Editing Battle of Breaking Iron (section)

==Intelligence Directorate Briefing #16952, Page 67==

[[Yushoto Albia]] folded her gnarled hands.  "So much for the narrative of the battle.  I think we have a fairly clear picture now of how the skirmish progressed, so lets focus a bit more clearly on the capabilities of the essence wielders that survived the day, shall we?  Lets begin with the most ambiguous trail..."

[[Amilar Vondy]] lifted an upturned palm, "Well, we hardly know anything about this Leaf.  Members of my household have talked with several of the riders at the engagement, and none of them recall that he lead as much as a fang.  We know he was present, but nothing for certain of his actions."

[[Yushoto Tarkim]] leaned forward with a slight bow.  "Excuse me, but what about the decoy present at the battle?  The disguise was apparently flawless; sufficient to fool [[Shouting With Iron]] in spite of his battlefield training.  Our maps indicated an essence wielder in the vicinity of the fulcrum shortly after the thunderbird entered.  He may have been using stealth charms to evade notice until that point.  On the other hand we can hardly sift through all the propaganda we've received from this [[Nameless Ravine]]..."

"Indeed..."  Amilar scratched his head.  "It's actually becoming a nuissance... some of the more impressionable, younger members of my gens have taken quite a liking to his rhetoric.  Apparently he's both a scholar and swordsman."

Karal Linwei gave a curt nod.  "That he is, and with this reincarnated godfang in his hand he will be a terrible foe.  The anathema have at their disposal certain charms that make fighting them a losing gambit; perfect defenses, unblockable attacks, all of these are mentioned in multiple sources on the subject.

Amilar's lips curled.  "You have been studying up on the subject, have you?"

Color rose in Karal's cheeks, and she opened her mouth as her hand touched her scabbarded sword when Yushoto Albia rose and stated in a firm voice, "Let's not bicker now.  This is unbecoming of your station, Amilar.  We'll all should be relearning what we have forgotten in these idle centuries.  Next, the sorcerer-architect."

Yushoto Tarkim nodded,  "Right.  Our contacts in the elemental courts report that with the aid of their deceiver, he has been quite active in the spirit realm, procuring supplies for his manses and support for their army.  He's well liked in Nexus since he pays up front for certain rare reagents, and judging by his purchases he is not a demon summoner of any ability.  He was seen in the skirmish, but obscured by heavy white jade armor, apparently of realm manufacture.  By all accounts he is just a boy, a fair martial artist... but..."

The director nodded her head, "But..."

"The defenses for his manses (three now... terrifying isn't it?) are all... shall we say... well appointed.  They're even comparable to our own fortifications.  A little too comparable.  He may have been trained here.  In the city."

"Horrible thought.  Karal, could you please finish with the rider?"

"Storm of Amber.  When I look at these anathema from a threat assessment perspective, he is perhaps the greatest danger to the regional stability.  He's a true rider of the Marukan with a matchless horse.  His lance is clearly a wonder of the first age, and he's an inspiring leader as well.  It's only a matter of time before the Mahekos clan will find their de facto leadership to be no such thing.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.  There were a few other essence wielders of note in the area... a lunar anathema of no little puissance, a godling, several elementals, a godblooded waiting in the wings..."