Exalted:End of an Era

[Biologist]

((I think silent falling tree is a chosen of Secrets as well. Of all the maidens she seems most suited for sft. I imagine a bureaucrat or loom-overseer, writing reports behind his desk, making sure the celestial bureaucracy doesn't pick up on the circle's work or their charges' exploits, making inquiries bog down in a mire of paperwork, redirecting attention by pointing out more pressing matters to be investigated ))

[Mistress of Whispers]

"Ah, there you are!" Tinker called out to Web as she crossed the hallway. "How did it go?"

 

"I've been making -" he looked for the right word to describe the process of getting a few dozen overly-proud, overly-stubborn, mutually-hostile ambassadors to agree on *anything* "slow progress. I have identified the leading parties and problems amongst the Hundred Kingdoms and I have even devised a solution for them. However -" his voice betrayed a hint of annoyance "- they're having none of it. Perhaps you could use your 'charm' to nudge them in the right direction? Normally I wouldn't suggest using such blunt force where time and perseverance might still prevail, but we only have a few more hours before Shaya addresses the Council. What do you think?"

 

 

OOC:

 

I've been reading up on Sids and I think Tinker is a Journeys. He might have a flair for Martial Arts, Linguistics and Socialize (favored abilities perhaps), but the core of his character is definitely a Journeys.

 

Shall we add this to the character roster then?

 

[B]~ The Circle of the Black Night ~[/B]
Despite the ominous sounding name, the Circle of the Black Night is a force for good. Or at least: it *hopes* to be. The greatest flaw of the Servants of the Maidens has always been their inability to see beyond prophecy and fate - if it's not represented on the Weave, then it must not be important. It is this 'blindness' that has led the Sidereals to dismiss the Great Contagion (born from the Void), Fair Folk Invasion (sent from the Wyld), disappearance of the Empress (engineered by the Yozi) and emergence of the Deathlords (created by the Neverborn) as 'blips on the radar'. However, there are five Chosen of the Maidens that, through a combination of experience, wisdom, luck and an openmindedness found rarely in their kind, that *do* see what other Sidereals can't. Calling themselves the Circle of the Black Night, named for the creatures and fates that are not governed by the constellations of Creation, they believe that threats from the 'Beyond' may possibly be the undoing of all Creation. Furthermore, they believe that the heroes of old - Exalted that once defeated even the Primordials - are the only ones that can fight this threat. Theorizing that enemies beyond the Weave's control must be opposed by heroes similarly beyond control, they searched for the wildest, most uncontrollable fates and finally settled on a knot of three threads - a Fireblood, a Dawn and a Twilight Exalt - that was alternately besieged and aided by other threads that dipped in and out of existence. Using the Weave to predict when and where the knot would occur, they sent one of their members, a Chosen of [Journeys or Serenity], to forge a bond with the threads in the knot. Meanwhile, the remaining members work from Yu Shan to hide and protect the knot (and its direct allies) from other Sidereals. Apart from offering guidance and protecting the knot from other Sidereals, the Circle of the Black Night does not interfere with the knot - it fears that if it does, the knot's wild unpredictability (needed to combat the Beyond) will be nulled by the Chosens' own immutable fates.
[B]Members:[/B] ? (Chosen of Battles), ? (Chosen of Endings), 'Tinker' (Chosen of Journeys), Silent Falling Tree (Chosen of Secrets), ?  (Chosen of Serenity)

[Takhesis]

[Added Circle to roster]

 

Web summarised her results to Tinker,

 

"Celeren are with us, Nexus and Sijan are leaning towards yes - though Sijan may need a bit of encouragement from council pressure to join in."

 

At Tinker's suggestion of 'blunt force diplomacy', Web considered things carefully.

 

"Being short on time - I agree that a nudge will be needed. I will be limited in the nudging - considering...." Web made a small gesture towards her forehead - knowing that Tinker would get the meaning behind it. Though she could invoke the added threat of Thorns as an incentive - plus she could tell some tales of the destruction she had seen from her own period of service.

