Yeah. People find out you run a country and then dump all their problems on you... [ Closing his eyes. ] Well, I can't complain. That's the price of having the privilege to make change happen.
[ oh. :( unfortunately, it's not that surprising, but... ]
... Ah. [ well, it's affection week, so he reaches over to put a hand on his arm and gives a little squeeze. ] That's the way these things go, isn't it...?
Will you tell me what you hoped to do? With our situation, perhaps your chance to bring them to fruition will still come.
[ omg AFFECTION WEEK takes his hand... claude's hand now
He looks back over the water, some of the easy going demeanour shedding into exhaustion. ]
To be honest, it's hard to even remember. I feel like I had all these hopes and dreams, and even though I wouldn't say I was naive... I still wasn't prepared for just how complicated the real world was.
It felt like every hour of my day was used up just to hold things together. There was no time to do anything else.
[ hand holding.... taair will hold it!! and he puts his other one on top, even, as claude starts talking, as if to comfort him through the exhaustion, an immediately sympathetic reaction to what must be an unfathomable amount of suffering.
it all puts a sad little smile on his face. too familiar. ]
I understand that, too. [ unfortunately. iria is just as war torn as war torn can be. ] Wartime makes things even harder, and the recovery from it in periods of peace can be just as grueling. I can imagine the suffering your people must have been through.
...It is a system that is designed, I think, to crush those who bear its weight.
I can't argue that. [ He shrugs, letting a sigh before smiling. ] But I can't complain too much either. As I said, it's the responsibility of having authority... It must be even worse to be a regular citizen, and have your fate left in the hands of nobles you've never even met.
[ Looking back at Taair now. ]
I'm sorry to hear your navigating similar circumstances, my friend. I wish it wasn't this that we had in common.
Isn't that the truth. [ about the common people. ] From my perspective, when I study the histories of Iria, it is almost the sole constant. Regimes rise and fall, and the people still struggle to have bread on their plates - even when the fall of the regime is for independence and led by the people all along.
But... there are other constants, too. Though they suffer, they continue to move forward. Though they struggle, they still find reason to celebrate, reason to share with their neighbors when times are hard. Reason to continue fighting. They even find human connection across enemy lines, here and there. So... those are the things I like to hold onto, when I can.
[ feeling eyes on him, he returns the look - a gentle smile on his face, too. ]
It is a terrible thing, but the weight feels a little lighter, to share. And should you ever feel like you're struggling under it, I'm always happy to lend an ear.
You're quite the optimist. [ There's a hesitation, but he keeps smiling nonetheless. ] I haven't read much about the common folk in the history of Fódlan... A downside of most scholars also being nobles.
[ And with a sigh, he's falling back against the boardwalk, tucking his arms behind his head. ]
You're from a time of war too, right? What triggered it?
I don't know if it's optimism, so much as it is survival instinct - but thank you, nonetheless.
[ sometimes you have to hope not to be crushed by the weight of despair
he watches claude flop over with a little amused huff, and leans his weight on his knees as he considers the question. what started it. ]
Well...it's rare that the nations of Rodinia are not at war one way or another - but the nation of my homeland in particular suffers. It's mostly over resources, though... [ the smile on taair's face goes a little wry, and he leans over a bit to peer over him. ] I'd be happy to share the fuller story, but be warned: I can ramble.
The short version is that it comes down to an ore called luxite, which was discovered in a mine in Iria, hundreds of years ago. Luxite is incredibly powerful, and the magic that can be siphoned from it can be used in a variety of manners, but nations tend to want it for warfare.
When the mine was discovered in Iria, the Papal States of Rodinia immediately declared that luxite itself was a holy material under the Radiant, and therefore, it was the rightful property of the Papal States. They invaded Iria not long after.
Edited (noticing a typo literal hours later ) 2025-02-13 14:32 (UTC)
...but the Papal States were by far the strongest nation on the continent, so Iria never truly stood a chance. They were under the control of the States until approximately fifteen years ago, and still constantly are fighting off incursions by the States, who are currently positioned to take them over once more.
[ hmm, though. he smiles a little bit. ]
I take it there's a theocracy of sorts in your homeland as well, Claude?
Mm, a good question. When the luxite was first discovered, the Union was actually still a part of the Papal States - an elite force of knights known as the Knights of Sanctuary occupied the Western half of the continent. They broke off long before Iria was able to, becoming the Union of Knights States as opposed to the Knights of the Sanctuary, and established their presence on the continent after winning the second Radiant War against the Papal States.
[ taair flips a few pages in his book and... after a moment, flops backwards to join claude so he can hold the book out and up to show him the pages - a modern map! ]
The location of the Union means it can trade with other nations across the sea - the Federation of Menia, which also has at least some luxite resources. Since trade was accessible, the Union established diplomatic relations with the Papal States and offered them a tribute of their domestic shares of luxite. The Papal States, who had just lost an embarrassing war to the newly formed Union, accepted.
