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the senate floor
( ooc: The following video network transmission can be seen and answered by everyone in Ephes, including all characters in the party, politically oriented or otherwise. Key notes:
■ Everyone can tag in, threadjack or pose questions. Don't forget to introduce yourselves and your patron, if you want!
■ NPCs (politicians or rabble) can witness your characters' comments and also speak up, ask questions, cheer or boo as needed.
■ There is no private messaging available in this post.
■ Various Senators may be swayed to give you their vote, based on the speeches of fellow politicians and supporters of Messalina. Everyone else can assist and/or sabotage as needed!
■ This is dated to the Tenth Day of Chaining, before Maximus Faustus' banquet on the Twelfth. Consider the post OOCly available for tagging with NPCs until 4 October, but permanently available for threadjacking between characters! )
 | SPEAKER HORTENSIUS MAGNUS: Good people of Ephes, good women, good men. I come to bring you the wisdom of the Honourable Caius Justus, who, but for a greater calling, would walk today these sacred halls among us — |
 | A senator, muffled: Where is he? Where is Justus? Another, farther back: ...hasn’t been seen for days, for weeks, they say, what wisdom is this? With his whore, Valeria... A third, closer: He is alive, we know it sure? We know it certain? |
 | CAELIUS SILVANUS: Forgive our impunity, Speaker, but it is only fear and care that keep us grounded in our great uncertainty over the fate of beloved Caius Justus! Who, we do not wish to contend has abandoned his duties and obligations, before this honoured assembly and men of good standing, whom he has not conceded to see in — |
 | RHEA SABINIA: What care, Silvanus? You nip at his heels like a dog on a bone, you have no rest! |
| CAELIUS SILVANUS: I have a right. As do all men and women here, fine men and fine women, full not of whim and verve but of reason and inquiry, and we wish to know where. Is. Caius? What is to become of us? What of Mistress Messalina, whose plea remains unheard for months? |
| RHEA SABINIA: Father and mercy, these are the days of our Chained Father, you want to speak of war now? Repent and think better of your — |
 | MARIANUS VALERIUS: Though it pains me to agree, for we all know our past discontent, but Silvanus speaks with reason. A day of no qualms will never come. We have dead things at our gates, living in our villas, drinking our wine, and making demands of us! We must turn. Her. Away. |
 | MAXIMUS FAUSTUS: And why? |
| A senator, muffled: ...why? Another, farther back: He asks why! Maximus Faustus asks why! A third, closer: Well, isn't it obvious? Isn't it plain? |
| MAXIMUS FAUSTUS: Is it? Months past, we sent Captain Narula to task, we told him, raise us armies, and by the Chained God, he has done. The best, the finest of the realm, absent only the skilled command to win us victory. |
| MARIANUS VALERIUS: If he is so honoured and so accomplished, that feral wolf, Narula, why do you not entrust him? |
| SPEAKER HORTENSIUS MAGNUS: As we know, Caius Justus holds Captain Narula in great esteem, but has had his reasons to... |
| MAXIMUS FAUSTUS: Caius Justus is not here. But one thing is certain, in my heart, as should be in yours: he is a beloved son of Ephes, who in turn loves the mother citadel above all. He wishes her splendour and her growth, and Messalina would give it. |
| RHEA SABINIA: How magnanimous she is! She would give us our war spoils, won with our armies! |
| MAXIMUS FAUSTUS: Would you have us only gain reward, taking no risk? Have you won a single coin piece in your sour life? One must pay and compromise in any alliance! |
| MARIANUS VALERIUS: If she is so accomplished, why does she not conquer her citadels alone? Why does she not repel evil, and free her people? Why is she at our gate, begging? Are these not her people? Should she not speak to them, as we speak, brother to brother, in this assembly? Perhaps it is simply that the dead are not civilised. They cannot be trusted. They must be repelled. Why take chances against us? Against Ephes? |
| MAXIMUS FAUSTUS: Valerius, your father’s father owned ships for fishmongering, but by the Chained, have no fear, the stink has finally washed off you. You reek instead of cowardice! |
| MARIANUS VALERIUS: You dare? |
| SPEAKER HORTENSIUS MAGNUS: Sileeeeeeeeeeence! Silence! This assembly asks silence! It is shamed into rumination and overcome by the illustrious rhetoric of such esteemed speakers. The Senate will hear... from our youngest tribunes, good citizens and representatives, on such matters as Mistress Messalina and the dead. Our scribe will write down the opinions for the study of Caius Justus himself, and have no fear, Silvanus, he will soon be with us. Now, whoever has a learned opinion: speak. |
un: lockwood
In a rare display of patience, he listens for quite some time -the interlude with Hermione is especially entertaining- before speaking up. ]
You argue as if you have all the time in the world for such pettiness. You do not. [ He begins, using his powerful voice and very clear, sharp diction as best he can to rise above the babble of the senate gaggle. ]
In my world, shallow minds like to attribute motivations under the labels of "good" and "evil." More learned minds think, instead, in terms of "law" and "chaos". [ Lockwood, being Lockwood, you can bet there is some theater and jazz hands going along with this. ] In each instance we are discussing two diametrically opposed extremes, that ultimately at their very root, cannot exist without one another. Law cannot define itself without Chaos; Good cannot sanctify itself without Evil. [ Pause... ]
It is the same with Living and Dead. There will ever be conflict between the two states, but each defines the other, which means you are not going to be able to ignore the politics governing each side.
Aside from our esteemed Justus, have any of you spoken with Messalina? Have you heard, directly with your own ears, her reasons for knocking on your gates? Have you taken time to ask her questions, such as why she feels gifting you with lands won by your own armies is considered a fair trade?
More importantly have you asked yourselves how well Ephes will fare, in the long run, if it tries to stand alone against the Brotherhood? Do you honestly believe, you are in a position to repel the advances of the Undead Lieges, let alone ... expand your own interests so long as the Undead Lieges hold control over the unliving?
"Animals die for men to live. Men die for gods to prosper."
Looking around at this esteemed gathering, I see a lot of individuals who are powerful among the living, but little more than pawns to the dead. I think you have one, rare shot to retain your autonomy, and it is through this opportunity to work with Messalina.
You have a very narrow window in which to argue terms that are more favorable to you. You all are in danger of wasting it through petty bickering, and an inflated sense of your own safety.
no subject
SENATORS
A senator: What is he saying?
The second: That we're doomed. And out of time. And some poetry, or the other.
The third: Are we?
The second: Doomed, out of time, or poetry?
A fourth senator gives the longest of exhalations
The third senator: Not so foolish a question, is it? I don't think, me!
SPEAKER HORTENSIUS MAGNUS
Friends, colleagues, lend your minds and your ears to the matter at hand. He speaks of Messalina's advances —
MAXIMUS FAUSTUS
As have we all, for hours. And he is correct. Messalina is an opportunity.
CAELIUS SILVANUS
All the same, it is Caius Justus who must come here and share his thoughts.
MAXIMUS FAUSTUS
And if he doesn't?
CAELIUS SILVANUS
...what?
MAXIMUS FAUSTUS
We must prepare for the saddening eventuality that Caius Justus might not be available or willing to lead us further. And take action all the same.