fandomhigh | Diplomacy, Relationships, & Tactics: The Art of War, Week 3 [Wednesday, Period 2]

"There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare," Ghanima said cheerfully as the students arrived. "So speaks both Sun Tzu, and history. It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on."

"Which is to say you want to come out of it with more resources and people left than your opponent," Tahiri added. "Because what happens if you win, but you've depleted your treasury, you have no food production, and a only fraction of your troops survived? You'll have to rebuild, and you're in a vulnerable position where you could lose everything you've got left, if someone takes advantage of that."

"And someone will try to take advantage of that," Ghanima promised. "Either an outside force, or even someone from within your own circle who thinks they can use the moment to their advantage. Maybe not even an outright coup, but what will you owe them if they 'find' extra grain for your stores? Or offer free troops? Or maybe they held back on sending as many soldiers as they could have, and now have an army that's not battle-weary ready and waiting."

Tahiri nodded. "To apply that to a non-combat situation: you only have so much time and energy in a day. Generally speaking, when you're tired you're not at your best, right? Maybe fatigue slows you down, or keeps you from thinking too clearly. Someone might take advantage of that and get you to agree to something you'd know was a terrible idea if you'd been clear-headed. Or you might just --" she waved both hands in a slashing motion -- "burn out completely. I know we don't always have the luxury of down time, and some of us might be expected to go above and beyond as a matter of course, and even want to, but . . . Well, know your limits, is what I mean. Recognize when you might be getting to the point of having too much on your plate."

"Part of that is delegating," Ghanima continued. "Or as the pi'en says, 'using the conquered foe to augment one's strength.' Use the resources that are available to you: whether it's capturing enemy chariots or cartloads of supplies. Tzu also advocates that 'the captured soldiers should be kindly treated and kept.' Not only because they're probably just unlucky draftees, but because it's always possible to turn even a high-ranking general against his own king. And then you've got one of the greatest resources of all: a new viewpoint with which to see things, and an extra pair of hands to help carry the load."

Tahiri grinned wryly. "And believe me, having a new viewpoint with which to see things is invaluable. It could help you win the war, or find the most effective way to convince someone to come to an agreement. But that brings us to today's activity. You'll be splitting up into groups: some of you will be the conquerors, and some of you will be the conquered foe. Conquerors, it'll be your job to try and sway the conquered foes into helping you out."

"Just remember, bribery is a perfectly acceptable tool of statecraft!" Ghanima, no.

[OOC: ~~Please wait for the~~ OCD is ready to negotiate!]

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"Who's joking?" For starters, the goat comment wasn't exactly helping your case, Isabela.

She raised an eyebrow. "Unless you're saying that finding out you were working for a bloodmage wouldn't make you turn against them?"

You were lucky that the heaviest thing Cass had on hand was her copy of the syllabus, Isabela, because that was exactly what she was throwing at your head right now.

... sorry, professors.

Despite the fact Leto was the twin with the foresight, Ghanima really should have seen this coming.

Isabela ducked the syllabus. "I knew we should have made you walk the plank, maybe a few days in the dungeon might make you more willing to cooperate."

Isabela, no.

"Perhaps my people and I will strike you down and cut off your head," Cassandra hissed.

... no, really, a little irrational.

And Ghanima had just given her ideas.

"Your people were quite happy to be freed by us," Isabela countered. "Something about their old general being ill-tempered and unreasonably violent."

WHOEVER COULD SHE BE TALKING ABOUT?

"Do you wish to resolve this in the salle?" Cassandra snapped.

It was a good thing she hadn't found out about Tumblr yet, or she would have just told Isabela to meet her in the pit.

Edited 2016-01-21 09:13 (UTC)

Oh the remarks Isabela could have made upon being asked to meet someone in the ball pit.

"If you think you can take me."

Isabela, no!

"Yes," Cassandra said flatly.

Because she kind of could.

Only in a fair fight! And Isabela had whole skill trees devoted to dirty fighting.

"I'll see you in the salle then."

Fancy skill trees meant nothing when you hadn't had any opportunity to level them up yet.

"Agreed," Cassandra said.

"No decapitations during class, Miss Pentaghast," Ghanima called from her side of the room. "Either do it where Jedi Veila and I can claim ignorance, or be willing to sentenced to mopping up the blood."

If Isabela thought these teachers were going to shield her from the consequences of her own actions, she was sadly mistaken.

Diplomacy, Relationships, & Tactics: The Art of War, Week 3 [Wednesday, Period 2]

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group One (AoW 3)

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group One (AoW 3)

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group One (AoW 3)

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group One (AoW 3)

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group One (AoW 3)

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group One (AoW 3)

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group One (AoW 3)

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group One (AoW 3)

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group One (AoW 3)

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group One (AoW 3)

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group One (AoW 3)