Riven nodded and began. "On the surface, Noxus appears to be stable, steering away from war. However, I'm certain I don't have to tell you that appearances can be deceiving." Riven briefly looked around the small room in which they sat, as if to remind the man of her meaning. "I have spoken to Heywan Relivash himself, incarcerated in the depths of the League's holding cells. What I have learned points to anything but peace on the horizon."
She shifted her position in the chair to get comfortable before she continued. "Jericho Swain's arm candy, Emilia LeBlanc, is a master of deception, and he, a master of manipulation and tactical planning. Together, they played Valoran like fools during the Kalamanda incident to win favor in Noxus. They conspired with Relivash, using the Journal of Justice to send coded messages back and forth, crafted by the matron's own hand."
"Darkwill's death was one born from nightmares, horrors of his own mind. They found no trace of murderers. It was as if the men had killed one another out of sheer horror at what they were witnessing. Perhaps illusions crafted by the matron herself, even..." her amber eyes shifted back to the warlock. "Soon after his rise to power, Katarina Du Couteau vanishes from Noxus. It is important to note she was, perhaps, the only true challenge to his position..." Her brow furrowed with seriousness at the weight of her next words.
"Then, Noxus comes under attack by the Arrow of Retribution, and uses those actions as an excuse to pull out of the League, placing them outside their direct jurisdiction. Then, the Butcher of the Sands goes missing, only to later reappear in Noxus, flying Noxian colors. The Burning Vengeance escapes, is drafted into Noxus soon after, and given a new and powerful form in return. Noxus institutes a mandatory draft, causing the army to swell, along with the ranks of the former Noxian summoners." She shook her head.
"One does not claim peace, and immediately take such hostile actions. Forgetting the corruption and conspiracy showcased in Kalamanda by the current ruling body of Noxus would be foolish. It leaves absolutely zero doubt in my mind that the Grand General is planning something." Her brow knitted in worry at her next few statements. "The Void Invasion has weakened the League's ability to fight back against some form of attack. Champions are busy at their respective homelands since the League has suspended matches until things calm down."
Amber orbs moved to meet with the eyes of the warlock once again. "If I were planning a military attack to wipe out or dismantle the strongest enemy on Runeterra, I would do it when their forces were weakened, after I had bolstered my own, and when no one would be expecting it as their attention is diverted elsewhere. I would slowly gather my strength, make my alliances, and then strike viciously and decisively before they could react. When they finally did react, it would be too late to halt the damage." Riven sighed and shook her head.
"I exiled myself from Noxus because I saw the darkness and corruption in the homeland I loved was destroying it from the inside out. I joined the League to try and fight for my own ideals of strength, honor, and discipline. I wanted to atone for the sins perpetrated by Noxus, and my own hand, by fighting to protect others from suffering the same horrors visited upon the Ionians, my fallen comrades, and the barbarians." her gaze became downcast and somber. "Yet, that monster seeks to plunge the world into more war and strife for his own selfish gains..." He hand curled into a fist.
"That is why Noxus must be stopped. It is broken, but it can be reforged. I'm just one person against an army, and some of the greatest forces on Runeterra. I cannot do this alone. I need allies to support me should it come to conflict. And, Noxians like yourself, outcasts who remember the old, honorable Noxus, are first on my list." As she finished, her gaze would rise to once more meet the man in front of her. She'd said her piece. Now, it was up to him to either ask more questions, or continue the discussion.
Post by The Grey Warlock on Jun 6, 2013 23:24:50 GMT -5
The Grey Warlock sat back in his chair, his lips pursed as he listened to Riven's explanation, he never spoke a single word as she made her case. He did however raise an eyebrow when she had finished, a skeptical look in his eyes, "Now tell me this Riven." He learns forwards, "Even if what you say is true, and you have proof to back up what you say. For what reason would the Order have to go to war? We turned our backs on Noxus for a reason. We have carved out a living in one of the harshest environments upon Valoran, for what reason should we leave that behind and rally with you against an enemy, that by no means has done the Grey Order any wrong?"
He frowns, his fingers tapping upon the table as he contemplates, "You take the words of a desperate man as truth? A suspicious death by what, you do not know, without informing me of proof you blame someone close to the man in charge of the city you wish to control. Noxus is attacked, they remove themselves claiming they can defend themselves better than the league can. They then bolster their strength in order to do that. In turn they reign in a power that wishes to destroy the word, and and the insane Renekton, possibly saving Runeterra from further destruction."
The Grey Warlock shakes his head, "Let me ask you something Exile, for what reason do you believe his is aiming for war? What would he gain from such destruction? From what I heard of your history, you left during Darkwills reign, correct? What reason do you have to start such an investigation into Swain and his people? When the Grey Order was persecuted and driven out by Darkwill, we turned our backs on Noxian ideals and ways of thinking. We are at peace here, why should we cast aside the peace we have worked so hard for?"
