Gabriel had changed back to his regular armor in the barracks before heading to library, witnessing the devastation made Gabriel sigh.<br/><br/><em>It seems this C guy indeed plans erase even historical recordings and family lines so they may be forgotten in passage of time, so even bastard can rise to throne and forge new documents tell the bastard has all along been rightful heir.</em><br/><br/>The ruthlessness of the acts further fuel on Gabriel's suspicion that altough the king has not been kindest of rulers the C will be for sure be far worse but more in subtle way. After reading documents about the strongholds and details about them, Gabriel prayed forgiveness from his goddess when he burned the documents himself. So no one expect him now knows where those strongholds are plus anyone who has very keen out of memory history.<br/><br/>He moved to throne room where he met the king alone, seeing his hopeful expression he had to think moment was this mask to disguise his nature for him or was he now genuinely desperate and perhaps ready to listen new ideas?<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Sense Motive vs King</div><div class="spoiler_body">At 2011-10-21 09:38:57, Zaer Darkwail (uid: 14) rolls: 1d20a+10 Result: 16 (http://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=32426)<br/></div></div><br/>Gabriel nodded to the king and said; "It sounds wisest thing to do to have your protectors in top condition. Anyways briefly said about my mission I did not manage slay nor capture any of the leaders but my gambit provided a plenty of lore about the rebels and learned some crucial facts about them. But before I start my briefing I ask your highness a patience to listen well a story which I will use a future reference to point parts of my discussion."<br/><br/>Gabriel draws deep breath and altough not bard he made his best make story brief but also interesting to listen to; "There was two farmers who lived isolated from other farmers. Their fathers in generations before had shared this piece of land equally for centuries, however one the farmers was born big and strong, while other was born bit weak but still capable to work with fields he had. The big and strong farmer however wanted work with more land, so he started intrude on other farmer's land. The weaker farmer tried talk reason but big and strong farmer did not listen, he thinked as he was strong and big he had right for bigger share so he brushed weaker farmer aside with his might.<br/><br/>Weaker farmer was agitated, angry, for other farmer breaking ancient agreement and he had no power oppose other farmer. So he watched each day his piece of land slowly taken over by other farmer but having no power do anything about it.<br/><br/>Now, a old man comes along the road. The old man had been caravan guard but age has worn him down and his career left him limb. He has now retired but he was running out of cash to live by and he has not yet sold his sword which he had memento from his career. The old man takes break from walk sit by road between two farms, he sees two farmers argue when big and strong farmer comes take further piece of land and shoves off the weaker and smaller farmer with his physical size and might. The old man then gets cunning idea how exploit this situation between the farmers for his advantage.<br/><br/>So old man meets in cover of night the weak and smaller farmer in his hut and offers his knowledge of warfare, swordplay and his sword for weaker farmer to use as he pleases solve the situation with other farmer, so long he promises to offer housing, food and comfort for the old man. The weaker farmer accepts the aid of old man and his blade, start to train in shadows of dusk and night and work during day as everything was normal. Then after month of training when big and strong farmer comes take more land the weaker and smaller farmer shouts and asks for a fight, hiding the sword inside his cape so big and strong farmer does not see it. So when big and strong farmer recklessly charge towards foe which he thinks has a death wish, instead meet demise from the hidden blade and skills the weaker and smaller farmer had acquired.<br/><br/>So now farmer dead the old man and weak and smaller farmer share now biggest piece of land and if anyone asks they say the other farmer family died without a heir and so they inheritaged the other land for themselves not let it to rot into ruin and use it for prosperity."<br/><br/>Gabriel gives brief pause so king can absorb his tale before he continues; "That tale is happening right now but in far more bigger scale than with those two farms sire. Please know that worst what I could do you now is to remain silent or simply walk away without telling you what's going on or why. So even if I speak harshly and perhaps way which you may find offensive, please refrain from interupting me until I have told everything what I have to say and then judge as you see best fit as a ruler and as a king of this country. All reason for this talk is help you maintain your position as king and keep your noble lineage intact."<br/><br/>Another brief pause before Gabriel started his long report and briefing; "When you rised to throne you dismissed your father's elected order of Lions, order which I am part of but none the less no longer working in capacity as your personal guard but as captain in your army. You raised protectors as your personal guard to ensure no one threatens you nor your position as king. A good idea, however when you announced that protectors acts as your will and voice in all matters regarding investigation, dealing punishments and doing their actions in sake protecting the crown, you made slight error.