Doubts of Tara

Kurohyou

Shortly after the battle of Tandsu, Kurohyou and his Risembool Rangers began making their way towards the capital city once again. Now for some time Kuro has had something on his mind, but just hasn't been able to talk to anyone about it. So after much thought onto it, he came to the idea of seeing what his dear friend, Aethelmaer thought.

So Kurohyou called forth his scribe and had him write a quick note to be sent to Foda ahead of him. The squire jotted down the words of Kurohyou and sped off ahead. The men looked to Kurohyou in a terrified way, for they saw that Kurohyou had a grin that they have never seen before. It was a grin that had evil wrapped around it.

Aethelmaer,

Let us play a little game.

The army Joker in the kitchen, with the spoon of power Good luck with it

-Kurohyou

Aethelmaer

Aethelmaer was just tending to his men at camp when a running messenger came sprinting to his side at the head of his 10 men going through some training. The man seemed out of breath as he held up a note.

"A message from Sir Bakos, sir."

"Thank you."

Aethelmaer tipped him off, and rolled his eyes at being called sir, but didn't hold the man against it. He opened up the note and he could certainly tell it was from his good friend Kuro. It's words certainly screwed with his head, but getting down the gist of it, he knew exactly what he was talking about. He realized that something was a little odd, and he'd talk to him about it as soon as he arrived in the city. As for now, there was more training to be done.

Kurohyou

Passing through the main gates of Foda, Kurohyou and his men went about their own businesses for the moment. As the rangers dispersed, Kurohyou decided to swing by the Center of Foda to see if Aethelmaer was in the area...

Aethelmaer

Aethelmaer was on his way through the city, thinking of daily things he hasn't done yet when he noticed a face out of the crowd coming towards him. He was shouting out, above the crowd, just so this one particular person could hear. It just so happened to be for himself.

"Aethelmaer!!!" The voice said, and when closer he came, noticed it was Kurohyou. "Sooo... Did you get my note?" He had said.

"Yes, my good friend, I got it. What a choice of words too. I must congratulate thee, you've reached a new level of... well, I don't know what to call it, but congrats nonetheless."

He gave his good friend a pat on the back, and a big smile. "Anyways, shall we be onto business?" He motioned towards the nearest tavern.

Kurohyou

The two made it towards the tavern and took a seat while ordering a round of ale. Kurohyou looked over to Aethelmaer and said, "So you enjoyed my new level of stupidity? Well it was either that or just say bluntly that our general is a power-hungry nutcase."

Kuro noticed that Aethelmaer had this expression upon his face like "thank you!!!" Kuro smirked and asked, "What's your opinion about him? Wouldn't you agree that him having the two positions he has a bit ridiculous?" Kurohyou then handed Aethelmaer a keg and they both took a swig of their ale...

Aethelmaer

"Well... Now that you mention it, and bringing it to my attention with your little note made me think just a little bit." He looked his friend in the eyes. "I did notice how he dealt with it the first time, he seemed to try and play it off."

Aethelmaer placed his mug down. "Something tells me you're right." Kuro nodded, "That's the Aethelmaer I know."

"So, how do we go about bringing it up... again?" He looked to his friend as he took another swig of ale.

Kurohyou

"Not sure. I would think we just start off by speaking our minds and then work our magic from there. Although I'm pretty we both know he's going to deny the whole matter and somehow try and backfire at us"

As Kurohyou took a drink of his ale, his scribe came in with a letter. Kuro took the letter and noticed it had an ASI seal upon it. He opened it up and then laughed a little.

"Who's it from Kuro?" Aethelmaer asked "Take a look for yourself.."

Kurohyou handed the letter over to Aethelmaer, and said something while Aethelmaer began reading it, "Well obviously we could use the response to what Jose and the others to this and begin the discussion from there..."

Aethelmaer

He looked over the letter, and was surprised it was from his dear Sh'ki. He looked over the part that explained her feeling a threat from the superiors.

"You know... She does bring up a good point. If we are at peace, then why is it so wrong that she takes foot upon Taran soil?"

He mulled this over thoroughly, "I know it's posted in orders, yet, that doesn't give reason as to why..." He drowned out the rest of his words with another sip. "Would it be wrong for us to step into Ashlantean soil? What type of realm are we living in Kuro?"

Kurohyou

"Well, for the those that are looking at it from an obvious standpoint...we live in a realm run by a tyrant. Being in a tyranny, all should follow their leaders without question.

But I would think that some of the veteran nobles would begin to some sense of intelligence where you would question what is going on behind the scenes. Because we may be going to war by our master's commands, but for all we know we are fighting because someone spilled ale over his best shirt. Oh curses, I'm drifting off topic a bit.

Anyway, yeah it does seem somewhat off that we can't enter lands where we are at peace with said realms. But...why is it you said it like that? It was a intentional misdirect, Aethelmaer, haha." Kurohyou takes a drink of his ale

"Anywho, what is your opinion on Jose having both a position as both marshal and genral? Wouldn't you think that the smart thing to do is have another person play the role as marshal so then if he was to be wounded, the marshal could take over while he is recovering. Having both positions is just plain stupidity. Sure he says that the Military Council could take over, but then again would you rather see someone who holds a position as a marshal give out the orders...or see someone who claims to be part of the council give out orders?" Takes another drink of his ale...

Aethelmaer

"Well... If you put it like that..." Aethelmaer thought about that whole thing again, diverting from the talk of who's soil is better, but for good reason he noticed.

"Anyways, This Jose person does have both, and in my honest opinion, believe that it is crossing that line. Someone else should definitely be Marshall, not just for giving out orders, but also so that the army in its entirety doesn't go insane..."

Aethelmaer thinks about that last statement, and laughs. "Besides, it would also give chances to those others to maybe learn the way of being a leader, or as a position to decide if that noble might be worthy of maybe one day holding a higher position. Almost like a gateway sorta thing... Maybe? In an odd way?"

There was an awkward silence... "Okay maybe not, but you catch my drift?"

Kurohyou

Kurohyou's eyes widened a bit after hearing this, and comprehending what Aethelmaer was referring to.

"Now if I'm hearing what you are saying correctly, would you really be up to doing something like that and knowing what is to come of it if catastrophe struck?"