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Mauve Silver Dancer
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After I inform the Patriarch of his wife's mutual passion, he quickly agrees to conference with myself and Finesse about a strategy.
We labor long over many options, and between the three of us propose a great number of paths our efforts may take us.
Two things become clear. One: The vile poison called Love truly rotted the mind of this once-great man and turned him into this sad spectacle of spinelessness. Two: He is equally restrained by his own advisers, though for entirely different reasons than the Matriarch is bound by her most trusted officers. Pride is a dangerous thing, left unchecked, and I can see its debilitating effects on this man, who has cast out his allies and his happiness in a vain attempt to appease those closest to him. To appear strong before his peers, he has chosen the path of least resistance, and thus demonstrated his true weakness.
And yet, it is pity, not disgust, with which I view these two. Matriarch K'miele has offered me great things if I can help them resolve this, and the Patriarch shares her sentiments. A resolution, then, behooves us all.
But in our planning, amid our countless proposals, we find little permanence to our designs. But patience is my most well-honed virtue, and after many hours I believe we have finally reached a kind of solution.
To understand a solution, we first must understand the problem. As outlined, there are three major obstacles in the way of our resolution:
1: Industry and Economy. Perhaps the stickiest issue of the lot, there is no denying that war is good for business and industry. A veritable legion of smiths have been put to use alongside uncountable other professions, churning out goods in true wartime efficiency. The continuation of the war is in the interest of both sides, due to the prosperity and self-sufficiency generated. However, it also cuts off trade and diplomatic relations, which I need. If the efforts could be continued, but redirected to another goal (perhaps my own) things would work out, but I do not have an army that needs arming, nor the money to fuel these industries myself.
2: The public must find a substitute for their aggressions. The gears of war are turn slowly, and heavily, but once in motion, they are difficult to stop. These people are incensed with war and feverish with violence, and they will not react favorably to the outbreak of peace sullying their enjoyable stretch of war. They need an outlet for their violence, a way to channel this civil war and burning patriotism into something less destructive. In a stroke of brilliance, I suggested a national sport. The Patriarch thought it was genius, and rightly so: a way to maintain peace, and still have the glory, cheering, and bullheaded stubbornness that goes with war.
3: The advisers are rallying the public against the other side and manipulating the true rulers. To win the approval of their people, the advisers must be ousted or otherwise dealt with. Though public executions are tempting in their own right, your suggestions of merely discrediting and disempowering them are the most tactful ones on the subject. We need only to find a way to shift public admiration solely to the Matriarch and Patriarch -- to make the people realize they hold the power.
All of these things will require action and deep consideration. But the most important and toughest question lingers: How do we present the two true rulers as the sole figures deserving respect and command before a public so easily-swayed?
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