1. Confirmation of Events
*Internal take:
- Varram’s capture is leverage, not closure.
- Arauthator and Chuth being dead validates decisive action.
- The succubus infiltration cuts deeply. It was a failure of security on his watch.
What he brings to the table:
- Grounds success in hard facts and consequences.
- Pushes back against celebratory language.
- Quietly reinforces that internal threats are as dangerous as armies.
Conversation starters:
- “Success is not stability.”
- “Every victory narrows our margin for error.”
- “We were infiltrated once. Assume it can happen again.”
2. The Matter of Neronvain (Captured)
Internal take:
- A captured traitor is a problem until resolved.
- Sympathy clouds judgement.
- Delayed justice invites instability.
What he brings to the table:
- Pushes for firm containment and a clear timeline.
- Resists emotional framing from Melandrach.
- Wants the council to look decisive, not hesitant.
Conversation starters:
- “A prisoner without a plan becomes a liability.”
- “If we delay too long, we teach others to gamble.”
- “Containment is not a strategy. It is a pause.”
Vibe note:
He does not argue from vengeance. He argues from optics and order.
3. Metallic Dragons and Concessions
Internal take:
- Promising future gold limits political leverage later.
- Paying dragons first is strategically sound but politically dangerous.
- The people will remember who decided this.
What he brings to the table:
- Frames concessions as necessary but temporary.
- Pushes for strict limits and public accountability.
- Worries about precedent more than cost.
Conversation starters:
- “We must be clear this is not how all wars are paid for.”
- “This is a debt, not a habit.”
- “If we promise wealth now, we must control expectations later.”
4. Allocation of the Dragons
Internal take:
- Power should protect centres of population and governance.
- Dragons over capitals project unity and strength.
- Symbolism matters when morale is fragile.
What he brings to the table:
- Argues strongly for dragon protection over cities.
- Questions the value of placing dragons where people cannot see them.
- Thinks in terms of deterrence and political stability.
Conversation starters:
- “A dragon over a city prevents panic.”
- “We defend people first. Everything else follows.”
- “If capitals fall, alliances collapse.”
Vibe note:
He is willing to trade support on this issue.
5. Rey Stormsoar and the Question of Trust
Internal take:
- Defectors are liabilities until proven otherwise.
- Rey is a possible asset but a greater risk.
- Trust is earned through control and consequence.
What he brings to the table:
- Pushes for strict safeguards.
- Demands oversight and limits on autonomy.
- Will not support blind engagement.
Conversation starters:
- “If she wants protection, she accepts conditions.”
- “Information is only valuable if we can verify it.”
- “We do not offer safety without leverage.”
Personal Subtext
- Dagult feels vindicated but exposed.
- The deaths of his aides were a personal failure he will not repeat.
- He sees the end of the war as a political reshuffle waiting to happen.
He believes:
- Some leaders will not survive victory.
- He intends to.