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Marigold	Lycia, March of Araphen, western lowlands      One day's journey from Castle Araphen      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ind76krMdns      On your third visit to this world, finally, there's no sense of urgency or menace. Exiting the disused natural warpgate in a small natural grotto, the red glow of a nighttime bonfire oozes through the trees far ahead and below. It's less than an hour's walk to make your way towards it. The constellations are useless in navigating, though- they're all foreign.      "Hey! Identify yourselves!" is your first greeting on approach through the trees. It's a familiar teenage voice, trying to sound authoritative: that sharp-eyed child defiantly clutching a knife, until an older figure places his hand on his shoulder from behind. "Now, now, young man-" "It's Chad!" "Chad. No-one put you on night duty. They won't be hostiles out here." "Ghhh..."      Behind those two, a semicircle of stowable white peaked tents curves around the fire. Maybe fifteen people are gathered here, tending to duties or sitting on log-benches with their stew: a trio of what could obviously be called 'knights' (the gray-haired oldest one stirring the stewpot), a heavily-scarred shirtless man idly chatting and splintering more firewood with his axe-toting warrior companions, Guinivere and Elen discussing something with a red-headed young man while they eat, Father Lucius mending a tabard in the entryway of a tent while gently chastising a glum-looking Lugh. A lightly-armored young woman tends a winged horse behind the tents, reined up with the earthbound others as if it were nothing strange..      Most of them are already starting to perk up and rubberneck at your arrival. Only Guinivere stands decisively. "Oh, those are the Otherworlders I told you of, Merlinus. They've shown me a great deal of kindness." "So soon...? Ah, well. Merlinus, seneschal of House Pherae. It's wonderful to meet you." The older man's smile is undimmed by Chad shrugging his hand off his shoulder and sulking off.      The rocky hill-face that serves as the 'back wall' of the camp, on examination in the flickering firelight, is gouged with four vast raking claw-marks. They've long since overgrown with lichens and lost their sharp edges to erosion.
Ru Li Cheng	Eight arrows.      Ru Li's been quietly murmuring it like a mantra as he walks - though it's hard to hear over his body's ever-present clockwork ticking. That ticking seems a little more audible than usual today, in fact. Radial senses take in the sky and the stars, slowly adding them to his list of thoughts. Foreign stars, foreign worlds, foreign futures. <J-IC-Scene> Shinmyoumaru Sukuna says, "If you've always been strong, you wouldn't know. You're a god, right? Someone who's born with power wouldn't know the joy of actually *getting* it."      It's looping in his head, over and over. At some point during the walk he's actually shut his eyes (this does nothing to impair his ability to perceive things, of course) and has started assigning the stars into grids just to have something else to think about. To have something to think about other than that horrible juxtaposition.      A god is forged complete.      He is not complete enough to help.      When they finally arrive he opens his eyes again. Humans who aren't used to him would probably assume he was blind if he didn't. He claps his hands together at Chad and bows his head politely.      "I am Ru Li Cheng, ninth of the nine Ru Cheng gods, ninety-ninth of the ninety-nine gods of the Empire of Yinghua. I am..."      He hesitates.      "...here to help."      He bows his head a bit lower to Merlinus, with a bit more respect. "Thank you, Seneschal Merlinus of Pherae, for trusting in us."
Shinmyoumaru Sukuna	This is actually Shinmyoumaru's first trip here, but she decided to come for two reasons: One, the place kept coming up in conversation, and that piqued her interest. And two, when she heard about Chad and Lugh, she was prepared to *immediately* invite herself. And when Shinmyoumaru decides to invite herself along somewhere, by that point there's basically no avoiding it. Shinmyoumaru does not walk from the warpgate to the meeting point. She rides what appears to be a giant fancy lacquered bowl, black, with a pattern of leaves and reeds and discs in yellow-orange. She is wearing the lid of it as a hat, and poling it along as if it was a small boat with a giant sewing needle. One can practically see the shimmer and splash of phantom ripples as it floats through the air. She stands up in the bowl as she gets closer, one bare foot on the edge of it as the thing tips forward just like an actual round boat would - it makes her look taller since she's her feet are a good foot and a half above ground level, which brings her up to the lofty height of five feet and change - and she responds when hailed: "I'm Shinmyoumaru Sukuna! I'm invited." Very, very technically invited. Shinmyoumaru hops off her bowl. Boat. Whatever. On foot, she looks like a teenager, except for the part where she's very short; physically she seems about fourteen or fifteen, with a round, open face and messy purple hair, but she is (being generous) about four feet tall. She's wearing a simplified version of her kimono, with bare feet. She still has the giant bowl lid perched on her head like a hat. Shinmyoumaru immediately starts looking around. She focuses on Chad for a few moments as he starts to sulk off, and makes a note as to where he goes, because she's going to talk to him soon (possibly whether he wants to or not, which means it may be brief); but really she looks at everyone and everything, afire with curiosity. She's never been to a camp like this before. "I'm here to help too," she adds, a moment later. Which is true.
Trudy Grimm	The witch Trudy Grimm arrives with a small retinue of soldiers this time. Not out of any paranoia (that she'd admit) but more to create a general air of safety (this she admits) for herself and those traveling with her through the forest. While she is clad in her usual collection of furs and leather and beads and metal; the men with her are somewhat misplaced visually with the setting-- clothed as they are in ragged long dark brown jackets, metal helmets, gas masks, gloves, and heavy boots.     Though the voice demanding an identity gets chastized, she still calls out in a cheerful response: "Trudy Grimm, a witch of humble talents. And her cute friends!" Guinivere provides further introduction, to which Trudy bends her knees and spreads her hands out slightly in a little curtsey. The three gaunt men around her make varying acknowledging gestures; two tapping the brims of their helmets while the third dips forward slightly and bows his head.     The witch flitters her hands at the trio, "Oh, go mingle with the knights, would you? Seneschal Merlinus and Lady Guinivere no doubt have words for me." The troops move off while she returns her attention to the Princess and the Seneschal, "It is as before-- I have come to offer what little assistance I can. Every bit helps, no?"     The soldiers eventually settle in around the campfire with the three local Knights, though seem disinterested in the food. Only the warmth and light.
Angela	Angela isn't sure if there is much reason to help Outsider worlds so much anymore--she has secured her aid and doubts there will be more coming by lending agents out to ventures such as this but sending Disciplinary out to war again is precisely the sort of push Gebura needs to go berserk. Which has been harder than it usually is because of how sweet Rita is. She can't exactly blame Rita for being likeable to Gebura even though she specifically anticipated Rita would also drive Gebura crazy enough to go berserk far earlier than now but she can't blame her for how much she underestimated her charm. Fortunately, another war is happening and Gebura at least made it to the edge. Perhaps this will be enough. If Gebura actually psychologically heals on her own that would be a big problem for the Seed of Light project so a little extra pressure here by sending Ceri off to war even though she hasn't healed yet ought to go a long way. But it is ridiculous to send Ceri alone and there is no Max to send so she has also sent... A sniper! Tennant is wearing the blue uniform of Der Freischutz and even now has an ego gift of a brass and blue pipe that they are presently puffing smoke clouds through while slinging their rifle across their back. Hokma is overseeing the operation with Angela which will probably not result in any trouble whatsoever--Angela does intend to ultimately leave it to Hokma but this is a first meeting--she should be present today. "Can this pipe give me lung cancer?" Tennant asks Ceri. "I didn't smoke before but now I have to for my job." Ceri, still in her wheelchair (and Sanguine Desire EGO Gear) sighs, "Just buy new lungs if you have to." There is some tension amongst both agents as they are called out for being intruders but Tenant and Ceri's mental illnesses are well suited for the scenario and don't get in the way quite yet and they don't even reach for their weapons, Tennant even raising their arms into the air and saying "We're good here!" Ceri's gaze follows after Chad for a moment, ultimately wheeling after him without a word. "Er..." Tennant says, not expecting this. "Well, yes, Ceri and I are part of the preliminary L Corp forces sent to lend a hand here. The company's decided its in its best interest to lend you a hand here." "I am Angela of Lobotomy Corp. And this is--Hokma." It takes her some effort to use that name instead of what her instinct guides her to use. "He will be in charge of the people we send to this operation. He has ... indulged some war in the past so he is familiar with the customs." Angela says. "A pleasure to meet you." Hokma dips his head. "Outsiders help us tremendously--we are also new to them, relatively speaking--but you can trust that they will approach this with honesty and effort."
Flamel Parsons	Flamel, emerging from his van (covered in absurd amounts of monitoring equipment) chooses to indulge Chad despite the absence of authority. "Hey there! Flamel Parsons, agent of... well, agent of Lady Guinivere, technically speaking! I'm a psychonaut, it's fine." He flashes his badge, which should be just as meaningless to the child as the child's authority is to the visitors. It's the exchange that matters, the gesture of boundary and respect for the boundary. "Cleared to enter?" It's long after the older figure has placated him. Flamel's just doing this so that there's one more signal in Chad's life that the child's boundaries will be respected. "You're Chad, right? I heard you came all the way from Araphen to fight the good fight! Can we talk soon? I was hoping to help you with something."     Once he's cleared to enter, he's on his way to Merlinus and Guinivere! "Hey there again! Wow, Father Lucius wound up coming to *us* instead, I need to stop in with him and figure out what's going on with Zephiel's motivations." He offers a quick handshake to Merlinus, and introduces himself again. "I'm Flamel Parsons! Acolyte of a vague yet ominous order. We've chosen to back Lady Guinivere's work-in-exile. Wonderful to meet you, seneschal! I hope we'll get to work together a lot." Bright smiles and firm grips if the handshake is taken. "I've gotta see the Father and those kids in a bit, though."     In fact, he waves over Lucius. "Hey, Father Lucius! I was wanting to speak to you, and the kids, if you have a minute!" Always beaming cheerfully, especially when meeting with sources of good mental health.
Aidan Proudpick	The breastplate is gone for Aidan. It gets in the way of his mobility and, let's face it, just feels WEIRD. Weighing him down, making it hard to flex. He takes the slow walk with everyone else rather than rushing forward, instead keeping an eye out on the trees, over the land, a flick of the ear. It's a skill here, it gives a little sense of usefulness. Aidan sees the young man before he jumps out and is already lifting his hands over the head. "Friendlies! Friendlies!" He wears a warm smile for Chad as he keeps moving forward, watching the over eager man be gently padded down. His smile wanes. How long until Chad forms a band and the tree's luck keeps them all alive. Or worse, goes out alone. "So soon...? Ah, well. Merlinus, seneschal of House Pherae. It's wonderful to meet you." Aidan lowers his hands once again, "That would make you..." He scratches at his head with one hand, "Sir? No, and not Lord, Mister seems strange. Just Merlinus is okay?" The squirrel immediately gravitates towards Lucius, a thought clearly on the squirrel's mind and eager for a chance to meet him again - until he sees the winged horse AND the hill. Aidan excitedly makes his way over, tail all a flutter, "Is that a pegasus? I've never seen one before! And those claw marks... this is a place where a real dragon was!"
Odette Raskins	Even with the lack of evident danger in this third visit, the EMT accompanying the group still looks uneasy. It's less about the bonfire they're all headed towards, and she doesn't even seem to be particularly  off when Chad calls them out at first sight (even if she does jump a bit and make a less than courageous noise in the process). No, Odette just seems to be the skittish sort in general, although looking up at the night sky does seem to calm her down considerably. It's not until she realizes that Chad and those other kids inside might be even more scared than her that she really settles down, though, then brings up a hand in a quick wave in greeting to both him and the older figure beside him. "H.. Hello again! It's just us." Like last time, the EMT from space is dressed in her usual uniform in blue with white accents, her trusty duffel bag full of stuff draped diagonally across her chest and tugged up every now and then from her side. The other familiar faces from this world mingling with new ones puts her slightly more at ease, and the sight of the winged horses has her nearly veering off to sate her curiosity and find out what that's about. Before she can, however, she hears Guinevere addressing someone named Merlinus, and she doubles right on back to join in the self-introductions and greetings. "N... Nice to meet you all! Um. A-again, too! For some of you." She chuckles lightly while glancing from Guinevere to Lucius, almost looking timid as she does so. Odette finds her footing as more introductions come forth, though, and she eventually straightens up enough to dip into a more formal curtsey to those gathered. "I-I'm Odette Raskins, Company outreach and EMT." Wait. Do they have EMTs in this world? "Er... Healer and transporter for anyone that's injured. Y-you can count on me if you get hurt and need to be lifted off somewhere safer!" She totally nailed that one. She's feeling good, too, with a sliiiight smile creeping across her face.
Blemishine	Their first trip here where no villages are being razed and there's not an impending meeting with the mad king of an empire - all things considered, the sea of night stars overhead and the shine of a warm flame makes it feel downright welcoming, as if the imminent conflict with Bern is an eternity away. Only a feeling, though.     Still, on seeing the collection of different figures waiting for them, a smile still can't help but come to the blonde knight's face. "Hello again, Lady Guinivere, Miss Elen! I'm glad you're both doing alright." They both receive small but genuine waves, before her focus goes from a brief and slightly embarrassed noting of all the attention on them, to Merlinus. "And I'm glad to meet you too, sir! Maria! Maria Nearl. I'm... something like a knight in training!"     But not a squire. Not the same thing! She gives a little bow for etiquette, though as stands back up to proper posture, her smile grows a bit solemn watching Chad scarper off. Between that and the sort of atmosphere she picked up between Lucius and Lugh, plus what they spoke about before... it doesn't take a genius to suss out how they must be feeling right now.     Leaving that to Flamel for the time being though, Blemishine scans over the gathering in a little more detail after the greeting - she makes note of the old knight who she'd guess is the commander of the trio, the red-headed one that the Princess was speaking with, the massive and ancient clawmarks, and...     "Oh...! An honest to goodness pegasus...!" Her gloved hands come up to her mouth in not-very-muted surprise and awe, the equine ears atop her head giving betraying twitches in place. Under her breath, "I figured I'd run into one eventually, but this is the first time I actually..."     After a moment, she pulls herself together enough to clear her throat, giving a nervous chuckle before glancing back in Merlinus and Guinivere's directions. "...Ahaha. Um, it's quite the delegation here indeed, isn't it?"
