driftfleet | Sixth Blight

Entry tags:

Sixth Blight - video

Who: Riona and you!
Broadcast: Yus
Action: On the Blue Fish, if you'd like!
When: Now?

[There's the distinct sound of a canine sniffing nearby when the feed turns on. Anyone with an acute ear may also hear a different kind of sound, something akin to snuffling. The animal causing it is revealed a moment later. To those not from Thedas, it looks like a pink, hairless mole. But any Thedosian would know that it's a nug.

The camera pans over to Riona, who's feeding said nug while Kiter cautiously sniffs at the other animal. She shakes her head.]

A favor for a favor, I suppose. Sister Nightingale has fallen into one of those comas. For the time being, Schmooples here is in my care. If you were expecting to see her in the interfaith center, I'm afraid it'll have to wait. [She looks over at her puppy, smiling conspiratorially.] You and I will be brainstorming what to draw on her face. Tit for tat, too.

[When she looks back at the camera, her smile falters, and pronounced concern sets in its place.]

Also, Dr. Beverly Crusher seems to be missing. Normally I'd suspect she's gone home, but her things are still here and her name still shows up on the communication device. Something is amiss. If anyone has seen her the past few days, please do let me or any of the crew on the Blue Fish know.

[Her disappearance puzzles her, along with her obvious worry. It's not like Beverly to do that, and with them having left the planet, there are only so many places she could be.]

Those matters aside, we've now returned to the dull void of space and to confinement in our ships until we make land again. There's only so much to entertain in the fleet, especially when you've been here awhile. Recently, I returned home for a few months. Here only a handful of days passed, but it felt much longer. I find myself feeling a bit homesick. So, I have a request.

[She pauses, uncertainty flitting across her face. For a moment she glances down, and finds herself fiddling with her wedding ring, which she's recently gone back to wearing on her hand. She clasps her hands together and looks back at the camera.]

But first, I suppose I should introduce myself to those who don't know me. My name is Riona Cousland [And here there's the slightest pause, a moment of hesitation. She swallows the trepidation back.] Theirin. I've been here nearly eight months.

[Whatever caused her hesitation seems to have passed. She relaxes, and continues:]

In my time, I've heard quite a few things about people's worlds. Comparing them to Thedas - where I am from - always interests me. I love hearing stories, and I'm always happy to share ones from my world, in particular the ones of my home country.

So. Let's do an exchange. A tale for a tale. It can be anything you experienced, or perhaps a legend or fable from your world that you're fond of. And I will tell you one in return. Simple enough, and a good way to pass the evening, no?

[She smiles, wiggling her fingers in good-bye before shutting off the feed.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Riona snorts.]

Not at the time. Honestly, I don't think she would have taken up on the offer. She wanted to retain her position by any means possible. Which meant she was willing to ally with her father, despite that he let her husband die and was driving Ferelden to the brink of destruction with his choices.

[She shakes her head.]

After the disaster at Ostagar, Loghain turned away the Grey Wardens that came from the west to aid us, because he felt that Ferelden could handle a bloody Blight on its own, and he didn't want "Orlesian" Wardens in Ferelden territory, nevermind that Wardens do not associate with a nation. Not politically, anyway. Our ranks are divided up by region, but that's purely for structural purposes. But no, the fool was so paranoid about Orlais possibly invading us again that he turned away the Wardens and nearly destroyed Ferelden in doing so. On top of that, with his claim to the throne, he started a civil war during a Blight. So the forces were fighting each other rather than the darkspawn.

[It really was a damn miracle Ferelden survived the Fifth Blight.]

When Anora threw her support behind her father during the Landsmeet, I knew she couldn't be trusted. No matter what anyone says, I'll never believe that woman has Ferelden's best interests at heart. And my duty to my country - Warden or no - came first.

Well that is just idiotic. When you are on the losing side, you take what you can twist out of the winning one, and look for an opportunity to strike later. I am not entirely certain this Anora would have been any sort of decent ruler if she could not play her angle correctly.

[In other words, she never would have survived in Westeros politics. He shook his head and waited for her to continue her tale.]

...So what happened after her foolhardy coup failed?

I don't think she ever thought she was on the losing side. Her father was a formidable general and he did have support. He got outmaneuvered at the Landsmeet. [A wry smile.] They didn't expect to get outwitted by a young Warden, or for me to have garnered more support. Loghain made some... other questionable choices that I made sure came back to haunt him. Ones that I doubt Anora knew about.

[Riona did some serious investigating and turned up some nice evidence against Loghain. He did some awful shit.]

