Dawn of the Third Age/IC Logs/Session 52

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Virgil: The Deliberative

Virgil: The recess that was called after Brazen's outburst and the shouting match that ensued is still going

Virgil: Many Deliberators using the time to chat amongst themselves and convince others of their points of view on various matters in a more rational calm matter

Shrike: Outside the main chamber, Shrike leans against a wall, eyes closed as she tries to calm herself.

Nomoe_Hideaki: is mingling and politicking as usual, fishing for information, trying to win allies, perhaps a manipulation or two, all under the guise of harmless and polite smalltalk.

Brazen_Sand: Brazen is just sitting uncharacteristically quietly, clearly lost in thought.

Brazen_Sand: The business with Skullstone has been emotionally draining for him.

Virgil: Darkest Dawn breaks off from talking with a taller man, who is dressed in black leathers and wearing some sort of slim black laquered orichalcum and adamant backpack and comes to speak with Brazen. He just shakes his head and disappears off somewhere into the crowd, no doubt socialisng as dozens of other Deliberators are.

Brazen_Sand: "Yes?" Brazen asked

Virgil: Shrike meanwhile, heres a cheery voice chime up. "Now you look unhappy. A beautiful woman shouldn't be." The voice is cheerful if slightly reproving.

Shrike: Shrike looks up as she hears the voice, and manages a bit of a smile. "Considering what just happened, I think I have a bit of a right to be unhappy," she says with a sardonic chuckle.

Virgil: Nomoe hears many people gossiping. Several topics hot on various lips

~Siran_Bhavna: Siran arrives a bit late, and soon feels a sense of relief that she wasn't present for the shouting match earlier

Virgil: Several Deliberators may well be in trouble later in the session for various reasons. Political agitation is at an all time high, various members pushing their own political projects and worried about the appetites of their peers.

Virgil: Certainly Brazen's outburst and possible war with the Silver Prince are on everyone's tongues but also the fate of the Southern Crusade. And sporadic problems with Infernal in the Eastern Wyld.

Virgil: Several Lunars and a few Solars are now pushing for a Northern Crusade, the large shadowlands to the north leaving little of their former homes within Creation's boundaries, and those that are in danger.

Virgil: Snow when she has been about has been one of them.

Virgil: There is also talk ogf the Upcoming Heaven and Earth invitational, many among the Deliberative are Martial Arts fans and still more would favour the chance to meet their patron's even for a day.

Nomoe_Hideaki: Having seen Atheon move among the crowd Nomoe tries to make sure that their paths meet.

~Siran_Bhavna: Siran seeks out Shrike, feeling that she's established a rapport with the other woman in their time in the west.

Shrike: Shrike can be found outside the deliberative chamber, with the mystery person speaking to her

Brazen_Sand: "What is it? Come to scold me or something?" Brazen asked Darkest Day

Virgil: Nomoe finds several people talking at Atheon, who is smiling and nodding, the tall, leather clad northerner wearing a scowl.

~Siran_Bhavna: Siran nods to Shrike and her mystery interlocutor.

Shrike: Shrike nods back, sighing slightly

Virgil: Darkest Dawn nods her head. "Quite the opposite, Brazen. You did well. It is a shame that creation seems to have made war far less agreeable than both you and I feel it should be."

Brazen_Sand: Brazen's face flared in anger. "You think I want war? You weren't there. You didn't see what I did. You were far away on some ship. So don't act like you know what I do."

Brazen_Sand: "You didn't see what happened to those people, all you ddi was see the aftermath."

Nomoe_Hideaki: won't be so gauche as to interrupt, but clearly positions himself to approach Atheon the moment he is free, continuing a conversation of no consequence with one of the more chattier Deliberators in the meantime.

Virgil: A small child turns to look at Siran as she arrives and while his back is turned Shrike uses the opportunity to slip away. "Ah, he bows deeply." His red eyes shining in the dark. "Always a pleasure to meet another Child of Mars. I am Peace and War."

~Siran_Bhavna: Siran returns his polite bow. "I've heard of you in my visits to the Crimson Panoply."

