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Plans
Jul 17, 2009 12:43:39 GMT -5
Post by Ladorak on Jul 17, 2009 12:43:39 GMT -5
It was only a few days after the massive celebrations had taken place for the third anniversarie of the Rosferian Revolution. A crowd of nearly 400,000 had attended, almost the entire population of Cosnair in fact, and there had been a large public ceremony at the old location of the Bastion Prison. That prison, since demolished, was to become the site of a monumet commemorating the event, and the cornerstone had been laid during the celebrations.
The veterans of the storming of the Bastion Prison had been present. All had linked paws and walked together up to the site in a solemn procession. The King of Rosferia had attended as well, and gave his affirmation of loyalty to his country and his promise for continuing to respect the Constitution. The public sentiment however was rapidly turning against him. After briefly falling in behind the King, the Legislative Assembly was once again back to it`s old squabbling self. The sympathy they had felt for Augustine and his family when his palace had been invaded had passed.
Exacerbating the situation was the arrival of the National Guard. They weren`t supposed to gather at Cosnair as the King had vetoed that decree, but they came regardless, invited by the Assembly to attend the ceremonies. After it was over, they had been asked to stick around in case they`d be needed, and thus the camp of 20,000 was beginning to form, against the King`s wishes.
Because of the tense atmosphere in the capital, security was being tightened at the King`s Palace. At first, Augustine had completely closed his gardens to the public, but after much discord he reoppened them. The gardens though remained empty, as defiant citizens refused to set paw within them, claiming it would be below them to accept a new favor from the King when he never should have closed the gardens in the first place.
It was in this sordid atmosphere that meetings begun to be held. Secret meetings...meetings laying the groundwork for the permanent removal of the King and the declaration of a true republic for Rosferia. Many notable beasts attended these meetings, and one such secret arrangement was going on right now, within some empty offices of City Hall. Mayor Jerome had been reappointed to his post after being fired by the King for letting the crowd that moved against his palace gather at City Hall. But through popular consent (bar that of the King and his ministers of course), the hare was back in place as Mayor of Cosnair, and back to assisting the conspirators.
Otto Kurtz was in attendance at today`s meeting, having brought along Sciurus Whirlpaw in order to keep him on top of things. "Friends!" the otter proclaimed, looking around the room at the assembled beasts. "Welcome! As you are now aware, public sentiment for teh King has all but completely evaporated in favor of a republic for Rosferia. The time is drawing close....the time when we can make our strike and remove the cancerous head of the nation in fell blow!"
Otto began to pace a bit, moving his paws for show. "The National Guard is increasing daily. Soon, by the end of the month we calculate, all 20,000 should be around Cosnair. Many of them have expressed extreme displeasure with the King, and it may indeed be possible to count on their support in removing him. Convincing the Guard to help us won`t be too difficult....convincing their leader on the other paw....well we'll get to that shortly. First things first. I want us to be ready to make our move around August 9th or 10th. I don't want to wait later than that. I want to wait at least until the end of July to give the Guard a chance to assemble, but any longer would put us in danger of a resumed Gradvar advance into our nation. We must move quickly to remove the King and deprive Gradvar of their main reason for entering Rosferia."
The otter and Cutter had come up with this plan together. They had worked on the timing of things, and it remained up to the populace to carry it out. "The King....being not a fool....has of course increased his palace security." Otto continued. "I would like the plans of the palace and it`s security detail to be brought up front if you please." some beasts in the back shuffled out of the room to retrieve the maps. "Breaching security will be difficult....but not impossible. We might JUST have an insider who may be willing to assist us with our endeavors. But once again, I'll get to that in a bit. Sciurus." Otto turned, fixing his eyes upon the squirrel.
"Why don`t you answer something for me. The King must surely know the populace of Cosnair is turning against him yes? He tried to escape from us last year....why is he not trying to flee the city again? I'm sure you were wondering that were you not? I'd like to hear your input on things my friend. Tell us what you think." Otto moved aside so that Sciurus could step forward. This would not be the first of the squirrel`s tasks today. Oh no....far from it....Otto had even bigger things in mind for Sciurus on this cloudy afternoon.