In short, he got out-voted at the Landsmeet. A majority of the nobles threw their support behind us Wardens. Loghain... refused to step down and take it. Only way to settle it was in a duel. [Something she wished hadn't happened.] Alistair fought him and managed to best him. He... was killed, as is custom. Poor Anora. [Her father's blood sprayed over her face and arms. Whatever Riona's opinion of her, she felt immensely awful for it. But Loghain had made his choice.]

Once Loghain was dealt with, that left the matter of the succession to the throne. Anora fought for her claim, and Alistair actually argued for his. It left the Landsmeet in a deadlock. So, Arl Eamon turned to me and had me be the deciding vote. Maker only knows why.

How could they not see they were on the losing side? They murdered a king before the entire world, then tried to take over on the tide of their betrayal. They didn't cover their tracks with any reasonable skill or cleverness. For the Seven's sake, they sent two agents who had no idea what they were doing to kill your Arl Eamon and didn't bother to make sure they had done the job or had escaped.

[He made a face.] Sloppy. Absolutely sloppy.

[However, he did fall silent at the rest of that, before he sighed.] ... a child should never watch their father be murdered. Even if their fathers are idiots. [Poor Ned Stark came to mind.] And why wouldn't they turn to you? Didn't you bring them an army from every different race in Fereldan? Seven, I would have voted you to be Queen.

[Well, he's not wrong.]

Point taken, though Loghain still had to upper hand thanks to him being a damned good general and tactician. On the field, anyway. He had his opponents scrambling, and he likely would have won the war if it hadn't been for Eamon.

[Tyrion's words make her smile.]

You certainly know how to make a girl feel good about herself. That said, it's not quite how it played out. Though I suspect that's why Eamon left the decision to me. Regardless of his reasons, I never saw it coming. I damn near shit my small clothes right there and then.

[Parts of the Landsmeet are a blur to her, but this moment she remembers vividly. She remembers turning her back and facing the rest of the Landsmeet, and seeing Leliana and the others looking at her and waiting for her decision.]

So scared. How was I supposed to choose, between a woman I couldn't trust and the man I loved? If I put her on the throne, I got to stay with him but I risked my country's future, not to mention I would end the centuries-long reign of the Theirin family. On the other hand, Alistair had no experience and... he'd be removed from me. How could I do that to him? Or to myself?

[She shakes her head, trying to focus.]

As I stood there, debating with myself, I thought, "Even if he's king, maybe we could still be together. Kings have had mistresses before." Granted he would go along with it. But - you know, I never told anyone this - I swear in that moment I heard my mother's voice. Like somehow she crossed over the Fade just to scold me: "Riona Ashlin, you are a Cousland, and Couslands are not mistresses of anyone, even a king." It was so vivid, because I damn near snapped back, "Well, what would you have me do? Marry him?"

[She can still vividly recall the burst of adrenaline when it took hold. Sometimes, she also wonders if maybe it had been her mother, somehow finding her way back just to help her when she needed it most. A sacrilege idea, but one she can't shake.]

It's funny... the longer I was a Warden, the more detached I felt from who and what I once was. I didn't feel like a noble anymore, and really, when you become a Warden you're supposed to cut off all ties and claims to such. But when I came to Denerim and spoke with the other nobles there... it brought it all back. My name still meant something to them. Still carried the same weight. That surprised me.

And it empowered me. In that moment, in that hall, it dawned on me what I had to do. If I was going to make Alistair king, I wasn't going to make him do it alone.

[Her eyes focus on Tyrion, and she smiles.]

I turned around, and I said, "Alistair will be king, and I will rule beside him."

[Yup. She literally up and declared herself queen. Because... #yolo?]

Edited (LAST EDIT I SWEAR) 2016-09-17 02:37 (UTC)

[Tyrion looked at her for a long, long moment at the end of that statement, before his eyes crinkled at the edges and he started to laugh. In fact, he laughed so hard that he nearly tipped right off his chair.

After he finally got ahold of himself - several minutes later - he was wiping his eyes, mis-matched eyes gleaming with humor.]

So what you are telling me is that you put together an army, seduced a bastard prince, and then named yourself Queen? If I didn't know you better ... I would have sworn you planned the whole thing.

[There is a mild look of indignatiomln here.]

I did not "seduce him". We fell in love!

[EXCUSE YOU TYRION.]

But ah... yes, the rest is true. [Sheepish smile.] I am sure others believe I somehow planned the whole from the start. Which... if they want to think I'm that cunning, they're more than welcome to.

[You are going to see that Tyrion is now covering his mouth so he does not get the snickers, Riona.]

Yes, and that makes it even more hilarious. You did this all out of the goodness of your heart - but it looks like a genius plan of taking over! Hah!

