motivates seiko to play aglovale

[drachenritter]

Siegfried would like to believe that he is able to be subtle, or at least act in a manner that is least likely to arouse suspicion. He has taken a number of approaches towards this, including travelling in the night and avoiding well trodden roads in favour of hidden corners and valleys of places to avoid being seen. What Siegfried didn't count on, was the fact that he would be spotted by those who knew him. He believed that he wouldn't be of any interest to anyone outside of Feendrache, but clearly fate had other plans for him.

He was to investigate Wales, not as a Feendrache spy but simply as an outsider curious to help his friends. This was in no way in any official capacity, but he did have his suspicions. Wales was prospering, the streets peaceful and everyone seemed to be happily living their lives in harmony while singing praises of their leader, the Lord of Frost Aglovale. As long as they trusted in Aglovale's leadership, then Wales would continue to prosper. But unknown to most citizens, the way that Aglovale approached things was to be utterly ruthless and crush everything that would bring harm to Wales. And this included rampant capturing of neigbouring lands that had been unstable by his machinations.

While Siegfried couldn't prove anything, he had his suspicions. And his suspicions were rarely wrong. What he didn't count on was being spotted by Aglovale. While he had taken up temporary residence in a run down inn outside the city, the Innkeeper nervously knocked on his door saying that there were members of the Imperial Frostguard who were there to see him. Siegfried was ready for a fight and was surprised when the said soldiers instead handed him a letter with his name written on it. He blinked, unsure what to make of this most curious incident. When it was clear that the Frostguard wouldn't leave, he opened the letter and read it.

It was a formal invitation to the palace. This was a trap, it had to be. The way it was worded suggested that Aglovale would not take no for an answer. Plus as much as he could fight off an entire platoon of soldiers by himself, sometimes the most prudent course of action was to go with the path of the least resistance. At least this way, he could perhaps question the man about his intent more directly. Folding up the letter again, he indicated that he would follow the soldiers. Quietly. With his belongings.

The formalities of a royal court made him deeply uneasy as he stood in his armour, helmet on and sword strapped to his back ready for a fight if it ever came to it. Aglovale's throne room was grand and displayed all the splendor that reflected Wales' current prosperity. It also made Siegfried out of place, the lone sliver of darkness amongst all this displayed light. Aglovale himself had not made an appearance yet, but he wagered that he would soon. After all, the tone of his letter indicated that Aglovale had indeed, been expecting him.

Part of him wondered whether he was careless that this had come about or simply unlucky and that he had no chance in escaping this encounter whether he liked it or not. Regardless, he hoped that this would be as painless and swift as he could possibly make it.

Comments

[cryoseism]

It is a tiresome game to play when you are already set in motion for victory, but the opponent often chooses to drag things out, nevertheless, prolonging the inevitable. Every single time they resist they do so only by throwing unrealistic hopes of being rescued by some grand miracle of the Good Samaritan. Of course such things never come to pass—time and time again. Life provides surprises, but the fundamentals of human nature and their barebone existence as selfish and in their insatiable need to abandon each other always prevail in the end. Disgusting, unworthy, denizens of evil that need to be constantly reigned in by an unyielding force that understands the core reality of what must be done to protect them from themselves and prosper.

However, there's always a little something out there seeking to undermine everything he's done, trying to put a kink in meticulously devised plans. Aglovale supposes there are plenty of reasons, but none really matter after all. He's the solo puppet master in this grand performance and he would most certainly not allow any show stealers, especially this early on.

Opening the door to the throne room, Aglovale enters from the side, and there's a sharp movement of his heavy cape that almost seems to sweep something away into the darkened shadows before stepping past grand pillars into the light of the throne room.

"Siegfried," Aglovale greets the man by addressing him rather warmly. "It has been quite some time since we last met. I would never have imagined seeing your face once more before my younger brother's."

Here they are, though. How incredibly insulting of Feendrache to try to putting its nose into affairs they are not welcome. Didn't the country have enough of its own perils needing to be addressed?