 

Web considered her limitations, "If they could be gathered together as a small group - only one activation would be needed - unless they are too hostile for even that small favour?"

 

[Web is planning to invoke a few assist Charms in a pinch - such as Second Excellency for more successes. However Essence use is Very Limited.... and she knows it.]

[Mistress of Whispers]

"All together in one group might be a bit too much to ask," Tinker replied, "but I should be able to get them together in two groups. Will that do? I have already drawn up treaties and trade agreements that will benefit all parties and solve the deadlock; they just need to see beyond their need to put each other down." It was, of course, an eternal obstacle to diplomatic endeavours: ancient enemies would often be more focused on hurting the other, than on finding a solution that might aid both.

 

 

Meanwhile Mia was still watching Web - and now Tinker too - intently. It was obvious that the Lookshyan ambassadors were gearing for war and, so far, they were succesfully drawing the other River States in with them. But it looked like they had one more rough negotiation ahead of them and without the Hundred Kingdoms, the army would simply fail for lack of footsoldiers. Perhaps, Mia considered, she should use her 'talents' to make sure the negotiations went sour.

 

 

((So Mia is planning to run interference... I was thinking that she would influence the second group while Web and Tinker work on the first. Then, when Web and Tinker move on to group two, Web would easily recognize that they've been tampered with and she should be able to counter it (she has more experience) though possibly at the cost of the last Essence she can safely spent. Meanwhile Mia still doesn't realize that she's not the only 'Celestial'-level Exalt in the building....))

Edited October 17, 2013 by Mistress of Whispers

[Takhesis]

[Oooo - lol I'm assuming Web countering Mia would be based on relative Essence strength to make things simple rather than count Essence motes and Charm effects? And perhaps Mia could figure there's another Celestial Exalt around by the breaking of her influence - even if she can't tell what colour?]

 

Web considered the idea of two groups, "That should work, if be a little more expensive on the cost side of things." Hopefully any eavesdroppers - there were spies around after all - would misconstrue that to mean bribes.

[Mistress of Whispers]

Tinker led Web to an... 'interesting'... group of ambassadors. Varying in age as much as they did in demeanor, they ranged from grouchy old warriors to young charming merchants. Nevertheless, Web was soon able to see the underlying currents that bound them together and that had led Tinker to identify them as *one* unit. Introducing Web as another Lookshyan envoy, Tinker proceeded to outline the treatise that he had drawn up, allowinv Web to 'nudge' the involved parties towards agreeing.

 

 

Having seen enough, Mia left the two Lookshyan ambassadors behind and struck out on her own. With her gifts, it was easy enough to identify the second major alliance within the Hundred Kingdoms. Still in the guise of a servant, Mia gained access to the ambassadors' quarters with no problems and, there, quietly whispered 'suggestions' in their ears.

 

 

((OOC: Yes, after Web counters Mia, the latter will realize that there's another Exalt in play (and that it must be more than a 'mere' Dragonblood since she should be able to trump them). By that time the Council will already be in session though, so too late for Mia to do anything about it.

I think Web vs Mia would be a matter of [charm usage = attribute + ability + essence] and given that Mia is relatively young, Web should have the upper hand - especially since Web will have the luxury of knowing that she's working against another Exalt while she applies the Charm, when Mia didn't.))

Edited October 17, 2013 by Mistress of Whispers

[Takhesis]

[That makes sense, I'd imagine Mia won't be that pleased about matters. Though it would be a interesting situation for her - Lookshy was a Dragonblooded Stronghold, so why is there a Solar/equivalent helping them, considering the usual interactions? Puzzle for Mia to solve ]

 

Web was the younger of the pair (by quite a way) so she took on a more passive role while Tinker outlined his proposal. She observed the group interactions as well as individual reactions to each point brought up.