From there, the Union built up a so-called "legal" luxite trade, while also funding rebels under the table to try and undermine the Papal States in Iria, and funding black market trading of luxite through the Papal States' territory. So, the political motive was to build an alliance with the Papal States while undermining them in actuality at every turn.
It ended up creating a trade relationship between Iria and the Union for luxite that still exists today, though it's hardly a fair relationship. While it's not much compared to the Papal States', they are already showing technological superiority and military might to back it up with what little they do have. Both nations see Iria as a metaphorical gold mine, now that it is independent, so both nations seek to control it, either through colonization, or through an unfair balance of trade.
[ teacher lecture concluded. there's a beat as he finishes, and then he smiles, wryly: ] Speaking of unfair balance of trade... I certainly don't mind talking about my homeland, but you owe me a story or two of yours, too, you know.
[ precisely! he looks happy his point got across, and looks at the map with him. ]
Let's see... The Vlder Tribes are a group of isolated tribal warriors - Vlderians have features like Jiaoqiu, though I've heard there may be some other types, as well.
[ fox people. ] They have been treated historically cruelly by - well, by all three states, really, and thus isolated further inland, as their lands lie in the midst of the treacherous Vlder mountains. There's a tenuous truce between the Vlderians and the occupants of a place called Convallaria Town, which is in Iria at the moment, though I'm not sure if it will last, but the mercenary leader of the town is an adept negotiator and a kind soul, so... I pray that it will.
[ onto the next - ]
The Darklight are a faction that came out of disgruntled believers of the Light of Sanctuary who chose to find an alternate route. They... [ mm. he's a historian so he cannot show any bias, but he does frown a little. ] ... Their belief system centers on total destruction, in that by destroying all, new life will be born, and they have with frequency conned the poorest refugees of the conflicts in our nations into joining. However, because they house so many refugees who are, more or less, not complicit in their schemes, it's quite difficult to do more than fence them in where they are now.
[ and then the unnamed space which i realized i linked an old map so pretend it says Empire of Elaman and has a picture of a crest like this on it. ]
Finally, to the southeast of Iria is the remains of the ancient Empire of Elaman, which has since become a commerce-based state. Elaman is located in the heart of a desert, and relies on soft diplomatic power and trade advantages to maintain what remains of their standing - they once conquered all of Rodinia, many, many eons ago. They run many of the merchant routes that pass between warring countries. Elamanian traders who travel to the Papal States have been the source of many of my research materials, simply because if you need it, they often have it, or they at least know where to get it.
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no subject
[ he says this like it's a joke, with a hint of a smile. ]
My own circumstances aside, it is also wartime. That alone makes it difficult.
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Mm, well. Some get out too much during wartime, you could say. [ Refugees. ] Were you royalty?
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... Yes...well, sort of, but you must not tell anyone so.
no subject
Why keep it a secret?
no subject
...because I have quite enjoyed being just Taair, as opposed to Your Highness.
[ sometimes it's nice to be a person as opposed to a title. ] Even if it's just for a little while.
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I can understand that. [ Then... a beat. ] At the very least, I doubt the lot here would show you any reverence.
no subject
[ and that reverence might not be purposeful, but if he can cast off the shackle of it for a little while, it's kind of nice. ]
As for understanding, mm... 'running a country', right?
[ same hat! ]
no subject
Yeah. People find out you run a country and then dump all their problems on you... [ Closing his eyes. ] Well, I can't complain. That's the price of having the privilege to make change happen.
no subject
a little closer ]
And... have you made change happen?
[ the sparkling eyes of an incredibly rapt audience ]
no subject
Gives him a thin smile. ]
Died too early to see it through, I'm afraid.
no subject
... Ah. [ well, it's affection week, so he reaches over to put a hand on his arm and gives a little squeeze. ] That's the way these things go, isn't it...?
Will you tell me what you hoped to do? With our situation, perhaps your chance to bring them to fruition will still come.
no subject
He looks back over the water, some of the easy going demeanour shedding into exhaustion. ]
To be honest, it's hard to even remember. I feel like I had all these hopes and dreams, and even though I wouldn't say I was naive... I still wasn't prepared for just how complicated the real world was.
It felt like every hour of my day was used up just to hold things together. There was no time to do anything else.
no subject
it all puts a sad little smile on his face. too familiar. ]
I understand that, too. [ unfortunately. iria is just as war torn as war torn can be. ] Wartime makes things even harder, and the recovery from it in periods of peace can be just as grueling. I can imagine the suffering your people must have been through.
...It is a system that is designed, I think, to crush those who bear its weight.
no subject
[ Looking back at Taair now. ]
I'm sorry to hear your navigating similar circumstances, my friend. I wish it wasn't this that we had in common.
no subject
But... there are other constants, too. Though they suffer, they continue to move forward. Though they struggle, they still find reason to celebrate, reason to share with their neighbors when times are hard. Reason to continue fighting. They even find human connection across enemy lines, here and there. So... those are the things I like to hold onto, when I can.
