Politics is a strange business in the Corners of Khorvaire.
Everything is up for debate in the capitol city of Breland, usually done at full voice and with very little attention paid to what one's interlocutor is saying. Royalists and Parliamentarians yell at each other about the royal family. Nativists and Activists harangue each other on 'Forged rights. This writer even directly observed a Supporter spot an Oppositionist and cross the street solely for the purpose of beginning a screaming match over the issue of Cyran refugees. The secret, I learned, to spotting one's allies or opponents is a system of colored flowers the various politicians of the city wear on their lapels.
This interesting fact soured for me when I was touring the grounds of the Brelish Parliament and came across an extremely aggravated gardener angrily (but gently!) removing flowers from a bed on the grounds, potting them and placing them on a cart to be taken away.
When I inquired as to the nature of her work and the source of her consternation, the answer was (as it usually is in Wroat): politics.
The gardener, Mrs. Mordellia Nelview, explained that she had been seeing to the grounds for over two decades. "Every spring I put white azaleas in this bed," she told me. "They were a particular favorite of Queen Chaseva before her passing and I have seen King Boranel himself pause here and take one to wear in his lapel."
"But then some of those DAMN FOOLS," she yelled, jabbing her trowel in the direction of the House of Commons. "They started wearing white azaleas as a show of their support for His Majesty's family and their opponents struck back by outlawing 'partisan installations' on parliament grounds! Partisan?! Can you believe that? My little azaleas?"
"Now they have to be potted up and carted off, probably to be sold to the same fools who started this whole mess. They'll only wear them for a day or two before throwing them away! By the time this whole situation gets sorted out, if it ever even does, it will take years to get this flower bed back to where it was before today!"
When I offered to purchase one of the flowers, she offered it to me gratis if I promised to keep it watered and alive for as long as possible and never to cut it and wear it as decoration.
A promise made and a promise to be kept in the Corners of Khorvaire.
Genbo Santor d'Sivis.
