The Unseen Servant forums

terrymixon wrote: ↑Fri Jun 06, 2025 1:51 amHe looked around at everyone, giving you time to respond.

Jaelah listens attentively, as her own home world lies within the potential battlefield.

Garvin nods in agreement and adds "I suppose that there is a certain hypocrisy in us all runnin' about with our own powers while also bein' the regime that still lobotomizes folk for... well... "witchcraft".

Tiglath wrote: ↑Fri Jun 06, 2025 1:35 pm Garvin nods in agreement and adds "I suppose that there is a certain hypocrisy in us all runnin' about with our own powers while also bein' the regime that still lobotomizes folk for... well... "witchcraft".

"I can't disagree, but in that hypocrisy lies opportunity," the ambassador said. "Never before has a group of high nobles inside the Third Imperium been someone who would perhaps be more amenable to modifications of the laws dealing with psionics than now. My thought is that if an accommodation can be reached that provides more opportunities to those who are oppressed in this area of space and lessens the expansionism of the Third Imperium, perhaps the need for these wars would go away. This is not an official position but one that I believe should be championed.

"Tell me, why do you think the Zhodioni Consulate attacks the Third Imperium every so often? Is it simply to keep your expansionism at bay? That's part of it, of course, but another aspect to the attacks is to try to sow dissent in the nobles in this area of space. That isn't very hard, as you might imagine. They already seem prone to acting against one another. What you think would happen if the Consulate isolated this area of space and gave the nobles a choice to either be ground into dust or to seize their own area of space and declare independence from the Third Imperium? What if that were done for multiple high nobles and competing smaller polities became the norm here in the Spinward marches and Deneb sectors? What would be the end result?"

Ciencia started to say something, but her mother stepped forward to whisper in her ear. Then she looked at you all. "While I certainly have an opinion on this matter, I would like to hear what everyone else thinks. In many ways, I grew up in an ivory tower and you've lived your lives here and might have better insight than I. How would you answer his questions?"

terrymixon wrote: ↑Fri Jun 06, 2025 2:24 pmCiencia started to say something, but her mother stepped forward to whisper in her ear. Then she looked at you all. "While I certainly have an opinion on this matter, I would like to hear what everyone else thinks. In many ways, I grew up in an ivory tower and you've lived your lives here and might have better insight than I. How would you answer his questions?"

Jaelah cocked her head. "So, you attack the Imperium to keep it together, a common enemy, as it were?"

joertexas wrote: ↑Fri Jun 06, 2025 3:38 pm

terrymixon wrote: ↑Fri Jun 06, 2025 2:24 pmCiencia started to say something, but her mother stepped forward to whisper in her ear. Then she looked at you all. "While I certainly have an opinion on this matter, I would like to hear what everyone else thinks. In many ways, I grew up in an ivory tower and you've lived your lives here and might have better insight than I. How would you answer his questions?"

Jaelah cocked her head. "So, you attack the Imperium to keep it together, a common enemy, as it were?"

"It might seem that way, but no. Moreso to drive divisions into the leadership here and to push back your expansion."

terrymixon wrote: ↑Fri Jun 06, 2025 3:40 pm"It might seem that way, but no. Moreso to drive divisions into the leadership here and to push back your expansion."

"We also form a convenient buffer against the Aslan, the Vargr, and others who might otherwise focus on Zhodani space. My experience is as one of those people caught in the machinery. While fomenting discontent plays well for your people, it spreads a great deal of misery here. That's not something I can easily set aside."

joertexas wrote: ↑Fri Jun 06, 2025 4:07 pm

terrymixon wrote: ↑Fri Jun 06, 2025 3:40 pm"It might seem that way, but no. Moreso to drive divisions into the leadership here and to push back your expansion."

"We also form a convenient buffer against the Aslan, the Vargr, and others who might otherwise focus on Zhodani space. My experience is as one of those people caught in the machinery. While fomenting discontent plays well for your people, it spreads a great deal of misery here. That's not something I can easily set aside."

He spread his hands. “Rather than set it aside, I would ask if you would prefer to chart a different course. The past cannot be changed, and sadly, neither can what is coming, at least in broad strokes. It’s in the details that change is possible, and that might benefit you and the people behind the claw.”

