>>6011002>>6011068>>6011078>>6011079>>6011080>>6011101>>6011344>>6011445>>6011493You arrange a meeting with the palace's guard commander to assess his loyalty and review the security measures. The commander enters the room, his posture respectful. "You wished to see me, your radiance?" he bows slightly.
You take a moment to study him closely. He is a dark-skinned, older man, carrying extra weight that speaks to many years of service. "You swore fealty to me swiftly after I killed the old king, the one you had sworn to protect. Why?" you inquire sharply.
"You claimed the throne by the ancient right of conquest, so I am duty-bound to serve you, your radiance," he responds deferentially. "And supporting your claim seemed the best hope for keeping the kingdom together."
"Is that why you served and protected the old tyrant for decades?" You raise an eyebrow, pressing him further. The guard commander had remained loyal to Suial through years of the king's worst atrocities. "To keep the kingdom together?"
"I served him because he was king, your radiance, and because he was viewed as the best hope for maintaining unity," the guard commander admits, his voice steady despite the admission. "I will not deny he was cruel, monstrous even in his demands and carnal desires. But who would wish for civil war? Certainly not this old eunuch," he adds, a hint of weary resignation in his tone.
You nod slowly, processing his words. His loyalty to the throne, regardless of its occupant, suggests a pragmatic approach to his duty, though you suspect there is more to him than meets the eye. "You're a eunuch?" You ask, curious to learn more about his past.
"Yes, same as the other royal guards," he replies, "As a child, I was taken from my homeland, then castrated and made into a royal slave. I was trained to be loyal, docile, and to do whatever my master commands without question."
> Did you ever consider killing the old tyrant yourself, given the atrocities he committed?> Did his commands to you also include torturing and executing those who dared to speak against his tyranny?> Tell me why I should trust you, given that the previous king you served met his end on your watch.> I suspect you possess more cunning than you display; surviving under Suial's paranoid rule requires no small amount of intelligence and adaptability.> I need your candid advice on the best strategies to maintain unity and prevent civil war in the kingdom.> Share any insights you have on potential threats from within the palace that I should be aware of immediately. 