Dawn of the Third Age/IC Logs/Session 63

Session Start (Deliberative:#celestialdeliberative): Sun Feb 12 13:11:44 2012 -0500

[13:11] *** Shrike has joined #celestialdeliberative

[13:11] *** Topic on #celestialdeliberative is: Exalted: Dawn of the Third Age - Who the hell do you think we are?

[13:11] *** Topic set by dakkareth (9 hours ago at 4:16 AM)

[13:12] <Brazen_Sand> "We just need to sneak into Malfeas, get into the Thing, then steal Lillun and leave..."

[13:12] <Bright_Snow> "Sounds like suicide. Were you responsible for this?" Snow says with a raised eyebrow.

[13:12] <Brazen_Sand> Brazen didn't quite sound sarcastic, but it could be read that way.

[13:12] <Brazen_Sand> Brazen shook his head. "Hey, I never planned on dragging you guys with me, and I never told the Grand Deliberative about that stuff."

[13:13] <Shrike> "What stuff, hm?" Shrike asks, entering the room where Brazen and Snow are talking in mid-conversation, a small smirk on the redheaded Solar's face.

[13:14] <Brazen_Sand> "The Sun told me to free teh Infernal Exaltations from the yozis control. Then I would be removed from his roll of enemies."

[13:14] * Nomoe_Hideaki has been silent for a minute, looking thoughtful

[13:15] <Anshu> Kaida Vanida is there as well, for now simply listening. Nomoe has been entrusted with the key for the Manacles of Night she wears.

[13:16] <Shrike> "Ahh, I see. That sounds like a task worthy of your mighty powers, Lord Brazen of the Sands."

[13:19] <Brazen_Sand> "Oh of course. I just thought I'd have more time."

[13:20] <Brazen_Sand> "Still, I may have some ideas."

[13:22] <Nomoe_Hideaki> Finally Nomoe sighs. "The logic is compelling. It would be a counter-stroke that would at once demonstrate the strength of the Deliberative and weaken the opposition. If it can be done without unacceptable losses."

[13:24] <Nomoe_Hideaki> His death or that of Bright Snow would certainly be unacceptable, even for such gain.

[13:26] <Shrike> "Or any losses, if at all possible," Shrike adds, leaning against the wall and sipping the drink she carries in her hand.

[13:26] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "There is at least one Sidereal alive who should be capable of invoking the Greater Sign of Mercury. With their assistance it would not be a suicide mission, even should we fail."

[13:27] <Nomoe_Hideaki> *apologetic /I know you do not trust them, and certainly for good reason, but that particular ability would change the entire tactical situation .../*

[13:29] <Brazen_Sand> "And if we can't do it, then we do as much damage as we can until we die."

[13:30] <Brazen_Sand> He growled.

[13:32] <Shrike> "That would be quite a lot of damage, as I have no intention whatsoever of dying anytime in the next few centuries," Shrike comments, eyebrow raised and smirking once more.

[13:33] <Brazen_Sand> Brazen sighed. "We need to go plan this out somewhere private." He said to the others.

[13:33] <Brazen_Sand> He was really serious for once.

[13:34] * Shrike merely nods

[13:36] <Anshu> "Private from whom?" Kaida asks. "I think I should be permitted some input, since I will be going with you."

[13:36] <Brazen_Sand> "Yeah, fine. We'll try to think of something to do with you."

[13:36] <Brazen_Sand> Brazen said, rolling his eyes. He wasn't sure what use she would be.

[13:38] <Bright_Snow> */Living is better than dying... however do we truly trust them not to leave us there/ Intense distrust/*

[13:39] <Bright_Snow> "As to somewhere private... I have a place..." Snow ventures quietly after listening to the others contributions.

