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Post by Ladorak on Jun 21, 2009 11:21:23 GMT -5
As the leopard listened there was discernible consternation on his face that seemed to gave way to ire. His claws dug slightly into the table as he heard all that Sciurus had to say. This was nothing short of preposterous for the King. Either this squirrel was very naive or was in league with what he suspected was a plot to overthrow him. Small claw marks were left where Augustine had dug in, but he quickly corrected himself and stopped before the damage was too severe to the finely polished table top.
After Sciurus had finished, Otto decided to add a few things more. "Yes your Highness, and as far as the state stipends go....our economy is still recovering. We aren't nearly strong enough to support the sizable populace of Rosferia AND pay for for priests who won't even take the oath of allegiance to the country. We should focus the money where it's needed...not waste it on these disloyal clergy members." Agreement came up from the crowd behind Otto as well as more taunts and threats.
Augustine patiently waited for these to die down before he spoke again. He should have expected this much from commoners. "Now look.....the priests might not be loyal to YOUR government....but they are I assure you still loyal to mine. They don't recognize the government you set up as legitimate. It's not my fault if they feel I should be the one still ruling Rosferia and not this Assembly. I can't even choose my own priests anymore Mr....." he paused, not knowing Sciurus's name. ".....Squirrel." he said finally. "I have to have them chosen FOR me by the Assembly. Now what sort of religious freedom is that if I can't even choose my own clergy? As for this armed camp of 20,000...."
The leopard decided to stand again, his eyes growing a bit more darker as he did so. He was angry at this whole situation, this embarrassment to him. He had invited a few inside to placate the crowd and avoid bloodshed, but dealing with these....these commoners was something he had not fully prepared for. "Think about it. 20,000 National Guard around Cosnair....it sounds good on paper yes? Sounds patriotic. Sounds like they'll protect this capital from all harm, oh yes. But how do you think I see it? I have what? Tell me Major von Bachmann.....what do the Scarlet Guard number here?" the feline asked, looking over at his mongoose head of security.
"1,000 beasts sir. Plus the 200 regular palace guards that's 1,200 altogether available for defense of this place." was the mongoose's almost robotic reply.
"1,200....1,200......would you say that that is adequate defense?" asked the leopard. He spoke again though before anybeast could answer. "Under normal circumstances yes.....but what if those 20,000 'loyal' National Guardsbeasts suddenly decided to answer a call by the Assembly to overthrow the King and create a true Republic of Rosferia? Do you think my 1,200 palace guards could pawdle 20,000 National Guardsbeasts marching upon the palace? You see protection Mr...."
"Whirlpaw." Otto offered.
"....Whirlpaw? You see protection. I see a coup. Nothing less than an attempt to overthrow me whilst all the while cleverly making it look as if those National Guardsbeasts were here for the defense of the capital. There....are my reasons.....satisfactory to you?" the monarch asked, his green eyes narrowed now as he emphasized "satisfactory" in a none too happy manner. There were of course mumblings from the crowd now, with snippets being heard here and there. Some were muttering that the King's logic was ludicrous, others arguing that unless he started acting reasonably he soon WOULD be overthrown, and still others were murmuring insults and threats if the King didn't start seeing their viewpoint, but all remained relatively quiet until Sciurus had spoken.
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Post by Carrow on Jun 21, 2009 12:21:26 GMT -5
"Oh, I'm really not as naive as you're making me out to be, sire," Sciurus countered. His voice was low, but could be heard by everybeast present.
"I know well that you think an establishment of a National Guard would lay the foundations for a coup, and I considered this quite a great deal, even as I spoke to you. I do feel, however, that it would be in the best interests of our nation if such a defence were to be set up. In the grander scheme of things, it is better for us to be safe, or, rather, safer than we are now, as the case may be. As I see it, we are not, and, if you continue down this path of refusing to take action and consider the requests of the populace, WILL not be able to defend ourselves well against an attack. Everybeast here knows that while the advance on Rosferia has been halted for now, things will not remain that way for good. We need to take the necessary steps to defend ourselves, and surely this is one of them!?"
Sciurus was becoming quite irritated now. The squirrel's voice rose in pitch, not to mention in volume as he spoke his next words.
"If we continue like this, and Rosferia is caught napping, it WILL have catastrophic consequences. Through your failure to act, and work with us, and the Assembly in particular, in protecting this country, you are accepting responsibility for everything that will occur as a result of this inevitable invasion. You know I speak truly."
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Post by Ladorak on Jun 21, 2009 14:49:53 GMT -5
Augustine head the squirrel out, taking note of the rise in his tone. It seemed that the stress of the situation was getting to each and everyone of them. But like it or not the King just couldn't recant on his vetoes. To have all of these grievances brought before him like this....he knew the populace would have been upset....but he felt he was taking a stand on what he saw were unconstitutional measures that endangered him and his way of life.