Virgil: "You think this hasn't happened before Brazen." Dawn's eyes are angry but her tone is cold. And her eyes flicker to the nearby Deliberators. "Try being from one of the Kingdom's now claimed by that bastard. Try bearing a weapon presented to you with the tormented souls of your dead parents. War is too good for that bastard, but it is the resource we have at our disposal to punish him."

Virgil: She then whirls and begins to move away.

Brazen_Sand: "Wait!" Brazen called out

Virgil: She ignores him and before Brazen can go after him, several other Deliberators take her place. "Deliberator Sand, a moment please."

Brazen_Sand: He sighed resignedly. "Yes? what is it?" He asked quietly.

Virgil: "I Tasigator Ask, would like to hear more of what you witnessed. I am assembling a case for War and a case against for argument in the Deliberative and would be happy if you could lay it out for me more clearly."

Brazen_Sand: "I suppose I could tell you what I saw. Not much more then what the report said. They had some kind of giant dragon machine made out of soulsteel. It destroyed dragon lines somehow and burnt entire islands with pyreflame. That stuff never goes out, did you know that? The Yozis taught me that. If you put some pyreflame in a cave that doesn't touch sunlight, it will burn forever."

Brazen_Sand: "I dunno what to say. We need to do something, but if they can send more of those things out, then the cost would be huge."

Virgil: "Thank you gentlemen for your 'opinions' on how I'm supposed to do my job. Now if you'll excuse me I'm sure everyone else in the chamber would like to do likewise." He sweeps past both of them, with one looking deeply indignat, Nomoe recognises his as the Lunar who had picked a fight with Brazen on the beach several months before. He glares at both Atheon and Nomoe before moving off.

Virgil: "Burn forever you say." He pulls out a notebook and starts noting this down. "Interesting and the warmachine you describe sounds like one of our Thousand-Fold Dragon designs. Left over from one of my previous incarnations obsession with doomsday weapons, though it seems the Prince's abyssal engineers have editted it quite ingeniously."

Brazen_Sand: "Uhhh...I guess so. What do you mean we? Do we have those things? They're monstrous, and coming from me, that's saying something."

Virgil: The Twilight looks slightly sickened at his last sentence. "Anything else? I assumed you'd know more on a case for such a thing,"

Virgil: Atheon turns to Nomoe, "Deliberator, what can I do for you The backpack he is wearing catches Nomoe's eye as well as though it is slight it is near imoissible to properly conceal

Brazen_Sand: "They didn't send in all their forces, so there's not much I can say. They took apart the Concordant with just a couple of those Thousand-Fold Dragons like tissue paper, and one of them blew themselves up and destroyed an entire island. It's a Shadowland now."

Virgil: The child looks pleased. "And I you Siran Bhavana, the Crimson Meteor, Bright Standard of our war efforts. It is hard to be a chosen of Mars next to you, especially one who is not allowed to be involved in the front line."

Virgil: Shrike can see the two Chosen of Mars talking from where she has slipped away from. Listening to the chatter.

Shrike: Shrike does indeed see them, and watches with mild interest, listening in.

~Siran_Bhavna: Siran chuckles dryly. "Sometimes I think the only reason they let me stay there is because it would be too much trouble to recall me. You know as well as I do how desperate the Bureau is to get more Sidereals in Heaven to help manage the Loom."

Nomoe_Hideaki: bows politely. "Deliberator Atheon, thank you for allowing me a moment of your precious time." With only the bare minimum of pleasantries Nomoe moves right on to business. "Deliberator, allow me to present on behalf of the isle's rulers the offer to use Damon's Isle as Deliberative base and strong point."

Virgil: "And there are many, myself included, that that was never our job. Our place is in Creation, not Yu-Shan and though we have done much good their we have neglected our original duties and allowed our patrons to grow... lax." He hesitates over the last word, muttering something under his breath immediately after he says it

Nomoe_Hideaki: "No doubt your strategic assessment of the advantages and disadvantages will be more acute than mine by orders of magnitude, so I will waste no breath on it. I would be pleased to discuss the matter further, of course."

Virgil: "Interesting." He scribles some more in the notepad. "And did you see any other of their forces. You don't give me terribly much to go on. I may ave to approach far less approachable people to find out." He says sadly.