[13:39] <Brazen_Sand> "Good! Is it large enough for all of us?" Brazen asked

[13:39] <Brazen_Sand> With the unspoken meaning "is it big enough for *me*"

[13:43] <Nomoe_Hideaki> *assent, though there is no specific suspicion or distrust for him /Preparing alternate plans in case of failure for whatever reason is always wise. We won't rely on that as our only possibility of getting out again./*

[13:46] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "Brazen Sand, please," Nomoe admonishes the ex-Infernal gently. There is no need to be this rude, even if she did arguably betray them all.

[13:48] <Shrike> "There will be roles enough for all of us to play. Some of us will play them well," Shrike says, leaving no doubt which category she intends to be in.

[13:49] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "We would not want to impose ..." he says to Bright Snow's offer, a polite set phrase in Sanken culture.

[13:56] <Bright_Snow> "If you would be kind enough to shrink it should fit us all comfortably."

[13:56] <Brazen_Sand> Brazen sighed in irritation. "Fine, but I'll be visible for miles. Hope it doesn't have too many windows."

[13:56] <Bright_Snow> "I would request use of the Wings of Mela to convay us their, it is in a somewhat out of the way place. But should provide us all the privacy we require."

[13:58] <Bright_Snow> "Well then you shall have to wait outside. I am sure you can be made comfortable."

[13:59] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "Of course," Hideaki nods, "you have it."

[13:59] <Brazen_Sand> "Doesn't that kind of cancel out the purpose of planning together?"

[14:00] <Shrike> "We could always adopt an open-door policy."

[14:02] <Brazen_Sand> "This is why I don't usually plan things." Brazen said, running his claws through his mane.

[14:05] <Bright_Snow> "Well we could always plan somewhere else." Snow says with a sigh. "Especially as Brazen is impractical. I should remember that covert and him go together as well as Ice and Fire."

[14:06] <Brazen_Sand> "That's part of the plan!" Brazen pointed out

[14:08] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "We have to work with what we have," Nomoe says, his tone resigned.

[14:09] * Shrike nods in agreement with Nomoe

[14:10] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "Since these eminent Deliberators approached us we must conclude that either there are no true Celestial-level covert operatives with a track record similar to ours, or that they have declined the mission."

[14:10] <Brazen_Sand> "I do have the best track record at doing awesome things, after all. It's sort of my thing." Brazen pointed out proudly.

[14:11] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "Since we can therefore at best be semi-covert ... " He sighs.

[14:13] <Brazen_Sand> "Also I'm the only one who can get into the Thing." Brazen said smugly.

[14:14] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "Oh? Why is that?"

[14:15] <Anshu> "He bears an Infernal Exaltation, and therefore the Thing will recognize him and allow him entry."

[14:15] <Brazen_Sand> "Easy. Only Green Sun Princes can walk into it. If anyone else tries, you just get kind of teleported to the other side."

[14:15] <Brazen_Sand> Brazen nodded at the Empress. Impressive.

[14:16] <Brazen_Sand> "So unless you want to become Akuma, I'm your ticket in."

[14:16] <Shrike> "I'll think I'll take a pass on Akira," Shrike interjects, mostly listening intently.

[14:17] <Bright_Snow> "Won't you be recognised as a traitor to the Yozi though?"

[14:19] <Brazen_Sand> �

[14:19] *** Brazen_Sand has left #celestialdeliberative

[14:20] *** Anshu is now known as Kaida_Vanida

[14:20] *** Brazen_Sand has joined #celestialdeliberative

[14:20] <Nomoe_Hideaki> Nomoe takes a deep breath to avoid doing something rash. "Don't say something like that even as a joke, Deliberator Brazen Sand," he rebukes the ex-Infernal, his tone suddenly sharp and decidely unamused.

[14:21] <Brazen_Sand> "Nope"

[14:21] <Brazen_Sand> "Exaltations are exaltations."

[14:25] *** Brazen_Sand has quit IRC: Disintegrated: ~ Trillian Astra - (Link: http://www.trillian.im)www.trillian.im ~

[14:28] <Kaida_Vanida> "The Ebon Dragon was the only one of the Yozis who believed the Green Sun Princes might turn against them," Kaida explains, "and it was not he who built the Thing."

