warforged | [Locked] We can form a single united body

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[Locked] We can form a single united body

Who: Alexstrasza & the Red Dragonsworn
What: The Red Dragonsworn need to figure out a chain of command that works for them. Vas has gathered everyone together to do just that.
When: July 30th
Where: The Ruby Sanctum
Warnings: Politics, personal and not.

"I have no doubt that you are wondering why I called you here."

Vastania stands at the edge of a circle of boulders twenty feet across. To her side is the Dragonqueen herself, and they both look outward at the gathered Redsworn. "It has become clear to me that we are without direction. We all do as we will, and not what is best for the whole. This must stop here and now. To continue to wander aimlessly, to pick off only a few demons at a time at our leisure, to fail to work as one - these are the things that will kill us. These are the things that will leave us divided and weak, and easy prey for the Legion."

The Vindicator takes a breath to calm her nerves, and continues. "This circle behind me is our meeting hall. It is here that we must decide how we will conduct ourselves. Those who enter the circle will be bound to certain rules: one may not sit, sleep, eat, or drink upon entering the circle. Should you enter and then leave, you will not be allowed in again. Should you grow weary, you must leave. Should you become violent, you will thrown out.

"These rules are harsh, but if you follow them, you will be allowed to speak your piece. Your opinions will be considered and weighed, as an equal. If you do not, you will have no say in any matter we discuss. Those who will not comment on policy do not deserve to set it." She stomps a steel-shod hoof against the ground, tail held high and proud.

"Come, let us all speak. Let us all decide, together, how the Red Dragonsworn will be led."

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She bit back a bitter, snide remark. Vala wanted to retort about there being more issue with the person themselves then the race. Thankfully she knows to stay level-headed. "Repentance is a tricky subject as everyone has a different idea of what it means to repent. Some people would say there are those in the world who cannot be redeemed. Some mistakes that cannot be undone. However, the threat of the Legion is greater then personal beliefs regarding either of those things. If the Legion grows too strong any effort made towards either of those is rendered useless and any feelings towards them pointless."

Mar shook his head at that temporizing. "Either we trust each other or we fall apart, Valamia. There's no two ways about it. When the time comes when a Pit Lord charges at us and sweeps his sword our way, you need to trust that I will take the blow on my shield, and I need to trust that you will heal the wounds I suffer from it. Everything else will only get in the way. That's why I'm asking these questions -- here in the presence of the Life Binder, the Dragon Queen, who loves all life."

At this he sketched a slight bow to Alexstraza.

"We are Redsworn, and that means we are each individuals united in our fight. It isn't a matter of setting aside our differences as people, it is a matter of transcending them."

"You forget not all things can be transcended. There are some obstacles that are not easily overcome, united in a force or no. That doesn't mean that a person cannot perform their duty. I do know that trust is important in battles and among those you fight with." Vala sighs. She wants to be able to place trust in others without reservation but age among other factors made that difficult.

"I don't imagine there's many who can disagree trust is not something anyone can easily give. Under the pressure we have now it is not easier."

"I... don't agree," he said, for the first time hesitant. He sometimes suspected what she said was true, but he never allowed himself to believe it -- because if she was right, then she was right about everything, most saliently about how nothing had any point because it would never improve.

"On the battlefields of Azeroth, we extended trust instantly and wholeheartedly. That may sound insane, but we had no choice -- if we didn't, if we held back or played it safe, the onslaught would overwhelm us. Our foes are always unified, it seems. The Legion. The Scourge. The mogu. The damn murlocs, even. They all united without reservation to stand against us."

He lifted a fist, clenched it tight as he looked down on it. "And we paid for it. Kael'thas Sunstrider. Garrosh Hellscream. Other figures here and there that took advantage of our trust and abused it. But we survived every challenge they threw at us because we HAD that trust, and we united.

"That --" Mar swept his hand out, over the circle and those inside it and out. "--is my vision for the Redsworn. That we trust each other implicitly. That we believe in ourselves above everything."

Valamia almost laughs. The corner of her mouth turns up into the smallest of grins. The idealism is nice in a sense but it does little to ease the concerns. She shakes her head and she does let out a weak chuckle. "Do you realize what you said? While working together may have kept the world from falling that last part...your vision."

Ah yes. That was the problem. This was always about one persons vision. Not a united vision. "You seem to speak a lot about you and your ideals, your beliefs and what you do. That is a problem. You must have noticed why everyone has the feelings they do towards you, the doubt everyone does. You are an example of the opposite of what you preach. You have run off alone without communicating or trusting anyone."

Quirking a half-smile, Mar gestured to the circle around them. "Right now, isn't this the time? If we're picking a leader, that leader's vision matters.

