984/Confederate War Council 111614

Confederate War Council 111614
Date of Scene:	16 November 2014
Location:	The Citadel - Seat of Power
Synopsis:	The Confederates meet to discuss current and forthcoming activity.
Cast of Characters:	37, 83, 188, 234, 353, 494, 522, 546, 573, Wo, 583, Lezard Valeth, 610

---

Serori (37) has posed:
The Seat of Power is arranged as it has been in War Councils past. In addition to the stocked buffet and milling servants, a comfortable but professional seating section has been provided on the floor level, accommodating to even those who require unusual room or conformation in order to be settled. A central podium with holoprojector and augmented sound system awaits anyone who decides to stand up and speak; it's positioned right in front of the raised dais supporting the Field Marshal's throne.

Serori stands behind the podium now, dressed in her complete uniform of decorated armor, battlesuit, and the red cape her people have always worn as a symbol of command power. She acknowledges any arrivals, but is pretty serious about doing so. She's wearing her Colonel Face.

Escorts or other parties of supporting personnel are invited to take seats in the upper surrounding stands; the floor-level seating is reserved for Elites and their closest guards and advisors, only.

Lute (188) has posed:
     Lute is just here for the food, mostly. Which is why he has basically taken up the cause of #OccupyBuffet.

     His goal is to get kicked out for drinking too much. His serious side's goal is to /not/ get kicked out for drinking too much.

Dracula Vlad Tepes (83) has posed:
    Field Marshal Dracula is, of course, already here. The Lord of Darkness sits upon that very throne overlooking the council, his posture one of regal relaxation. One leg crossed on the other, one elbow resting on the throne's arm, fingers curled as a perch for his cheek. He's dressed in his usual finery, as well, affording himself the look of one who is both keenly aware of his station and yet so confident in it that he barely needs to remind anyone where he stands.

    Those who enter are afforded a brief nod of respectful greeting, but the Field Marshal remains silent for the most part, unless anything requires his direct intervention.

Lezard Valeth has posed:
Lezard Valeth arrives on time, and he is dressed impeccably, wearing silks and leather in his preferred colors instead of the more workhorse cotton he commonly uses. He gives Serori a florid bow, but quickly moves to take an appropriate seat upon the floor, taking up a glass of wine to observe the proceedings.

This will be an excellent opporunity to witness the Confederacy at work.

Samar (494) has posed:
    As involved as she's been, Samar hasn't shown herself much at all to her allies ever since joining the Confederacy. Now, with a council being called, this seems like the perfect opportunity to introduce herself, her cause, and her abilities for anything her new allies may need.

    The ghostly woman enters without her strange biomechanical symbiote, striding in upright and self-assured. She seems, strangely, as if she just got out of the water; every footstep leaves a faintly wet mark on the floor, and no doubt anywhere she sits is going to be similarly marked.

    Of course, Samar doesn't seem to care. She offers those around her a nod of recognition and a few light smiles, then takes a seat among the rest with her hands folded in her lap, sitting in an upright and dignified posture.

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
From one war council meeting within his own nation among other Legatus and the Emperor Solus zos Galvus, to now this one within the Confederacy. Standing amongst the high ranking officers and individuals that comprise of this military force within the Multiverse.

Though Gaius Van Baelsar is aware that not all whom may be present will be part of the military outfit, as he knew of some that are in the Confederacy that are not of the military at all. Though given the sections are clear to where one will stand. It makes things very obvious.

Then there was the question that daunted him as the time ticked along. In the customs of the Garlean Empire, the war council was held in the way of the Legatus in their armor, but outside the Multiverse-- he was unsure if such a meeting was held in the same fashion.

Dress uniform he did have, but such was stored for things such as ball dancing and more high class dining. Yet by his research, it could swing either way. To be in his armor and address-- or be in his uniform, allowing all to see whom he is under that armor.

One may see the armor as trying to hide whom he was, while being out of the armor may show him trying to be overly diplomatic and not militaristic. Choices and choices.

He decides to be himself in the end, and that is the man in the very armor. So when Gaius does arrive, it is not hard to miss him with the black armor and red crimson leather-like cloth. Each step made with a precise step and his position held by the very way he walked. A commander of a military and nothing less.

He greeted those whom would greet him with a professional air, before taking a seat among the others. Amazingly the armor itself, though looking slightly heavy, the Magitek within was compensating for its weight, making any motion he made seem completely fluid and masking the armor to seem maybe light then it really is.

First War council meeting within the Confederacy. Should be an interesting experience.

Nox (546) has posed:
    Nox is nothing if not absolutely punctual, which means he arrives not a second late, but also not a second early; having little desire to wait for people to show up. He floats in through the front doors at a steady pace, slowly looking this way and that with faint, metallic squeaks. In a traditional Xelor fashion for fancy meetings, a thick, hooded, sleeveless robe covers his armour, leaving the twin lenses of his mask glowing eerie blue under the deep shadow it casts. A circle penetrated by radial lines of alternating length and thickness is emblazoned on the front; a frequent symbol used in his work. Levitating to one of the chairs, he does the courtesy of actually physically sitting in it, placing both hands on the arm rests and slowly tapping his finger.

Sakina (610) has posed:
    Sakina's entry is quiet, as she doesn't seem fond of drawing attention to herself. The hooded, dark-clothed woman wanders into the space in a seemingly absentminded state, slowly looking around the room and now and then letting her shaded gaze settle on one of her allies. She also doesn't seem to quite get that this is a gathering among trusted allies; accustomed to meetings of the Brotherhood as she is, she keeps her shotel and spiked whip at her waist, readily at hand but not drawn. Better to be safe than sorry, she thinks.

    The dark woman finally seems to settle into a space further to the back of the group, where she sits cross-legged on the floor and begins idly fiddling with the pyromancy flame that appears in her palm. The fire dances and flickers, and Sakina's attention appears to remain entirely fixed on it rather than the proceedings as she simply sits and stares in silence.

Mihk Lihzeh (573) has posed:
    Mihk is here. She walks along primly, boot heels clicking lightly against the flooring. She gives nods to those she recognizes, which amounts to Gaius. The Miqo'te finds a seat, sets herself down and pats her lap. Perhaps escaping notice until that moment, is a small yellow fox-like creature, that leaps up and curls into a ball in Mihk's lap, chirping softly as the woman pets the being.