[14:30] <Kaida_Vanida> "With the Ring, I was close enough to an Infernal to enter also, but for some reason, they would not let me have it back."

[14:30] <Kaida_Vanida> She smiles thinly.

[14:30] <Shrike> "Can't possibly imagine why."

[14:34] *** Brazen_Sand has joined #celestialdeliberative

[14:37] * Bright_Snow gives the former Empress a long calculated look, "Did you truly want it back?"

[14:38] <Brazen_Sand> "I think it got tossed in a volcano anyway."

[14:39] <Kaida_Vanida> She shakes her head. "I was making a joke."

[14:40] <Brazen_Sand> "Riiight."

[14:40] <Brazen_Sand> "So anyway. Here's my plan. I need you all to be inside me." Brazen said quickly.

[14:42] <Shrike> "...you know, there's so many places I could go with that that I'm not even going to try." Shrike smirks. "But how exactly does that work again?"

[14:43] * Kaida_Vanida raises her eyebrows.

[14:43] <Bright_Snow> */ Why did we leave this one alive again? / Curiousity, some disgust /*

[14:44] <Brazen_Sand> "Oh right." Brazen said. "Like this."

[14:44] <Brazen_Sand> Suddenly a blazing portal appeared over Brazen's chest into what looked like another world.

[14:45] <Brazen_Sand> "I made my soul into another reality." Brazen explained, like it wasn't that big a deal, specifically so he'd look better because he didn't sound like it was a big deal.

[14:46] * Bright_Snow blinks a couple of times... "You what?" Her voice sounds surprised...

[14:47] <Nomoe_Hideaki> Nomoe hasn't weighed in since Brazen's insult, his expression a stony mask. */Recognition of past services and the intent to derive the greatest possible benefit from her assured death, as I recall. A mistake perhaps./ a mental sigh*

[14:47] <Brazen_Sand> "I created a world inside of my soul. It's pretty cool. Haven't made any people yet, still trying to get the physical laws and stuff the way I like it."

[14:47] <Brazen_Sand> "There is air in there, though."

[14:48] <Kaida_Vanida> "How different are the physical laws inside right now?"

[14:48] <Shrike> "The World According to Brazen...I'm not sure if I should be impressed or terrified." Shrike shakes her head. "However...well, what she said."

[14:49] <Brazen_Sand> "Purple things are always hot. That's about it as differences, so far."

[14:51] <Brazen_Sand> "Can I close this now? I'm feeling a draft."

[14:51] <Shrike> "Sure. And that is...well, both impressive and creepy. Is it detectable, though?"

[14:52] <Brazen_Sand> "Literally no one else that I know of has ever done this. So I have no idea."

[14:52] <Brazen_Sand> "Hideaki-San. You can see Essence, right? Let me close this up..." Brazen closed portal into his soul/universe

[14:52] <Brazen_Sand> "Do you see anything out fo the ordinary?" He asked

[14:57] * Nomoe_Hideaki makes a curt gesture in the negative

[14:58] <Brazen_Sand> "excellent." Brazen said, rubbing his hands together in glee.

[14:58] <Brazen_Sand> "So we have to make this really quick. If one of the Yozis decides to fight us head to head, we WILL lose."

[15:00] <Kaida_Vanida> Kaida turns to Nomoe and raises her manacled hands. "If we are to go inside him, I do not think we wish to risk taking the Manacles of Night with us."

[15:01] <Brazen_Sand> "I'll need awhile to figure out how to take passengers. How long do we have to get this shit done?"

[15:01] <Brazen_Sand> He asked the Empress.

[15:02] *** Bright_Snow has quit IRC: Ping timeout

[15:04] <Kaida_Vanida> "... but if he is not ready, then there is no need yet," she finishes. "It was my impression that the Deliberative wants this done as soon as possible. Within a few days to a week, I would estimate."

[15:06] <Brazen_Sand> "yeaaaah, that's not going to work."

[15:06] <Shrike> "Of course. They're always in a hurry when it's somebody else who they think needs to be hurried. Yu-Shan forbid the Deliberative itself actually hurry itself on anything."

