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Post by Ladorak on Jun 20, 2009 14:52:27 GMT -5
"Well, well.....you do know what to talk about it seems." the otter said with a whistle. That was a first! Sciurus had actually been keeping up with events! This made Otto's job a lot easier, and was a rather pleasant surprise in fact for the otter. "Good to know you've been doing your research in your off time and keeping up with events."
They stepped out into brilliant sunlight. It had been raining torrents this morning, and the ground was still thick with moisture, but the sun had come out and was working to dry the whole place off. The humidity might make it a bit of a problem for the marchers though, so it was all the reason to move quickly to their destination and not wait around for any extended period of time.
"A stave.....right....um....hold on for a minute. I'll see what I can do....oh!" he stopped himself from leaving the squirrel's side as they began to move along the riverfront. "I want you to stay with Milton alright?" he clapped the big croc's backside, causing him to swivel his great snout down in Otto's direction. "Don't leave his side. He's the biggest one in this crowd, so I'll use him to find you, alright? I'll be right back hopefully with your stave."
The otter disappeared, moving through the throng of moving beasts as if he were in the sea, twisting and weaving and practically "swimming" his way through until he was out of sight. It was true about Milton. The reptile towered a good head and shoulders above everybeast else around them. "So you've been in Cosnair for six months you say.....and you're a hypnotist?" the crocodile asked now as they passed by the Royal Palace, which used to be a palace but was now a rather fancy and upscale restaurant. Just one of the many formerly royal buildings that had been converted into something else after the Revolution had broken out.
Passing by the outdoor tables, the lunch goers gazed at the crowd with wonderment in their eyes. What was going on now? Another mass movement? But for what? They were headed in the direction of the King's Palace......what did this mean?
One customer in particular was keenly interested in all of this. He was a certain meerkat Lieutenant who had come here in order to clear his name with the Ministry of War after he had been accused of becoming an emigrant and abandoning his post. Up until now....he had been the happiest meerkat in the city. He was getting married today! And not to just any female.
Boneparte Lantzer, the meerkat, was at present setting up dinner reservations at the Royal Palace for tonight after his wedding.....but the large seething crowd had naturally caught his eye. It was like a living, breathing mass of fur and bodies, twisting and contorting itself like a snake as it moved closer and closer to the King's Palace. This looked like trouble.....
Curious, he quickly told the maitre d' that he needed the reservations for later tonight, and then waited for the entire throng to pass him by. All 6,000 of them passed and kept going. Whatever this was....he wanted to find out, and so followed them, staying behind of the main group with a few of the stragglers. Fortunately for him he wasn't in uniform, otherwise he might have been in trouble. Walking steadily behind them, the meerkat began to tail the group, trying to find out what was going on.....
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Post by Carrow on Jun 20, 2009 15:49:16 GMT -5
"It's just coming up on six months now for me, yes, and I am indeed a hypnotist," Sciurus said in response to Milton's question as they walked. Seeing the crowd that surrounded him would normally have set the squirrel's heart racing with anxiety. However, he had calmed down considerably now that he was firmly in the midst of all this. He had no idea that Boneparte Lantzer was there among them. The meerkat had been to see the hypnotist a while ago. He had been not at all familiar with the concept of hypnotism, but had heard that it was good for helping creatures to relax. It was just what he had needed after some highly stressful events. Sciurus had soon worked his magic upon the Lieutenant, and Lantzer had left Sciurus and Otto's parlour feeling a great deal more chipper. Sciurus smiled as he recalled this meeting, but soon put it out of his mind, becoming focussed on the task ahead. It was a big ask to volunteer oneself as spokesbeast for a crowd this size. Sciurus was not at all sure whether he would be up to it, but knew that it was his duty to aid his friends in whatever way he could, and so resolved to do his best.
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Post by Ladorak on Jun 20, 2009 17:01:55 GMT -5
Boneparte of course did not see Sciurus, as the squirrel hypnotist was up towards the front of the crowd and he was way in the back. They were all moving as one, a giant swell of beasts converging on one point. "Sciurus! Sciurus!" Otto called out to him, shoving his way through the crowd and giving him a wooden stave. "Here...had to 'convince' a fellow mammal to give this up if you know what I mean." the otter winked, and resumed his place beside the squirrel now, who was flanked by both Otto and Milton.
Some of the crowd detached themselves (against orders) and headed to the Legislative Assembly building at the indoor horse tracks. They intended to give the Assembly a good tongue lashing and brow beating while the main group moved on to the King's Palace, which was fast becoming visible now as they began walking past the deserted wings and towards the west bloc.
