Date: February 24, 1998
Place: Garden - Palladium - Haven
Cast: Damaris, Raziel
Scene: Raziel and Damaris converse about recent activities in Haven, including the confrontation in the Rialto between Khalid Atar and Samein of the Delphi, as well as the increased Varati troops in the city. Then they lapse into a debate about the Empyreans' role among the races--whether it be as conquerors or as "shepherds."

Raziel walks from the living quarters towards the atrium, his head high and his wings slightly extended. When he sees you, he changes his course to intercept you, his wings folding down tightly behind his back. "Lady Damaris," his face splits into a wide smile.

Damaris turns toward you after plucking a grape form one of the garden vines. "Ah, Lord Raziel..." she smiles pleasantly. "I thank you. And how are you faring, after your encounter with the great God-King?" she quirks a wry brow.

Raziel puts his fingertips delicately to his lips. "I see I made the gossip, oh dear. I am quite well, I am pleased to say. It was most noble of the Archmagus to cede his rights in favor of the Varati king's wishes, allowing all an honorable conclusion."

Damaris chuckles, holding the grape up to the morning sun, admiring its glowing translucent flesh. "Be glad you lived to hear the gossip." she pops the grape into her mouth and chews daintily. She starts walking again through the garden, nodding at you to accompany her.

Damaris says, "So tell me, from your own perspective, what has been happening with Khalid Atar? I'm most curious; I heard about fireballs and so forth. Singed feathers can be most unpleasant."

Raziel walks along beside you, clasping his hands before his chest - a gesture that seem slightly affected. "Oh, little danger of that, the Varati are hardly barbarians, after all. And outside his embassy, even the Khalid is bound by Haven's laws." He looks about. "Our conversation is to be kept strictly between us, is it not?"

Damaris turns to look at you, a small, reassuring smile passing her lips. "Indeed they are not barbarians. But prodding them can be unwise." her own grey gaze meanders across the garden, and returns to yours. "If you wish it to remain between us, so it shall."

Raziel moistens his lips with the tip of his tongue. "His Imperial Majesty is not long for this world. I know it isn't something that is considered a good topic of conversation, but nevertheless, it is true, and everyone knows it. Everyone prays and hopes for a miracle, but we're not here to watch the Delphi healers tend to him -- but rather so you can see the young ones training at Delphi, and choose a successor from them."

Damaris nods a bit brusquely. "I'm quite aware of his Imperial Majesty's plight, and our mission. How does this tie to Khalid Atar?"

Raziel says, "The Khalid comes here, and now of all times. He starts bringing in new troops... he starts challenging the law of Haven... He's testing his limits, to see how far we will let him push without a fight. He's only now reasserting his control over the Varati throne, and now, in our nation's time of peril, he's testing and pushing. My perspective of what happens with Khalid Atar? He intends to take everything he is allowed without a fight. Before starting to take those things we will fight over."

Damaris folds her hands together. "Has he said as much? It was my impression that he brought in extra troops due to an attack..."

Raziel frowns. "Of course he hasn't said as much. Who but a infant would say 'I intend to take from you and take from you, to see how long you will let me.' And yes, he brought in troops after one of his border villages was attacked. A village quite a long distance from here, and without even a tenth the protection. What raiders would dare attack the likes of Haven? All four nations would rise to protect it."

Damaris smiles mildly to herself, but her eyes narrow a bit at the infant comment. "Infants are the ones who get what they want...because of their gleefully blind disregard for others. They're dangerous that way. But one must be firm, not abusive.." her voice trails off, then she turns to you again. "Were you sent diplomatically to the Khalid?"

Raziel shudders slightly. "A diplomat? Most certainly not. I have far too much work, tending to the affairs of my House."

Damaris tilts her head. "But it sounds as though you had the time to stir trouble with the Khalid. Where does Lysander stand in all this? I've just arrived but recently, and have not yet conversed with him."

Raziel shrugs his hand dismissively. "I merely went to the Rialto, to see what it was that so delayed my servant. And there what do I see? The King of the Varati, engaged in an argument with none less than the Archmagus. Now how could anyone of gentle birth allow the poor figure of the Archmagus, to be threatened by a man surrounded by armed guards? A man who was blatantly and publicly defying the law. Such is our duty to the government of Haven, who are so kind to our Empyre.

Damaris nods thoughtfully. "Explanation accepted, then. And such is our duty to Delphi, which nourishes our future Emperor." she plucks another grape with a quick flip of her wrist. "Who else among the Empyreans is in town that I should know of?"

Damaris's questions have a vague quality to them, as if she probably knows most of the answers to what she asks, but is interested in how you respond.

Raziel considers. "With now you and Lord Acesius, and of course, his Imperial Majesty, the only person of consequence that comes to mind is Stavros Hesperidas, the praetorian Imperator."

Damaris nods. "Good, good." she changes the subject from briefing you about current politics; her tone becomes more conversational. "How is your House faring of late? I don't believe I've become acquainted with the rest of House Thanatos and its holdings."

Raziel bows his head. "I fear the House of Thanatos is in grieving, my uncle Severin, the brother of my father, Lycaon, died only over a month ago. His widow, Helena, has come to Haven to stay with me during her grief. I am sure you will meet her about the Palladium. Otherwise, the last years have been blessings, the lares seem to have an interest in my success.

Damaris bows her head briefly as well. "You are a pious man, Lord Raziel. The blessings are surely deserved. But you have my condolences on your loss, and I will delight in meeting Helena."

Raziel steeples his fingers and taps them against his lips. "You've worked very hard, to spare our people the ravages of war."