Desire Stars	EARLIER      Far away from here, two phones buzz with notifications. Neon Kurama, escorted back into her home by her two towering bodyguards, doesn't hear hers over the argument that ensues with her parents.      Ace Ukiyo, however, enjoys a lobster bisque, on the exclusive, top-floor dining area of a towering skyscraper. Silence and solitude is disrupted by the notification:                                BONUS MISSION START                                      Dabbing gently at his mouth with a napkin, Ace smiles as he checks his phone. NOW Hey! Identify yourselves!      It stands to reason that Ace would be asked a question like that. Not only is he an offworlder, but he's dressed very much Not for a journey through a wooded grotto. A backpack slung over one shoulder is the only sign that he even prepared to be here, really.      Initially refusing to answer, that he might smell a rose he picked along the way, he then points the at Chad dramatically. "Ace Ukiyo," is what the Understanding conveys, though he'd said the words in the opposite order. To Shinmyoumaru, it might sound a lot like 'ukiyo-e.' "I remember you from Laphet, 'Chad.' You don't have to pretend like you don't remember me," he says with his usual smug air. Approaching in spite of Chad's knife, Ace procures a pen. "How about an autograph for that cloak of yours?" His smile is probably insufferable, for someone with Chad's serious disposition.      Ace wears a navy two-piece suit, contrasted with a wine red dress shirt and a tie with a vibrant green peacock pattern. Colors that would clash, if not tied together in triplicate as they are, offset with a stark, glossy white pocket square on the left side. Even given the differences in his modern dress and that of the others in camp, his outfit conveys wealth and a not insignificant bit of vanity. So soon...? Ah, well. Merlinus, seneschal of House Pherae. It's wonderful to meet you.      "Ace Ukiyo," repeats the celeb, offering an upnod of recognition. "Star of the Stars of the Stars," he adds, giving his excessive title just for the satisfaction of saying something so ridiculously indulgent. "Like I said to Lady Guinivere, my employers have an interest in stopping Bern's expansion and aggression. As long as they keep making it worth my while, I'm happy to help. Lucky for you," he says with an upwards twitch at the corner of his mouth, "They're not likely to stop." He makes a little 'excuse me a moment' nod, then strides past Merlinus to Guinivere when Chad sulks off, offering her the rose. "A little memento from Earth," he says.
Lilian Rook	It strikes Lilian on the way down, with the first breath of cool night air, that she's never had the opportunity to sit around a campfire. The closest she's ever had to this is the midnight of yearly Samhain, and each of those leaves her stranded in an ocean of people, around a bonfire far too intense to huddle around. Meandering down from the grotto, descending one weightless, fluttering plunge at a time, the amber glow and the faint smell of woodsmoke from below starts to drag her in with a certain kind of gravity; pulled by a coy and nameless urge from within, that leaves her touching the tiny, stubborn smile on her lips in surprise.     'Hey! Identify yourselves!'     "Dame Commander Lilian Rook, . Now state what cause you have to demand it." Strangely, despite her usually dangerously unburdened tone, Lilian sounds as if she's leaning into the act with a smile.     Striding out of the dark, she isn't the most innocuous figure. Having dug out her old woodland travel wear for the silent joy of the occasion, she blends in perfectly on this visit, but her thick cloak is just the right shade of dark to be stealthy, her boots are finely crafted and soft, the black feathers sewn into the outer collar are too understated to be royal, and the silhouette of the sword worn openly on her back does nothing to soften its size. Taken with wearing her hair down, pooling into her resting hood and forward over her shoulders, it presents a too-particular image for the lily in her hair to change against her scar. "Oh? One Lucius' boys. That's a surprise. Is it pleasant?"     The appearance of an older, probably more responsible figure, sets Lilian a little bit more at ease. "My. It's a pleasure to meet you, seneschal." Lilian greets Merlinus, exuding an almost kinesthetic relaxation into the physical gestures of formality. "It's soothing to know that Princess Guinivere can find friends like yourself even here, as well. Even if it's disappointing to know that I've no familiar titles to dazzle you with in return~" she says. Her gaze wanders to the gathered knights with shocking ease, though the quiet spark that ches in her eyes lasts well through finding the pegasus. "Oh . . . Princess . . . I would love for you to tell me all about these kind and able hands you've found along your way."     Welcoming herself to the campfire, without a hint of the haughty presumption she always garbs herself in when 'welcoming herself' anywhere, Lilian passes by Lucius with a less complicated smile on their second meeting. "Goodness; I'm impressed that they still listen to you at their age!" Lilian says, her tone alone implying a laugh. "I certainly didn't, with my guardians." Rounding the campfire towards the horses, without actually straying too far, Lilian seems to meander just for the opportunity to sample the warmth and the smell of stew (and, perhaps, to measure up the warriors nearby).     "Princess, I'm . . ." Lilian begins, then easily pivots, putting a moment's tension out of mind. "Well, you've heard me apologize on Zephiel's behalf already. The good news outweighs the bad, still, so perhaps I should reassure you that my schemes and machinations have already begun~?" Lilian laughs. "I'll enjoy getting to show you how much I meant what I said."
Kayoko Kirenai	Kayoko has no immediate barriers to showing up transformed to missions in general, but particularly after hearing about Chad and Lugh's efforts to join up with the war effort, she has no option but that. In her magical armor, she hardly looks as young as the two local boys, but she still has a default sense of comeraderie with them; allied against the adults who might demand that they respect their safety more than their duty (as child soldiers). That allyship isn't so strong that Lilian couldn't have dismantled it with a few words-- but she supported it! So there's no problem in feeling the way she does.     Her early steps on the way to the camp are slowed by the vision of the landscape unfolding all around her. Kayoko's experience with the multiverse has been limited to almost solely, urban areas or unpleasantly violent ones, and to see the unspoiled, almost fairytale-esque contrast to the city and suburbs of Kagoshima is enough to drag her feet to a crawl. Stars and crystal clear creeks, rolling hills and the scars of old battles, are almost dreamlike with her glittering blue armor-- the environment that Chevalier Cobalt was always meant for.     Shyly, vanishing from view, Kayoko takes the opportunity to snap some photos with the camera she uses to transform. She becomes visible again only after flying some distance to catch up, so that no one needs to take note of the disruption. "Hey! Identify yourselves!"     Night watch! Kayoko saw the camp long before Chad had the opportunity to call out to the group, so she was eagerly anticipating the interaction for the journey towards it. This doesn't mean she's any less clumsy when responding, though, and she forgets that when she raises her hand with a short flash of gold light, that the signal isn't as universally understood out here as it would be at home.     "Chevalier Cobalt! I am a Paladin and knight, sent to aid Lady Guinivere in her fight." She's puffed up a little bit, when describing herself as a knight in earshot of people who are also, for *real*, that, and it's a choice to acknowledge the night watch as an important position that Chad's filling. Duty is, sometimes, just performing something and knowing that the performance is being seen, so this helps both her and Chad.     Chevalier Cobalt is almost certainly taller than Chad, with above-average height in the first place and a couple inches added by her sabatons and visor, and it's a comforting position to be in as the older, wiser soldier, for once. She stops by him while the others pass through to give him more of an explanation on how they came to be out here, absent of 'hostiles'.     "We arrived through the warpgate a few miles away, but there's probably not much chance of any enemies using it to show up unannounced. It's there to let us gather and come help, from all different places in the universe. I'll be keeping an eye out, too." Merlinus also gets a greeting, because he's an adult and he's There, and Kayoko hesitates before taking Lilian's cue and greeting him as 'seneschal'. The hesitation is because she doesn't know the word.
Meika Kirenai	It doesn't really matter to Meika that the stars above are unknown and foreign to her, that the constellations the people here trace aren't shapes familiar to her own. Her eyes lock upwards on the clearest night sky she can call to memory. She doesn't really need to look where she's headed to feel out where to place her footsteps, but whether by the angle she's keeping her head, or the depths of the night sky she's staring off into, Meika quickly starts to grapple with faint vertigo.     "Woah... Cobalt, you've *got* to get this on camera..."     There's only so much distracting herself she can do, even with a skyscape like this, or pretty dark woods and the faint breeze through leaves and branches, the chirps of little crickets, and the chatter of the group on their trek. Even if it's beautiful. Eventually, hands in her letterman's pockets, thoughts all coalesce back into a dull, weighty bitterness. I can't even come here looking the part. Not like Cobalt. Not anymore. I hate this.     Red and grey jacket, baseball tee, worn-out jeans, and heavy boots. Meika, for the first time since giving up on the silly re-styling of her messy white hair back in the depths of Lobotomy Corporation's facilities, has bothered to tie it in the half-up ponytail to match the scant few doodles left in her sketchbook. If I can't be in costume, maybe that's enough, right..? 'Hey! Identify yourselves!'     It's a little shock to hear the teenager's voice, so soon after he and his presence here at all had been a topic of conversation. Meika faintly recognizes his voice, overheard from the skirmish in his town, but only really puts two and two together as the old man lets Chad's name slip. She still takes a silent little step back from the outstretched knife.     "Magical Girl Chevalier Vermillion- Um. I know I don't really look it, right now, but..." She covers up a quiet cough with a loose fist, and rocks from heel to toetip, back flat-footed. "I- I was at the fight the other day, too. I'm sorry if it got real loud, but..."     In flickering firelight, scowl, eyebags, and faint little bruises soften enough to highlight she's really not old herself, for whatever assurance that brings to the runaway. "... You came all out here with everyone..?" He's worried for them, isn't he? That's why he's out playing night watchman... 'Can we talk soon? I was hoping to help you with something.'     Meika lightly elbow-nudges Flamel. {"... You sound a little like a salesman. Give him a little room. It's probably... a lot, all, right now."} Overcaution, likely. Meika's about sixty percent aware how much she's solely basing this on projecting her own feelings on this all.     She doesn't even really look at Merlinus, beyond a small little hand-tilt wave. Following further towards the camp proper, though, her footsteps hush, and her shoulders tighten up under the oncoming gaze of the strange band. She skirts at the edges, and doesn't really approach anything- but she doesn't have to, to try and listen in and catch whatever conversation has Lugh so down and out. Poor kid...
Kayoko Kirenai	"And I'm glad to meet you too, sir! Maria! Maria Nearl. I'm... something like a knight in training!"     This-- and the pegasus-- draws Kayoko's attention even all the way from across camp. Kayoko tries not to show it in her neutral expression or posture, but when she slides up beside Blemishine at the stables, it's audible from her first words that she's a little nervous (despite wearing armor, her steps don't clank and clatter, but she's not silent like Meika).     "D-Dame Nearl, right? It's nice to meet you...." Part of her nerves is actually not from Blemishine, but the other horse-like creature in her focus. She eyes the pegasus somewhat suspiciously, keeping her hands carefully back and away from it while she watches. "Do you think it bites...?"     Then, because there's actually a person there taking care of it, "Miss? Does it bite?"     She's got Meika and Flamel in the corner of her eyes too, because even though she's less familiar with psychonautry than Meika, it was described to her as 'healing magic' so she feels like she has a little more expertise in it than Meika. That, and Meika's lack of transformation means she's inherently slightly less qualified for anything she might put herself towards in this environment for knights and dragons.
Flamel Parsons	Meika's elbow-nudge gets a quick glance, and then a reply in bright, optimistic telepathy: "Oh, thanks! I suppose I just feel so at-ease around Lucius. He's got that energy to him, you know? Sure, though, I'll give him some room!" No need to reject her input, even if he disagrees. "You're right that it's a lot. Especially this, especially now."
Meika Kirenai	'Trudy Grimm, a witch of humble talents. And her cute friends!'     Meika very much does not like the lingering presence of Trudy's so-called 'cute friends'. They creep her out, their sounds grate on her nerves, and she's still rattled from how they snuck up on her the last time she had to be around them. From just across the campfire clearing, Meika stares daggers at the witch- her eyes really are garrish, even drowned-out slightly in the warm light of the fire.     "Do you *have* to bring those out..? People are- are cooking, and there's kids, have some-" A huff cuts herself off, but the glare remains, until she turns away. "Whatever."     Kayoko's watchful presence doesn't spark extra discomfort in her sister. Meika's used to it. It's how things are, it's how things should be, and it's right of her to keep an eye out, here. She's out of depth and out of place. At least it'll be easier for Kayoko to keep watch, as Meika closes distance in with Flamel again. Proper psychonautry isn't really something she'd lay claim to familiarity with- but he's aware it's not completely foreign to her (at least in some ways,) and that's a half measure more safety to fall in with. Or at least a better chance of having something she can help with. 'Hey, Father Lucius! I was wanting to speak to you, and the kids, if you have a minute!'     -Ah? Meika balks that the psychonaut would simply call the priest over, like that. She's a notable exception to him being a source of mental wellness, and wears that plainly on her face. "H-hey, wait, Mister Parsons, should you- if you're making your plan a whole big deal he's got to weigh in on, before the kids even..." Hands fidget with pocketed items. "He's a priest. He'll probably have to say no, if it's like that, or..." 'I suppose I just feel so at-ease around Lucius. He's got that energy to him, you know?'     "Ah."