[15:07] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "We will dispense with those once the operation enters the active phase," Nomoe answers the former Empress. "My apologies for the indignities suffered until then."

[15:07] <Shrike> "...and no, I'm not bitter or anything in the least. Carry on..."

[15:08] <Brazen_Sand> "They're going to have to wait then. I'm sorry, but if we mess this up, we'll certainly die."

[15:09] <Bright_Snow> "I don't think Yu-Shan will be forbidding anything in the near future..." Snow says with a cough

[15:09] <Shrike> "True," Shrike concedes, "but I don't think 'Malfeas forbid' has that same ring to it."

[15:10] <Shrike> "And I agree, this is something we need to be one-hundred percent sure of before moving out. One wrong move and the whole thing goes pear-shaped."

[15:10] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "If the measures against Infernals entering that place are as absolute as the ex-Infernal says - and though we cannot know for sure, we should consider the worst case scenario - then any plan that would involve others accessing the Thing is simply not workable."

[15:13] <Brazen_Sand> "Where are they keeping you anyway, Kaida?" Brazen asked, starting to feel a bit sorry for her if his delay meant that she was stuck in chains for awhile longer.

[15:16] <Brazen_Sand> "Anyway, the next question is how the hell we get out."

[15:17] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "It's meaningless to consider that if there's no possibility of getting in."

[15:18] <Brazen_Sand> "I just told you how we can get in. I just need some time to work on it. When have I ever let you down?"

[15:21] <Kaida_Vanida> "I believe his plan will work, Deliberator. It seems to me that this would put us somewhere like Elsewhere. Brazen would enter the Thing alone, and then retrieve us."

[15:22] <Brazen_Sand> "Oh about that. I was going to actually demand to enter the Thing, then you guys could run along while I distract them with my words and handsomeness."

[15:24] <Brazen_Sand> "Oh, and blowing things up., of course."

[15:29] <Shrike> "Blowing things up with words and handsomeness?"

[15:29] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "I see. Just not quickly."

[15:31] <Bright_Snow> "Ok we have an in, assuming they don't kill Brazen on sight just for being Malfeas..." Snow says. "Do we have a way out once we have grabbed or killed Lillun?"

[15:33] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "There exist artifacts of travel between Malfeas and Creation. If we can get one of those, that might be a possibility. Of course they usually have certain conditions of use that make them less ideal than the primary exit strategy."

[15:36] <Bright_Snow> "Nothing quick and easy then? Because I think we need a quick out... or this is not going to be possible. The longer we stay there the more that can be mobilised against us."

[15:36] <Brazen_Sand> "Worst case scenario we'll have to kill Lillun and just...I dunno, fight as long as we can."

[15:38] <Bright_Snow> "Most likely Scenario: We all die... because no one has a plan that prevents this from being a suicide mission. So we are back to my initial concern." Snow says irritably.

[15:38] <Bright_Snow> "If we go in, we already know how we are getting out. Or Deliberative or no, I am NOT doing this."

[15:38] <Brazen_Sand> "Hey, at least you were going to eventually die anyway. *I* was going to be immortal." Brazen said peevishly.

[15:39] * Bright_Snow just glares at him

[15:39] <Brazen_Sand> Brazen makes a confused "What?!" face at her

[15:40] * Shrike rolls her eyes

[15:42] <Kaida_Vanida> "Excuse me," says a male voice from, "but I believe I may be of assistance in that regard."

[15:42] <Kaida_Vanida> from the door*

[15:43] <Brazen_Sand> "Snow, I thought you said this place was private!"

[15:49] * Shrike turns her head to the door in surprise

[15:49] <Brazen_Sand> Brazen followed suite.

[15:50] <Brazen_Sand> "How long were you standing there!?" He snarled

[15:52] <Kaida_Vanida> In the doorway stands Jeremiah, the Sidereal who fought Snow in the first match of the Invitational. "Not long. Just long enough to know that you're going to Malfeas to kill or rescue someone named 'Lillun'."