Mantigora (583) has posed:
Mantigora strolls into the Seat of Power with something slung over her shoulder. It's hard to make out. At least until she walks up to the buffet slings it off her back and onto the table with a rattle clash.

It... looks like a roast boar. Except it's CUBIC. Yes, it's a pig with a completely box shaped body. The Huntress just grins at the perplexed looks from the food attendies. "Traditional offering of feasting goods required for any Draken war party. Don't worry, Cuboar genetically perfected to be 95% edible. Protostar guarunteed."

Unbothered by the weird looks she tears off one of the stumpy legs and a good hunk of meat with it, starting to nom on it like one of those giant lamb legs you can get at renassance fairs as she goes to find her seat.

Wo has posed:
    The aircraft carrier that had introduced herself over various channels as 'Wo' enters soon after Samar, forming something of a one-woman entourage. Something of a security detail? Not that it is likely to be needed among allies, but she and her hat are somewhat more inseperable, normally. Its mouth gapes as she steps in, something akin to saliva leaking from between its large incisors, and adding to the already wet steps Samar made.

    She takes a seat next to, or at least nearby, to Samar, unlike her having not offered any smiles. Her expressions are far more subtle and muted, and her eyes for the time being remain a glowing, but calm, blue-green. She is mostly here to get to know the issues facing their new allies, rather than making pleasantries. Not that she has the greatest social graces to begin with, shifting somewhat anxiously in her seat, "Wo."

Laer (353) has posed:
    Laer's already here as well, seated somewhere near the front. As is her custom, she's attempting to disrupt Serori's serious face, in this case by having turned up in informal clothing and by keeping her feet on the table in front of her.

    In spite of its reputation as a comfortable, relaxed position, the table is somewhat too high for Laer to be comfortable with her feet atop it. She perseveres in the endevour, regardless.

Serori (37) has posed:
Serori takes a look around the room. It's a smaller turn-out tonight than expected, but perhaps this means the Confederacy is busy doing what it does? Not that it matters too much; the resulting report will pass along critical information to anyone who's missing out on the actual session. As she thinks this over, and waits for those in attendance to get settled, she waves over a servant, and gets herself a glass of something fruity, pink, and foamy.

Okay, so the meeting is not one thousand percent super serious. Colonel Face or no, that is one dignity-damaging beverage. It must be tasty. Serori makes deliberate, almost-glaring eye contact with Laer while she takes her first long slurp.

Setting the glass down signals the meeting's start. As soon as it's out of Serori's hand, she starts to talk, in a mellow and warm tone, almost friendly. "Welcome. It's good to see you all here. For some of us, it's the first time meeting in person. If you do not know me by voice or face already, I am Colonel Serori, and I organize these War Council sessions. Though intermittent, these sessions enable us to exchange information in a manner more personal and interesting than the reports system, and also go a long way toward making sure I'm aware of everything that's happening in the ranks."

Serori looks from face to face as she speaks, considering those seated around the podium in turn. "Before we open the floor for discourse, allow me to put words into the Field Marshal's mouth, and thank you all for your continued dedicated service to the Confederacy. Your contributions go a long way toward seeing our goals in the Multiverse realized. I am pleased and honored to be working alongside warriors, scholars, and innovators of your caliber."

With a quick grin, she continues. "Along those lines...if you witness your fellows in action in any capacity, and would like to see commendations or promotions issued as a result of some great effort or greater success, I'll remind you to send in your reports. It has been a long time since I've seen anything along these lines in any official channel, and as a promotion block may be coming up soon, now's the time to make your officers aware of who's pulling their weight -- and who isn't."

"Does anyone have any questions for me before I invite our first speaker to take the podium?"

Lezard Valeth has posed:
As the meeting begins, Lezard casually swishes the wine in his glass, sampling the aroma before the beverage itself. He doesn't respond when Serori asks if anyone has questions. He does not.

Instead, he contents himself with observing all those who attended themselves. He smiles faintly, though what that means for the Sorceror of Midgard is unknown.

Serori (37) has posed:
"Very well."

After a brief pause to finish her punch, Serori slams the glass down to the podium's slanted top so forcefully, it's a miracle both objects survive. There's a brighter gleam in her eyes, and a wider grin on her face, as her tone turns more haughty and significant. "Your first speaker tonight is /me/, and I have good reason for it."

"I'm going after the Dragon Balls."

Pause for gasps and amazement! There probably aren't any. In fact, there's probably more confusion than anything else. "Some of you have no idea what I'm talking about. Let me explain."

Jabbing at the holoprojector controls produces a floating image of seven orange spheres, each one dotted by a unique number of red stars ranging from one star to seven. Nothing remarkable there, right? "On Earth-4555 -- the Earth once ruled over by Raditz, and where the World Martial Arts Tournament is held -- a lucky individual can assemble the seven Dragon Balls, summon forth a dragon, and ask any two wishes the mind can conjure. These are the relics that granted Vegeta his immortality, but I'm told the dragon can do much more than that. The dead can be brought back to life, and entire fates and lives altered to suit the wisher's imagination. The only thing the dragon can't do is kill someone, I guess -- I suppose the creature's got some morals. I could ask to take over as Earth-4555's ruler. I could wish for Raditz to become an old man. I could wish for that alarm clock to stop finding me. But, my wishes will be more significant than that."

The holo image disappears, replaced by another -- a series of dome-shaped buildings displaying the Capsule Corporation logo. "In a few weeks, I launch my campaign to collect the Dragon Balls /here/. I would ask for your help in collecting these items. Earth-4555 is Union-aligned, and if I'm stirring up trouble, I'll more than likely run into aggressors."

"Any questions on this, before I move on to another topic?"

Mantigora (583) has posed:
Mantigora tilts her head to the side thoughtfully. Artifacts that can grant entire world changing wishes? Well this is already more interesting than most of the meetings she's had to sit through on Nexus

Nox (546) has posed:
    It's impossible to tell, what with the hood and the mask and all, but Nox watches the presentation with keen interest. Steepling his fingers together, he seems to have no trouble summoning the nerve to ask in a cool, professional tone.

    "If you wouldn't mind madam, what exactly are you intending to wish from this dragon?"