"Please pardon the intrusion on your time, but to not treat the Dragonslayer of Feendrache as a proper guest of Wales is both uncouth and... well, subject to suspicion," Agovale explains as he sets his winter gloves into the hands of a waiting servant that is also ready to take his heavy robe. From the looks of all things, the king of Wales seems to have been out until the last minutes before arriving to meet Siegfried. He is fully armored, and, of course, notes Siegfried's own rather menacing appearance in his own armor, but the lord of Friday makes no immediate move to address that Siegfried seemed rather prepared for any potential hostilities. (—And whyever would that be unless he is indeed not one Aglovale should be welcoming here.)

"Now, do tell me, what brings you to Wales so suddenly? We received no notice, which, as a result I hope you may pardon any crudeness while attempting to properly prepare for you."

Aglovale is polite, he is all smiles, but his eyes are fierce and calculating and make no attempt to hide his suspicions that Siegfried being in Wales brings no fortune for the country along with him. He considers himself fair and just in his considerations before making any decisions it conclusions, so of course Siegfried's own explanation mostly holds value in how this meeting plays out.

[drachenritter]

His eyes follow Aglovale as he enters his throne room, the master showing his dominion over his domain. All of Wales was his domain and it bore the hallmarks of his leader ship but this place had its own personal flair that signified it more as Aglovale's than merely that of the King of Wales. Siegfried is wary. It was almost as if Aglovale was keen to impress some form of him upon his presence, that he was here with him and he would not be forgetting it any time soon.

"Aglovale." replies Siegfried in a neutral tone, keenly aware of how the formalities of this encounter have seemingly gone out the window. He's not taken aback by this display of grandness because it was nothing more than a smokescreen to disguise what Aglovale wanted. "I come not as an esteemed knight but rather a simple journeyman to see the progress of Wales."

Which is partially true. This sojourn was in no way in any official capacity and there would be no way to link any of Siegfried's actions to any of that of the White Dragons or Feendrache. This was all on him. Siegfried doesn't relax in the slightest, his eyes glinting as he measured up against Aglovale's own. He can see the steeliness in them that made him a formidable foe. The best thing to do now would be to ascertain Aglovale's intents and avoid getting into unnecessarily conflicts.

That meant perhaps, a show of good faith.

Slowly, Siegfried bows his head and takes off his helmet. Now that his face was revealed, it was clear that Siegfried was ready to play Aglovale's game. As much as he would rather not, he's here now and he might as well engage him on the terms he has layed out.

"Was it necessary to use your private guards to summon me?" He lays the question out to the other man, a small imperceptible quirk of his eyebrow as he held his helmet in his hands.

[cryoseism]

Aglovale lifts his chin slightly upwards as he adjusts his posture, indignation—almost amusedly so—abundant in his expression despite the chilly cold storming in his eyes.

"...Heh, is that truly the first question you wish to press upon me?"

As for the previous statement, Aglovale's amusement flatlines, the drop in temperature of the atmosphere about them obvious (and even ominous) as it suddenly is concise and crisp in its stillness.

"Indeed, I gathered that you are not here as a knight. Afterall, one would have to still be a knight for such a situation to be possible. As far as I have heard, you declined reinstatement and have continued in leaving that pup of yours with the title and duty as knight Captain. Quite the poor decision, but a decision nonetheless of your own making." There is no need to feign pity for a man's future that is of his own design. "I must confess that such a need to articulate such a useless detail into your explanation does not extend credibility to your visit to be one of felicity for this country's prosperity."

(You're a shady bastard, Siegfried. You never were anything but, in his opinion. He knows better than anyone what loyalty towards one country can make a man willing to do. There is no such thing as trust to be offered to the black dragon of Feendrache.)

Aglovale returns to Siegfried's question on the matter of his apprehension in silence simply by giving him a good hard once over with his choice of coming out from behind his mask. Unfortunately, Aglovale does not seem so easily swayed into security by a single decision to attempt to play nice. Or, maybe it's specially reserved mistrust for Siegfried himself?

