Righteous, Rhetorical, and In Between
"It's one thing to bully small innocent towns such as Braum in Ivory Prefecture," Commander Seraphimus said. "But to maliciously and willfully fund terrorist activities throughout the heart of Rohbredden?" Her beak muscles clenched. "That is an entire new level of malevolence. And just what would you hope to achieve out of it? Some sort of... hero status in the eyes of the Court of Verlaxion once you've swooped in to provide a temporary solution to the matter? To work the Six Tribes against one another from the inside and the outside is something beyond evil... beyond traitorous."
Chandler merely stared at her.
She slapped the ledge shut and allowed the book to fall limply across his cluttered desk. With icy talons, the head guardian marched towards the Consortium leader.
"You are a cancer to this continent... a tumorous abomination that seeks to leech every citizen in the absence of our glorious Goddess. Since it is my station as the Right Talon of Verlaxion to protect all of the Queen's foals, I am obligated to uproot any and all enemies to the supreme government righteously ordained within Frostknife. You, Mister Chandler, are going to confess the crimes you've committed in Ivory Prefecture and abroad, along with your meddling connections to the Syndicate, the slavers of Mudtop, and all of the other godless gangsters of the Seven Seas and beyond."
At last, she came to a stop, glaring the stallion down.
"It will be in the best interest of your soul—and the feeble flesh attached to it—if you complied fully."
Silence.
Brye Chandler took a deep breath. At last, he trotted forward...
...and shuffled straight past Commander Seraphimus.
The griffon blinked. With rattling armor, she pivoted to follow him, charcoal eyes narrowing.
Chandler shoved a few piles of refuse away, brushed clean a liquor cabinet, and reached inside for a bottle and a glass.
Seraphimus' beak slowly opened. "What... are you doing?"
"Grfff... getting a drink," Chandler muttered.
"Getting a drink...?"
"Yes. I'm quite thirsty, you see." He poured himself a glass, placed the bottle down. Then—after delicately sniffing the contents of the container—he took a long, dainty sip.
Seraphimus blinked several times. With an inner snarl, she shuffled towards him. "Do you not understand the gravity of—?!"
"How much do you think this coat of mine cost?" Chandler asked without looking at her.
Seraphimus scuffled to a stop. She frowned. "You are doing a heinous job of changing the topic."
"Oh, I do believe this is very relevant." Chandler took another sip. "This coat is well over five thousand bits worth of emeralds and fur. That might seem vain... opulent, even, until you take into account the way that I've earned it... through years and years of hard work conducting an honest-to-Verlaxion business... or... at least as honest as you can be to a Goddess who never shows herself."
"You are a criminal and a seditionist," Seraphimus said.
"No, I am a successful entrepreneur." Chandler turned around with a frown. "And for my legitimate efforts, I've been paid more handsomely than meat-punching egotists like you and your Talon. You speak of bullies and terrorists? Look no further than your own damned claws."
"Silence." Seraphimus growled, leaning forward. "I have mountains of evidence against you and your organization—"
"You have nothing." Chandler's nostrils flared. Angry eyes locked with hers while he took a final sip of his glass. Exhaling, he slapped the container down. "Circumstantial evidence and frayed testimony at best. If that wasn't the case, I'd be in irons by now and you know it. There'd be no need for this inane attempt at brutish intimidation."
Seraphimus glared at him. She was silent.
"Did you think I would be so feeble as to cowardly cooperate with whatever banal conspiracy theory you've concocted? Just because you barge in here... vandalize my workplace... and bear your fangs like an enraged manticore?" Chandler huffed. "I've dealt with them all, my dear. Lawyers, Magistrates, Union Committees... every single bit-jingling blowhard that draws breath has taken a swung at me and missed. And you know why? Because everypony's jealous of whoever's on top, but very few of them have the mettle to tear the establishment down without stooping to venomous tactics. And you... dearest guardian..." He pointed while squinting. "You are stooping... stooping low."