Brazen_Sand: "Some Abyssals showed up the day before to try to talk to those on Damon's Isle. They were rebuffed pretty quickly. Otherwise, no, I didn't see any other forces. They didn't *need* any other forces. Doesn't that tell you something right there?"

~Siran_Bhavna: "Mmmm. I spend as little time in Heaven as I can help, but everything I've heard suggests that the Incarnae are spending less time at the Games and more time personally attending to their responsibilities," Siran stresses the word "personally" ever so slightly.

Virgil: "Not really." Ask says sadly. "Among the Deliberative Armed Forces Armouries, we have Eleven of those War Machines that are publically acknowldged. Not including one of which that was deployed during the first days of the Realm Civil War before the seizing of the Imperial Manse."

Virgil: "Sad to say we have likely to to three times that in real numbers I don't doubt."

Brazen_Sand: Brazen could only shrug. "I'm sorry, I can only tell you what I saw, and what I saw was enough."

Virgil: Atheon looks rather surprised. "Interesting Deliberator. You are perhaps the first man tonight who hasn't been trying to tell me how I should be controlling the Western situation and that in itself has won you at least a day of my time." He doesn't really smile but certainly his face lightens.

Brazen_Sand: "There was nothing glorious or heroic about what I saw. Just pain and suffering."

Virgil: "I would still suggest they waste to much time on the Games or else as many of us would not be needed. Certainly..." He cuts off and pauses a moment. "Though you may have a point. It could after all be worse." Peace and War shrugs

Shrike: Shrike nods a little as she listens in, areeing with Siran

Nomoe_Hideaki: inclines his head slightly in thanks. "I'm sure your people and mine can work out a convenient time for us to talk about it." He gestures slightly at the bustle all around. "Without so many other pressures on each of our's attention."

~Siran_Bhavna: Siran shrugs. "Certainly more Sidereals would be available for duty in the field, were that the case. But Creation would still need all of us; the Creation-Ruling Mandate makes clear that the gods are not to interfere with the ruling of Creation."

Virgil: Their is a gong sti

Virgil: A gong strike which signals the resumption of the session

Shrike: '"But is that 'interfere (broadly construed)'?" Shrike can't resist asking.

Virgil: People being to filter back into the hall

Shrike: She makes no move to rejoin the session.

Brazen_Sand: Brazen stomped back into the session, towering over everyone

~Siran_Bhavna: Siran turns to look at Shrike. "The intent of the Mandate is that the gods should maintain their domains and contribute to the proper functioning of Creation accordingly - and leave the actual business of ruling to us, the Exalted Host." She starts to head into the chamber. "You are not returning?"

Nomoe_Hideaki: Their business finished for the moment Nomoe takes his leave from Atheon with a respectful bow and resumes his seat in the chamber.

Shrike: "Considering what happened when I was in there earlier I'm tempted to -never- return," Shrike says with a sigh, then mutters under her breath: "bunch of low-down, no-good, rassin-frackin' head-in-sand peaceniks..."

Virgil: "And you would view the Loom, housed in Heaven and effecting Creation only indirectly as interference then?" Peace and War makes no move to move either. "And they aren't peaceniks. " He looks incredulous, "Well at least most of them aren't."

Virgil: "Most just see the West as a waste of time and resources compared to the other directions, Oceans being less of value in our continued wars than firedust or jade or land." He shrugs, "Of the directions, the west is the least populated and therefore in the most rational way the least important of those territories we need to retake. It is also the one we are not currently or on the verge of going to war with."

Virgil: He turns and heads towards the session."

~Siran_Bhavna: Siran shakes her head. "No. The Loom is part of maintaining Creation's proper functions. And they really aren't peaceniks, Shrike. The problem is that we're facing war on all fronts against multiple enemies, and we can only properly fight on one front at a time - although considering an entire Direction as a single front is a little ridiculous to me."

Shrike: "Unfortunatly, the ones that -are-, while smaller in number perhaps, are louder than the ones who aren't," Shrike says with a huff. "And I'd call unleashing a Soulsteel Thousand-Fold Dragon 'on the verge of going to war'...

Shrike: "

Shrike: "...but fine, I'll go in and take my medicine like a good little girl," she adds, half sarcastic and half light-hearted.