[15:54] <Bright_Snow> "I thought it was." Snow says irritably. "Apparently not."

[15:54] <Brazen_Sand> "And..." Brazen said, subconsciously moving more aggressively. He remembered the last Journey they had fought had been an Akuma

[15:55] <Shrike> "Privacy means nothing to Sidereals," Shrike says with a sigh. "Just ask my sister..."

[15:55] <Bright_Snow> */ Mixed feelings fill the bond... Snow obviously loathes Jerimah as a Sidereal but she respects him also... / Ashame I cannot use this place again./*

[15:56] <Bright_Snow> "It should when the place has been hidden specifically from them. I and they... we do not get along... too much blood in their case. Not enough in mine." Snow says deliberately keeping both eyes on Jerimah.

[16:03] <Kaida_Vanida> "It seems that you are in need of a means of escape. Fate has brought me here to offer my assistance as a Chosen of Journeys."

[16:04] <Brazen_Sand> "In Malfeas, there is no Fate. Can you still work there?" Brazen said, having no idea who this guy was.

[16:06] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "Ah, very good. I was going to contact the Fellowship to ask for assistance, specifically the Greater Sign of Mercury."

[16:06] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "The primary exit strategy I was speaking about earlier, just in case you forgot, Brazen."

[16:07] * Shrike falls quiet and listen, resiting the urge to snark.

[16:07] <Brazen_Sand> "Oh sorry, Hideaki-San."

[16:08] <Nomoe_Hideaki> Nomoe makes a small gesture carrying the meaning of -Not for that-.

[16:09] <Kaida_Vanida> "That fact prevents me from bringing you all to Malfeas, Brazen, but it does not prevent me from bringing you back to Creation. Us, I should say."

[16:09] <Bright_Snow> "A way out...and from a Sidereal I don't completely hate." Snow nods in respect to Jerimah, "I have no further objections."

[16:10] <Brazen_Sand> "Do you have a way of getting in on your own?"

[16:10] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "As I stated before, we should look to securing alternative means of egress as well as contingency plans."

[16:11] <Shrike> "I suppose we now have ways in and out, now we just need to figure out how to, precisely, carry out the mission in between, yes?"

[16:11] <Brazen_Sand> Brazen nodded.

[16:12] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "It will not do to rely on only a single factor, even one so formidable as the Chosen of Mercury," he inclines his head to Jeremiah, "when all our lives are at stake."

[16:12] <Brazen_Sand> "Couldn't Hideaki-san go in with his Caste thingy?"

[16:13] <Kaida_Vanida> "They would allow him entry, but the moment he participated in hostile action, his diplomatic immunity would be forfeit."

[16:13] <Kaida_Vanida> Jeremiah said

[16:13] <Brazen_Sand> "right, of course, yeah, but what if he just went in to escort you?"

[16:13] <Brazen_Sand> "He'd never actually need to fight anyone, just make sure that you were both in the right place..."

[16:14] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "Obviously," Nomoe says dryly. "However would they allow me entry to the Thing Infernal? There are no positive rights to the agreements of immunity."

[16:14] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "When the time comes to shatter the ranks of the Thing such subtlety will no longer matter anyway.

[16:14] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "

[16:16] <Brazen_Sand> "All we'd have to do is get out of the Thing Infernal, and make sure that Mr. Mercury here can set off the Sign at the right time. If you just sit back, then you can effectively say that you had nothing to do with what's happening, and the Sidereal will be under your protection, right?"

[16:16] <Brazen_Sand> "That way we wouldn't have to worry about our ticket out being killed in the process."

[16:17] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "If our objective is inside then all we need is to get inside, destroy it, then retreat via the Sign."

[16:18] <Shrike> "Sounds like a plan to me..."

[16:19] <Brazen_Sand> "Except that inside will be who knows how many Green Sun Princes, and Lillun isn't left undefended."

[16:19] <Shrike> Shrike's smirk grows a bit. "A target-rich environment, then?"

