Lady Naoki
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 345 
Appearance: Naoki is a curvaceous woman of average height, indeterminate age, and catlike features. Her hair is a dark auburn, often pulled back into a long braid. Her ears are both soft and fluffy, and her tail is never less than perfectly groomed.
Allegiances: New Isra
Place of Residence: Port Argentium
Registered: Mar 16, 2021 22:31:18 GMT -5
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Post by Lady Naoki on Sept 28, 2023 21:00:03 GMT -5
“Ahh, if only I had a map of the island,” Naoki repeats, pulling out another of her scrolls. Spreading it out across the top of the other one, she reveals a map of the island. Port Argentium is a loosely defined outline, as this is a map that focuses on the the geography of the coastline and inland features.
Listening, Naoki sort of shrugs. “Part of what I don’t appreciate very much about all this is that I don’t know what’s out there. Would the enemy sooner attack from the sea, or via land? I don’t know, as I don’t know who or what all is liable to attack. I much prefer planning attacks — it’s easier.” Naoki harumphs. It’s not very interesting work, building walls and such.
“I might task you with setting up such a fortress,” Naoki continues. “Not only would be good to have that presence, such a fort could also serve as a logistical hub for bringing resources down to the port. You could put it, maybe here or so, on the water,” Naoki indicates, “And then float barges down the river, stocked with logs from the logging camps, and stone from the quarry I’m planning to put right around here.” She indicates another location. “You probably could even name the fort,” she adds, a meager additional bit of incentive.
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Venus
Established
Roleplay posts: 38
Age: Seemingly mid 20s
Appearance: Beautiful and stunning, Venus has long black hair and piercing green eyes. She has full lips, porcelain skin and a shapely figure.
Equipment: Venus has a gemstone ring that shines a bright green. The ring helps her channel her magic. She also has a pendant that does similar things, and has a few enchantments placed upon it.
Biography: Venus' past is about as enigmatic as the woman herself. She's been seen in the higher echelons of Isra's society, consorting with the High Adviser and Empress Naoki in the past. She's been found in ancient tablets of long gone empires. She's been seen lurking within the Black Vale, and many other nations before the Flood.
Registered: Apr 15, 2021 14:33:33 GMT -5
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Post by Venus on Oct 5, 2023 10:19:02 GMT -5
Venus adopted a pleased smile at the map. He pointed at a few different locations, identifying settlements across the map.. Including ones that, while unbeknownst to Naoki, did not exist. "I have ventured across these islands, seeking whomever it is that screams with pent-up desire. While I have failed to locate them, those are the settlements worth any concern, given their relative proximity."
"From what I saw, few of these settlements seemed prepared for combat - There were a few tribes of hunters, but they were rather primitive," which was why Venus butchered them, eradicating any trace of their existence. "Hm, naming it would be entertaining.." Venus mused, mock-considering the proposition.
"Have you decided on a system of government?" He asked, pushing his cuticles back with a finger, as his hair slowly grew longer, his angular facial features softening.
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Lady Naoki
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 345
Appearance: Naoki is a curvaceous woman of average height, indeterminate age, and catlike features. Her hair is a dark auburn, often pulled back into a long braid. Her ears are both soft and fluffy, and her tail is never less than perfectly groomed.
Allegiances: New Isra
Place of Residence: Port Argentium
Registered: Mar 16, 2021 22:31:18 GMT -5
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Post by Lady Naoki on Oct 14, 2023 21:49:07 GMT -5
Naoki quirks an eyebrow. “Have you, now?” She’s heard tell of no such settlements. Venus’s use of the past tense is somewhat telling, and Naoki hums.
“A system of government?” Fixing Venus with a look, Naoki repeats the question. Old Isra’s system of government was fairly well established and didn’t change very much from the formation of The Empire onward. Empress Naoki ruled and the system of delegation that existed under her was created and changed according to her wishes. The ‘system of government’ in New Isra is exactly the same. Just smaller in scale, with more decision-making concentrated on her desk.
Leaning up against the railing with her arms crossed, Naoki considers how to reply.
“... I’m still in search of functionaries -- if that’s what you’re asking. I would certainly like to hand off large portions of day-to-day decision-making. I believe my hopes for fully-fledged guilds have fallen through at this point, but I’m not above handing out titles or responsibilities to whoever deserves them.”
“Why? Have you been thinking it’s a good time to try out democratic policies?” There’s a touch of sarcasm and derision to her words, as she watches Venus change. Naoki’s leadership works, and she knows it.
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Venus
Established
Roleplay posts: 38
Age: Seemingly mid 20s
Appearance: Beautiful and stunning, Venus has long black hair and piercing green eyes. She has full lips, porcelain skin and a shapely figure.
Equipment: Venus has a gemstone ring that shines a bright green. The ring helps her channel her magic. She also has a pendant that does similar things, and has a few enchantments placed upon it.
Biography: Venus' past is about as enigmatic as the woman herself. She's been seen in the higher echelons of Isra's society, consorting with the High Adviser and Empress Naoki in the past. She's been found in ancient tablets of long gone empires. She's been seen lurking within the Black Vale, and many other nations before the Flood.
