Scene #3479: Council Arcanum

Owner	Pose
Adelyn Lysen	The entrance to the warpgate network is close enough to the capital of the Nation of Towers that the city has expanded to consume it. It's large enough for major military deployment (and there are major military forces around it), but also makes a convenient point of entry for elites heading to and from the home base of Adelyn Lysen. For any who haven't been here before, guides are on-hand to take those invited directly to the conference room in the central tower, along a direct route that only coincidentally shows off the vertical city of which its inhabitants are so proud, with its hanging plazas and spanning walkways. For those who have been here, but not since the war... you can hardly tell that such an event occurred. Some parts of the nation may be suffering, for a variety of reasons, but not this place. It's a hive of activity at all hours, as a city of this size would be expected to be. The room itself is not quite so grandiose, as no more than a few dozen figures are expected to show. This is not quite a secret meeting, but it is still one for an exclusive set of distinguished guests. Those who wish it will find refreshments easily supplied, but the show of hospitality is not the host's primary point of taking up the time of so many. She is, instead, already (or, 'still') focusing on a set of reports on the large table in front of her, taking this time, also, to ready for the evening's discussion. Some greetings will likely, if momentarily, distract her from this as people arrive.
Tommy Wahagi	Tommy Wahagi has to be social today. God help him. Really, it's just one of those Expected Responsibilities of being someone in a circle. He's never HAD a circle before. He's never had a PHONE circle before. Those ads on the TV, the cell phone ads about adding people to your network? Tommy's had to suffer through those endlessly without a cell phone, or a network. The very idea of such a person in modern America is mocked ruthlessly by television as ignorant and backwards. But Tommy is that guy! When Tommy arrives, it's independent of Lezard Valeth, his Master. Tommy does things beyond clean up Lezard's tower and hide from Elizabeth Bathory, after all - though he's gotten pretty good at both of those things. Tommy slips in as quietly as he can, as unnoticed as he can. He immediately slides into a chair and makes himself as small as possible. This is a gathering of very powerful people, people among whom Tommy is the exception, not the rule. They are peers in name only, as far as Tommy is concerned. He knows the rules of the jungle better than anyone could ever imagine the scrawny, sickly young man could. The strong survive. The weak are food. Tommy takes out one of his decks and starts shuffling it quietly. His fingers are deft enough to shuffle quietly, and, well, it calms him. It helps him center himself. It makes him less nervous to know that at least something familiar is at his fingertips, something he can control. Like a soldier entering a warzone clutching a token of his lady-love for luck, Tommy shuffles his deck and prepares to steel his nerve. Just think of it as a test, and everything will be fine.
Laer	Laer has at least managed to show up on time, sometimes an iffy proposition, though she's not especially dressed up for the occasion, in well-worn clothing that looks like it has at least a bit of armor to it. Once guided to the proper room, she'll head straight for the refreshments, mixing herself a drink with just a hand lifted in greetings towards Adelyn. She'll say more once things get started. For now, she'll tip back about half the drink, her manditory minimum for any meeting, and will then hang towards the back of the room to wait for it to start.
Chrysanthemum	Dragging Chrysanthemum out of her own affairs is a rare event, a novelty. The blonde woman is dressed up elegantly, as usual, but also has her sword with her. She didn't position it in the optimum manner for battle, she's just very careful of late. Her primary reason for coming is to see how the new leadership is coming along... and perhaps a minor curiosity as to how Adelyn's nation has changed since she last saw it. Quite a bit, as it turns out. She'll accept a drink, sipping it lightly and watching the others file in. Some are old companions, others she has barely spoken to. The latter get more of her attention, for obvious reasons, but at least she doesn't seem as bored as usual.
Lezard Valeth	Lezard Valeth arrives. It's as simple as that. He doesn't bother to put on airs or do the multitude of little things he does in order to aggrivate and create the various responses in heroic types that he does. In fact, he seems fairly laid back today. Part of this might be because he's still working on decanting some more homunculus vessels for his use. Those he deems worthy of being used are neither cheap nor are they quick to create. Therefore, it is his spirit form that arrives, that essence that proves his triumph over Death, as he enters the meeting room. He does not take a drink. It would be pointless in his current form. He does, however, give those who have arrived a florid bow, and takes his place. Unlike Tommy, Lezard seems to radiate confidence to the point of arrogance as he waits patiently.