 

From those observations, she was able to identify the main opponents to the whole system. Granted they were trying to unite kingdoms that had been fractured for centuries, so it wouldn't be an easy task, but like pebble thrown into water - small ripples became large waves.

 

And Web was the pebble - or at least her shaped Essence was. How ironic, Essence based in the idea of the destruction of Creation was being used to manipulate parts of it together.

 

She used her Essence sparingly - mainly as being shown up as a Death Knight would not be conductive. Web was there to help not hinder.

 

She fed the idea of co-operation bringing prosperity to the Kingdoms - using Essence to lend conviction to her words [second Excellency] in the hopes of swaying them away from their current fragmented state to a more united frame of mind.

[Mistress of Whispers]

Between them, Tinker and Web managed to guide the group where they needed them easily enough. It still took time of course - some things can't be rushed - but between Tinker's expertise and Web's careful use of Essence, the diplomatic knots were all untangled in due time. Tinker sighed of relief and turned to Web: "Time to work on the second group - if we can keep up this pace, we'll be done just in time for the Chumyo's speech."

 

((Sorry for lack of details - the internal politics of the 100 Kingdoms are so convoluted that I have no idea where to start RPing them. LOL.))

 

 

Like Tinker and Web, Mia had little problem persuading the ambassadors to her side. Usually she disliked forcing people to agree with her - freedom of thought was a very real concern to Mia - but in this case it was for the greater good. She had no objection to the Hundred Kingdoms setting aside their petty feuds - as a matter of fact, she encouraged it - but she did instill a longing for peace in them. By the time she was done, the ambassadors would insist on sueing for peace with the Realm rather than raising an army and going to war.

 

Of course, between the Essence she had spent earlier to eavesdrop and now to persuade the ambassadors, Mia was at her max before she started to 'show signs'. She could already feel the tingling sensation on her forehead that forewarned against her caste mark showing if she pushed any further. Resolving that her work was done for now, the young Eclipse left the Council Hall to move outside in the sunlight. Standing near the entrance, she offered the simple sight of a servant taking a short break, even as she closed her eyes to felt the warmth and radiance of her Patron illuminating all. The Sun's rays did more than warm her skin on this beautiful morning - it was promising to be quite warm today - it reaffirmed her beliefs and brought solace to her soul. Taking a deep, content breath, Mia stood basking in the presence of Light and Goodness itself.

 

((When Web and Tinker get to work on the second group, they'll find that getting them agree on the peace and trade treatises is VERY easy, but they flat out refuse to aid the Seventh and will instead insist on diplomacy with the Realm. Until Web uses some Essence of her own, that it .))

Edited October 17, 2013 by Mistress of Whispers

[Takhesis]

[Well at least Mia did half of their job - lol. Tinker and Web needed them united for the army And yes Hundred Kingdom Politics is like tangled balls of yarn dipped in tar and rolled into one large pile which is then mangled. IE My head hurts now.....]

 

Web nodded and agreed with Tinker, "At least we know it can be done." Letting Tinker lead the way to the second group, Web internally assessed her Essence reserves for the next batch.

 

She was happy to see that she'd used less than half of her total store - assuming the second group was identical to the first (apart from the members obviously) then she should be able to do it without her mark - and therefore Exaltation - showing, and still have a few motes to spare.

 

[i'm thinking that the first lot used 40-45% of the motes - so it would be about 90% IF there was no interference from another source to break.]

[Biologist]

The sun had just risen and the morning sounds of the streets of Great Forks drifted lazily through the silk curtains of the opulent room to the large bed. The city of Temples and Celebration was never quiet, except for those small hours around sunrise. Silune was already awake, listening to the world outside, her Fae-blooded lover for the night, still exhausted in deep sleep, lay next to her on the bed. Silently she rose and walked to the window overlooking the temples and avenues of the magnificent city, the morning breeze sending a chill down her spine.