Wo has posed:
Wo tugs on an attendant's sleeve that happens to be passing by, and tries to articulate her question..but after a short order gets a bit frustrated with the speed of converstion, so quickly jots down a note to send up to madam speaker. It reads, simply, 'How likely is it the Union would try to interfere, or even worse, capture these Dragon Balls for their own ends?'

Dracula Vlad Tepes (83) has posed:
    Dracula's brow raises slightly at the mention of the Dragon Balls and their associated abilities. The vampire lord sits up in his throne a little, at least enough to fold his hands in his lap rather than using one as a perch for his head. "Interesting. I would be very willing to assist in that effort, Colonel. Or, at the very least, Castlevania's forces would be available to assist you; I do not yet know how my...particular aversion to daylight may inhibit my assistance."

    His eyes narrow in thought for a moment before he thinks again. "Do you know exactly where they are? Or, at least, do you know of a way to locate them?"

Lute (188) has posed:
     Lute raises his hand, from the buffet. Luckily he is not talking with his mouth full.

     "Can we just wish so that the Dragon Balls are always in our possession for the yearly wish they grant, to give us basically a free wish every year?"

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
The Legatus listens to Serori's opening and to her own issues that are brought forward to the table. He watches the holographic image with those void-set eyes in the helm he wears. He hears Nox ask his question, Gaius waits a moment in turn.

Then others follow in, Dracula asks though the question he was most curious in turn. How are these dragon balls located? That was indeed a matter of his concern as well. "I have equal wonder to that of the Field Marshall's. How does one track down these Dragon Balls? As I too am willing to lend some of my men to aid in finding, if not provide a distraction in some way."

Serori (37) has posed:
A drum of the fingertips and an audible hrm before Serori responds to Nox. "It's...not a secret that I have a lot of interest in revitalizing my lost empire. There's no way I can bring back Planet Vegeta and all the dead saiyans from my past -- the dragon doesn't have /that/ much power, and it's been far too long, anyway -- but I /do/ intend to repopulate, and to personally shape the empire's new society and goals. Cloning, cross-breeding, that's all accounted for, but I don't intend to die before I see this mission realized, and so I don't intend to die at all. One of my two wishes will be spent on my immortality."

Serori shrugs. "It's selfish, but wishes are supposed to be, hm?" Unfolding the paper handed to her from Wo's corner, she nods. "Wo wants to know if the Union could go after the Dragon Balls themselves. The reality is that yes, they could. Capturing the Dragon Balls will be a fierce competition every step of the way."

"But, we'll have an edge. To answer Lord Dracula's inquiry -- Capsule Corporation is in possession of a device called the Dragon Radar. It will /help/ us track down the location of the Dragon Balls. I suspect a lot of legwork will be involved despite the device's assistance. And in short, Lute, no -- the dragon is free-willed enough to deny anything like that. There are /some/ rules to be obeyed."

"I appreciate your offer to assist, Legatus. The Planetary Trade Organization will have my back on this, as Son Gohan has his own interests to pursue, but I think the greater number we have in this campaign, the more likely it will be for me to succeed. Any other questions?"

Mihk Lihzeh (573) has posed:
    Mihk continues to pet her Carbuncle, ears twitching at the conversation. Questions are asked, and she offers something that may assist. "If they give off an energy reading... myself or my fellows may be able to detect it. We are uniquely gifted with detecting Aetheric residue and effects... perhaps this would be little different."

Serori (37) has posed:
Serori nods at Mihk. "I'd be willing to give it a shot."

Lute (188) has posed:
     Lute raises a hand again.

     "Can I help with the repopulation efforts?"

Lu-Mey (234) has posed:
    Lu-Mey is here! The boisterous Oni was NOT LATE, really.
    She actually just walked in. But already something terrifying and alive slides from her wrist. She is standing behind Lute and silently makes a 'Do you want me to kill him~?' kind of motion at Serori.

Wo has posed:
    A blank look comes over Wo. The kind of expression one has when they've obviously missed something, but it went over their head anyway. "Wo?" Should she be outraged or something, here? Samar, tell her how to pretend to be human.

Dracula Vlad Tepes (83) has posed:
    Dracula retains an even expression throughout Serori's explanations, though the fact that one of her wishes will be immortality does draw a look of surprised interest.

    That expression quickly shifts to a flat-eyed, smoldering stare Lute's way when he chooses to ask something else. Lu-Mey has it in hand, so Dracula doesn't do anything more than continue pressing Lute under that unflinching draconic stare. That's probably more than enough on its own, really, without violence added onto it.

Lezard Valeth has posed:
Lezard's interest seems piqued as he listens to the ongoing situation. He smiles at the mention of immortality, and sets his wine glass aside. "I will be more than happy to assist with both the collection of the Dragon Balls, as well as the restoration of your empire, should my specialties be useful to your work. Having a moment to study such artifacts would be wonderful." He pauses, twitching as he works to resist looking over at Lute, instead picking up his wineglass and sipping it with a slightly more determined look on his face.

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
Gaius Van Baelsar gives a nod to what Serori has to say. Though he can only slow facepalm at what Lute asks, reminding himself that the boy is simply that-- and best to ignore him. Welp. How much /worse/ could this get right? ...right...

Samar (494) has posed:
    Samar just gives Wo a light pat on her tentacled hat in response to that confusion. The Battleship Princess probably didn't get it either, but she's not going to let that on. She remains silent, but clearly confident in her assurance to Wo that it's not a big deal.

    Her attention remains focused on the meeting itself, either way, unfazed by the goings-on around her.

Serori (37) has posed:
Serori looks at Lute. Red creeps over her face. It could be embarrassment, or maybe it's just anger. Saiyan embarrassment and saiyan anger are virtually the same emotions, so that scowl is very hard to read. "Let me remind you that we have a very active Human Resources department, Lute, and that I'm not afraid to file a grievance."

She pushes forward in a forced tone. "Thank you all for your offers of help. I am certain to need it. E-eeh...mine isn't the only mission of interest, however. The Confederacy has a great deal in the works, and so do others outside our organization." Serori glances down at a tablet she has resting on the podium. "I am still interested in whatever's going on in Priscilla's Lordran. We haven't had Confederate eyes on that situation, or at least nothing official, not /yet/. We've picked up a recruit or two who could help in this department, but consider this another request for /somebody/ to get over there and get involved. /I/ am not welcome by Priscilla; however, I hate to see us missing out on the chance to learn more about her world, and to potentially gain something from it. If you dip your toes into those waters, please keep us informed via reports."

