04-20-2018, 12:20 PM
hold me in this wild, wild world
'cause in your warmth I forget how cold it can be
'cause in your warmth I forget how cold it can be
This is the part of running - and ruling - a Kingdom that he has always avoided. He had leaned hard on his reputation as a warrior of great repute, and avoided being sent into the field as a diplomat by all but his most shrewd Kings (though he had escorted no small few of the Tundra’s diplomats into uncertain situations to serve the role of silent protector, as even now he plans to send Leilan out again with Kori when they return, and has Mosrael out to watch Jesper’s). Not out of any lack of aptitude for the role of envoy, but simply because he found it better on the whole to be underestimated. Certainly it had served him well in this era, with Krone and Klaudius completely floored by the support a stallion they must have thought to be all brawn and no brains had managed to set against them. But with the ascension to the head of his order rather than his typical position at the head of their fighting forces, Brennen knows that amongst allies at least he is safe to drop the act. Hestia, he is sure, would rather have a King of Ischia who she can count on to think things through, not rely on solely their military prowess.
In that vein, he considers her first response, seeing the caution and the sense in her words. Personally, he has found it safer for people to know of his own traits and be intimidated by them than to hold them in secret reserve, but he knows that even amongst his own children that is not the only opinion. Do they not guard Cagney’s secret skill fiercely, for fear of the danger a reveal of role in past events would put him in? The argument is sound, and such conversations as these are what makes allies more valuable, for the wealth of their combined minds. “Eminently sensible,” comes his quiet agreement along with a nod, and that matter is concurred upon, leaving them free to discuss a more broadly fundamental issue, and one he is already weary of addressing despite it having been not even a week since the mutiny.
But, he has not spent five decades cultivating the mask of perfect stillness and patience just so he can act like a dumb warrior when the mood strikes him; not an iota of his weariness of his impatience with those like Durotan who accuse him basically as seeing women as inferior shows in his face or posture. The young men flanking him both have things to say on this score, and Brennen lets them, trusting to these two not to blunder into saying anything he can’t recover them from. They prove worthy of that trust, and when either of them glances at Brennen for affirmation he offers it with a small smile, chiming in to fill the silence only when they have finished, to give Hestia his personal words on the issue. ”Ischia and the Brotherhood will not turn away anyone willing to swear themselves to our tenants, regardless of gender or any other factor. The spirit of the Tundra is alive and well amongst our people, new and old, but we are not the Tundra.” Nothing reminds him as firmly of this as residency on a tropical island, which is as far from the Tundra as one could ever hope to get. “I believe so far the consensus on shorthand for the tenets we are formalizing for ourselves is ‘All for one and one for all’.” He adds the last with a quirk of a smile, personally pleased by the way his Brothers’ ideas for their future have aligned with his own.
“But even without purposefully excluding anyone, there will be those who do not fit into our lifestyle or tenets. I think it would not be wrong if two closely allied Kingdoms to suggest to those who do not find a place amongst us that they try our sister-Kingdom first before going out into the world to look for something else.” Indeed, some have already departed with the change. Belgaer feels the loss of Krone the hardest because he had grown old enough to choose to stay and serve Ischia under her, but Brennen felt Astarael’s departure the truest, because he is unsure where he failed his second-youngest daughter. He glances at Kori, and expounds upon his idea. ”Our recruiters would also be happy to mention Nerine to anyone they’re talking to who simply isn’t showing interest in Ischia.” It’s always fun to have a little healthy competition amongst friends, Brennen especially enjoys vying with Scorch over recruits in the Field, but there’s no reason why they can’t help each other out a little when those they speak too for whatever reason aren’t interested in their primary offers.
A pause, and then he moves on, thoughtful again with a tiny frown and a look of concentration. “As far as representatives go, I seem to be overflowing with Scorch’s children, but they are Ischians now and not representatives of Nerine. Likewise, I have a daughter likely to leave us for your shores soon, but as she wishes to distance herself from my shadow, Bristol will most likely pledge herself to Nerine. It seems to me that having a productive adult living within the other land full time would be a silly use of our resources; but perhaps a schedule to our visits so we stay up to date? Or some variation of foal training or exchanges like times of old.” he glances at the boys and at her, looking for input here. He is old-fashioned and would be perfectly happy with working towards sealing their alliance with shared children and blood, but this a new world and adjustments might have to be made.