<br/><br/>Who would had monitored your protectors to check they indeed used these rights clearly to protect the crown and not use it to their own gains and pleasures? I have two clear cases where I can name protector who has abused their position as protectors without asking your approval for their actions. One case collecting fines which none coins show in your treasury and in other a protector breaking ancient laws of nobility, same laws which dictate you are rightful king and so spitting upon rules which bind yourself.<br/><br/>You may not been aware of these acts nor given approval, but with your open ended announcement what protectors have right to do leaves little to imagination for others not to think that protectors actions have been sanctified by you and so others ire and agitation did not move towards protectors but you who created them. As no one monitored them or commander of protectors not doing his work properly you could not address these issues properly or was blind folded from their acts which blame would be cast on you and not protectors who acted out of line from their duties.<br/><br/>However I do recognize that despite all this rebellion your protectors had remained loyal and so I am not here place judgement on them nor point fingers. I just point the main source of cause what had agitated the commoners and uneducated youth around your kingdom. As king they had no power nor backing to take matters in their own hands so they had no choice than submit whatever protectors were doing. So in this tale you and protectors are the big and strong farmer and the subjects are weak and small farmer.<br/><br/>Now, rebellion is led my enigmatic masked figure named only as C. It's not clear is it a he or she, but it's certain fact that C acts the role of the old man in this tale. He gave the agitated farmer, this case the troubled subjects who were agitated by actions of protectors but had no means fight them, gave them sword and skill how use it. C brings resources, mages, skilled rogues and fighter's and also has clearly turned most rebels outright fanatical to his rebellious cause. Or consider now direct attack to castle; a coup.<br/><br/>With initial investigation to slums we came across one rebellion's scouts, a watcher who kept eye for your investigators. I and two champions gave chase and I witnessed a poorly dressed man act like a skilled hedge mage! Able cast quickly spell which allowed it to walk on walls and leap over roofs and jump down roofs with short lasting wings! I managed knock him down after the landing but one champions had sniped a pigeon which rebel had send which had message towards C warn about us and go hide. We tried interrogate but what we got was only single name; Grandmaster Gran, before the young man crushed vial of poison to his palm which killed so fast the youth had died as if struck by arrow directly to his heart. This further proves how strong influence C has on the followers; they all are ready to die than betray him or her.<br/><br/>Then using roof where pigeons were I send false message for meeting with important figures of the rebellion, even with C but he or she did not show up but Grandmaster Gran and two others showed up with two masked figures. I learned that they had already predicted the actions towards the slum where you had originally thinked do arrest but instead went with my suggestion. They had unleashed wardogs to kill our troops and that tells a carefully predicted course of planning as they did not just bring dogs out of no where.<br/><br/>Also it seems C is rather brilliant tactician as he seems predict our every move, meaning he or she either can truly predict events as if by divine guidance or has wide web source of informants who had collected months information for him or her analyze the information and make plans. Either way I learned the bastard heir is a she, according rebels you have a half-sister. I am not sure of her role but according earlier letters they had know what to look for but they did not have her, they had to send in two their agents find and retrieve her, which sounds very likely she has no clue she's your father's daughter and has no active part in rebellion no other than serve as symbol to justify their actions and bolster morale of C's followers.<br/><br/>Also I noticed a another pattern; altough grandmaster Gran was old his eyes showed clear signs of absolute fanaticism. He's not influenced by spell so far as I know but it's kind of unnatural mental state for man who seems have led long life already and being grandmaster sounds he's man responsible for grand business empire. The two others who accompanied him was mysterious man with golden eyes and young woman wearing hood down and had resolute attitude towards crown because she blames crown for killing her whole family. Not sure of either invindual's positions besides being grandmaster's confidants but either way the two masked figures touched the grandmaster and golden eyed man and they disappeared instantly. Clearly showing rebels have backing of potent masked spellcasters in their employ and meaning they have more than enough fire power repeat today's earlier attack.