A knight's determination

[stupidhonor]

[1, shortly after the mission]
With Lord Moswar's death, a moot will be organized. He has left no one to call an heir, so his titles and the Lord's Arm will be given to others - all knights of Ankaia can participate in the moot and decide on that and other important matters.

But his death is just an excuse for the moot to gather. The real reason for the gathering will be to make a unified decision regarding Earth. Lord Moswar's faction lost its head. There is yet possibility of peace.

In the meantime, I will remain here. Lord Moswar's actions were against Earth's good - and Ankaia's as well. I made a vow to guard the innocents against him and the likes of him. I will not break that vow, so until that time...


I hope you will allow me to fight by your side.

[2]
[There is one more thing that a lot of people will probably ask Sielje about. The title Moswar used to refer to her, that made her so angry...]


Lord Moswar had in his grasp - the secret of Power Within. There used to be a time when that was the case for every of Ankaia's warriors, but nowadays only a few chosen know its incantation. The ultimate technique of self-actualization, any knight may use it once and once alone.

The reason for that is it draws upon the life force of the one who uses it. An old or weak person's life may become quickly extinguished... and even if you survive, you are not the same. Your strength, potency, are but shadows of their former selves.

Such a survivor is known as a Burned Out.


[3]
So the weapons of Earth are not powered by their wielders' might? Of course, they are not made from hide and bone of beasts of Ankaia... but does it not allow for even a weakling to excel in combat, if his or her tools are good?

[Sielje asks this question while sitting atop of a Genoace - the mobile suit took only a few steps from where it stood before losing balance and collapsing. You can probably guess who was the pilot, since she was the one who left the cockpit...]

Comments

[keep_your_dignity]

THE FACT THAT IF I HADN'T MET HITACHI YOURS WOULD BE THE WORST POKER FACE I HAVE EVER SEEN.

[stupidhonor]

...

[No idea what that means - but Sielje can make an educated guess.]

The Arms made on Ankaia work differently.

[keep_your_dignity]

I'VE SEEN. THEY'RE EXTENSIONS, NOT WEAPONS. USEFUL TO MULTIPLY POWER WHILE MAKING SURE THE PEOPLE AT THE TOP REMAIN AT THE TOP.

[stupidhonor]

You make it sound as if it was something wrong.

[keep_your_dignity]

IN THE END IT'S NOT TERRIBLY IMPORTANT. EVERY WEAPON CAN BE USED BY THE ONES WHO HAVE THE POWER TO STOMP THOSE WHO DON'T. HUMAN HISTORY IS A GREAT SHOW OF THAT.

BUT I DON'T THINK I LIKE THE IDEA OF BUILDING A SOCIETY AROUND ONES THAT DON'T GIVE THE WEAKER ELEMENTS EVEN A SLIGHT CHANCE TO CREATE PRESSURE.

[stupidhonor]

Everyone is born the same, weak and vulnerable. Lords of Ankaia achieved their status not through being born, but by becoming strong and performing great deeds.

If the weak want to "create pressure", they simply need to try hard to become strong. How is that not fair?

[keep_your_dignity]

AH, YES, OF COURSE, I FORGOT. IT'S THE FAULT OF THE ONE WHO GETS KILLED, FOR BEING TOO LAZY TO BECOME STRONG ENOUGH.

[stupidhonor]

No, this is not... are you mocking me?!

If this is unfair, then Earth is even more so! On Ankaia, anyone who wishes to dedicate himself to pursuit of might, to reach heights of glory, is free to do so!

[keep_your_dignity]

I'M NOT MOCKING YOU. JUST ASSISTING.

[The large robot approaches silently. It's rather less pleasant up close, with all the creepy sigils and GRAVEYARD insignias]

I'M SURE YOU ARE. YOU'VE PROBABLY SPENT YOUR LIFE TRAINING TO BECOME STRONGER, HAVE YOU?

[stupidhonor]

A decade of it, yes.

[Sielje looks up at Kagura's... kinda face. The robot is too close for comfort but she does not step back.]

[keep_your_dignity]

WHICH IS ABOUT HALF YOUR LIFE, AND BIT LESS THAN TWICE AS LONG AS I HAVE TRAINED AS A WARRIOR MYSELF. AND YOU DIDN'T EXACTLY HALF-ASS IT EITHER.

SO HOW'S THAT WORKING FOR YOU? DO YOU THINK YOU'RE QUALIFIED TO LEAD, NOW? WHAT CHANCES DO YOU SEE YOURSELF WITH TO STOP ANY OF THE LORDS OF ANKAIA IF, LET'S SAY, THEY DECIDED TO KILL SOMEONE YOU LIKED?

AND YOU PROBABLY SHOULD THINK ON THAT ONE QUESTION IF YOU PAY NO ATTENTION TO A SINGLE DAMN OTHER THING I SAY, BECAUSE UNLESS YOU DECIDE TO HATE EVERYONE IN THIS PLACE, THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

[stupidhonor]

If I were to challenge a Lord, fight him alone... I would most likely lose.

Compared to a Lord, I am weak. I would be beaten, through no one's fault but my own. I should have gotten stronger.

[keep_your_dignity]

SO YOU DIDN'T TRY YOUR BEST, THEN?

[stupidhonor]

Of course I did! I tried so hard, I did my best... just to become a Knight...