Suddenly a small spirit appeared next to her and whispered a message in her ear that electrified her senses and started her blood pumping. Behind her, the half Fae rose sleepily and mumbled something unintelligible. Silune's head whipped around to the bed. No time to lose. No witnesses.

She left the city within the hour finding the quickest passage to Nexus that Jade could buy. Already a plan was forming in her mind how to best perform the assignment she had received, the poisoned Fae lover already forgotten.

 

[Mistress of Whispers]

((@ Takhesis, I think that's a fair assessment of Web's Essence expenditure. I wonder how Mia's interference will leave Web. Creating unity amongst the ambassadors should be a breeze and cost practically no Essence, but getting them to support the army is another matter.

 

@ Biologist, oh dear, Silune sounds like she's gonna pose a real problem...))

 

 

The second group was as varied as the first, but within moments of the clamourous ambassadors explaining their opinions and problems, Web could see why Tinker had grouped them together. However, something was very different about them compared to the other ambassadors. The more they talked, the closer these Ambassadors seemed to come to a solution *on their own*, with no help from Web or Tinker at all....

[Takhesis]

[Confused is the most likely result - and with a headache from the close to Essence limit. I'm assuming Tinker can get the basic peace-trade agreements signed with a few choice words and phrases - with little to no aid from Web.

 

And looks like there's going to be some fun after the council meetings....]

 

Web glanced sideways at Tinker, keeping her main attention on the group - but using the corner of her eye to try and assess his position on the change in attitude in this group.

 

From what he had inferred before these meetings was that the Kingdoms didn't seem to see the obvious benefits of co-operation. Yet this set are not just talking through their problems - they were also listening to the others - without any prompting from the pair from Lookshy.

 

While Tinker compared the forming results with his notes and looked for a convenient opening to formalise them, Web considered Tinker's earlier observations and the scene in front of her.

 

The only thing that Web could think of that would account for the change was that another skilled in diplomacy had approached them. And if Tinker was correct in their previous stance - then that other had to be capable of using Essence to overcome the initial resistance to co-operation. But to what end did this unknown manipulate this mini-council?

 

That thought in mind, Web focussed back on the gathering. It seemed that Tinker had got the trade and peace treaties sorted between the Kingdoms, but the very mention of the Seventh caused a collective negative reaction.

 

The overall position was 'Talk with the Realm not declare war'. Some being more vocal than others - the outermost of the Kingdoms tended to worry more about the Wyld than whatever the Realm was doing.

 

Looks like we found the cause of interference... someone doesn't want the Seventh resurrected. Time to get to work...... Web thought - not that giving diplomacy a chance was necessarily a bad thing, but considering recent actions on the Realm's behalf - it didn't look like it could go well.

 

Tapping into her Essence, Web started to weave her own convincing net to trap them into supporting the Seventh - without endangering the new treaties.

 

Using her experience of recent negotiations - as well as those undertaken under a different master - Web located undercurrents of worry that could be used to create bigger fears than that of the consequences of supporting the new Seventh.

 

All she had to do was keep the Ambassadors from the negative thoughts that the other manipulator had placed concerning the army, if not erase them entirely.

 

"The Realm isn't the only power that the Seventh countered - the forces of Chaos and Death were also their enemies," Web quietly said, "A mutual enmity shared with the Realm." She couldn't recall a specific incident, but she was certain that - under commanders of reason - Lookshy and the Realm's legions would have been able to put aside their quarrel under a threat of such nature.

 

She was hoping that mentioning global threats would, at least, give them pause to consider things.

 

"The Realm - assuming peace is achieved - could defend against those forces. But at what cost to your Kingdoms? The distances involved in travelling from their stronghold to your defence would result in great losses due to the time taken. Surely, having another force - such as the Seventh - closer would cut those losses - if not eliminate them?"

 

She fed her words with Essence - the alignment to death assisting in the conjuring of mental images of the desolation caused by Wyld and Deathlord armies to the Kingdoms while they awaited the Realm's defence forces. Those images were replaced by a combined force - wearing the Seventh's banner - driving back the dead and the Fae before the land could be tainted.