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Plans
Jul 17, 2009 13:10:05 GMT -5
Post by Carrow on Jul 17, 2009 13:10:05 GMT -5
Sciurus, who had greatly appreciated Otto's bringing him along to the meeting, stepped forward, clearing his throat. The squirrel had calmed down considerably since the events of the march on the palace the previous month. He could not help feeling nervous from time to time, although a meeting with a ferret by the name of Paul Cutter had helped him a great deal. The ferret had suggested had his otter friend use his hypnosis abilities to aid the squirrel. Sciurus, who was himself a hypnotist, knew that Otto was concerned for him, and as such would attend to him at the first available opportunity. There were much more important things apaw that needed to be dealt with first, however. He now felt quite confident about what it was that needed to be done, and his voice now rang out, loud and clear.
"It seems to me, friends, that the King has something up his sleeve. It is plain for all creatures to see. Augustine knows we have fully turned against him and will soon call for his deposition. He fled the country last year, and to the casual onlooker, it would seem that if he were wise, he would do so again. Yet, he has stayed put, so far at least. Things have not yet come to a head, but they will soon. We know it, and, by the seasons, he knows it as well. The King has nothing to lose, it would seem. However, our suspicions have been roused since the march. We believe that Augustine is in thick with our enemies, making empty promises to the citizens of Rosferia, but double-crossing us behind our backs, and working with our foes to ensure that this Nation is overrun. If it is, then the King will be restored to power in the twitch of a whisker. He is stalling for time, I think, as he knows that what little he has left is slipping away from him, day by day, and if we have anything to do with it, the events of early August will bring about the end of his reign."
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Plans
Jul 17, 2009 13:31:47 GMT -5
Post by Ladorak on Jul 17, 2009 13:31:47 GMT -5
Every time Sciurus spoke it was with great dignity and he was only getting better and better at it. Such elegance was rare in common beasts, and Otto once again appreciated the help that the squirrel was lending them. "Quite so, quite so. I don't think I could have come up with better reasons myself. You see....we also suspect that it`s a situation where everybeast is using everybeast else. The King hopes to use Kostritz and Gradvar to reinstate himself on the throne, but I believe Kostritz and Gradvar have their own designs on our nation. Look at Dumont, out east. Dumont was seized by Gradvar in the name of King Frederick.....not of King Augustine. Don't you think that if Frederick were sincere in helping Augustine he'd at least have taken Dumont in Augustine's name?" Murmurs of consent went up from the crowded rooms. "Even now Gradvar's banner and not Rosferia's flies over Dumont. I take this as proof. Gradvar....must NOT be permitted to have their way with this nation." Otto of course had his own reasons for wanting Gradvar out. If Gradvar advanced on Cosnair he risked being repatriated and forced into the military. That was something the otter did not relish at all....though chances were he'd probably be put to death if he were caught by Gradvar. "Though Sciurus, I would like to make just one correction if I could." Otto said with a smile. "The King DOES have something to lose....his family. They're trapped with him in the palace. Unless he's truly heartless, I can't imagine even Augustine wanting to lose his own family. But why he doesn't flee well....your guess is as good as mine Sciurus, but you're going to find that out today." he said, giving him a wink. They were interrupted however by the arrival of the maps, which were promptly rolled out on the table before them. "Ok....we all know the layout of the palace. The King has moved some brigades of the National Guard into the city to defend his palace, but I think he can hardly count on them for a solid defense. The real defenders of the palace are the Scarlet Guard, led by Major Karl von Bachmann, the mongoose. They`re stationed in the palace itself. Now here's where the tricky part comes in. Convincing the National Guard will be easy....but only if their commander, the Marquis Gottshalk, is removed. Without a leader, what reason would the National Guard have