[ feeling eyes on him, he returns the look - a gentle smile on his face, too. ]
It is a terrible thing, but the weight feels a little lighter, to share. And should you ever feel like you're struggling under it, I'm always happy to lend an ear.
no subject
[ And with a sigh, he's falling back against the boardwalk, tucking his arms behind his head. ]
You're from a time of war too, right? What triggered it?
no subject
[ sometimes you have to hope not to be crushed by the weight of despair
he watches claude flop over with a little amused huff, and leans his weight on his knees as he considers the question. what started it. ]
Well...it's rare that the nations of Rodinia are not at war one way or another - but the nation of my homeland in particular suffers. It's mostly over resources, though... [ the smile on taair's face goes a little wry, and he leans over a bit to peer over him. ] I'd be happy to share the fuller story, but be warned: I can ramble.
The short version is that it comes down to an ore called luxite, which was discovered in a mine in Iria, hundreds of years ago. Luxite is incredibly powerful, and the magic that can be siphoned from it can be used in a variety of manners, but nations tend to want it for warfare.
When the mine was discovered in Iria, the Papal States of Rodinia immediately declared that luxite itself was a holy material under the Radiant, and therefore, it was the rightful property of the Papal States. They invaded Iria not long after.
no subject
The explanation gets him to snort. ]
Holy material... I'm sure. [ Resists the urge to roll his eyes. ] How did the other nations take the declaration?
no subject
[ there's a soft huff, shaking his head. ]
...but the Papal States were by far the strongest nation on the continent, so Iria never truly stood a chance. They were under the control of the States until approximately fifteen years ago, and still constantly are fighting off incursions by the States, who are currently positioned to take them over once more.
[ hmm, though. he smiles a little bit. ]
I take it there's a theocracy of sorts in your homeland as well, Claude?
no subject
[ But that's not as interesting as this. ]
So the other nations have no qualms with letting the Church seize this resource? None thought to challenge them?
no subject
[ taair flips a few pages in his book and... after a moment, flops backwards to join claude so he can hold the book out and up to show him the pages - a modern map! ]
The location of the Union means it can trade with other nations across the sea - the Federation of Menia, which also has at least some luxite resources. Since trade was accessible, the Union established diplomatic relations with the Papal States and offered them a tribute of their domestic shares of luxite. The Papal States, who had just lost an embarrassing war to the newly formed Union, accepted.
From there, the Union built up a so-called "legal" luxite trade, while also funding rebels under the table to try and undermine the Papal States in Iria, and funding black market trading of luxite through the Papal States' territory. So, the political motive was to build an alliance with the Papal States while undermining them in actuality at every turn.
It ended up creating a trade relationship between Iria and the Union for luxite that still exists today, though it's hardly a fair relationship. While it's not much compared to the Papal States', they are already showing technological superiority and military might to back it up with what little they do have. Both nations see Iria as a metaphorical gold mine, now that it is independent, so both nations seek to control it, either through colonization, or through an unfair balance of trade.
[ teacher lecture concluded. there's a beat as he finishes, and then he smiles, wryly: ] Speaking of unfair balance of trade... I certainly don't mind talking about my homeland, but you owe me a story or two of yours, too, you know.
[ don't think he didn't notice!!! ]
no subject
He'll peer at the map once it's shared. ]
Ah, but we're right in the middle of it all... So your nation is essentially caught between two cruel masters. What about these others?
[ Pointing to the Vlder Tribes, the Darklight, and the unnamed space. ]
no subject
[ precisely! he looks happy his point got across, and looks at the map with him. ]
Let's see... The Vlder Tribes are a group of isolated tribal warriors - Vlderians have features like Jiaoqiu, though I've heard there may be some other types, as well.
[ fox people. ] They have been treated historically cruelly by - well, by all three states, really, and thus isolated further inland, as their lands lie in the midst of the treacherous Vlder mountains. There's a tenuous truce between the Vlderians and the occupants of a place called Convallaria Town, which is in Iria at the moment, though I'm not sure if it will last, but the mercenary leader of the town is an adept negotiator and a kind soul, so... I pray that it will.
[ onto the next - ]
The Darklight are a faction that came out of disgruntled believers of the Light of Sanctuary who chose to find an alternate route. They... [ mm. he's a historian so he cannot show any bias, but he does frown a little. ] ... Their belief system centers on total destruction, in that by destroying all, new life will be born, and they have with frequency conned the poorest refugees of the conflicts in our nations into joining. However, because they house so many refugees who are, more or less, not complicit in their schemes, it's quite difficult to do more than fence them in where they are now.
[ and then the unnamed space which i realized i linked an old map so pretend it says Empire of Elaman and has a picture of a crest like this on it. ]
Finally, to the southeast of Iria is the remains of the ancient Empire of Elaman, which has since become a commerce-based state. Elaman is located in the heart of a desert, and relies on soft diplomatic power and trade advantages to maintain what remains of their standing - they once conquered all of Rodinia, many, many eons ago. They run many of the merchant routes that pass between warring countries. Elamanian traders who travel to the Papal States have been the source of many of my research materials, simply because if you need it, they often have it, or they at least know where to get it.
I think that about covers it!