<br/><br/>However the pattern which I spoke before I discovered further proof in library where I found son of the mayor, our royal librarian, wearing rebels clothes in our burned and ruined library. That C has recruited a lot sons and daughter's of influential figures but seems none influential figures aren't partaking in the activities and why they would send willingly their own heirs into deadly crossfire in the rebellion? Then I realized one the traps C had specifically created for you my sire. The C has seen you enough know your a man who likes make quick decision and judgements, react to danger like a boar and charge boldly towards it.<br/><br/>Now, I want you think the situation is not black and white and that there is middle gray ground in all this. If rebels are black and we white, there are people who rests in gray zone. Like Duke Wolfwood. I know that most knights from my order went to Duke's side because Duke follows same orders and traditions which you father respected. Most knights left from palace because they had either no interest to try help you or could not have heart to watch actions what protectors were doing; which knights viewed as their successor in their old jobs and caused them feel of shame that now king's guard which had years been protectors of kingdom now indirectly endangered it with their actions.<br/><br/>Either way reason why Duke Wolfwood has largest military to begin with is because your own father trusted that man with his life in battle and had close relationship with him. So Duke had privileged right hold larger army than other nobles because you father trusted if some nobles started have ambitions he could rely on Duke Wolfwood be his side in any such conflict.<br/><br/>However now whatever reasons Duke Wolfwood does not count you as king worth of his support, but he nor seeks tear this country in civil war and what I know about my former order members and Duke leads to conclusion that they are not part of rebellion but they aren't our allies either. If they haven't been radically changed since I last met them and most likely influenced by powerful magic if they think honestly that rebellion is cause worth of their support. Now the trap what I talked about is to force you to attack this gray area, with your own actions to create more enemies, spend needlesly resources on foes which aren't real enemies nor part of rebellion but your actions can drive those people in grey area to the black. Which means that we need radically change the way how we fight our enemy sire. We must start carefully consider our counter maneuvers and check first that the enemy we strike against is truly our enemy and not just a potential ally which enemy paints to look like a enemy. Kingdom is not created from single powerful man, but single powerful man with many powerful allies. Your father had many such allies, you have only protectors and me so far support you and whatever is left from king's army.<br/><br/>As during the meeting while rebels talked, unaware I was your loyal subject, told the<em>Merchant's Guild</em>,<em>Five Nobles</em>and<em>Order of the Dragon</em>are allied with the rebels already solidly. Meaning they have more resources granted to them than any single noble can ever give to them so that further proves my point the Duke Wolfwood may not be supporter of the rebels but a potential ally who they now paint as enemy using Duke's own son and daughter as a bait for you bite and leap to charge Duke headlong into conflict which may have been avoided with bit calm and caution to analyze the facts. I very strongly suspect the C on purpose sends sons and daughter's of the nobility, the young, uneducated and often hot blooded, into frontlines to die because C has not really but perhaps only<em>Five Nobles</em>in his side while rest of nobility is strictly in grey zone what I mentioned earlier. C may not have successfully turned any of your nobles against you but the nobles aren't your allies either because of actions of protectors. Now if ever is time to start try get nobles support on your side against rebels than strike on them because C had succeed with venomous inspiring words turn the offsprings of your own nobility against you and use them as baits for you to strike and turn any remaining nobles to serve C's cause while your nobles may not be aware their own sons and daughter's are traitors to the crown or how they are manipulate to act as expendable fools in this theater play created by C.<br/><br/>Now you may wonder; if C has such resources and including skilled poisoner who can kill you instantly from even tiny glass fragment cut, why he has not killed you yet? A simple answer is found in sight of the burned library; C does not seek kill you, but<em>ruin</em>you completely before he kills you. Remember the part of the tale about the farmer and old man lying about fate of the strong and big farmer and so cover their crime of murder? This is that part. He seeks stain your name and paint you as madman, a monster or even worse to your population before he gives the killing blow. But to do so he needs provoke you, like how skilled hunters poke and agitate a sleepy bear awake from winter slumber and then lure it into death trap while they run after poking it. C is trying provoke you act harshly and turn whole country against you while truth is that country is not against you but nor you have the country's support besides what protectors and army's blade is able to achieve. Doing so C can ensure a complete victory which is this case with completely erase you from history and erase the very fact you ever existed. When I visited library I found all historical recordings of your noble lineage, heraldry and so on, had been either destroyed or stolen. So if you happen die now, in generation or two there is no on paper proof you ever existed and C needs just hire few bards sing tales about the newly erected heir solidify the claim for future generations, so whatever they put on the throne as a puppet for their to pull and play with may be rewritten as rightful heir and so comes the old slogan;<em>History is written by the victors</em>, comes to pass.