The Fian's council

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                      Dunland Time and Weather Forecast
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Real Time is:       Fri Feb 27 08:32:33 2009
IC weather is:      Wind: breeze - Clouds: clear
IC Moon is:         New
IC time is:         Late Morning
IC date is:         Early  April in the year 3046.

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[Finnian(#23897)] It's the third evening since Carac revealed himself as a
member of the Hawk. He's been kept under careful guard, but otherwise treated
decently enough. Ranich has said little of what decision he intends to make, if
he's doing anything at all. All that he's been seen to do has involved tending
to other matters in the spring planting.

Now in the evening with the night settling in, Ciaran has called his uncle,
Caileann, and Breveg to come meet with him in his home.

Caileann has spent most of the past evenings withdrawn from the general buzz,
either inside his home, or off on the edge of the forest splitting wood in
solitude. No shirker of duties, however, he makes for Ciaran's home as soon as
the summons arrives. The older Ranich arrives with armour on, a fierce, grim
expression on his face and a spear in his hand. "Fian. I hope I didn't keep you
long in waiting - your aunt would not have been pleased if I had not stopped by
home to inform her of my coming here." Despite the attempt at humour, there is
little levity in the man's voice.

Breveg walks slowly up the road, his clothing marked by streaks of dirt and
splinters of wood, for he has been helping with repairs to one of the barn
roofs. The Fian's retainer has been careful to keep his distance from both Hawk
prisoners, though he has been seen visiting the other stranger, the woman, on
at least two occasions.

At the sight of Caileann there before him, he swipes the back of his hand
across his face then steps up to follow in the older man's wake. "Good evening
to you, Fian ... and Caileann. You had need of me?" His expression is as
neutral as his query.

Ciaran is standing outside in wait, his gaze distant for a long time until
finally he looks up. There are stressed lines around his eyes, but the young
man looks well enough otherwise. "Let's go inside." He says softly, then
gestures both to follow him into his home.

Both are guided to the sitting room, and he'll disappear momentarily to collect
three cups and a flagon of ale. These are set upon a table when he returns, and
he busies himself with pouring out the drinks to pass around before sitting
down.

"That baby is sleeping, and perhaps that will encourage us all to keep our
voices lowered. I don't intend for us to retire until I've made my decision."

[Caileann(#20237)] "Of course. Though I'm not sure this is a decision that
would warrant being kept up all hours of the night..." Cailean leans his spear
against the wall behind him before retrieving a cup and sitting. When he
speaks, he leans forward, one arm on his knee, and continues in a low voice.
"We have Carac here - the only alternative I much care for other than dealing
with him ourselves is to have the Ceann's men come and retrieve him. I imagine
Gregoir - or more likely Ruadhri Maulduin - would want wants with him."

Breveg, trailing behind Caileann, jumps up from the stool he had appropriated
when Ciaran returns. "Fian, let me-" The Fian's rebuke cuts across his words
and he falls silent, casting a wary eye toward the thin walls of the house -
clearly he has no wish to be the one ordered to deal with a wailing infant.

He listens to Caileann's words in silence, shaking his head only when the older
man is finished. "Maulduin has not the right, however much he might like to
think otherwise. It is for the Ceann to pass judgement on the clan's behalf.
The only question is whether we present him with problem or solution." He
shrugs.

[Ciaran(#23897)] "Put all of that aside for the moment. What is best for us,
here?" Ciaran asks, sipping from his mug and keeping a calm tone to his voice.
"If we kill the man outright, his people will grow angry and likely descend
upon us. I have no desire to do that, anyhow. He came into our home openly, and
hospitality needs to be observed." The farmer continues. "Maulduin is far to
the south, he will not do what he thinks is best for anyone other than himself.
Gregoir is heavily influenced by his grandfather, and we need to consider that
as well. But we cannot ignore telling the Ceann. It is our duty and to do
otherwise would only invite disaster."

Caileann grunts a reply, turning to Breveg with a brief nod. "I am aware of
that, Breveg. I am also aware of the role the man plays in advising the Ceann.
It's not an issue of his right - odds are he will regardless." Turning back
Ciaran, he'll take another swig of ale before tossing in his opinion. "I say we
sent a messenger - if word of this gets out somehow and we /don't/, or worse
yet, if we let him go, having done nothing, it will draw unwarranted and
unwanted suspicion on Fearachas. That is the last thing we need."

 Cailean pauses for a moment, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "We... Could keep
him here while the Ceann deliberates. Invite Gregoir here, where Maulduin
cannot reach him. That may help in allowing for the final action to be carried
out in a much more controlled manner."

Breveg lifts an eyebrow at Caileann's reference to a 'final action', but it is
on Ciaran that his gaze remains. "It seems to me, Fian," he responds softly,
"that you already have an idea on what is best for Ranich. Will you not share
it?" Any thoughts of his own remain unvoiced.