[He smirked at her then.] Nothing wrong with being considered cunning. It has always served me well.

Is this the part where I sit back and laugh evilly? Though I admit, I'm not very good at it.

[It comes out sounding pretty stupid, in her opinion.]

You're quite right. It's credit I don't deserve, but I'll take it. A ruler should govern with the respect of their people... but I'm not so naive enough to also not realize that a bit of fear doesn't go along with it, too.

I think your evil laugh would be more like a giggle, and that spoils the entire effect.

[He rubs his beard thoughtfully.]

You are a good ruler, Riona. Wise, compassionate -- but you know when to hold firm. You remind me of Dany, in that way. Although she is colder than you, and harder as well.

That's quite an assessment of me, from someone who has never seen me in action. I may prove quite terrible at it, for all you know.

You are too compassionate to be a terrible ruler, Riona.

Truly? I have often heard one shouldn't be too compassionate when ruling. Empathizing too much with one's subjects tends to blind them to reason.

That, my lady, is why you have advisors who can do the less compassionate parts for you. Who will point out when a stronger hand is needed. That way you do not need to sacrifice a tender heart.

[Her nose scrunches.]

I do have a few of those, and I'm sure they'd be more than willing to do as such. [She doesn't sound entirely pleased.]

[He looked at her, tipping her head.]

That, or you make the decisions on your own. That is a choice in itself. Are you willing to make the hard choices, Riona?

[She sighs deeply.]

It doesn't really matter. We're going to have advisors whether or not I want them. Alistair does, due to his inexperience, and frankly I'm not terribly well-versed in ruling a country, either. My father taught me how to run the teyrn, and that applies, but... well, one's a tad bit bigger than the other.

Having advisors doesn't bother me all that terribly, to be honest. It's just... one or two that I have that I don't particularly like but am stuck with.

[Tyrion arched an eyebrow at her, before tipping his head to the side.]

Riona, you are the Queen. Since you are the Queen, you and Alistair can choose whomever you want to council you. That is one of the pleasures of the crown.

That's not the issue. It's that Alistair does want one of them. And that one... his powers of diplomacy and politics are considerable. I respect him for that. It is just aspects of his character that I truly do not like. [She shrugs.] Like I said: essentially I am stuck with him. Alistair trusts him and wants him as an advisor, and I really have no grounds to argue otherwise.

... By the Seven, he must be a slippery bastard, then. You like me and I am one of the most devious people I know.

It's not his deviousness or anything. [Her expression darkens.] It's more his willingness to overlook - and at times partake - in the mistreatment of helpless children who were under his care.

[And now, Tyrion's expression darkens.] Then you shouldn't let him have any part of the council. Not if he abuses children.

...It might be better if I explain the whole thing.

[She takes a breath.]

When Alistair was born, Eamon took care of him as his mother, who was a maid at his castle, had died and his father, King Maric... well. [She sneers.] I suppose he couldn't be bothered. For the first few years, everything seemed well, from what Alistair tells me.

Then Eamon married an Orlesian cunt by the name of Isolde. [There aren't enough words for Riona's hatred of this woman.] There was a rumor that Alistair was Eamon's bastard. A rumor I can understand, and I suppose I can't entirely blame her for wondering if it was true. But what I do blame her for is the way she acted on it. She was horrible to Alistair. Belittled him, derided him, and eventually forced him to sleep in the stables. And Eamon did nothing to stop it. It continued until their son, Connor, was born. That's when Alistair got shipped off to the nearest Chantry.

[To be educated and to become a templar, or so Alistair tells her. Truthfully, Riona just sees it as them sending him away to be forgotten about.] Alistair's more or less put the whole thing behind him, and he respects and thanks Eamon for "taking care of him". I, however, am not so moved by his so-called generosity.

[Tyrion's eyes widened as she continued her story, and then he felt a faint stab in his gut of sympathy. He sighed softly, tapping his fingers against his leg briefly, before he answered soberly.] To be a bastard is a terrible thing - especially one that is treated like they are less than a person. Alistair has my admiration, for taking that weakness and turning it into a strength.

[He paused, then added a little more gently.] Would you not have thought less of him, if he had not had the courage, the strength, to forgive Eamon? Even if the man didn't deserve it.

I...

[That certainly makes her step back and consider it.]

I wouldn't have blamed him for not doing so, as I cannot bring myself to ever want to forgive him for doing as such to him. And yet, I suppose it would have been unlike him to not forgive him. Alistair is the type of man to look forward and not dwell much on the past.

Re: Private

tallasaking - 2016-10-19 00:48 (UTC) - Expand

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only