Turning the Game on its Head

[Devon]

After the debacle between Lucid, Kalian, and Cascata. Kalian had taken Lucid to see Adela their neighbor to see why she had decided to send Lucid to spy on his father and see what he was up to. Kalian knocked three times and waited for the woman to answer her door.

[Kender Bard]

Adela opened the door, not suspecting what lay on the other side. When she saw Kalian and Lucid, however, she grew pale and surprised, and tried to slam the door shut.

[Devon]

Kalian caught the door before it shut and started to force it open. He had intended to be civil with the woman, but that display irked him quite a bit. Lucid frowned as well, but stayed quiet for now. "Adela, we need to have a long talk," Kalian said to the woman. "How dare you deceive my son and encourage him to sneak out of our home at night? What if something happened to Lucid? What if my boy would have been hurt!?"

[Kender Bard]

Adela let go of the door and backed away, clearly frightened now. "Nobody's going to hurt him," she protested. "Ronduin isn't that bad of a place. I just thought he'd have a little fun and indulge both our curiosities too."

[Devon]

Kalian entered the door, glaring at Adela, but trying to keep his temper in check. Lucid quietly followed behind him and closed the door. "No nation is safe from trouble and 9 year old kids shouldn't be running around the streets of Ronduin alone in the night. If there is something you want to know about me, then you ask me Adela don't you dare use my son to play a stupid little game."

[Kender Bard]

"I didn't invite you in my home," Adela protested, backing up a bit more. "If you don't leave now I'm going to call for the guards to come and take you away! They will, too! Now leave me alone! I won't cause you anymore trouble again."

[Devon]

"Let's go Lucid," Kalian said to his son. Lucid nodded and opened the door, stepping out and waiting for his father. Kalian turned back to look at Adela. "I hope you don't try and cause any more trouble for me...while we're at it, it'd be for the best if you stayed away from my son as well." With that Kalian left Adela's home to take Lucid back. "Lucid, I hope you know you are going to be doing a bunch of chores for a while." Lucid frowned slightly and nodded, "Yes Dad.."

[Kender Bard]

Outside, there was a strange amount of activity. Clumps of people were heading in the same direction, towards Ronduin's heart, the center of town. At first it was just a few groups here and there, but as people got curious and started to follow along, the numbers swelled. There was a general current of activity in the air.

[Devon]

Kalian saw all the people heading in one direction, part curious, and other parts worried by what it could be that was going on in the center of town. Lucid looked around as well, anxiously wondering what was going on. "Dad, can we go too?" Kalian gave Lucid a small nod and led his son to the center of town.

[Kender Bard]

Waiting for the expectant, curious bystanders was... perhaps not what they had expected.

There was a large circular clearing in which stood only two people - Cascata and a black-haired woman whom most did not know, though anyone visiting Cascata may. It was one of the people in charge of keeping track of Cascata's daily doings.

Cascata stood with a stiff back, hands clenched, and head raised proudly though she looked as though she could spit fire at this point. The other woman, Kazeva, had worked herself up into a good, righteous fury and her voice carried loud and clear as she paced back and forth with tension of the moment. "You run off at the first opportunity; simply dropping all duties expected of you and to what? What is it that you do when abroad, Cascata? Certainly more than spur-of-the-moment diplomatic meetings. How about when you decided to join Lord Thavan on the expedition to the southern islands? As I recall, several eyewitnesses have claimed you were seen fraternizing with Kalian, whom many know you are strictly forbidden to see. This isn't the first time you've gone and sneered at the restrictions of your station! We've been lenient and understanding, made exceptions and turned the blind eye to several of your outrageous displays of misconduct, but this cannot stand any longer!"

The last statement was met with several loud shouts of agreement from those who had a 'front' view of the whole spectacle and presumeably had been there from the start or near to it.

[Devon]

Lucid recognized Cascata from the other night, but having just paid attention to her name, finally understood just who he had met. The boy was left to wonder why his father was meeting with the leader of Ronduin, how he knew her and why as the woman yelling at Cascata had said; was she forbidden from seeing his father. "Dad whats going on?" Lucid asked his father. Kalian sighed and looked to Lucid, "Trouble I believe..stay here," Kalian told his son as he made his way towards the front of the crowd.

[Kender Bard]

Kazeva continued on. "And so if you are so undesirous of following rule and tradition, and of knowing your place, then I claim we should remove you and let a new age dawn. Down with the monarchy and let us usher in elected officials!"

This was met with several more rousing cheers.

Before Kazeva could go on, Cascata replied, loudly enough to be heard, "I agree."

Several people gasped.

"I agree that our system is old and broken," Cascata went on. "What once was useful has now become antiquated. And so we do need a new system... but if you think that you can merely sweep me aside because the fancy takes you, then you are terribly wrong. I'm not sure who you fashioned to take my place - perhaps you, Kazeva? - but I think you are all forgetting just how far my influence has gone. I may no longer hold the respect I did in my youth within my own domain, but I have friends, and many friends at that, amongst the other nations. Powerful ones. I am pleased and honored to call Queen Lya and King Shadow of Caelium my closest friends. Queen Dusk of Anarlina and I have shared many laughs. I even have friends in Khelek and I find King Lucifer most fair and just - and hopefully he views me much the way. I was close companions with the former Lord River of Humontis and, given time, I planned on re-establishing that friendship with his successor. So bear this in mind and bear it well; you can topple me from the seat of power." Cascata's eyes narrowed and her voice was terribly cold and wrathful. "But do not think that the worldly powers will not sit up and take notice that a usurper has emerged in my absence!"

[Devon]

Kalian stopped half way when he heard Cascata speak up. With a big grin on his face, he folded his arms across his chest and decided to watch how things would play out. Her display only reminded him of the things about her that he loved, and after reconsidering just rushing up to the stage he had decided against it. She could handle herself well enough and his presence might do more harm than good. For now he would just watch until she did need his help.

Lucid watched as well, still perplexed at how and why his father knew the Mother.

[Kender Bard]

"Well now the cat shows her claws since we've threatened her precious position," Kazeva mocked. "Tell me, oh wise Mother, how you propose we resolve this dilemma that leaves everyone happy?"

Cascata shrugged, smiled, and responded, "Quite simply, we do as you suggested and elect the next official." Her smile grew wider at Kazeva's puzzled and wary look so added, "I nominate myself. Any other takers?"

That stirred a response. Everyone began talking at once. Kazeva, looking around, realize things were going to start unravelling soon if she didn't do something to save face and credibility. "Quiet! Silence all of you! This isn't a prize pig we're judging, this is the fate of Ronduin itself. We'll go about this in a professional manner. I urge all people who wish to consider themselves candidates to apply at my working quarters-"

"You mean my house?" Cascata asked. Kazeva ignored her.

"-and give your name. We will choose the new Mother or Father after a fortnight of name gathering. If you wish to win support, say why you should be the head of Ronduin, do so on your own time."

When nobody stirred or said anything, she scowled and quite forcefully added, "Go away now!"

Muttering, the crowds began to dissipate. Cascata, having spotted Kalian during her passionate speech, decided to seize the opportunity of not talking to anyone and hastened towards him, reaching for his hands. "Ah, Kalian, it seems for good or ill we don't need to bother with secrets any longer."

[Devon]

Kalian smiled brightly at Cascata and took her hands in his. "That was an amazing show Cascata, you already have my vote," he said to her. "Do you mean all of our secrets when you say that? If so, there is someone who would love to meet you..I bet his head about to pop from all the questions he wants to ask me right now."