Aglovale snorts finally, unimpressed, but there is no hostility in his tone when he continues.

"Furthermore, must you even ask this question? You wander our" —my— "land with such an intimidating presence that those of whom identify you shake by the mere sight of their own shadow, and those who do not automatically feel threatened by your very presence? Do spare me further of this knowledge."

It comes down to either Siegfried is inept at these kinds of things or playing stupid, neither of which greatly appreciate to the king of Wales. "While your face is attractive, your level of awareness is decidedly not of even vaguely comparable merit. Did you not learn your lesson with that damnable wretch framing you and turning an entire country on you, including your beloved knights?" He makes a face. "How unfortunate."

The real exasperation in this is how painfully ridiculous this has already become in terms of a convincing deception. He feels no need to conjure a connection with Siegfried and Feendrache. He needs no excuses for his ambitions to move forward, and therefore will not dig for them.

"I offer you some... friendly advice as you move on in your travels as a 'journeyman' once you bid Wales farewell: if you wish to be treated with discreteness, act and present yourself as discrete."

So, yes, it was absolutely necessary to send his personal guard to handle having Siegfried retrieved. Deal with it.

Still, Aglovale is decidedly tolerant despite expressing his misgivings and reasons for them towards the other man.
"Nevertheless, there is food to be served, and no one is to go hungry." Not even the deceptive, the traitorous, the vile worst of the worst, because he knows his mother would never accept allowing any living individual to die from starvation. Which means, Aglovale's values on that particular manner are what they are despite being at odds with his need for thoroughness and efficiency when rooting out potential pests hiding underground.

"So, please, join me," he offers in invitation. "We may continue this discussion then or later."

[drachenritter]

There's something about Aglovale's behaviour that doesn't quite fit, because it's clear that he doesn't consider Siegfried a threat to have him escorted out of his throne room. Nor does he see him entirely as a welcome guest. But here he is, rolling out the carpet for him and inviting him to dine with him.

(As regrettable as it is, Siegfried was never used to this kind of interpersonal maneuvering nor did he have any desire to be particularly good at it. It didn't suit him, a simple man who lived by his blade for the service of his country. Lancelot was a lot more adept at it than he could ever be, and suited him fine. He would have been a terrible mentor if those that succeeded him did not do a better job than him.)

So he supposes, all he can do at this point is play along. Even if he is playing Aglovale's game, the best he can do is play it in his own way. He will concede that the other man is a master statesman, excelling in the art to do whatever it is to seize his desires. Did he perhaps, to hope to capture Siegfried and make him turn on his allies? The way Aglovale talks seems to suggest to the contrary, that he'd rather let him make his own follies.

Truly, what a mysterious man.

(Aglovale really likes the sound of his own voice, doesn't he...)

"I apologise if you have any misgivings towards my behaviour and offer an apology." begins Siegfried. "I had no intention to arouse suspicion. If it suits your lordship, I will dine with you to that perhaps we may come to some understanding."

Because what could go wrong?

[cryoseism]

Aglovale could not fathom what would be needed to have a hope of potentially getting Siegfried to even consider the idea of betraying his allies. He was never quite convinced that Siegfried had done in Josef, especially when Isabella continued with her underhandedness. She was too much of an opportunist to not be up to something. Why else would she bother with turning Gareth rather than simply ousting her for her missteps?

Ultimately, it's not that Aglovale has plans and intentions for Siegfried specifically so much as that he isn't keen on letting him wander off so easily without a more satisfactory exchange of information. It is always possible Siegfried is truthful, at least in the sense he has come to Wales looking for nothing in particular ( but still looking nevertheless ).

Either way, Siegfried is willing to play, at least for now, so there is no reason to continue to interrogate on the matter of his purpose.

Which is why Aglovale accepts Siegfried"s willingness to have conversation over a meal.

Which is how they end up sitting down and once things are getting served, Aglovale ponders how he should ask the next question.