[16:19] <Kaida_Vanida> "I could infliltrate the Demon City myself and wait for you outside the Thing Infernal," Jeremiah suggests.

[16:19] <Brazen_Sand> "Oh right, I forgot the people I was talking to."

[16:20] <Brazen_Sand> "I just don't want any of getting killed on my account."

[16:20] <Nomoe_Hideaki> Nomoe actually smiles. "How many will be able to perceive Bright Snow when she does not want to be seen?"

[16:21] <Brazen_Sand> "Well yeah. I figured I'd drop off the stealthy members of our crew, while I distract the Thing. If I show up and they take me prisoner, they'll want me to die publically, to make an example of me. Probably in front of the other Green Sun Princes."

[16:21] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "While all attention is on Brazen Sand - for all his flaws, drawing attention is one of his talents - she and perhaps Lady Shrike can look for this 'phylactery womb'."

[16:21] <Brazen_Sand> "They're too..." Brazen waved his claws around "ostentatious, is the word, I suppose, to just kill me and have done with it."

[16:22] <Brazen_Sand> "If I use my anima, they could just run off and no one will notice even if it was right in front of their noses. So long as they use their stealth charms."

[16:22] * Nomoe_Hideaki shrugs. "If we need to delay your execution by forceful means then all that means is that the distraction will be even better."

[16:23] <Brazen_Sand> "Oh don't worry about that. It'll be the perfect cover. Besides, Malfeas is a city."

[16:24] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "The Thing Infernal, though, that's what, a quarter? A palace?"

[16:24] <Shrike> "Oh, joy. Phylactery wombs. Sounds wonderful. But yeah...I can handle that," Shrike confirms.

[16:25] <Brazen_Sand> "It's a bit of both. Bigger on the inside then the outside. The usual stuff."

[16:26] <Brazen_Sand> "I don't really know where Lillun is. I never went to visit her. Too busy. But I'm sure you can find her."

[16:26] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "Her?" Nomoe frowns.

[16:27] <Bright_Snow> "I am happy to work with Lady Shrike. We have had little opportunity to do so in the past."

[16:27] <Brazen_Sand> Brazen's eyes awkwardly moved to the Empress and then back again. Not as a subtle sign, but more as a failure to keep from giving anything away.

[16:31] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "What sort of creature is this Phylactery Womb anyway?"

[16:31] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "Due you anticipate it will be any trouble for Ladies Bright Snow and Shrike to destroy?"

[16:32] <Bright_Snow> "Something with some relation to our dear prisoner." Snow says coldly, having spotted Brazen's discomfort

[16:32] <Brazen_Sand> Brazen looked away. "They should be able to kill her." He said with uncharacteristic quietness...or less loudness.

[16:33] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "Obviously," Nomoe states dryly. "But perhaps it is time to enlighten the rest of us?"

[16:33] <Brazen_Sand> "I don't think it's for me to say."

[16:33] <Shrike> Shrike frowns, looking uncomfortable as well.

[16:35] <Kaida_Vanida> "Yes," Kaida says quietly. "She is one of my daughters, offered as a living sacrifice to the Yozis. She herself will be little challenge, though she has always been well-guarded."

[16:35] <Shrike> "It would be very much preferable to bring her back alive."

[16:36] <Brazen_Sand> "Yeah."

[16:37] <Brazen_Sand> "They brought her out whenever a session of the Thing opened."

[16:37] <Brazen_Sand> "Maybe they'll bring her out for my execution."

[16:37] <Nomoe_Hideaki> Nomoe's expression is very neutral. "I see. By yourself?"

[16:38] <Brazen_Sand> "Yeah. I'll put up a good fight, give you guys more then enough time to grab her. Hopefully I'll be able to run outside and catch the Greater Sign."

[16:39] <Bright_Snow> "Surely in her twisted state it would be kinder to kill her?" Snow says, well aware of the horrors the Yozi can inflict

[16:39] <Kaida_Vanida> She nods. "Her mind, body, and soul have been magically altered to serve their purposes, and I do not know if you here have the ability to undo them. It may be better to send her to a quick death."