Virgil: The session resumes. Ziyad stands. "Now I feel that such an outburst should be addressed and addressed quickly, despite procedure. So I now bring forward all issues concerning the East and start by opening the floor to whomever wants to make any speeches."

Virgil: "I will however NOT have any outbursts of the like that prematurely ended this session last time."

Virgil: "Let proper decorum be followed or those that break it will be banned from this and possibly future sessions of this Council."

Virgil: He then yields the floor.

Shrike: Shrike steps promptly forwards to take the floor.

Shrike: "Deliberators, I can understand your positions and reluctance to consider expanded operations, I honestly can. But while peace in our time is admirable, when you've come face-to-face with a soulsteel Thousand-Fold Dragon -

Shrike: attacking Concordat shipping, yes, but literally within running distance of the coast of our islands - and saw people burning alive in green inextinguishable fire, you'd understand that there are some forces that, for all their charm and politeness, cannot be dealt with by anything other than force of arms, and total destruction.

Shrike: "There will be no lasting peace until the forces of the Silver Prince have been eliminated, and the Prince himself either slain or returned to that which he once, ages ago, was."

Shrike: "Thank you."

Virgil: A Lunar stands, mostly to ask questions of Shrike. "And..." He looks down at something... "Deliberator Shrike. What makes you rate this Silver Prince higher than his fellows? Whitewall and the Deliberative forces around it fight back daily incursions by the Fae, the Restless dead and the crazed cultists of the Bishop preaching his litany of Death and Destruction."

Virgil: "Meanwhile the Lover with one hand raids our Eastern and Northern Forces and sows cults of pleasure that subvert our holdings their

Virgil: "In the South, three Infernals have built a Empire of Brass and Red Glass. They treat with all manner of our foes and stall our existing war efforts."

Virgil: "Near Rathess, the forces of the Underworld are in open warfare with our Crusade cutting supply lines and have slaughtered two cities of Varangian's. My people."

Virgil: "They use the weapons no less as ruthless, monstrosities so hideous I choose not to filthy this hall with their presence. Weapons that make the Dragon's seem civilised."

Virgil: "What makes you think, this one Deathlord. This one who for the moment keeps the peace, should be the focus of our attention other than heaps of dead not our own."

Shrike: Shrike arches an eyebrow. "Those are all good points. And I feel for your losses," the redhead says, bowing her head respectfully. "However, I would ask one question of you."

Shrike: "What is his motive for keeping the peace?"

Shrike: "Why is he so different, on the surface, at least, from the other Deathlords? Is it because he is a kinder, gentler Deathlord?"

Nomoe_Hideaki: nods seriously in response to the Lunar's speech but does not go so far as to applaud.

Shrike: "Or is it because he knows that his fellows can batter and weaken us, while we treat with him, leaving his forces untouched - to swoop in in our moment of weakness after these other forces have worn us down?"

Shrike: "Perhaps immediate conflict is not the answer, but smiling and breaking bread with him as if he were our friend is not at all the answer either."

~Siran_Bhavna: Siran stands. "Deliberator Shrike, I know of no-one in this chamber who would suggest that the Silver Prince does not need to be dealt with in time, and I personally have no doubt you are correct in your evaluation of his motives."

~Siran_Bhavna: "However, with war upon us on so many fronts, I do not believe that opening yet another is the proper course of action."

Shrike: Shrike gives a small nod in Siran's direction, seemingly conceding the pont - for now.

~Siran_Bhavna: "On the other hand, some response is clearly necessary. I would propose holding naval exercises in the area, possibly including a test-firing of the Sword, to remind the Prince that though the bulk of our forces may be elsewhere, we are not defenseless in the West."

Brazen_Sand: "I agree." Brazen interjected

Virgil: "I think test firing the sword is a little much, but Naval Exercises in the area would be advisable." Says Darkest Dawn, "The Surface Fleet however is still the weakest of ourforces, not getting anywhere near the support of the Sky Fleet or the Army." There is a some bitterness in her voice

~Siran_Bhavna: "If the Surface fleet is our weakest force, all the more reason to emphasize the point with the Sword," Siran points out.

