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Post by Ali on Jun 30, 2007 9:57:19 GMT -5
((OOC: Well, she looks irritated to Kaitelanna -insists- Just kidding ;D Sorry 'bout that))
Kaitelanna remained silent until Emeli had settled herself and had taken a quick peek at the papers before her.
As Emeli explained to her sister what they would be discussing, she simply nodded in agreement.
"Are we missing anyone at all, Lady Kaitelanna?"
Kaitelanna took another quick glance around. The Spymistress, queen, princess, Provost, Head Healer, and Caden Laken were all there.
"I do not believe so, your Majesty. Let us finally begin."
Kaitelanna stood, and with papers in hand took the floor.
"Now. Like Queen Emeli briefly mentioned, there have been many raids, money frozen in the Scanran banks. Scanra, as we know it, has been good friend to us for many years. We wouldn't want to lose that friendship and that ally, would we? Comments, your own observations?"
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Post by spigurl on Jul 1, 2007 21:16:25 GMT -5
Noah stood and bowed as the queen entered the room. He was glad she was finally here, if still not annoyed. She had certainly taken her time. Probably wasting time picking out a dress or some other nonsense. Well, what did he care now? It was finally time to start.
Just about everyone in the room said something along the lines of "let's start", but nobody seemed to know how. The queen and advisor stated that there have been raids, money problems, and other such problems. Noah didn't really understand why he was included in such talks, seeing as his affairs dealt with what was going on in Tortall, not around it.
"Now. Like Queen Emeli briefly mentioned, there have been many raids, money frozen in the Scanran banks. Scanra, as we know it, has been good friend to us for many years. We wouldn't want to lose that friendship and that ally, would we? Comments, your own observations?"
Well, of course we wouldn't want to lose Scanra as an ally, the man thought. Any fool on the street would say the same.
"Do we know why the raids have been taking place? What has caused it in the recent years?" Noah decided to take a crack at it. It was probably in his stack of papers, but he hadn't read them. "What do our people inside Scanra say?" That is, assuming we have people. Noah gazed directly at the spymistress. She had held the position for three years, and they were probably supposed to meet occasionally. Too bad they didn't. Then Noah might actually know what was going on in Scanra.
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Post by alannatheknightess on Jul 2, 2007 3:51:24 GMT -5
(OCC: Ali, you do know that if it's in italics, it's a thought?)
"The same reason the raids happen in every other country," Ani said, almost intrurpting the slight silence that had followed Noah's words. He wasn't looking at her, or even near her, so it sounded a bit strange for her to reply. "Raids happen everywhere, not just Scanra. An unusual number either means something is happening, or someone is bored, but it doesn't mean the rules that apply to everyone else automatically disaperate. The reason has it's orgins in the same reasons as everyone else."
She moved her elbow on to the table and rested her chin onto her closed knuckles, flicking back a piece of her hair. She looked straight and evenly, almost like a challenge to the air.
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Post by Rainstorm Aria on Jul 6, 2007 15:38:31 GMT -5
"The same reason the raids happen in every other country," Ani said, almost intrurpting the slight silence that had followed Noah's words. He wasn't looking at her, or even near her, so it sounded a bit strange for her to reply. "Raids happen everywhere, not just Scanra. An unusual number either means something is happening, or someone is bored, but it doesn't mean the rules that apply to everyone else automatically disaperate. The reason has it's orgins in the same reasons as everyone else."
Annikka flipped through her papers and discovered the ones on raid numbers, the thefts, the burnings and casualties for the past ten years, graphs and statistics, that had been handed down by her predecessor, who appeared to have been very fond of statistics. "Your highness, raids have been increasing over the past decade, and casualties along with that. Scanra is periodically starving, but they're also burning more. I know that most of the healers in the forts along the border who report to me have seen action. I'm no politician, but it could be an attempt to provoke?"
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Post by Ali on Jul 6, 2007 17:14:49 GMT -5
((OOC: Yeah. All my life....uh...where did that question come from?))