Comrade Crush	One of the chairs at this gathering is, almost certainly, almost twice as big as an ordinary chair, and visibly built sturdier. Those who are relatively new to the Confederacy would be entirely forgiven for wondering what sort of guest would need such an oversized chair, especially at a meeting of what is ostensibly masters of magic and mystery. Those who've been around for a while, probably already know /exactly/ who's gonna be parked there. Today, however, the Stupendously Smashing Soviet Sorceror is putting on extra pageantry, it seems. There is an honor guard of Secret Soviet troops with him through most of the city, and even they can't help but turn to look now and again at their massive muscle mage of a hero-slash-commander. Doubtless numerous people on the street are doing so as well, and one would be forgiven for rubbernecking when, having left the honor guard behind for the privacy and confidence of 'a meeting of minds', Comrade Crush strides into the meeting room, ducking his head to do so. It's not every day an eight-foot blonde Russian slab of meat walks into a meeting of mages wearing a high-necked gold cape, snazzy dress pants and boots, and nothing whatsoever in the way of a shirt. "Comrades! It has been far too long! Is good to see friends and allies all in one place... and new faces, besides!" he adds, pointing a massive hand straight at Tommy. "Hello, little comrade! I believe we are not having met yet, da?"
Magister Twilight	Getting Archmagister Twilight Sparkle out of her personal war and into this meeting is a feat. It's a testament to her interest in the magical arts that now, when things are picking up, she's showing some interest in the group! She's arrived early, and has... a book. While the others are arriving and getting situated, Twilight is already reading, glasses perched on her nose. She is in her humanoid form at least, complete with the flowing robes of her station and wide, floppy hat. When more people begin to filter in, she actually sets her book aside and straightens up. She doesn't greet, exactly, but she returns any greetings with a small nod.
Winnowill	Some may not even know Winnowill is a member! She doesn't speak up much. Crush's outburst gets an amused smile from the slender elf. "Has it?" She is, in fact, in her elf form... a form rarely seen, with all the time she spends as a human or pretending to be Black Snake, the ponygirl from Twilight's world. She isn't actually offering greetings to anyone else though. Even if Lezard might be getting a stare that looks uh... Hungry.
Lina Brand	Lina hasn't made herself well known or even said much of anything here at the moment, the Archer Mage herself is sitting at one chair, just keeping to herself as she listens to the introductions of others. She takes off her green ranger's hat and tucks it in her lap, a flow of blonde hair comes rushing out from under it. She takes a small breath and gives a bit of a wave. "Hiya." she starts, giving a nervous smile, "I'm lina... nice to meet you all." Okay, that's a good start, now, take it nice and easy... "How is everyone?" Too casual, Lina! "Aah... I hope everyone's doing okay..."
Guest Madeline	While not everyone is available to meet in person, enoguh are here that Madeline feels content in bringing up the topic that she'd discussed. The pilot is already here, waiting and greeting mildly everyone who comes in, even returning the bow Lezard gave. She'll wait for the bulk of the group to file in, standing near Adelyn. "Hello. Hello. Greetings." Yes, all the usual. She'll hold off on explaining what ideas ARE available until Adelyn actually starts the meeting. "In case not all of you are aware, or have met us in person, I am Madeline Vance, and this is Adelyn Lysen, obviously."
Adelyn Lysen	There are quite a few people to greet. Considering the emphasis necessarily placed on independence within the Confederacy's elite corps, there was every possibility that a number of those invited would not show. (In fact, that's still the case, but even this much is more than the initial forecast.) Some are better recognized by Adelyn than others. "Comrade, you seem well. And Chrys," not quite as formal as she could be, at the moment--there are certainly no members of the press here, and the drinks are self-serve for a reason, "I'm glad you could make it. I believe I still owe each of you something, though there's no rush." That war feels both as if it were ages ago, and as if she's still fighing it every other week. But trouble at home isn't the topic for the day. "Lezard. You look... lighter than usual." My, that's still an interesting sight, even for her second viewing of it. While a more recent issue, the matters in Terra Majora have given her an appreciation for the necromancer, as well. "And you must be... Wahagi." The cards gave him away, really. Over in another direction, "Twilight, yes." Not seen, previously, but she's naturally had descriptions. Somewhat more mysterious to her, that one, though Winnowill could easily compete with that. She gets a nod, while Lina gets a more distant look generally reserved for students--which she is, so it fits--and a 'Hmm.'