 

"Worse - what if peace with the Realm could never be - in spite of all the best intentions?" Web speculated, "Their armies marching across, wiping out everything that can't be turned to their will. Their own power feeding the dark."

 

Again her Essence conjured images - this time of armies led by the Dragon Blooded laying waste to the Kingdoms. And behind them - a creeping shadow as Death's influence became stronger with every kill. The dead raised to fight alongside the living - before turning on any survivors. In turn, being consumed by the flames of the Realm's ambition.

 

 

[Oh my - lots of bad mental images from the Abyssal. Well she is trying to sever Mia's 'roses and rainbows' suggestion of peace...... assume Web's got Second Excellency active as well as the mind-screwing Essence enhanced images.]

[Mistress of Whispers]

By the time Web was done, the ambassadors certainly looked a lot paler than they had before. They were also willing to back the new Seventh again - as far as their own resources allowed.

 

Tinker on the other hand, was strangely silent as he studied Web. His gaze was not unkind or even judgemental, merely thoughtful as robin blue eyes seemed to look onto her soul - or what was left of it.

 

By the time they exited the chamber, the thoughtful look was gone and Tinker was his grandfatherly self again.

 

"Well that was odd," he offered, "and certainly not how I left them. They're usually not so... peace-loving." That was an understatement of course: their near-constant readiness to go to war, was one of the main reasons they were still the Hundred Kingdoms (though Tinker often felt that the Hundred-and-then-some Kingdoms would be a more apt name) and not the, say, Ten Kingdoms.

 

"It would seem that someone got to them before we did. But who and to what end?" he asked himself as much as he did Web.

[Takhesis]

[Hmmm, I think Web has burned off some resonance with those images - since it terrified the living.... though that was partly the aim...]

 

Tinker was able to see the link between Web's Essence and the destructive images conjured - he could, if he looked closely enough that she didn't particularly enjoy frightening the Ambassadors in such a way. He would also be able to observe that Web was using more Essence than before.

 

The question of whether Abyssals had souls was a long debated one - with no side being able to provide conclusive evidence to end it. If guilt was a sign that a soul was still there - then Web's soul was present, if in a somewhat battered state.

 

At the end of it, Web felt drained - her personal store of Essence almost wiped out. She also had a headache, any more effort and her Mark would have slipped out. Plus it seemed that the previous visitor to the group used Essence that was rather resistant to her own - that meant one of two things: the Exalt was a Solar - or a very high level Dragon Blood.

 

Web didn't have enough information to tell, her limited Essence expenditure had left none spare to probe too deeply.

 

"It was indeed unusual." Web agreed with Tinker as they made their way through the corridors. "I can offer very little as explanation to who got there first and why they did."

 

She took a brief moment to organise her thoughts;

 

"First, the Who. The one that did it was an Exalt - one skilled with diplomacy and manipulation. One that advocates peace - that would be why they were eager to co-operate with each other and against a military force that could jeopardize the new peace."

 

Web then moved to the why:

 

"As for the why - that is a harder one. Encouraging mutual interests between the Kingdoms would assist in the motive of peace. However - to be completely against a force such as the Seventh could indicate one of two things:"

 

"One - the Exalt is still idealistic enough," or naïve enough, Web's mind added, "to believe that every problem can be solved over the table - and that military forces are unnecessary."

 

"Or two: the Exalt has some other reason to want the Seventh to fail - such as an affinity for the Realm."

[Mistress of Whispers]

"Another Exalt?" a flash of worry crossed Tinker's face. "How much trouble did their work give you? Are we dealing with a Dragonblooded or 'something else'?" His concern for Celestial or Abyssal interference remained unspoken, but the mild emphasis on the last words was enough to let Web know what he meant.