to resist us? We could install our friend Santere here in his place." Otto motioned with his arm towards the mink who had been present on the last march on the palace. He was a previous member of the National Guard before having been removed from it, but he was still extremely popular amongst the guardsbeasts. "So....let`s go over the plan. We'll gathere here, at the City Hall, at some early hour...perhaps 3 in the morning. Then....we'll move to the Armory to obtain our weapons and arm ourselves. The armory is only lightly defended, and taking it should be no problem if we get a large group of several thousand together. Then....we'll have to think of a way to dispose of the Marquis Gottshalk. Perhaps we could issue orders from City Hall to report here for new instructions, and once he does we could place him under arrest and have Santere take his place." Otto looked around the room at the nodding animals. Yes....they were all united for a common cause. A common purpose. To make their voice heard and create a republic. "We'll finalize our plans for Gottshalk one way or another. After he's disposed of, we'll march on the King's Palace. The gates to the courtyard will probably be closed. But...as I said earlier...we just MIGHT have an insider. Sciurus." the blue furred otter turned to his red squirrel companion again. "Here's where you come in. The inside beast has offered to meet with us to discuss our plans. He's shown interest in aiding our effort, and I am pretty sure he's on the level, but I want you to speak with him today to find out. He works as an attendant of sorts for the King. Perhaps you've heard of him? He's a stoat by the name of Spinfer ( ). Would you be interested in acting as our liason today with him?" Otto asked, clasping his paws behind his back. "Also if you have anything to add to the plan feel free to speak up." he said, cracking another smile now.
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Plans
Jul 17, 2009 13:47:22 GMT -5
Post by Carrow on Jul 17, 2009 13:47:22 GMT -5
Ah, hadn't thought of that. Augustine wouldn't leave his family behind.... would he?, Sciurus thought as Otto corrected him. The squirrel was clearly not the only confident speaker here today, as Otto's words, which could be heard clearly, were delivered in a smooth, flowing tone, like the gurgle of water as it coursed its way down the river and into the sea. How appropriate that I should describe my otter friend's tone thus. Sciurus chuckled to himself.
Then, his ears perked up, and the squirrel fully returned to what was going on around him. He hadn't missed a trick, and had heard the plan as it had been outlined. Now he replied.
"That plan seems solid enough. I cannot think of anything to add to it, my friend. As for this Spinfer you speak of... hmm, that name does actually ring a bell, now that I think about it. Can't say from where I recall it, though. As for the job at paw, i would be delighted to assist you, of course. Consider me the squirrel for the job!"
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Plans
Jul 17, 2009 14:06:24 GMT -5
Post by Ladorak on Jul 17, 2009 14:06:24 GMT -5
"Good! Mayhap too you could help him oh....I don't know...relax a bit when you meet him?" Otto asked with a wink. "I'll go over the details for that in a minute though, first I need to talk about what we do AFTER we get into the courtyard. As I said...the palace itself is being watched by the Scarlet Guard. They're elites....the best in the business, 1,000 strong in number. The palace also has 200 regular guards as security, making it 1,200 altogether. The Scarlet Guard I doubt will back down." the mustelid emphasized the word doubt
"We....will ask the King to abdicate but....if he does not...we'll have no choice. We'll HAVE to attack the Scarlet Guard in order to get at the King. Lives will be lost of course....for some of you it might be your last morning. But....but I want this to happen. I want that morning to be Augustine's last morning as the monarch of Rosferia as well. I don't want to suffer anymore under his heel, and risk the undermining of our nation just so that he can rule over us. I expect the Scarlet Guard to resist to the last....they're highly paid professionals after, and all foreigners who have no ties to this country's sympathies. To join their ranks is nearly a sacred thing....and thus I expect their resistance to be fierce." Otto had taken a somber tone now, and was scanning the room again with sad but determined eyes.