Registered: Apr 15, 2021 14:33:33 GMT -5
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Post by Venus on Oct 17, 2023 15:09:06 GMT -5
Venus rolled their eyes, their body continuing to slowly morph, albeit not in its usual macabre style. "Democracy?" They asked incredulously. They fixed Naoki with a hard stare, displaying a level of seriousness that was rather uncommon to the demon, yet the stare relaxed as they spoke flippantly. They glanced at their newly-pointed nails, which were an emerald green. "Democracy as a system of governance is a system of weakness. The visage of democracy however allows for easy integration of other groups, without need for overt conquest."
Venus spoke from first-hand experience, recalling several incidents over the tenure of her lifetime, chiefly when she orchestrated the downfall of the Caesuran Empire via the Ravenholm Coalition. 'Ahh.. That was truly remarkable,' Venus thought to themselves.
"Your guild idea had merits, yet nonetheless, these are unprecedented times for your people. In the potential of conflict with other assemblies developing, I suggest this puppet-government. All would remain as per normal internally, yet this allows for you to protect your own, and allow the peasantry to feel a measure of pride, of feeling important. Secure."
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Lady Naoki
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 345
Appearance: Naoki is a curvaceous woman of average height, indeterminate age, and catlike features. Her hair is a dark auburn, often pulled back into a long braid. Her ears are both soft and fluffy, and her tail is never less than perfectly groomed.
Allegiances: New Isra
Place of Residence: Port Argentium
Registered: Mar 16, 2021 22:31:18 GMT -5
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Post by Lady Naoki on Oct 17, 2023 18:51:21 GMT -5
Listening to Venus, Naoki squints a bit. Venus has a lot of funny ideas, but this one broaches the realm of statecraft — Naoki’s home turf.
“I’ve done that, yes — The Free States of Isra. The stepping stone I used to transition from The Free City to The Isran Empire. It was a real confederation, with limited federal oversight. It worked well, and several nations joined to take advantage of the protection of Isra’s armies and the economic benefits I wove into the deal. By the time I founded The Empire, it wasn’t much more than a change of verbiage, and almost everyone was happy to be along for the ride.”
“But in this case, I don’t get it,” Naoki continues, flat in her affect.
“Why bother?” she wonders aloud, gesturing to Venus. “Were you suggesting something truly representative, or something at least reasonable—an oligarchy or some other form of segmenting the power that I alone currently hold, I would understand. Doubly so if it alleviated some of the administrative strain currently sitting on my shoulders. But if I still have to do the work anyway, what’s the point?”
Pacing around to the other side of the crow’s nest, Naoki leans with her back up against the mast and fixes Venus with a searching look.
“Is this one of those — where I would OK a puppet government, and then over the course of the next handful of years, it becomes increasingly less of a puppet? Is it one where you like the idea of having a fun title and playing politics? Or have you already gotten empire-building in your head, and you think that our neighbors will play along and sign over the keys to their timber towns for a seat on some powerless council? Let’s hear your designs,” Naoki prompts.
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Venus
Established
Roleplay posts: 38
Age: Seemingly mid 20s
Appearance: Beautiful and stunning, Venus has long black hair and piercing green eyes. She has full lips, porcelain skin and a shapely figure.
Equipment: Venus has a gemstone ring that shines a bright green. The ring helps her channel her magic. She also has a pendant that does similar things, and has a few enchantments placed upon it.
Biography: Venus' past is about as enigmatic as the woman herself. She's been seen in the higher echelons of Isra's society, consorting with the High Adviser and Empress Naoki in the past. She's been found in ancient tablets of long gone empires. She's been seen lurking within the Black Vale, and many other nations before the Flood.
Registered: Apr 15, 2021 14:33:33 GMT -5
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Post by Venus on Oct 20, 2023 18:54:20 GMT -5
"As I said, all would continue as per normal internally. The designation of normalcy pertains to you, and is your prerogative.”
Venus was decidedly female now, the hard contours fading for softer curves instead. “Had I suggested something more representative, you would undoubtedly believe it to be a bid for power, and a rather laughable one at that. I am just trying to help,” Venus fixed Naoki with a stare of her own.
“My designs are rather simple, in that your people make me nauseous. A suggestion is a suggestion, to be taken or not is not my decision. Given the stench of fear that has stained this part of the land, I don’t think your people wish to engage in conflict with other settlements. Any conflict would exist nearly entirely as a battle of attrition.”
“While it may seem unlikely to you, I truly do not have any interest in governing mortals. Collecting their souls? Absolutely. They aren’t of much use to me while clothed in flesh, however. Let’s say you implement this idea; How exactly does it go awry?” She asked rhetorically, crossing her arms across her chest.
“How do I manipulate it to my advantage, when I suspect you would already have contingencies in place should I act so nefariously?” She ended with a theatrical lilt, a mixture of amusement and boredom hiding beneath her tone.
"The principle behind this idea was to help pacify your citizens. Admittedly, their stench nauseates me. However it would allow for them to feel, as I said before, important and some measure of security in their mediocrely average lives." The demoness began correcting her appearance, lightly tracing the contours of her body to tighten the skin, rejuvenate the cells, and restore some of her unworldly beauty. "That being said, if you dislike the idea, you need merely say so."
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