Trudy Grimm	> Do you *have* to bring those out..? People are- are cooking, and there's kids, have some-"     "They're as welcome as anyone else, you know?" Trudy states brightly towards Meika, her eyes closed, "If it weren't these charming soldiers, I might enlist the protection of the Black Knight, or the brothers from the East, but their dispositions are quite a bit more..." Eyes opening, the witch glances skyward in thought, "...Less able to relax, yes."     Head tilting, Trudy swivels her eyes towards the young mahou, "These men have seen enough trouble for a lifetime and then some, after all. They've little interest in avoidable conflict. Unlike glory-seeking or honor-bound warriors who may prefer otherwise."
Meika Kirenai	'If it weren't these-'     "Why isn't none of them an option?" Snapping tone, she interrupts the second it's clear what Trudy's angling at explaining. "... Don't act like you're backed into some sort of corner. You go places without those. I- I've seen it. So- so just spare the people here, all the- gross showing off."     Much quieter, "Let them rest, if it's really been so awful for them..."
Marigold	Merlinus is quick to shake hands with anyone who offers, using both of his to clasp in a jovial-uncle sort of way. "Hmhmhm~ No, just 'Merlinus' is more than enough! I'm no lord; don't let my towering dignity fool you!" Dignified is generous. He could slide by on 'good-natured'. 'Pleasantly oily' maybe.      "A god...? But you seem quite solid, if you don't mind my saying so! Oh, dearie me, what is the etiquette for divinity?" Merlinus can't seem to figure out whether to chalk it up to Ru Li exaggerating, the 'Otherworld' having a very different meaning of the word, or both. He leans towards the latter before Lilian drags him back down into relieved familiarity.      "Oh! How pleasant, that the Otherworld still knows what a knight is. Do you need any accommodations for your horses?" Shaking (surprisingly callused) hands with the knights soothes him through figuring out what a tablet is, and then deciding he doesn't much care. Probably a foreign magic. In lieu of being able to shake hands with Angela and Hokma, he just grins and awkwardly waves. "Ah! A... mercenary company?" he hazards, in the general direction of those who've mentioned employers. "You might get along well with Dieck." The scarred shirtless man glances over at the mention of his name, then goes back to chatting with his boys.      Lilian's examination of the group's martial prowess finds the gray-haired knight and Dieck as outliers, both almost too seasoned (the latter oddly so for his age). The pair of burly axemen, the younger red-and-green knights, the bowman resting in a tent, and the pegasus-rider are a cut below that, but still better than Bern's rank-and-file, as might be hoped for a noble retinue. Lucius is harder to judge.      "Cleared to enter," Chad grumps while turning his shoulder on the group. Being treated as a peer by the mahous and Flamel mollifies him a little. Ace then promptly un-mollifies him. He narrows his eyes, flicks out a curved blade to slice the offered pen in half, and stomps off towards the treeline, where he squats just out of the firelight.      "What do you want?" he says warily to Ceri, with a dubious glance at her wheelchair. "I'm not the healer."
Marigold	"Oh! No, she's perfectly safe," the pegasus rider says, seeming instantly pepped by the curiosity. She looks almost like a magical girl herself. "I mean, safe as any other horse! You've got horses in the Otherworld, don't you? Just don't touch the wings, yeah?"      She looks between Blemishine's ears and Aidan's face, obviously trying to figure out if there's a common factor. "Hey... you two aren't sick with something, are you?" But then Aidan's question swings her back into being-the-authority-on-something mode, which seems like it must be a rare treat. "Yeah! Marks like that are pretty common! Sometimes you still find bones in places it doesn't rain. Like Ilia, some places! Why? Didn't you have a Scouring?"      "... I promise! He just went off alone, and I was worried for him, so I..." Lugh is pleading to Lucius, while the latter tries to gently placate him. He's obviously used to less gentle guardians. "I understand why, Lugh. It's not as though I'm going to punish you. But if you were worried for him, don't you understand why I'd be worried for you too?" "Yeah..."      He looks up at Lilian with a tired, but still near-angelic smile. "I hope they never stop listening. I only have to listen to them, too. It's easy, when one intends to raise good adults rather than good children." His attention drifts to Flamel without a dimming of the smile, but an added note of surprise. "To me? Is something troubling you spiritually, Flamel?"      The younger knights shift with distinct discomfort when Trudy's soldiers mingle with them; the older just sets his jaw against it and signals them to ease up. "Lord Roy," he finally says, tapping the ladle against the cauldron's rim. "Are you going to let Merlinus take up all the air?" "I was considering it," the fresh-faced redhead says. "I hadn't finished my stew." But it's clearly a joke; he's already setting it aside and standing to dust off his knees with a smile.      "It's a pleasure to finally meet you all. My father, Lord Eliwood of Pherae, is ill; I've been sent to Castle Araphen in his place. Lady Guinivere has been telling me of your gallant rescue, and your meeting with King Zephiel. Tell me: do you really intend to risk your lives fighting for Lycia, if it comes to that? You'd never heard of us until a fortnight ago. It's alright if the answer is no, but I need to understand your resolve."      Guinivere scoots closer to Elen on her log, making room for Lilian between her and where Roy had sat. Her hands squish her cheeks with mischievous interest, soup going ignored. "Oh? Schemes and machinations, my goodness, Dame Commander. I've been quite starved for those all my life, and now I find I'm finally getting in on them. Do tell!"      That shifts to covering her mouth when Ace gives her a rose. She blinks in confusion while looking from the flower, to him, and back to the flower. "Oh, my. I've never seen anything like this! Thank you, Ace. I've no idea what I've done to deserve it. But..." A bit of hesitation. "Aren't you a little young?"
Ru Li Cheng	"Oh, erm," Ru Li looks slightly embarassed, "Yes. Ru Li Cheng if you wish to be overly formal; Ru Li suffices for the average level of formality. My name and my title are functionally the same." He claps his hands together and bows politely. "The situation behind my existence is somewhat complicated - I would be happy to explain it another time, if you wish, when there is nothing else to speak of."      Roy appears. Ru Li bows, again, and reintroduces himself. Then,      'Do you really intend to risk your lives fighting for Lycia, if it comes to that?'      "Yes," Ru Li says, without hesitation. "I have...never met you, nor been to this world, but I am...I would not...I could not, I think, turn my face away, having seen your tears." He slides his hands into his voluminous sleeves and looks away (again, irrelevant, but a human expression to speak to humans with).      He doesn't say all of what he's thinking, of course, because that's unnecessary. He doesn't say that he's eager to meet Zephiel, that a man so firmly qualified to be a hero is the perfect sort of person to be opposed to on his own journey. That someone so fiercely devoted to his ideals, to the point of it bringing him power, is someone worth facing off against for someone like him.      But it's true enough. He watched the children cry. And he's...well, he's notoriously weak to that.      "Do you have a plan of attack?"
Aidan Proudpick	"But that self-declared 'knight'-- of Ohio-- can't even call me by mine. Don't expect too much of him." While over looking at the horse, Aidan opens his mouth several times, about to speak on his radio, trying to find the words to defend himself. Every time he thinks of what the NEXT step would be, it would be simply be a massacre. Aidan closes his mouth again, firmly this time. "Hey... you two aren't sick with something, are you?" He looks over at Blemishine, looking down at her ears, then back. "Oh! Oh. No, this is what I always look like. Don't worry, you can't catch it or anything. And no. We have other weird things, though!" A natural inquistiveness makes him approach the gouges, squatting down to the lichen, "There are no mountains or canyons. Everything is worn down by the wind." He smoothes his hands into the rock, letting claws and finger tips trace through the effects of time and rain. "And our horses walk on two feet." Aidan has spent several hours talking to zoologists who have grilled him on how a place can only evolve bugs, and he would just shrug. They would usually just leave angry and troubled. He leaps back up to his feet, brimming with good natured excitment, "So the pegasus can fly, just like the legend? And your armor looks so great!" His contemplative mood has quickly rushed into the excitement to be amongst the sort of people he always thought he would be just a few years ago. "I'm Aidan! How long do you have to train to be a pegasus rider? What weapons do you use? Are you a knight? Have you fallen off one? How many big fights have you been in?"
Shinmyoumaru Sukuna	Shinmyoumaru gives a polite bow to Merlinus as she's allowed into the camp. She slings the giant needle into a carrying case that appears to be made out of cloth and bamboo, like a hard-sided scabbard with a shoulder strap. Shinmyoumaru remains completely oblivious to the issues she's caused with Ru Li, if 'issues' is the right word for it. She can tell something's up with him, but has no idea what it is and certainly isn't going to blame herself. She recognizes Ace, in fact, introduction or not, and she draws herself up to her full height. "And I remember you! Mister Three Stars," she says, because 'Star of the Stars of the Stars' is both too long and a little pompous even for her. She smirks when Chad cuts his pen - he deserves it for that opening, and opens her mouth to say something. But then she realizes that it is not to be said here and now, and closes it again, puffing out her cheeks in irritation. Be polite, she thinks to herself, and don't give away ALL the secrets, or they won't let you compete. The number of things Shinmyoumaru has seen here is drastically outnumbered by the things she hasn't. A pegasus is novel, but so is a European-style knight (she, of course, looks entirely in Japanese styling) and the claw marks on the wall and the priest and really just about everything. Technically, even 'outdoors' is still novel; she lived too long inside a castle without any real way to leave it. It means she doesn't stare at any *one* thing for too long, but she's always looking. She is also, despite being (very technically) nobility, not used to introducing herself to other nobles; she was never trained in that, and she hasn't internalized everything about it. But she's remembered now, mostly due to accidental prompting by Lilian, and so she's actually polite when she works her way around the camp, ending up near Lugh, Lucius, Lilian and the rest. "Hello!" she says, brightly, to the group. "Do you mind if I come here?" She isn't exactly waiting for a response as she walks in a circle, taking in the close group. She doesn't approach Roy or Guinivere, and she isn't sure how to answer his question either so she's glad she isn't that close. But there is one thing she *does* know she wants to do, and Lucius talking to Lilian gives her the opportunity. "Hey," she says to Lugh. She has to look up at even him, but she looks closer to his age than most of the other Otherworlders, which she is absolutely willing to take advantage of both to get closer and to duck the serious question from Roy (even though she ordinarily hates being assumed to be a kid, sometimes it's useful...) "Were you one of the kids who snuck after everyone else?" Regardless of his answer, because Shinmyoumaru already knows it, she sidles up a little closer: "Because, if you are, good! It's important to do things instead of not doing things!" She sticks out her hand. "I'm Shinmyoumaru. I know what it's like to not be able to do what you need to. When people say you're too weak to do anything, and you should just stay back and be ignored, you have to show them otherwise!"
Angela	"I apologize for utilizing telecommmunications," Angela says. She is an AI that can lie but it is absolutely honest that she wishes she could be here herself to shake hands. Angela waves, Hokma dips his head in a small bow. "Understood. Hokma, I will ask you to meet with Dieck and coordinate with him. This is not like how it was before--and even then we had been stabbed in the back at a critical moment so try to get a good feel for him. Also try not to start any additional wars." "...You simply had to throw that in, didn't you?" Hokma clucks his tongue. "Worry not, Angela, we are here to help--are we not? So I will be a helper." Tennant lowers the pads to aside to Merlinus. "Don't mind them, they just hate each other." Their tone is as chirpy as ever. "But we're an old hand at fighting now. We'll obey your mercenary captain. You ah--" They see the scarred shirtless man. "Oh that must be him~! Let's go say hey!" "wh-=-" Hokma sees the scarred shirtless man. He blinks once and then removes his monocle and gets to polishing it wordlessly. "Heeey! Dieck right? I'm Tennant! Pleased to meetcha! Looks like we'll be workin' with your team, if you'll have us!" They offer their hand. "I'm a--well basically I'm a merc with L Corp--this would actually be our second major deployment. Ceri--ahh--who was supposed to be the one making introductions...is basically a veteran." Ceri takes a breath. "...I know that look in your eyes." Ceri says, drawing out her rapier in a smooth motion and resting it on her lap. "I see it too, in the mirror. Lost the one I was supposed to protect." She twists the rapier around so that it's pointed at Chad, though non-aggressively. "Show me what you can do." Ceri says. "And I'll pass on what I know so you can take revenge how you see fit." She can't say she'll teach him to protect the ones he loves but she can offer that much.
Trudy Grimm	The troopers are all content to slump down on the ground near the fire, one leaning against his rifle, the other resting it on the ground beside him. The third, carrying a ragged-looking medical bag instead of a long gun, prods at the fire with a stick he found, then swings his gas-masked face towards the wood that was being split earlier. For how wary their presence is making the young knights, they certainly seem harmless enough. Easily mistaken for tired men, only thankful for the firelight. > "Let them rest, if it's really been so awful for them..."     "Ah ha, you've accepted that these aren't mere puppets, then?" The witch hums brightly, "These, and all of my cute friends, work for me of their own volition. I don't force them to do anything, you know." Glancing aside at the elder mahou again, she teases, "But I certainly didn't want to walk through a dark forest all on my lonesome, so of course I wanted some protection. It's not the same as the streets of Kagoshima, you know?" > "Tell me: do you really intend to risk your lives fighting for Lycia, if it comes to that?"     Trudy is pulled from her conversation with Meika by the local senior knight speaking up with a rather pertinent question. Her eyes swivel towards his voice before her head turns, her shoulders following a moment later, "Mmm?"     She rests her hand on the Grimoire when she answers, "I have no intention of dying, if that's what you mean. However, a deluded tyrant who seeks to destroy everything before him in some sick crusade is precisely the sort of thing I cannot allow." Her eyes close, head tilting slightly away, "Disrespecting the rune of Frig doesn't particularly factor into it... The goddess will mete whatever punishment she decides is necessary if and when she decides to do so. It's not the place of a wretched creature to speak for gods."