"The advance has stopped yes...and yes it probably will resume....but I still see that decree as an attempt by the Assembly to place greater power in their paws and take what little remains out of mine. I have agreed to play along with this new revolutionary game but know when there is a limit, and when I feel that limit has been reached, I will exercise my power of veto." was the leopard's response as he ran a paw delicately over the carved back of his chair.
"And besides.....look around you....." he spread his paws about him at the lavish surroundings they stood in. "You have come into my house, at my invitation, but you insist on discussing politics. I hardly think this the proper place or time to discuss these complex matters. I mean after all have you ever sat in a governmental seat before? Have you ever RULED an entire country before? I think not. I am doubtful that this is the proper place to discuss such matters. I made my legal decisions in the Assembly, yet you propose to discuss them here after the fact." he sighed.
In reality, despite his affronting nature, the King was rather strained and was feeling the growing pressure day in and day out. He trusted those around him less and less because when one beast no longer held authority and that rested with many, who was there to possibly trust? Everybeast was out for himself for all he knew, and this squirrel might just be another proponent in favor of overthrowing him.
"I called you in here to diffuse that situation outside....but to discuss politics? No.....I don't think so." he shook his head, smiling now as if he were amused. "That is something I will not do. We can't discuss complicated political decisions here in my home. Much less with beasts from every walk of life. That sort of talk should be reserved for the Assembly and the Assembly only." he said, though he didn't really believe his words either. He didn't feel as if ANY of these beasts were qualified to make a political decision, and he himself felt mixed feelings about this whole Revolution as well. He wanted to hear his people....but he didn't necessarily want to surrender what power he used to wield either. He was a mere head of state now, not a monarch, and he felt two things. One was that somebeast else were King and should deal with this, or that this hadn't happened at all and he was still sitting upon his throne at the head of his nation as an absolute monarch.
He might admit to the fact that he'd secretly asked King Frederick II of Gradvar, Empress Catherine the Mink of Delorn, King Schilder IV of Ferlusan, President Miska of Slattland, and the former Emperor Leopold of Kostritz for assistance in restoring him to his throne. Of that list, Miska wasn't interested in serving a monarch, Schilder had been cautious to commit, Catherine seemed more interested in gobbling up Kradowska, and only Leopold and Frederick had tentatively answered his call. Yes, Augustine was secretly hoping that Kostritz and Gradvar WOULD win this war and place him back on his throne and restore order....but then again he was also hoping they would not win. He couldn't trust his fellow monarchs anymore than he could trust these assembled beasts. Neither Frederick nor Leopold's son Francis could be fully trusted to invade Rosferia and not take any of his lands for themselves. And so it was that Augustine now found himself in a most difficult situation. It was why he was refusing to budge. He was paralyzed by indecision because he just didn't know what was right anymore.
The crowd of course was growing impatient, and one even shouted from behind Sciurus "I demand the petition against the clergy....either the petition or you shall die!" There was visible discontent among the Scarlet Guard at that comment, and even Augustine blinked a few times, but otherwise remained unperturbed. He waited for Sciurus to address him once again. "Do you not agree with me Mr. Whirlpaw?" asked the King now. The clamoring of the crowd was growing, but they still waited to see how their "spokesbeast" would pawdle this.
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Post by Carrow on Jun 21, 2009 15:39:31 GMT -5
"It would just so happen, sire," Sciurus replied, an air of coldness creeping into his soft voice now, "that the very things we take issue with stray into politics. We are becoming rather concerned by the way you have handled matters recently... or, rather, as it would seem, mishandled them."
Around Sciurus, the clamour was increasing steadily, as the crowd's 'spokebeast' voiced his, and their, thoughts.
"Your actions, whether you realise this or not, have placed Rosferia in a perilous position. Our economy needs a stimulant such as the one that the suspension of the stipends would have no doubt have been. As for the National Guard proposition, it seems to me that you simply will not co-operate with the people in helping us to prepare ourselves for this attack. As I have stated, it is inevitable that our enemies will one day come calling, yet you would, as you have shown clearly by your recent actions, rather stand idly by and allow Cosnair to be overrun. It is in the best interests of our nation that you begin to work with us. We will be able to defend ourselves very little against the forces who will soon launch their attack upon us, if at all. If you truly cared about the peril Rosferia is in, you would commit yourself to our cause. Yet you do not, and it is beginning to occur to us all that you have, shall we say, vested interests."
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Post by Ladorak on Jun 21, 2009 16:47:57 GMT -5
"Now you're saying it's in the best interests of the nation.....but who would benefit the most out of this? Certainly not I." he said, pressing a paw into his chest. "You stripped me of most of my authority three years ago now if you recall, and I've been forced to live here in the city, away from my summer palace and among the citizens of Cosnair....a rather dangerous situation for myself and my family." the leopard said in his defense.
