outward displays of strength... Well. In the end, I think a fair portion of the servants who cooked and cleaned for me in the castle were members of Asharam. I imagine that for those houses who have the occasional outsider cook, or attend to minutae- the same can likely be said." The Kensai pauses, and takes a swig of whiskey- which ends rather abruptly when the bottle runs dry. "It makes...subtle workings and the gathering of information fairly easy when you're overlooked by everyone. I was at least . . . fortunate enough to be working with Derrick during my Tenure, that I gained some faint glimpses of insight. Though, I imagine he acquired his own from his people observing moi." He neatly sets the bottle and glass down on the ground, before folding his hands across his lap, his thumbs twiddling against each other, "...I don't know if they've actively picked a side, or are simply acting with self preservation in mind. I can say, there are few others who could have so quietly managed an event like the dissapearance of an heir, and the suppression of any rumours surrounding it."

Larewen listened quietly, her lips pressed into a thin line. What she knew personally of Asharam was extremely limited—especially given the fact that Dragana was but a fledgling house in comparison. Her head tilted to the side slightly, a few errant strands of coffee-hued tresses obscuring her face. “If that’s the case, then perhaps Nasar is using that information to control Trintus. The question is, do we find proof of it? Or do we simply find a way to free Kaegan and return him to his father?”

Kasyr slowly shakes his head, though that particular motion ends a bit sooner than he'd like, a tinge of dizziness accompanying the motion as the alcohol begins to catch up to him. Right, Mortality, and all that. " Nasar likely put out the order, though I would be hard pressed in finding evidence, save in the form of a confession- and those can be... tricky to extract in a manner that wouldn't simply convince onlookers that you -told- them what to say. Finding and recovering the heir is the most rational decision. ...Also, ensuring that you're not contracting any members of house Asharam. What I told you es...not quite common knowledge. Et the specifics even less so. Ridding yourself of interlopers, and making sure they know that you're aware of their masquerade- but allowing it to continue, may provide some degree of...respect from Asharam. That you'll allow them to continue working should you come to prominence. I cannot promise that discussions will be possible, however, if he wagers that you'll be more of a liability then Colette is. He might view her as the more.. predictable candidate." It's at this point the Kensai pauses, before tiredly adding, "I would rather not have to put you down, should you decide razing the city in a fit of spiteful vengeance sounds appetizing." It's at this point he flops backwards onto the bed, one arm raising straight up, if only to point at her, "OR, as a justifiable sacrifice in the face of otherwise losing. Quand meme."

Larewen stared at the pointing finger, lips curling at the edges into a scowl. "If I was going to do that, don't you think I would have already? It's tempting. But the effort to rebuild, should other forces not intervene and end my life would be too costly, as I said before," she replied, a coldness creeping into her voice at what she regarded as a not so thinly veiled threat. "I will find the loyalties of my own house staff, and deal with it appropriately..." Her words trailed off. No, there had to be someone in her House at least that knew of her dealings thus far. A weak point, in which she'd missed in her thirst for power and her emotional upheavals.

Kasyr sounds pretty upbeat, despite the subject matter, as he does feel free to add, "I mean, it's not like your opposition would get to outlive you either- since there'd be at least a few heads who I'd be apt to murder for precipitating such an outcome- if you hadn't gotten to them first. You know, hypothetically et all." Kasyr also might be tipsy, all given. "Though, niceties aside- so long as the property damage is kept in check- I could ...probably convince a few people to help with certain of your endeavours, if it meant for a smoother transition of power. For instance- like accompanying you were you to establish a meeting with Asharam. Or ...helping to expedite certain unpleasentries. I'd just hope you'd do moi the courtesy of returning that support I've both provided, and continued to offer."

Larewen allowed a soft chuckle to part her lips, perhaps finding some sort of delight at the idea of her enemies dying regardless. She waited for Kasyr to finish patiently and then lifted her chin upward. "Kasyr, you know my allegiance remains with you no matter the outcome. I've been on the wrong end of things with you once before and it wasn't a pleasant experience. I'd prefer not to repeat that. We'll deal with Asharam and finding Kaegan, then go from there. However, before we approach that there is something I must do." Her gaze swept away from him then, focusing on one of the paintings. "Next we meet, I intend not to be the same woman that sits before you now. My emotions have cost me dearly, and I will be voiding myself of them in the future."

Kasyr allows himself a quizzical 'Hrm.' before tilting his head in Larewen's direction. "Whilst normally I'd be liable to tease you, et peut-etre inquire if that wasn't you hinting that this might be my last et only chance to woe you - et bien." The kensai pauses,giving Larewen what can only be said to be an appraising look, "I imagine this is an attempt on your part to rid yourself of the very rashness and anger your enemies have been playing off, in an effort to gain an advantage. Et I can't necessarily fault trying to get them under contro- but the means to that end, J'en suis curieux. Don't let this city take too much from you, or turn you into the monster people think you are. " For a brief moment, the kensai actually manages to sound concerned, before his attention flicks back towards the ceiling- I'm glad to know that I will have your support moving forward. I might be apt to request aid once we've managed to make progress on things here."

A snort of amusement found its way to the surface before Larewen summoned another cigarette from the tin she'd left downstairs. Lighting it and taking a long drag, she shook her head at Kasyr. "Too many times my emotions have gotten in the way when I could have attained greatness. I'd rather not feel than continue to be ruled by a soul that is perhaps a tad bit too passionate," she said, seemingly letting his remark roll off her. Fortunately she's beyond childish blushing. "This should have been finished years ago, but I've allowed myself to be distracted; I cannot continue to do so." Silence followed, in which the necromancer studied the prone male from where she sat. "I find power attractive. I don't think that's something that will change," she said, and this time a playful smirk teased the corner of her mouth.

Kasyr get's a wry look, "Well, at least I never have to worry about tu getting bored of my company... ooor taking too many issues with the afterhmaths of ..dispute resolutions in Vailkrin." The look becomes outright cheeky at about that point, though he can't quite stop himself from yawning. "And I suppose I can understand, since I've always found an appeal in trouble & mischief. Nonetheless, unless you have other bits of pressing matters that you feel need to be addressed- I suppose I'll be left simply looking forward to when you have a more..clearcut idea of what you're next doing. That, et how house cleaning went, et how productive it was." You chuckled at Kasyr and rose from the couch, inhaling another long drag from the cigarette. "Trouble and mischief prevents boredom," she agreed before taking note of the other's exhaustion. "I will comb House Dragana, and see what I can find out about Kaegan. In the meantime, be well." With those words, she made for the door.

Kasyr said to you, "A bientot, Madamoiselle Dragana"