<br/><br/>So shortly said sire, you had been played like a fool in this game created by C. Not knowing what rules C employs and what his actions or tricks truly mean. But now you know and so you know only way throw off C off predicting your moves you must start act in way he does not anticipate it.<br/><br/>So here comes my proposal how deal with Duke's daughter and his son and Duke himself; Our initial approach was based on that Duke was supporter of rebels and it indeed looked that way despite I had hard time believe it. But thanks my meeting with rebels I learned they have a plenty of own resources and also it made me wonder; if they staged this bold attack on castle, why we did not see any Duke Wolfwood's own men a part of the attack which was meant to kill you off? Then I realized C never planned this attack ever succeed, but to be mere setting up the bait which was this case in form of noble born sons and daughter's getting killed by your protectors and me while cripple your military force same go. Provoke a reaction maneuver which was meant led you into a trap.<br/><br/>So now instead prepare to march against Duke Wolfwood I propose we surprise C and paralyze his hand interfering with action which is meant first serious blow against him; We publicly announce identities of each killed rebel in castle. Let all nobles, merchant and mayors learn their sons and daughter's had been part of rebel attack. With respectful condolences we send the bodies of the fallen to their respective families in unnamed black coffins, traditional coffins reserved for traitors send back to their families which aren't blamed for foolish behavior of their children or offspring.<br/><br/>In case of Duke's daughter who is still alive; we announce she is alive and had been part of rebels attack but instead staging execution for her we send her along with her brother's coffin towards Duke Wolfwood with a simple message; it's up to the Duke Wolfwood decide how punish his own daughter for doing such foolish rebellious act which got her brother killed. Also we make clear all assaulters were masked and so identities were only found out after battle was over and victims of the attacks were unmasked.<br/><br/>So how this impacts on C? Quite much, as it means any noble born heirs which he has left now would be put under heavy watch by their families and so they are not able act as they please have been up to now. Second as we publicly announce our actions; he cannot rescue Duke's daughter from the delivery back to home as if he does so it makes rebels look bad seductive kidnappers. As if rebels rescue her we declare it as kidnap staged by rebels, and that certainly would drive Duke to our side to rescue his daughter if nothing else from the rebels.<br/><br/>However if Duke receives his daughter it means we have opened up a potential ally negotiation opportunity if we send someone whom Duke respects and could listen to. I would propose myself to this delicate task if you allow me and try get Duke listen me and realize even if your not like your father, your still king and as show of able judge your actions properly you dealt this attack with graceful and respectful manner and not fall into mind games what rebel leader C is doing to you. That would garner respect from Duke who himself is man who respects solid judgements instead quick harsh actions. Also while I am there I can see first hand has Duke and the former king's royal guard fallen in camp with rebels or not, as I know my former colleagues better than anyone in your staff at the moment so I know have they undergone a complete change of heart or do they belong to grey zone what I mentioned earlier.<br/><br/>Now lastly, consider the castle is no longer safe I would propose you would move to safer location. Move your court to another location which is more easier to defend against rebels attacks, which I am sure will grow more desperate if we follow through my plan which fights directly against C's primary objective; which is paint you completely undesirable ruler and so perform final stage of coup with your death. But if we start build and form a image of you as loved king or at least respected one, then C's plans start foil and fall apart by itself and so C is left little no choice either give up rebellion or try kill you anyway. So that's why we need change your location where you rule until times calms down but that's why I wanted protectors in here present as it asks coordination from protectors and also preferably lady Luna who is remaining spellcaster in your service so far as I know.<br/><br/>So my highness, what would be your opinion and judgement on what you heard me to tell about this?"<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Diplomacy check vs King avoid execution order and lend ear of king</div><div class="spoiler_body">At 2011-10-21 11:04:04, Zaer Darkwail (uid: 14) rolls: 1d20a+10 Result: 21 (http://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=32427)<br/></div></div>