Written By Perronne
Feb. 21, 2019, 2:49 p.m.(8/12/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Brass
It's hard to trust someone who appears out of nowhere with an offer with a high price, especially a risky one where success can't be guaranteed. And I've never been unclear on the costs of the offers before us - all of them. Anyone reading this can check previous journals for my initial thoughts if they're that interested and haven't read them already. The Cardian and Imperial offers are very concrete, and the representatives of both nations have crossed the t's and dotted the I's as much as we have asked them to do about what the offer would entail, and what the cost would be, and what we might expect. Whether you like the offers or not, it's certainly comforting to have that certainty.
Brass and Ashe are more...nebulous. I never met Copper, so I don't have any affection for her apprentice just because she IS her apprentice, and I honestly don't have enough knowledge of who the Metallics were, or are, to trust them or anyone associated with them just because they're named after a metal. My initial reaction was to support the Imperial offer, not because anyone named Platinum was involved, but because the one thing that everyone - even the Cardian representative - seemed to agree on is that they'd deliver what they said they would. You might not LIKE it, but you'd get what was written. And most even seem to agree that the Empire's aims are understandable, even if their methods are things some find reprehensible. I still have a lot of affection for the idea, if I'm honest. It would protect the most about the Compact with the least amount of risk and damage to the innocent, and that's a pretty good bargain. So that's my bias.
That said, the only 'ultimatum' Brass has offered is to point out that he doesn't want to work with us unless we treat our people better. To stop thralldom - a practice which four fifths of the Compact already condemns and has wanted to eliminate for hundreds of years. To address ongoing exploitation of serfs and "smallfolk" across the Compact, something that goes on every day, in every fealty, and that very few of us would justify if we were forced to defend it directly. But we don't defend it. We mostly just don't talk about it. Try to ignore it. If there is any ultimatum that Brass has offered, it is a challenge for us to be the people that we always wanted to be, to live up to the ideals that we like to talk about as long as they don't cost us. We shouldn't have to be incentivized to do the right thing, but we're human, and we like things, so I guess we do.
Because that's really what it is, the help Brass offers. An incentive. One that wasn't expected, and that we're not entitled to. A reward, in some ways, for doing the hard work that we should be willing to do without anyone offering us a single thing...but that we're weren't. That we haven't been. And, I mean, that's humbling. And not in the good way. It stings. It's very tempting to push that sting onto the person who forced us to face what we haven't been doing. Say it's their fault we 'have' to deal with it. Call them a hypocrite for expecting something in return for aid that literally no one else can give us, and aid that we haven't in any way earned. It feels good, and a lot more righteous than facing the fact that we've been supporting the unsupportable for centuries, and maybe it's time we stop.
Even if there was no Brass.
Even if no one offered us even a bit of help, even if we had to do it all on our own.
Maybe it's time we were better.
Brass and Ashe are more...nebulous. I never met Copper, so I don't have any affection for her apprentice just because she IS her apprentice, and I honestly don't have enough knowledge of who the Metallics were, or are, to trust them or anyone associated with them just because they're named after a metal. My initial reaction was to support the Imperial offer, not because anyone named Platinum was involved, but because the one thing that everyone - even the Cardian representative - seemed to agree on is that they'd deliver what they said they would. You might not LIKE it, but you'd get what was written. And most even seem to agree that the Empire's aims are understandable, even if their methods are things some find reprehensible. I still have a lot of affection for the idea, if I'm honest. It would protect the most about the Compact with the least amount of risk and damage to the innocent, and that's a pretty good bargain. So that's my bias.
That said, the only 'ultimatum' Brass has offered is to point out that he doesn't want to work with us unless we treat our people better. To stop thralldom - a practice which four fifths of the Compact already condemns and has wanted to eliminate for hundreds of years. To address ongoing exploitation of serfs and "smallfolk" across the Compact, something that goes on every day, in every fealty, and that very few of us would justify if we were forced to defend it directly. But we don't defend it. We mostly just don't talk about it. Try to ignore it. If there is any ultimatum that Brass has offered, it is a challenge for us to be the people that we always wanted to be, to live up to the ideals that we like to talk about as long as they don't cost us. We shouldn't have to be incentivized to do the right thing, but we're human, and we like things, so I guess we do.
Because that's really what it is, the help Brass offers. An incentive. One that wasn't expected, and that we're not entitled to. A reward, in some ways, for doing the hard work that we should be willing to do without anyone offering us a single thing...but that we're weren't. That we haven't been. And, I mean, that's humbling. And not in the good way. It stings. It's very tempting to push that sting onto the person who forced us to face what we haven't been doing. Say it's their fault we 'have' to deal with it. Call them a hypocrite for expecting something in return for aid that literally no one else can give us, and aid that we haven't in any way earned. It feels good, and a lot more righteous than facing the fact that we've been supporting the unsupportable for centuries, and maybe it's time we stop.
Even if there was no Brass.
Even if no one offered us even a bit of help, even if we had to do it all on our own.
Maybe it's time we were better.
Written By Peri
Feb. 4, 2019, 2:26 a.m.(7/5/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Brass
House Seliki has experience in settling thralls who reach our shores and will not be found unprepared for whatever decisions the Compact makes. We will share our knowledge with other Houses. Learn from us.
But what of Brass? I would like to know what experience he has with this and what we can learn from him. Have anyone of you discovered what specific plans he has for handling the freeing of slaves? I am confused by contradictory claims. I also hear that he has demands for how serfs shall be treated. Has he written histories for us to consult? I would like to read these in order to gain the knowledge for House Seliki.
But what of Brass? I would like to know what experience he has with this and what we can learn from him. Have anyone of you discovered what specific plans he has for handling the freeing of slaves? I am confused by contradictory claims. I also hear that he has demands for how serfs shall be treated. Has he written histories for us to consult? I would like to read these in order to gain the knowledge for House Seliki.
Written By Draven
Jan. 23, 2019, 2:14 a.m.(6/9/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Brass
Lots of people are talking about you! They are talking about all these magical Kingdoms too! So much talking! I think I like what you said the most! I hope the Fluffy people pick having your help!
Please note that the scholars may take some time preparing your journal for others to read.