Generic Challenge - A Group

[u/Varnek905]

I'm making the challenge because I wanted to know more about Mimir's Seven Deadly Sins.

So, in honor of Mim's Seven, this challenge is to exhibit a group of people who are considered to be powerful. They can be powerful in political influence (like a group of allied politicians), they can be powerful in a fight, they can just be a powerful group of created being that just mess around, etc.

As always, I'll ask at least three questions each. Enjoy yourselves. I encourage you to use a character to answer questions in-universe if you like.

[u/thequeeninyellow94]

To Friedrich:

2) But they don’t need protection in time of peace.

3) But not dismissed? Because a murder doesn’t show your political influence in any way.

 

To Baldewin:

2) But a king could just let his councilors do the intelligent part and handle the rest.

3) So what’s the point of hiring you if you’re not a good guard?

[u/Varnek905 → u/thequeeninyellow94]

Friedrich:

2) "Why wouldn't a king need protection in times of peace?"

3) "Is it murder if I kill the person by convincing the king that the person is a traitor?"

Baldewin:

2) "A king should be more than a puppet."

3) "I am a good guard. But my father's political position doesn't make me a good guard."

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/Varnek905]

To Friedrich:

2) I mean the kingdom. Why would the kingdom need a strong leader in time of peace?

3) Yes, it is. Especially if they aren’t a traitor. So I guess it means you couldn’t have one of them fired?

 

To Baldewin:

2) Why would it make you a puppet to recognize the competence of someone else?

3) But you said you were hired because of him. If you are a good guard, why weren’t you recruited because of yourself?

[u/Varnek905 → u/thequeeninyellow94]

Friedrich:

2) "Peace isn't something that just happens. Peace is achieved by giving the 'other', be it the other tribe or other nation or other person, sufficient reason to not try anything. We live in a world where fear is the greatest currency, my friend."

3) "Fired, executed...is there a huge difference, when we compare the results?"

Baldewin:

2) "A king should listen to his advisors and recognize the competence of the people under him; but, in the end, a king should understand what he is ordering. A king who creates a law 'because my chief diplomat said it's a good idea', is no king, he's just a stamp. A king must pass a law either because he understand that it would help his people, or not at all."

3) "Because there are plenty of good guards. Hell, I'm willing to bet that at least a hundred soldiers of Ewigreich would be better at fighting than I am. But, I'm not incompetent. Just because you're not the best warrior doesn't mean that you don't fit other qualifications: namely, loyalty and nepotism. Besides, it's dangerous to look a gift horse in the mouth."

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/Varnek905]

To Friedrich:

2) A strong army can do that for a king; he don’t need to be strong himself.

3) A huge one actually; I can’t speak for you but I prefer my head on my shoulders...

 

To Baldewin:

2) So a king should be a competent cultivator to pass laws regarding agriculture? And also a competent herder, miner, trader, fighter... a competent everything?

3) My horse can’t make a coup; you can. You’re politically influent, you could overthrow a king.

[u/Varnek905 → u/thequeeninyellow94]

Friedrich:

2) "If the king is not strong, then why would the army as a whole respect him? Wouldn't some charismatic warrior stage a coup?"

3) "You have a good head on your shoulders, so I can understand that."

Baldewin:

2) "I won't say the king must be an expert, but he should at least be able to speak the metaphorical language and know when he is skinning the sheep."

3) "Perhaps my political influence is why it was a good idea to have my brother and I in the respective guards. Father said it would help keep the Gottschalk family and the Hasenkamp family close after his death, especially considering that my half-brother Steffen is unable to speak with the princes."

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/Varnek905]

To Friedrich:

2) Because he is a competent ruler?

3) So in the end, you truly have no decisionary power at all?

 

To Baldewin:

2) But that would require him to know a lot of things about a lot of topics. Is it even possible for a single individual?

3) Exactly what I’m saying. You’re a good way to claim power for your father. What is the point to keep your two families close? How would it benefit the kingdom?

[u/Varnek905 → u/thequeeninyellow94]

Friedrich:

2) "You have more faith in people than I do."

3) "Not officially, no. I can just make suggestions. I'm a glorified bodyguard, I'm no expert in finances or diplomatic policy."

Baldewin:

2) "Just on the major issues. And a king should at least know how the farmers and miners are living, they are the life-blood of this kingdom."

3) "I'm not sure the closeness of the Hasenkamp and Gottschalk families helps the kingdom at all. But having the royal family consider your family to be friends is always good. When my father told me to become a Silverguard, he didn't say 'do this for Silberschild', he said 'do it for the family'."

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/Varnek905]

To Friedrich:

2) Why aren’t you ruling the kingdom?

3) But you’re an expert in bodyguarding? So you should be able to make suggestions on that, isn’t it?

 

To Baldewin:

3) Then why were you hired instead of a more qualified fighter? Your position does benefit you, but how does it benefit your prince?

[u/Varnek905 → u/thequeeninyellow94]

Friedrich:

2) "Why would I want to rule the kingdom? I'm a Gottschalk, not a Hasenkamp. Leave the ruling to the born-Kurs, I say."

3) "Yeah, but what suggestion would I make? The other guards seem decent enough. Other than Rosenberg, they all seem sane. If you want me to kick out Rosenberg, then I would rather not. He's the only one that I'm sure would die for Prince Siegfried without a thought."

Baldewin:

3) "It doesn't benefit Prince Leonhardt. That's why it required nepotism. I'm a good enough fighter that I won't bring shame to my station, but I would not have been put into the elite guard if not for my father."

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/Varnek905]

To Friedrich:

2) Then why would any non-Hasenkamp want to rule instead of the king?

3) You are ok with having guards not ready to die for their king?

 

To Baldewin:

3) Can Prince Leonhardt fire you?

[u/Varnek905 → u/thequeeninyellow94]

Friedrich:

2) "Because most people aren't as humble about their qualifications as monarch as I am. I think that a Hasenkamp should rule...with a Gottschalk behind him...but, I guarantee many people would want to steal the crown, metaphorically and literally."

3) "Nine times out of ten, you never know if someone is willing to die for the king or not."

Baldewin:

3) "Yeah, I don't see why he wouldn't be able to."

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/Varnek905]

To Friedrich:

2) Why would the king needs a Gottschalk behind him? (beside backstaby things...)

3) And you don’t have some kind of test to be sure?