 

"We have a few hours before the Chumyo's adress; I suggest we return to the barracks to let them know what happened. And there is still the matter of persuading her to accept Thorns as a backer for artifacts - that should be... interesting." The tone of his voice suggested that it was not necessarily an 'interesting' experience that he looked forward to.

 

As they left the building, they passed a young Council Hall servant on her break. Basking in the radiance of the rising sun, the girl's long white hair had turned golden; obscuring her Nothern lineage. Mia watched the Lookshyan ambassadors while they walked by. She considered following them, but she didn't think the could use her Charms to soon again - not without her Caste Mark flaring, at least. Resolving that her time was better spent resting, she let herself sink into the background and remained where she was.

Edited October 18, 2013 by Mistress of Whispers

[Takhesis]

"Based on what I could tell from my - admittedly limited - Essence use it was either a high Essence Dragon Blood or a Solar." Web looked a bit sheepish, "If I could have used more Essence - I could have got a better feel for the opposing Exalt."

 

Web then explained why she'd dismissed Abyssal influence; knowing Tinker would want as much information as possible.

 

"An Abyssal wouldn't encourage peace - the fractured state of the Kingdoms favours them. Plus I'd recognise the 'feel' of it - even in brief contact. Whatever the Essence type - it was resistant to my own. Leading me to believe that it was either my 'mirror' or a high level Dragon Blood."

 

Web agreed, "It would be a good idea to report back. And the Thorns issue will certainly be an interesting conversation." If one-sided......

 

Web got the feeling that Shaya would be even more resistant to the idea if she tried to help...

[Mistress of Whispers]

While Mia sat basking in the light of her Celestial Patron, unbidden memories came to her; events that had created the path that led her being here, today, sabotaging the resurrection of the Seventh.

 

She had grown up in a Northern Satrapy - or near enough to the Satrap's borders that it made no difference - and the Realm had been a constant, though not ungentle, presence in her childhood. The Satrap's governor had been a mild-mannered man; collecting taxes even while compensating bad harvests with his own coin, and praising the Immaculate Faith even while turning a blind eye to peasants involved in spirit- or ancestor worship behind his back. It wasn't until Mia was eleven, when the village leaders and the governor had a dispute about allowing the Realm's Legions to pass through their territory, that she fully understood her village was not free and independent, but beholden to an Empress thousands and thousands of miles away.

 

Of course, the governor had won that dispute and over the next few days, scores and scores of soldiers and Dragonblooded officers trampled the village fields. She remembered how in awe she had been of the men and women in their resplendent blue jade armor, proudly carrying banners marked with a single circle and triangle form - a symbol that, she would learn much later, belonged to the then-powerful House Tepet. She wasn't the only one watching them, both awe-struck and fearful; if the Legions caused this much damage to the crops on their way to battle, imagine what they would do once they returned with carts laden full with prisoners, wounded and spoil.

 

But the Tepet Legions never returned. One night, Mia heard their screams on the winds. Horrible sounds of men and women dying while otherworldly horrors rent flesh and soul asunder and their blood seeped into the ground - deep into the ground, to the veil that separated worlds and then, made heavy with violence and suffering, *through* the veil. If the young child, clutching her head while she rolled on the ground in pain, had thought the screams and sounds of dying was bad, the whispers were worse. Drifting up from a place where no life could exist, they spoke of eternal pain and sweet oblivion. Just as she thought she would lose her sanity for the horror of it, Mia passed out and, the next day, all was quiet. There were no more screams; no more whispers. But when she investigated the site of the battle years later....

 

She shook her head, pushing the thoughts of those events away - she preferred not to empower Them by dwelling on it. Nevertheless, the experience had been a formative one and it was directly responsible for her actions today; if the Empress wanted Creation so badly, then so be it - better her than to let the Sleepers drag Creation under while Exalts spilled blood.

 

 

((Shall we start the next scene with the main group reunited back in the barracks?))

[Takhesis]

[sounds good to me - wonder what Shaya will make of the news of another Exalt working at cross-purposes?]

