Cera listens carefully to the explanations, then takes a few moments to think about what else to ask. “Just two more things. First, do we know what the girl looks like? Having some sort of description would be helpful. Second, and more important, are there any specific people we should know about? Doesn't matter if they are people that can be of use to us, or people we should avoid. Or maybe specific locations we should visit or avoid.” She adds as an afterthought.
Carmen almost withers under Zander's gaze. She swallows thickly, as she decides to talk with the knight after the meeting's over. Carmen nods, hearing Cera's questions than asks her own to Eli. “Are there any friendly contacts inside the city the girl stays? Do we have any safehouse there, we could use as a base? Information and supplies will be also crucial in this endeavour...”
"Mmm..the girl is like...a girl? But a princess. So you gotta watch out for that." While Eli probably isn't wrong, it doesn't stop the rest of the higher ups from staring right at the supposed genius doctor. Atis gave a sigh as she snapped her fingers burning an image of a red dressed lady into the minds of the entire party. "Perhaps this would be more helpful. Arabelle Maqiri. The girl is nineteen and forty six days. Her zodiac sign is the Aquarius. While she is indeed pure, some of her assumptions of how the world works are rather...unique. She loves painting and nature and it might be worth noting she has Autophobia. In addition to- "We'll read the book report later." Ash groaned and interrupted clearly not too interested in hearing a long speech. Ash took a glance at Cera about to say something before pausing for a second as if thinking of something before speaking. "...look. If people get in your way, then you gotta off 'em. If it can be avoided...there's a rather shy noble girl that it would be seriously annoying if you killed her. She's with the cool side but I'm thinking that the Yedo will probably have a good number of their own people there during preparations, negotiations and all that shit." Eli gave something of a critical gaze at Ash, apparently aware of what the reason was before looking at them. "Actually...yeah. There's also a guy whose always with that girl. Dude is seriously pissed off about everything but...if you could avoid killing him that would be cool. He might be a problem though, so it's not like you CAN'T kill him...just...if possible, don't do that. Maybe you can actually get them to work with you. If you win over the one, the other is bound to follow." "...supplies. I may have some thoughts along that." Zander began to muse as if thinking. "The one thing Avatha has is weapons. I doubt that's changed. Mercenaries are generally expected to supply their own gear, but mercenaries that are under government employ have their own kind of inns to be put up in. The conditions are abysmal and it's overcrowded with more than just swords for hire, but the food and bed and it will cost you nothing. I suppose they would likely put you up in the palace itself if you were hired to protect the girl. It is unlikely however, they will hire just anybody for it. Approval would have to be made from senior knight commanders....I doubt my credentials would be acceptable for them these days. Tabitha or Rade would be your best bets. Unfortunately, Tabitha doesn't like anybody other than her werewolf pets. She is not one herself. She simply enjoys bossing creatures that are supposedly more powerful than herself. I doubt she has any interest in anything that isn't a werewolf or at the very least. doesn't look dangerous by appearance. As for Rade...I am willing to admit that it wouldn't surprise me to hear that Rade would be in on the extremist plot. Not because he believes in it. He just hates Ara. However, he's not stupid. He will never own up to such a thing to someone he doesn't know or to a group." "You know..." Eli waved a hand dismissing everything that everyone else had said. "You could probably just try asking A-ray if she feels like hiring you. They probably have to address the public soon enough for something and you are probably bound to see her or one of her not as important brothers or sisters. Callum is a real jerk...but he always fucked me in my butt pretty hard so..." As Eli thought about it, Ash gave a disgusted look. "God dam. Nobody wants to hear about your fuck buddies." "Mmm...you're wrong. Though...you could also probably go the other way and get hired on the Yedo side. Prince Al-Sruor probably will need people protecting him too and the two are bound to meet up at some point, right? They'd kind of have to if they were ever going to make babies. Also Raaja loves meeting new people. He has the jerk guy to guard for him, but I betcha Raaja wouldn't care if someone was a good fighter if they were fun to talk to or if they knew lot's of stuff. So...that probably means don't be boring." Eli paused to stare directly at Carmen while saying it. He then pointed a finger to the sphinx. "But you'd be fine. Maayybe that one too." Eli jerked his head over to the dragon as if Karltha couldn't hear him. While he had been doing a good job of standing stoically a "heh" sound escaped Zander's mouth and Eli had to look at him, confused of the reason. "I apologize...I was just thinking....withdrawn. As you were." He went back to trying to stand at attention, and it clearly annoyed the rest of them. "I'm going to regret asking, but what were you going to say?" Ash gave a deep sigh. "I was just going to say that conversation is a waste of Carmen's "skills" anyway." Ash gave a deep sigh, keeping her promise that she regretted asking. Atis simply stared. "How old are you?" Eli's head move back between his sister and the knight. "What? I don't get it." "...but...friendly contacts, huh?" Ash took control of the conversation again. "Pretty much all the alchemists, a few noble families. this one pickpocket named Sweet Blue....actually, fuck it. You know what?" Ash lifted her hand in a similar fashion to the way Atis did to burn an image into the group's mind. The image was of what looked like the outline of a red tattoo of a thunder bird along the waist. "That. Look for that. It's one of those marks. You'll be able to see it now. Other people won't." Ash gave a slight smile. "You all are probably even marked with something on yourselves already and don't even know."