Tommy Wahagi	Comrade Crush is huge and bombastic and Tommy quails just a little. Loud, bombastic people in his life have not usually been friendly. Loud, bombastic people have not been very FREQUENT in his life, but what ones he has met have not really been great experiences. Still, he lowers his head slightly - it may take Crush a moment ot realize it's a nod of greeting. "Hello...I'm T-Tommy Wahagi...um, I'm a P-Planeswalker. It's nice to m-meet you, sir." He sits straight up when his name is mentioned, nodding.
Nox	Like a couple of others, this is Nox's first time around Veritas Arcanum. Unlike just about everyone else though, this is his first time sitting in on a deliberate meeting between people presumed to be his equals in magic and also actually interested in discussing it. Predictably, he doesn't like wasting time, and so rather than being lead around the scenic paths coincidentally showing off the grandiose city, he locks in on the extremely obvious gestalt signature of a dozen top-tier mages all gathering in the same room, and with a couple of intermediate teleports, he's fizzled straight into the room, simply appearing a short ways away from the table with the telltale crackle of shivering blue static. Just in time for the opening pleasantries too, shortly before anything of importance is discussed. Efficient. He looks briefly both ways, taking size of the people, familiar and unfamiliar both, present, before abruptly vanishing again, only to reappear literally three feet away, sat down in one of the provided chairs; a rare, if somewhat unconvincing, show of relaxation. "Good day, sirs and madams. Apologies for arriving on the dot, and congratulations for rounding up so many on such short notice. It couldn't have been easy finding this many people with something useful to say."
Comrade Crush	"Hello, comrade Wahagi!" the massive Marxist replies, planting his fists on his hips - which only manages to make his brick wall of a torso seem even larger. "Is good to meet you! I am boisterous Bolshevik, master of Mystical Muscle Mystery, Shining Star of Soviet strength..." And here he sweeps his cape aside, bringing his right arm up to FLLLLEEEXXXX... which causes a business card to appear in mid-air. "COMRADE CRUSH!" Before the card can fall, he reaches out and snatches it from the air, and gives it a flick - so that it slides across the table to Tommy. "If you are needing help that Secret Soviet government can provide, do not be hesitating! You are valued comrade, same as all in this room! Wahahaha!" Well, at least he's cheery. He also somehow manages to make that beefy chair creak just by sitting down, after which he favors Adelyn with a beaming grin. "And you, comrade Lysen! Is good to see your city is prospering! Has rebounded well." He's genuinely happy to see that; it's always the People(tm) who suffer the worst in any war.
Lezard Valeth	The Necromancer of Midgard does not seem to be particuarly unsettled by Winnowill's stare. In fact, he seems to smile faintly. He seems to trust Winnowill will not engage in any... 'light snacking' today. Souls, man. They go /straight/ to the hips. He nods in return to Adelyn. "Unsurprisingly, I had managed to deplete my reserve stocks of vessels already. I will have to account for that in future engagements." Lezard replies amiably. He also bows again to Madeline as she greets him, and he sits down himself, next to Nox, though the boisterous Comrade Crush seems to have Lezard lightly moassaging a temple already. Do spirits even /get/ headaches?
Adelyn Lysen	And there's Nox. As with Lezard, Adelyn has built up a certain appreciation for him in recent months. Those with whom she is less familiar, she hopes, will likewise prove reliable in coming months. One can always hope, no matter how cynical one is. The tower's security are less appreciative, since someone just skipped right through their wards, but they'll settle down once they match him against the invitee list. "Archmage Adelyn Lysen, CEF lieutenant," she adds at Madeline's introduction, "though I will dispense with titles for the evening." She waves dismissively, before favoring Crush with what is almost a cheery smile--it doesn't come too easily to her. "Progress must always continue, comrade, and I work to see that it does." They may have radically different philosophies, but it is true that she cares about the Nation, if in a different sense and for different reasons. Down to business. "I imagine that we are all quite busy, and those who aren't may endeavour otherwise. This meeting, possibly the first of its kind in recent years, for all its short notice, is to discuss future joint efforts for specific goals." Nothing ever gets done by keeping goals vague. "Of highest priority is the establishment of useful an accessible base quarters for Veritas Arcanum members, for present and future benefit. Individual facilities are available in many worlds, but there are matters of travel time and security. Apart from ways to combine resources for mutual benefit, these must be addressed. More broadly, specific targets of interest for this and other projects need be brought to the group so that potential resources may become /available/ resources."
