''Alright'' he said, jotting down a few more notes, considering how a split house Hispania was, if it could even be called one. ''Tell me about the Outcasts then, whats the story there? It goes way back so far as I can imagine. So how do the corsairs see the begining of the conflict?''
Icarus smirked. "It's the conflict belonging to the category of ones so old nobody remembers why they started. However, due to its history I strongly doubt an ending is about to come. The only way the Hispania War is going to end is through complete domination, I don't believe there are other ways. What I'm mostly concerned about though is the spread of Cardamine that comes from Malta. Bretonia is the most liberal House which allows its consumption in small amounts. It logically follows we want to stop that, especially considering we've seen worrying amounts of Outcasts assisting Bretonians in various situations. It's another threat we cannot let pass."
Weber lent back in his chair, putting the pen down and meeting the Corsair's gaze with a neutral expression. He was surprised at the amount of interest the Creten government had for the other houses. Indeed, he was surprised that the man infront of him had seemingly the same view. ''But it is our house no? Is it not fair to say we run it how we please and, if there are mistakes and consequences, then they are ours alone to pay for and fix? I would have thought that the Cretan government would think the same way regarding, say, the artifact trade.'' He said in a humble tone.
He knew full well that he was a guest on a Corsair ship, and that his purpose was to learn and understand, rather than judge and insult. Although he could not stop his own, private thoughts from colouring his questions.
He shook his head. "Artifacts are items. What is labeled as artifacts in the Houses is most of the time various items recovered from archaeological sites on Crete, Pygar and other planets in the Edge Worlds. Contrary to what is believed, they are rarely related to Nomads and there was no proof of any bad that those Artifacts do. You cannot be addicted to them, at least not in a direct sense, unlike Cardamine. Cardamine is a threat to anyone ever involved in it."
He nodded his head in agreement ''True although Cardamine is, more often than not, used by choice. Or, if one is born on malta, it is simply a part of one's life. For good or bad it is irrelevent really. Each House or society has it's own way of doing things. Who are we to say if it's good or bad?''
Icarus smirked. "Aristotle once proposed that to determine the worth of a tool, idea or practice one may attempt to imagine what would happen if everyone alive were using it. The argumentation goes that if something is undoubtedly good, there can only be benefits and if something is undoubtedly evil, there can only be detriments. Knowing all that we do about Cardamine it's rather easy to apply Aristotle's idea to this problem and determine that Cardamine is undoubtedly evil."
It was good to know his days reading ancient works in his solitude in the Golden Plains didn't go to waste.
''I understand that. However you are thinking along the lines that cardamine is a choice to some people, when in fact it is not. If someone tomorrow, told you that drinking water was outlawed, how would you react? For the Maltese, it's the same argument. Now there is Stabaline, yes. But stabaline is...problematic, it's more of a placeholder, or so i'm told, rather than an actual cure. All that said, I am not addicted, nor am I an outcast. You sir, are a createn, so I suppose this argument isn't simply about cardamine and that, but rather about culture. Tell me of Createn culture then, what language do you speak? Religions...ect''
Seeing a Bretonian defend Cardamine with such zeal made Icarus rather angry, although he tried hard not to make it too visible. He welcomed Weber changing the subject.
"Culture, culture. What culture? There is no Cretan culture, Crete is too diverse for that. There are many peoples inhabiting our home planet and each developed their own. And I can only speak for Custodi. What do you want to know about us?"
''Culture exsists, master Icarus, whether we know it or not. If there are so many people inhabiting Crete the that is your culture. A 'melting pot' as it were. But you are right, you do speak for the Custodi so it would probably be easier to focus on that. So, what language is spoken amongst you? is there any religion that is dominant? Any sort of code of honour?''
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