Legend of Ransera

Posted: **Thu Feb 22, 2024 5:08 pm**

30th Ash, 123

Though the negotiation with General Lang, or, really, the discussion with him that had led to his acceptance of the need for him to take up the role of Grand Marshall, had been a surprisingly frank and swift affair, the aftermath had been anything but. Mrs. Dornkirk's rapport with Commander Vonnegut had allowed representatives of the Minister and High Sentinel to approach the other two Fort Commanders from a position of relative power. Any desire they had to negotiate for power or consideration had to be directed through Lang, as their now presumptive commanding officer, which relieved the Dornkirk Contingent of the need to participate.

It had been some weeks before Lang's representative, Vonnegut, as it turned out, had arrived at the Sky Island with final terms of agreement, placing the whole of The Riverlands to join the Capitol and the Eastern Forest regions under the control of the new government.

Lang was sure in his decision to approach the remaining generals and commanders within Zaichaer himself, a decision which neither Stefan nor Eitan felt like arguing, though Eitan did wish to be the one to negotiate with any high-level Air Commanders that might be located.

Since the fall of General Overmann's Government in Exile upon his death, little had been heard through official channels of what had become of the soldiers and Order members who had severed under him in Kathiid. Unofficial channels were abuzz with rumors of the group having broken into several small ones and disappearing, either to return to their fatherland or try to find a new one.

Stefan could only hope that most of his countrymen would find their way home. He couldn't blame any of the enlisted men and women for following the orders of their commanders in a time of chaos and instability and could only hope that the varied groups would be able to consolidate themselves back into a single whole under their new leadership.

There had been a single meeting of the Triumvirate, which was what they were calling the new tripod form of government they were attempting. Stefan, as First Minister, Eitan, as High Sentinel, and Lang as Grand Marshall had met several times in pairs or all three but they had their First Official Counsel meeting to mark the start date of the new government for the history books on the 15th of Ash. There had been more ceremony than discussion, Titles being officially granted and accepted, notes taken, sketches done. They hadn't had much to discuss on that day, because they'd been discussing it all for months, but it had felt important, so they had done it. When they did speak it was to lay out the structure of the Triumvirate for the journalists, chronologers, and official government records.

When much hand-shaking, signing of documents, and posing had been completed (much to the displeasure of the First Minister and Grand Marshall alike), they had adjourned.

Lang was heading to Northern Zaichaer the next day to meet with the various commanders to claim his rights as head of the military. There would be very little change in the structure of the military complex or hierarchy, it was a system that had been tried and tested for centuries.