Guest Madeline	Rather than waste time talking about niceties and such, Madeline prompts discussion right away by bringing up a topic that Adelyn already mentioned. "There has been some discussion about a possible base of operations, and what that would involve in a way that would be useful. Speaking with Archmagister Twilight and Lezard Valeth earlier, it was noted that many, though not all of us have personal abodes of considerable power and uniqueness already. Therefore, another idea was devised which may be of interest, though is rather challenging to implement." Madeline smiles. "Of course, if it were easy, it wouldn't be worth doing, hmm?" She steps back. "The currend concept is to have only a minimal base to begin with. Quarters, a small library, some small labs. The bulk of our 'base' will actually be a metaphysical 'road' or pathway. Constructing this will require a fair bit of resources, I think, but once completed would allow us to navigate between our numerous power bases securely and safely, preferably with the ability to maintain some privacy as well. Our 'base' will be the entire membership itself, allowing great flexibility in deployment and retreat to allied realms. The idea still requires some development, but I think it is a good starting point."
Comrade Crush	"Hrrrm," Crush rumbles, lacing his fingers together, elbows on the table, pondering Madeline's suggestion. "Is good starting point. Do not yet have sanctum of my own, but... eh, have plans for different possibilities. Can work on them later." He waves a hand. "I am thinking, however, that even if headquarters hub is small, we are needing good land for it. Place with strong ley line nexus. Best location we can secure with combined influence and power. Will be of benefit both to pathway network, and any work done in base itself."
Laer	Laer will make her way back over, having secreted a variety of refreshments on her person just in case she needs them later, offering Crush a greeting as befitting an old friend one tries not to see too often due to loudness. Which is to say, she'll wave vaguely in his direction and then focus back on the meeting that conveniently really kicks into gear at this point. "So you'd want us to each contribute somewhere that we'd be willing to allow the others into that has some safety to it?" She'll ask, considering. "There are places I could probably offer, but it would depend on the method."
Lina Brand	"While I have Alexander Academy, a second place to call home and to try to learn magic from elsewhere would be nice. I could offer my services in scouting out locations and clearing out the local wildlife if needed." Lina perks up just a bit, "I know it's not much but it's something I can offer." Lina takes a look around.. everyone here is so specialied here and well... she isn't. She bites her lip nervously and continues, "I can also provide some minor land shaping as well if the area is suitable but the land isn't..."
Magister Twilight	Twilight tips her hat. "While I can offer some formidable resourses for my part, I have doubts that our more.... apprentice-level mages or those in a difficult situation at this point in time can contribute much. I don't believe it should be required to contribute space in order to use the pathway."
Winnowill	Winnowill grows more serious at this idea. "I will need time to construct a safe place, and the one I would wish to use is... unavailable, at the moment. I believe I could contribute something, but I think having a secure place as a hug would be an excellent idea, as the muscled one suggests." There may be just the slightest hint of surprise in her tone.
Chrysanthemum	"Such a place would be best if it were not in any one person's territory," Chrysanthemum further suggests. "I have many places in my Empire I could contribute, but I think it would be best if such a contribution was for a spoke, not the hub."
Lezard Valeth	"Indeed." Lezard states. "A Set of Warpgates in this configuration would allow for quick collaborative efforts and a communal area to allow for collective operations when we need to engage in such. We can use Warpgates to make the anchor points of the road easier to terminate at our respective locations." There is a moment of thought. "It would also serve as a place for research and experiments that cannot be conducted in our homelands for various reasons. As far as the central location of the base, I concur with Magus Chrysanthemum. Placing it near any of our own sanctums would be inefficient."
Tommy Wahagi	"Then we t-take over somewhere else," Tommy finally says, quietly, staring at his deck, "We c-clear out somewhere n-nobody important is using and shape it to our l-liking." Ah. So /that's/ why he's a Confederate, even if he's a little nervous and twitchy.
