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[oikoumene]

[The feed is at first filled with static and the sounds of the device being knocked around. But eventually, words start to filter through.]

―nteresting. Hou, ――something that he may k―Ah!

[And the person seems to figure it out, so the deep, resonant voice laughs jovially]Aha, here we go! What an odd little thing indeed... I admit, it's taken me

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voice;

[manskirt]

[ there's a fussy little sound, a collection of static and a few bumps and bangs before a cleared throat and a moment of quiet. ]

Well, that's...quite the name. Quite the collection of names, that is.

[ a pause. ]

I come from a charming place known as Darktown. Part of another, equally charming place known as the City of Chains.

[ another pause. ]

I...take it we're not there anymore. I'd like to say it can't get any worse than Darktown, but whenever I say that--it generally does.

[manskirt]

And you haven't tasted depressing ham until you've tried it from the Anderfels. All that smokey flavor could bring a full-grown ogre to tears. [ it's bringing him to tears just thinking about it now. ]

I wonder... You don't suppose they'd have any of that Persian ham here, would they?

[oikoumene]

Hmmm... [He rubs his beard thoughtfully] Perhaps? Persia is an old country where I come from, so few would know of it. Though I am sure there is excellent ham somewhere! There must be a good butcher in this city somewhere!

[manskirt]

[ with a bit of steel in his voice-- ] Judging by all the people with weapons I've seen here already, I'd say there are at least a few "good butchers" to be found close to hand.

[oikoumene]

[The tone surprises him] Not a fan of weaponry, my friend?

[manskirt]

...Not the weapons themselves so much as how they're employed. [ and maybe a little bit who tends to employ them. ]

[oikoumene]

Well, that's quite reasonable. Then I should change my question! You do not trust most of the people here with weapons? Have they proven themselves untrustworthy?

[manskirt]

Where I'm from, it appears to be a prerequisite. Mages are trained for years to control their strengths and understand their weaknesses, but anyone who likes can pick up a pair of daggers--or worse, a broadsword.

That's hardly fair, is it?

[oikoumene]

Perhaps not. But that imbalance is a part of why those weapons are preferred to magic, I imagine! Speaking as a man who has controlled armies, it is preferable to be able to have as short of training as possible to maximize the amount of use you can get out of your men. Though mages are useful, it is as you say, they are harder to come by because they are better trained than most who wield a, say, broadsword.

But! There is a balance built into that, as well. Those who are poor with their weapons or reckless, they will not last long. And those who are wise with themselves, they will become masters.

I do not know if that makes you feel any better, though! But I am a king of warriors wielding daggers and swords-Only recently have I come across mages, so I am somewhat biased.

[manskirt]

...Well. At least you're willing to admit to those biases. Most people are incapable of that much. [ and it's appreciated. ]

I suppose since I know very little of broadswords--I don't think I've ever successfully lifted one, much less studied the things--I might be somewhat biased as well.

Then again, I've seen what those armies are capable of doing, training or no. It seems to make little difference when it comes to carnage. ...Though that might just be the perspective of a healer talking, too.

[oikoumene]

Ah, a healer! [Rider is suitably impressed, since that's about the only kind of magic he wishes he had while on his campaigns] Then I give you my respect, for while I may not be a man of magic, any person who dedicates themselves to healing others is one who quite deserves it!

But unfortunately, we will likely forever be divided on the topic of war and armies. I can see that you are a pacifist, which is quite respectable, but I cannot forget my role as king, you understand.

[manskirt]

Not…a pacifist. Not quite. [ there’s a pause, not exactly a gentle one, neither long nor short. it simply is, and it remembers a time before all this, when maybe that would have been more true. ] But I don’t believe in needless injury, either. You see enough of that, or heal enough of it, and you start to resent how careless people can be with their limbs.

You’d think after they realized how painful it all was… But then, some people never learn. [ he sighs, then might actually brighten. ] You respect healers?

That’s more than I can say for…almost everyone else I know.