Around the palace the King's elite Scarlet Guard were all in a flurry of movement. Their red uniforms flashed as they began assembling to meet this advancing crowd. Their head was a mongoose, Major Karl von Bachmann, and he had no intention of letting these rabble rousers set one paw in the King's Palace. He was no joke when it came to commanding the palace defenses, and he positioned his guards as advantageously as he could given the limited space he had. He knew he was outnumbered by about 6 to 1, but he did not intend to back down. He was a professional mongoose after all, and took his job extremely seriously.
The Major led a personal contingent out front of the King's Palace and formed up two lines. One line knelt down and began loading their muskets whilst the second line stood behind the first and did the same. Windows were opened in the palace and muskets poked out of them, all trained on the advancing crowd. Up on the roof as well a line of guards stood, leveling their muskets down at the seemingly unending crowd. They could do a lot of damage from this position, outnumbered though they were, and if shooting started, it was hard to say who would come out on top.
"Don't let them make you nervous...just keep walking...we AREN'T stopping." Milton growled next to Sciurus, not wanting the squirrel to lose his nerve. Boneparte took stock of the situation. From a military standpoint...the Scarlet Guard had excellent positions and stood a fair chance of dispersing this crowd of "cannibals" with one or two good fusillades. Their professional training was quite apparent to him and he felt confident the King stood a good chance of carrying the day if a fight broke out.
As the milling sea of beasts pushed ever closer the mongoose Major stepped forward, discharging his pistol into the air and making the crowd stop. "Alright!" he roared with a strong, authoritative voice. "What is the meaning of this!? You damn rebels have no right to be here! This is the King's private residence and you have no right to trespass upon it! You will take not one step past the royal seal..." he motioned to the King's Seal embedded in the ground before the palace, "or we WILL open fire on you! Disperse now!" he was a met with a jeering host of cries and taunts from the crowd, and suddenly, somebeast shoved Sciurus from behind.
The beast, who was obviously a little intoxicated, yelled out. "Oy! I heard them say he was our spokesbeast or something....go get him!" he shoved him forward again, pushing the squirrel out in front of everybeast else. The mongoose's eyes narrowed upon this red furred squirrel.
"Spokebeast?" he asked, slowly reloading his pistol. He dropped the ball down into the barrel and then drove the ramrod down it's length once and only once before withdrawing it with a flourish. "You actually have a SPOKESbeast?" he said incredulously. "Pfft....very well then.....spokesbeast....what is this crowd doing in front of the King's Palace?" he asked now with just a hint of scorn in his voice as he began unloading powder into the pan now.
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Post by Carrow on Jun 20, 2009 17:23:20 GMT -5
"ExCUSE me!," Sciurus roared. "We are simply here to make our demands known. Were it our intention to bring violence here, we would surely have the upper paw, as you can see. Recent events have been brought to our attention. There are a few things that have brought us here," the squirrel called, his voice ringing out upon the summer air. It had all gone eerily quiet, and the squirrel could feel innumerable pairs of eyes upon him. He looked remarkably calm and composed now.
Must not bottle it... he thought, before he began to speak in earnest.
"There is justifiable anger among us, mainly because of the fact that during the week, King Augustine vetoed several important proposed laws. The law that would bring about the suspension of state stipends to all priests who have refused to take the oath of allegiance to the new government was vetoed. Furthermore, the law that, if it had been passed, would have paved the way for the creation of an armed camp of 20,000 National Guard around Cosnair in order to protect it from foreign invasion in the weeks ahead, was met with the same response. As you well know, the chances of this happening is growing by the day, so why King Augustine has chosen to do this is beyond comprehension, as this will ultimately be to the detriment of the capital, and Rosferia in general. "We are therefore calling for the King to lift these vetoes, and also to start working with the Assembly in creating a safer Rosferia, as this is surely what will be needed. There is a storm on the horizon, and we cannot face it in our present position. It seems to me that the powers-that-be know this, but are unable, and some would say unwilling, to act!"
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Post by Ladorak on Jun 20, 2009 17:48:07 GMT -5
Von Bachmann blinked. He had not been expecting this timid looking squirrel to speak in such a straightforward manner to him....him especially who was head of the Scarlet Guard. There were murmurs of approval from the crowd all behind, and a few "here, heres!" as well. It seemed to irk von Bachmann that a mere commoner was addressing him as such.
"Look you...the King was granted these silly Constitutional Veto powers by YOUR Assembly, and has passed these vetoes legally." Boos and hisses went up from the crowd behind him, for which the mongoose waited until they died down until he addressed Sciurus again. "I don't care what your motivations are.....my job is to defend the King and his homestead with my LIFE, and I do not intend to let you unlawfully enter his residence without an appointment. I want all of you once again, to disperse and disperse now or we WILL fire on you!" he shouted.
The crowd started to inch forward, and von Bachmann turned his pistol on the crowd, threatening them with a glare. "I said not ONE paw past that seal! I'm warning you now! First and last time I will do so...." he said sternly.