Ciaran looks over at Cailean, his brows lifting at the idea. "That's not a bad
thought. If Gregoir was here, it would give him a chance to see the town for
what it is, and what it is not." The fian looks back to Brev, "If I knew,
Breveg, I would not be sitting here discussing this. I think the best solution
is to get the Ceann to see the potential in a compromise with the Hawk.
Everything else leads to battle, as far as I can tell, and I don't want our
home to be the staging area for that fight.. Would you both agree?"

[Caileann(#20237)] At the mention of 'compromise', Cailean abruptly ceases,
mid-drink, and puts his cup back down. "A... Compromise? While I agree with you
in that I don't want our home to be the centre of battle, you suggest a
compromise with the Hawk? Be careful, Fian - there are better ways to avoid the
decimation of our home, as your father knew. You will not find much support for
that plan among many of the older Bears."

 Cailean will turn next to Breveg, who he regards with a quizzical expression
for a moment. "And what about you, Breveg? You have not yet stated your opinion
on the matter..."

Breveg lifts his head slightly at Ciaran's words. "The Ceann wants peace - he
just doesn't want to lose face to gain it. He fears public opinion will follow
that of Caileann." He inclines his head briefly to the older man. "The truth of
that I cannot say, nor, I suspect, can any."

"As for my opinion ..." here, once more, he shrugs. "It depends what the Hawk
have to offer. Did this Ol- that is, Carac," he corrects himself swiftly,
"actually say what the Hawk can provide that's worth anything? Or what he
thinks we can give him in return? Is he willing to pledge fealty to Gregoir?
Declarations of friendship are very pretty, but apt to be easily forgotten by
both sides."

[Ciaran(#23897)] "You were both there. Carac wishes his people to be the buffer
to the north, the shield in front of the goblins. I like the idea of inviting
the Ceann here. It will keep him away from his uncle and force him to make his
own decision.. hopefully." Ciaran settles back into the chair, rubbing his
thumb along the rim of the mug. "How self-sufficient could his people be up
there, Breveg? The lands around Mathain, are they able to be cultivated?"

[Caileann(#20237)] "We can send a messenger in the morning - if we delay too
long, we may also draw the attention of the Hawk, who may... Miss their leader.
That would decide the matter for us in a way that none of us want." When the
conversation seems to be turning to thoughts of the Hawk making Mathain a
permanent home, Cailean falls silent, leaning back and sinking into the seat
with cup gripped tightly in one hand, a distinctly uneasy expression on his
face.

Breveg looks a little surprised by Ciaran's first words. "I thought perhaps
you'd discussed matters with the man once I was sent away," he comments, his
brows furrowing a little.

He waits until Caileann has spoken before answering the Fian with a shake of
his head. "Little grows up there. Traditionally Hawk has relied on another clan
- Bear or Stag - to provide food and other supplies." And then a frown settles
on his features. "Fian, -was- anything ever heard of the Stag? There were those
rumours last autumn of an army being raised ..."

[Ciaran(#23897)] "I haven't heard anything. You knew more than I did about the
Stag, Breveg." Ciaran answers, his gaze dropping. He's silent for a long time.
"What if.. we made a proposal to the Ceann? The Hawk would need to be reliant
upon the Bear for food. We could do just as Carac suggested, which is to use
them as the first defense against the orcs. If Barseg's former holding were to
be given to Breveg, we could use -that- as the staging ground for our own
supplimental army. Each Fian could contribute some men, we could supply the
food." He lifts his gaze to Breveg for a moment, "And in time, if peace settles
between us all, it's a good foundation for a long-term holding of your own."

Caileann says, "We would then in effect be supplying them for the day that theygrew tired of dying to the orcs for old enemies, and turned down to attack us.
As much as Carac wants to talk about the past not mattering, and about the
perceived foolishness of remembering grudges, I cannot conceive of someone
being willing to continue sacrificing the lives of their clanmates for the sake
of others, much less for the sake of a clan who has been their enemy."

 Cailean waves a hand as the now empty cup of ale is deposited back on the
table, continuing flatly "This idealistic view seems very pretty, but I cannot
help but think it will not last. Especially once the older leaders on both
sides are given time to dwell on it.""

The expression that flits over Breveg's drawn features is gone too quickly to
read. He rubs at his cheek with his hand, leaving a new smudge of dirt there.
"Aye, there's the rub," he agrees with Caileann, carefully avoiding commenting
on Ciaran's words directly. "Maulduin and Kavanagh would be quite delighted for
an excuse to occupy the Hawk border. Somehow I don't think they'd yield it back
to Ranich's puppet," here his lips twist wryly. "But - if it brings peace to
Caerdh, and removes the goblin threat from these borders, then perhaps that's
how it has to be." He shrugs then looks back to Caileann, his eyes hard. "Once,
men did sacrifice their lives and those of their kin for the sake of others.
When did Bear lose their honour? Was it when Mathain fell to the goblin horde?
When my father crushed the Hawk? Or even before that?"