This left the First Minister and the High Sentinel to work together to work out how the civilian Ministerial branch and the expanded Order branch were to be run. They had, of course, been working on these two issues for months but now that they had the mandate of the people, implementing their ideas, putting them to the test of reality, could begin.

~~~

The day Lang left, escorted by three of the largest airships the Sky Islands could provide, the First Minister, jointly with the High Sentinel, held a conference of his closest advisors.

To either side of the First Minister and High Sentinel were their wives. Though both women were again pregnant, as far as Stefan was concerned, Delia Dornkirk and Lucrece Angevin were as much a part of what brought everything together as Stefan and Eitan were. Similarly, both Deinerin's were on hand and asked to sit at the round table Stefan had found for them, rather than standing in attendance. Neither man looked wholly comfortable in their positions but they had earned them a thousand times over. Beeman was there, along with several high Order officers that Stefan did not know on sight, though he had probably heard Eitan speaking about them.

The complex plans they had all been making for more than a year had been written out and copied for everyone present, the details would be hammered out there between them. No one knew better than those seated at this table what was needed to start again. Many more people would be needed before the machines of government could fully function, but these were the minds that would set it in motion.

"Well," Stefan said, clearing his throat, "Let us begin."

Posted: **Wed Feb 28, 2024 4:35 pm**

Eitan was privately displeased to send the Searing Victory along with Lang, but Admiral Angevin was quick to slate those airships that would endow him with sufficient shock and awe capabilities to crush any niggling doubts in the other military potentates, as well as any units or personnel from Overmann's forces to join the greater whole with ease and alacrity.

Contact had been reestablished with the chapterhouse in Kathiid, which was his primary concern as High Sentinel and so he was receiving intelligence from there with regard to those Zaichaeri citizens remaining in exile. Of course, he was concerned with any and all airborne vehicles as the highest ranking officer in the Air Defense Corps, but he was confident that he, Merovech, and other respected captains could impress upon any wayward airmen that it were best they came home and played ball.

More often than not, he had Watcher Lessnau with him when dealing with Lang. The man didn't need to know that Angevin's assistant was a powerful sembler and mesmer, and if he had been obliged to cede military power to Lang in the interests of stable government, he was still going to prepare himself to win if it ever came to a true disagreement, even if he would need to bow to Lang's authority in matters military.

Mists, that rankled.

But he was all urbane smiles and sharp jawline today. With Lucrece seated next to him, he was able to hold her hand. She was prepared to share her opinions on matters scientific and academic, and he fully supported her return to the Institute and would be his eyes and ears in the ground when it came to educational reforms. She might even make it to Science Minister if Stefan was never able to step back down to his erstwhile position.

Delia smiled at her husband, her brother, her sister-in-law. She was pleased to be in the room where it happened, at the table where decisions would be made. She enjoyed motherhood, but was motivated to be more than wife and mother, just as Stefan was more than husband and father. This was the new Zaichaer.

All eyes turned toward the First Minister as he opened the session.

Posted: **Thu Mar 07, 2024 7:43 pm**

There was so much to do, far more, now, than the two of them (Minister and Admiral/High Sentinal), or the four of them (men and wives together) or even the six of them (with their two highly qualified assistants-cum-menservants) could possibly handle. The government had sort of been falling together in terms of people stepping into, or being asked to take up positions as they were needed on the Sky Islands and it was a group that the Ministry branch was now pulling heavily from, but, even if everyone who had been willing to take a level of authority and duty on the Islands were willing and able to now become some level of government official, they would need more. People were literally pouring back into the city now that the West End and the majority of the residential areas of East End were safe and being regularly patrolled. These people needed food, clean water, shelter, and so much more.

Setting up aid groups of aid officers had been the first priority, something that Delia, even in her delicate state, had taken off Stefan's plate with a will. She had them organized into a small army of their own, each squad had a leader and a set number of city blocks that were under their care. They ensured that people had at least the most basic of necessities in their area. Having seen his remarkable wife handle the situation with grave and leadership it had required no searching at all to find the one who would fill the role of Minster of Welfare. As it was the choice least likely to cause any complaints he put forward Delia's appointment first.

There was a little discussion, but, as he'd hoped, no dissension. It wasn't really a vote, the law that had been signed by the Triumvirate into their new constitution said that the First Minister chose his cabinet of Ministers, but, as this was the first time, and Stefan hadn't actually been made First Minister by an open vote of the people, it felt better to discuss it with all those who had come to wield power in the healing nation. The official ceremony in which he named his Ministers would come later, after they had all been chosen. Delia already had her team of Under-Ministers working, so she wouldn't need time to choose them, but others might.

Each of the other five Ministerial head positions, Finance, Foreign Relations, Science, Labor and The Interior, required actual discussion. The Covens put in their suggestions, as did the Order and the representatives of several large groups of citizens. Lang had left a few officers he trusted to observe but they had little to add, wishing to keep their best men in the military and under Lang's own leadership.