"You wish to speak of venom?" Seraphimus hissed. "I've followed a poisonous trail of exploitation and criminal intrigue, and every tributary has taken me straight to this spot... straight to you."
"Spoken in such delightful ambiguity!" Chandler waved a hoof. "I'm certain that will impress the Council even half as much as it's frightening me!"
"Your very own secretary, Longaze, has confessed to committing arson and murder to accomplish your demands!"
"And under what circumstances did she state such claims, hmmm? I wonder!" Chandler spat. "Do tell, high and mighty Supreme Commander of the Right Talon of Verlaxion!" He performed a mock salute. "Just what kind of barbaric duress did you have to put a member of my own clientele under in order to extract such hyperbolic information to substantiate your wild accusations?!"
Seraphimus opened her beak, but no words came out. For the first time in days, beads of sweat kissed the edges of her armor.
"Well?!" Chandler barked, staring daggers. "What exactly did you do? Would you care to tell me? A law-abiding citizen of Rohbredden?" He waved his hoof towards the slatted windows. "And just how do you think that will go over with the Council?! To think of it! Their very own Talon! At her wit's end! Attacking and butchering ponies at random!"
At last, Seraphimus swallowed and said, "The Council trusts me. I've been granted the wisdom and strength of Verlaxion. By the merit of our own righteousness, the Talon shall perservere—"
"You are not righteous!" Chandler shouted. "You're angry!"
Seraphimus' claws tightened.
"And you know what?! We're all angry! I'm angry! The Council is angry!" He pointed once more out the window. "The Tribes are at each other's throats with fury and discontent! But unlike you and your meandering griffon friends, we've been hard at work trying to do something about it! My company—the Shoreline Trade Consortium—can revolutionize Rohbredden industry! We can bring warmth to the confused and anxious citizens of this land! And you? Pffft... you represent ancient prehistory... fossils chasing ghosts in the name of an idea—and a very fractured one at that."
"How dare you..." Seraphimus marched towards him, hissing. "It is by Verlaxion's mercy that we even breathe! If she didn't unify the tribes... if she didn't thaw our forebears' provinces, then none of us would be alive today! We owe her our gratitude with each second that we live."
"And yet the greatest threats to our kingdom continue to permeate this great continent! Who's going to do something about this? You?" Chandler blew out the side of his muzzle. "You can't even catch the Rainbow Rogue! Some Right Talon of Verlaxion you are!"
"Rrrggh!" Seraphimus swung her gauntlets.
For the first time since meeting, Chandler flinched.
POWWW!
The desk beside the stallion exploded.
The pony's eyes blinked open. Catching his breath, he looked aside.
Seraphimus was slumped in a pile of rattling armor and pale feathers. She raked the floor, inhaling and exhaling through angry, fuming breaths. At last—as she felt his nervous eyes upon her—she swallowed and stammered: "I should have been chasing you from the very beginning. You... you disgust me."
"You'd better get used to that nausea, Commander," Chandler said. "We're living in a new age... a godless age. For better or for worse, the mythical queen of our past refuses to show. Ponies in Frostknife have wasted time and tax dollars waiting for a sign to legitimize her absence. Me?" He shook his head. "I'm not willing to wait any longer. I'm making efforts to change and improve this world while the rest of the magistrates wallow in anger and misery."
He waved a hoof at her.
"And you, my dear? You must be the angriest of them all."
Seraphimus pivoted her head to glare up at him through her helmet.
"Oh yes... not only a servant to your goddess, but a slave... with your own family as ransom."
The Commander blinked.
"Don't think that I don't know about what you have at stake." Chandler cocked his head to the side as he spoke: "Your so called Unifier has you on a leash. How many years have you deceived yourself, confusing righteous fury with desperate sorrow? This whole... debacle with the Rainbow Rogue is only the first of many failures, I assure you. At least I have a solid foundation to fall back on. But you? What do you have waiting in Frostknife save for apathy and regret?"
"The Council still holds faith in the Talon."
"You say that, Commander," Chandler remarked. "And yet, where are your wingmates now?"
Seraphimus avoided his gaze.