"The Abstractum issue continues to develop, too. I haven't partnered myself to any of these devices, but want to remind those of you who /are/ interested in preventing the annihilation of the Multiverse to please look for the chance to be helpful. I will be /certain/ to aid Colonel Laer the next time she needs it, myself."

Serori smiiiles at Laer, her Lute-induced embarrassment forgotten in a moment of catty mischief.

"This brings me to my next point -- reports. File them. If you do anything worth noting, file a report. Keep us informed of your activity. Let us know if you see something interesting, or witness the Union doing something odd. You can also reach out to Captain Cirno if you want to make the Confederacy aware of your ongoing projects. Her semi-monthly reports will at least highlight your efforts, so don't be shy about talking to her."

"If you are bored, or new to the ranks and have no idea how to start contributing, we're always looking to capture target zones. But, we're approaching the holiday season, so there is only a short time left before the annual truce is enforced. Please keep that in mind."

"I have talked enough. Legatus, would you care to take the floor?"

Mantigora (583) has posed:
Mantigora just ... facepalms at Lute. Just. Facepalms. There is no other way to describe the sheer stupidity coming from him.

Sakina (610) has posed:
    The mention of Lordran is the only thing that actually makes Sakina visibly move, beyond the weaving of her fingers around the flame in her hand. Her shaded head lifts slightly, and she raises a hand to call an attendant toward her. Sakina doesn't stand once the person comes near; she only beckons him down so that she can speak to him, murmuring something in his ear before waving him off to send the message to the Colonel. Then back she goes to fiddling with her flame, entranced as she is by its light.

Lezard Valeth has posed:
"Is there anything preventing us from simply taking up independant operations in Lordran? Why should we depend on her goodwill? Surely she cannot block the entrances to the realm." Lezard inquires. "I could go there, but I fear that I would be forced to obey their whims instead of taking advantage of the opportunities inherent to the situation. I am powerful, but I surely cannot oppose a Union task force without support."

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
When Serori goes onto other maters, the Legatus notes them all. Though he does wonder how this enforced truce may impact the Eorzean war. Though given the Eorzean alliance has allied themselves with the Union and they the Confederacy.. perhaps it would also reach to them as well.

Curious and Curiouser.

Though as Serori calls up the Black Wolf, Gaius Van Baelsar inwardly takes a deep breath. Customs are foreign and hard to determine how any may react to this. Given also Mihk is in the room, she could also raise alarm in a voiced manner... if not now, perhaps later. Either way-- concerns to matter when he is not wearing the armor and is off duty.

The Legatus stands up easily and makes his way up to the podium. As he arrives up, he will give Serori a proper nod of his head before a shake of her hand should she offer such. Then as he turns to face everyone, he reaches up to remove the helm.

A few hisses could be heard, the mechanics releasing from the binding hold, and once he removes the helm, he goes to place it down on the podium before him. The face before all that of a man perhaps in his late forties, hiding the slight fact he is truly a touch older then that. Black hair with grey peppered in it and gold eyes that pierce out like swords.

the third eye hidden by the bangs that are laying down over his face. Because it was hard to keep hair groomed back when you had a helmet on your head. Unless your Nero.

"Greetings my fellow members of the Confederacy." Gaius voice carries well, even without the mic before him. "I am Lord Gaius Van Baelsar, Legatus of the Fourteenth Legion of the Garlean Empire and Lieutenant within our ranks."

The Garlean stands there for a moment as he then continues to speak. "I have offered my men, my airship, and my Vanguards to the cause of the Confederacy. Working on capturing the resources needed for us to continue to thrive ever greater then that of the Union whom we all face. Yet in these times, I also come to request and to inform all of you."

Gaius then motions to the Holographic display of the large world of Hydaelyn. "Hydaelyn, our once world is now located within the Northern Loop, close I believe to that of Samar's own territory. We of the Empire have control of majority of this area, all but one region." It zooms in on the Continental section. "That is of Eorzea. Home of the Three city-states of the alliance, whom have allied themselves with the Union. It is not only my task to conqueror this territory in the name of our Emperor, but I also turn to ask all of you for assistance in doing so."

"For within Eorzea, we have a problem that has been holding us back in order to truly take command of the land. Those known as the Eikons. False gods whom touch the very minds of those around them and twist their deepest desire to only worship them. They are a blight upon the very land of Eorzea and are slowly killing our world by adsorbing that of the Aetheric energy."

"Aetheric energy that has also started to snake its way out into the many lands of the Multiverse." Gaius pauses at that. "So in this, I am requesting any aid not only in the way to take control of Eorzea, but in also in dealing with the Eikon threat that could shortly spread out beyond that of Hydaelyn."

Serori (37) has posed:
Serori asides to Valeth as she steps back from the podium. "The mission isn't one of conquest, Valeth; if it was that simple, we /would/ show ourselves in force. Doing so /now/ could risk disastrous consequences for Lordran at large, however, and would also distract from the campaign to /save/ that world."

She then turns her full attention to Gaius. His offered hand is shaken, and she slinks off to the side to listen, to consider, and to ask aloud: "What kind of threat do these 'Eikons' represent, Legatus? What can they do, and what can we do to be prepared for them?"

He is older, but still surviving, and still on campaign; either he is a very lucky warrior, or a very talented one.

Samar (494) has posed:
    Samar smiles faintly once Gaius finishes his speech. "Of course, the Abyssal Fleet remains willing and ready to assist your efforts, Gaius. Just let I or my sisters know where you need our strength, and it will be given to you." She glances toward Serori when the saiyan speaks up, then nods before adding her own question. "Are these Eikons beings similar to that Leviathan that was fought some time ago, or are those another threat altogether?"

Nox (546) has posed:
    War and politics are things that Nox is passingly familiar with, but the mention of 'false gods' and 'aetheric energy' gets his attention alright.

    "And I presume you would like these 'Eikons' gone, yes? Upon killing them, does the aetheric energy disperse back into the environment, or do they take it with them? The way you explain it indicates that this is a natural resource you need, rather than something to be gotten rid of."