Desire Stars	The most puzzling, (or perhaps irritating, from Chad's perspective) thing about Ace's reaction to Chad's knifework is the completely implacable nature of his smile. It remains, even as a swift movement of his hand prevents any ink from staining his clothes. There's a wink thrown Shinmyoumaru's way. "It's good to have someone along who's used to using her head," he says to her. Thank you, Ace. I've no idea what I've done to deserve it. But... Aren't you a little young?      Ace's eyes flash with a kind of mischievous warmth that only the brashness of youth or the wisdom of age can genuinely muster. That's the only answer Guinivere gets, for her second question. The first, at least, gets something more substantial. "It's not a repayment, so don't think of it as a matter of 'deserving.' More like a reminder--that even in uncertain times, there's still beauty to be found in the world. You don't seem like the kind of person who needs that kind of reminder, necessarily. But I've found it's nice to have, even so."
Desire Stars	Ah! A... mercenary company? You might get along well with Dieck.      "Not a bad comparison," Ace says. He glances over towards Dieck--and something like recognition flashes in his eyes. Ace, too, seems too seasoned for his age.      Before making an introduction with Dieck, Ace first offers a little nod of acknowledgement to 'Lord Roy,' then helps himself to a spot amongst the tents, setting his backpack down. It's a big one--the kind campers use, and that's because there's a whole-ass tent inside that backpack. He sets it up in less than a minute, and it's another point in favor of anyone looking to characterize him as off-puttingly smug; his tent sits on the razor's edge of what's appropriate for a one-person tent in terms of size. At least it's more or less the same color as the others.      Zipping open the door once it's set up, he tosses his backpack in and zips it closed after. Then, he returns to the spot by the fire--though not empty-handed. There's a plastic grocery bag in his right hand--probably the most mundane, non-extravagant thing he's procured in the entirety of the time he's been here.      "Any of you have a sweet tooth?" he asks, jiggling the bag before upending it on the ground near one of the logs, and spreading the offerings out. Packaged marshmallows, skewers, graham crackers, and chocolate--enough for literally everyone here to make smores. He even demonstrates himself how to make one, snapping a cracker in half, holding the halves and the chocolate with one hand and roasting a couple of skewered marshmallows with the other, before sandwitching the marshmallows between the crackers.      With one smore down, Ace wipes his hands and dabs at his mouth with a little prepackaged sani-wipe, tossing the spent thing to rest near the plastic bag. "You can leave the skewers by the bag when you're done," he advises anyone who asks. "I'll come and clean them up when the fire's put out."      That done, he approaches Dieck.      There's a quiet moment of sizing-up, a lingering of his eyes on the scars which skirt close to the mercenary's eyes. "Yo," he says simply. "I guess we're going to be working together, from now on. " One hand exits his pocket, offering a handshake. "Ace Ukiyo. I'm a little like you--only I work for someone else, for different pay. Tell me something," he begins.      "You look like you've been at this for a while--like you're no stranger to that greatsword. What's your take on this sudden play from Zephiel? Ever seen anything like it?" Ace has, and Dieck might even pick that up from the way he carries himself--but the celeb knows well enough that no one is an island. It helps to have different perspectives from time to time.
Blemishine	Do you need any accommodations for your horses?     Oh, no. She certainly doesn't.     D-Dame Nearl, right?     "Ah--?"     The title returns a healthy amount of obvious embarrassment to the blonde's face, and it doesn't quite clear up by the time she's glancing in Kayoko's direction. That makes two of them who are nervous! "Oh, Chevalier Cobalt...! The feeling is mutual!" She means it, too! "We haven't gotten the chance to speak before, I think... but I'd never forget you and your sister fighting so hard at Laphet!"     Well, there was also the meeting with Narcian and Zephiel, but, er. Better for everyone if that doesn't get brought up at all. "Dame might be a title more for my sister than me though, aha..."     "And well, I don't think it /should/, but..." Blemishine muses until the rider answers their question, which immediately spreads the peppiness around like a virus, so maybe she sort of technically is ill with something. Her smile is warm and wide. "I had a suspicion she might not take to just anyone very well." She steps a bit closer, and thought the wings might be understandably off-limits, she'll still give a singular, careful brush of her hand down the pegasi's mane if it seems alright to attempt so.     At least until her ears get pointed out, causing a moment of blank confusion. "Eh? Sick? Me?" Her eyes drift upwards, towards her ears. Twitch. "Oh, no! I guess I'm just a bit excited. Where I'm from, /I'm/ considered a pegasus!" No sign of any wings, though. "I noticed yours is the only one here, though. Are they rare?"     Tell me: do you really intend to risk your lives fighting for Lycia, if it comes to that?     Roy's question demands addressing as well though, and it takes her a few seconds to find the proper words she wishes to say in response. "...I do. Speaking with King Zephiel only reinforced that feeling that much more. Everyone in the organization I'm part of," she doesn't especially specify Rhodes Island or the Paladins, "...makes it a point to put themselves forward for those who need it. But even besides that..."     "I don't think I could rest easy, letting Bern's conquest just go however it might. ..King Zephiel's plans, especially after the way he spoke of them. That's not really the aspiring knight in me talking either; just me! And I don't think how little or how long we've known about a plight changes anything about good people needing help."
Odette Raskins	Odette wasn't planning on shaking hands with anyone, but she's not strong-willed enough to turn Merlinus down when he starts going around. She hits a weird middle zone with her handshake, too, that's somehow between 'kinda solid for someone her size' and 'way too limp to be convincing for her job' while also looking at ease the entire time. "It's good to meet you, Mi-um. Merlinus. Where... Do all these horses come from, anyway?" She asks as she glances around the camp, then at the stables with the pegasi and horses. "It's hard to imagine animals that big just... Staying put and still being good at running around, you know?" Glancing around like that ends up bringing Odette's gaze towards Trudy and Meika, and by extension Trudy's soldiers and the younger knights. There's an initial tension in her stance, but Odette's seen them once before, and she relaxes ever so slightly while approaching the knights. "Hey, Meika! hey, Trudy. Uh. H-hi, guys. They're friendly! I think." A beat. "Er. They helped when we first showed up here and met Father Lucius." That's about all she can come up with to try and ease some of that tension, even if she's still visibly tense herself. Odette's attention turns to Roy once he introduces himself, though, and she straightens up briefly before clearing her throat and... Not answering his questions right away. It's certainly something to think about, even if she already knows most of her answer. "I-I'm not really a fighter, so I don't think I'll be doing much fighting at all compared to anyone else here." She starts with a light chuckle, then settles into a more focused expression as she pats her duffel bag. "But I don't want people dying needlessly, either, so... Th-that's what I'll be risking it for. I'll be heading out just the same, so anyone that does get hurt out there doesn't have to die." She glances over at where Lucius is for a moment, then turns right back to Roy with a slightly puffed up chest, like she's trying to look that much more sturdy and reliable. "I-I mean, it's an active battlefield, right? So... I'll count on you to handle the fighting, and you can count on me to transport the wounded so nobody dies."
Flamel Parsons	"You could almost say that! It's more psychological business than spiritual, but the two are basically interchangeable sometimes." Flamel has such an upbeat, happy chuckle. "I've got two questions! One's historical, and it's for you. We're looking into some of Zephiel's motivations, because I think it could help me understand what his bigger plan is. The other one's about the kids! Guinivere told me about how they came all this way to help out, and I'd had some ideas for how they could. Oh--"     He turns to meet the redheaded fellow. "Hi there! I'm Flamel Parsons, acolyte of a vague yet ominous order that's currently backing Lady Guinivere. Huh, risk my life for Lycia... Well, my job's to risk my life for the healthy, free, and happy thoughts of minds everywhere! But right now it sounds like that means supporting Lycia. I was born and raised, so to speak, for that, and so dying for it has always been in the cards. Lycia's not special to me, but the individuals I meet sure seem to be. And, Zephiel's got something inside him... something that has a lot of meaning for me to fight." He does a little nod and a "hmmm, hmm!" kind of affirming sound. "That's the best answer I can give you!"     Now it's back to Lucius. "Speaking of Zephiel, we're thinking a lot about his motives. I wanted to start there. I was told you probably know your share of history, right? I wanted to learn about Hartmut, because Zephiel seemed to think he'd done something dishonorable..." He explains the situation in more detail, relating the events of the meeting. "...So his position sounded ideological, but almost in a spiritual way. I wanted to know if there were any parts of that, anything that sounded familiar, about Hartmut, the Binding Blade, things like that."     And there's Lugh and Chad! "Oh-- and I wanted to learn more about the kids! They came all this way to help out, I've got an idea of how to let them contribute to the effort in a safe way. But I want to see if it'll fit them first! Can I hear from you two, why you came all the way here, so I can see if I'd be allowed to deputize you on something?"
Kayoko Kirenai	Kayoko is also deeply uncomfortable with the presence of Trudy's undead (and Trudy herself), as evidenced by her awkward skirting around the campfire and refusal to greet the necromancer or acknowledge her in any way. She can't stop herself from peeking at them with her power, and her calm expression hides any trade of visible discomfort, but she's very consciously facing away from them. This, for some reason, despite her judgements on Meika's lack of costume, is a problem she thinks Meika is actually entirely suited to solving, without her needing to get any closer to it at all. "I mean, safe as any other horse! You've got horses in the Otherworld, don't you?"     The pegasus knight, upon closer inspection, is not just similarly looking to a magical girl-- her outfit is a lot like *Kayoko's*. The blue cuirass with white skirt, boots a little too showy to be practical (Kayoko's are armored more heavily, as are her gauntlets); her build and color scheme are instantly in tune with Kayoko's own. If not for Kayoko's white hair versus the pegasus rider's blue, they'd look almost identical from a distance.     Chromatic attunement is something Kayoko, of course, appreciates. She's eager to respond to the girl, even though she's still trepidatious about the pegasus. "We do! Or, um, I've never seen one in person, myself, but..." "How pleasant, that the Otherworld still knows what a knight is. Do you need any accommodations for your horses?"     Oh no. Proper knights *are* supposed to have horses, aren't they? Kayoko just doesn't have any place to *keep* one in Kagoshima, and her parents would never let her since they don't know about her being a magical girl, and the Holy Refulgence would never give permission to have that kind of indulgence, which is fine anyways, because they're kind of gross and scary, but there's *proper* knights out here! They'd think she'd a fraud!     Kayoko is halfway through weaving an illusory horse draped in blue and gold decor to visually claim it as hers, distantly past the treeline to not be visible, before a thought strikes her. ... Did the Dame Commander have a horse? Did Dame Nearl? They didn't! And they're real knights, so there has to be an excuse that they didn't bring theirs either.     "Well, we had to leave them at home." Flawlessly done, Chevalier Cobalt. The illusory horse vanishes into coils of golden light in the distance. "Just don't touch the wings, yeah?"     Kayoko still doesn't feel comfortable approaching the pegasus even with instructions. Her worries about whether it was going to bite her were more about if it would *lunge* at her if she approached, rather than a precaution because she wanted to pet it. Eyes on the animal, still wary as Blemishine pets it, Kayoko murmurs to its rider, "It's so much bigger than I would have thought.... Um, what's your name, miss?"
Kayoko Kirenai	"We haven't gotten the chance to speak before, I think... but I'd never forget you and your sister fighting so hard at Laphet!"     Kayoko is very happy to hear this. The feeling of being seen fighting isn't something she gets to indulge in often, and as she discovered in that underground fighting ring some months ago, she sort of *appreciates* the opportunity to show off. The pride in her voice is audible, as is her attempt to convert that pride into peerdom rather than just being praised as a kid.     "Thank you. We're both pretty experienced with fighting, so we'll be able to help a lot around here." "And well, I don't think it /should/, but..."     "Your sister too?" Cobalt nods, expecting the fact that she's referring to knighthood specifically to be understood without saying. "Just because you're younger than her, you don't think you've earned it quite as much? I don't think that's true. If you're meeting the standards for a knight, then you are one, even if she's been one longer." "Tell me: do you really intend to risk your lives fighting for Lycia, if it comes to that?"     Addressed by a lord, being asked to state her conviction, there's really only one answer Kayoko could possibly give. She draws herself up to her full height and nods gravely, trying her best to project the appearance of confidence and reliability.     "I am, Lord Roy. I risk my life to fight for the sake of others as a matter of my duty to protect good people who can't fight for themselves. That means your people, too."