"Perhaps you knew that you could not rely on their support... because there is simply nothing to support. You've chased me down on a nebulous crusade of vengeance. And for what?" Chandler took a breath. "I'm sorry that you could not catch your Rainbow prey. Trust me, I understand that pain and frustration." His teeth showed. "But do not take it out on me with your insipid excuses of 'righteous duty' You want a confession? Neither of us are strangers to violence and intimidation, Commander. But at least I know... and soon you will know... that what I'm doing will matter in the long course of a new and more functional Rohbredden."
He leaned back, folding his forelimbs.
"Now," Chandler exhaled. "I do believe it's high time for a confession of your own... that the hour has come to hang the helmet and sword and allow civilization to take is proper course without the worn-out protectors of yesteryear. Are you waiting to make that bold step, Commander? Heaven knows I am."
Seraphimus slowly stood up. She leaned her head back, taking a deep breath.
Chandler squinted at her curiously.
At last, the Commander glared down at the pony. "By the power invested in me by the Court of Verlaxion, you—Brye Chandler of the Shoreline Trade Consortium—are under arrest." She pivoted, facing him full-on. "I shall hereby escort you to Frostknife, where you will be tried for crimes committed and funded in the name of treason... and heresy."
"Hrmmmfff..." Chandler snorted. "I am telling you, Commander... you have absolutely nothing to go on."
"That will be up to the Court of Verlaxion to determine," Seraphimus said.
"And if they rule that this is a huge waste of our time?" Chandler squinted. "Which it is?" He clenched his jaw. "You will lose your rank... your position... your entire career."
"Well, then that will be the chance that I take." Seraphimus stepped towards him. "A pity that a stallion in your position doesn't know what true risk is." She produced a series of manacles and slapped them around his front fetlocks. "Here... stay still so I do not soil your honestly-paid-for cloak."
Chandler muttered, "You're a puppet... dancing to an ancient lie."
"And you're lucky I didn't rip your spleen out upon first eye contact." Seraphimus forced him around and shoved the shivering stallion towards the door. "Let us hope that the magistrates in Frostknife are just as merciful."
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You little bastard...
Oh I hope this happens. He needs to get hung by his tail and flayed alive.
Glorious timing, if Keris and Theams can get themselves back to Frostknife quick enough.
Also, Chandler's calculating side is showing through. I like it.
I still think he's going to convert her.
I expected Goldie to show up some how
And honestly wanted her to al least maim him.
Chadler scares me.
I'm just not 100% sure why
Goveruptcy - Valient Thorr
Dude either has serious balls, complete confidence in the web of shit he's set up, or is completely delusional.
Eh, somewhere between the latter two, I'd surmise. He managed to give Seraphimus quite a verbal lashing.
But I think he's a ball-less lunatic.
Youch...that action against Longaze kinda came back and bit her in the ass...
Don't go smashing the thin ice you're on, Chandler. Seraphimus is just a few prayers away from taking the law into her own talons, if she ever realizes who Verlaxion really is.
Someone using her family against her, knew that was going to happen. Chandler once again mistakes his soft power (money and influence) for hard power (bullets, bombs, and blades). He is lucky that she didn't kill him right there. But I guess it is going to be Rainbow's job to actually break him, as she is an insusceptible threat to his methods.
The consortium is very much like a US Gilded age trust. Great in soft power, but only so long as the governments decide to play by the rules AS IS. Should they decide to stop playing by the rules, or change them, then he is screwed, and I think he knows that. WHich is why he is trying to be in charge, so that he makes the rules.
Chandler, you have so much intelligence and raw perceptive power - can't you do something good with it? I know you might think you have good intentions, but funding criminal gangs isn't the way to bring about positive change. You have some good traits, used for evil, because you lack awesomeness and integrity.
Does Seraphimus know that most of the court is corrupted? I don't think she does.
Good to see Seraphimus hasn't totally lost it yet. Half expected Chandler's office to have a fresh red coat of "paint" when he played the family card. She's not full Renegade yet.