Riven was quiet a moment. Her brow was furrowed and her mouth drawn thin across her face. It was clear that the man's words had caused some level of distress. She had no proof other than the ramblings of a madman. In addition, what reason could the Order have for wanting to give up their quiet solitude and charge into a conflict of any sort after they'd effectively achieved the freedom to do as they pleased? Riven shook her head, still mulling over her answer... However, after a time, she would speak again, her voice fairly soft.
"You treasure your peace, and your tranquility here... You have bowed out of the larger picture, and instead, focused on training and honing your craft here in this difficult land. You are separated, disconnected, safe..." A small pause. "And yet, so was Ionia..." She shook her head. "Ionia stayed out of the conflicts of Demacia and Noxus. They turned a blind, uncaring eye to the wars of the mainland. They focused on their beliefs, their ideals of balance and harmony. They were lovers of peace despite their in-fighting, no harm to anyone, and yet...Noxus invaded."
Her eyes took on a grim glaze as she spoke. "I saw them die, killed my share... Men, women...even children. They numbered in the hundreds of thousands, had no standing military, but were trained in the martial and spiritual arts. They fought with every last ounce of their strength, yet, they still lost large parts of their territory." Riven sighed, her eyes still downcast and distant.
"You love and care about your daughter. I would not phrase that as a question, because I know it to be true. You want the best for her, to see her skills molded and forged into something great. You would wish to give her the world if it were within your power to do so, would you not?" Riven's eyes looked up to the man, showing a quiet sadness behind them.
"The Noxus of Jericho Swain is a conniving, manipulative, dangerous thing... It is no different than Darkwill's Noxus, except that it may be less direct, and more tactical. In some ways, that makes it even more dangerous." Riven continued to look to the man's eyes with her own, unblinking. "From one who has served under the banner of Noxus, who has seen the blackness and corruption for herself when the one family she ever knew and loved was taken from her by the very home she had sworn to serve and protect, I am telling you that the peace you so cherish will come to an end..."
Riven sighed once more and broke eye contact, looking idly to her blade at her side, almost lost in the memories she was recalling here and now. "That day...I lost everything I had. The only definition by which I had my life was that I continued to live and breath. For all intents and purposes, I died... In the days that followed I realized what I had suffered through, been forced to endure and to do with my actions, my choices...would be visited upon others if I did not act, did not do something to stem the tide..." She idly traced the lines of the runic carvings with a finger as she spoke.
"I am not doing what I am doing for selfish gains. I am fighting so hard for this, because I wish to create a Noxus, a Valoran, where no one will have to suffer due to actions like my own, or like those of Noxus ever again. I want the stain of corruption and blackness to be removed from Noxus, where it can be a symbol of strength, determination, and honor. A place where one can rise above the hardships of their life to become something great, without visiting suffering on others, or taking the easy way out..."
She returned her gaze to the warlock in front of her once again. "I can not force you to join my cause, nor would I want to even attempt such a thing even if I could. That is not my intent... You would wish for your daughter to grow up in a time of peace, free from the hardships of loss and war, wouldn't you? All it is that I am asking, is that you help me fight to make that world, that ideal a reality, rather than isolating yourselves away, and allowing the peace we have fought so hard for fall away due to the actions of one greedy and blinded individual..."
Post by The Grey Warlock on Jun 7, 2013 7:31:54 GMT -5
"And joining you to fight against Jericho would bring peace to my people? The Grey Order has nothing against Swain and those who ally with him." His dark eyes narrow as she had brought up Annie, clearly it was not the best thing to say to the man but he refrains from saying anything, "Swain seems to be creating exactly what you want, a strong and powerful Noxus. What is so wrong with manipulating those around you in order to get what you want? You can not claim that it is wrong, it is exactly what you are doing right now. Trying to convince me that his Noxus is in fact evil, and yours will be just. That he is wrong and corrupt and you are not. In certain eyes it would be you that is evil, trying to bring down the man who seemed to have the best interest of Noxus at heart by removing themselves from the league. You may call those who support him blind, but they think the same of you, do they not?"
He leans back in his chair and brings his hand to gently stroke his goatee, he closes his eyes in thought as his brow knits into a frown, "If indeed the Grey Order and I joined you, what would that mean for the order? When he has been brought down and is no longer in power, what then? You will rebuild in your image? What if the situation is then reversed? Someone believes your vision of Noxus is not truly Noxian and rise against you? Would you seek us to strike them down also in order to keep your position of power?"
Riven's mind struggled with a multitude of emotions. Why was it that at every turn people had to put her down? Every attempt to reach out for support was met with doubt. And this was no different. She was only one person. She could not fight something like this alone. If she could, she would be doing it right this second, not talking to someone hidden away in a hole in a gods-forsaken land. They turned their backs on Noxus and rather than try to change what they didn't like, they fled and created their own place of happiness. But she wouldn't abandon her people like that. She couldn't let them suffer under the machinations of a twisted, dark man. Riven stood.
"What do you want me to say?" Riven looked upset. "I don't want power, I just want change that benefits everyone and not a select few." She sighed in her frustration and crossed her arms. "I have no doubt people will rise to try and fight against me, but that's what Noxus is. Conflict will always exist. I don't want to remove conflict or stomp it out, but changes have to be made, even if I'm the only one willing to stand up and fight for it." She shook her head. "I fight my own battles, and I always have. I don't rely on anyone but myself or my brothers and sisters in arms...but, they're all dead thanks to Noxus and the dark path they've chosen to walk."