Lina Brand	"I think a hostile takeover of someone elses land would not be the best idea as that would make the location quite unsecure." Lina replies to Tommy, "But it's an option that's worth considering if we can get the defenses in place for said location." Lina sips on something to drink, "I still say we need to /find/ the land first then work on building the hub to the wheel of magic. But it's just my opinion."
Nox	It's rather difficult to gauge what Nox is thinking through casual conversation. That mask he never seems to take off is usually about as helpful in that regard as staring at the face of a robot, and not one designed to be especially friendly or approachable either. It's clear at least that he's following along, and sees no reason to suggest otherwise when faced with the fact that building an ordinary base would be useful only to a minority of attendees. There's a more thoughtful pause after Madeline gets to the real subject however. Allusions to gears ticking are at sub-pun level and thus will go unmade. "A warpgate network in miniature then, better isolated and concealed, for the purpose of joining the resources of members into a controlled aggregate, expanding the availability of resources and facilities without needing to construct them, least of all putting them all in one, inconvenient place." A few seconds tick by. "I've had need of, hm, 'additional space' recently, and am understandably loathe to outsource it. Provided the discretion of those in this room is trustworthy, I'm not incapable of seeing the value in this. Well, provided it isn't, it'd be very simple to find out whose isn't, no? If you need somewhere that isn't particularly useful for anything other than being secret and secure, I have just the place in mind. It'd be a poor place for a central nexus if we are in need of 'ley lines', but at the very least it should cover a safehouse contribution quite nicely."
Adelyn Lysen	Adelyn was already aware of the gist of this plan, but nods along. "This leverages existing resources well, so long as we can construct the pathway and find a suitable area for the central hub. However, it requires securing a large number of areas for inclusion. If any contributed area is... compromised, it quickly compromises everything else. The risk is constant, apart from increasing with any expansion. Still, it means not having to recreate many facilities, and the travel issue is handled by the pathway." That's most of what she has to say about the idea itself. "Scouting for a secure location early would be beneficial. A place, as comrade Crush suggests, with an appropriate environment for our work." A nod to Crush and Lina. To Twilight, "Limiting access will only be necessary if our resources are so limited, which would logically mean we require a larger base." That senior, contributing members have first choice of anything that is limited is a point she considers too obvious to say. "Keeping to the issues of availability and security, two other alternatives have come up so far." Time to triple the size of the discussion, until things distill down. "Consider the distributed base as option one. Option two is to find a truly secure location, such as an artificial space created for the purpose. It would be difficult, but between the talent on which we can draw and some resources we could potentially acquire, it should be possible to establish a so-called pocket-dimension to specified parameters. This would create an optimal site upon which to build new facilities." There's more she could say on that, but she'll let someone else take the first verbal swing. She's still more to put on the table. Figuratively, for the most part--these reports she's been going through don't have anything specific enough to be immediately useful. "Option three is a mobile base. This removes the immediate need to establish a secure space, as the base could secure itself by changing location. Transportation options open up to some degree. Conversely, a sufficiently defensible base of such magnitude as would be useful to our purposes would take some... nontrivial effort to construct." Combining options may form additional options, but of course, there's degrees of effort and efficacy.
Guest Madeline	Madeline listens as well, and she drums her fingers together. "Let us for the moment assume we need a secure location. It may need to be siezed. Even if not, constructing a distributed base, or a mobile base, or... dare I say, a mobile hub for a distributed base, will require more than what even we can simply throw at it. Fortunately, this leads directly into the Archmagister's concern." Madeline lifts a finger. "Many of us have generous resources to contribute, but we also have our own problems to handle, so the actual amount we can spare may not be as generous as it seems. What I am going to do - with the help of anyone who has a suggestion - is collect a number of requirements. Our less knowledge-oriented members, and those with fewer resources to contribute, can contribute in another way by scouting out for these, and when the time comes..." She pauses. "Well, as the cardmaster said, we will likely need to /take/ them."
