escordvi | [ Closed ] If you like, I will tell you a tale.

[ G'raha almost startles when he feels someone else appear at his side. Upon seeing who it is, G'raha relaxes and hums. He's still not feeling very great about all of this but - ]

I was not aware, no. If that is the case, then I should extend my thanks and gratitude towards you.

[ He looks up at Daqiang. Attempts a frail smile before his gaze returns to the voting box. ]

Were it not for some Paladins I have become acquainted with, I might not have escaped this Paladin's designs.

You were captured?

[Even more reason to see the paladin executed.]

Who rescued you?

Aye, though I assure you that I truly wasn't doing anything that would merit such a thing. It came as a surprise, hence why I didn't fight back.

[ G'raha can't think of a reason why execution is on the table, Daqiang! ]

Dion and Xenk.

This venerable one is aware that those who were victims of the paladin were not necessarily guilty of any crimes that warranted such punishment.

[The guy was looking to play judge, jury, and executioner and likely had already, before this specific incident. Seeing as how he was so bold as to do so much, so openly. More over, doing so at all violated the oath the man had made to his armada. He betrayed them. Betrayal was the worst crime one could commit in Canyanhai.

And now, he had also sought to harm one of Dongfang Qingcang's people. Even if he had agreed to Xenk's plea that the paladins should handle the judgement of one of their own, he was still going to get his own vote in.]

It is why his own should be as equally as harsh as that which he intended to bring upon those who were innocent.

I may slip into the archives now and then, under an invisibility spell. Though yes. The Paladin was very adamant about punishing Corsairs simply because they were Corsairs. Little reason needed at all. Guilty by association, perhaps.

[ People have their reasons for doing things, G'raha believes. Not that it makes it excusable, in some cases. However, if there is reason? Reason can be argued with. Logic might able to be applied. Radical fanaticism, on the other hand? Not so much. So which is it in this case... ]

Hardly surprising that this would be your approach. Execution means that this person will not ever be able to see the error of their ways. Death, at times, is no deterrent or punishment at all.

He is already unable to see the error of his ways. Death provides not a lesson for the one killed, but satisfaction and the knowledge that the one who targeted them is no longer capable of doing so be it now, or in the future, to those who were his victims.

There are those who were not so lucky as to be rescued unscathed.

While potentially creating a martyr for others to rally behind...

[ He understands what Daqiang is saying though. Truly, he does. But if there are others who feel just as strongly, is this a mistake? ]

Then they will make themselves known as an enemy that those who were targeted can now watch out for. And they, too, can be eliminated.

[It would not be the first time he had wiped out whole swaths of people. Of course, at that time, he had not had any emotions to sway him. Now... he felt some discomfort at the idea. He wondered why. Not enough to say anything aloud. But it was a curious feeling.]

Eliminated for sharing a belief?

[ G'raha sighs and shakes his head. ]

I have wiped out far more existences than this Paladin can ever dare to achieve. Few ever will. Thus am I to be put down when and if my values do not align?

Eliminated for being a threat and for any actions they take against the victims.

[Plenty of fairies had been spared destruction in his conquering. It was the fairies of Shuiyuntian that stood against him and would see his people destroyed for simply being of the Moon Tribe that he had no mercy for. So it was not as simple as sharing a belief. Though that usually led to worse.]

It is not the misalignment of values. It is the actions taken, the betrayals done in their name, that would cause judgement. My younger brother and I do not agree on many things. He has even sought to kill me. But that is easily forgiven. What would not, is if he betrayed his oath to our people.

[ He wants to ask if the elimination would be before any criminal activity had actually been done or not - even just preplanning. Would these theoretical people be held accountable for having done nothing or at least after they have attempted something?

Instead, his ears perk at the change in Daqiang's tone. G'raha looks at the man with a tilted head. First person and speaking of a brother. ]

I know your point isn't to have me inquire about this relationship you must has with your brother. The point is the oath, yes. Normally I would agree. However, even that can be... Deceptive. There are times where people do not see some actions as a betrayal of oaths.

The oath to our people is clear and easily understood.

[That specific oath wasn't the point, however. But he wanted that to be known. Cangyanhai had not survived as long as it had without understanding the obligations each person had to each other.]

As for other oaths, it is not for the one breaking the oath to solely decide if it is broken. It is for the ones the oath is made to and those they answer to as much as it is the one held to it.

[He nodded at the crowd near the box, which was growing louder and more violent.]

The paladin broke his oath to his armada and ultimately to the people the armada serve. Those who govern it are now faced with the consequence of either turning a blind eye or not being attentive enough. For that, their own oaths are strained. But only broken if they chose to look the other way. To not seek out the truth of a matter before allowing one of their own to cast judgement simply because of another's affiliation.

[He paused and tilted his head.]

Do you think they will draw weapons any time soon?