[16:39] <Shrike> The redheaded Solar has her frown grow deeper. "That can be Plan B."

[16:39] <Bright_Snow> "And prisoner, did you offer them this daughter while under the power of the ring?" Snow says suspecting she already knows the answer.

[16:39] <Brazen_Sand> "I'M NOT GOING TO KILL A LITTLE GIRL WHO DID NOTHING WRONG HERSELF!" Brazen snarled.

[16:40] <Brazen_Sand> "IT'S BECAUSE OF HER THAT I GOT MY POWER. I WON'T LET HER BE TOSSED INTO THE SANDS IF I CAN HELP IT."

[16:40] <Nomoe_Hideaki> *disgust, anger, disappointment /I was apparently wrong both to give her the benefit of doubt and to consider her past achievements in her favor./ what respect he still had for the Empress is gone - family is sacred*

[16:41] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "Brazen, indoor voice," Nomoe says calmly.

[16:42] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "This is a council of war, we will discuss all possible tactics that might lead to success."

[16:42] <Brazen_Sand> "Don't patronize me, Hideaki-San! I'm a Deliberator of the same rank as you!"

[16:42] <Shrike> "And we're telling you to BE QUIET!" Shrike, her ears ringing, snaps.

[16:42] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "Yet apparently not capable of acting as one."

[16:42] <Shrike> "We would like to be able to hear when we do this mission, thank you!"

[16:42] <Brazen_Sand> "Do any of you have daughters?" He asked.

[16:43] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "Your sentiment does your honor and your point is well made, but shouting is not necessary."

[16:43] <Brazen_Sand> "Hideaki-San, what if it was your god-daughter in that situation?"

[16:43] <Kaida_Vanida> "No. The Ring had not yet been made." She raises her chin, her eyes hard but with a brittle quality. "It is because of this that I asked to choose the manner of my death, that I might undo some of the damage I have done."

[16:43] <Shrike> Shrike just falls quiet...

[16:43] <Shrike> ...then at the Empress' words, turns and exits the room, boots thudding on the floor the only sound of her departure.

[16:44] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "As always you are quick to make unfounded assumptions, Lord Brazen."

[16:44] <Brazen_Sand> "I get them right sometimes. Law of averages."

[16:44] <Bright_Snow> "She did this to her own child willingly Brazen." Snow remains quiet, though her voice has grown colder still. "Would you inflict the horrors of the Yozi on your child willingly? This is not your child we are speaking of. This one was thrown away."

[16:45] <Brazen_Sand> He looked at the Empress, but then said nothing. He remembered her threatening to replace Lillun with Chiyara, and though he had great compassion, that was an insult that he would never let pass.

[16:45] <Brazen_Sand> "It's..." Brazen started to stammer. "I knew about her, but I never did anything."

[16:45] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "You do, sometimes," Nomoe says, not in a complementary way.

[16:45] <Brazen_Sand> "When I had the chance."

[16:46] <Bright_Snow> */ Seething hatred for the woman across from her now flows through Snow, along with sentiment for the child Lillun.../ killing her will now be difficult./*

[16:46] <Brazen_Sand> "I could have put her out of her misery right then, last time I was at the thing. Just throw my spear and she would've been dead." He muttered

[16:46] <Brazen_Sand> *the Thing

[16:47] <Shrike> The Night Caste walks away from the group, finding a place to loo over the countryside, her emotions raging.

[16:47] <Shrike> *look

[16:48] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "There are other factors to consider," Nomoe points out calmly. "As a vital resource we must consider it likely that she will be protected in more than physical ways. Ways that might make it impossible to take her out of there via the Sign."

[16:49] <Bright_Snow> */ The desire to kill the woman across from her is absolute, the only thing stopping her is the others in the room /*

[16:49] <Brazen_Sand> "I think things have gotten way too hot here. We should meet up in about a months time. That should be enough for me to figure out how to calibrate my soul correctly."