 

Arriving back at the Bronze Tigers compound, Web and Tinker made their way to the officer's quarters where they expected Shaya, Pheonix and Hanzo to be.

 

This would most likely be their last report before the council convened.

 

 

Pheonix was sitting in the corner - sketching out possible battle plans. Which she put aside as soon as the door opened at let in Tinker and Web.

[Mistress of Whispers]

Shaya looked up as Tinker and Web returned. She had memorized her speech - as well as she could - and she was ready to 'get to work'. However, she realized that her performance, due in a few hours, would only be the icing on the cake; it was the two impromptu ambassadors who had done the legwork.

 

"How did it go?" she inquired. "Any problems we should be aware of?"

 

Tinker gestured for Web to speak, since she had been the one to experience the 'problem' first-hand. Besides, he still needed to sell Shaya on accepting Thorns as a supporter and he figured he should save his persuasiveness for that task.

 

 

[Takhesis]

Taking Tinker's cue, Web started her report.

 

"It went smoothly - for the most part. However, it seems there is another party at work around the council."

 

"While convincing the Hundred Kingdoms to put aside their differences - so that they could spare foot soldiers for the new Seventh - I encountered pre-influenced ambassadors. The influence made them pro-peace and trade, but anti-Seventh."

 

"I tapped what remained of my Essence reserves to influence them in favour of the Seventh. The previous influence was not normal - another Exalt must have been behind it."

 

Web looked sheepish again, as she ended the report with an admission of a partial failure.

 

"If my Exaltation wouldn't have jeopardized things - I could have found out more about the other Exalt. All I could determine from countering the influence with the limitations in place was that it was either another Solar or a high Essenced Dragon Blood.... and whoever it was probably knows that their work is now countered."

[Mistress of Whispers]

"Another Exalt?" Shaya wasn't surprised - something as significant as rebuilding the Seventh was bound to attract some major players - but she *was* puzzled.

 

"To what end? I can't imagine a Celestial Exalt opposing the new army; they should be happy that we're preparing to take the Empress and her Wyld Hunt down a peg. But a Dynastic Dragonblooded, while having a reason to sabotage us, has no cause to foster peace in the Hundred Kingdoms; if anything, the Empress benefits from having us as fractured as possible."

 

"So who then? And why?" She included Pheonix and Hanzo in the question as well as Web and Tinker. Perhaps one of them could come up with a plausible scenario, because Shaya herself was at a loss.

[Takhesis]

Web considered the scenarios that Shaya presented - and agreed that neither option seemed rather likely.

 

Pheonix spoke up - asking the first thing that came to mind:

 

"Could it have been a non-Dynastic Dragonblood? They'd have enough reason to oppose the Seventh - the Doctrine of the Immaculates still favours them - and yet still wish to see peace in the Hundred Kingdoms."

 

Web considered the suggestion,

 

"It is possible. Though from my understanding most non-Dynastic Dragonbloods were allied to Lookshy.... which doesn't make sense that they'd want the Seventh to fail."

 

 

[Perhaps Hanzo could bring up his theory of a Traitor to Lookshy again? That would poke a whole in Web's logical objection to Pheonix's idea? Plus more confusion is always fun....]

[Biologist]

Hanzo thought on it a moment. It didn't make sense. Everyone knew that negotiations with the Realm meant becoming its vassal state, which was another word for occupied territory. So why advocate peace and surrendering to the Realm as well? He saw several possibilities and he carefully voiced his theories to the others:

 

"There are a few possibilities. We shouldn't discard the Realm as possible suspect. "Hanzo started to count the possible suspects on his fingers.

 

"It could be that 'they' want peace in the Hundred Kingdoms. The kingdoms are geared for war, because of their continual strife. If they had to change to peaceful coexistence and trade, they would need to change their tactics and rearrange their fighting forces from readiness for external threats to internal policing. It would take time and in that time, they are vulnerable for invasion from the Realm." He looked to see if the others thought it made sense, moving onto his next theory after a short pause.