Meika Kirenai	Meika's eyes follow just behind Chad as he slinks off to the woodline. The tiny smile on her face, when he clears the group, quickly falls away into a small sympathetic wince. She gives a glare Ace's way- only when she thinks his head is turned. She looks Chad's way again- and then off at the campfire. Her lips move, small and silent to everything but for the sulking teenager- {"He shouldn't have done that. I'm sorry."}     The magical girl glances between Flamel, Lucius, and a few others, processing whether it'd be good to go after Chad- but follows her own offered non-expert advice, and elects to give a little space. He is walking off, after all. '... I promise! He just went off alone, and I was worried for him, so I...'     Meika's heart twists, ever so slightly. Of course that's why. She doesn't quite understand Lucius's later overheard comment back to Lilian, on good adults and good children. But that's fine- she doesn't understand a lot of what he says, for no real fault of his own. It'd be plain to see, if the priest were to look her way, how correlated it is that she chooses the moment he nears Flamel to slink off herself, a ways away. Odd guilt and hesitance build together for that need for distance. Topping it all off, Meika looks back his way enough that it's blatantly clear the behavior is intentional- not coincidental. 'Ah ha, you've accepted that these aren't mere puppets, then?'     "I don't *care*. Can't you see you're freaking people out? H-have a damn heart." Whatever expression Trudy hoped to draw out by that teasing tone, what she gets shot back at her is a furious glare. Fists ball up at her side- one unclenches, just to grab her messenger bag's strap, but the tension is still present. "You're not- not in some sort of danger. And I'm serious. Send them away. This isn't *funny*."     '... if it comes to that?'     Soured and angry, she turns away from the witch, a conscious effort to try and cool down her temper. Scowl and tight-squeezed hands remain, despite how grateful she is for the topic change. If it comes to that. She absentmindedly pulls a cigarette from the beaten-up pack in her pocket, not yet realizing it's between her fingers.     "... Haven't we already? Fighting's always- always a little like that. And you need people who'll fight. I-" A short falter, and her voice gets quieter. "I'd hate not trying, while I still even can. Here, or somewhere else."
Meika Kirenai	Finishing that thought doesn't help her cool her focus back down. She needs space and air- and the campfire is just a little bit too choking, for every reason but the smoke. The cigarette she's fidgeting with gets lit, and she trudges off, dead silent, the way Chad left towards. 'Show me what you can do.'     "... You just saw what he can do with that knife, Miss." Meika's presence gets abruptly announced by that, and utterly not any prior footsteps or twig-snaps. She squats down a bit, too, near a different tree, and glances back at the clearing. "... You practice that? It sure looks it."     Her tone is soft and quiet, and she doesn't once properly face Chad, off there at the edges. She does stare a little at the levied rapier, and at Ceri. "I get the look too, I guess." She hasn't looked at Chad's eyes nor Ceri's. "... It's awful, right..? To sit around and- and just twiddle thumbs, as everything else feels like it's burning up? That's why you followed everyone here, yeah?" Projection but maybe accurate.     "The tall guy in the suit, he's trying to sell- sell the Father on it, on some sort of... roundabout magic way, for you to help. Safer than- than the bloody sort of fighting. For all that matters." A short breath. "If I got what you're after right, though, and if he says no, I don't think you should listen. You- you heard what the red haired guy asked, right..? Has anyone asked you something like that..?"
Lilian Rook	A fast-talking house scion with sharp wits and good sense is, though often a role that only seldom reveals their noble qualities, a pleasingly familiar one. Merlinus waving off ceremony and swooping right down into the thick of things pulls a light-hearted laugh from Lilian all the same; just a different kind of one.     "Rarely, but we do exist, here and there." she replies, still wearing that tenaciously buouyant half-smile. "Thank you very much, but there's no need. I'm well-accustomed to the trail, so I'm letting her rest for now." says Lilian, speaking the cheekiest quarter-truth of her life, and bravely surrendering to the urge to glance at Blemishine anyways.     That, and the impulse to openly admire Dieck's build with a kind of visual honesty that could be charitably called 'bold'. She has the wisp of an apologetic grin for the elder knight nearby, whether he notices or not, and it does nothing to dampen her mood. She has only to stop and breathe deeply, eyes to the stars, and taste the fragrant smoke. Letting her gaze fall back down, she even examines the pegasus knight with equally open curiosity, tilting her head away out of its typically regal alignment, and allowing her hair to slide free at an angle of girlish curiosity.     "Most of them haven't." Lilian offers, on at least Blemishine's behalf. "Though some of us have." Self-inclusive implicit. "The furrier one is, but nothing contagious. That mount, however . . ." Her eyes are already drifting away from the pegasus, and to the woman's fanciful breastplate. "I'm completely mesmerized already. How do you fight with it? Your gear is so unusual; by my standards, of course."     'I hope they never stop listening. I only have to listen to them, too. It's easy, when one intends to raise good adults rather than good children.'     Lilian's breath leaves her all at once. It hangs on the edge of her lips, tentatively awaiting retrieval, in the sedately startled silence that follows, and then comes home to a warm half-giggle, and a playful swell of her relaxed verbal fry. "If only you weren't a priest~" she says, and leaves those five different possible insinuations to cook with the campfire.     'It's a pleasure to finally meet you all...'     '...It's alright if the answer is no, but I need to understand your resolve.'     "The pleasure is mine. A Lord who would take to the road for the sake of another nation's princess, on her word and a noble cause, is someone I rarely meet even the quarter-measure of." Lilian says. For once, that style of speaking lacks its usual fine edge; the words are all similar, in the language of how she expresses approval, but they're totally unencumbered by the extraneous implication of anything but. "Then, speaking with the full weight of my station, I'll answer you."     "I intend to fight, and I intend to do it well. What I have resolved to risk is for the sake of Guinivere, then the sake of peace, and then for the sake of Zephiel, in that order. If Lycia will be a comrade of Guinivere and a comrade of peace, then I needn't make up my mind." says Lilian. Her fingertip gently touches her face, in the scar-seeking idle habit of hers that perhaps just Bota and Kana had explained for anyone else. "The very first Code; 'Thou art responsible to thy blood first above all else, both the blood of thy line, and the blood shed for thee.' If Lycia will be cut and bleed for me and mine, then I will gladly do so on her behalf."
Lilian Rook	'I've been quite starved for those all my life, and now I find I'm finally getting in on them. Do tell!'     Something about that 'my goodness' feels just a little bit dangerous, which is all Lilian needs to lean right into it. Brushing her cloak into order, she seats herself on the warmed space left by Guinivere, and habitually crosses her knee. The tip of her scabbard gently touches the ground behind her.     "To separate your brother from the woman in purple, and to see what sort of power it is that she has. Of course, entailing the reconnaissance of Bern's wartime capabilities, given their anomalous troop deployment. I may appear only to be an uncommonly gorgeous lady of the sword, but I take some pride in being a scholar of magic as well, and I was raised into a military order."     Waxing nearly flirtatiously self-satisfied, Lilian adopts an eyes-shut grin that is nearly Persephonesque, save for its smugness. "I'm terribly, insatiably greedy. I want to know everything, learn everything, so that I can have anything I want. I won't be satisfied with merely storming the capital gates with steel in hand."     She raises an eyebrow at Ace, and does so with more curiosity than scorn by far. "How old do you imagine he is?" she says to Guinivere. "I'll admit, I've been having trouble guessing myself."
Trudy Grimm	> "This isn't *funny*."     "No, it very much isn't," Trudy's reply comes out surprisingly cold given the previous uses of her tone, "Unless you're referring to thinking you have the authority to tell me what to do?" Her eyes swing towards the Mahou, "Because that *is* funny. This is a war camp, you know. We are preparing for and planning a battle; and for this I am not going to remove the men I am bringing to it."     Turning to face Meika more directly, Trudy rests her hand on the Grimoire again. The smile is gone from her face. What she has on is a neutral expression, but for a face that is so often pleasant, this somehow looks Off, "If you expect me to respect you as an adult, then you're going to have to stop acting like such a child."     The elder magical girl storms off into the woods. In that end, the witch considers the matter settled. Green eyes close and Trudy inhales, holds it, and lets it out in a sigh, "Honestly..."     She shifts her attention back to the discussion at hand, nodding along as she catches Lilian's plan, "I am in agreement. Whoever this Iðunn is, I do not suspect she has any connection the bearer of that name I am familiar with. And so separating her from King Zephiel would be most helpful in discovering her role in this."     Closing her eyes, the witch gestures, "In my homeland, Iðunn is a goddess of fertility and life whose apples granted youth and vigor. Hardly the purview of the consort or advisor to a warmonger, I should think."
Lilian Rook	'Honestly...'     "Have some dignity, Grimm." Lilian says from off to the side, not exactly deaf. "It reflects poorly on an adult, never mind a commander of men, to constantly rise to the provocations of a child." She sighs. "I know that you have your own things going on, and I get that you have some sort of pressing need to 'be honest' about how wretched you think you are, but what you're doing is practically bullying."     'Hardly the purview of the consort or advisor to a warmonger, I should think.'     "Well, he's gotten 'vigour' out of it." Lilian remarks, drily. "The way he acted around her wasn't anything like how a man like him would treat a consort. People take on names of their choosing for all sorts of reasons; there's only one thing to divine from it."
Trudy Grimm	Trudy's eyes close with a thoughtful hum at Lilian's words, "Be that as it may, in my eyes she is an adult already. In the modern world she'll be an adult soon as well. Should I not try to treat her as one? Oh, but she can make it so difficult sometimes."     She titters at the dry humor, eyes opening to glance towards Lilian's face, "Oh yes. I suspect it is certainly symbolic, though if my land's gods are unknown here, I would have no idea what symbolism such a name could hold in Bern or Lycia or any other neighboring lands."     After a pause, Trudy's attention shifts to Guinivere, "Lady Guinivere, would you perhaps have some idea? Or perhaps you, Seneschel? --Ah, maybe the priest might recognize it. Lucius, do you have a moment?"
Lilian Rook	'in my eyes she is an adult already.'     "You were there when we spoke to Sister Kurakawa, Grimm." Lilian says. Doing so cycles through three variations on the same voice in rapid succession. "You should know better."
Kayoko Kirenai	"If you expect me to respect you as an adult, then you're going to have to stop acting like such a child."     Kayoko was content to let Meika handle Trudy to keep herself at a distance from the undead, but when Trudy escalates to personal attacks and Meika distances herself, Kayoko has to step up to the plate. The one thing that can bring Kayoko to stomp away from the stables and interpose herself between Trudy, the undead soldiers, and where Meika's gone off with Chad, is that kind of belittling towards Meika, from someone who Kayoko herself loathes too. Ignored, it either means Meika escalates back and makes it an even bigger mess, or it means that Meika shrivels up and gives in to someone who *doesn't* have her best interests at heart.     "Miss Grimm. That's a completely improper thing to say to Meika. Do you have to act so embarrassingly sensitively when she asks you for any kind of consideration at all? If you want to be treated as an adult, then you should stop acting like," Lilian provides the word for her, "Like a bully. You're a Paladins Chevalier."     "And doesn't she have a point? Whatever you're here to do, expecting everyone to be okay with your creepy undead without even explaining what they are before bringing them into camp with a *princess* means you're more comfortable calling yourself a wretch than actually treating yourself as one." Arms crossed, glaring at Trudy, lines of golden light swirl passively by Kayoko's hip to occasionally flicker into the shape of her sword before dispersing again. "Do you know that everyone under Lord Roy's command here would feel safe if they knew you were sneaking necromantic dark magic into their camp?"     This is, of course, loud enough that they do all know, now.
Angela	Ceri says, "No," to Meika. "I haven't. Unless you think he's going to be fighting pens--" There is a pause as Ceri considers this possibility. There's some weird weapons even in The City, after all, but she doubts that's the case here--it's seemed all pretty normal stuff here. She glances back over to Meika before realizing, "Oh, right--Sorry." She reaches into her coat pocket, draws out a cigarette and offers it to Meika with her spare hand like she's been trained to. The fact that Meika already has a cigarette doesn't really seem to stop her. "Backup." ''If you expect me to respect you as an adult, then you're going to have to stop acting like a child.'' Ceri's grip on her rapier tightens slightly but Lilian steps in first. "Well, Lord Roy is here and can provide his opinion on the matter." Ceri adds. "But I'm trying to do my job here so..."
Blemishine	Most of them haven't.     Maria Nearl, resident horse, gives Lilian an appreciative nod for vouching on her behalf on the subject of horses. It's true! Burdenbeasts certainly exist, but they're not really the same thing.     Thank you. We're both pretty experienced with fighting, so we'll be able to help a lot around here.     "I'll be counting on you both, then!" For whatever it's worth, Blemishine sounds like she wholly means it. She's not ignorant enough to think it's all sunshine with these sisters, even disregarding the debacle with Narcian, but there's no falsehood in hoping they'll all be able to work together.     It's a strange feeling, now that she thinks about it, looking at another pair of knightly sisters going out on missions together.     Just because you're younger than her, you don't think you've earned it quite as much? I don't think that's true. If you're meeting the standards for a knight, then you are one, even if she's been one longer.     "Eh?" Cobalt gets a sound of confusion, mostly because she wasn't expecting that sort of response from a comment she'd think most people would just take as ordinary humility. After a moment, her mind clicks and she makes the inference - with what Lilian said about 'sixteen and seventeen', and Kayoko's correction, she has to be the younger sister. A hand (that's not being used for any potential pegasus-petting) comes to her chin. "Well..."     "That's not it, exactly. I sure did try really, /really/ hard to be her for a while. And she's always been idea of everything a storybook knight should be, too! But I got it in my head that I had to be everything she was, when I didn't have to be. I guess I feel that way because I'm still finding out what 'knight' means to me personally?"     As she's contemplating that, her head perks up as the interaction between Meika and Trudy picks up steam, especially when Lilian gets involved... and Kayoko moves over. She's on the verge of wanting to step over to try and potentially help defuse things, before Kayoko drops that last line and she winces. "Oh, geez..."     Well, Ceri's not wrong. They'll learn the general opinion very shortly.
