Exit Fate: Meiko's Interviews

Ryan

Meiko: Today I'm meeting with Charles Ryan, founder of the Zelmony State Union and former chancellor. Welcome, Mr. Ryan. It's great honour to have you here. Now, as I'm sure you can imagine I have an endless list of questions to ask you, but I'll try to keep this short. First of all, I'm interested in your rise to power. Is it true you were once arrested for disturbing public order?

Ryan: Yes, it's true. My dreams of a unified Zelmony were not shared by those in power at the time. As I grew frustrated with their shortsightedness, I instead traveled around the country and tried to appeal to the people instead.

Meiko: And this was not appreciated by the government?

Ryan: At first they saw me as a mere nuisance. I was only a captain in the army and I had few connections. But my journey turned out to be more successful than anyone had expected, and I gained more and more followers among the people, in all levels of society. Many of them felt insecure and had little faith in their leaders. However, the overwhelming support I was enjoying at the time made me overconfident, and I returned to Matrech to make my case again, under the assumption that they could no longer ignore me. I was right about that, of course, but I was not expecting such a negative reaction.

Meiko: You were advocating a different kind of government at the time, but were you actively seeking power yourself?

Ryan: I can't deny that I was hoping to be given a position of influence, but I was careful about what I said in public. Moreover, I was never expecting to actually become chancellor myself.

Meiko: Anyway, this is where you were arrested, right?

Ryan: Yes. After giving a speech to a large crowd on the streets of Matrech, the governor immediately ordered my arrest. I was shocked, to be honest. With the benefit of hindsight I can say that it should have been obvious, but I was young, and I had come to believe that if I explained my views properly, everyone would accept them.

Meiko: But in the end, this event was what triggered a revolution.

Ryan: From my point of view, it all happened very quickly. From my cell, I heard little about what was going on outside, until one day I was told that the governor of Matrech had stepped down after a large uprising and that the people had demanded me to be freed.

Meiko: That must've been an incredible moment.

Ryan: Yes... After fighting on my own for so long against what seemed unsurmountable obstacles, to see such strong support for my dreams, to see all my work redeemed... That is a moment I will never forget.

Meiko: I think it's very intriguing, and an important event in history to be sure. However, I can't help but notice a lot of similarities with the present situation. A largely complacent government, harbouring a strong sense of distrust for its neighbours...

Ryan: Sadly, that it what the State Union had come to in the end. Due to the nature of the new country, control over Zelmony has slowly slipped away from me. I am to blame for letting it come this far as well. I should have stepped down in favour of a younger, more driven chancellor long ago. It was too late for me, but I sincerely hope that Daniel Vinyard can do for both our countries what I tried to do for Zelmony.