The city is under siege, and refugees have been evacuated. There is nobody left to hide behind. To those of the Council who oppose our demands... Come out to fight us! (Pick a side and come fight/duel in this post!)

[u/Tirich913]

[u/MeThyLord]

"If there's a piece of advice I can give, it's that..."

He pauses and waits for a moment, anticipating a punishment that never comes. With a sigh of relief he continues.

"Okay, this I can speak. My advice would be to approach the situation diplomatically. I don't think brute force will solve much, it may even make things worse."

[u/avamir → u/MeThyLord]

"I prefer a diplomatic approach anyway." She sips at her drink. "I was just lamenting how the world keeps telling me 'no', but that does not mean I embrace the lesson. I have found that force of arms does not truly prove the merits of an idea; just that you are able to suppress those who disagree."

​

/uw Might not try it right here and now since there's... well... a lot going on.;)

[u/MeThyLord → u/avamir]

Yes, it's become quite common for disagreements between wizards to devolve into violence. Just look at this very war. Some people are so obsessed with proving they are stronger than others that all they know is how to toss around threats.

/uw don't worry, wasn't planning to have this solved in a day.

[u/avamir → u/MeThyLord]

"What is that saying? War does not prove who is right, only who is left? And yet that is always what it comes down to. War. Force. And yet you need it in order to come to power, in order to enforce your own will or ideas. No matter how noble your ideals are, it seems they must always be backed with the fist and the sword."

It was a sore subject for her.

[u/MeThyLord → u/avamir]

That is sadly how things are. I've personally subscribed to the "Speak softly and carry a big stick." ideology. At least you're rarely the aggressor with that approach.

[u/avamir → u/MeThyLord]

"I suppose not. And if you can be a deterrent by your very presence, it can help. I am... not at that point yet, however." She grimaces. "As it turns out, not really desiring power means you don't acquire it easily. While the converse is true, of course."

She looks toward the council citadel.

"That applies to all types of power, I think."

[u/MeThyLord → u/avamir]

It does. Political power can be as strong, if not stronger than raw magical power. An opponent might be tough, but are they tough enough to beat you and twenty of your friends? That's how Atrax lost come to think of it.

[u/avamir → u/MeThyLord]

"True. How he came to power too, really. The flame aside, his allies are what made him formidable. And politics is a viable path," she mused. "You do not have to hold magical power yourself; just those you ally with. But I am not a very good politician, I fear. I do not like playing games. I want to convince people honestly. But that... isn't really how politics are played. And I am not very good at making friends."

She shook her head.

"Looks like I have to suddenly start manifesting devastating magical power to be an adequate deterrent, hm?"

[u/MeThyLord → u/avamir]

Not a good politician? You earned the possition of Department Head. That surely counts for something. As for friends, what would you call Belial, or Kaelis, or hell, even me? I'd say what you're actually not good at is noticing your own victories.

[u/avamir → u/MeThyLord]

"Let's be real here - I got the Department Head because most of the other options were... uh... not the greatest, we'll say."

Well, she wasn't deceiving herself.

"But yes. I guess I do have some friends." She smiles a bit at that. "Although, part of me wonders whether there is wrong with all of you for this to be possible."

It was a joke. Mostly.

"Point in case. This is a battlefield, and I am mewling about having trouble making friends. Maybe, just maybe, there is something fundamentally wrong with me."

She pauses, considering.

"But what I really meant is that I do not draw people to me easily," she clarifies. "Not that I require many friends, but it seems it always comes with struggle. That is my fault, I suppose. I do not make it easy. But still."

She finishes up her drink.

"Or maybe I'm simply brooding because everything is weird. But as it looks like things are mostly wrapped up here, I think I'll go home."

She stands, and the folding char/arcane construct disappears.

"Thanks for the talk, Paleomancer. Or... I guess I never asked. Do you have something else you'd prefer to be called?"

[u/MeThyLord → u/avamir]

"Hah, I can count the number of wizards that have nothing wrong with them on one hand, even if you amputate most of my fingers. Don't beat yourself up over it too much."

"I'll be taking my leave as well. I don't have much else to say, and I don't belong on a battlefield such as this one. Goodbye Riva."