"Major von Bachmann! Major von Bachmann!" a shorter soldier, a gray squirrel, had run up to the Major and was standing at his side.
"What....I'm in the middle of something." he murmured out of the corner of his mouth.
"I know that sir....but I have orders from the King himself!"
"What?" von Bachmann didn't take his eyes off the inching crowd but he was a bit perturbed by this. Hopefully the King was ordering a commencement of fire....but it was not to be.
"The King said it's alright....he'll listen to what they have to say. He said to let 50 of them inside."
"INSIDE!? Are you mad!?" the mongoose demanded, unsure he had heard right.
"It's the King's orders sir. He's waiting in the Dining Hall. He'll hear them in there. 50....no more than that though." the squirrel said in a low voice. The mongoose was fuming over this. Fifty of these rabble were being permitted INSIDE the King's Palace? Had His Majesty lost his mind? But he had to obey.....it was his King's order and he was in no position to refute it.
Lowering his pistol, he muttered to the guard at his side. "Fine....but I want a strong escort placed on them. We have more than enough to cover the King, make SURE he's guarded well....I'll follow you after we close off the courtyard. Now listen up!" he said more loudly. "The King has granted fifty of you an audience with him! I want fifty beasts and ONLY fifty beasts to step forward and start proceeding under guard into the King's Palace. You will be led to the King under escort. Make way for them...make way!" The Scarlet Guards at the entrance smartly parted ranks to allow a gap to form in front of the entrance of the palace. Immediately beasts started rushing forward, and were carefully counted by von Bachmann as they swept past.
"I think it doesn't need to be said but you did a fantastic job so far....I do hope you're planning on joining us inside." Otto said as he and Milton stepped forward in order to let their voices be heard.
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Post by Carrow on Jun 20, 2009 17:59:53 GMT -5
"I wouldn't dream of staying put, Otto," Sciurus said as he, too, stepped forward, having every intention of making his voice heard once more. The squirrel felt strangely exhilarated. He had spoken his piece and received an enthusiastic response. He looked around at the guards that were coming to greet them, and then at around a dozen or so of the crowd, who had also stepped forward, grateful for this opportunity for an audience with the King. Sciurus called up to Von Bachmann again.
"Escort us inside if you must. As I've said, however, we have no underpaw dealings planned. We came to air our grievances, nothing more."
Von Bachmann and the other Scarlet Guard member, a squirrel like Sciurus, only a grey-furred one, could not see, of course, but the hypnotist's footpaws were trembling from a combination of excitement and anxiety. He peered at the two creatures before him, and smiled upon realising that the newcomer was a squirrel. Reds and greys had not always seen eye to eye, but had ironed out their differences over time.
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Post by Ladorak on Jun 20, 2009 18:16:21 GMT -5
"What the hell is he doing?" The he of course referred to the King. Boneparte Lantzer was standing by in shock at what was occurring. "He's letting them INSIDE his palace? What's the matter with him!?" It was beyond the meerkat why King Augustine wasn't showing a firmer paw. He was the King for crying out loud! He should have ordered his guards to open fire, and yet here he was inviting the crowd IN? Showing such weakness in the face of.....this mob of cannibals was incredible!
The meerkat stood, staring disbelief at all he was seeing. What was the point of having the Scarlet Guard if Augustine wasn't going to use them? If he were King he would have ordered one or two volleys and that would have been enough to disperse this ragtag bunch. Though the Lieutenant DID recognize Sciurus as well, and had to give that rodent props. He was a good speaker...he seemed to be on a different level than the rest of this mob.
Von Bachmann, for his part, was feeling quite irascible and shook his head at Sciurus. "As if I'd just let you walk around the King's residence by yourselves...hey!" he shouted. "That was fifty! The rest of you get back!" he roughly shoved a surprised looking ferret backwards, the other guards up and down the line closing ranks to allow no more of the crowd through. They began wrestling to keep the assembled beasts at bay, and had to copy their commanding officer in pushing some more zealous of the crowd back by force. "The King said fifty and fifty ONLY. No more than that! Get back!" the mongoose Major was yelling, waving his pistol about again in the face of the crowd as the rest of his contingent once again leveled their muskets. "The rest of you will have to wait out here until the audience is over or the King says otherwise! Back damn you!"
He waited until the crowd had moved back beyond the seal before he rushed off to follow the 50 that had been let in. Some of them were jogging through the hallways now, the guards on both sides struggling to keep up. A few in the front outpaced the guards and burst into the Salon where the King was waiting. Two or three ran right up to a long, dark polished oak table and started yelling at once. One was yelling something about vetoes, the other about the National Guard, and still another about the way things were going.
