[GP] A Game of Politics

[Ranger Rick]

.....After listening to the others discuss courses of actions, Anguis frowns slightly. "May I be frank? In my measured opinion, you are treating this revolt too lightly. We must deal with these dwarfs, yes, but in my mind we need to send a definite message that whatever the grievance, our land will not tolerate wanton rebellion." He begins to pace slightly. "It may prove necessary to execute some of the leaders, I fear. Merely to make this message."

"If you approach them with that attitude, they will never come to the table. If you do capture them, than executing the leaders will not squash the rebellion, but merely post pone it. To squash the rebellion one must eliminate the legs. Go to the root and fix that. Than everything will follow. I do not want to make martyrs of the leaders."

 

[Rhialto]

Anguis turns to the Corona Austria member. "And if we deal with them--do as they say--grant them their demands--we send a message that we are willing to forgive rebellion against the state. That terror and violence against the government are legitimate forms of negotiation. Am I alone in seeing the danger of that? If we honor revolt than revolt will be honored, and whenever someone feels the Houses have not met their requests, they will use it. Treat one rebel well, you plant the seed for a hundred more."

 

[Rino]

"why are we discussing plans to get the situation solved whil we havent spoken with both parties. okay we can form ideas on what has to be done and suggestions can be made about what to do. but my point is that we have to go there and see for ourself how the situation is, and why the revolt has been taken place, all that information. THEN we can start working on a plan which will suit best. and ofcourse will we go for the plan that has the best long term prospects, we dont want to make this an annual trip."

[sblock] knowledge local 27 relation with neighbouring countries.

knowledge local 20 economy in the region of Tarsur

OOC: is there an person i can summon to give a msg or a small note? [/sblock]

 

[Ringmereth]

"Suppose the dwarves have a legitimate reason for their revolt?" asks Seguith. "If we make our goverment harsh and inflexible to those with honest grievances, it may squash small rebellions, but it will only lead to resentment and hostility on a wider scale. I believe I have unanimous support here when I say that our settlement must address the causes of this revolt, and resolve them permanently," the wizard says, hoping that for once his words will be found agreeable.

Knowledge: History and Knowledge: Local checks to recall anything regarding the history and problems of the dwarves.

 

[Rhialto]

"Suppose the dwarves have a legitimate reason for their revolt?" asks Seguith. "If we make our goverment harsh and inflexible to those with honest grievances, it may squash small rebellions, but it will only lead to resentment and hostility on a wider scale. I believe I have unanimous support here when I say that our settlement must address the causes of this revolt, and resolve them permanently," the wizard says, hoping that for once his words will be found agreeable.

Anguis turns to him. "If they had legitimate grievances, than we will deal with them, but I think they passed beyond being mere petitioners of the House's mercy when they started rioting in the streets." He clenches his fist. "If a man is robbed, he has a right to have the thieves brought to justice, not a right to track them down, and personally torture them to death. Whatever their troubles, these dwarfs have broken the peace, and that is a crime. Penalties must be paid for this, or we will legitimize their methods to the masses." He shakes his head, darkly amused. "Do you think that if we solve this problem harmony shall reign forevermore in our land? Of course not, and the next time a community has a complaint, if it is done your way, they will say 'Remember the dwarfs of Tarsur? They saw their wishes fulfilled,' and they will take up arms." He strides to the middle of the room, and looks over his fellows with an air of authority. "Do you not see we can not allow this? I am not calling for heedless slaughter--merely the arrest and punishment of those who have led these dwarfs into rebellion. We should try to see what has made the dwarfs do this, but we must also remind them that there is no excuse to break our land's law. Many speak of justice tempered with mercy--I say if justice is not tempered with pragmatism, than it will shatter, as any man realises he can break it."

 

[Twinswords]

It`s not about granting them all their wishes. It`s called a compromise. It would bad publicty if we slaugther our own citizens. This rebelion must be seen as explosion of several longtime issues. Personly i think we must look towards this as a social issue not as military one as our bloodthirsty cleric here proposes. We must remain calm, not create matyrs and slay the ones we are oathbound to protect, the people.

 

[Rhialto]

"These dwarfs stepped outside our protection when they took up arms, expelled national
troops, took an officer captive, and barricaded a street!" declaims Deacon Fevre hotly. "These are not people coming to court with a complaint! They are people up in arms against legitimate authority! I care not if their reasons be the most excellent in the world--it is still against the law, and it still must be punished!" He takes a deep breath and glares at Sarrom. "And bloodthirsty? I am bloodthirsty? The good Bishop Ban, a mere two centuries ago, had his troops raze the rebellious city of Hadrear to the ground, killing all its inhabitants, assuring his men that Orr would sort the guilty from the innocent! I am calling for the just slaying of rebel leaders who have treasonously rose against their own government, while granting mercy to their followers! Believe me, woodsman, there are those in the Church who would consider it justified to slaughter every dwarf who took up arms, a course of action I am for avoiding, if possible. I tell you all--we cannot let rebellion go unmarked!"

 

[Ringmereth]

"Calm yourself, Deacon," Seguith says quietly. "This is a governmental assembly, not a mob of radicals from the Church. As such, we need not compare our potential solutions to the more barbaric peices of your history. We must consider what options these dwarves had; we do not know whether or not they had previously tried and failed to bring their concerns to attention legitimately. If that is the case, then we may find the blame on the shoulders of inept governance, not unruly citizens. In any case, if we come to the dwarves seeking the heads of their leaders, negotiations will be impossible. Before we make arrests or executions, we must learn the full scope of the situation. And I would add that taking the lives of the dwarven revolutionaries may not be justified; from what we know, they have killed no one."

 

[Ranger Rick]

Eimhin listens to Deacon Fevre hot decree for blood than very quietly he looks at Deacon Fevre and says, "I must read a different set of newspapers. I do not recall reading nor hearing about this bloodshed. How can I miss hearing about 'taking up arms, expelled national troops, took an officer captive, and barricaded a street!' While I trust you are not exaggerating, I assume you are getting this information second or third hand.

I propose we set up an office of inquiry into these allegations. Yes I said allegations. Let us find out the truth before we perform the genocide Deacon Fevre is advocating.

Lastly, quelling a rebellion without fixing the symptoms only leads to a better bloodier rebellion next time.

 

[Rhialto]

Anguis eyes the Corona Austrina member with just an edge of contempt. "Tell me, sirrah, when you heard they had stormed the barracks, did you imagine them gaily dancing up to the gates while strewing flowers? When you heard they'd taken the Captain's Quarters, did you imagine they did this to drink tea with him? When it was mentioned that they had barricaded the streets, did your ears miss it? This is revolt, nothing more or less. I have not once suggested genocide, and oppose it as do you. It is my feeling, however that one of our first acts must be to imprison the leaders of this rebellion and render them up to the land's justice. The law is not served by caving into those who would flout it." He steps forward, his demeanor icy. "And I will not be slandered, especially by a scion of those panderers to the rabble that the mercy of the Council and the divine Orr have made a house. You may fool man, sirrah, but Orr is all-knowing, and He has seen through your blasphemies, and when the proper time is come, He will topple you. Authority rests in God, not man, and your house will learn fear when He so instructs you." Deacon Fevre takes a deep breath and then sits down. "Enow. I'm weary of pointless debate. I have made my arguments known--it is up to others now to see if their wisdom is seen, and they are followed." He slumps down in his chair.