Meika Kirenai	'Honestly...'     Even from off by the woodline, Meika can't not hear the breathed-out final word. She'd really rather not. She'd really rather not. She only realizes she's crumpled up the lit cigarette she was holding by the time it burns and blisters her palm, and she drops it to the floor. She doesn't make a sound.     What do your eyes have to do with anything? I don't want them to choose how I exist. You'll go on seeing whatever you want in me, and I don't get a say. How is that fair? I don't even want you to look at me. Quietly, silently, Meika leans back against a tree, and squeezes her burnt hand. She doesn't say anything, doesn't make a single peep, and yet with her posture, with how she's shuffling to tuck her knees up close to her chest, it's painfully obvious how tight the frustration has her pulled. '...But what you're doing is practically bullying.' 'Like a bully.'     Meika's shoulder just barely f-flickers as it presses against bark, when she turns to face conversation once again. Her mouth opens to protest the defenses- and closes. Right. It'd look bad in front of the others if their coworker seems like she's- yeah. That's why they're bothering. Bad reflections on a real Paladin. Her eyes squint shut again- 'Backup.'     -If only for a second. "Huh? I- Oh, thanks, I- you saw that, huh- I'm sorry, I'm kind of scatter..." She fades off, and blinks, slowly. ... Oh. She's one of their agents. That's-      "That's the guideline for me, is it, Miss..?" She still takes the cigarette, and still lights it. Her eyes trail away to the forest floor, fixing on nothing at all in particular. "... Yeah. That makes sense."     It doesn't matter the nighttime temperature, the breeze, the distant campfire, or the favored jacket she's hunched herself up inside her. Meika feels ice cold and achingly hollow.
Aidan Proudpick	"The furrier one is, but nothing contagious." Hisn agitated twitch of the tail shows that Aidan is struggling against the casual insult, but keeps his resolve to look ahead. I guess I feel that way because I'm still finding out what 'knight' means to me personally? Ear swivel. A turn of the head, looking over at Blemishine. "I like the way Xion put it the other day. A protector." He shrugs a shoulder, "But I guess you don't have to be a Knight to be a protector. I always thought of it as someone you can trust and rely on to be brave and honest." Couraaage, honest and sincere, "I'm still working on that last one."
Marigold	Chad's eyebrows climb his forehead. "Are you serious, lady? You're hurt. I don't care how good you are..." But he tapers off at the mention of 'revenge'. He's been read. That instantly reframes her as a kindred soul; a kindred soul, he believes, must be capable of just about anything.      His head snaps to Meika, with an abruptness that says he should have heard her coming, and is surprised he didn't. "... I used to practice it," he says, heavy with meaning. "Gonna have to again. Thanks to those bastards." Her psychoanalysis-slash-projection hits home, with a guilty averting of his eyes. "I don't want the safe kind. I've got what it takes. Nobody even has to ask. And it's too late for Father Lucius to spare me anything. ... It was always too late."      His eyes slide, at last, back to Ceri. "... Fine. Don't say I didn't warn you." He draws his hooked knife and presses its flat against her rapier, trying to push it to the right like he's testing her strength. Then he slips it under to try and get her to overcorrect left past his blade- lunges to provoke a panic response- and finally sways back from the defense, braking on his heels, to slide low on his knees with a swing at her legs.      With his knife's blunt edge. Good instincts, but he still underestimates her.      ----      Dieck's smile is a little distant, but it's sincere. He wipes wood-splinters off on his pants before shaking Ace's hand. "Dieck. Good to meet you. This is Wade and Lot-" his two axe-toting buddies, who nod silently- "-and that's Shanna over there." The pegasus girl.      "What's your take on this sudden play from Zephiel? Ever seen anything like it?"      He chews on the question a little, then rolls his shoulders. 'Maybe, maybe not'. "Scale, no. Type, maybe. Seen enough of nobles squeezing blood from the people for their benefit. Only, I'm not sure it is for his benefit. Sacae, then Ilia, now Lycia... d'you figure that's filling his coffers faster than they empty, no time to consolidate? I don't, Ace." The way he speaks is funny. The roughness is genuine, but there's a cultured edge he keeps having to bite down.      "How 'bout you?" That could mean Ace's degree of experience, or it could mean his thoughts on Zephiel. But a moment later, he's busy with Tennant: "Yeah, hey. Nice outfit. You're new to the business then? You look like you're a good fighter. World of difference between being a good fighter and a good mercenary, though."      When he spies Lilian spying, he angles his body just so and ducks his head to accentuate his shoulders- then winks up at her, after several lingering seconds to let her admire. Pure fighting-men don't often know how to pose like that. He must be a bit of a performer too.
Marigold	'A thousand years ago' looks about right for Aidan's examination of the markings in stone, or maybe even more. Each claw-gouge is big enough for a grown man to squeeze into. Maybe erosion has widened them, but it's still chilling to think about.      "Oh! Well." The pegasus rider is absolutely eating this opportunity up. She leans back agaist her mount's flank and gestures excitably. "I'm Shanna! They're rare here, but I'm Ilian, from way up north! They're pretty common there, but it's hard to be a good rider. Being a pegasus knight is a whole tradition! My sisters taught me! You've got to be real small-" she's a petite five feet tall, herself- "and pack light, or you're holding the pegasus back!"      "If you fly high enough, you're invincible! Arrows can't reach you, and Bolting can't either if you're up above the clouds. Wyvern-riders maybe, but I'm too fast for those!" She makes a plungy-swoosh gesture with one hand. "And I might not look too strong, but when we dive with a lance or javelins... not a lot matches that!"      It's a pretty dominating paradigm, but it's easy to fill in the gaps that her confidence leaves unspoken, too. They must need to descend to actually fight, and when they do they're vulnerable if they don't immediately get the kill: she's barely armored, and the pegasus is even less. Horses and birds are never the most robust animals; it's easy to imagine what massed archers would do to their fusion. "And her name's Dolly! We've been through a lot together. You'll never meet a sweeter one!" It's true: even for horses, she's exceptionally docile to petting.      Blemishine's statement leaves Shanna troubled, though. "You're considered a...? Do people, like, ride you too?"      ----      "Huh?" When Shinmyoumaru calls, Lugh stumbles to his feet and out of the tent, eager to have someone to talk to other than Lucius for a change. "Y-yeah. I ran after Chad when he went. Why?" He awkwardly shakes her hand, managing a bewildered little smile.      "... Oh." His arms cross over his heavy tome, hugging it to his chest. His look turns sympathetically bittersweet. "Do you ever hear that from people? I guess you would. You're here, so I'm sure you can do lots of things, but you look like people would try to baby you, right?" He glances back at Lucius, who's engaged in other conversation. "... But it's not like that at all. Father Lucius knows I'm capable. He's the one who taught me magic, even. It's just..."      "Lugh." "Um! Yes, father?" "You know that I can't stop you if this is truly in your heart. And I'd be a hypocrite to forbid it. But your life hasn't yet contained enough kindness and love, to prepare you for the harshness of war. That's why I'd be saddened to see you and Chad go." Lugh's eyes drop. He looks halfway to heartbroken without even turning to face the priest. "... Yes, father."
Marigold	"If only I weren't a...?" Father Lucius breathes after Lilian, and then covers his mouth for a dainty little laugh. "What exactly do you think is forbidden to us, Dame Commander?"      His gaze is still overfull with warmth when he turns it on Flamel, almost absentmindedly returning to his sewing as he does. "Hartmut, dishonorable... that's strange. I recall that Saint Elimine, in her earlier writings after the war, called him irresolute. She said that he had showed some fatal weakness, and that this weakness spread division between the eight heroes. But what his mistake had been, she didn't seem at liberty to say. That's the only sin of his I've ever heard of."      He smiles uneasily, seeming to regret that he can't offer more. "As for a way to contribute safely... well, Lugh?" "Oh! Well... I wanted to fight because Chad was coming, and I had to keep him safe one way or another. But also because..." He looks down at the ground and scuffs the dirt with his shoe. "... there's lots of kids younger than me at the church. If I could help stop the war from reaching them... that's worth getting myself into it, right?" "Oh, Lugh... ahaha. I feel as though I've set a bad example for you." "N- No, father!"      ----      The two younger, red-and-green knights seem to have suddenly lost their appetites at Kayoko's reveal of what exactly they're sitting next to. The one in red is already scooting away; the one in green just swallows nervously and shrinks in on himself. It's the gray-haired knight who intercedes while Merlinus the seneschal edges away.      "Now," he says, stepping forward with a gauntlet (soothingly?) on Kayoko's shoulder. "I greatly appreciate your concern for our comfort, young knight. And I don't know how it is in your Otherworld. But here, we understand that 'dark magic' is a tool. One that can corrode the soul, but-" with a meaningful look at Trudy- "as long as she can keep herself and her friends under control, she doesn't seem too corroded to me."      He straightens up, removes his hand from her shoulder, and smiles in a much-much-too-old-for-this way at Trudy again. "Young lady. If your friends aren't going to eat, could they sit on the other side of the fire? It won't do if my pupils Lance and Alen can't stomach their stew."
Marigold	Roy's clear-eyed examination gives way to a vaguely embarrassed gratitude. "I... see. Heroes out of the goodness of your hearts, or opposed to Zephiel's ambition on its own terms. Then you all have purer reasons than me." He sits again, and becomes the first to avail himself of Ace's smores, starting to roast a marshmallow over the fire.      "The Otherworld sounds like the stuff of fairytales, then, if these are its warriors. I'm moved to have your aid, and Guinivere's, but I intend to fight for my homeland. That's much more selfish." He sets the marshmallow on fire accidentally, and has to wave it to put it out in a hurry before assembly. Clearing his throat, he expertly carries on as if no such indignity had occurred.      "... As for a plan of attack, you may be disappointed. That's what we mean to make at Araphen. But-" with a confirming glance up at Merlinus, who nods- "I'm unsure we can afford to go on the offense against Bern, unless we secure Etruria as an ally. We can hope to make ourselves too difficult a target to take, especially with Araphen as the only major pass through the mountains. But..." "But not knowing what Zephiel hopes to gain, or how he's sustained himself so far, we can't know what cost in lives is too much," Merlinus finishes where Roy falters. The lordling nods, sobered.      ----      Lilian continues to enjoy Guinivere's sparklingly enraptured attention, nearly undivided. "So you do believe her possessed of some power, beyond merely the king's ear?" she says, in an almost gossipy tone despite the gravitas. Her pinky finger curls to the corner of her mouth as Lilian grins. "But, of course, that would require pressing into Bern again... unless he is foolish enough to take the front lines. Mighty though he is, I do not think that of him."      Then she turns to contemplate Ace. "'Still beauty to be found in the world', he said. It does seem at odds with his appearance. I would guess... truly, only twenty or twenty-five, but having endured some tragedy that gifted him with world-weariness. Might he not be offended if I call him like Zephiel in that way."
Marigold	As for the question of 'Iðunn': "I don't believe I've heard a name quite like it. Where was she from?" "Indeed, I think that is the question." "No-one familiar to me." "Oh! 'Iðunn'..."      All heads turn to Father Lucius. He clears his throat and straightens up where he sits, smiling with faint embarrassment. "Ah, forgive me. But... I believe I read of a name like that once, in the peripheral letters of Saint Elimine, when I studied in Etruria. In what context, I can't recall, but... it must be quite an ancient name, then. Perhaps that's why it doesn't sound of any familiar place now."
Trudy Grimm	"That's the game, is it?" Trudy's expression returns to neutral when Kayoko stands up to her next.     Eyes closing, she lifts a hand with her fingers spread, "I have 'snuck' nothing anywhere, nor am I an enemy to begin with. The Princess herself is aware of where I stand, no amount of lies or grandstanding will change that." The elder and more experienced knight steps up on that end as well, prompting Trudy to glance his way. A tool-- is about right. Both for her magic and herself, ultimately.     After a moment, she lowers her hand and tilts her head back slightly, "Sergeant Malone?" The medic lifts his mask-covered face towards her, then glances back at the other two soldiers. There's a meaningful jerk of his head. One by one, the three troops rise to their feet and relocate.     "They each feel they still have something to fight for. Some suffering in the world that their efforts can yet spare. So that others don't have to suffer like they have," the witch's tone grows more wistful, "These three endured so much and met quite grisley ends, and yet, still feel they have so much left to give. It's inspiring, if you ask me. Beautiful, even."     She glances towards the greying knight, "I'm sure you can understand devotion that powerful, no? The state of their bodies is nothing like the state of their spirits." At last, the smile returns to her face, "Trudy Grimm, at your service. I had introduced myself before, though it was to the young man who has since left for the trees."     Only one of those she asked about the mystery woman's name recalls much of anything. Trudy hums thoughtfully, her eyes closing, "Etruria again, is it... And they were also the nation we were hoping to entreat for help against an invasion from Bern, no less." Lifting her hands, the witch claps once and rubs her palms together, "Well. This is as good a lead as I could hope for, no? Once we have the opportunity, I should very much like to go there."