Mantigora (583) has posed:
Mantigora snorts softly at the mention of a truce. But it sounds like it only matters when it comes to conflict between the Multiversal factions. As far as she knows the Exiles have not joined the Union, so it just means she'll probably be doing more work on Nexus. Or on matters not involving the sides that observe said truce. It's okay, she's a bounty hunter, there's never a lack of work available for those willing to take the risks.

When Gaius rises to take the podium she sits up with a bit more interest. She's worked with the Garleans already. Considering her background the efforts of conquering Empires is all too familiar of a practice to her, even if she isn't officially a soldier any more.

That, and there's some similarities, to her at least. Made all the more clear when Gaius explains. False gods? She's dealt with subhuman races on Nexus that worship the Eldan, or their technologies, as godhood. To even greater lengths than some of the more zealous Cassian orders. Forces slowly corrupting the world? .... Well that would be spoilers in a matter even she's not too familiar with.

Thoughtfully the Draken steeples her fingers together. The Eikons, and the mention of Aetheric energy spreading into the multiverse, catchs her attention too. "These Eikons... sound similar, is there a connection to this 'Odin' that has been sighted on occasion?"

Wo has posed:
    She had yet to meet Gaius in person, having only heard his voice over the radio, or feeding information via third parties or electronic transfer. Wo can't help but be impressed by his commanding presence, though. With that, and Samar's reassurances, she's already forgotten the awkwardness of moments ago, and gives a light nod of her top-heavy head in agreement with her leader's promises of continued cooperation.

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
The Legatus looks over to Serori, and nods to Samar, "It is always appreciated, Samar. I am making tactical plans which should be released soon enough once I know whom I have to turn too for continued assistance."

Then he goes to answer both Serori's and Samar's question at the same time, "Leviathan that your fleet faced, Samar, is indeed one of these Eikons." He looks between the two, before looking back to Serori, "The Eikons are a high threat. The power of the Eikon is unmatched by one man and with their ability to taint the minds, their number of followers grows. Allowing them to grow ever stronger. The only way we have been able to determine how to handle the threat, is by wiping out all their followers. For even if one remains, they can resummon the Eikon."

Gaius closes his eyes in thought. "Worse," He opens his eyes once more. "The process which the Eikons go about gathering followers, we have come to call Tempering. This Tempering, so far, has no way to reverse the effects of. So if anyone is tempered.. they are servant to the Eikon until death." Its a grim thing to say and it even shows in his face ever the slightest.

When Mantigora asks her question, that causes Gaius to momentarily smirk. Ah yes, Odin. "Indeed, Mantigora, which brings me to my next point. The only Eikons however we are aware though that do not follow the normal behavior are those of that of," he motions to Mantigora, "Odin-- whom roams where he seems to please and seems to have no followers.. and that of Bahamut.. the very Eikon that brought our world to the Multiverse. We not know where he sleeps and hopes he remains as such."

Gaius then turns those gold eyes to Nox, "As for the removing of the Eikons. We have not found any permenant solution beyond as I have said. The slaughtering of all those whom follow the Eikon-- but that does not remove Odin nor Bahamut from this equation." Gaius inhales deeply before he continues, "From what we have been able to observe though, when an Eikon is destroyed, their aetheric energy returns back to the world. This has many of our scientists to believe that these Eikons live within the Aetheric plane of existence. However how these prayers help them form into the physical realm, we have yet to fully determine and understand. Again, with those like Odin, whom seem to do this on free will-- we can only conclude that the older a Eikon gets, the greater ability they have to bring themselves into existence without aid.. thus becoming a even larger problem."

"What makes though Eorzea such a problem, is that though we have dealt with these Eikons in the past in several of our conquered nations, never has so many been in /one/ place, as they are in Eorzea." Gaius frowns a bit at this. "To our current count and not counting that of Odin or the slumber Bahamut, there is five that we know of.. and this is also not counting the Twelve whom those of the Eorzeans worship. As they as well can be summoned in the same manner that the Eikons can be as well."

He closes his eyes for a moment before speaking the next part, "Thankfully, the Eorzeans have not tried to do so and only came close to such when Bahamut appeared.. an issue created by one of our whom had been corrupted."

Serori (37) has posed:
Serori's eyes narrow. "You make it sound as if these Eikons are unstoppable. I've yet to see a single 'unstoppable' force maintain its reputation for long. We'll find a way to take these Eikons out. Until we do, you can count on the Confederacy to supply and support you wherever it's needed; all you have to do is call on us. Does anyone have any final questions for the Legatus?"

Mantigora (583) has posed:
Mantigora grins a little to herself, mostly at the connections she made herself being proven right. "If they are the same as Odin, then I can offer one piece of insight learned from dealing with him. While it will not solve the matter of followers, during a fight with Odin both Lady Mihk and myself, at different points were able to cause extensive... disruption to Odin not by attacking him directly, but by attacking the energies you say these entities draw on. It did not destroy him, but it did weaken him to the point he could be driven away again."

Mantigora pauses, as to give a moment for that to sink in. "Other than that." She smirks enough to let her fang-like teeth show to Gaius. "I will be more than happy to continue assisting you and your men."

Serori (37) has posed:
Serori offers a stiff nod of respect to Gaius. "Thank you, Legatus. That gives us a good overview; I'm sure we can come to you if we need more information, hm? With no other immediate questions coming, I'd like to invite Samar to take the floor."

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
Gaius gives a nod to Mantigora and a nod to Serori, "Thank you, ma'am." He then picks up his helm and puts it back on with simple ease as he makes his way down, giving a respectful nod to Samar on passing.

Any thoughts he had to say to Serori were held for another time.

Samar (494) has posed:
    Samar gives a nod of acknowledgement when Gaius talks about plans. She doesn't press the matter, though; this isn't the place to take up space with working out such things, particularly when they can meet later, if needed.

    When her name is called, Samar rises from her seat and makes her way up to the podium, taking slow and even strides until she ends up behind it. Her smile is pleasant as she looks out at her audience, but not overly warm. Her hands fold together on the podium, no doubt leaving it slightly wet in the process, and she begins, speaking loudly and clearly. "Greetings, Confederacy. I am Samar, admiral of the Abyssal Fleet. For those of you who are not aware, we are the spirits of ships allowed to sink in war, long since forgotten beneath the waves. Our reason to live is to enact our vengeance on those who reside above the surface, until they share our fate of sinking to the depths. That is the only acceptable resolution for our pain in the face of their neglect and disrespect, and one we reach for with the utmost determination."