Kraltha-Tan carefully resisted the urge to crane her neck around looking for any such marks instead replying: "Thank you for the information and advice. We need only one last thing I think, directions to the operation zone..."
"I agree with the dragon. With everything you've told us," He bites down the word "pointlessly" "We'll be able to plan our course of action from within the cities of men." He has two reasons for wanting to head out now. One, to avoid a deluge of more information that might make him forget what he's learned so far, and two, because he wants to try seducing Carmen.
Dromani stays quiet as he absorbs the information. Quietly contemplating which avenue would be best. In Avatha, getting hired to protect the girl might be the easiest way to get close to her. Tabitha likes creatures that seem to be more powerful than her(Whether it's true or not can be debated). It's plausable that with himself being much larger than the average human in his true form, he may pique her interests despite not being a werewolf. The Dragon may too, but it's something she may not be willing to do. On the Yedo side, this Raaja fellow seems like he may be interesting to speak with. It's rare that humanoids can hold a conversation enough to keep up with a sphinx. "Certainly I am ready to get going. Be it Avatha or Yedo or both should we choose to divide our efforts; I am hopeful that my skills will be of use" I reaffirm my desire to get on with this quest.
So much information my head is starting to hurt. Any more and I'll start getting confused or forgetting stuff I heard. Cera sighs mentally as listens to what the other people present are saying. “I believe we have learned enough for the moment. While having extra information is nice, nothing beats going there and seeing for ourselves what the situation is.” She says, deciding not to ask anything else. Any further questions she can think of are either ones that can wait, or ones that are unlikely to get answered at this time.
"Well that's about everything. We'll give you about 'till morning for last minute stuff. Then like, you know, win and beat people up and stuff." Eli gave kind of a blank look and Atis nodded a bit. "You're all aware of what needs to be done. We shall leave you to it then." She was dismissive and Ash just gave kind of a casual gaze. "Don't worry about travel too much....just sleep on it. It will take care of itself." She gave a shrug indicating that she wasn't willing to reveal the exacts though it was a reasonable guess that it would be a pleasant process. Proceeding to brush past the group as she walked out she took a last minute pause. "Better get going." She told them conclusively as she walked off, soon followed by Zander who paused halfway to turn his head at Eli. The pinkette pointed at himself looking a little confused before Zander nodded and Eli followed along as well, leaving Atis as the only one remaining. "One of us still needs to keep an eye on things I suppose...while I'm busy doing that, you best get on with your last minute activities." She muttered before waving her hand, the whole group vanishing back into the main room behind the black door that was shut as if it was never open in the first place. (I thought hard about what to do at this point, but I couldn't think of much. At least this means you guys can start the actual game soon.)
"Well then, I suggest that we all get some sleep and rest up now that we know what we're doing. That way we can be prepared for whatever may be needed of us tomorrow." Dromani attempts to nudge his companions into being prepared for tomorrow despite knowing that most of them will probably ignore him and do their own thing. Especially after all of the lustful ogling that he had observed during the briefing.
Carmen raised her hand, hoping to get the attention of sir Zander, but then she finds herself standing in front of the black door. She lowers her hand and bits her lip frustrated.
Shesten heads to the elevator to find his minions, before returning to the main group regardless of whether or not they're there. He walks up to Carmen. "I'm sorry the knight ignored you..."
"Are you now?" Carmen turned to the one who spoke to her. "So you will have no problem in giving your all in this mission and making sure that I am not ignored again... will you not?"
“Yes, we should all get some rest and prepare.” Cera agrees. And I also need to take care of my little 'chat' with Melanie. She adds in her mind as she starts looking for a way to go back, since the stairs that brought her here earlier seem to have vanished and the elevator will likely be crowded. As she does so she absent-mindedly wonders what time it is and how long did the conversation take. (OOC: Sorry for the wait, a little bit of a writer's block delayed this.)
"I would have given it my all, anyway - it would be a bad idea not to, given the circumstances. But, I'm sure if you want to be noticed, I could help with that, but you'd need to help me as well..." Shesten says.
Kraltha-Tan heads downstairs leaving the woman to the kobold, let him sprint in what should be a marathon, she'll be here and be waiting. Meanwhile, he had some minions around here did he not? Kratha wondered if one of them might show interest where she was being ignored...
He does indeed have some minions around. The first one she comes across is a red-scaled female. She's a proper red-scale, the red of a sunset rather than a rusty blade, and wearing simple robes. She carries a small wand at her side.
Carmen looked at the Kobold, with a clear doubt in her eyes. “Of course, you could.” She said in dismissing tone. She then turned to the exit and started walking. “Now if you excuse me, I have to organise my minions. I suggest that all of us prepare a small reunites, to take with us.” She also had all intention to organise the rest of her unit into two groups and smuggle them into the city. They would serve as a backup and reserves – which she would use, should things go south.
(Kay, don't think I've forgot about this. Real life is not being nice to me right now. After I write my final exam, I should have some more time here.)
Kraltha-Tan speaks to the small reptilian woman. "Hello, young magus, what is your name?" She asks, touching her face gently with one finger, claws retracted.