Ciaran doesn't deny Breveg's use of the word 'puppet', simply nods along in
agreement. He looks back to Cailean, "If we can push idealism with Gregoir, he
may support it. The Hawk are already up there. Playing nice at the very least
will buy us time to see where the cards will fall. Nothing says that we have to
trust the man."

The Fian looks to Breveg, "You'll have my men there to support you as well, not
just Kavanagh or Maulduin. Besides, I doubt they will send -so- many away from
their own holds. They have their own squabbles to contend with."

Ciaran settles his gaze on Cailean, "We can monitor how much food they are
given."

Caileann bristles as the mention of the Bear losing honour, turning slowly to
Breveg and leaving Ciaran's comments aside for the moment. "Bear does not lack
honour, Breveg - the men of this place alone should be testament to that. It is
not dishonourable to be suspicious of enemies, it is sense. Just as it is sense
to be loathe to give the lives of good men to someone who you cannot be certain
will not turn on you when the sun next rises. Carac has already spat in the
face of the Guardians - who is to say he will not do the same to the Bear?"

 With a shake of his head, the older man looks next to his nephew, a tired
expression crossing his features for a brief moment. "You must ask yourself
though, Fian - is it worth it to buy time? Even if we monitor their food supply
from our clan, is it worth it to provision them? They will be fed by men of
Fearachas, and should they tire of death and carefully rationed food, they will
know where to come first. We have always supplied the clan in times of war, as
your father did, but how will it appear to our clan - to our own, even, if the
Hawk we supply come to Fearachas with force? I do not know - I ask honestly."

Breveg scowls back at Caileann. "Suspicion is one thing, inaction another. When
Mathain fell, and Bear's own fell defending it, and the rest of Caerdh did
nothing, was that honour? When villages burned, and none would come forward to
hold the border, was that honour? When-" Throughout the speech, his voice has
been rising, and he is almost risen from his seat when some slight sound from
the next room gives him pause. He sighs and shakes his head. The next words are
quiet and deliberate, without heat. "It is worth provisioning them because we
cannot hold Mathain without them. Next year, when the goblins raid unchecked,
will it be Ranich's holdings that burn? Ysmeden's?"

Looking then to Ciaran, he offers, still in that same quiet voice, "Fian,
should the those lands come to me, I will do all in my power to strengthen the
border and uphold Bear's interests - for all Caerdh. And should the Ceann
choose to grant the lands to another ... then I will support them, if they act
wisely. Some things are more important than squabbling over ownership of a bit
of ground."

[Ciaran(#23897)] "Carac stands to gain very little by turning on us. He will
only be making a move towards his own end. We will not give up our farms to him
without a fight, and the Bear will move against him." Ciaran comments quietly.
He listens to Breveg, then nods. "Uncle, I'm inclined to agree with Breveg.
Carac certainly won't be allying with the orcs, and he knows they'll be poking
their heads out soon enough. There is honor in burying old animosity and trying
to look to the future." The fian stands, "I will talk to Carac again, and I
will .. " He hesitates, "I will release him, and send for the Ceann. Gregoir
would no more cut Carac down as a hostage than we would, and it will be easier
to convince him with a gesture of good will already made."

[Caileann(#20237)] "Goblin raids are not a new concept, and yet Fearachas -
/Caerdh/ endures... Why? We endure because our defense is made of stalwart men,
men who can be trusted, and I firmly believe we cannot trust the Hawk. What did
Carac stand to gain by the burning of Kierkgard? Nothing that I can see but, as
you have said, a move towards his own end. He is not afraid to do what others
might consider unthinkable, and while I too believe he will not ally with the
orcs, I would not put it past him to come into Caerdh when he gets tired of
soaking up blood."

 When Ciaran rises, Cailean rises as well - rather quickly, in fact. As he
moves to retrieve his spear, his face darkens, and for a moment after, he
stands as still as a mountain. At last, with a final shake of his head, he adds
in "Looking to the future is a noble thing, to be sure... But when a man spends
all his time looking ahead, he finds himself unable to explain the knife in his
back. It is not my decision, but nonetheless I am compelled to say that I find
little good in it."

Taking Ciaran's rising as a general gesture of dismissal, Breveg scrambles to
his feet. One brow arches at the Fian's suggestion of releasing Carac, but he
speaks neither in support or denial.

When Caileann speaks, he turns to listen, then comments with a wry chuckle,
"That is why a wise man has someone to guard his back. The Fian is relying on
you to do that. I think there is much still to be said on the matter ..." the
words trail off, and he swallows a yawn, "but not this night. If you will
excuse me - I wish you good rest, Fian ... Caileann." Inclining his head to
both, he heads to the doorway and is gone.

[Ciaran(#23897)] "Of course you don't.. you hold a hatred that I do not for the
Hawk, but that was years ago. Times change." Ciaran responds, a bit of heat to
his words now as he looks at his uncle. "We can set an example!" He says in a
soft, but insistant tone. Brev is making his depature and Ciaran waves him
away, "Good night, Breveg." Then the fian looks back to his kin, "What would my
father have done? He would not have wanted Fearachas to be directly involved in
a fight probably."