Video )

[faileas]

Name: Nerissa Bell (andernach) & Mhairi Ainsley (fearolc) Date: Septeril 1st Format: Video The video starts focused on a familiar face, close up until a differently familiar hand comes into the shot to set the watch down. Claws click on the outside of the surface, followed by both parties leaning back - then taking a proper step back to ensure both are in view. Miss Nessie looks as chipper as always, evidently still Delighted about this whole watch business, though there's a tightness around her eyes; Mhairi looks tense and decidedly displeased. It's more emotion than she's shown to the group at large, ears back and hackles raised, arms folded with a militant discipline behind her back. "Hello, dearests! We hope today finds you well." Nessie grins a little wider, though it softens after a lengthy pause. "While we'd love for this to be purely for pleasure - believe me, we both would - we've some things to discuss today, we do. After the full moon last month, a missive arrived from Morgie - that is, Morgana Drummond, the head of the Coven over there in Dorchacht - asking about our..." She pauses again, briefer this time, her lips thinning as she continues. "Our 'lost luggage,' as she so kindly put it." At her side, Mhairi's low voice outright growls, "After much back and forth, and discussions amongst Parliament, we've come to a decision that Drummond has... agreed to." Nessie's smile continues to wane, and she leans against Mhairi. "And we're quite glad that she has, considering conflict with Dorchacht is not exactly ideal at the present moment." With a deep breath, the Turnskin pulls back her disdain and focuses on the task at hand. "The Parliament has requested that the Coven send a group of dignitaries to Dorchacht to negotiate, and hopefully deescalate the situation. While we may not be able to immediately bring change, should things be as terrible in the waking world as it was in the dreamscape that you unfortunately faced, our best attempts will be made." She pauses, and displeasure is obvious in the way she lowers her gaze and turns her head to look at Nessie. "... your best attempts. Because we don't know what may happen, or what hand Drummond and the Coven of Dorchacht might turn, I will be remaining here. Those that wish to do the same are welcome to, and I will do my utmost best to assist you and answer any questions you may have." "While my lovely Mhairi does that, I'll be attending the meeting with Morgie - though I'm sure that's not a surprise at all, is it?" Nessie pulls away slightly, stepping forward in frame just a bit to spread her arms. "The dignitary group'll be handling all the real fun stuff - talking, seeing if there isn't anything to be done about this queer little situation that's come up, apologies when necessary, so on... I'd like to ask Morgie myself about how she's running her Coven, thinking on it," she pauses, then lowers her hands and steps back again. "And I know a few of you've been worried about it all, and wanting to help, so if any of you dearies would like to come along and play diplomat - show her things are right as rain and all, that we can all get along just fine even without what laws they seem to have in place - then I won't say no." She pauses again, tilting her head. "Might help, even." "Relations between Aefenglom and Dorchacht are... tense," Mhairi adds, wryly. "Per their insistence and refusal, there's no means of direct transport between the two cities, teleportation included. We've tried to get an alternative up and running, something that has been in the Coven's possession for quite some time. The device is a little too risky for us to consider, however, as it's theoretical in execution. Perhaps a project for the more technologically inclined of the mirrorbound at a later date." "I'd appreciate it, at least. That thing's one of our seven wonders in the Coven, it is." "On the fifth, any who wish to join Ness and a handful of our finest Witches should meet at the port." Mhairi reaches and, finally unfolding her arms, curls her hand at Nessie's elbow. "My best wishes, travelers. Be safe." Nessie returns the gesture, hand settling on Mhairi's; it's a little hard to tell, but she's rubbing the side of it gently. "Take care until next we speak, dearests." NOTE This post will NOT receive any responses from Nessie and Mhairi. You can, however, use this post to interact with one another in the meantime.

Comments

VIDEO

[starseedling]

[It's hard not to be a bit disappointed, having spent the last few days hoping that the Coven would fix this somehow. Even if he gets that it's a complicated situation.]

If this doesn't work... We can't just leave them like that.

[Just putting that out there.]

[freeing]

Let us not worry about the what-ifs. We must be firm in our conviction. On what is right.

voice

[bloodwit]

Morgie.

[ just. repeating that. he knows this woman has a fondness for nicknames, but wow. ]

And our queer little situation, hm? I'd say very little of this exactly inspires confidence.