Brazen_Sand: "We need to show that we can't be bossed around and have more to us then just the Realm Grid or whatever it's called."

Virgil: "Perhaps we should redirect some more production capacity towards it?" Suggests Star. "It has always been low on the list of priorities, and Starrcc Industries would be happy to provide, though it may slow arrangements for the other Crusades

Nomoe_Hideaki: follows the debate quietly for the moment

~Siran_Bhavna: "I believe that would be a good idea, but I believe we need to respond sooner than new ships will be available."

Virgil: "I was speaking of solving a more long term problem, Deliberator." Starcc says from where the majority of the Grand Circle are sat. "Especially if the pro-war camp gets its way."

Virgil: "Doea anyone else wish to speak?" Ziyad says, "Or shall I call for a vote?"

Nomoe_Hideaki: nods. Sanken's production capabilities are strained enough by the Eastern Crusade and even if another Deliberative contract will add to Starcc's powerbase, well, he still owes the man.

Virgil: "The vote for War?" Ziyad announces as votes are cast.

Virgil: The Deliberative mostly does not go for war, the effects of Siran's speech counter-acting most of the ill considered bravo of Shrikes. Still more of the Deliberative remains in favour of doing something about the Silver Prince and so Ziyad calls for a vote on Siran's proposition,

Virgil: Siran's proposal passes near unanimously, most of the hall voting in favour.

Virgil: Ziyad stands up, lastly Ambassador, you wished to convay the words of the Prince to us from last time you visited him on behalf of the Deliberative

Brazen_Sand: Brazen is quite satisfied

Virgil: He points to a Chosen of Serenity who stands sharply

Virgil: "Deliberator Arbariy Rynn, the floor is yours." Ziyad says.

Virgil: "The Silver Prince would be very displeased were he to hear of this. By his own words this was precautionary: For many years there has been proof that the Concordant has been trying to develop their manufacturing base to be capable of fielding large scale war machines and he recently recieved information they had succeeded."

Virgil: "This action was preemptory. The casualties a sad reflection of what would have happened to either one of our settlements or one of his. Even now he selflessly works to aid the ghosts made in the strike pass on or accept his leadership, making them productive and non-violent. Hereby increasing the safety of the area and hopefully strengthing his strong alliance with the Deliberative."

Virgil: "He wants the Deliberative to be aware of this and the transcript of his spies information can be located within the Deliberative archives, as can a series of images taken by a Everlasting Glory Recording Device of the weapons factories."

Virgil: "Lastly, he would like the Deliberative to publically censure Deliberator Nomoe, for being both undiplomatic but power hungry and greedy. Trying to use this tragedy to claim the entire island chain not just for the Deliberative (which he would find mostly acceptable except for the parts that now reside mostly within the underworld) but because Deliberator Nomoe was blatently grabbing them for himself."

Nomoe_Hideaki: idly raises one hand to indicate to Ziyad that he would speak after Brazen

Brazen_Sand: Brazen stood up. "He is, and I know that this is not your fault, Ambassador, lying! I went through many Concordant holdings and I saw nothing of the kind. How could they be building these highly powerful weapons without any sign of them? Especially without Celestial backing!"

Brazen_Sand: "Also, isn't it suspicious that the attack, because that's what it was, came right after a group of Abyssal diplomats were firmly rebuffed from the island?"

Nomoe_Hideaki: Nomoe Hideaki stands, his expression somewhere between amusement and annoyance. "No doubt we will find a very convincing story laid out in these intelligence so kindly provided, but ...." Nomoe shakes his head sadly.

Nomoe_Hideaki: "You have heard the testimony of Lord Brazen Sand, but even without eye witnesses to prove that ghost a liar we all know that this was no more than a pretext for his violent and needlessly cruel murder and subjugation of innocents."

Nomoe_Hideaki: "In an unprovoked attack his forces killed at least X human beings - people who, though they were not wise enough to recognize it themselves, were for us to protect. Damaged the tapestry of Creation and its dragonlines, which it is our sacred duty - all our duty as Exalted - to protect."

