[Video]

[what_is_a_man]

To those who are seeing me for the first time, my name is Vlad III Tepes, lord of Castlevania in Everglade. I come to you with a message for the residents of Everglade. Congratulations on surviving the rule of the buffoon tyrant. For too long the residents of this city have been misunderstood, their wishes ignored, and the laws of an ignorant, close-minded fool have been imposed on them.

I have seen first hand the issues this idiot's policies have inflicted on the populous. Refugees seeking asylum in Castlevania from the tyrant and his policies has never been higher than in the time since the ban on necromancy was put into law. Even when the people opposed this move, the tyrant fool remained steadfast in his ignorance.

So people of Everglade, I urge you, rise up against this fool, cast him down and select a more worthy leader. I have lived among you for quite some time now, and am one of you. I am no stranger to the dark arts and I am myself open about my status as one of the undead. It is time Everglade's will be returned to its people, not closed-minded bigots that refuse to understand.

Comments

[video]

[whatsbackup]

[Hey, he's been wondering when he was going to get a chance to talk to you.]

Why don't you think necromancy should be banned?

[video]

[what_is_a_man]

It is a tool, no more inherently evil than a hammer. Necromancy has a multitude of applications that span far past the tales of undead armies rising up that children are told to keep them inside after dark.

A murder victim could testify as to who took their life, while receiving a second chance at their own. Skeletons could be animated to do things too dangerous for the living, provide manual labor, etc.

Those who see Necromancy as a clear-cut black and white affair look at the world with one eye willfully closed.

[video]

[whatsbackup]

I can tell you from experience, most murder victims don't want a second chance at life. They just want their killer caught so they can move on. It's a reward.

Sure, necromancy can be used to talk to the dead, but mediums don't have to do a ritual to do it. There's too much risk involved, too much chance for the necromancer to control the undead. Ghosts are people, too. What you're suggesting is way too close to slavery for my taste, and that's coming from a former ghost.

It's not black and white, but it's way too dark gray to let happen without regulation.

[video]

[what_is_a_man]

That is their prerogative, however I should assume being able to divine the culprit would be far more useful than attempting to piece together what happened after the fact.

As for animating a skeleton, there is no spirit involved with that. It is simply instilling a rudimentary intelligence linked to the caster of the spell in order to accomplish a goal. It is no more binding a soul to something against their will than using the devices we communicate through. The dead are not using their bodies anymore, and they could still serve a common goal.

Banning and regulation are two very different things, however. Should I be elected, I would be more than happy to hear propositions on regulating the practice rather than banning it wholesale.

[video]

[whatsbackup]

And I plan on talking to Ted about doing just that: regulating. I don't think that needs a change in management.

Especially if that change comes in the form of a guy who thinks he needs to live apart from the city he's promising to protect.

[Video]

[azaleafae]

[This is certainly the same person who first spoke of Ted, although he gave a different name. Well, Azalea was aware that some people have multiple names, so it's not really an issue. She's talked to Ted enough now to know that what Dracula had said about him was true.]

[The thought crosses her mind to ask about the incident with the native spirits, but she wouldn't expect an honest answer. It would be foolish to admit putting everyone in danger. If anything, this person was no fool.]

[So, Azalea concludes that the best way to get a feel for what a person is really like is to just engage in civil conversation.]

...He certainly is a fool. I can see that now.

[Video]

[what_is_a_man]

I'm sorry you had to find that out in such a personal manner. I do not fault you for wanting to see for your own eyes, I just wish he had been able to prove me wrong.

[Video]

[azaleafae]

No need to be sorry. I would rather find out for myself rather than blindly trust people's words.

[Video]

[what_is_a_man]

And it does me good to see there are those that would rather form their own opinions given the facts, rather than be led like sheep.

[Video]

[azaleafae]

I am glad. I don't see why necromancy should be banned either. I'll admit that I don't know much about it, but do I understand correctly that it's just a form of magic? Is it any more dangerous than any other form?