Video

[rollfordiplomacy]

[Here is Everett's grinning face to chime in, because this is exciting to him]

Chin up, old boy, we get to do some diplomacy!

video

[cspd]

No information about the security arrangements?

[ DOES ANYONE ELSE FIND THIS TROUBLING, because Lloyd sure does. ]

[halfmoon]

yeah wtf. i cant even consider going without hearing how they plan to protect everyone this time

video;

[weirdnecro]

Well damnit.

[She stares at the network for a bit. And then:]

This could be a trap. All right, I need to make a post, and I'm going to get ripped into for it.

Fantastic.

Audio

[whomthebelltolls]

How quaint.

[She's feeling better than she would otherwise - she dumped a bunch of mana onto at least one, if not two Monsters over the last full moon, but it is a bit interesting to feel the way the new moon is building it back up fairly rapidly.]

... A trap, then?

[Sign her up.]

Audio

[boneofsword]

Most likely. "Morgie" definitely is cunning enough. [the amount of sarcasm accenting the nickname is enough to burn a hole in the ground.]

Are you going to join?

Video

[rollfordiplomacy]

[Everett looks downright intrigued by all this. More than a dream, after all. He's also up for an attempt at diplomacy.]

If they are extending such goodwill towards us for a chance at diplomacy, I shall volunteer. [the key work there was certain loaded with skepticism in his tone, the idea this may be a trap is all too obvious, but he will go along despite that]

... provided I have some strong and ready guardians at my backs. [people to protect the diplomatic squad is only reasonable, he's far from a fighter and a monster, at that... though he may pretend otherwise]

Re: Video

[cspd]

I don't trust whatever security arrangements they may have in place, given the situation.

I plan on coming along.

[ Cop got yo back. ]

Voice

[spaghettimonster]

It was a dream...

Isn't there a chance it was, uh, an exaggeration?

[It is not even slightly reassuring to him that the monster of the two of them is not choosing to go along with this expedition, especially with them knowing how important bonds are.]

voice;

[faithlikeaseed]

Pray the Maker it was, [because if it's not it's horrible and he doesn't want to think about how many are suffering because of it; his empathy will overload.]

But I think we've got to prepare like it wasn't.

[halfmoon]

you guys have gotta be nuts. who the hell'd risk getting put up on the auction block again? everyone knows they did that to some of us monsters, right? and there was no way to talk yourself out of it either? and thats assuming this isnt a trap, which it probably is...

unless there's a way to keep that from happening, i just cant go back, as much as i'd love to help the monsters there.

[cspd]

I hardly blame any monsters among us for preferring to avoid that place.

But that's what the witches in our numbers are for, right?

[ Not really addressing the trap bit because he absolutely expects trouble...that might be why he's planning on going in the first place. ]

video

[freeing]

If this other Coven has nothing to hide or fear, a journey for goodwill serves no harm. We have seen many things from this dream.

Monsters are bound to a spoken word as much as they are chains and collars. Witches are given a privilege above them, ensuring a system that is unfair and unjust. If such is not true, we will see it with our own eyes.

I wish to go, to ensure that any chains are broken if our dreams indicate the truth.

[ Here's a smol mother of dragons getting involved per usual. ]

If anyone plans on making this excursion, I believe we need to organize some plans ahead of time so we do not walk into a slaughter.

Re: video

[cspd]

If what we saw is the way of things, I don't trust them to make much effort towards the safety of the monsters among us, if nothing else.

[ And honestly, he wouldn't be surprised if they were no friendlier to the witches, given how most of them had reacted to the dream. ]

I think the first question is going to be who among those going is there purely for diplomatic skills and who has experience in this sort of thing.

[voice]

[proficience]

[After a slight pause, Dazai sighs, a hint of displeasure ringing throughout. He does speak, however, and the tone of his words are a bit too chipper, considering the circumstances.]

I'll play diplomat! I'm make sure to apologize when necessary, too.

[He's actually an incredible manipulator, despite how his outward appearance may show.]

I do wonder who else will be joining me.

[overworker]

The more the merrier for this trip. They probably have a lot they'll be expecting from us. Best to be prepared for anything, right?