Calling it: Seraphimus is in for a rude shock. Facts don't matter. That includes the facts that Keris and Theanim will provide. The Council is corrupt and will be more than happy to supply their own facts to justify replacing the Talon with more "cooperative" personnel. Facts like the torture of Longaze or the failure to capture the Rogue.
It's a somewhat dangerous game these two are both caught in. The victor is to be determined by a corrupted council, and for Seraphimus's sake, let's hope more are blackmailed than bribed.
Hefty chapter
Seraphimus allowed the snake to speak instead of silently decapitating it without warning from the shadows.
Chandler is relying on his actions being so encompassing and horrific that disbeleif in his ability halts opposing action for the moment required for his ability to leech into their minds and twist it to where he wills.
A coat is worth a cup of coffee for his workers, but tomorrow they wiill need yet another cup of coffee, where his coat will last years. Such is the excuse used for the tyranical rich to crush the destitute poor. Accidental rich just dont have a clue.
7034372
Yeah, and Keris's recent actions and evidence might not actually be the best for them. Those chancellors switch sides at the drop of a hat, and corruption will hardly choose justice.
With these recent events, I'm betting on some Divine intervention
He says this
While two members of the Talon and a member of the scientific order have an accomplice of his who is going to spill the beans.
Better bring that ledger Seraph, it's evidence.
7034324
Because he's staying relatively calm and managed to find some weakpoints in the armour of the scariest character we've seen in this half of the story with words alone?
-Companions have returned, inner darkness spurned. Utaan.
Chandler does kind of have a point, she has nothing to go on and the major thing she did have she beat out of someone. Nothing she is doing here would have mattered if Keris and Theanim hadn't foiled that little meeting, so she got pretty lucky on that one.
This certainly throws a monkey wrench in things.
Well, this should be interesting.
It always kinda sucks when douchebags make good arguments. Chandler's a dick, and hopefully there's--at mininum--a jail cell with his name on it. But he's not wrong about everything: Verlax is a fraud, Rohbreddon has lots of problems, and Seraphimus has hardly been a shining example of harmony. And wouldn't it be something is Chandler is right, and Seraphimus' family's condition was directly caused by Verlax in order to string Seraphimus along in faith of a divine cure? Shit like that is bound to get out, if it's true.
I've been afraid of Seraphimus going to the dark side (ethically, not geographically) for a while now, and putting her right next to a surprisingly calm and persuasive arch-villain won't help matters.
7034402 ...yet. She's right at the edge. Won't take much more to push her over.
And so the snake strikes, words injecting poison into her mind like venom from a bite.
But he forgets, his opponent is a mongoose, and mongooses are evolved to come out victorious against snakes.
... this metaphor was a bit odd, sorry
I wonder if I'm going to be justified at yelling "HOW COULD YOU MISS? HE WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU" again.
"put a muzzle on the jerk" protocol : almost never employed when solo, what a shame
7034560
It certainly has made her one of the more memorable and interesting characters of the whole Rohbredden arc. She's pretty much tied with Theanim as my favorite for this leg of Dash's journey.
I have a really bad feeling about this. I think Seraphimus is in for a nasty surprise when she brings Chandler back to stand trial in front of the council of verlaxion that has already had its pockets filled with his bloody money. Also, while I hate him, Chandler made some smart points. Seraphimus has a lot of frustration in her near future, I believe.
The biggest surprise to me is that Chandler didn't try to convince Seraphimus that he could save her family if she worked for him. He's good at lying. Why didn't he go for her biggest weakness?
Hmm, up to now chandler's had a firm grip on the idiot stick. Throwing money around and having temper tantrums like a spoiled rich kid who never earned an honest bit of his probably inherited wealth. ...
Now suddenly instead of acting like the coward he's been at every earlier sign of danger, he's calm and in control in the face of the anger of one of the stories most 'bad ass' antagonists?
If the nearest changlings were not on the far side of the desert I'd be looking for holes in his legs.