Livana cought Noah's glance. She looked back, though she was unsure of if she should try to silently communicate.
"From the information I've collected from the spies in Scanra at the moment, it could easily be an attempt to provoke," she said, feeling a bit blank just putting in her small two cents worth.
This meeting had caught her by surprise, and she probably wouldn't have been able to say more unless she had known of the meeting before it was supposed to start.
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Post by spigurl on Jul 8, 2007 23:02:14 GMT -5
"The same reason the raids happen in every other country," the princess said suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere. Noah wasn't exactly sure why she chose to speak, but apparently she had something to say that she thought important. Far be it from the Provost to stop her. "Raids happen everywhere, not just Scanra. An unusual number either means something is happening, or someone is bored, but it doesn't mean the rules that apply to everyone else automatically disaperate. The reason has it's origins in the same reasons as everyone else."
"Can you be quite sure of that?" the man asked. "There are always other reasons or circumstances."
The head healer and spymistress seemed to confirm his statement by each saying that it could be some sort of attempt to provoke Tortall. Well, Annikka said most of it and Livana just agreed. Noah decided to ask the advisor's opinion. After all, she had called this meeting. She was the one who decided there was a problem. She should be the one to say something.
"Miss Delarendiere, what is your opinion of the subject? You have so thoughtfully called us all here to discuss it, yet you have hardly said a word. Why don't you give us your theory?" Noah's voice was like he was merely asking a friend to tea. The annoyance he had shown earlier was hidden behind a new mask. One hopefully that would help end this meeting.
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Post by Rainstorm Aria on Jul 10, 2007 14:23:02 GMT -5
"Can you be quite sure of that?" the man asked. "There are always other reasons or circumstances."
Emeli almost smiled. She was aware that her sister rarely shared her opinions on suitable people to appoint to highly-placed jobs, even if she didn't know the full extent of her sister's disdain, and to see Ani so politely trumped by two of the officials Ani liked least was amusing- especially in this meeting, which looked to be long and boring.
"Miss Delarendiere, what is your opinion of the subject? You have so thoughtfully called us all here to discuss it, yet you have hardly said a word. Why don't you give us your theory?"
She sat up a little straighter. Ah, sarcasm. This could make for difficulties, especially if Lady Kaite really got stuck in.
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Post by alannatheknightess on Jul 10, 2007 17:59:48 GMT -5
Ani resisted the urge, once again, to roll her eyes and snap at them that if they just looked at the reports, they'd notice that the places starving were not the areas attacking.
She looked at Lady Annikka and said politly, "It could very well be an attempt to provoke, but if you look at the reports, they aren't doing it well. Raids on the most inane places, or trying to raid places that can easily defend themselves. This isn't a political thing at best, or it would of been planned.
"Can you be quite sure of that?" said Noah.
Yes, because I'm the bloody King of Scanra. No, you fool! "Obviously not," she said smoothly, "Which I would so much gather is the purpose of this meeting. So unless you happen to be in contact with the King of Scanra and he has so kindly given you all his plans and whatnot, I'd suggest you take everything into consideration without doubting something because we don't have facts. I doubt it as well. It's called reasonable thinking. The inside land of Scanra is starving, towards the very middle of the county. As they are outside fiefs attacking and they seem to be finely fed, one would reasonably presume there is another reason."
(OCC: ENTER Z-SNAP HERE, BITCHEZ.)
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Post by Rainstorm Aria on Jul 11, 2007 15:16:10 GMT -5
"It could very well be an attempt to provoke, but if you look at the reports, they aren't doing it well. Raids on the most inane places, or trying to raid places that can easily defend themselves. This isn't a political thing at best, or it would of been planned."
"Again, I have to plead complete and total inexperience, but surely they don't need to do it well to provoke?" she asked, hoping the Princess wouldn't get angry. "They just need to kill enough people. They're certainly doing that."