[16:52] <Nomoe_Hideaki> *Nomoe does not hate, she is not worth no more than disgust and contempt. Her life or death is nothing to him, her possible contribution to the mission almost negligible in any case. He certainly would not stay Snow's hand.*

[16:53] <Kaida_Vanida> "If it can be done sooner, I would encourage you to do so, Deliberator," Kaida says, standing. She bows to them as an equal, starts to straighten, then remembers her current position and bows again, more deeply.

[16:55] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "What do you know of her -" he pointedly uses the female pronoun now "- security measures and guards?"

[16:56] <Brazen_Sand> Brazen bowed to the others, including Jeremiah.

[16:56] <Brazen_Sand> "We'll keep in contact."

[16:56] <Nomoe_Hideaki> He speaks to both Brazen and the creature that in another life was the Empress.

[16:56] <Nomoe_Hideaki> He certainly doesn't seem to consider the meeting over yet.

[16:58] * Bright_Snow stands slowly, tensions in her frame.

[16:58] <Brazen_Sand> "Don't even try it, Lady Snow." Comes Brazen's voice from outside.

[16:58] <Bright_Snow> "Why did you sell your daughter to the Yozi?"

[17:00] <Kaida_Vanida> The she moves to the door and knocks, prompting the guards outside to open it. "I am ready to return," she says, then turns to Nomoe. "She was escorted by demons, mostly of the First Circle, but some of the Second - at all times. She dwells in the Thing Infernal, which only Infernal Exalts and the Yozis themselves can enter, and which usually has a few Infernals present even when not in session."

[17:01] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "Sorceries, artifacts, Yozi workings upon her?"

[17:01] <Nomoe_Hideaki> "Specifically any that would preclude her from being subject to invocations of transportation?"

[17:05] <Nomoe_Hideaki> */Acting on this impulse might have unpleasant political consequences for you./ concern for Bright Snow, the tone of his mental voice is cautioning but neutral with regard to the act itself*

[17:06] <Bright_Snow> */ Incoherent Snarl / Rage /*

[17:07] <Kaida_Vanida> "Back then, my every effort was devoted to finding a way to live forever. Mnemon tricked her into following me into the Sword one day, and she saw things she should not have. The Yozi demanded her in exchange for eternal life." She looks at Snow.

[17:08] <Kaida_Vanida> "I regret many things I did then and since, and I can see that you want me dead. But I ask you to stay your hand. I will be dead soon enough."

[17:11] <Shrike> "If you are not dead by the time this mission is over," Shrike, returning, says from outside as she returns, "I will take your head myself."

[17:12] <Nomoe_Hideaki> Nomoe meanwhile is considering how to best spin the Empress likely-seeming death ahead of schedule to the Deliberative.

[17:13] * Bright_Snow leaps at her in a fury, unable or unwilling to listen to the tired old woman, seeing only the laughing inhuman face of her own mother.

[17:14] <Brazen_Sand> "Nooooooooooooooo!" Brazen shouts

[17:14] <Brazen_Sand> And leaps to in front of her, smashing the floor and the door in the process.

[17:15] * Shrike just steps aside...to watch the show.

[17:16] <Kaida_Vanida> Bereft of her charms and with her arms in chains, Kaida falls backwards onto her back, bring her legs up to try and keep Snow away long enough for someone else - her guards perhaps, or Brazen - to intervene.

[17:17] <Nomoe_Hideaki> Nomoe's form blurs as if with a persistent vibration that diffuses his presence through the entire room. Brazen may stand in Snow's path, but he will not lay a claw on her.

[17:18] <Brazen_Sand> As Snow struck Brazen, he flared into green fire that swallowed the force of her attack like wood is eaten in a fire.

[17:18] <Brazen_Sand> "SNOW."

[17:18] <Brazen_Sand> "WHAT THE FUCK."

Session Close (#celestialdeliberative): Sun Feb 12 17:18:38 2012 -0500