Exactly. [ If she were there, there would be another nod, but rather a silence, measured, that Kitty has the correct of it. ] It means as much and as little as any other law mankind sets upon itself. Whether that's houses of parliament, kings, or the edge of steel. But it's purpose is very particular that way.
[ She hums to clarify it, picking her words. ] To put it simply, it's about the reputation that is won through actions, not words. It separates ahead of time who is worth your time, who isn't. The reason why is very simple of course, you want to know, to have seen, that the man beside you won't cut and run in the first sign of trouble, or piss in his boots frozen. Civil laws mean nothing, at that moment, when death comes at that speed. If you aren't proven that you will stand to your words, no one will want to deal with you.
Magicians dueled. And commoners suffered. Got caught up in the blast. [ Gladys, for one - She'd found her resilience when two magicians working out their honor almost killed her. ]
There won't be any blasts. This is done it swords, so thankfully, only we will be wounded.
[ There's a sigh, deep and long. ]
Unfortunately, I must. Apparently killing a dragon, capturing an elephant and not running away in battle is not enough for them when it comes to a Rifter. We are nameless, landless, and without universal people despite being lumped together. I've got to deal with them too much in my position so far, that it quickly becomes frustrating when I don't have the ability to have my word listened too.
And it will have one specific point. Beyond just myself. Not many rifters seem to care or notice these games, for better or for worse. It also recently became a crime to kill us. But the law is meaningless by itself. They need to know and see, that someone, someone who is as good as they, will come for them on their terms so even if they can pay off officials, they cannot buy off honour.
No, it's not. Not by itself. But it isn't by itself. It is coupled with the laws that Provost Thranduil managed to pass, that says we are no longer allowed to be murdered, which means we are now acknowledged as above animals.
[ The contempt in her voice, oh, can you hear it? ]
Now that we are, we will make them start treating us the same as everyone else. Form the same respect. It's a step, you are right, and perhaps, I make myself no more than their monster chasing their steps, but so be it. I've done it before.
[ she shrugs, even if its unseen. Not perfect, not at all, but a start. ] Nor do I intend it to be just for us. I will be attending the gathering, with another Rifter. Ioverth, the elf. He will be attending as my companion and equal in front of all those wretches. The will be forced to talk to him on the same level.
Exactly. They will be forced to stare down me, a rifter of not their faith, their lands, and an elf by the code that holds them together. They can't not acknowledge the rules, or that means all of it is meaningless, so it must be upheld, but that means I, and Ioverth, are of honour. Means we both must be listened too and acknowledged by that reputation.
What do I think will happen? I think that as soon as we use the rights we've been granted to push them to an uncomfortable place, they'll either decide those rights weren't actually what they said they were in the first place, or they'll work to get rid of 'em. I've seen that plenty of times. 'Oh, yes, of course, commoners have got the right to stand up in court and accuse magicians of crimes. All are equal in the law. Only, sorry, when the judge actually gets to decide, she always decides for one instead of the other.'
You've never had to be concerned with one. Believe me, there aren't fewer. There are more. Because the consequences mean a lot more to those in power than a court of law which they can bribe their way out of.
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rathercommon) wrote2018-06-25 09:47 pm
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[ She hums to clarify it, picking her words. ] To put it simply, it's about the reputation that is won through actions, not words. It separates ahead of time who is worth your time, who isn't. The reason why is very simple of course, you want to know, to have seen, that the man beside you won't cut and run in the first sign of trouble, or piss in his boots frozen. Civil laws mean nothing, at that moment, when death comes at that speed. If you aren't proven that you will stand to your words, no one will want to deal with you.
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[ Kitty shrugs. ]
Magicians dueled. And commoners suffered. Got caught up in the blast. [ Gladys, for one - She'd found her resilience when two magicians working out their honor almost killed her. ]
That's really how you want to prove yourself?
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[ There's a sigh, deep and long. ]
Unfortunately, I must. Apparently killing a dragon, capturing an elephant and not running away in battle is not enough for them when it comes to a Rifter. We are nameless, landless, and without universal people despite being lumped together. I've got to deal with them too much in my position so far, that it quickly becomes frustrating when I don't have the ability to have my word listened too.
And it will have one specific point. Beyond just myself. Not many rifters seem to care or notice these games, for better or for worse. It also recently became a crime to kill us. But the law is meaningless by itself. They need to know and see, that someone, someone who is as good as they, will come for them on their terms so even if they can pay off officials, they cannot buy off honour.
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Still. It's not like they respect powerful people just for being powerful here. Look at how they treat their mages.
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[ The contempt in her voice, oh, can you hear it? ]
Now that we are, we will make them start treating us the same as everyone else. Form the same respect. It's a step, you are right, and perhaps, I make myself no more than their monster chasing their steps, but so be it. I've done it before.
[ she shrugs, even if its unseen. Not perfect, not at all, but a start. ] Nor do I intend it to be just for us. I will be attending the gathering, with another Rifter. Ioverth, the elf. He will be attending as my companion and equal in front of all those wretches. The will be forced to talk to him on the same level.
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It's not like they even treat regular elves as their equals, let alone Rifter elves.
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Exactly. They will be forced to stare down me, a rifter of not their faith, their lands, and an elf by the code that holds them together. They can't not acknowledge the rules, or that means all of it is meaningless, so it must be upheld, but that means I, and Ioverth, are of honour. Means we both must be listened too and acknowledged by that reputation.
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[ Lakshmi you jumped into the fade on a half baked notion, Kitty is allowed a little scepticism. ]
What do you think will happen?
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But we aren't talking about laws, we are talking about reputation. Don't mistake the two things.
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