Shinmyoumaru Sukuna	Shinmyoumaru isn't entirely sure if Ace is making fun of her by telling her she uses her head. His words say one thing, but the way he winks says another. She eventually decides he's probably on the up and up and winks back. But she can't help herself from needling: "I think he's old," Shinmyoumaru replies to Lilian even though she was not the one asked, from the position of someone who is not and thinks everybody over about 25 is ancient. She may not *want* to be considered a teenager, but... if the shoe fits, she's stuck wearing it. Shinmyoumaru is more interested in talking to Lugh, though. "All the time," she agrees. "And I used to be pretty weak, too. I'm an inchling," Shinmyoumaru says, before explaining: "Not human. They're a small people... everyone overlooks us, or ignores us, because we *can't* be important. And that's if they even know we exist! I hate it." But she actually listens to Lugh - and Lucius when he talks again, and Flamel's offer too - rather than continuing in that vein. Shinmyoumaru is antsy; she doesn't stand still well, she shifts from foot to foot, but that's more in the nature of too much energy than ignoring them. She likes to talk, but she doesn't mind listening, either; people are interesting. "I get that, too," Shinmyoumaru agrees. "I really do! People don't think about the weak - I mean, like your friends, at the church. The war's going to happen no matter what happens to them, because the people starting it think they don't matter. That's not a bad example to want to fight for them. That's a good example!" Shinmyoumaru is not, academically, all that good with her words. She's never studied philosophy; what she feels is what she feels without benefit of knowing all the terms for it, and she's never sat down and deliberately thought through all the whys and wherefores. But she has intensity, and it shines through when she draws her needle, holding it like a rapier or a spear and pointing at an angle toward the starry sky. It gleams. "So fight for them! The dreams of the weak can make you strong. That's what *I* believe. And that's what I wanted to help with." Shinmyoumaru doesn't know the details about the war; she wasn't here for that. But she understands (or thinks she does) Lugh and, to a lesser extent, Chad. Maybe that's an answer for Roy too, after a fashion. Shinmyoumaru slides her needle away again. ...she then breaks the solemnity of the situation by asking, about the smore, "Can I have one of those?"
Flamel Parsons	Flamel makes a long, soft "huuuuuuhhhhh" sort of sound when he learns the lore about Iðunn. "Did she pick a name that had some ancient historical meaning? Maybe it's an alias that has an old cultural meaning? I wonder... I'll have to get access to some Etrurian knowledge, from the sound of it! Definitely gonna have to put my weight behind forming that alliance."     That's less significant to him. More significant is the kids: "Alright! You're wanting to protect people from the encroaching effects of the war! What a kind little motivation. Well, I think I have a way to do that safely, then!" He focuses on Father Lucius. "I'd like to deputize them both to do some combat against psychohazards inflicted by Bern on the alliance we're building up! They came here to fight and protect people from Bern, and I think, maybe, that means they need to do that and we should respect that."     He taps his head and switches to open-access telepathy. "See, I'm a psychic! I work to protect minds the way you work to protect souls. That means, sometimes, psycho-physically *fighting* the inner monsters that come from being hurt, and stressed, and deprived! It means plenty of fighting, really *fighting* Bern, but it's a lot safer than going out there with a weapon and it benefits a lot from a kind heart and a creative mind. Plus, it teaches some decent self-defense skills, and contributes in important ways, really helps people feel at ease and less stressed!"     "And... some extra trained hands might help. I think something psychic is going on, something bigger than I can see, with Iðunn..."     He puts a hand out at Lugh, beaming happily. "Anyway, what do you say, Lugh? Think you and Chad might be up for being field-deputized as psy-cadets?" And he looks to Lucius for approval too. "What about you, Father? Would you let me try that?"
Desire Stars	How 'bout you?     "Maybe for land," says Ace with a nod, and a slight frown. "For religious primacy, once or twice." His eyes drift, as his mind is on the gate. "To settle a grievance with the universe... never. That's what this is," he says gravely. "Or at least, that's what it is to Zephiel.     "As far as how he's keeping it up... I've been wondering the same thing myself. It's pretty unusual, that he'd able to hold that much territory while still finding new recruits. What's more, most of his men don't seem to know what he's after. Even the ones that do... well, soldiers will put up with a lot, if it means full bellies." Ace crosses his arms. "There are more questions than answers--" He shrugs. "But, it'll be good to find them working with people who know their way around these things." A general nod not just to Dieck, or even Wade, Lot and Shanna, but Tennant, too. "Less to worry about in the thick of it."     "We can talk more, later," he concludes, his arms falling to his side, hands finding their way back into his pockets. "Over drinks, if you like. I owe Lord Roy an answer."     A short little stroll across the campsite and around the fire. "I heard what you asked, earlier." says Ace, approaching from behind and placing a hand on Roy's shoulder. "I haven't gone into detail about how my employers compensate me--I can't, in fact. But I can tell you that all the money in this world wouldn't be enough for you or Lady Guinivere to be my employer in their place." He circles around, taking a seat on one of the logs, staring into the fire with a thoughtful frown.     "There's only one way to get what I want," he continues, looking back up at Roy, "And it's through them. Helping here puts me in a better position to get that. If it comes to it, yes, I'm 'prepared to risk my life,' but not for Lycia. Not exactly. I'm prepared to put it up as a wager in pursuit of that desire--of being in the best possible position to get it. For now, that means helping here."     His hands clasp together, resting between his knees. "Now that I've answered you honestly, I'd like for you to do the same for me, young lord."     "What does 'prepared to risk my life' mean, to you? You don't have to answer me tonight. In fact, it's better if you don't. You're young," he says, making eye contact for a weighty pause, "And I don't mean that disrespectfully. Only to say that what's ahead will demand that you know who you are. Think about it--and when you have an answer, give me a call."     He unclasps his hands, strikes the log and rises, his little smile returning. "As for me, I'm going to turn in. I've been asked to accompany you, and travel is best approached with plenty of rest." He probably isn't going right to bed--after all, he'd said that he'd clean up, once the fire was out. But it's clear from his disposition that he's simply done talking, for now.     Ace gives a little wave, then retires to his tent.
Angela	''That's the guideline for me, is it, Miss..?'' "One of 'em." Ceri says. Agents don't generally lie about this sort of stuff. "...But fifteen's about when most Fixers start out. Promise you this isn't an age thing, but I used to do this for a living. As a Cinq Director, drilled the lessons until it became second nature." Ceri is a little older on average than the other Agents of L Corp but she's not old--still likely in her twenties, so the idea that she made it to such a position--well it might be in part a sign of her being the best duelist in L Corp (not counting Outsiders), but it's mostly a sign that in the City people die young all the time--sometimes your boss is Meika's age. Her gaze slants briefly in Flamel's direction, giving him a nod of respect that no doubt bristles Angela to no end (she's quite suspicious of the man) but Ceri ignores this for now. She has what she considers her new purpose from Lilian--but it is from Lilian which means she's all too willing to ignore the bosses if she deems that to be the appropriate path forward. She has nothing left but that purpose and she somehow lived all the same. She should have done this with Max, she thinks, made him stronger--stronger than Nonon. Strength is survival and it isn't strictly power and it takes many forms, but that doesn't mean it's not related. She focuses on Chad. "...Some people are at their most dangerous when they're hurt. You know that." Ceri says but nods along to his desire to not be safe. That's fine. Ceri presses against the knife--just enough to not bend. She has no interest in pushing the blade away. He's not lacking in instinct or knifework. Ceri thinks to herself. She doesn't panic--either confident Chad won't kill her, or confident in her own ability--maybe both!--there is a small shift upward with the handle like she's moving to protect herself from the lunge--but as he sways back-- The blade is pointing down. Why is Ceri pointing the rapier down when she weas preparing to deflect away a blade from the chest? She could have kept it up. Protected many sensitive areas-- --Of course he'd go for the legs--to someone focused on how she can't walk, but that rapier stops that dagger's momentum all the same. With a twist of the wrist, the rapier spins smoothly so that it's resting gently against Chad's neck--the maneuver wasn't especially fast or forceful--the shift of that blade's positioning was like Ceri had just lifted a bag of groceries. It looks banal, but the technique is flawless even to this day. It is not flashy because flashiness is not what Ceri is trying to teach--but it is effective. "This is a parry riposte. You'll need to master it before I can advise you're ready for the field. Good instincts, knife handling a bit out of practice like you said but not bad." Ceri says. "But you're not quite as fast as you think you are, you're too hotheaded, and you can't underestimate wounded opponents or you're bound to end up killed by one." She is quiet a moment and adds, "The Dame Commander won't let someone at this skill level fight a war so I'll make it my job to get you ready so she doesn't have to worry." Ceri is quiet a moment. "...But it's not like you don't have the makings of a warrior--I'd hate to see your vengeance unpaid. Please let me help." MEANWHILE Tenant bows their head repeatedly. "Really sorry for all the trouble we're causing in our first day but she means well hahaha.... Um." They look at Shanna for a moment in awe before shaking their head to clear it. "I fight at a distance, so I'll be supporting you with this rifle. But you must be real impressive if you're fighting without any sort of armor. Is that to draw enemy fire at you so your friends don't have to deal with it or... are you augged up?"
Blemishine	Only one thing could snap Maria Nearl out of her attention towards the Kirenai sisters and the old knight, and that's...     You're considered a...? Do people, like, ride you too?     "Heh!?" Ears, once again, betray a trembling twitch. This time, her golden tail also flicks up suddenly as if in shock. Maybe she's remembering a certain time in a Mystery Dungeon, and one Kamen Rider's less than stellar attempt to acquire a mount. "Oh, n-no, not at all, Miss Shanna! Let me tell you, I was surprised when I learned about the difference between 'jousting' in my homeland compared to everywhere else! Kurantan knights do it on foot..."     It takes several seconds for her to calm down some and stop waving her hands in front of herself, trying to ensure there are no misunderstandings - though she may or may not have made new ones. "Ahaha... um, I'm glad to hear you're keeping up the tradition, though! I can tell you have a lot of pride in it, and I can see why." The downfalls of such a combination, she can imagine...     It makes it that much more impressive to pull it off successfully, in her eyes. "Now I really want to see you and Dolly in action sometime! It must be amazing to see!"     Underneath her cheeriness though, the whole bit with Kayoko and Meika makes Shanna's mention of sisters stand out that much more. Remembering that Ilia was one of the two nations that Bern has already invaded... maybe she'll restrain her curiosity and save asking about her siblings for another, quieter time.     But I guess you don't have to be a Knight to be a protector. I always thought of it as someone you can trust and rely on to be brave and honest.     "Hm, well..." She glances to Aidan.     "There's a saying, in my family. 'To be a knight is to be the noble light that illuminates the land.' I think being a protector is part of that, but not all of it. And that there's a lot of ways to become that - I'm still in the middle of finding mine."     But... I believe I read of a name like that once, in the peripheral letters of Saint Elimine, when I studied in Etruria. In what context, I can't recall, but... it must be quite an ancient name, then.     Blemishine is also one of the sets of eyes going to Father Lucius, and it makes her contemplate. "If Lycia means to make an alliance with Etruria, I'm sure that'll mean dispatching an envoy to meet with them... and that would also let us look into Saint Elimine's texts while we're there." In other words, she has roughly the same thoughts as Trudy, and surely some of the others. "Of course, that'll depend on exactly how the meeting at Araphen ends up going, and what the lords end up wanting to do..."     Merlinus' comment on that was indeed sobering, but Blemishine takes on a somewhat more hopeful tact after a moment. "...But assuming we /did/ find anything on Iðunn there, it would have to be something that'd help give us more insight on what Zephiel might be attempting to do, right? And from there, we'd be able to begin working out a real solution."
Odette Raskins	"H-heroes? Aw, maybe not all of us, but definitely some of us." Odette replies to Roy with a surprised look in her eyes at seeing that embarrassment from him, pausing briefly as she looks across the camp at all those gathered from outside this world. As she does, she takes a seat by the fire as well, partaking of Ace's smores and munching on one while chewing on his observations about what the outside sounds like. "Maybe after all this... Everything's done here, we could show you around in the outs... Otherworld? You, Princess Guinevere, Father Lucius, all the kids and the knights and everyone." Odette trails off briefly as she looks around again and realizes that she hasn't quite absorbed everyone's names just yet. That's something else she'll have to work on for sure. "Even if it is.. Er. Even if you think your reasons areselfish, it's not like there's anything wrong with that. Um. Most people don't want their homes getting destroyed, right?" She munches on a chocolate wad and goes wide-eyed for a moment, then goes hoo hoo haa haa to try and cool it down. "I-if anything... It's crummy is what, not having a choice about being involved at all." Frowning after that, Odette closes her eyes, then claps her hands against her cheeks to get herself re-focused on the actual plan of attack/alliances. "Getting more allies could help a lot, I bet. It didn't sound like Zephiel cared about..." She pauses, then shivers lightly while recalling her first meeting with the imposing king. "... A-anything but destruction." Listening to Ace, she considers his reasons for being involved as well as his questions to Roy while scrunching her face up slightly in thought. "Isn't risking your life just.. Er. Doing the dangerous thing to try and get what you want? Or... No. You mean something else there." She strains, but Odette's already slouching in her seat while trying to come up with anything even remotely insightful to think about there. "Sleeping does sound like a pretty good idea right about now... Can't do any field surgeries if I'm half-asleep, right?" Odette chuckles lightly and looks back up at the night sky, slowly sliding off her seat to lie on the dirt instead. "I-I'm sure we'll have better luck coming up with a plan once we get to Etruria and get more heads together for this." With any luck, she might just end up sleeping right on the dirt tonight.
