reluctant king

Hi, I'm Alistair. King of Ferelden. Sort of. Big cheese fan. -RP blog for BFRP-

[alasstair]

master-haytham-kenway started following you

thecostnertoyourhouston started following you

/nods in acknowledgement/ Hello, there.

[thegingerlioness-blog]

I think he would like meeting you. *smiles* Being King now he rarely gets to meet anyone who treats him as anything other than a king. I think he gets bored of it every now and then before I and his other friends have to remind him that he’s got us to whack him if he gets all pompous. *snorts*

*hesitates at his question, then sighs* Because the last lady knight existed a good century or two ago. In my time there were very set ideals on what a lady could and could not be. Ladies weren’t allowed to be knights…*she shrugged* I disguised myself as a boy, “Alan”, and trained as a page, squire, and knight as a boy. My true identity was only discovered after I won my shield. *shrugs* It’s not an act I’m proud of, but there was no other way for me to win my shield, and I still have it so it wasn’t a total loss.

[alasstair]

Now that I definitely understand. /grins/ I'm fortunate enough to still have companions from when I was a warden to keep me grounded. Nothing like a  drunk dwarf calling you a 'thunder nug-humper' to bring you back down off your high-horse, eh? /laughs/ Now that sounds eerily like an old story I know. Aveline the Knight of Orlais, or something like that. She joined a tournament pretending to be a man, until her helmet was knocked off mid-battle. Her opponent lacked honor or something like that and slay her there but the prince saw her true skill and declared that women be allowed to accept knighthood in Orlais and posthumously knighted her as well. /waves a hand/ It went sort of like that, anyway, I think. Still, your tale is much more exciting, considering it didn't end with you lacking a head.

[thegingerlioness-blog]

*nods* Yes, that’s how Jonathan saw it too. We used to visit the city in his spare time and meet all sorts of people when he was younger. Of course, nobody knew he was the prince back then - they just thought he was some merchant’s son - otherwise we would’ve been dragged back to the palace by our ears. He liked not being recognised as royalty.

*listens with interest* I’m guessing you dislike being in the spotlight? Or is it something else? I too never wanted to be the centre of attention. That intention went out the window when everyone found out I was a girl. *shrugs*

[alasstair]

It is like that, yes. I think I would like this Jonathan of yours. We seem to view kingship in quite the same manner. /chuckles, crossing his arms loosely/ I'm not a fan of attention, no. I was raised in a chantry to be a templar originally. I quickly learned that attention was precisely the sort of thing you wished to avoid.  /tilts his head, giving her a curious look/ Why did it matter that you were a girl?  

[thegingerlioness-blog]

You…are the  king of Ferelden, and you didn’t think to mention it? If you are the king…where are your- *cuts herself off* Nevermind.

*laughs shortly* It just occurred to me that I’m being hypocritical. Jonathan was never one to care about being king. He knew he would be one day - he was the only child and thus only heir - but he…he wanted to be his own person. He wanted to be more than just a crown at court. I suppose that’s the same for you?

[alasstair]

/laughs timorously/ Well, I've found that telling people I'm the king tends to make them treat me rather differently to how they would otherwise. It's bothersome, so I try avoid it. /shrugs his shoulders slightly/ Perhaps. When I was growing up it was made very clear to me that I would have no claim to the throne and so I never once considered it until... I didn't really have a choice. It was me, or the traitor's daughter. I don't like a lot of what comes with being a king, I've never liked to lead but I'm learning. Sometimes one must make personal sacrifices for the greater good. 

[thathalloweendamsel]

[alasstair]

/laughs at the anecdote, amused/ She sounds like quite the queen. I know women like her, I believe. More worthy of crowns than most that hold them. 

/glances away, visibly amused, if not a little uncomfortable/ It was a joke, of sorts.  I suppose he’s not a bad king. Ferelden hasn’t fallen under his rule yet, but he was somewhat reluctant and awfully new at the whole ruling business. The circumstances of his ascension to the throne were… unique, to say the least.