    The horned woman smiles slightly, then. "Needless to say, we are primarily focused on naval excursions, and if you have any targets on or near the water, we would be more than willing to eradicate them for you. As you can see from Wo there," she adds, gesturing to the quieter girl, "we're outfitted with a variety of ship-based weaponry, supplemented with anti-air, torpedoes, aircraft, and radar. We are, for all intents and purposes, still ships...only smarter, more self-sufficient, and capable of functioning just as well on land as at sea. We've already begun working with some of you to great success."

    Samar's hands fold together on the podium in front of her again as he expression darkens. "Unfortunately, we've met a few snags in our own efforts. In our own world, we have the Fleet Daughters, spirits like ourselves who have chosen to ally with those who dwell on the surface. They only seek to destroy us, keeping us in our watery tombs. Additionally, the Fleet Maidens of another version of Earth have chosen to fight against us; no doubt you have encountered some of them yourselves. If any of you have information or skills that would be useful toward removing this opposition from our path, I would encourage you to speak with us. With them standing in our way, our success becomes more difficult to manage."

    Samar pauses in another moment's thought, then lets her polite smile return. "Of course, as I have mentioned to others before, you don't need to worry about the safety of your own worlds in our efforts. Despite how...widespread my sisters' urges are, our grudge remains first and foremost with the people of our world. Any holdings under Confederate control or anything else you are particularly interested in keeping in one piece will be preserved."

    Another brief nod is given to her audience. "If you have any questions or requests for the next few moments, I will be willing to acknowledge them."

Mantigora (583) has posed:
Mantigora is glad she didn't bring Skuzzler along for this, he'd probably start annoying Samar with a lot of irrelivant questions about being 'machine ghosts' like the half-crazed little mad scientist he is. Not the distraction they need right now.

Serori (37) has posed:
"Living weapons," Serori murmurs, thoughtful. "/Vengeful/ weapons." But she doesn't have any questions, not really; she's just interested in hearing Samar speak so thoroughly on the subject of the Abyssals. It's hard to remember another time when Samar's been so forthcoming and wordy.

Wo's given a curious look, too -- and then a more cautious second glance. There's something a bit unsettling, /there/.

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
Gaius listens to Samar's story and their own problems as well. His brows furrow behind his helm, contemplating over what his own men could offer. They were not a naval men or women, but those of the air. Yet the fact there are those whom desire to be on the land...

He raises his hand slightly to ask the question to Samar, "You speak of those whom wish to stay on the surface, on land, correct? What type of defenses do they hold?" Yes-- his gears are already turning.

Wo has posed:
    The indicated young woman remains, as before, quiet as Samar makes her presentation and her sisters' case. Wo is alert and focused, but words can be hard to summon for her, especially in an atmosphere like this one. Her own expression is hard to read, though it does seem a tinge sad, with a slip towards anger as the one that is effectively their boss puts into words so well what often fails her. Feeling a gaze upon her, though, her glowing eyes swivel toward Serori for a moment - the empty spaces that count as her hat's eyes almost seem to double up the returned look. After an uneasy moment, however, she raises a hand in stern salute. See? She's not so bad.

Lute (188) has posed:
     Lute raises a hand, "Have you considered operations to melt the polar ice caps? That would drastically increase the ocean size and the areas you can operate in."

     See, Lute doesn't have /only/ bad ideas.

Samar (494) has posed:
    Samar waves a hand almost dismissively when Gaius asks about defenses. "Nothing special. Tanks, planes, ships, of course; the usual vehicles and weapons crewed by humans. They come at a severe disadvantage, for it takes so many of them to manage a single vessel, while we /are/ the vessels. The Fleet Daughters, however, are more problematic, for they are similar to us. They also come equipped with artillery, anti-air capabilities, torpedoes, and the like, and of course the presence of mind to handle all of them on their own. If it weren't for them, we wouldn't need to worry about the defenses of surface dwellers."

    Her attention turns to Lute next, her brows raising slightly in curiosity. "While not a bad idea in practice, I'm afraid we simply don't have the patience to wait for...oh, however long it would take for that to have any meaningful impact. Direct assaults are efficient, swift, and..." A pause as she lightly drums her fingers along the podium. "...satisfying."

    She looks back around the room, then. "Any other questions I may be able to answer at this time, or shall we continue with other matters? Of course, if anything comes up in the future, I am very willing to speak in other venues."

Serori (37) has posed:
"I believe Nox wished to speak to us tonight, too; thank you, Samar. We'll be ready to serve you as needed. The Fleet Daughters may pose a significant obstacle to you now, but I think once the Legatus and the rest of us take the field, the balance of power will seem much, much different." Serori sketches a quick salute, then casts a small beckoning gesture over to Nox. "Nox?"

Samar (494) has posed:
    "Thank you, Colonel." Samar nods graciously to Serori, then steps down to take her seat again. Wo, in turn, is given a warm smile and a light, reassuring pat on the shoulder before her attention returns to the podium.

Lezard Valeth has posed:
Lezard continues to be quiet as he swirls his wine during Gaius' speech. He does not comment upon the subject of false gods, but his glasses glint ominously. He does not give an offer of assistance verbally. Some things are better handled with action, not words.

Samar gets a nod of assent from Lezard, as he speaks to her. "I know well the travails of the fallen," he replies. "I can give your number assistance with my skills. I have much experience which could augment your numbers, as well as make them more effective. If you wish my services, you need but call upon me." Lezard seems to have /zero/ concern with the posssible results of this. He gives a significant glance at Wo, who might remember a previous conversation.

Wo has posed:
    Finally managing to get words out, after the pat on the shoulder, Wo congratulations Samar briefly, "..you..did well. Samar. --thank you." She can speak, barely, as can many of their midling sisters, but there are still so many that haven't found their voices. Having her strong one..helps. Lezard's direct address doesn't go unnoticed, either, and the voice is certainly familiar. While not wanting to break her superior's concentration, she does briefly acknowledge, "..ah-- The surface dweller, from before. We..can speak - more later. ..perhaps."