Garvin comments "I'm sold on the "less oppression of the masses" deal but not if you're about just swappin' one type of oppression for another of a different flavour". Then he adds with a smile "Trouble is, Ambassador, I'm not the bloke you need to convince".

Tiglath wrote: ↑Fri Jun 06, 2025 4:16 pm Garvin comments "I'm sold on the "less oppression of the masses" deal but not if you're about just swappin' one type of oppression for another of a different flavour". Then he adds with a smile "Trouble is, Ambassador, I'm not the bloke you need to convince".

“No one wants to be oppressed. We all want to be free. The devil is figuring out what we want to be free of. What if the Consulate could be your ally in the troubled times to come? What if we supported the Princess against the troubles sure to plague her here? Not overtly, but in other ways. What if instead of pushing to break this area into small polities, we accepted her rule of an independent state that was accepting of those with psionic abilities? Sadly, was is coming. It is too late to stop it, but its course could be shaped. If we can come to an understanding, that is.”

"In my opinion, everyone knows what you are doing, but the local leadership is more worried about there thousandth kilo of diamonds instead of doing whats right for the area. Tale as old as time. We can't stop it, does not matter who the teams are. You're also not going to convince anyone that psionics are ok, even a little bit. To much anti-psi media over the last few generations. Also our hated enemy uses, 'so it has to be bad.'. Trauma responses passed down through generations can start to look like culture, and that goes both ways. I want to hear whats this is really about.

Grumble

Arkar

ateno wrote: ↑Fri Jun 06, 2025 4:35 pm "In my opinion, everyone knows what you are doing, but the local leadership is more worried about there thousandth kilo of diamonds instead of doing whats right for the area. Tale as old as time. We can't stop it, does not matter who the teams are. You're also not going to convince anyone that psionics are ok, even a little bit. To much anti-psi media over the last few generations. Also our hated enemy uses, 'so it has to be bad.'. Trauma responses passed down through generations can start to look like culture, and that goes both ways. I want to hear whats this is really about.

Grumble

Arkar

“Change always takes time and we cannot change the past. We can only change what comes next. With that in mind, what would you alter? What variable would be something to be changed?”

"The variable I’d change is fear. The kind that turns people inward, makes them crave diamonds over dignity, and lets them mistake oppression for safety. It's fear that fuels war, not ideology — and fear that's been weaponized for so long, most people can't imagine another way.

I don’t think we need everyone to love psionics. I’m not even sure that’s possible in my lifetime. But I do believe people can stop needing someone to hate. And that starts when they have something real to live for — enough food, enough voice, enough safety that they don’t need an enemy to hold them together.

You want to shape what comes next? Then help build a place that doesn’t run on fear. A neutral world, maybe even independent, where people live better not because we control them, but because we gave them a choice. Psionics can be part of that — openly, safely — not to rule, but to serve.

Let them see it work. Not propaganda, not subversion, just one place that’s better than what they’re used to. That’s how you change minds. That’s how you change the future."

I used to lie for a living. I know how much easier fear is to sell than hope. But I also know how much power there is in showing people something honest — something possible. So that’s the variable I’d start with."

Arkar

William had been listening to the interplay while thinking of the long picture. He had to restrain the instinctive burst of hostility at the mention of a war set to come soon. At least they would be facing it with some degree of vastly improved communications and weaponry. Regardless people would die in the millions no matter how careful both sides were. That at least one faction of the Zhodani seemed to be willing to talk constructively was a start.

He glanced at Ciencia and then addressed the ambassador. "You speak of a new factor standing here but the war is going to delay things and sour attitudes towards psionics. What is done is done. But Ambassador have you ever been part of an attack on the battlefield knowing that it will fall but you must participate in it, even help it forward? And knowing that you you cannot stop it, that friends and innocents will die." He paused. "We will fight back like we always do, just the Marches. What is happening in the Imperial Core will have complicate things and certainly make some want to cut the deal to be a client state. But we have my wife as a point around which to rally. Also as the aggressor you bear a great moral burden which will rally our people. We may come out stronger than you expect." He laughed bitterly. "That may be the long game but at what a price."

William continued. "We ultimately intend to break up those cartels of nobles and corporations that are a blight on the Imperium. We intend to start the long process of normalizing psionics. We will work with you after the war to build a more lasting peace assuming your attitude is shared in the councils of power."