[keep_your_dignity]

SEE, THAT'S A PROBLEM. YOU SAY THAT EVERYONE BEING ALLOWED TO TRAIN MAKES IT FAIRER THAN EARTH, BECAUSE ANYONE WHO OBJECTS TO THE LORDS' ABUSES OF POWER AND WANTS TO INFLUENCE THINGS CAN BECOME AS POWERFUL AS THEM. BUT YOU ALSO SAY YOU TRAINED FOR YOUR ENTIRE ADULT LIFE AND YET IF YOU FOUGHT ANY OF THEM YOU'D GET SPLATTED BECAUSE THEY'RE IMMENSELY MORE POWERFUL THAN YOU ARE.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO EXPLAIN THAT ONE TO ME. BECAUSE FROM WHERE I'M STANDING, IT DOESN'T LOOK ANY MORE FAIR. IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S THE SAME SHIT BUT WITH AN ADDED LAYER OF SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS TO MAKE CERTAIN NOBODY TRIES TO SEARCH FOR A BETTER ALTERNATIVE.

[stupidhonor]

There is honor. Ankaia values strength, but honor even more.

If a Lord tries to abuse power, acts like Lord Moswar did - others will rise against him. To act dishonorably is the best way to lose your supporters, title, and possibly more.

It has happened many times already.

[keep_your_dignity]

WHO DECIDES WHAT IS HONORABLE, THEN? WHO WRITES THE RULES?

[stupidhonor]

They are unchanged since Ankaia was founded.

[keep_your_dignity]

WHICH IN NO WAY ANSWERS MY QUESTION.

[stupidhonor]

[With consternation, Sielje remains silent for a moment before finally saying...]

The Champion.

The Champion of Ankaia is the ultimate authority on matters of honor. Everyone understands what is honorable and what is not, but he is the one we refer to when an issue raises. Or when there is suspicion of foul play.

[keep_your_dignity]

I DON'T TRUST ANY SENTENCE THAT STARTS WITH "EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS".

ANYWAY, SO, THE ENTIRE WORLD IS HANGING ON THE WORD OF THIS ONE GUY, WHO LET ME GUESS, DIDN'T EXACTLY GET THE POSITION FOR PROVING CAPABLE OF GOVERNING.

YOU SEEM TO HAVE VERY SPECIFIC OPINIONS ON HIM, THOUGH.

[stupidhonor]

Yes. Yes, I do.

[Sielje stares at Kagura, a strength behind her eyes that was not there just a moment ago.]

He may not be a Lord with his own domain and lands, but he did not ask for it. His task is not to govern anything. His task is to be the Champion, and with that I trust him completely.

I ask you not to speak ill of him.

[keep_your_dignity]

AS YOU WISH. IF ANYTHING I'D PITY THE BASTARD. I'M GETTING PLENTY ABOUT HIM FROM YOU. AND YOUR SYSTEM IS SET UP TO MAKE THE TASK OF BEING A JUDGE A THANKLESS, FUTILE SHOWER OF SHIT. DON'T EXPECT HE'S EXACTLY ENJOYING IT.

[Kagura turns, starting to move away. This conversation was instructive - she definitely got a lot more out of Sielje than Sielje probably did from her]

YOU ASKED SOMETHING OF ME, THOUGH, SO I'LL ASK ONE THING OF YOU.

[stupidhonor]

Yes?

[Sielje leaves the comments about the champion to herself.]

[keep_your_dignity]

YOU'RE GOING TO BE HERE FOR A WHILE. SO HERE'S WHAT I'LL ASK OF YOU: WHILE YOU'RE HERE, THINK. ESPECIALLY ON THAT WHOLE "HONOR" SHIT. WHAT OBJECTIVES THE RULES SPRUNG FROM. WHY SO MANY OF THE THINGS THAT MIGHT LEVEL THE FIELD BETWEEN THE STRONGEST AND THE ONES WHO SIMPLY ARE DRIVEN - AMBUSH, COMBINED ARMS, RANGED ATTACKS - ARE DECRIED AS DISHONORABLE, WHILE EVERY HONORABLE AVENUE IS, NOT COINCIDENTALLY, ONE THAT FAVORS WHICHEVER BASTARD IS ALREADY MOST POWERFUL. WHAT THE ENTIRE SYSTEM DEPENDS ON AND HOW IT DEALS WITH THE STRESS THIS WHOLE THING IS GOING TO PUT IT THROUGH.

I ALREADY HAVE ENOUGH UNTHINKING FANATICS AND GENERAL BULLSHIT TO DEAL WITH. ESPECIALLY SINCE I BET AT LEAST A COUPLE MORE OF YOUR LORDS ARE GOING TO COME HOWLING, MINIMUM. AND YOU DON'T SEEM LIKE A BAD KID.

[Just kind of an idiot. But then, she deals with plenty of idiots as is. Kagura begins walking away. She stops for a second as she does, though, turning her "face" slightly to regard Sielje over her massive shoulder]

AND BY THE WAY, FRIENDLY WARNING WHILE WE'RE ON THAT - EARTH IS A MESS OF CULTURES, NOT THE MONOLITH OF YOUR WORLD, AND PEOPLE CAN'T AGREE ON FUCKING DINNER, MUCH LESS WHAT'S RIGHT. DON'T GO AROUND YELLING AT PEOPLE ABOUT DISHONOR UNLESS YOU INTEND TO BACK IT UP THE HARD WAY.

[And so she continues, heading off.]