Nox (546) has posed:
    At hearing his name spoken, Nox abruptly fizzles out of his chair, leaving behind a split second after image of blue static; teleporting to the front of the room where the others had spoken. A tiny mechanical bug flutters out from under his hood, and pulses what looks like a series of pixellated sonar waves from its singular eye towards the holo emitter. The result is that Nox has uploaded the general specifications of his personal walking fortress, projecting the image of what appears to be an utterly enormous pocket watch supported by a series of mechanical, spider-like legs jutting out from under its face. Readouts of various portions with interior views quickly disseminate the total of information he is willing to share without having to explain it all out loud. The list includes an extensively well equipped factory, teleporter array, an arsenal of large scale tools and manipulators fit to build or dismantle a small base, a handul of weapons, an inventory list of rare materials, and a personal lab. Most of them are accompanied by a glowing bar, almost all of which are only partially full, and several of which are empty. The core of the display revolves around some sort of cubic holography, along with a much larger bar that is at roughly 50.

    "Greetings, members of the Confederacy. I apologize for cooperating with so few of you to date, but I've been caught up in some personal business." He sweeps his hand towards the display. "This is Horologium. My biggest invention to date. My use of an extremely powerful type of spacetime manipulating spell caused it to unify seperate from the rest of my world, and almost completely depleted of energy. All of my usual facilities are either non-operational, or only just barely, and so the amount of assistance I can offer is somewhat . . . limited. At the moment, I've managed to recover 50% of the energy needed to restart its main power source, after which I should become self sufficient. The energy requirements however, are, shall we say, exceptionally demanding, and I've had only small success locating repositories from which to acquire more. Furthermore, in the process of doing so, I am finding myself regularly harassed by members of the Union, and assorted nature-lovers head over heels for useless natural 'wonders'. In short, all of these capabilities will be at your disposal once I have the other half of the energy I need. Any information you have on locations or beings of significant power, especially those involving magic or life essence, would be extremely valuable to me, and in the long run, beneficial to you. You will find that I am an exceptionally accomplished inventory and craftsman, and the leading edge of time magic research. I believe everyone who has spoken so far could benefit from these assets in their personal assignments, no?"

Serori (37) has posed:
Serori blinks wide-eyed at the display, and sips at another pink punch for awhile as she attempts to process what she's looking at. The meters are easy enough to understand, but most everything else sails right over her head, being of both a magical and technological nature far beyond her limited education.

"These resources are primarily contested objects, you say. Are any resources likely to be less...guarded? Also, what tactics have you employed -- have you taken the direct assault each time, or is it possible to claim any desirable resources using stealth and subterfuge, too?"

At least she can talk tactics, even if she can't talk shop.

Mantigora (583) has posed:
"If any of these 'head over heels nature lovers' turn out to be small humanoids with cat tails and rabbit ears, let me know." There's an audible slink-click as Mantigora extends one set of her blades and grins wickedly. "Aurin extermination is a service I gladly offer for free." The sound reverses as she unflexes her and and the blades retract back into the nanostores of her arm. "More seriously, my partner is quite experienced in, shall we say, environmental decimation for the sake of 'science' and resources. For all their.. eccentricity the Chua are quite proficient when it comes to strip mining entirely planets for the Dominion; certainly it could be useful for other aquisitions as well."

It's a lot of talk, but she's a bounty hunter so getting her operations and what they're capable of out there so her allies are informed is important enough to necesitate it.

Despite mentioning him she's still really glad Skuzzler isn't here. He'd take one look at that display and probably do... whatever likely disgusting thing Chua do from extreme joy. And then probably want to dismantle it. Which would mean she'd have to kick him out again. Ugh, why is someone so useful to her also always so annoying to deal with!

Lezard Valeth has posed:
The display of spacetime manipulation gets Lezard's attention immediately. "I believe I could be of some assistance in this matter." Lezard comments. "I can assist in acquiring the energy you need. We can discuss recompense once I have secured something of worth." It seems something has piqued his interest.

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
Gaius watches the readouts and its easy to see the Legatus attention is fully on what is being given. After all, his best friend before his-- untimely death by insanity-- was Garlean Empire's greatest brain behind construction and backward engineering of their Magitek technology.

Many of these things displayed Gaius can follow, though a few take him a moment to translate into something he can relate too. When Nox goes to explain his issues, the reason for the question also becomes apparent.

The Legatus then sits back in his chair by this point and looks directly at Nox. Such a machine /could/ perhaps be the answer to the Primal threat, yet at the same time, it could also have effects on the aetheric flow that is already having troubles thanks to Bahamut.

Yes, even the Garleans are aware of some threats, even if they are technological wizards of their own world. But this leaves the problem of how /powerful/ is Nox's toys. So Gaius does speak up, even with uncertainties kept locked away for now, "You speak of needing energy for your machine and your question regarding the Eikons now becomes more apparent. Eorzea has aetheric crystals that have become corrupted and in such a state we cannot mine them safely, however-- how well do you think your device could take that very corrupted aetheric energy and make it something your machine could use?"

That should be a good test.

Nox (546) has posed:
    Nox folds his arms behind his back, turning to look at each person in turn, starting with Serori. "Phase Rock remains the only target hotly contested by the Union, but the rate of power absorption from it is slow, making it supplemental to my operations rather than a primary motivator. Unfortunately, the act of draining large wellsprings of power either requires Horologium to be physically present, or a very large force of carriers to ferry it back and forth, making complete stealth impossible. So far I have managed to begin this process unnoticed every time, once the transfer actually commences, a handful of . . . nosy types immediately appear at the scene."

    Nex to Mantigora. "I've run into more than a few with animal features, but none matching that exact description. Any assistance you could lend on that front however, would be /most/ appreciated. Wiping out large natural areas overflowing with life is efficient for gathering energy, but frequently attracts too much notice, and I can't be everywhere at once. The rate to which I've had to restrict myself is painfully slow."

    Then to Gaius. "I am quite confident in my ability to convert energy from form to form. My magic doesn't distinguish between origin, only density and volume. If aetheric energy is something that can allow a spirit to manifest as a physical, living being, there is at least 95% chance of it being compatible. I also happen to have mining equipment for extracting large gems."