”Looking towards the outside world, where does Nerine stand with the other Kingdoms? I do not wish to make any agreements elsewhere that would put us even tentatively at odds.” While he admires the very-neutral Falls of old, he knows that having alliances can make other relationships tricky. “For us, Krone and her family left to settle in Tephra, but I cannot see a King wise enough to have held his throne as long as Warrick choosing to make an enemy of us for something like our peaceful takeover. Personally, I have a fondness for Hyaline. As for the others, I know nothing of them until my other diplomats have gone and come back.”
In that vein, he considers her first response, seeing the caution and the sense in her words. Personally, he has found it safer for people to know of his own traits and be intimidated by them than to hold them in secret reserve, but he knows that even amongst his own children that is not the only opinion. Do they not guard Cagney’s secret skill fiercely, for fear of the danger a reveal of role in past events would put him in? The argument is sound, and such conversations as these are what makes allies more valuable, for the wealth of their combined minds. “Eminently sensible,” comes his quiet agreement along with a nod, and that matter is concurred upon, leaving them free to discuss a more broadly fundamental issue, and one he is already weary of addressing despite it having been not even a week since the mutiny.
But, he has not spent five decades cultivating the mask of perfect stillness and patience just so he can act like a dumb warrior when the mood strikes him; not an iota of his weariness of his impatience with those like Durotan who accuse him basically as seeing women as inferior shows in his face or posture. The young men flanking him both have things to say on this score, and Brennen lets them, trusting to these two not to blunder into saying anything he can’t recover them from. They prove worthy of that trust, and when either of them glances at Brennen for affirmation he offers it with a small smile, chiming in to fill the silence only when they have finished, to give Hestia his personal words on the issue. ”Ischia and the Brotherhood will not turn away anyone willing to swear themselves to our tenants, regardless of gender or any other factor. The spirit of the Tundra is alive and well amongst our people, new and old, but we are not the Tundra.” Nothing reminds him as firmly of this as residency on a tropical island, which is as far from the Tundra as one could ever hope to get. “I believe so far the consensus on shorthand for the tenets we are formalizing for ourselves is ‘All for one and one for all’.” He adds the last with a quirk of a smile, personally pleased by the way his Brothers’ ideas for their future have aligned with his own.
“But even without purposefully excluding anyone, there will be those who do not fit into our lifestyle or tenets. I think it would not be wrong if two closely allied Kingdoms to suggest to those who do not find a place amongst us that they try our sister-Kingdom first before going out into the world to look for something else.” Indeed, some have already departed with the change. Belgaer feels the loss of Krone the hardest because he had grown old enough to choose to stay and serve Ischia under her, but Brennen felt Astarael’s departure the truest, because he is unsure where he failed his second-youngest daughter. He glances at Kori, and expounds upon his idea. ”Our recruiters would also be happy to mention Nerine to anyone they’re talking to who simply isn’t showing interest in Ischia.” It’s always fun to have a little healthy competition amongst friends, Brennen especially enjoys vying with Scorch over recruits in the Field, but there’s no reason why they can’t help each other out a little when those they speak too for whatever reason aren’t interested in their primary offers.
A pause, and then he moves on, thoughtful again with a tiny frown and a look of concentration. “As far as representatives go, I seem to be overflowing with Scorch’s children, but they are Ischians now and not representatives of Nerine. Likewise, I have a daughter likely to leave us for your shores soon, but as she wishes to distance herself from my shadow, Bristol will most likely pledge herself to Nerine. It seems to me that having a productive adult living within the other land full time would be a silly use of our resources; but perhaps a schedule to our visits so we stay up to date? Or some variation of foal training or exchanges like times of old.” he glances at the boys and at her, looking for input here. He is old-fashioned and would be perfectly happy with working towards sealing their alliance with shared children and blood, but this a new world and adjustments might have to be made.
”Looking towards the outside world, where does Nerine stand with the other Kingdoms? I do not wish to make any agreements elsewhere that would put us even tentatively at odds.” While he admires the very-neutral Falls of old, he knows that having alliances can make other relationships tricky. “For us, Krone and her family left to settle in Tephra, but I cannot see a King wise enough to have held his throne as long as Warrick choosing to make an enemy of us for something like our peaceful takeover. Personally, I have a fondness for Hyaline. As for the others, I know nothing of them until my other diplomats have gone and come back.”
hold me in this wild, wild world
and in your heat I feel how cold it can get
and in your heat I feel how cold it can get
BRENNEN