"I've lost more than my fair share to Noxus, and so has the rest of Valoran. If I have to fight this alone...then I will." She was very clearly upset by his stand-offish attitude. "But, I'd though, perhaps foolishly, that there might be others, such as yourself, that might wish for change and growth as I do." Her eyes looked one more to the man. "That is all I want. I don't want to rule Noxus. I'm not a diplomat or a figurehead. I'm a soldier who lost everything, and saw others lose everything because the land she loves has become lost. I can fight the battles, but someone better suited than myself can lead. All I seek is change for the better... That's it..."
Post by The Grey Warlock on Jun 19, 2013 20:20:22 GMT -5
The Grey Warlock sat back, his eyebrow raised slightly as her expression changed to one that showed she was visibly upset. He simply listened as she spoke, waiting for her finish with an impassive stare, "So, you fight to rid Noxus of it's current ideals, replace them with your own but not lead?" He sits forward in his chair, "I can not lead my Order to war with a man I know nothing about. I have no proof your claims are true."
He pauses for a while and let out a heavy sigh, "Perhaps I should meet with Jericho Swain and decide for myself if he truly does wish to drown the world in conflict as you make it seem. To declare allegiance with you after one meeting would be foolish don't you think? Especially when I have no clue what we would be facing."
Riven shook her head, silently, to herself. If the man needed time to see for himself how rotten Noxus had become, who was she to try and tell him otherwise. She had no reason to lie, but he had no reason to trust her. It was a stalemate. In such situations, something had to give, and in this case, Riven would be the one to fold. She had other things she needed to do other than wait for the man to make up his mind. he could do that for himself, while she continued with what she needed to do for her own goals.
"Jericho Swain is a master of the spoken word and of deception. He can twist his lies and spin them to sound and ring as truth. Make no mistake, Gregori Hastur. I do not like the man in the slightest and I believe him to be a stain upon Valoran and the true strength of Noxus, but he is by no means a fool." Riven turned to the side, her gaze falling on the chair next to her. "That is what makes him one of the most dangerous men alive..." The exile ran a hand through her hair and swallowed.
"Take the time you need. I imagine your magics are great and can find me wherever I may be. If or when you make your decision, I will be waiting to hear from you." She turned back to face the man, her eyes strong as a hawk's. "That said, I would appreciate any supplies you can spare... I am heading to Bandle City for the next leg of my journey, and it will be a long trek without water or food."
Post by The Grey Warlock on Jun 24, 2013 17:47:50 GMT -5
"You seek the Yordle's aid?" The Grey Warlock ran a hand through his hair, a sign he was thinking about his current situation. He simply nods and raises a hand, runes would etch themselves in a circle around the Exile, "Exile, what exactly do you know of the power you currently ask aid from?" His eyes darken, an almost demonic look flaring in his eyes as he watches Riven, "We will come for you, with our decision."
The runes around Riven flare brightly, the ground would look to break away beneath her sending her falling into darkness. A small pinpoint of light would appear beneath her as she fell slowly growing as she rushed toward it. The darkness melts away to reveal the murky sink holes littering the landscape as she plummeted toward the ground, as she neared the ground it would seem as though the fall would surely kill her. Until she slows, still hitting the land with a solid impact. She would find herself with a small bag plopping onto the ground beside her. Inside she would find bread, a canteen and a small flint, a message from the order, they wouldn't give her much. The flint was intended to allow her to cook any food she catches.
"I need to charter a boat to Ionia." Riven spoke flatly. She wasn't going to draw the yordles into something she saw as an internal Noxian conflict. As the man spoke, she had to wonder exactly what it was that she was asking for from them. However, they were Noxians, and strong ones at that. Noxians that had once cared for Noxus a great deal, and left because the political climate would have destroyed them. However, it seemed that they would make their decision and then find her to deliver their answer. That was good enough for her.
Then, the ground faded away, leaving her with the dizzy sickness of teleportation. She fell toward the ground, immediately thinking of ways to deal with the impact, but luckily for her, she slowed, and landed in a crouch. A thump next to her gathered her attention and she turned to find a small bag of supplies. A quick look and she determined that it had some bread, water, and a flint to assist her on her trek out of the lands. It was more than she had expected, but it was appreciated.
"I guess the meeting is over..." Riven pulled her hood and mask over her head and face, and glanced to the horizon. With a huff, she hefted the bag of supplies over her shoulder. It would be a long walk to Bandle City from here, but...it was good to finally have a direction, and to be moving forward...
Welcome to Maelstrom, Original Characters, Summoners and Champions alike. We are a divergent setting roleplay forum for the ever-popular MOBA by Riot, League of Legends. This means we are based in Riot canon, but your characters' actions can have a real, lasting impact on the world. Together, the Maelstrom community endeavors to bring the League of Legends setting and characters to life through collaborative storytelling and meaningful development. We welcome you along for the ride.
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