Session 11: Our lest best hope for Peace Report
General Summary
A'lar being up early would head towards the new Scales of Fates HQ with a basket of baked goods. Adalon and Ayrien arrived early as well, Ismaril was reviewing guard rotations and Longwei was brewing tea. Sharing with everyone that the Cockatrice knows of their meeting before being invited would provoke a round of speculation and concerns about monitoring. A sweep of the HQ was made with nothing be found out of the ordinary. It was then noted that Indalell was not present. Arriving later in the afternoon, Ismaril would give him a judging look, that would go unnoticed. Most of the morning when not looking for spying magics, Adalon was writing letters to the various Stasist faction leaders in hopes to bring them to a meeting as well. Indalell would inform the others A'varia had lost an agent in Clan Aureate territory that she wished recovered, and may have information that links to the hatchery attack of the previous week. Hoping todays meeting would simmer tensions in the city, A'lar and Ismaril would ask Adalon to use his ability to discern truth to question their prisoners and see if they could be trusted as agents of the Scales. Aske to take oaths to not betray the scales to former allies and to act in the scales best interests, both gave their words and Adalon was satisfied they were not lying. Celdraeth would be given rooms in the HQ while Thorn would return to his tattoo shop to resume his primary occupation.
A'lar, Ismaril, and Indalell would next disguise themselves to head to the university to meet with Anisca to get her research notes on the nature of Humans arrival as mortals on Eraneth. Returning once again to the halfing restaurant which served smoked meats in sweet sauces, they would discuss the matter. Indalell took the time on campus to keep an eye out for any gnomes who may fit as the cockatrice but with little luck. Ismaril would pose the question if Humans were simply the spirit entities of dragons, but Anisca did not believe that is likely, she theories Dragon energy breaks apart and becomes many humans vs a 1 to 1 exchange. Adalon and Ayrien would spend their day training their companions while Longwei would seek out his brother Namori. A'lar would return to the steps to set up an early meeting with the Cockatrice, attempting to return the deceptive favor of this morning. Arriving in a shrouded cloak a short gnomish shaped figure would meet with A'lar that evening in the VIP section of the Steps. Tense banter was exchanged, A'lar was skeptical that this was the actual Cockatrice, and had them followed as the meeting concluded, with little success.
The following evening would have the 3 family leaders, the Starlight Ambassador, and the Cockatrice meet. Each were picked up from various places in private carriages and brought to the steps which was closed for this private meeting. The cockatrice arriving last and forgoing his mask would be dressed in fine Amethyst robes. He kept a fine long beard and had thick blond hair finally kept and long. He would take a seat at the head of the table, A'lar would frown and move to the other as the rest took their seats. "Well, I am curious what you all have to offer in this meeting?" the cockatrice would say leaning into the table some. Tyrael would nod interject "If we are all willing, I can link our minds so as not to risk this meeting being eavesdropped upon." All would agree and the aged elf's eyes would flash silver as each mind became linked. A'lar would shift as his words were spoken silently to all "Yes, well you all want the same thing a better Amaranthine, so I thought a discussion could be had to achieve that." The Cockatrice would nod "A better world all together actually, one that isn't constantly being ravaged by the Dragons." A'lar would nod, "Yes well I think keeping the dragons asleep is a good step and can be..." the Cockatrice would interrupt, "You can not promise they will stay asleep...there are 32 Clans all trying to revive them, and every Cleric and Priest across the whole of Eraneth is seeking their gods, you can not possibly promise to keep them asleep. The only solution is their removal." A'lar would remain quiet a moment collecting his thoughts, "And you can not promise to kill them all, nor is genocide I feel a valid option, the Dragons are Guardians of this world and will be needed. They were put to sleep to ensure the world could heal and prevent this fate." His illusion magic would fill the room showing cities around Eraneth being overrun with waves of the dead destroying everything in their path. The cockatrice seeming unmoved "Healed from what exactly?" his question clearly leading, "Healing from the dragons ravaging?" A'lar getting a bit frustrated, "And if their energy is taken by Thurazdur when they are slain will that not make the world worse?" "Ah yes Thurazdur, another Dragon created problem," the Cockatrice would respond. The Clanists families would begin to speak over each other, Ikehara denouncing the genocide of Dragons, A'varia speaking to what other clans would respond to these actions, and Tyrael trying to calm tensions. Longwei would interrupt with a deep rumbling voice in everyone's mind bringing their focus to him. "You are the leaders of the greatest families of Amaranthine, act like it and lead, we brought this meeting together to chart a path forward, so do so now." Everyone would blink and remain quiet a moment contemplating his words, A'lar would make a hand gesture giving the stage to the family heads.