Meika Kirenai	It takes Meika a good few moments to catch up to spoken-out words, near and far, and a good few more staring at the forming burn blister on her hand, as the new cigarette she's gotten slowly turns more ashen. 'One of 'em.'     "... Yeah. Thought so." It's so much worse, that she isn't in costume. At the very least if she was, it'd feel like she's being treated similar to the cleaner and brighter parts of the other magical girl Abnormalities. Like this, it makes her want to wither and disappear.     Luckily, she doesn't get what she wants. '... I used to practice it,' '... It was always too late.'     "... Oh." She draws in a quiet breath, half through the new cigarette. "... Yeah. This isn't all new to you, is it..? Even just a little." The question is pretty much rhetorical, with the soft tone her voice takes.     "It's not new to me, either. Parts- parts are, but it's... five- five years, almost. Even if it's... a different sort of not-the-safe-kind than..." She shrugs, and taps her toes, with how her knees are tucked up to her chest. "Yeah. Always too late."     She doesn't know what Lucius seemed to try and save him from, what past he had in store, but there's a softening of her expression as she focuses on him, and the tangible hurt pouring off. Ideas of whether he can handle it or not don't cross her mind, she's already figured he'd do what he wants with or without help, because she figures she would in his shoes.     Still. She sucks air through teeth, watching how casually he treats Ceri- Meika doesn't know the Agent, but she's seen others like her in action to guess she's something closer to formidable, compared to a loosely trained teen. She's stood and backed up away by now, distracted and cooled down by having something else on her mind enough- for however long that lasts. But she doesn't call warnings, or advice, towards Chad- she'd hate it, if she was trying to prove something, and he is, isn't he? At least Ceri promised to help him, after.     As soon as the bout is finished, Meika releases breath- and tries to smile at Chad- anything but directly acknowledge how he did. He'll need the teaching. She doesn't know much of anything about real swordfighting, but balance and action being less than perfect, and the results of the quick little duel make that much clear. "... She knows her stuff, right..? I bet you'll shine once she's..." A little fade-off.     "... Hey. If you wind up in the thick of things, even helping out your br-" She pauses. Wait, was Lugh his sibling? Or was someone else... "Helping out Lugh with what the guy in the suit is promising," Unfortunately, she can't not overhear how Flamel, Lugh, and Lucius's conversation is progressing. Likewise, she's assuming Chad's agreement to it. "I- I can help make sure you'll keep people safe, okay..? Get you to where you-" A cough. The cigarette finds its way back to her lips.     "To whatever you've got to do this for, right..?" It takes, genuinely, a bit of conscious effort for the magical girl to stick out a hand and offer to shake it, for how slightly that puts it as a request he's in charge of. It's obviously not intentional on her part, though. It just seems right, for a stranger kid she's assuming a sort of protectiveness for.
Lilian Rook	Dieck's showing off should rightly fluster a woman even half as pretty as Lilian is under these circumstances, but the returning acknowledgement slows her steps to instead, lightly biting her pinky fingernail as she rubbernecks past. "You know my distant ancestors used to fight like that." Lilian says, knowing a pose when she sees one. Swinging back with a satisfied smile, she only adds "Topless." with a tone befitting her subtle sway.     'I'm Ilian'     "Oh, what a--" Wait. No scratch that.     'You've got to be real small and pack light, or you're holding the pegasus back!'     The explanation briefly transfixes Lilian. Shanna is an enthusiastic speaker, and the topic is naturally attention-grabbing on its own merits, but between every point that Lilian punctuates her listening with a soft noise or head tilt to signal her listening is a stretch of intense contemplation going on in parallel. It'd be easy to assume that she just likes imagining it, or to not notice her behaviour at all; it isn't something ordinary to assume that she would be reasoning through 'so if this exists, then what else must?' "Well, I've only met the one wyvern rider, but it did seem as if it'd be slower in the air." Lilian decides, taking Shanna's side.     'What exactly do you think is forbidden to us, Dame Commander?'     "I--" That, finally, takes advantage of Lilian's warmly unburdened attitude. Without every single one of her usual expectations piled up together like books she's forced to balance atop her head, her pause and double take is a kind of 'organic' that Lilian normally never is. "Is it not?" At the sound of Lucius' laughter, Lilian pats and squeezes her cheeks in light dismay, frowning without meaning it even a little bit. "All I mean to say is that you've a way with children that women would go mad for." she says, fibbing as easily as she breathes. "But I suppose it doesn't really matter anyways; you've been putting it to use long before I blew in~"     Waving over her shoulder as she joins the campfire, Lilian says "If you really can't stop them, then I hope you won't mind appointing you a little help in teaching them."     ----     'One that can corrode the soul, but-'     Lilian nearly asks, but decides that she doesnt actually know that Narcian's magic would fall under 'dark' at all. She'd meant to ask whether corroding the soul meant a sense of self or a sense of humanity.     'I... see. Heroes out of the goodness of your hearts, or opposed to Zephiel's ambition on its own terms. Then you all have purer reasons than me.'     "I'm flattered to hear that, Lord Roy. Truly." Lilian says. For once, she means it; one can tell by how without-gravity she says it. "But my resolve and my reasons are separate things. I'd feel guilty if I deceived you into thinking of me as a virtuous woman."       It's somehow easier to say by the campfire, next to Guinivere and Ema, surrounded by their retinue. Lilian stops a while just to close her eyes and drink in the ambiance; not just the cool night or the wind in the leaves or the smell of outdoor cooking, but the precious eddy of thoughts and feelings swirling close around the campfire; the warmth and the colour of each special person, set into a private mosaic of hopes and anxieties and wishes for one another, that Lilian finds truly and properly fitting for an adventure.
Lilian Rook	'So you do believe her possessed of some power, beyond merely the king's ear?'     "I wouldn't jump to say 'power' by the way of anything magical, but there are such things as 'geniuses with the ear', as there are born the sword; and they're much alike." Lilian replies. "Passing into Bern again does happen to be on my list. Well done~" she adds, ostensibly pleased, tapping her finger to her thigh. "But you'll certainly never anticipate how I plan to do it~" Now she sounds like some sort of court magician or miracle general, boasting as part of an old tale. 'Twenty-five' is roundly prevented from showing on her face by the best efforts of her psychic warriors.     'In what context, I can't recall, but... it must be quite an ancient name, then. Perhaps that's why it doesn't sound of any familiar place now.'     "A pseudonym, then." Lilian says. "One with mythological or scriptural pretentions. I'd imagined as much." She shrugs under her cloak, as if it were really not very surprising. "And I imagine it isn't chosen vainly. Something about her is, I think, somehow transmundane."     --The lordling nods, sobered.     Having taken in what little there was to offer, Lilian shuts her eyes slowly and sighs. And yet, it isn't a sound of impatience; or resignation, or exertion, or tolerance; disappointment, speechlessness, contemplation, or any of the other ways Lilian uses them.     The sound comes in the midst of Roy being questioned by the party in turn, and thus just before she claps her hands to the log, pushes herself up to her feet, sweeps aside her cloak to extend her right arm, and offers her hand to the Lord in charge; and in doing so, coyly revealing by the firelight caught in its curves, the uncanny black-mirror glint of partially worn armour beneath. The shuffling of her hood causes loose hair to spill down to her waist in the gap, but the grip of her hand is unmistakably used to the hilt.     "I think I understand you a little better now." Lilian says. "So if that's the shape of your situation, then please allow me to introduce myself again." Her lips turn up at the corners in a smile bordering on serene. Her stare is somehow unadulterated in colour by the amber-orange of the fire.     "I am Dame Commander Lilian Isabelle Rook, Knight of the Ring of Solstice, Wielder of Night Mist, disciple of Scáthach, the Winter Bloom of Humanity, and the strongest knight of the Otherworld. For my own, selfish reasons, I swear to you that Lycia will not fall. From now on, ask of me whatever your heart compels."
Aidan Proudpick	'To be a knight is to be the noble light that illuminates the land.' A smile crosses Aidan's face. "I like that. It sounds like you are going to do a great job." Another piece of the pile. Another piece on the shaky scaffold, the base of which stands on the fear of failure. Trying to cloak himself in a half dozen different heroes, find the perfect plug for the gap in his heart. Lilian Rook says, "Got something to say, Proudpick?" Not here. Don't explode here. These people are heroes, they need something, if he explodes here, he can ruin that for them. He needs to keep it together, for them. She's like a looming shadow, though, a colossus at his back, he can always feel a prickling in his back. Even if the stabbing will just be verbal. Shanna goes on, even answering all of Aidan's litany of questions, despite his over-enthusiasm. A smile creeps back onto his face, "Amazing!" It's a simple joy for Aidan, who loves his simple joys. To meet these people, to fight an evil bully(sure, it's more complex than that, but it's a liferaft to cling to), to know what side he stands on. It's a stable ground. He needs a stable ground.
Marigold	"Is that so," the old knight says, watching the undead soldiers go. "I never thought I'd have anything in common with the dead." He holds out his hand for Trudy to shake. "Marcus, a knight in the service of the House of Pherae."      Then he crosses his arms, and watches the others at the fire from a comfortable distance. The gaieties of youth are something he tacitly excludes himself from. "Indeed, ingratiating ourselves to Etruria seems wise. But it's to the east of Lycia, and we're in the west. I'm sure the eastern marches have sent them messengers already. Perhaps we could join them, but only after this Araphen business has been taken care of."      ----      "Y'know, it's a matter of taste," Dieck says to Lilian in passing, "but I think your ancestors were onto something." Hard to say if he means 'for himself' or 'for her'.      "Yeah? I'm not gonna throw stones," he answers Ace with a lopsided smile. "Lotta questions I could go without asking, as long as I'm fed." That's less true than he tries to make it sound. Lycia's the underdog here; mercenaries aren't known for loyalty to the little guy. "Sure. I'd love to grab a little digestif. Feel a little better working with you already."      He looks at Tennant, baffled, while taking another chunk of firewood and digging his thumbs into it. "Huh? 'Augged'?" Crunch. A twist of his arms tears the wood neatly into splintered halves. "Nah. It's just... ever since we found silver, armor's gotta be pretty heavy now." 'Silver' feels like a term of art. "And I got used to fighting like this in the gladiator arenas. Etruria's got lots of them, because it's got lots of healers. Doesn't matter if I get hit as long as I don't die, right?"      The way he smiles guiltily about it shows he's completely aware of how deranged that is to say. But it sure seems to be working out for him. "Don't walk in my footsteps though. I'll tell you the most important thing as a mercenary: you never let your employer spend your life. I tell my crew that every day."
Marigold	It takes Chad a tiny fraction of a second to register the sword at his neck. When he does, he flings himself to the ground and scrambles away from it, like he's not aware of that kind of poised surrender. "A-alright! You got me. What do you want, lady?"      His eyes narrow at the same time his face loses some of its tension. "I know what a 'parry-and-riposte' is," he grumbles. "That's why I was trying to bait-- you're better than me, but don't baby me. Alright?" One hand covers his mouth as he picks himself up out of the dirt.      There's a slightly tense moment, while his cheeks burn. He obviously feels a little humiliated. But--      "... Okay. Teach me then." Not more than he felt humiliated by Bern.      He draws his arms back inside his oversized cloak and sheathes the curved knife while his eyes drift to Meika. "Five years," he says. "You've got that over me." He eyes her extended hand suspiciously, and then finally reaches out to take it.      "It's because," he says slowly, "you have younger kids to protect, too, huh? Fine."      "I'll try to look out for her too."      ----      Father Lucius gives up his sewing again to tap a finger to his lips. "How strange things must be in the Otherworld, Dame Commander. If falling in love didn't teach something God means for us to learn, it wouldn't have been created." His eyes shut as serenely as hers did a while ago. "Maybe someday I'll find room in my life for that lesson."      "As for you, Flamel," he says- first mentally in return after a brief startle, then out-loud if that doesn't work- "I think we do have room for your lessons. Though I don't know what aptitude Chad might have for it..."      He looks to Lugh, who nods with plucky determination and takes Flamel's hand with a squeeze. "I'd love to. Putting people at ease, like Father Lucius does--" "Oh, Lugh..." "It'd make me really happy. ... Um, but is this a 'book' lesson, or an 'in-person' lesson?"      He's eager to get back to chatting with Shinmyoumaru after breaking off from Flamel, though- Lugh's able to see her as something closer to a peer than most of the other Elites. After a soft gasp at the raised starlight-glinting needle, he puts on a wobbly, encouraging smile.      "Yeah. I'm doing it for the little kids, back home at the church. But, hey. If you're here to help us... what weak people are you standing up for? Do you have people like that back home, too? If you're a big hero here... do you think people will respect them more?"      Maybe that's just his overactive imagination! But the idea seems to make him happy.
Marigold	"Is it not simple?" Roy asks Ace, with a genuine innocence. "I meant what I said. If you aren't prepared to put yourself in danger to do the right thing, you'll become a terrible person over your long life. Isn't that just how it is? I don't know how to think about it more."      It's that last part that troubles him, and drops his eyes to the campfire's ashes. "... that I know who I am," he echoes, after the superstar's left. That seems to trouble him a little. "Can you not know what you're risking until you know yourself? Is that what he meant?" Maybe he's like Zephiel: once given something to chew on, he can't help but ruminate.      Lilian breaks him out of it. He looks up with slightly slackened jaw and cool-blue eyes wide. 'Strongest knight of the Otherworld' feels like something that should be doubted, but something in the way she says it prevents him from doing so.      "I... I see. If that's so, then it's truly an honor. I can't imagine what 'your own, selfish reasons' could be, but..." His face scrunches with some nameless emotion. "If I could ask anything of you, then could you--"
Marigold	"hhh... hhhhhh..."      Shanna is the first to notice the shambling figure emerging from the darkness by the horses. "Hey-!!" Merlinus is the first to recognize what they are, and rush over to help. "Oh, hold still! No, please- Elen, Lucius, someone!"      A terribly maimed soldier in Lycian livery is dragged into the circle of firelight. Arrows protrude from his back. His side and arm are burned so badly it doesn't look like he can move the limb. In places the metal of his armor has trickled down like candle-wax.      "What in the world--" "Oh, that poor man." "Oh! My staff- just a moment!"      He's laid down comfortably onto his side, gasping raggedly. The retinue gathers around in muted panic. "What happened? Was he intercepted--" "Help. Please... it's... Castle Araphen." "What?! Did they--"      "Gone. All of it. Gone."