[There's no pretending it couldn't get ugly.]

video;

[sylphid]

[Wow, Fie's addressing this personally instead of over text. She must have feelings on the matter.]

Even if we do send a sizable party to cover security and whatever else, what's to stop them from trying something here while there are less of us around? Diplomatic missions like this are often a cover for something else.

[nemuru]

Then we've just gotta have a party stickin' around back here too, right?

[ Ritsu's floppy black bunny ears twitch visibly. He's... not going to be sticking at home, because he's become increasingly needy for his Bonded's company - and doubtlessly she'll be sticking her nose into this -but you know. It all logics out. ]

I doubt she's gonna take the whole Coven here with her either... So there's them, and there's however many of us aren't gonna want to go back to that hellscape... Sounds like it'll be okay.

[ ...Probably. Odds are mathing out to not be a total loss, at least. ]

[wylderrant]

I'm not much of a diplomat, I'm afraid... but I'll wish you the best of luck. And do let me know if you need help with the heroic bits.

Voice

[fiddlestick]

Um...

Is it just me, or is it a little weird that they want us, people who have only been in this world a few months, to act as diplomats for their city...?

I mean, besides the fact most of us don't have any ambassador experience ... I don't think any of us have lived here long enough to know what the proper course for either city should be. [...] Well, getting rid of the slavery in Dorchact would be great, but besides that...

[starseedling]

Maybe it's because we're the ones that are in 'trouble.'

[Steven sounds pretty uncertain himself, but also a bit frustrated.]

Though I don't really get why we have to apologize...

audio, after the above thread with symon;

[faithlikeaseed]

As a point of order, before we all go completely off in a thousand directions over this--

Has anyone made a point of gathering everything we've learned about the spell over Dorchact--the one letting any Witch command a Monster?

We'd all do better going in with as complete an understanding of it as we can manage.

[topslug]

I don't know that anyone has, but that's a good idea.

There were witches handing out enchantments spelled with runes to break the compulsion put on monsters -- it could be spelled on paper, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who learned how to make those, so we could teach or distribute it to people as necessary. Though in the dream, as far as I could tell, the spell that was forcing monsters to obey the witches was in the walls of the city itself.

Of course, we wouldn't be able to confirm that until we're in the city itself ... these dreams haven't always been an accurate representation of reality. We can't rule out that the situation may not exactly how we saw it.

text

[nemuru]

intrst check for pucas goin to dorchy
could disguise ourselves as dorchy witches n get treatd nice up til they figure were rabbits
ez to do w puca magic
lm knw if u want in

[ He's half-serious about this. ]

n e way
sounds dangerous
hope we get a nice reward after we pretend to make friends
tho i wondr if every witch high up in that covn rly liks whats going on
i mean there were ppl against it in the city right
long as its ok by yacchan i think im gonna do some snoopin and see where loyalties lie
ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
or one of u can
thats kinda a lot of work n all

assuming the worst w that city of crs

[scaling]

It could help to have more than one of us...
We could vouch for each other. Might be less suspicious that way.

[ Ritsu might not be totally serious about it, but Akira is. ]

You're right about that. We should look into the resistance.
It's possible someone is supporting them from inside the Coven.

video

[overworker]

...it doesn't seem like we have the luxury of ignoring this.

While it may lead to fighting in the future, I think there are more than a few reasons that make it worth our time to meet with them. We can sit around and try to plan for the future as it is, but unless we know the situation we're up against, we're not going to be able to make much progress.

I know it's risky, but I think it's something we need to consider, before we decide outright what our position as outsiders in this conflict should be.

[activatingcombatmode]

You're right. Best to hear what they really have to say right from their own mouths?

... But I don't know. They were pretty quick to mess with us when we didn't mean step on their turf in the first place. Dream or not.

[Is he the only one who thinks this might be one big trap? Bringing some brawn and back up is a good idea.]

video.

[mirshikar]

You'd think the Parliament would already have at least one or two dignitaries versed in Dorchacht's politics and customs, but they've gone and put this on the Coven. On us. And to be honest...

[ Here, a smile splits his lips. ]

I'm fine with that. [ M o r e than fine, from the looks of things. ] But for those of you who are not, speak up. You've got a practical take on the situation that Aefenglom's going to need in the absence of its newly appointed diplomats. Take care of the city while we're gone, and prepare for the worst in case it gets ugly before we're back.