"Do not fear death. Do not fear the consequence. We MUST act! We MUST show the world that despots and monarchs can not rule without the consent of their people. I want this to stand as a message, stronger than any that have gone before. We are ready to govern ourselves.....we are ready for freedom." the otter said resolutely, to which he was met by applause and cheers. "To ensure success we must dare. Dare to be the best we can be." he said after the plaudits had died.
"Now then....for you Sciurus." Otto turned again to the squirrel. "I'm electing you as our representative today to speak with Spinfer. He will meet you in the Gardens of Rainwall Palace. You know...the old palace that used to be the residence of Augustine's brother before he fled the country. It's being used as a prison now but the gardens are safe place for you two to meet. Ask him why the King has not yet tried to escape, and try and determine where he stands with us, and if he's still hesitant....then convince him that we are honest and earnest in our cause." The otter said, once more looking into Sciurus's eyes.
"Are you ready to depart then? What do think of the plan?" were the otter's questions now as the beasts started to talk amongst themselves, going over details and asking questions and suggestions.
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Plans
Jul 17, 2009 14:14:24 GMT -5
Post by Carrow on Jul 17, 2009 14:14:24 GMT -5
The squirrel stared straight back into his otter friend's twinkling eyes. Where once his footpaws would have trembled, and that stammer of his would have come upon him, he now stood to his full height and spoke in a voice that showed he had changed in the two weeks since his meeting with the strange-looking, but amiable nonetheless, ferret.
"That sounds to me like a plan that stands every chance of going off without a hitch. I will do my best to ensure that it does indeed run smoothly, and I will report back to you as soon as I can with any information I may have been given. I can be quite coercive when I want to be. You should know that better than anybeast, my mustelid companion, but hopefully it won't get to the point where I have to use my abilities on Spinfer. I wish you best of luck with your task, Otto Kurtz."
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Plans
Jul 17, 2009 14:28:51 GMT -5
Post by Ladorak on Jul 17, 2009 14:28:51 GMT -5
"And to you my rodent friend. I can think of no other better suited to this task. He will meet you at 1:30, which isn't very far off. He is a stoat of course, and will be carrying Augustine's seal on him so that you'll recognize him. Good luck, and represent us well."
To the otter, Sciurus had come over a definite change. He was more decisive now, and more in control. He seemed self-assured, and Otto was glad that Cutter could help. Once the King was deposed, Cutter could come out in the open and live among them. What a glorious day that would be....indeed....what a way to end this year if they could turn back Gradvar's armies, depose their monarch and proclaim a republic.
Numerous beasts wished Sciurus well as they clouds began to clear from the sky.....
*******************
Rainwall Palace was magnificent. It was by far much smaller than Augustine's Winter Palace and was a singular building in and of itself, but it`s facade was still impressive nonetheless. Augustine had given it to his brother (also named Augustine except he was rather corpulent and more indulgent than his monarch brother), the Count of the Southern Provinces as his personal residence, but it was vacated of any royalty now.
Augustine and his immediate family had attempted flight of the nation last year, but only the King`s brother and his family had made it out. Augustine and his own family had been caught at the border and brougth back to Cosnair. Rainwall Palace now served as a temporary prison. It only held political agitators however and not common criminals. When the Conciergerie Prison became full, any leftover prisoners would be sent to Rainwall Palace. The guard was light, as there were under 10 prisoners inside it's grandiose walls.
The gardens were truly opulent, just like Augustine's own gardens were, and like the leopard monarch's gardens, these were opened to the public on a regular basis. Many beasts walked around the topiary and the colorful flower beds. The smell of summer was in the air, thick and abundant, and it reminded Spinfer of his days as a kit.
The royal secretary, for that's what he was, sat by himself at a table in sight of Rainwall Palace. He was dressed in an outfit of the royal court, but did not go overboard with his apparel. He knew populace frowned on the aristocracy and his ilk. He wore Augustine's seal about his neck however, to indicate to whoever was meeting him of his identify.