Hisses and taunts once again issued from the crowd. "I consider myself now in uncertain ground." the King continued, despite their insults. "I have 'vested' interests you say? Well then.....that may or may not be true...but I'm walking a fine line. What's good for you might not be good for me. I DID try to flee the country last year, only to be caught and forced to return to this city....a virtual hostage in a way. I've tried to make the best of the situations as they've come out.....as I was granted to do so in your constitution." he said, now more icily.
"So you say it's good for you, but it might not be good for me." he was stopped though from saying more by a large brute of a polecat who stepped forward. He had heard enough of this, and felt like the time for words was over. He approached the King, the guards at the moment doing nothing because he had not crossed the line.
"Oh you mean have our enemies win the war so you can be put back on your little throne. Isn't that what you mean Your Highness?" the polecat practically spat out the title. He suddenly rushed forward, drawing a sword at his side and pointing it directly at the King's breast. "You blackguard! If I had a mind to I'd cut you down right where you stand! I DEMAND these changes be brought into play!"
The guards had reacted with quick reflexes, and two of them brought their muskets up and aimed at the back of the polecat's head whilst von Bachmann rushed over and drew his pistol, pulling the hammer pack and pushing it right up against the polecat's skull. "BACK OFF!" he yelled. "Step away from His Majesty right now or I'll blow your head off!"
For a moment or two this tense situation seemed about ready to explode. The polecat ignored the pistol resting against his skull and instead stared hard into the King's eyes, his sword tip only centimeters away from the King's chest. "No...I will not back off......not until this blaggart retracts his vetoes and starts helping this country!"
The King, for his part, was sweating visibly now, and seemed nervous, but he tried to maintain his cool. "Look....you know I can't do that....what's done is done....my vetoes still stand.....I can't just drop them here in this Salon. Now please....lower....the sword...."
"Do as he says...drop your sword or I'll fire." Von Bachmann said with urgency in his voice. "I mean it! You have until the count of five.....one.........two....lower your weapon!" the mongoose shouted. The King continued speaking in a calm voice.
"I can't drop my vetoes under these circumstances....now please..." he placed a paw on the sword and started to lower it without resistance away from his body. "I don't want to see you get killed. Stand down Major von Bachmann.....it's alright.....he doesn't want to hurt anybeast." the polecat was shaking, either from angst or rage it was hard to tell, but he DID lower his weapon. Taking a few steps back, the guards relaxed after he did this. Spitting at the King's feet, the mustelid angrily withdrew into the crowd, who were throwing insults and taunts with even greater ferocity at the King now.
Deputies from the Legislative Assembly had arrived, and were trying to get the Mayor to clear the room and convince the crowd to go home. He wasn't too keen on this idea as he was a republican sympathizer himself, and he was arguing back and forth with the deputies now whilst the crowd jeered and hollered at the King.
Otto came up to Sciurus. "Well....that could have gone better." he said in quieter tones. "How are you holding up? You doing OK? You've done a great job so far....very concise and informed on your answers. Would make a good politician." the otter said with a wink.
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Post by Carrow on Jun 21, 2009 16:59:46 GMT -5
Sciurus was trembling quite visibly now, clearly shaken by what he had just witnessed. The squirrel seemed to be entranced as he stood there, now white a sheet. Otto's words came through to him as if from a distance, and Sciurus' voice shook as he replied, the speech impediment that he had had to put up with as a Dibbun, but had largely managed to overcome, albeit with an amount of assistance, returning.
"T-thanks for your compliments and concern, friend. F-for a moment there I th-thought I was in way over my head, but I m-manged to speak my piece without much incident on my part."
The nervous hypnotist fell silent as Otto took his paw.
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Post by Ladorak on Jun 21, 2009 17:11:28 GMT -5
"Hey now...what's the matter?" Otto asked as the crowd each took their turn stepping forward and voicing their concerns and problems as the King refused to budge. He was insulted and forced to listen to the crowd as the situation went nowhere fast. The otter was concerned for his friend though as he saw that Sciurus didn't seem to be doing well.
"Well what happened? You were fine up until that polecat stepped forward. What....are you afraid of violence or something? Come on...tell me what's wrong." the otter was urging. Behind them the Mayor was listening to the arguments of the deputies. They were telling him that if he valued his job he'd get this crowd out of here now.
"Look......are you not able to speak anymore? I could try to get this crowd under control and you could resume speaking to the King if you want...." Otto tried, unsure if his friend would be up to it or not however.