[thegingerlioness-blog]

She is quite the queen. They make quite the pair of rulers. *smiles wistfully at the memories*

I didn’t mean to offend. I know of one…King, of sorts, I suppose. He is quite the fool too, in a way, but cares deeply about his people. In the end, that is all that matters. If one cannot care for who they are ruling for, then how can they be a good monarch? *shrugs* 

In what way were they unique? *curious, always interested in learning about this place*

[alasstair]

/raises his eyebrows, surprised/ Huh, I never thought of it like that... You do have a point. Perhaps I shouldn't be so hard on him. It's a bit of a long story, but I'll tell it as best I can... Basically, there was a threat to the kingdom called the Blight. Hordes of foul beasts with no desire but to kill and destroy were rising. The king at the time, King Cailan was to engage them in battle but he was betrayed by one of his most trusted, who also happened to be the father of queen at the time. The Grey Wardens, those who are trained specially to end the Blight, were blamed for his death by the traitor. /scowls at the memory, his expression stormy/ I, along with the only other surviving Warden in Ferelden set out to make alliances to aid us and also to bring the traitor to justice. Anyway, before we set out to meet the horde in battle and end it, a Landsmeet was held to decide the new king. I was King Cailan's bastard half-brother and so- /stops, realizing his slip before sighing and shrugging, continuing anyway/ I was in line for the throne. The arls decided I should have it and that was that. Then of course we defeated the archdemon in a blaze of glory and now here we are! Over-simplifying it a bit, but you get the picture.

[alasstair]

He sounds decent enough. /nods, smiling slightly/ I can’t imagine what having a mage as a king would be like. I suppose it wouldn’t that different. They’d probably need less servants, at the least.

/laughs somewhat awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck/ Well, the Freemarches don’t have kings. That’s sort of ‘their thing’. They have other rulers though, more or less the same. Kirkwall has a Viscount, Starkhaven has a Prince. All very odd, but I suppose it works for them. I’m from Ferelden though, across the sea. They recently got a new king actually. He’s a bit of a fool, from what I hear. Not much to say about him.

[thegingerlioness-blog]

Jonathan and Thayet are rather self-sufficient. They like to do everything themselves. That of course was a problem when Thayet wanted a hand in reducing the number of bandits in our lands. She created our Queens Riders, and was their commander for a time, until she was talked into going back to…queenly duties, I suppose. She wasn’t pleased. *laughs wryly as she remembers*

I guess though that Jonathan and Thayet are rather different compared to our past rulers. They’re not as conservative. It unnerves a great deal of the conservatives at court though.

*pauses* What do you mean by fool? Surely Ferelden would want a king - or queen - that rules for them…would a fool not hamper that somewhat?

[alasstair]

/laughs at the anecdote, amused/ She sounds like quite the queen. I know women like her, I believe. More worthy of crowns than most that hold them.  /glances away, visibly amused, if not a little uncomfortable/ It was a joke, of sorts.  I suppose he's not a bad king. Ferelden hasn't fallen under his rule yet, but he was somewhat reluctant and awfully new at the whole ruling business. The circumstances of his ascension to the throne were... unique, to say the least.

[alasstair]

Ah… The mages use it for the same here. There is a lot of history and bad blood though, and I’m no historian. Not enough to do the tales justice, anyway. /shrugs with an apologetic look/

Your king is a mage? How curious. Is he a good king? 

[thegingerlioness-blog]

*nods once* He is a good king. It’s not like he uses his Gift for personal gain - it’s more like it’s a part of him. It’s just another aspect of Jonathan. He makes sure to keep in touch with everyone from the common folk to the nobles at court. He is a good leader, and I would follow him to the Divine Realms and back.

That being said, occasionally he gets too big for his breeches and needs a good whack to knock his ego back down to size. *smirks* I’m glad he married Thayet - our Queen.

What of your king? What is he like?

[alasstair]

He sounds decent enough. /nods, smiling slightly/ I can't imagine what having a mage as a king would be like. I suppose it wouldn't that different. They'd probably need less servants, at the least. /laughs somewhat awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck/ Well, the Freemarches don't have kings. That's sort of 'their thing'. They have other rulers though, more or less the same. Kirkwall has a Viscount, Starkhaven has a Prince. All very odd, but I suppose it works for them. I'm from Ferelden though, across the sea. They recently got a new king actually. He's a bit of a fool, from what I hear. Not much to say about him.