Lina Brand	"I might not be magically strong like everyone else here is, but I'd definately be able to contribute using my other knowledges as well." Lina nods, "And Madeline, if I may use your first name casually, is right... we might have to use Tommy's idea and take it, even if I might be a bit nervous about that idea considering my last run in with taking things..." she visibly shudders with the Vega incident. "But I can provide nonlethal options in that case." Lina thinks a moment, "Still, my bow and my limited magic is yours to use."
Nox	"I would suggest the opposite, quite sincerely." Nox says at first to Adelyn. "If we make proper arrangements, one location being compromised can be responded to by closing down the network completely, limiting any incursion, accidental or otherwise, to a single, small piece of the whole, and allowing us to reorganize its routes afterward. The same can't be said of any singular location, where one successful intrusion jeopardizes the whole thing, and can be memorized and returned to later. With any luck, a potential meddler may not even realize the significance of a single link, and assume it is an isolated holdout. The benefits of a mobile sanctum weigh somewhere in the middle, but the necessity of protecting a single holding as greatly as possibility lessens when so many of us are so easily able to access it at a moment's notice in the event of an attack." He has put . . . an awful lot of thought into this exact kind of thing before, hasn't he? "I'm sure you'll find that my mastery of the spatial dimensions is more than adequate for whatever decision you arrive at however. I'm the only one alive who understands anything about the Twelve's Zaap gates, after all. Connecting a distributed base, or isolating a singular one, is something I can guarantee you absolute success with, however I expect the amount of power I have to expend doing so would match the payoff. If we're sending our . . . younger members scouting, it should also be for places or items at least temporarily useful for this purpose, or at the very least, able to sublimate some of the cost of doing so."
Lezard Valeth	"Nox raises a good point. If we use artificial warpgates as the anchors for the network, we can isolate any given piece of it at any time from either side, allowing us unparalleled control. In fact, we could even turn that into a defensive advantage if the heroes dare to try to use it against us, forcing thrm through a rather unpleasant gauntlet indeed." Lezard shrugs at this point. "I have no objections to seizing materials that can be useful to the organization, or choosing proper land. All we truly need is a location that will be appropriate for our collective might to be projected from. Even our hub can be a weapon in the right hands." Lezard looks to Lina, and gestures. "Worry not about your power and mastery of magic. Few in the Multiverse can claim to have come into existence with full mastery of their abilities. You are simply earlier in your travels along the path of true power than others." He clenches a fist. "Do not allow your will to waver. To do so is to invite the weakness that strikes down even the greatest of mages." It's at this point, he nods. "I can work with Magus Nox to establish the travel network. Optimally, we will acquire sources of magical energy which can serve us to handle the creation and maintenance of said network however. The architecture of the edifice..." He sighs. "As mighty as my sorcery is, architecture is not my strongest point. Perhaps another of you have greater skills in such. The establishment of laboratory and ritual facilities can be distributed amongst us as well. We all have our specialties and it would be foolish to not use them to our collective advantage."
Adelyn Lysen	Adelyn nods to Madeline. "A distribution of responsibility will follow whatever decision is made. Someone entirely unable would not have been invited in the first place." To the prospect of needing to take what is necessary for the project, she says only, "If an opponent holding an item we require can be contained in entirety, the situation will resolve without troublingly loose ends." It's a very casual recommendation toward utter destruction. To Nox, "That is the case... after an intrusion has been identified. An infiltration presents more difficulty. Any option leaves some vulnerability, of course." After Lezard speaks, she seems thoughtful. "If it's merely construction work, several of us have the necessary manpower. However, I would be more comfortable had we someone specialized in the design of defensive works." Some kind of professional fortress architect. Outsourcing that would probably be a bad idea, unfortunately.
Winnowill	Winnowill points out, "My own specialties lie on the spiritual or animal side of things. I can sense mystical places, and aid in astral defenses or even guardian beasts, but constructing a building is more the domain of rockshapers than my own."
Chrysanthemum	Chrysanthemum looks up from where her attention was drifting. "I am not a builder, as I do not have the ability to steal /knowledge/ exactly. Not directly, anyway." She shifts about, looking irritable suddenly. "However," the halfblood continues. "If you construct a building, I can use my abilities to make it more interesting. A house made out of dried mud can have the qualities of granite, if need be. Just keep in mind that I do have my limits, and the more grand the scale, the more time it will take me to do so, and it's generally boring work." Which means she'll just wander off in the middle if it's too much work.