"You must understand that you are rather notorious for suddenly showing up in a town with otherwise peaceful conditions and unpleasant things begin to happen. I find it most peculiar that you are taking time for leisure travel. The Consul has successfully torn your reputation asunder in Feendrache, but her slander has reached the ears off the people of Dalmore and Wales, as well, even if his Majesty Carl has officially and publicly declared you innocent of the crimes you were accused of and exiled for. As quickly as information spreads among the people, it is always the less savory rumors that travel the swiftest."

Aglovale considers something, but for now does not place that card into play from his hand just yet. He presses the earlier accusation, but with less severe wording. "You are here with purposeful intent, suspiciously so or otherwise. What is it that has made it to your ears that has you here? There may be merit in taking a more direct approach. "

Such as asking.

[drachenritter]

While Siegfried is not by any means, an uncultured man (though he may be in Aglovale's eyes) he still finds himself looking warily at the spread before him. As much as he believes that poisoning is below Aglovale's stature, he can't really rule it out. He touches neither the food nor drink just yet. Siegfried would more readily eat a Centiwatcher than any of Wales' lavishness because he had most likely killed the Centiwatcher by his own hand.

He ponders Aglovale's question, really considering how there really isn't much that escapes him. His statement already covers all of Siegfried's normal excuses, which means the other man has been tracking him for sometime. This interest is so unusual and he wants to get to the bottom this, not just for his own safety but for the safety of Lancelot, Percival, Vane and everyone else in Feendrache.

He's impressed at Aglovale's thoroughness but it also makes trying to outmaneuver him really difficult. Siegfried didn't plan for this in the slightest, or rather his plans didn't involve being escorted to the Wales castle and being personally interrogated by his majesty himself.

And that's when he sees something, a small sliver of his way to maneuver this situation.

"If I may pose my own question to you" begins Siegfried as he looks at Aglovale straight in the eye. "If you find me to be such a threat, why send your personal guard to find me and question me like this instead of eliminating me where I stood? I am but one old warrior, after all. My stamina only lasts so long."

[cryoseism]

(you do know he is the same age as you, Siegfried, right. Why are you so bad at this.)

Hm. Perhaps he overestimated the other's intelligence. It either that, or he is underestimating Siegfried's ability to play dumb.

Aglovale finds himself momentarily unable to answer that question, but not for a lack of answers to provide. It's simply hard to believe that Siegfried can ask that with such a straight face as someone who well knows that simply killing enemies as one sees fit is excellent for resources and convenience, but not so much for anything else, including diplomacy.

The glass in Aglovale's hand tilts, some of the ice shifting and making a small clank as the initial response beyond the silence. For better or for worse, Aglovale doesn't allow the silence to go much longer.

"Forgive me for answering your question with a question, however, I believe it will still be much clearer to you than a long string of direct explanations.

"If I did such a thing, how do you imagine the relationship with Wales and Feendrache would suddenly be? A knight current or not makes no difference that you are no longer a criminal to the kingdom but rather a hero once more; even moreso: you are a loyal hero of Feendrache that continued to protect your country you loved so much and its people even when thry had all lost faith in you and turned on you."

Aglovale goes quiet, before adding a second question for emphasis:

"How would Lancelot of the White Dragons view my actions? I would find it hard to believe you could truthfully answer that question with, 'justified'."

Really, if Aglovale were to be honest, things would be so much easier concerning absolutely everything if Lancelot wasn't as obstinate as his mentor in his pursuals.

At least Percival had been too weak in his conviction that he had left that mess behind once it was no longer favorable. He doesn't have to worry about his younger brother's welfare in the scheme of things.

(Although, Aglovale would be lying if he wasn't at least slightly disappointed in his youngest sibling. If he had been stronger and had the will to stand his ground as his 4m so proclaimed rival had, he imagines things would be be far different than they are today. Not that it might have made Aglovale's efforts any easier but there would be most likely an accomplishment for the Wales family that was quite worthy of any and all praise, regardless.)