"As for the running off, it's as I've said before. That's how we did business and got things done where I come from. Falling into line in even a semi-formal capacity like we're doing now isn't what I'm used to." The next line was more difficult to say, and yet ironically, easier than it ever had been thanks to the stubborn Vindicator. "But obviously I'll have to make some compromises myself, once everything gets settled down. It certainly isn't an issue of trust."

"This is under the assumption that the flight could trully follow a leader. The issues within the flight are not the ones that are easily defeated by having someone calling all the shots. In fact, I fear selecting a leader without attempting to fix the problems we have may make them worse."

She can scarcely believe that in some reality, in some place, insane solo adventures are allowed in any military. It's both terrifying and in a twisted way, amusing. "Your actions have had a bit of an effect on trust. So it does pose an issue. Anyone can say or make any promise for change but old habits are easy to fall into."

"They wouldn't be the first mistakes I've made... and at least these were made out of innocent misunderstandings instead of darker motives." He looked down at his own gauntlet, flexing the fingers beneath the mail absently. He'd made plenty of mistakes, but then... "I've had victories as well, though, and I wouldn't have those if I hadn't learned from my mistakes."

"Innocent misunderstandings?" She repeats it with disbelief. She presses a hand to her forehead and rubs her temples. A moment latter she drops her hand back to her side. "Yet you have not learned the important lesson of working together. Tell me, Maridian, have you been defending your points simply because it's instinctive or because you have a desire to try and lead?"

"I stepped in --" He pointed to the circle -- "to step up. Right now is the time I have to defend what I believe in, because right now we're trying to decide what path the Red Dragonsworn are taking. I mean, I could ask you the same thing. Are you in the circle because you want to lead, or just to make your voice heard in the process?"

She shakes her head. "I don't believe defending out beliefs and finding the same path are mutually exclusive." She shifts on her hooves. "I did this because I have been fighting the Legion ever since we were forced to flee Argus. I have had to both lead and follow. I have seen some people claim leadership and seen it cost lives. I have seen leaders who were able to save countless people."

There's a short pause. She looks down to remember some of the lessons learned from such worlds before she looks at him. "There were times when we lost the leader of our unit. Times when we had to work solely on trust and knowing where the strength and weakness of the individual lies. I am not sure this flight can work with a leader as it stands. It does not mean it cannot work if we do not know who can be trusted with what. That is why I am here."

After a moment, Mar laughed brightly, running a hand through his hair against the surprise of the sudden humor. "Well, we agree on that. In all honesty, I'm not sure I can knuckle down and start falling into a regimental line like a good soldier, if that was where our chosen leader wanted to go with it. I'd try, but that's going against years of experience and success that followed with it."

How weird. How funny to suddenly feel like he'd achieved a measure of empathy with her. "It would be best if we could all work exactly like you describe, because I know how that's worked as well. But our expectations are all so different. When it comes down to it, the thing that worries me the most really is rejecting Dragonsworn based on their nature, their powers, maybe even things they can't control at all, things they had no choice in. That's why I opened up with that question and why I've been arguing it, at least."

At that laugh she raised a brow and had to try her best not to instantly make a snide comment to him. It's almost like he missed a part of her point. Not all of it but his reaction wasn't exactly what she had been expecting. Maybe she should give up any expectations for him. "Those are all problems with beliefs and personal issues. Those aren't something that can be solved here and now. Not only that by some are purely hypothetical. How a person reacts in a hypothetical situation may not be the same as how they will act when put in it."

She flicked her tail a couple times. "We face the problem with that set-up because we do not know enough about the individual to form a proper idea of who will be best at doing what job. We would also need them to be flexible as the group is small and there are problems beyond the Legion."

"You have a point, but... I'd still, if given my choice, have the policy set openly. We can't control what people think, or even how they act on it, but we can make it clear that it's not acceptable to the flight, right? This is coming from someone who has met any number of unexpected creatures with weird powers or natures in the course of his travels."

Mar had gladly worked with the Klaxxi and fought side by side with the Paragons -- and the Paragons, in turn, had made it quite clear to him where their loyalties lay, out of what seemed to be genuine respect and maybe even friendship. Even if, as now seemed certain, he and they would be deadly enemies in the future, he would welcome one of them gladly if they appeared to join. Which was one among many things he suspected his fellow Redsworn might not share.