If Chandler is taken to the council, they will defend his innocence, in fear he will spill the beans about their involvement. But if Chandler had been killed, they would accept he has the blame of everything he did, plus everything they themselves did, using the chance to use him as a scapegoat, and would consider the corruption case closed.
7034370
It's the same old, "The end justifies the means" horseshit we've heard by every power-hungry tyrant.
But change achieved through vile means is a change built on corpses and lies; a weak foundation. And you find yourself back where you started, ultimately.
Oh here we go, trust the council. What could possibly go wrong?
I see Seraphimus is used to dealing with thugs and other low-life criminals, who work by the power of the physically strongest.
Now, she stands in the face of something worse. A politician.
Her nerves may be of steel, but her anger seems to make them start melting. May they hold a little longer.
I hope team Theris (Keanim? eh, you know what I mean) and the witness they now bring will help in throwing Chandler of his high pony.
7034453
That sound pretty spot on now that I read it.
7035241 "What was once a practice built on virtue and trust is now corrupted by greed and filth.
Let's meet a stallion who believes that wealth is his virtue.
Are you ready, Mr. Chandler?"
Misplaced faith meets misguided ambition.
Timing is important now. If Seraphimus arrives too early, Chandler will go free and the talon loses credibility.
7035314 so what you're saying is righteous griffon anger can melt steel beams?
7035658
Metaphoricaly? Definitely.
Literally? I have a feeling we'll find out very soon.
yeah, really don't have a good feeling about this. Seraphimius is this close to cracking, and she will join Chandler to get Rainbow, if only to get her family back. Chandler's kingdom might be falling all around the place, but I'm sure his puppets in the council are still having their pockets filled, so he's right, he'll walk.
... Wow, what is this feeling I have for Chandler? Is that... respect?
Hot damn. Seeing things from his perspective (assuming he is presenting it honestly here) doesn't undo the bad he's done, but it's hard to argue with someone that tried their damndest and came as far as he did. He tried to seize control of the world he lived in. For better or for worse, that's impressive.
He's not wrong to hold his atheist stance, but it's completely amazing how his reasoning is flawed. He has had a completely rational and evidence based response to Verlaxion's absence, but he had no way of knowing about the machine world or the origins of Verlax.
Theams is one lucky pony.
That said, I hope Rainbow knocks his teeth in. But I also hope that Chandler lives to see a post-Verlaxion Rohbredden. Even if he doesn't rule it, even if he spends it in a prison cell, I think he deserves to see it.
Hmm...
Yeesh that was uncomfortable to read.
I really wanted Sera to rip his spleen out. That would've been wonderful.
At least Keris jas the evidence she needs now.
I dont think this will go how you want it to seraphimus
Chandler failed to convert Seraphimus because he mentioned Rainbow Dash.
Hoo boy. That was close. If... If shed killed him I think she was done. Now? Well things are going to get messy... But hopefully better.
7041104 I think you are right
It's unfortunate and fortunate that Sera didn't rip out Brye's spleen. I lowkey was looking forward to it, but I know that it wouldn't happen.
7041727 Hopefully so. I really thought he had her for a second, but her rage and stubbornness actually saved her.
Suicide already? Nah, you're too self-confident and Seraphimus doesn't have enough dirt. Still, there was a bit of uncertainty.
I'll be honest, I was half expecting her to arrest only his head. Not sure if she herself had completely decided yet.
Fortunate, really, considering Keris just caught a good witness. Taking Chandler down through the system will be a lot cleaner than sacrificing her own position to kill him.
I doubt even he knew how accurate this statement was.
08/21/2017
22:31 UTC
I knew it was too good to be true. Timplan caught, Skagra dead, and Chandler cornered. I bet Chandler could swindle himself out of this situation. I wouldn't be surprised if the only way to catch Chandler redhanded would be to go after Monket and get him to rat on Chandler with proof of his bits. Almost makes me wish they teamed up with Skagra instead.
Crap...that didn’t go as planned. I don’t think this will go like Seraphimus wants.
What sucks even more.....is that he’s right. Everything he said was accurate, he just happens to be a terrorist.