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Post by Carrow on Jun 21, 2009 17:20:34 GMT -5
"It's n-not that I'm afraid of v-violence," Sciurus stammered, "I-it's just I have moments like this... you s-saw me there, speaking to Augustine, c-calm as you like. Well, that w-wasn't really the case. I was j-just about m-managing to keep my nerves under c-control, and when that p-polecat stepped forward, for a f-fleeting second, I felt as though I would black out. F-for reasons I can't e-explain, sometimes things g-get on top of me without a moment's notice... need s-something... o-or somebeast to help...," the squirrel said haltingly.
"I-it doesn't look like I'll be able to c-continue speaking to the King, n-not after w-what just h-happened... t-terribly sorry, Otto.... how was I to know?"
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Post by Ladorak on Jun 21, 2009 17:41:21 GMT -5
"Well....we can't really leave until we've gotten some sort of answer from the King. Well....perhaps that's not the right word to choose." the otter said, trying to think of how to put it. "Until we get some satisfaction for our efforts. I mean.....I can't say for certain what the King is going to do, but he seems to be pretty adamant about his stance on....." but he stopped, as the Mayor had approached the King and was calling for attention.
"Gentlebeasts, gentlebeasts, please! I've think we've all given the King a good scare today. Mr. Whirlpaw did an excellent job expressing our wants and desires." he was speaking now because he had been threatened to be fired from his job if he did not get this crowd out of the palace, and he was only with great reluctance speaking up now in order to clear the room. "But he's right......we can't stand around all day expecting the King to listen to us. He seems to be quite straight forward when he says that his decisions are complex and best left suited for discussion with the Assembly. Why don't we all go back outside and go home now? It would do us all some good I think to vent some steam on the walk back to our places."
Some of the crowd seemed to agree, others not so much as they continued to throw out insults, even worse than before now at the King. Von Bachmann gritted his teeth. His lord was being insulted and humiliated and he wasn't able to do a single thing about it. "Wait! Wait!" the roaring voice of Milton Dragonis could be heard now cutting through the noise of the room. "Wait....we aren't going anywhere until the King at least drinks to the health of the citizens of Cosnair....and also...." he produced a red cap now, red being the symbol of the Revolution. "He must remove his crown and put this cap upon his brow....go! Bring in some wing!" he called out to one of the servants, who nervously nodded and pushed his way through the crowd to go and bring the King his drink. Throwing the cap over to the King, Milton looked at him expectantly. "Well your Highness? What do you say? We need some assurance of your sincerity....go on.....take that crown off and place that cap upon your head."
Augustine looked at the red cap where it had fallen on the table with some hesitation. He looked back up at Milton, who nodded at him again. "We're waiting.....your Highness." the big crocodile said in almost a threatening way. The leopard considered things for a moment. This was certainly more humiliating than the time he had been caught trying to flee the country and was forced to return to Cosnair. This topped that. Could he really debase himself this way in front of this crowd? He thought a moment more, then finally shrugged.
"It seems I have no choice." He said in what sounded like a regretful tone. He slowly removed his crown placing it down upon the table, and picked up the red cap with his paws. Slowly.....every so painfully slowly....he raised the cap, fitting it firmly around his head. He now looked almost like some sort of rebel leader with that beret upon his brow, and he was sure he looked quite comical now to the gathered assemblage. The chalice was brought forward, and the King smiled uneasily at the gathered beasts. "I drink.....I drink to the health of the citizens of Cosnair. May they live long and prosperous lives....." the words came out thick, as if the leopard was having problems expressing himself properly. "And may they.....find fortune in their future endeavors...." he said, raising the chalice to his lips and drinking from the wine. This caused the crowd to break out into cheers, and shouts of "Long live the Nation! Long live liberty!" went up, followed by "Long live the King!"
Turning around, the crowd began to head out of the Salon now, signing songs and acting cheerily despite what just happened. The King stood stock still, the cap still upon his head, the chalice still in his paw. Had he really just done that? Humiliated himself in front of all of those beasts? He looked down at Otto, who was crouching in front of Sciurus's chair.
"Can you stand? We should go. I'll help you to the door if you want." the otter was offering. Augustine watched them mutely, his eyes blank and looking off into some great distance beyond the two of them as the crowd cleared the room......
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Post by Carrow on Jun 21, 2009 17:51:14 GMT -5
"J-just about...," Sciurus said haltingly, taking Otto's paw, grateful for the support. Despite himself, the squirrel could not help but look worriedly back at the King. Augustine had just been forced to humiliate himself in front of all the creatures who were present. Sciurus had sensed that the King was really finding all this just too much to deal with. He had caught hesitation in the leopard's voice quite a few times as he had spoken. He glanced at the crestfallen monarch's eyes as Otto helped him out. They seemed distant, as though Augustine were somewhere else entirely. Had the strain finally become too much for him? Had he finally lost the plot?
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