Damaris smiles slightly, wryly, folding her hands behind her back as she walks. "But it's never hard enough. Just look at our societies now. It's so much easier to say, "Let's battle the Varati.." It's difficult to prove to folk that that is not the answer..."

Damaris says, "And sometimes...I lack answers."

Damaris's wings ruffle faintly, like a sigh, and she stares ahead into the distance.

Raziel pushes his hair back behind his ear. "I pray that the Khalid does not make all of your hard work come to naught. But I also pray that, in standing for peace, we do not allow him - or anyone - to take advantage of your noble goal."

Damaris nods. "How do we stop the grabbing hand without slapping it..?" she inquires rhetorically. "I want to talk with that hand. To talk with Khalid. Lines need to be drawn."

Raziel nods, whispering, "The ancestors guide you. I know you will take great care, Lady Damaris, but I warn you - if you ask too strongly for peace, the likes of Khalid Atar will think it is because we are afraid."

Damaris shakes her head. "No." and more forcefully, "No. Not because we are afraid. But because we respect the dignity of all the races. Because they have the right to develop free from subjugation!" she shakes her wings emphatically. "Fear is out of the question. The Empyreans can go to war, and can succeed. But we should not do so in order to control the world.."

Raziel nods. "And yet, isn't that precisely what our ancestors desired? What was it that Zeus wished for his children, but that we should rule the world? Is it honoring his memory, to strive for less?

Damaris shakes her head. "The Empyreans should not rule, but guide the world to growth. It is more to the spirits' honor that we should improve and assist with wisdom, than to treat the other races as beasts to be harnessed. They have much to offer us, and vice-versa."

Raziel whispers softly, "There are those who say that you sound too much like Emperor Adonais of Archeus."

Damaris looks sharply at you. "Including yourself, Thanatos? There is similarity in my words, I admit. I declare, rather. But the similarity is exaggerated. Aether must remain separate from Earth. And the races must remain unique and proud, even as they grow and share."

Raziel looks into your eyes. "Peace is one thing, Lady Damaris. It is a hard heart that can desire to see the ground covered in blood, and to hear the calls of the dying. But the others - they hardly want us to guide them, and I'm not so certain you're correct in their being more than beasts.

Damaris's gaze is no longer sharp, but rather solemn. "The guidance I speak of is not the forced guidance of one who picks up a child and carries it across the carriage path, but that of offering new paths. Untying the apron strings. Educating the child. And so on." she heaves a sigh. "The others think. They feel. The are born, they communicate, they love, they die. They are not beasts."

Raziel says, "Some of the Sylvans would probably argue that, but I shall not. Higher than beasts, then. But as you say - more children than brothers. It is the legacy of the thunderer that we, his children, should rule. How sad I think he must be, seeing what has become of his empire. Is there not a middle course? Where we do not descend upon them to slaughter, but yet neither rob our children of their birthright?"

Damaris says, "Is an Empyrean child's birthright, then, to be the strangled hopes and oppressed dreams of other people? Then may I never have a child. And if I do, may she grow up in a world of peace among the races. In a world of freedom, where she can find her own path through the strength of her own character and learning."

Damaris says, "And where a Sylvan, a Varati, and Atlantean child can do the same...next to her."

Raziel unfurls his wings slightly. "That's all any of us wish, that someday our children can fill the skies with their laughter, and grow up to do anything they wish. But Varati... they're not like us, Lady Damaris. Their children can no more stand beside ours, than they could soar beside them. No, I'm afraid I have to disagree with you -- the ancestors were very clear, they desired to give the entire world to us, their children. To call the others our equals, in utter disregard to both the Lares, and the evidence of our own senses -- it seems somehow impious."

Damaris smiles vaguely, but it is not a genuine smile, rather a remorseful one. "And you and remain at an impasse again, Raziel. You are an intelligent man. But you must learn that it's not necessarily impious to think, and wonder, and look at things from a different angle. The Empyreans have richly capable minds for a reason." she places her hand on your arm lightly, briefly, a small gesture of continued respect. "We will stop arguing the equality of the races for now. But as for the matter of potential war and bloodbath, it must be avoided. I beseech you, as a noble, to begin thinking along this path. Your opinion will most likely be significant."

Raziel looks at the ground, "You are an amazing woman, Tritonia. And such I feel confident in calling you, even as it likens you to the goddess. So much like her, you are. And yet, not only the patron of wisdom, she is the patron of war, as well. I do not understand you, but I always find that I like you -- Whatever minor influence I have with the others of the Aegis, I will side with you, if it will keep our children from dying by the sword. Even if we never agree on anything else, at least we both want peace."

Damaris watches you as you look at the ground, waiting for you to meet her calm grey gaze again. "I thank you for your words, and your faith. I know my purpose is difficult to understand. But it's based on a confidence in the fact that conflict can be resolved between minds rather than swords and spears." she nods to you slowly, regally. "Phoebus climbs high in the sky, and as you said, you are a busy man. I'll take my leave of you now, but perhaps we can meet for a repast soon."

Raziel bows slightly towards you. "I would like that, very much. Thank you, Lady Damaris. But you have no need to thank me -- when I side with you, it is because I think your actions are for the good of the Empire. And if I do you any favors, it is because I wish you to remember me. The star of the house of Thanatos is rising, and after several generations, it is time again - I feel - to have it represented in the Aegis. For now, however, I bid you a very very good day."

Damaris nods. "And to you, as well." she strides across the garden, toga rippling around her in the breeze until she's gone.

FIN  

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