Canon is BBC's The Musketeers - Major Voicetesting

[firstminister]

My Dear Player,

I do believe it would be best for you to stop visiting that website. The authors there clearly have no understanding of French Government in the 17th Century nor my role within that structure. As such, it paints me in an entirely negative light without paying heed to the nuances that exist.

I am not a "villain". I simply want what is best for France and I have growing concerns that the King is taking too much advisement from the Musketeers rather than from me. After all, as First Minister, such matters fall under my jurisdiction and I have a better understanding of France's place within the political world than they do.

As to your concerns, I think it would be best if you simply left all worrying to me. Things in general tend to run more smoothly when I am in charge. If you fail to do so, please remember that I have ways to encourage your cooperation. I do not enjoy relying on such methods, however they do happen to be ever so useful.

Sincerely,

Cardinal Armand Richelieu


[Cross-posted to dear_player]

Comments

[greatdragon]

Where is this 'France'? It sounds like such an interesting place...

[Don't be fooled by that curious tone, Smaug is not one to be trusted. Whether he's in human form or as a dragon, he's not one to change his scales.]

[firstminister]

[Having survived an assassination attempt by the pope, there is little that scares the Cardinal.]

You... don't know where France is located? Where are you from?

[Because what kind of adult doesn't know where France is located?]

[greatdragon]

[One that's used to a great lumbering body bigger than any creature imaginable, claws like spears, wings like a hurricane...for now encased in just a glint in his dark eyes. Despite his friendly smile, there is something calculated and cold about him. A very large personality.]

From the north. Beyond the Grey Mountains. [There's a bit of a lisp or a hiss at the end of his sentence.] I had thought a cardinal was a reddish bird of some sort. You do not seem remotely bird-like.

[firstminister]

Oh, so you're from the Southern Netherlands. Well, that explains a great deal.

[He's First Minister of France in the 1630s, that's all 'the north' means to him.]

A 'cardinal' is also a position within the Holy Church.

[greatdragon]

Hmm, must be a very...important position. [He takes a step around, almost circling in a way.] If you talk about your king in such low terms.

[firstminister]

[He just gives a look. He knows when he's being measured up.]

My king is young. He sometimes forgets that France was here long before him and I would very much like to see her remain long after him. He gets a little self-obsessed sometimes.

[greatdragon]

Most kings are self obsessed. He must be very useful to you.

[firstminister]

I have no desire to be a figure-head. I much prefer to be the one who has control and influence.

[greatdragon]

[Smaug seems amused for some reason.] One can certainly understand that. Though you did mention your king was listening to the wisdom of others?

[firstminister]

It is an issue which I hope will be rectified soon.

[Now that a new heir is on the way, it would be best for France that the Cardinal maintain his control and influence.]

[greatdragon]

Splendid.

[Smaug did love to hear about the misfortune of others.]

May I wish you well in such an endeavour.

[firstminister]

You seem to know who I am, but I cannot say I have ever met you before.

[Or that he has much knowledge of the other. Which given how the Cardinal Operates, is a feat.]

[greatdragon]

[That glint is back in his eyes.]

You would have remembered meeting me.

[Something rather self-important about him, as though he feared no one.]

My name is Smaug. [Perhaps curious to see if his reputation preceeds him. He's bound to be terribly disappointed.]

[firstminister]

You state that name as if I should know it. I have never heard of you.

[The tone is soft, but there is a demand for information.]

[greatdragon]

[His amusement simmers into disgruntled disappointment. Though he does try to stay his charming self.]

What a pity. I suppose the stories have not come this far. There are even songs about how the great city of Dale and the kingdom of Erebor fell to my....hands.

[firstminister]

Am I supposed to be impressed?

[greatdragon]

[Now that hurts. He scowls.]

Perhaps not. Too small, too insignificant this human form for such claims.

[How he wished he could be rid of it. Unfortunately, the lady Maleficent has cursed him to stay human till he has learned his lesson about the ways of men. Whatever that means.]

[firstminister]

[He arches an eyebrow.]

So am I to assume you are not human? What sort of witchcraft is this?

[greatdragon]

Oh I am human.

[A beat]

I was not human before. I am one of the last fire drakes of the north. Smaug the Golden, Smaug the Terrible....fire and death. In a word, a dragon.

[firstminister]

[Worse than witchcraft, insanity. No such things as dragons.]

I see. Dragons do have their place. I could ensure you are given proper accommodations for one as... magnificent as you.