Spinfer was an odd sort. He served the crown, and yet he also had desires of his own. He was quite an intelligent beast, and intrigues were nothing new to him. He was gaunt, lean, like a shadow almost if he stood in dimly lit areas. He drummed his claws on the table in a distracted manner whilst sipping a cup of hot tea with his free paw and glancing about him casually.
Who were they sending? The stoat could only muse over this as he patiently waited. It was just about time for the rendez-vous to occur.
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Plans
Jul 17, 2009 14:39:24 GMT -5
Post by Carrow on Jul 17, 2009 14:39:24 GMT -5
Precisely at 1:30, knocks sounded upon the heavy wooden wooden door that, when opened, allowed creatures entry to the gardens. Six knocks in quick succession, Sciurus' signature knock. The squirrel's bushy tail swished gently from side to side as he flexed his paws, waiting to be admitted into the garden. The hypnotist had brought his trusty pendant with him. He had been told that Spinfer was the inside beast, but Sciurus could not afford to see the stoat hesitate, so if it came to it, he would use his abilities to give the creature a gentle push in the right direction. He hoped that Spinfer had heard the knock. A fleeting feeling of nervousness swept over him, and vanished just as quickly as it had come upon the squirrel.
"You're going to be fine, Sciurus... no need to be getting worked up over all this... You're much better than that now... Besides, Spinfer must surely be a reasonable stoat...," he assured himself.
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Plans
Jul 18, 2009 15:14:43 GMT -5
Post by Ladorak on Jul 18, 2009 15:14:43 GMT -5
Spinfer of course was unable to hear the knock, as he was sitting on the other side of the reflecting pool. Fortunately for him however, as well as Sciurus, one of the prison guards working at that entrance heard the six rapid knocks.
Pausing in what he was doing, the shrew turned towards the gate. "Ah blast....the darn thing closed again." he murmured, shuffling over to throw open the door and poke his prominent nose out at the red furred squirrel. "A thousand pardons there young master, sometimes the door comes off it`s hook when it`s not supposed to and swings shut. These doors are supposed to be kept open....well unless the prison`s in lockdown of course!" the shrew let out a chortle as he stepped outside the wall in order to replace the hook on the door.
"Once again my apologies. Gardens ARE open today." he said emphatically, waving his paw to indicate that entry was permitted. Ahead of Sciurus stretched the gardens, with Rainwall Palace in the background. The gardens were semi-circular in shape, round out from the palace to contain flower beds, walking paths of gravel, park benches, and a large reflecting pool in the middle of it all. On the other side of the pool sat Spinfer, who took immediate notice of the squirrel.
Was this the messenger? Was he somebeast else? The stoat`s eyes lingered on the newcomer for a second or so, studying him, his sharps senses missing nothing. It was partly his job to observe things around him after all. He did not rise though. The messenger would come to him....whoever he was.
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Plans
Jul 18, 2009 15:26:21 GMT -5
Post by Carrow on Jul 18, 2009 15:26:21 GMT -5
Sciurus was ever so slightly taken aback by the appearance of the shrew guard, for he had obviously not been expecting a creature to be stationed there on such an uneventful day as this, as well as the cheerful manner in which the shrew addressed him, but soon recovered himself, and replied as he stepped into the gardens, "My thanks to you, kind sir. I have not gotten the opportunity to see the gardens before now, so I am grateful for the opportunity that has been presented to me."
The squirrel made his way to the pool. Located right in the middle of the gardens, it was not too hard to miss. Sciurus slid his pocket watch into one of the pockets of the waistcoat he was wearing as he approached the stoat. Knowing that a guard could well be within hearing range, the crafty creature pretended to look surprised when he finally saw Spinfer. His voice was low, yet it could be heard clearly by Spinfer as he spoke in a casual tone. "Oh, hello there! Don't see many other creatures around. What, may I ask, are you doing?"
Of course, the start of an idle conversation was only a front. Sciurus quickened his pace as he saw the stoat notice him.
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