Sildenaer would speak up first to the chastising of the Monk of house Long. "It seems to me, in the grander scheme of things, the council is a hinderance to both parties and the violence over the last week has benefited no one but a third party not interested in the Council or this city. While the eradication of the Dragons is a soar point between all those here, it is not an immediate or pressing matter, as you have not the knowledge nor means to do it and we have not the means to stop you, especially if as you claim you are a multi clan movement, even if we did stop you here, there are as you so aptly put it, 32 other clans, presumably with your rebels working towards the same goal, so perhaps we put our efforts to something we can control?" A'varia would smile towards the ambassador "Yes, you do not have the authority to speak for your whole movement across Ioban am I correct?" looking to the Cockatrice. He would nod "I do not, nor can you speak for how other clans could handle them...so discussing our affairs here in the city perhaps?" Ikehara would shift uncomfortably at the turn in conversation, while Tyrael would smile as cooler heads now seem to be prevailing, she would speak up next "I think a matter of negotiation now between us would be bringing the violent criminals of Basilisk that still remain to justice. It would be a good faith gesture on your part to help us apprehend them, they did in fact act outside the desires of most of the other factions of your organization as I understand it, it would elevate our position over the councils and remove further pressure upon your organization." Ikehara would nod to this "Yes, those who attacked innocents can not be allowed to go without justice." The Cockatrice would sigh but nod "It would truthfully remove more radical elements that are a bother to me....they were not in my cell, but we share the Rats Market, so many are making their way to us, we will do our best to identify them and discreetly turn them over to you, but, we will need your assurance that you will not interfere in research or expand these arrests outside of the violent members of my movement." A'varia would hold up a hand, "We can only promise that for those who do not break the law, as I understand your Unicorn's are looking to steal something from the Museum, if they do such we will have to act against them." The Cockatrice will purse his lips, "I will do my best, to stress the importance of no illegal actions from the others." Ikehara will speak next, "While this will give us a public victory over the council it is a gesture, what can be done to supplant them? How many of your loyalists are among them?" "I do not know, most of my direct relations are with those in Rats Market, but I can make inquiries into those factions that are closer to the Ary. We would be willing to share information we have gathered to undermine them with you in exchange for occasional assistance cutting thru red tape in our research among many of the major institutions of the city. " Tyrael would nod again "I can assist with that when the time comes." Ikehara would speak again, "We know you have elements within the City Defense forces, are they whole units or sparatic loyalists?" The Cockatrice would frown, "I would prefer to not say...." crossing his arm. Ikehara would sigh, "Can you command soldiers if it comes to open conflict with the Council?" The Cockatrice would maintain a blank face to this question giving no signs, "If it comes to such a conflict let us revisit this topic....despite its rocky start I believe this is a reasonable compromise between us all here....if there is nothing else I will consider this a success and begin to compile a list of perpetrators for you to arrest in the next few days." The others will all nod and stand in agreement with this. With that the Cockatrice would begin to walk down the hall leading out of the meeting room and would vanish thru a teleportation spell.
With the meeting concluded, the leaders of the Clanist faction would make their discreet exits and the Scales of Fate would make preparations to head towards Clan Aureate, to investigate the hatchery heist and find A'varias missing agent. In the morning, reports from the east would finally arrive, inquiries having been dispatched late last week. It seems Clan Dark Grove has hired foreign mercenaries, forces landing from outside Ioban as they prepare to assault clan Winds Fury and reclaim their lost territory.