[greatdragon]

[If he wants to think about it that way, it wasn't far off from being the psychopath Smaug really was.]

[He scoffs at the compliment.] Do not patronize me, insincerity is the sourest of notes to play. There is nothing more weak, more useless than the human body.

[He loathes every minute he has to remain as one. There have been little to none advantages to being human.]

[firstminister]

Forgive me, I was unclear. You made mentions of your great attributes as a dragon. It was to these that I was referring.

Which leaves the question of how you took on this form. I can only assume you were cursed, and then we are back to witchcraft, as I mentioned earlier.

[greatdragon]

You assume correctly. [He sighs as if being human was a tedious bore.] But there is little I can do about it at present.

[firstminister]

Witchcraft is punishable by death under French and Church laws.

[greatdragon]

[Great. More good news.]

I was hardly the one doing the deed. Though I would gladly help you find her if that would mean turning me back.

[firstminister]

One thing at a time. If the witchcraft was done to you and against your will, you have nothing to fear.

[greatdragon]

How fortunate for me.

[Yes, that was sarcasm.]

Little good it does me unless it is reversed. Which will take more of the same, if I am not mistaken.

[firstminister]

[He raises an eyebrow at the sarcasm.]

Reversing the curse would be allowed prior to the execution.

[Having a dragon on the side of France could be beneficial, if he weren't a lunatic.]

[greatdragon]

[Interesting. Almost interesting enough to consider going along with. Till it suited Smaug to go back on his word, if course.]

That is different. And what would you have in this situation? Other than your public execution?

[firstminister]

I do not understand the question? I am a leader in France and the Church, the death of a heretic is enough for me.

[greatdragon]

If you say so.

[Enough of power? In the world of men, there was no such thing.]

[firstminister]

[The Cardinal simply nods. He does say so and his word is law.]

[madamelacomtessedelafere]

My lord Cardinal. I was under the impression you had died and gone on to your just reward....

[Now she is wary. She has done things and taken actions he may well not approve of in the time since his ' death'. Specifically things pertaining to the King (more like doing the King, actually), and worse, The Musketeers... And worse of all, Athos...]

Hope you don't mind prose, he's easier to write with prose for some reason.

[firstminister]

"As usual, rumours of my death are greatly exaggerated."

He raises an eyebrow at her, though. "You, on the other hand... I am curious to know what part you have played in perpetuating the rumour."

It had all been a part of Rochefort's game. Of course he saw that, now. The question was: how to depose Rochefort. Or perhaps kill him, since death is what is warranted at this point in time. If the Cardinal was right, and he was so very rarely wrong, Rochefort has probably laid the groundwork to force France into the War.

Prose is just fine. It's rather fun too, actually.

[madamelacomtessedelafere]

"Of course they are, my Lord. Of course they are."

And now she has the good grace to look ashamedly at the ground before meeting his eyes. Her words are slow, carefully chosen and deliberately vague in certain places, "I must admit that as angry as I was at being dismissed from your service and then banished from Paris by my one time husband, I did not think that they were rumor only. I believed them, blinded by anger at the time as I was. Only now do I realize they were merely rumors. And I believe I know at whose feet the blame for starting them must be laid. I admit I did spread them to your allies and minions across the Continent. At least to those whose identities I was privy to, My Lord. And that was a wrong action, for which I beg your forgiveness."

As much as she loathed the idea of returning to his service after tasting freedom once more, in order to survive, Anne De Breuil De la Fere, called Milady De Winter for many a year now, knew what she must do. And that was to once more subsume Anne under the mask and persona of Milady. It would mean sundering that tenuous bond she and Athos had began to reforge between them, and she wasn't sure that was a price she was,truly ready to pay, but ready or not, want to or not, it was a price that must be paid.

At least Richelieu was a better choice then Rochefort. She knew that as devious and grasping as the Cardinal was, he, at least, would not try to kill her if she said the wrong thing to him. The memory of Rochefort's attempt to strangle her filled her with a deep, burning rage. War was upon them and only Richelieu could stop it. Perhaps even restore what peace had existed between Spain and France.

[firstminister]

He's not buying her demure attitude, sorry. Might be that he's gravely concerned about how all his hard work was undone so very quickly.

"So, you think you can just walk back into my service, by begging for my 'forgiveness'? Do you even know why the dismissal happened to begin with?"

He's pacing slightly - not far or dramatically. He must be careful, since she's the only one who currently knows he is alive.

"If you possess true remorse for your sins, then an appropriate penance must be completed."