Posted: **Thu Mar 14, 2024 3:40 pm**

Eitan was rather hands off, all things considered. Delia would be Minister of Welfare, which was only right. Lucrece wanted into the Ministry of Science, and was willing to share her experiences in the Institute pursuing more advanced degrees. She had already promised to come to bed in a school girl uniform if he would support her, as if that was in doubt. She might not have what it took to be Minister of Science just yet, and Eitan supposed that Stefan himself might want it back when he could find someone else to take the role of First Minister upon their shoulders. Perhaps he would even prefer just to go back to running the Windworks and offering his help and advice where needed, but Eitan didn't know if Zaichaer could do without him now.

Of course, if Eitan could secure a popular vote and shoulder past Lang, he could just be a triumvirate in and of himself, but that was just something to keep in mind if there occurred some future catastrophe that threw the entire High City down low once more.

As High Sentinel, he did want his fingers in a few ministerial pies. The Order would be tied to the education system, and he wanted his Minders to have access to the top minds and the cutting-edge research. He wanted the Watchers to have a say in how citizenship was taught in primary schools. Foreign Relations and the Interior were also important ministries to his mind; the former to keep tabs on enemies and allies, the latter to keep tabs on dangers from within.

"...and, of course, relations between the three branches of government ought to be encouraged to keep matters cordial if not friendly," Delia was saying. "Vonnegut is an excellent judge of character, so of course, she likes me, for example. And because we will have ministers, admirals, and sentinels all living under the same roof, it will be even more important that we present a united front at all times. We have our occasional petty squabbles, but under public scrutiny, anything can be blown out of proportion. All that being said, there ought to be some visible counter to my influence over my husband; we can't have people thinking the Minister of Welfare has no checks or balances upon her power, even though her office's responsibility is the welfare of the nation..."

Eitan nodded thoughtfully. Later, when he was able to get a word in, he added, "And I am going to let Lang and Lessnau vet Dienerin so nobody complains when I give him the highest of security clearance. He has proven his loyalty and worth, and I don't want impediments for him when I need his aid with sensitive issues."

"I still want a Dienerin," Lucrece complained. Delia laughed; she wouldn't mind a few of them herself.

Posted: **Wed Mar 27, 2024 10:44 pm**

Many of the other Ministerial posts had to be filled provisionally, mostly by men that had worked for Stefan before the 34th, or else had come to be respected by him thereafter. Some of them wouldn't want to keep the jobs as better men were made available, preferring to return to the work they were trained to, but some might find it suited them.

The city was beginning to refill and there was hope that some members of the previous government might emerge. Most has been lost when the Presidium fell, but even lower level men and women who had some experience in the running of a government would be valued under the current circumstances. It was a time when those with ambition could rise. An eye would have to be kept out for those who rose beyond their abilities, but even that might have to be overlooked in position where it wouldn't cause damage. At least it was only on Stefan's shoulders to appoint his cabinet of Ministers and could leave it to them to choose their own subordinates. His eyes would be kept on them though, to ensure that nepotism didn't grow and fester. The last thing they needed in their budding system was corruption.

That was, he was coming to realize, a lot of what his job would entail, ensuring that things ran smoothly between the branches and that none were taking advantage of their positions to harm Zaichaer. It might end up being a lot less work than he had been doing which was more of a relief than he cared to say. It also made him feel a bit guilty as Delia, and more so Eitan, would have more work than ever now. Unlike when he had been the one overburdened and they had offered him their help, he didn't think he could be of much aid to either. They had his public support, of course, but the sort of private assistance they had both given him on uncountable occasions wasn't something he was likely to be able to provide.

At the end of several hours wherein he put forth the name, or names, that he was considering for a position ad accepted the input of the others gathered they had the list of those who would serve. Deinerin, of course, had made several copies of the list while it was being debated, and, as soon as Stefan called and end to the final confirmation runners were off to inform those who had been chosen so they could prepare themselves before the information was leaked. It would certainly happen as soon as the closed meeting adjourned. Standing the First Minister met the eyes of each of those at the table in turn as he said,

"Thank you, all, for your input and advice. I look forward to many more productive meetings in the future." Each member stood, in order of their seating and he acknowledged them as they left, shaking hands. When it was only himself, his servant and his family left he said,

"Let's move to my office. The new Cabinet members should be arriving as soon as they are able to accept, or, I suppose, decline, their new positions and it would be better for me to see them there."

That there would be other high members of the government in the room would be an honor for the new appointees and make the whole seem more official than if it were only him alone.

Posted: **Thu Mar 28, 2024 7:40 pm**

Eitan and the wives were gracious in parting with Stefan's other advisors, of course, and then it was just family for a brief span. They all felt rather more relaxed in only each other's company, at least if Lucrece wasn't teasing Stefan within an inch of his life.

He straightened his already straight uniform jacket, and Lucrece swept away a bit of invisible lint. Delia stepped closer to her husband, taking his hand and placing it upon her belly. She found it soothing; as strong as she was, there was a part of her that felt most complete when her family unit was united. Sometimes, when she had trouble sleeping, she would scoop Amelia out of her crib and cuddle her next to Stefan in bed. Then, she would drop off in no time.