[drachenritter]

(let him feel like an old man aglovale he's had to live to live in the woods the past few years)

This is why Siegfried is a knight and not a noble, a man who is very willing to get his hands stained with blood and carry that burden in the service of his country. Aglovale bringing up Lancelot so casually makes him feel conflicted in his chest and a frown crosses his face.

"But it's not as if you care much for the relationship between Wales and Feendrache when you have your spies crawling through it."

There is no doubt that Aglovale is preparing for something and he came here to find out what. This level of preparation seemed to go beyond mere conquest because, why the need for forbidden arts as well? Wales had enough military might to go on a campaign to conquer as much of their neighbors as heeded. There was no need to find leylines or find forbidden tomes with arcane knowledge.

His eyes never leave Aglovale's face, gauging his reaction.

[cryoseism]

(whose fault is that?)

"On the contrary, I care quite a bit about the relationship between Feendrache and Wales," Aglovale counters, the only hint that Siegfried is on to anything being the drop in temperature as well as any hint of emotions supporting his words disappearing.

"You speak of Gareth? Hmph, I would have very little need for spies in Feendrache if Consul Isabella was not allowed to simply run rampant in her newfound freedom due to a certain knight Captain getting himself exiled for crimes he did not commit."

Aglovale certainly has poor view of Siegfried and his gullibility, but perhaps even moreso of his choices. The added final clarification is also perhaps an indication Siegfried is testing dangerous waters, although that may very well be what he's looking for?

"If you and Percival had not been so weak-minded in the face of adversity due the relative peace that has been gifted to Feendrache, perhaps there never would have been reason for Gareth's services to begin with. A while lot b of good they have done for either of us, anyway, that inane miserable woman."

Aglovale had indeed done quite a few proverbial facepalms after the small amount that he did learn from Gareth before she betrayed for Isabella's favor reached him; namely the one of Isabella's clear obsession with Lancelot and how oblivious to it both his youngest sibling and the reverred personal guard of the late king failed to recognize. If not her deceit, surely her lecherous-filled words were suspect enough?

Then again, this is admittedly one of the reasons taking over Feendrache is on the map of conquest sooner versus later. As for arcane magic, he mentions nothing of it, and will continue to do so unless Siegfried wishes to press on the matter specifically.

[drachenritter]

(Isabella's. Clearly.)

There's something very austerely beautiful about Aglovale's icy haughtiness, how if he were a lesser man he would probably have been cowed by it. It certainly makes for a good leader. But he can face up to that, because while he does not see himself as necessarily superior to Aglovale - he thinks he can certainly match up to the other man.

Aglovale's icy exterior is cracking, for he brought up the topic of the erstwhile Percival again. Siegfried blinks, as he feels something in the air change. He can't quite put his finger to it just yet but he knows he's on the right track.

"Inane as she is, she did have a considerable amount of power. Forbidden magic, as it were."

And Siegfried finally picks up his glass, and takes a sip from it.

[cryoseism]

Now, they are getting somewhere: the both of them, even.

"That Gareth gave to her, no doubt," he responds curtly.

"Is that why you are here, then? Did Percival inform you those circles were seen in Wales?"

Aglovale is to the point, but there is no agression. There isn't any amusement or frustration or anger, either. There's nothing, as if it's the most casual subject that one could speak of..

[drachenritter]

"Percival? No, just something I heard on the grapevine." He's not going to tell Aglovale that he's found the locations of several magic circles in and about the country, all seemingly to feed somewhere deeper into Wales. He had his suspicions that they were fueling some arcane task that only Aglovale was privy to, but that was all speculation at this point. He's not versed in these arts enough to really draw any conclusions, which led him to Wales itself.

And now it led him to the dinner table of its king.

"Surely you know that your brother is off as part of a skyfaring crew." He takes another sip, because this is quite pleasant now that he's assured that nothing on this table is poisoned or tampered in any way. Because now he feels he's getting somewhere with what he needs to know.

"Far too busy in search of vassals to build his ideal kingdom to concern himself with forbidden magic." chuckles Siegfried. "Unlike Gareth, who got it from someone who she was in the employ of."