"Obviously not," she said smoothly, "Which I would so much gather is the purpose of this meeting. So unless you happen to be in contact with the King of Scanra and he has so kindly given you all his plans and whatnot, I'd suggest you take everything into consideration without doubting something because we don't have facts. I doubt it as well. It's called reasonable thinking. The inside land of Scanra is starving, towards the very middle of the county. As they are outside fiefs attacking and they seem to be finely fed, one would reasonably presume there is another reason."
Annikka was shocked and slightly worried. A direct attack on the Provost could lead to anything at all, given the temper of both the princess and Noah Callum. "Your Highness, I don't think I was properly clear- I apologise, my mistake. I meant to say that although some parts of Scanra starve quite frequently, usually raids often take crops and food, but in the past years the number of fields, granaries and so on they burn has increased. It's as if they want to starve people out or weaken them."
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Post by alannatheknightess on Jul 14, 2007 14:43:37 GMT -5
(OCC: And Emeli said Ani had been trumped? PAH.)
Your Highness, I don't think I was properly clear- I apologise, my mistake. I meant to say that although some parts of Scanra starve quite frequently, usually raids often take crops and food, but in the past years the number of fields, granaries and so on they burn has increased. It's as if they want to starve people out or weaken them," Annika said quickly.
Ani smiled at her. "And now, look!" she said to the Provest with a hint of sarcasm. "Another idea. But, as we have no 'facts', should we overlook it? There could be mulitple reasons, and just because one is said first doesn't mean we should stick to it without a waver. Thank you Lady Annikka." She smiled at her. "There's another little tibit. Burning. That wasn't mentioned before, but, yet, we'll take it into consideration, won't we? Because it's an idea. Not a fallout fact." She directed the last part at Noah.
So Ani had somewhat twisted Annikka's words. So what?
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Post by Ali on Jul 15, 2007 11:24:38 GMT -5
"Miss Delarendiere, what is your opinion of the subject? You have so thoughtfully called us all here to discuss it, yet you have hardly said a word. Why don't you give us your theory?"
Kaitelanna opened her mouth to speak, however the sudden burst in conversation silenced her. "Obviously not," she said smoothly, "Which I would so much gather is the purpose of this meeting. So unless you happen to be in contact with the King of Scanra and he has so kindly given you all his plans and whatnot, I'd suggest you take everything into consideration without doubting something because we don't have facts. I doubt it as well. It's called reasonable thinking. The inside land of Scanra is starving, towards the very middle of the county. As they are outside fiefs attacking and they seem to be finely fed, one would reasonably presume there is another reason."
Once it had died down, Kaitelanna managed to say, "I must say that I agree with Princess Anitha. There are no facts, so our minds must remain open. I myself believe that there is a multitude of reasons, which is why I'm sure Lady Livana has been working so hard lately...."
It was hard to tell where this was going. Obviously everyone in the room was on edge with each other. With Annikka and Ani going at it, Kaitelanna suspected there would be a long debate between them for some time.
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Post by spigurl on Jul 17, 2007 21:08:47 GMT -5
"Obviously not," the princess said in response to his question. He hadn't even been looking at her, but considering her earlier intrusion, this one wasn't so surprising. She continued to say, "Which I would so much gather is the purpose of this meeting. So unless you happen to be in contact with the King of Scanra and he has so kindly given you all his plans and whatnot, I'd suggest you take everything into consideration without doubting something because we don't have facts. I doubt it as well. It's called reasonable thinking. The inside land of Scanra is starving, towards the very middle of the county. As they are outside fiefs attacking and they seem to be finely fed, one would reasonably presume there is another reason."
Yes, the king and I are on speaking terms. What would you like to know? Noah thought, annoyed that the princess was even speaking. By all means she had the right to speak. That didn't mean she should. Before Noah could manage to say anything aloud, Annikka had to step in to try and prevent argument between himself and Anitha. I don't think you can stop the inevitable.