"In my time, I often worked with other people I had never met before just for the purpose of striking down a foe or accomplish a necessary goal." The two of which almost invariably went together. "When we didn't know each other, our first starting point was always the skills we brought, whether it was a shield and the Light, arcane magic, totems and spells... It wasn't a perfect system, but it did dictate where we stood together. So perhaps --" Okay, he had to smile, because wasn't he now just making a point she wanted him to adopt? "We need to find tasks for ourselves to work together on. Idleness seems to be our enemy."

That went against all of her former training and experience. The sense she learned from it told them to accept aid, yes, but with a certain extent of caution. She hadn't been put in that many situations where they had to count on the unknown and whatever way the unknown was going to work. "I would assume that would encompass acts of violence based on situations beyond their control. It would be simple enough to enforce that rule."

"Even if we had that knowledge, what could we do with it now? The force is small and not exactly the visage of an elite force. Beyond the sanctum there's many barriers that may not be overcome by a small force like ourselves. While I am sure there are a few ideas that would be worth considering...we need the organization beforehand."

"Acts of violence are pretty popular, but you're right, there isn't a good point for us to group up and do some major fighting... unless a certain Sin'dorei just got an idea!" Mar pumped a fist, because something he'd seen on his journey had just clicked. "I think I know where we could be of some use, and working together to do something about it would be a good test and a good experience. So once we have an idea of who, then we can start working on the what with a specific goal!"

Sheepishly, her tail between her legs, Vas finally re-enters their conversation. "Does it involve Derenaar in ay way?"

...Wow. Of all the postures Mar ever expected to see Vas in, that was not one. He'd put a good bid on the BMAH to know what was running through her head right now.

"No, not Derenaar. A different city. Suramar. When I was on my travels around the continent, I noticed that it was being absolutely wrecked by the Legion, thanks to its proximity to the Well of Eternity. The Kaldorei population is in complete disarray, and if I remember my history correctly, the Legion ends up treating them very poorly."

One finger lifted to signify that yes, he had thought about this, and no, he was not advocating rushing in, he continued in a more solemn tone. "Right now, we can probably assume they are not friendly to us. Chances are if we approached them they'd think we were part of the invading forces. But if we opposes the Legion in an united front, just enough to buy the kaldorei some time, there's a fair chance they'll realize we're not their enemies. And if that works, then we might be able to help them evacuate in an orderly fashion, and get to safety."

She folds one arm across her chest, clutching at her elbow, and nods slowly. "That would be the just thing to do."

She hesitates for a moment before speaking again. "I ask because- I was going to mention this after we settled on how we will direct ourselves. Rose of the Green Dragonflight wishes to bring our flight into Derenaar's favor. I do not know how, at this time. But...

"If we were to evacuate Suramar, we would need to establish a haven for the refugees. And Silverglen is very far away from the Well of Eternity."

He nodded -- that matched up with what he knew of Rose, who he thought of quite highly after all. "Cart before the horse though, Vindicator. I brought up the idea not so much to plan it here, but as something we can do to bring our flight together and work towards a common goal. The details are something for the leadership to hammer out, right? So think of it more as a criteria for our leadership plans, how our candidates and our Flight endorse it."

"The only acts of violence I know of having involved punching you." Where she was guilty of that but hopefully by now there's some realization of why the behavior had made her so angry. To his idea she instantly waves a hand to dismiss it. "Hold. You're trying to move things too quickly. Not only that but there are various issues with this world that could be addressed."

Mar flashed her a smile. "Mmm, maybe I'm moving too fast, but whether we pick a leader or just decide to work together, isn't a lack of unity the biggest problem we face at its core? Really, that's what we're trying to address here. That's what I have in mind, us all working together on a plan."

"And we would do so by running headlong into a questionable situation? Given how some conversations have gone." Because she's determined to try and pick up as much of what's going on as possible. "We may have a few troubles if we set out to do anything together as a flight."

Well. Yes. That is how he would normally do things. Helpful ally points him in direction, paladin charges in and gets it done.

But without the Horde behind them to manage logistics, they couldn't intercede in Suramar that way, and even Mar knew and admitted it.

"You're right. So why not use this as an evaluation? A leader worth the title ought to be able to assess the idea, decide on its merits, and figure out how to execute it if they think it's worth doing. For that matter, we don't even have to pick one grand high leader for all time -- we could put a different person in charge of each plan we conduct, depending on who has the best ideas."

"You propose everyone come up and decide what we should do regarding this?" She folds her arms once more. It was a strange idea but she couldn't call it a bad one. What she would give to call it a bad one though. Alas. There were more important topics.

"It's an interesting idea but it also removes the idea of trying to figure out other jobs that may be important or worth looking into. There's many, many things wrong with the world as it stands. It may not be the best to simply pick one scenario to try and judge what should be done."

[Locked] We can form a single united body

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