As the others caught up they could see a rather regale looking leopard sitting behind the long conference table, his eyes narrowed, a noble crown upon his brow that sparkled with several precious gems. He was decked out in fine robes that were fur lined (rumored to be from prisoners that had been executed) and very royal. His green eyes searched the gathered assembly and his black spotted tail swished back and forth as he stood up. Several attendants of various species stood around him.
The guards entered as well, as did von Bachmann, huffing to catch up from the rear. "None you past the halfway mark of that table...get back!" he was calling, trying to keep order in the room. There was so much noise though that it was hard to hear ANYTHING. Finally, King Augustine XVI let out a bit of a roar...not a loud one...it was definitely feline, but it got the attention in the room.
"Please....please..." he said, rubbing his spotted forehead with his paw. "This is giving me a headache.....one at a time.....one at a time...in a civil manner if you don't mind." were the leopard monarch's instructions. Otto saw his chance and gave Sciurus a tap on the shoulder.
"Why don't you have a go at it?" the blue furred otter mumbled in the squirrel's ear. "You did good outside....should do fine in here."
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Post by Carrow on Jun 20, 2009 18:31:32 GMT -5
Sciurus gulped nervously. The squirrel had to admit that he had not been expecting to be the first creature to go in, but plucked up courage and complied with his otter friend's request.
"Alright, I'll do it. Wish me luck, all of you!"
Sciurus stepped forward.
"Your Highness." He greeted Augustine thus, and in response, the leopard pointed a clawed finger at where it was the squirrel could sit if he so desired. Sciurus sat down, grateful to be off his paws for a while. He soon got down to business, however.
"Your Majesty, I would discuss certain events with you. There are quite audible murmurings of general discontent coming from the populace in the wake of developments that took place over the past week. I hope that you will hear me out. I thank you for giving us this opportunity to talk with you." He fell silent, and allowed Augustine to speak.
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Post by Ladorak on Jun 21, 2009 9:50:38 GMT -5
((Actually Skipper they're all in the Salon from the last post, but that's OK, it's easily amendable.))
The room was lit by a large window behind the leopard, though an ornate chandelier hung from the ceiling as well. This hall was massive that they were in, as it was used primarily for dining Augustine and his family. The attendants had fear in their eyes as they looked from one of the "invaders" to another, and couldn't imagine why in his right mind the King had let them in here. Augustine, for his part, seemed tired, taxed, and not at all wary of the beasts gathered. He was assured by the sight of his Scarlet Guard arriving in greater numbers in the room now.
"Murmurings you say?" the cat monarch asked, rubbing his forehead again and looking directly at Sciurus. "You know I'm a virtual prisoner in this palace.....the only time I'm permitted to leave is when I head to the Assembly meetings. This Revolution has placed power in the paws of many, and with so many able to make decisions for themselves I have no idea about who to rely on and who to trust. Why just the other day I turned away one of my generals because I was no longer sure if I could trust him. He wanted command of three different armed forces in order to 'restore order' in the capital....but to me it sounded like plans for a coup." he smiled slightly now, his lips curling back but it was hard to tell if the smile was one of certainty or condescension.
"If everybeast is able to make his own decision now.....how does anything get accomplished? Things were much simpler when power was in the paws of one...." he said, shaking his head sadly. "This thing you call democracy....I just don't understand it's feasibility." he waved his paw dismissively.
"Now then....these murmurings you mentioned." he said, getting back on topic. "What might they be? Please, do inform me. I'm interested to hear what yet ANOTHER beast has to say about why something has gone wrong or why he wants this or that. Please....I'm all ears." the leopard trained his ears forward to show that he was listening. There was some grumblings now from the crowd and even some insults were heard directed at the King, but Otto managed to keep them quiet for the most part so that Sciurus could speak.
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Post by Carrow on Jun 21, 2009 10:30:54 GMT -5
((fixed.))
"Well, Sire, issue has been taken with your actions over the last week. You vetoed two important laws that had been proposed. The suspension of state stipends to the priests that refused to swear an oath of allegiance to the new government was proposed and rejected. Also, and we are finding this in particular to be quite worrying, you vetoed a proposal for the creation of a camp of 20,000 National Guard to defend Cosnair and protect it from invasion from foreign armies in the coming weeks. As we see it, it would be quite beneficial to us if such a force were to be created, and we are confused as to why you vetoed this proposal. Do you not see that failure to be properly prepared for what we are due to face could very well prove to be catastrophic? Apologies if I sound forceful, Your Highness, I am simply echoing the sentiments of the masses gathered outside. Furthermore, we are becoming irritated by your refusal to work with the Assembly in making Rosferia a safer place for all creatures. We have not yet heard you state your reasons for these actions, so, please, do tell us why exactly you acted thus."
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