 

"It could be someone who wants war, but has his own ideas about an army and wishes to make sure the Seventh isn't the army to get the job. A warlord or the head of a mercenary army could be deliberately sabotaging our plan to get famous and rich. There is a lot of money and prestige to be had with being the leader of the army of the River Province." Hanzo thought it would be an extremely selfish and petty person who would do this. It was almost inconceivable for his Lookshyan loyalty driven mind, but he had to consider it.

 

"It also could be someone who wants peace at all costs. Someone who would rather have the Realm take over the River Province than fighting yet another war. Step one would be doing away with the army that keeps us free and safe. No soldiers means: no war." Hanzo couldn't believe someone would be that naïve, but again, it was a possibility.

 

"It is also possible that someone is just trying to sabotage us for no other reason than to… well, sabotage us. Someone who knows about the destruction of Lookshy, someone who may have even been an accomplice to… whoever disabled the defense mechanism of the Lookshy Manse." He swallowed hard, the loss of his home still a fresh wound. "That would make it personal."

 

He looked at the people gathered around him: the Chumyo and her Lieutenant, Tinker and Web. He tried to discern what they thought of his wild theories. Assisting the Master Artificer of Lookshy had meant he had been required to think outside the box and come up with crazy theories, just to tickle the mind of his superior. He didn't know whether the Chumyo worked like that as well.

 

[Mistress of Whispers]

Shaya listened to Pheonix and Hanzo. While her Lieutenant's theories were pretty straight forward, the engineer's made her head spin. Still, she knew that was through no fault on his part, but rather on hers; Shaya was a warrior and (blessedly, she thought) unaccustomed to the complexities of political scheming - she wouldn't recognize a plot unless it hit her over the head.

 

She carefully weighed what everyone had said before trying: "I think Hanzo's ideas of an internal traitor -" he voice had a hard edge as she considered a Lookshyan infiltrant betraying his own people "-or a rival warlord seeking to rise to power in the vacuum, make the most sense."

 

"What does the rest of you think?" she added in deference to the fact that, when it came to politics, her mind was not the keenest in the group.

 

Tinker nodded thoughtfully, though he did not offer any vocal agreement. The two theories that Shaya had selected were indeed the most plausible, but something just didn't 'feel' right about them. Still, he realized that voicing his concerns without anything concrete to go on, would simply have the discussion going around in endless circles; it was better to remain silent for now - maybe he could confer with his 'colleagues' later to get their unique perspectives later.

Edited October 21, 2013 by Mistress of Whispers

[Takhesis]

Pheonix wasn't good at politics either, so she left the convoluted thinking to the Engineer and the Abyssal.

 

Though she did remember Hanzo's earlier concern of a traitor just after Lookshy's destruction - which was why she suggested a non-Dynastic Dragonblood.

 

It seemed Hanzo must have had the same thoughts - among other ones.

 

Web listened to Hanzo's theories - all of them made sense. The third option did coincide with her initial thoughts shared with Tinker. Though all of them were plausible.

 

To Shaya;

 

"The rival warlord would have to be an Exalt - or at least have access to one. The main problem with the situation comes in the lack of the identification of the Exaltation type. That would give a better idea of who and what we're dealing with."

 

Web came up with an idea - though it was one that couldn't work with the time constraints, but it may be worth a shot - if Shaya agreed.

 

"If there was more time beforehand I'd ask permission to cross back to the Underworld to recuperate my Essence faster - so I could try to discern the Exaltation's nature. I suspect the Exalt will be - if not present in the council meeting itself - nearby to observe the results."

 

The Underworld wasn't the only option to restore Essence - but Web really didn't think Shaya would go for the other choice..... the drinking of blood was not accepted in general society. The chances were that very few knew of that restoration process - it would depend on how much study they had taken in the more esoteric occult rituals.