A letter left at Aubrey's nightstand

[Don Nadie]

Dearest friend,

You and I rarely seem to be awake at the same time, these days. However, I'd love to have a few words on your last political maneuvers, and thus I turn to paper. I feel you have turned and twirled so much I am no longer sure what your possition is in this election... Much less the position of the College, if you have managed to herd the cats.

I fear, at time, you mix personal ambition, the College's agenda, and what may or may be best for the Well. Though I know you mean well, treating Elections as a marketplace always dissapoints me. I do not think this surprises you. I believe that we of the College, at the very least, ought to hold onto idealism... For if we do not, who will?

I can let you know that Marcellus is planning to make a Nadiri his Prelate, for apparently ambitious minds think alike, whether they be in the Halls of minstrels of the heights of the Tower. Considering there is another Nadiri who loves assault and threats of murder, this paints a less than ideal picture. And with your blunder, it is more likely that Marcellus may win.

People have approached to tease me asking whether you are, in fact, an elaborate Gellemende plot to undermine the White League. I hope you bear this in mind, come next Election.

Yours,

Alejandro

[Don Nadie]

[Another note is added to the last one]

My dearest friend,

Thankfully, we managed to obtain a decent position.

I understand you were comfortable with Daoud, but I trust him less than Sephidra, who has been a steady ally of the College, and both are in turn better than any Nadiri. This is, I suppose, a better result for us than for them. I shan't take credit: Estellise did most of the work for me.

You shall have the seat you haggled for. I trust you shall use it wisely, and for the good of the Well.

Yours,

Alejandro

[Pandip]

Dear friend,

There is nobody more intimately aware than I of the vicious criticisms which my unorthodox methods receive. Nonetheless, they harbor results.

I have said this a thousand times, but I will say it again: Domhnall was neither a steadfast ally of the Rose nor a stalwart adherent of White League beliefs. He was, in every way perceivable to me, a man who was eager to exploit a political opening. I took him for someone of true belief and purpose; I found him, over time, to be someone whose veneer was gradually chipped at by adversity.

It is easy to be kind during calm weather. It is much more difficult to demonstrate that same kindness amidst a calamity.

I will not pretend that this is the perfect outcome. I will also not accept accusations that I did not actively prevent a worse one.

Domhnall dealt in double-speak, false promises, and broken vows to a startling degree. He vocally professed how easy it was to secure the support of the Balladeers. He would have continued to exploit us while laying many benefits onto our enemies. His demeanor broke, on multiple occasions, revealing him to be a crass and vindictive man driven by entitlement and greed. His misunderstanding of Ephia's Well and its laws was startling. His ambition outpaced his reach.

I cannot be idealistic in these matters, Alejandro, for the world is not ideal. Elections are a marketplace and so we must act accordingly! We undermine our very mission when we fail to acknowledge the harshness of our reality.

I always act for the Cinquefoil Rose. I always act for the Chorus of the people. I always act for the betterment of the Well.

You say I am overambitious.

But I dream of a better world!

A brighter future!

I shall not do that vision a disservice by failing to pursue it with my whole heart.



  -- Aubrey Domergue
              

[Don Nadie]

My dearest friend,

Like you, I have known Domhnall for long. Unlike you, I still believe in him. I have admired his burning passion since we first met, with Estellise as our candidate. In a time of turmoil, when I was forced to bow overmuch to matters of practicality, his burning idealism was, to me, an inspiration. I shall not deny this passion is also a weakness, but I still think that, had you not pressed excessive demands, your conversation with him would've been easier.

Regardless, I shall also admit that ultimately there is much unknown. The assassination attempt, Estellise's maneuvers and the bloodthirsty pressures of Ibn Ghalish and others did, I suspect, much to exhaust his will and patience. This, along with the Lillies's infighting, would prove fatal. Ultimately, however, I feel as though this election was not lost on ideals, or characters, but on the sale of political positions and influence. Presumably, also bribes.

So long as we all act as though in a marketplace, a marketplace it shall remain. I struggle to see a better world built upon such trades, rather than on the steadfast defense of our ideals. Still, I will accept that you act with what you believe the best interests of the Well in your heart, for I know you are, despite my own misgiving at your methods, a woman who dreams of a better tomorrow.  I also do note that, while I may have prefered Domhnall, Marcellus remains a good candidate, and a dear friend. Just one who is also, I fear, very much in the confidence of the Tower.

I shall also remind you that, while you may negociate as you see fit, if we are not made aware of your deals nor persuaded towards them, it is possible that you find yourself unable to fulfill your end. I, for instance, voted for Domhnall after a long conversation with him, and before you had spoken to him or Marcellus. Other Balladeers chose him, or Marcellus, by following their own hearts. Do not oversell your ability to direct our Chorus, lest you find yourself raising discord.

With all that said, and considering we rarely seem to coincide, I wish you shall use your Magisterial seat with wisdom, and for Justice. Should you need counsel on legal scholarship, I know I and Marcellus shall both be at hand.

Yours,

Alejandro

[Pandip]

Do not misunderstand me, friend!

Domhnall is not an enemy to be ousted or defeated. I talked with him and the others of the White League extensively yestereve. Though there were a great many disgruntled accusations regarding my "dual" loyalties, there were also a great many grievances that needed to be aired that we might press forward as a more harmonious chorus.

I know that not everyone agreed with my tactics, but I dream of a future in which we are so united that they do. That we have a candidate who has our confidence and us theirs. If that candidate is Domhnall, then so be it. But this election, I chose an involatile crony of the Astronomers rather than the inconstant one I could not predict.

Being humbled will make Domhnall a better candidate - and we, a better advocate for him to do what is necessary to orchestrate the idyllic future we dream of.


  -- Aubrey Domergue