[alasstair]

It’s not ideal, I’ll admit. I tried to do my best to at least help the situation in my own land, but… the Chantry is a very dangerous enemy to make. 

/arches a brow, curious/ Oh? How are mages treated in your land, then? 

[thegingerlioness-blog]

With more respect. *shrug* Magic is an accepted thing in Tortall. The mages there use it to heal and help…and I suppose for war too. Our king has the Gift - what we call the talent of magic, I suppose.

[alasstair]

Ah... The mages use it for the same here. There is a lot of history and bad blood though, and I'm no historian. Not enough to do the tales justice, anyway. /shrugs with an apologetic look/ Your king is a mage? How curious. Is he a good king? 

[thegingerlioness-blog]

Intersting. *nods in understanding* What do you mean they ‘keep check’ on mages? *eyes him*

[alasstair]

To give you the very condensed version, mages are dangerous, powerful and vulnerable to demonic possession  And so, the templars lock them up to apparently keep them and everyone else safe. 

[thegingerlioness-blog]

Well *at a loss for words*

…

That’s not how mages are viewed in Tortall.

*debates over whether she should reveal that she can also do magic*

[alasstair]

It's not ideal, I'll admit. I tried to do my best to at least help the situation in my own land, but... the Chantry is a very dangerous enemy to make.  /arches a brow, curious/ Oh? How are mages treated in your land, then? 

[thegingerlioness-blog]

Intersting. *nods in understanding* What do you mean they ‘keep check’ on mages? *eyes him*

[alasstair]

To give you the very condensed version, mages are dangerous, powerful and vulnerable to demonic possession  And so, the templars lock them up to apparently keep them and everyone else safe. 

[thegingerlioness-blog]

alasstair replied to your post: superbirkin started following you …

/raises a hand in greeting/ Greetings. You look at least somewhat dressed for the location. More than I can say for most of the people around. I’m Alistair, by the way. Pleasure to meet you.

*nods* Alanna of Trebond and Olau. The pleasure is mutual.

*looks around* I’ve noticed that some people are…hardly prepared for this…city? What is this place?

[alasstair]

This is Kirkwall, a city of the Freemarches… Which probably means nothing to you. It’s a nice enough place provided that you don’t provoke the templars. /grins sheepishly, shrugging his shoulders/ 

[thegingerlioness-blog]

*other than learning the name of the place, he’s right as the other information passes right over her head*

It’s quite like my own home…*pauses* Templars?

[alasstair]

I figured as much, from the clothing. Most people I've met are from the 'future' or some such place. Steel carriages that move seemingly on their own and all of that. I'm glad to be back in the familiar for a while at least.  Oh, sorry, I tend to babble and forget that not everyone knows what I'm talking about. Honestly, feel free to shut me up. /chuckles awkwardly/ Anyway- Templars are a sort of... religious army. They keep check on the mages, people who can use magic, and basically enforce the will of the Chantry. Uh, the Chantry being the religious body in this land. 

[thegingerlioness-blog]

alasstair replied to your post: superbirkin started following you …

/raises a hand in greeting/ Greetings. You look at least somewhat dressed for the location. More than I can say for most of the people around. I’m Alistair, by the way. Pleasure to meet you.

*nods* Alanna of Trebond and Olau. The pleasure is mutual.

*looks around* I’ve noticed that some people are…hardly prepared for this…city? What is this place?

[alasstair]

This is Kirkwall, a city of the Freemarches... Which probably means nothing to you. It's a nice enough place provided that you don't provoke the templars. /grins sheepishly, shrugging his shoulders/ 

[alasstair]

/groans/ Why not Ferelden? Now I have to spend my week not getting assassinated or something.

[alasstair]

ignorethemother reblogged your post: ignorethemother started following you

Astrid. A pleasure.

Likewise! /nods/ So, where do you hail from Astrid? Evidently, you're not local. Well you might be and I could just be making a horrible assumption. You're not a local are you?

[alasstair]

ignorethemother started following you

/nods/ Greetings. I'm Alistair, and you are?

[alasstair]

eliteopportunist replied to your post: super-girl-kara started following...

/waves back/

I'm Alistair, nice to meet you miss...? /arches a brow in question before offering a hand with his introduction/