Edited 2024-01-08 03:15 (UTC)

[ It makes sense, he supposes, on some level. The Ancients had obligations to each other. To the star itself. And they all readily understood those obligations. Though it came with the price of sacrificing some individuality. Even if they didn't all agree, no one spoke of those things. Nothing had ever been challenged...

No matter, no matter. Daqiang really is more of a black and white person. There are times where G'raha wishes that he could be that way. Alas, there are too many variables that are in need of consideration for him to do that. ]

I thought that, perhaps, it might break out into a fight. Tensions are certainly high enough for it.

[ He sighs, shoulders sagging. ]

Whatever the case, you are correct. It has already been decided that his oath has been broken. That cannot be denied. Mayhap I'm not entirely sure why there is need to turn into such a spectacle.

They want the people to know they are listening. It will only be a spectacle if their assurances that they'll weigh in what the people want are ultimately just words.

[He needed there to be enough chaos to get to the box and drop his vote in. A fight breaking out wouldn't last long before cooler heads prevailed and broke it up or moved it away from the box. But it would serve to get people moving around enough for him to get over there. However, it seemed it would need a spark to get going.

He frowned a little deeper and let one of his arms drop to his side where he formed a small ball of blue hellfire. Barely larger than a small pearl bead. Not enough to even be seen unless one was looking directly at it.

And then he flicked it at one of the people getting yelled at - there was someone very in their face at the moment. A quick, sharp jab by a ball of fire hitting them in the stomach would feel very much like someone in the crowd had taken a swing. And that... that would get a fight started in 3... 2... 1...

A punch was thrown and then it was mayhem.

Daqiang looked over at G'raha.]

This venerable one will return in a moment.

[And without waiting for a response or to see if G'raha lunged forward to try and help break up the fight, Daqiang became invisible.]

Even though everyone has conflicting ideas of what "just" is here.

[ Okay, had G'raha known that Daqiang had been about ready to start the fight? He would have tried to stop him. Instead he just looks at Daqiang with alarm and an expression that just reads "why."

Because of course Raha is going to attempt to stop this fight. Pushing and shoving and keeping people at bay. ]

[Daqiang pays attention to the fight only enough to navigate it and get to the box. While the Paladins that had been guarding it have stepped away to help break things up, he slips his vote into the box. It is only one of many.

He was briefly tempted to ignite the other votes already inside before dropping his, but he refrained from doing so. The voting was going on for more than one day. And he could not return to destroy all other votes each and every day just to ensure his was the only one that was read.

Once done, he began moving through the crowd to find a place to stand once his invisibility eventually wore off.]

[ All the while, G'raha is working towards getting everyone to settle down. This nonsense really can't continue. He's arguing that they all want the same thing - for this ex-Paladin to pay for what had been done. Now G'raha himself hasn't found himself harmed.

Yet.

Though both parties are certainly starting to give him the eye. ]

[The crowd has somewhat thinned and active fighting has stopped. How briefly that will last very dependent on how well those trying to calm things can keep the discussion going.

Daqaing continued to move through the crowd, but glanced back at to see how likely it was that the crowd would remain calmed. He finally noticed G'raha being far too involved. Neither did he like the looks G'raha was getting as he gave an impassioned plea for peace and calm to prevail.

Quickly considering his options, Daqiang teleported the short span of distance to appear behind G'raha in a gout of black smoke and sparks. The effect had people stumbling back from what looked like a small explosion out of brief fear for their safety. Daqiang intended to keep that fear going: glaring down those who had been looking at G'raha wrong. He said nothing, however, and did nothing more since G'raha had not yet been harmed. But his threat to the lives of those in the area was obvious and palpable.]

[ Oh! His ears stand on end, feeling Daqiang's presence behind him. Honestly, G'raha had been about to take a less pleading approach and a more demanding one, but looks like Daqiang has been him to it.

With all of that showmanship, both Paladins and Corsairs alike are stopping in their tracks. They don't think that it would be such a good idea to make the shadowy and thundering man behind the shorter one. Thus with much grumbling, both sides seem to be backing off.

All the while G'raha looks over his shoulder. ]

If you always step in like this then I might become more and more reckless.

[Daqiang's head whipped around, his eyes wide with alarm.]

Do not.

Why not, if you are always going to come to my rescue?

[ Can't call him a knight in shining armor. Flickering robes, perhaps? ]

[Daqiang glared harder, grabbed G'raha by the wrist and began walking, pulling the man along with him.

Away from the danger of the once-fight.]

[ Hey! Hey hey hey! Why are you dragging him away like a child once again? ]

Daqiang! Slow down so I can keep up!

[Because he doesn't want G'raha to get into more trouble and make him ~~worry~~ have to come help him.]

Keep up so this venerable one does not have to slow down.

[ There are moments where Daqiang is a little more than obvious. This is one of those times. And G'raha is still trying to suppress a grin. ]

'Tis hard to find my balance when you are tugging so insistently.

[ Closed ] If you like, I will tell you a tale.

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