"I suppose Dienerin has worked out an office situation for each member of your cabinet," he said as soon as they began to walk toward Stefan's office. "Until we've a new Presidium, I imagine the Windworks will be our Presidium. It wouldn't do to have everyone in the Fort, lest people began to presume the military has unilateral power." Eitan's training had dealt quite particularly with how the people perceived things.

This was why he was in agreement with Eckehart over the role of education in the future Zaichaer.

"Did Eckehart decide whether he would pursue a professorial role in addition to his Order duties?" Lucrece asked, walking along on her husband's arm. Delia held her own husband's.

"I think not until the Order's restructuring is more settled," Eitan said, apologetically. "But I am certain I can inflict him upon you eventually. After all, it will take years to study as in depth as you would like, love. Hopefully you will graduate before Brynn..."

Posted: **Tue Apr 02, 2024 11:20 pm**

Stefan nodded to the question,

"Such as we are able. Between the Ministry and the Order and still being our only working manufactury and repair hub for Airships, its getting crowded. I have set some people on examining the still standing governmental mansions. If the any of the ones set aside for the high officials are in stable condition I'm going to repurpose them for branch headquarters until we can rebuild the Presidium."

Using such large buildings for the vanity of their positions at this time would be the worst sort of conceit. They could be used to house refugees but, with so few people left to claim the many, many unoccupied houses they had gone from being massively overcrowded to have too few people to fill the homes. In this, as in all things for the foreseeable future, they would make do with what was available. Anyone who complained about being given an office that had once been a bedroom in one of the government mansion was an idiot who didn't deserve his position.

While Eitan and Lucrece spoke of their own affairs Stefan turned to his wife, who was beyond lovely, her belly just beginning to really show.

"I am so proud of you." He said, trying not to be embarrassed to say something he meant so much out loud. When she put one of his hands over their child he put the other one on her cheek, beaming down at her. Something was happening inside him but he couldn't figure out what it was, so he ignored it. It was something to do with... being done? But they weren't done, they had begun at last, and maybe that was it.

If he slept in, the chances of something awful happening without anyone to do anything about it had just dropped significantly and the relief of that was too big for him to feel all at once. He was just about to say something more when he heard a snatch of Eitan's teasing.

Brynn

It was the tone that did it, that broke him. He'd heard both of the baby's parents use the nickname for him before but it had never sounded like the sort of ribbing that Stefan used to hear between his brother and his brother in law. Images, a thousand in number, rose up inside his head, of his brother, of their lives, of the end. He tried to swallow but choked instead and did the only thing that he thought he could.

The First Minister of Zaichaer but his head down on his wife's shoulder and buried himself there.

Posted: **Wed Apr 03, 2024 2:17 am**

Delia's elder sisters had become decorated captains in the Air Defense Corps, and while she had chosen petticoats and parties, she was no less capable or powerful as they had been. All the same, there was something about Stefan's honest devotion and sincere admiration that cut through her strings and opened her wings, so to speak. If she was surprised by his sudden shift, she didn't show it. His wife paused and allowed him to crash into her, taking the weight of his head and upon her shoulder and his grief and myriad of other emotions upon her shoulders as well.

Though she didn't ken precisely what had pushed him over that precipice, she knew they were all never as far as they would like to be from its edge. Though they had been quite imperfect, she missed her sisters and her father terribly, friends, simple pleasures without strings of survivor's guilt.

"Oh, my darling," she murmured, inaudible to anyone beyond her beloved. Delia Dornkirk shifted, deftly maneuvering herself into his arms. She wasn't holding him up physically, but she could emotionally. "It's all right, my love. There is room to breathe now, which forces us into moments where we can't work past things. We have to face them. You are terribly strong, and good. You have done so much for yourself, for your family, for your country. Nobody could ask for more. Please give yourself the time to weep for who and what we lost." She began to sniffle in spite of herself.

Lucrece and Eitan had taken several steps past them before realizing something was amiss. Now they hovered, wanting to help but not wanting to intrude.

"We live to dance another day," she said, emotion in her voice as she rocked him as if to music. Just now we have to dance for more of us."

It was likely Dienerin who kept the hall clear. Aware of her brother and his wife and their nearness, Delia held to Stefan's middle. Eitan's hand came to rest upon his bent neck. Lucrece's hand stroked his wet cheek for a moment. And then they were embracing him, embracing Delia and their unborn children, embracing each other. The were the lovely bones that had grown up out of the graveyard that had become their High City. This wasn't the end, just another beginning.

They were building back stronger.

Posted: **Wed Apr 17, 2024 9:53 pm**

R E V I E W

Points: 10 each, not for magic

Injuries/Ailments: Broken hearts and shattered dreams

Loot: A new Cabinet of Ministers for Zaichaer

Notes: That moment when you are able to stop running and realize what you lost is more awful than all the running.

Mod XP: None

Legend of Ransera

Triumvirate Rising [Eitan]

Triumvirate Rising [Eitan]

Re: Triumvirate Rising [Eitan]

Re: Triumvirate Rising [Eitan]

Re: Triumvirate Rising [Eitan]

Re: Triumvirate Rising [Eitan]

Re: Triumvirate Rising [Eitan]

Re: Triumvirate Rising [Eitan]

Re: Triumvirate Rising [Eitan]

Re: Triumvirate Rising [Eitan]