And as for everyone set on making the journey? If you're ill at ease with the threat we face, let's mitigate that by organizing ourselves into contingents. We need to be accountable to and for one another if we're going to achieve our objectives.

[ That those objectives may differ from that of Nessie and the Parliament, Asura doesn't say. ]

NOT HERE...

[gehennawind]

[ Hand-wringing, pacing, fussing with the Watch, but not once leaving a worried message to say 'Don't do it!' Asura's not the type to hide.

Paloma is. ]

video

[thisisamazing]

They want an apology from- [He drags a hand over his face.] Gods. What a mess. We do need to avoid a war, I can see that, but- Hopefully this is an opportunity to, to try to change their minds about everything they're doing. Show them that the enslavement of monsters can't go on.

I'll go. Toothless will go with me, at least up to the gates, for backup. [A rumble in the background.] Guess it's time to build you a new tail, huh, bud?

[bloodwit]

[ 'voice' on viren's end of the feed. ]

Given the apparent secrecy in which they've conducted their business, among other things, they're aware of how questionable their alleged practices are - reminding them of your disagreement will do nothing.

How do you plan to "show them" that their enslavement cannot continue?

voice;

[juzubeads]

'Queer little situation'? Not exactly how I'd put it. They....we can't leave them like that!

[He isn't exactly taking this the best. Given Kyo's deal with Akito and all and what he expects will likely be his own fate back home as a result of that deal. The fate he has almost resigned himself to at this point. He would never wish that on anyone else.]

Like hell if I'm apologizing. We aren't the ones that....that did that.

[This....this is definitely probably more personal, with Kyo and his circumstances back home.]

voice;

[proficience]

[He understands this guy's issue with the situation at hand, but he's smart enough to know that expressing discontent publicly is a bad idea.]

Sometimes you have to play pretend to get things done.

voice;

[silentsavant]

Instead of obsessing over pushing our own agendas forward, I think it would be wise to start focusing on those of Drummond and the ones who surround her. I hardly think she's looking for a mere apology out of a wildcard group like us. On a related note, it troubles me how the dream we collectively experienced somehow managed to stir up a mysterious political conflict in the waking world. But I'm sure it must be as fascinating to her as it is to us. Our understanding of the full scope of this situation leaves much to be desired, doesn't it?

I don't like this. We can't afford to get too tangled up in their affairs, no matter how unjust you feel that they are. We have ourselves to think about.

[cspd]

I'd like to know whether Dorchacht considers war as unfavorable an outcome as Aefenglom's leaders seem to. Ostensibly, the need for everyone to cooperate against a common situation is all the reason anyone needs to avoid war...but I doubt everyone sees it that way. If Dorchacht's military strength far outweighs Aefenglom's, we're in a bad position.

voice

[fifty]

Usually there's rules about how you're supposed to act at a diplomacy meeting. [America doesn't sound very optimistic about how this is going to go, which is an unusual level of realism for him.] If they specifically want us, it's like they want us to mess up so they can have an excuse to do something to us.

voice

[fiddlestick]

Wow. You actually put it better than I could.

[ELLIOT IS CONFUSED AND IMPRESSED]

It does feel like a set up. Most of us don't have any diplomatic experience, and we're not even from Aefenglom.

video;

[mislike]

Working within our own Parliament, as a witch, and as a mirrorbound, I would like to be in attendance. I am not unfamiliar with diplomatic meetings.

[Though she has also seen them fail miserably.]

text;

[bloodyuseless]

[Mary is not the brightest crayon in the box, but sometimes, he does stop and think for a few moments. It's after one of these spells that he types simply:]

where can i buy earplugs??

[integrous]

[ Mary, please.. Maybe Asahi shouldn't be too surprised by this after their initial conversation, and yet.. here she is. Surprised all the same. ]

Why is that the first thing you ask??

[morbide]

Ooh, are we going to war? PLEASE say we're going to war. I wanna come!

[topslug]

I think Miss Nessie and Miss Mhairi are hoping to avoid a war, actually.

text; un: socorro

[warfares]

How long have things been "tense" between the cities?

( because the implication seems to be awhile. )

Presumably the Coven practices in Dorchacht have been known for some time.