Brazen_Sand: "Here here!" Brazen said

Nomoe_Hideaki: (insert "750 thousand" for X)

Nomoe_Hideaki: Nomoe sighs. "It is symptomatic of the so-called Prince's attitude that in the face of such brazen violation of the spirit of the treaty, if not its letter, he still presumes to make demands - demands of us, the Celestial Deliberative!"

Nomoe_Hideaki: Nomoe waits for a beat for the outrage in his voice to fully reverberate through the Deliberative Chamber, before continuing in a grave tone. "I for one think such arrogance and presumption merit a reply in kind. The Silver Prince must know that it is not for him to command this Celestial Deliberative."

Nomoe_Hideaki: Nomoe allows for applause, then bows and sits down again.

Virgil: "For all your speeches Deliberator Nomoe, he seems to describe your actions quite accuractely." Says Enor from one corner of the hall, "You've been snatching up territory left and right, like a spoilt brat in a Sweet Shop. Such as the Metaplunaga matter or for that matter what business took you west anyway? I was unaware that House Nomoe had holdings outside of the East?"

Virgil: There is some scattered applause, less os than Nomoe has come to expect before Enor begins his speech.

Virgil: " I say this in no service to the Silver Prince, who seems only slightly less of a pretentious arse than you yourself Deliberator but surely your wanton greed could well have proked at least some of this?"

Nomoe_Hideaki: "You'll want to retract your insult, Deliberator Enor," Nomoe says softly and kindly, raising smoothly to answer the Lunar's attack on his face. "We must maintain order in these halls after all, must we not?"

Nomoe_Hideaki: He waits no longer than a heartbeat before continuing: "Despite the coarse tone of my esteemed peer's ejaculation, I will provide him with the facts of which he seems to be sadly misinformed: I traveled to the West bound by my word to fulfill obligations to my friends and allies."

Nomoe_Hideaki: "I was reunited with long lost family there, fearful for their lives faced with the Silver Prince and the Concordant. I further found potent agents of the Silver Prince attempting to subvert and subjugate my own and claim the whole region for their master."

Nomoe_Hideaki: Nomoe makes a small gesture. "Obviously I objected, politely asking them to leave and taking steps to protect my own against their threats of future violence. When soulsteel weapons devastated parts of the region as the closest Deliberative representative I stepped in to protect what remained of the island chain's populace and secure Deliberative control of the region."

Nomoe_Hideaki: "Base greed or indeed any thought of personal advancement was no relevant factor in these decisions," he pauses just a moment for effect, "as Heaven is my witness." And the Eclipse Anima surrounds him with blazing symbols as his words are affirmed.

Virgil: "Insults have long been a political ploy between equals Nomoe Hideaki. Just because your authoritarian mind-controlled puppet state follows your polite code of manners so correctly does not mean others will or choose to."urthermore what stops some little lost branch of your family from cropping up in my territory? Or any of yours?"

Virgil: HE points around the room, picking out members of the crowd at random, including Snow who just snuck in

Virgil: She glances from him to Nomoe...

Bright_Snow: */ Trouble? / Amusement and Fatigue./*

Bright_Snow: She is covered in dust and dried blood but looks happy enough.

Nomoe_Hideaki: Nomoe's eyes follow Enor's finger to Bright Snow for just a moment. *cool calculation, concentration, then surprise and joy /Nothing I can't deal with, my mate. And you?/*

Virgil: */Busy training, organising my own crusade./*

Virgil: Several people mutter at Enor's words casting glares at Nomoe, but most are either not paying any attention to either or seem sided with rather than against Nomoe

Nomoe_Hideaki: Nomoe stands tall and dignified. "I'll nonetheless not stoop to that niveau." He spreads his hands in a gesture to encompass the chamber. "I think the question you /mean/ to ask," there is some subtle derision in the emphasis, "is what would the consequence of such an event be?"

Nomoe_Hideaki: "Why, you need merely look at the Deliberative laws to see that. To wit," Nomoe begins to quote, "established sovereign territory of any Deliberator shall remain so unless stated otherwise by a decisive Deliberative majority."

Virgil: Ziyad stands clearly bored by the proceedings. "If no one has any actions they wish voted on, then can we proceed?"

Nomoe_Hideaki: His point made Nomoe bows to Ziyad, and a second time more shallowly to Enor, and sits down.