video; un: stargazer

[leicesters]

[Once things have calmed down with the doppelgangers and the vorest forest, there's something else left to be addressed. So, Claude addresses the network.]

Hi friends! Claude here. I haven't met most of you yet, so I suppose this would be a good time to say "nice to meet you", too. Hope your mirror images were nice to you and not... you know.

[Claude's sitting indoors by a sunny window in his treehouse apartment, his small white wyvern familiar snoozing beside him.]

As eager as I am to get to know everyone, what I actually wanted to talk about was the situation with Elphame. Since Arthur dumped the decision on what to do on our shoulders, we'd better figure out how to cast our votes.

For my part, based on past relations between Elphame and Camelot, invading Celliwig is out of the question. Humans and fae have waged wars here in the past, and it's taken a lot of effort to earn the peace they have now. Camelot has even been making strides to learn about fae and coexist peacefully with them. Given Celliwig is our best chance for communication, attacking would be completely counterproductive. Even if we did, there's no guarantee we'd succeed, so why risk it?

That said, direct negotiation hasn't worked either, so our two remaining options are to focus on slowly building up trust via trade links, or deal with matters on Celliwig's terms and accept their trials. Honestly, I'm not clear on the details on that, so if someone who knows more could get the rest of us up to speed, by all means...?

[He trails off with a shrug, then gives a sheepish smile.]

Anyway, I've waffled on for a while now! Long story short, I think our peaceful options are really the best shot we have at this, it's just a matter of deciding which is best. I'm really not interested in letting a violent old history repeat itself. Feel free to pitch in with your own thoughts... Maybe we can even come up with something better than what's already being proposed.

[He gives a lazy wave, before ending the feed.]


[ooc: threadjacking is welcome and encouraged! go wild]

Comments

Video; UN: Wildflower

[madcuriosity]

Why wouldn't we try the most peaceful method? If violence is just going to make things worse, than shouldn't we try something new?

video; un: stargazer

[leicesters]

That's one of the smartest things I've heard all day, little lady!

Trade and trials are our two remaining options, but they've both been tried before and don't seem to have gotten us very far. Something new entirely might be our best bet.

Video;

[madcuriosity]

[She blushes.]

Hmm... so what would be something new... What if we offered trials too! Trials for trials? We will do theirs if they do ours?

[leicesters]

Ooh, sounds fun. What kind of trial would you offer them, if it were up to you?

[madcuriosity]

Hmm.... well, it should be something challenging, but not impossible, something that you have to put real effort into, and not something where anyone would get hurt.

But I'm not even sure what that would look like or what would be difficult for them but not dangerous.

[leicesters]

Some kind of magical challenge, maybe? Then they can lord it over us and show how much better they are than us. That'd stroke their egos enough.

Then again, they might be insulted if we offered them trials in the first place, considering they're the ones who think we need to be proven worthy...

[madcuriosity]

Then someone who is very good at convincing people should be the one to suggest the idea.

But in the end, if they're insulted, won't that just prove they wish to go back to violence?

[leicesters]

Not necessarily. Diplomacy's a tricky business, and sometimes offending someone is just a result of differing values, or ignorance. It doesn't prove they're violent or want war or anything.

[madcuriosity]

I get called ignorant plenty, so perhaps I can be the one to suggest it?

[leicesters]

Who calls you ignorant? It seems a little unfair when they'd have the advantage in years.

But by all means, if you'd like to suggest it, go ahead. You seem very smart for someone your age.

[madcuriosity]

Well, no one here. But Mr. Hatter and Mr. Hare said it often enough, Humpty Dumpty as well among others.

Whom do I suggest it to? I've never had an audience with his Majesty.

[leicesters]

You could always write to him? I doubt you need a formal audience just to put forwards a suggestion.

[madcuriosity]

I've never written a letter to a king before. Do you suppose it's much too informal to start with "Dear Your Royal Majesty?"

Or should I try starting with "To his Royal Majesty, King Arthur the Once and Future King?"

Is that too formal?