    Lastly to Lezard. "Ahaha, excellent to hear! I'm fortunate to be surrounded by such dependable allies! I'll leave my personal frequency open for individual arrangements later." Assuming there are no further questions, Nox teleports back into his seat.

Serori (37) has posed:
"Thank you, Nox. I'm certain we can be very helpful in your endeavors. Sakina, you had something to add about Lordran, I think?" Serori turns to the quiet, flame-gazing girl.

Sakina (610) has posed:
    When her name is called, Sakina finally moves again. The pyromancer rises, then carries herself over to the podium, still cradling her flame in her hands. Once she reaches the podium, she still doesn't shift her gaze away from the fire she holds, but nonetheless she speaks to her audience without further introduction.

    "Lordran," she begins, her faintly accented voice carrying well despite her clear lack of outward attention, "is a land that suffers the same curse my own does. The Undead curse. Those humans marked by the Darksign will find themselves immortal; no matter how gruesome, how swift, how slow, or how painful their death, they will return to life shortly after...lacking just a little more of what made them who they are. They will slowly wither away, steadily losing their memories, their identities, and their motivations in their life, until they are nothing more than a mindless husk driven to fill a bottomless pit that will never be satisfied. A Hollow."

    The pyromancer lets out a slow breath, then continues. "There is no known cure for the curse, and it spreads further and further among humans with each passing day. Lordran is dying, or, maybe more accurately, rotting. However...it seems that this Priscilla, whoever she may be, has stumbled upon something close enough. A way to reverse the curse, if I am to understand correctly, through the power of flame. I have only been to her world twice, but it seems that she and her allies are to gather the brilliant souls of certain entities in her world and make use of their strength toward something called the First Flame. I know nothing further than this; I haven't asked questions, and I may not be the best person to do so. I do, however, have a personal interest in this endeavor, and so I will continue to offer my assistance to them in the future to see if this cure is at all feasible."

    Sakina's head lifts briefly to look out at the assembled Confederates from under her hood. "I have never heard of Lordran before coming here. However, it holds similarities to my own world, so if any of you feel driven to assist, then I will offer what insight I can to make things easier. Most individuals assisting have taken to using soapstones, which allow one to project oneself into a world without fear of personal harm or death. I believe you will all appreciate that lessened personal risk."

    Her head lowers again to look at the flame she holds as she finishes. "...there is nothing else of worth to most in that world. To conquer it would be conquering a burned and salted land. The arts of magic may be of interest to some, but I don't know if any teachers remain there. Perhaps it would be worth investigating."

Mantigora (583) has posed:
A very low growl comes from the Draken's direction, though she makes no actual comments. But the fact that what Sakina is describing is so close to the Contagion and other 'undead' things she's dealt with is making Mantigora's necrophobia twitch something fierce. Fortunately this phobia is less of a fear and more of 'must destroy', but it's still making her edgy. Which shows some of her more cat-like traits in the way her tail keeps flicking in aggitation, thumping against the bottom of her chair.

Serori (37) has posed:
"I'd like to add...Priscilla is willing to provide soapstones to anyone interested in /helping/ her cause. There was someone from Lordran I considered a good friend, and as I stated before, I'd appreciate it if we could have a bigger presence in this mission, if only to keep tabs on how the Union is faring, and how Priscilla's search for a solution advances. The 'curse' Sakina mentions -- we don't know how it originates, or how it can be counteracted if it appears somewhere outside Lordran. Such as in Sakina's world. We need to understand more."

Serori shrugs, and falls quiet again.

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
"I have stepped foot once in Priscilla's world." Gaius decides to admit after he listened to Sakina. "In order to aid with getting through a tower of great peril and rather dangerous trap."

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
Gaius Van Baelsar says, "If I shall step foot in that world again, I will see what I may find about this cure.. and perhaps even have some of our researchers look into our own texts from the times of the Allagan to see if anything may parallel in our world.. given we have our issues with.. something akin to these Hallow beings." It is the best offer Gaius can give her, as such a situation is-- odd for the Legatus to do much with.
"

Serori (37) has posed:
"Reports on your time there would be welcome," Serori nods to Gaius, and to Sakina. "Maybe you can work together to put something up for the rest of us, hm? Or at least, if you go back, please report on it in the future. The more we know, the better off we'll be."

Serori looks around. "If there are no further questions for Sakina, I believe we'll close the session here. I have nothing further to add, myself; do you, Field Marshal?"

Dracula Vlad Tepes (83) has posed:
    "No, I believe we can call it a night for now," Dracula replies, standing up from his seat and folding his arms behind his back. A cordial smile is offered to the group, then. "Thank you all for your time today. I believe we have several useful tasks ahead of us now, and I would encourage you all to look into what your allies are doing if you find yourself wanting for ways to make yourselves useful. As we have just demonstrated, there are plenty of tasks requiring skilled individuals before us, and many who would welcome assistance."

    With that, Dracula takes a low, perhaps exaggerated bow. "Good evening, Confederacy. I wish to hear of our many successes in the coming weeks."

Serori (37) has posed:
Serori offers a slight smile to Dracula, and then to the gathering. "What he said. Thank you all for coming here tonight, and for contributing what you could. I'll report on tonight's session either tomorrow or the day after; paperwork's not my specialty."

Lute (188) has posed:
     It's worth noting that Lute is currently passed out drunk in the corner at this point.

     Mission accomplished. At least he managed to last the whole meeting, and actually will remember a surprising amount of this tomorrow.

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
Gaius stands when all is to stand and returns the bow in equal measure to both Serori and Dracula. He though stays down lower then they did in full show of respect, before he stands back up to his full height once more.

Gaius looks over to Serori for a moment before looking to Dracula, "I thank you and the Field Marshall for putting this together. If either of you require anything, please let me know. I have pull in the Garlean Empire that I could easily convince a few spare men and women to stand in respected fronts."

Then his full view goes to Serori, "I would also like to speak to you later regarding what you stated in the meeting on the Eikons. There is some-- facts-- I could not speak of fully given the time. Some things you may find interesting."

With that the Legatus too, takes his leave, giving a passing respectful nod to Samar and Mantigora. Including a few nods to others as well.

Mantigora (583) has posed:
Mantigora returns Gaius' nod... and heads for the table to claim whatever is left of the cuboar and other buffet. Because sampling the culinary tidbits of other cultures is a passing hobbie of hers as well.