"And now, look!" the princess said in response to the Head Healer's most unhelpful comment. The sarcasm in her voice was clear to him, not hard to miss. "Another idea. But, as we have no 'facts', should we overlook it? There could be multiple reasons, and just because one is said first doesn't mean we should stick to it without a waver. Thank you Lady Annikka." She smiled at her. "There's another little tidbit. Burning. That wasn't mentioned before, but, yet, we'll take it into consideration, won't we? Because it's an idea. Not a fallout fact."
Then the Advisor finally decided to speak. What she had to say was slightly disappointing, to say the least. "I must say that I agree with Princess Anitha. There are no facts, so our minds must remain open. I myself believe that there is a multitude of reasons, which is why I'm sure Lady Livana has been working so hard lately...."
"Well," Noah said, finally talking the opportunity to speak. "I would assume we would have more to go on then, how did you put it, 'reasonable thinking'? How can you be sure it's really reasonable? You can't, because it is you agreeing with yourself. Besides, you can't go 'reasonably thinking' your way through every situation. It will only get you so far. Then it gets to the point where you need cold, hard facts." When he was finished addressing Anitha, the Provost moved on to Kaitelanna. "I keep hearing that you have your own thoughts, yet I haven't heard them." As to her last bit about the spymistress, Noah decided not to say anything at all. For of course he was sure that she was indeed working her hardest.
(OOC: I suck. Sorry it took so long to respond. And it's not even very good. Let me know if I didn't make sense...)
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Post by Rainstorm Aria on Jul 19, 2007 15:16:19 GMT -5
"I would assume we would have more to go on then, how did you put it, 'reasonable thinking'? How can you be sure it's really reasonable? You can't, because it is you agreeing with yourself. Besides, you can't go 'reasonably thinking' your way through every situation. It will only get you so far. Then it gets to the point where you need cold, hard facts."
"We have got cold, hard facts," Emeli said, viewing the verbal brawl developing among her subordinates and sister with amusement mixed with alarm. She lifted her folder up so everyone could see it; it contained copies of all the information everyone else had. She flicked through it. Healers are useful people. They keep records until they're coming out of their ears, and they keep records of almost everything possible.... ah-ha. She had arrived at the third page of Annikka's notes, which gave statistics for all the burnings, killings, raids and so on. "I understand the problem is that what we have does not conclusively inform us what is going on."
"Another idea. But, as we have no 'facts', should we overlook it? There could be mulitple reasons, and just because one is said first doesn't mean we should stick to it without a waver. Thank you Lady Annikka." She smiled at her. "There's another little tibit. Burning. That wasn't mentioned before, but, yet, we'll take it into consideration, won't we? Because it's an idea. Not a fallout fact."
Emeli wished she could kick her sister under the table without people noticing, but highly doubted that she would get away with it without being seen. Stop it, she thought furiously at Anitha, knowing that she couldn't communicate her current irritation without making a scene. Stop meddling. It's not fair, and I won't have it, sister or not.
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Post by Ali on Jul 25, 2007 10:41:26 GMT -5
"I keep hearing that you have your own thoughts, yet I haven't heard them."
Tones were getting louder and louder. Kaitelanna only sighed and said calmly, "Must I repeat, Princess Anitha has sad my thoughts. I have also told you that I think there are many reasons. What more would you like me to say?"
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Post by Ali on Jul 25, 2007 10:44:25 GMT -5
"I must say that I agree with Princess Anitha. There are no facts, so our minds must remain open. I myself believe that there is a multitude of reasons, which is why I'm sure Lady Livana has been working so hard lately...."
Livana sighed heavily. Don't I always? she thought, almost sarcastically.
If anything, she was bored. She hadn't been able to say much at all.
"We have got cold, hard facts," Emeli said, viewing the verbal brawl developing among her subordinates and sister with amusement mixed with alarm. "I understand the problem is that what we have does not conclusively inform us what is going on."
"Preciesly," Livana jumped in with. "That's why it's almost as if we don't have any facts at all."
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