Private; video

[gammavirginis]

Ted is no fool. Necromancy has great potential for abuse, much greater than any other kind of 'tool' you can imagine.

And I would be wary of trusting anything Vlad says. I've yet to find anyone who will speak on behalf of his character and plenty who question his integrity.

Private; video

[azaleafae]

I have other reasons for believing he's a fool, but I won't get into that.

I'll heed the warning about...Vlad. [But didn't Ted say his name was Dracula?] But I won't treat him any differently until he actually gives me reason to do so. So just because I may be polite to him, it doesn't mean that I'm on his side.

[gammavirginis]

Are you sure you'd prefer not to get into it?

Ted is a flawed person, like any other, but I think he does have the best interested of Everglade at heart. If you could share your concerns, maybe something can be done about them.

anon;

[whiteas]

I'll second this and say that it's outright denying some peoples' inherited abilities at legitimate, even if it's something their entirely family is born with the ability to do. It's discriminatory.

[ She would do this outwardly but that isn't a skill she wants to advertise- not until she can actually perform it properly, anyway. ]

[gammavirginis]

Like who? I'd like to hear from some of the people who are hurt by the ban, rather than be expected to defer to the needs of theoretical people.

But while we're talking theoretical, there are plenty of abilities someone could be born with that out of necessity should be banned. Having an innate ability to do something is not a license to practice it with impunity.

anon;

[whiteas]

Like me. You'll forgive me if I have no intention of revealing my identity to the people who want to surpress anyone with this capability. It isn't like I would be going around and raising up peoples' grandmothers.

Re: anon;

[gammavirginis]

You don't have to reveal your identity, but I'd like to hear how the ban has negatively impacted your life, if you're willing to share it.

[Video, Locked]

[goddessinthefog]

Ted is a persistant nuisance... a nuisance and a coward. I'm surprised one who can barely hold a conversation when I'm annoyed thinks that he has the nerve to stand as Guardian.

That, and to call the residents here monsters. I was under the impression someone who swore to protect the City would not insult it's residents the way he has.

[Izanami'll just be wondering downstairs as she talks, to see if Dracula's hanging around in one of the public areas of the castle. It had been a while since she had the chance to talk to him.]

[Video, Locked]

[what_is_a_man]

[Dracula will be sitting in his throne, relaxing, allowing the veil of pomp and circumstance to fade, leaving him much more ghastly looking.]

He's like a damned cockroach. And like cockroaches he needs a good boot to be crushed beneath.

[Video, Locked] --> [Action?]

[goddessinthefog]

[Well, if she had to make a blind guess, the Throne room would probably be the first place she would have tried anyway.]

Yes, and hopefully such a fate will come to him soon. The longer he continues this farce of leadership, the more problems it causes.

[Izanami floated into the Throneroom, ending the call as she did so. She still kept her guise up to some extent, even if the fog rolling off her deathly pale skin and gleaming red eyes clearly marked her as inhuman. Dracula would have seen her true, hideous form when she fought the spirits at Castlevania, but otherwise she preferred to protect herself.

Assuming he's still there, she lowers her head in respect.]

Good evening, Lord Tepes.

[Action]

[what_is_a_man]

[He lifts his goblet as she enters before sipping from it.]

Regardless of who wins this idiotic election, I will be taking control. One way or another, and they will thank me in the end. Their lives depend on it.

Video, Locked

[have_hat_will_travel]

A good presentation, I think.

Hopefully, people will listen, this time.

Video, Locked

[what_is_a_man]

I can only hope my dear. I am glad that I lived up to your expectations.

Re: Video, Locked

[have_hat_will_travel]

We'll have to see how things go. Hopefully, he can be stopped. Of course, then there's the plans for once he is.

I am rather tiring of having to be on my best behavior.

Video, Locked

[what_is_a_man]

The first thing I intend to do as Guardian is give the night back to those who were born of it. You have my word on that.