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[Snike]

More Septimian Shenanigans
Once the rendezvous with the Directus troops was canceled, due to compromised security, Alex followed the others to the Septimian embassy, where they remained for the night. Her rest was fitful, for the first time in a while.

In the morning, the halberdier rose later than usual, but she made it to the meal hall before most of the Directus officials. After only eating a light breakfast, she turned her attention to the arriving councilman, who began the meeting with quick estimates on the factions. It was Jace - it wasn't getting any easier thinking about him like that- versus Halton, with Elyisima essentially a bystander. At one point the idea of standing up to the dictator came up, but that would need someone who could lie convincingly to him... And that was where Alex began to have a bad feeling about this summit business. It went away, partially, but the woman paid closer attention after that.

Now, the Prince was vouching for the Crimsons. It was noble of him, and all, but the group was not exactly the saints he painted them as.

"The knife wielder, Reika, is a monster," The Comet said, "She's more likely to put a knife in everyone's backs than fight with an alliance with Halton. The sword wielder is unstable, and Colonel Kleine and his officer have no idea on how to run a military unit. Aside from those four, the lot in general is reasonable. The religious zealots are an issue, though."

[Script]

Terrible not-what-I-wanted-to-post Stuff because this is the worst type of posting window I've ever seen and or used and also that only happened because firefox is terrible and lagged and closed this tab because it took too long to close other tabs so I over-clicked and the one with the decent post filled with not-RAGE went kerblamo and when I revived the tab through history there was no hour-long post but glorious blank screen which leads us back to worst posting window.

"I see," Councilman Richtor replied to Tristan's statements.

Brunhilde's words came next, and Luc felt he had some insight into that. "Councilman, if I may?" Luc spoke up. Richtor gave him a nod to continue. "Yes, as you've mentioned General, the basic demons don't require any sort of speciality abilities to slay, we've all seen that by now." Some of the Color Guard glanced at Luc, but he paid them no mind. "The Lieutenants, the higher-order of demons are terribly more resilient thought. The Crimsons hold a fearsome strength that I've witnessed myself. They have already succeeded in slaying one Lieutenant with only one Crimson, with multiples, it would prove the safest option to remove the demonic leadership, their strongest forces."

"Not that we can't kill the big bastards with good old steel," Mendozza said, "But we don't exactly want to play crush them under the weight of our own dead again."

General Alex spoke next, offering her reports on several of the Crimsons and the attached. Certainly correct, but Luc needed to offer his own insight into the matters. "Yes, indeed," he nodded in approval. Luc desired the advice he offered the Crimson Knives girl in Jerdon to take hold, for her to learn subtly and play a longer-game. it seemed to be working, as she didn't instigate any riots when mention or presence of Halton was mentioned. "Reika is untamed, possibly uncontrollable. That she didn't go berserk immediately upon Damian's leading the group to the Halton gate, to the embassy was rare. If she has any sense, then she'll keep herself in control here or there, but if she's to take part in any larger operations, well, we steer our influence to Elsymia so that should placate her some." Luc moved next to Esphyr, and her continued circumstances. Her constant fights. "Esphyr--the sword-wielder--seems to have calmed considerably recently, almost becoming... apathetic. Where before she was loud, and drastic, she seems almost... resigned to things. It's possibly even more dangerous then how she was before." Damian and Aiya. The man who had damaged his house not insignificantly, but had showed the power the Crimsons held, both his and Helios'. "Colonel Damian Kleine was until recently very... vengeful. He says he has calmed his inner turmoil, and has agreed to devote what he can to cooperation, but he has earned quite the ire amongst the group, and there is the possibility of relapse. His lance is the first Crimson I truly saw in action, and it wielded an unorthodox, but clear power." and Aiya... "His subordinate Aiya is very devoted to him, and like so many others is divided amongst her national duty, personal desires and noble intentions. As for both, I've seen no measure of their military acumen, but trying to enforce military discipline upon the Crimson group is a futile endeavor, and no battles of regiment size have taken place within my knowledge."

"Ha," Mendozza let out a single laugh. "No military control eh? So this is all gloriously futile to control them."

Luc fell silent at Mendozza's assertion. He had no answer for that, the best the Crimsons would do was cooperate or agree to let either Conrad or Damian act as a figurehead. But even then, it wouldn't be a unanimous decision. But then, should some even get a choice? "I have another concern with the Crimsons beyond the ones General Alex brought up," Luc brought up. He kept his head low, and his voice level. "Two of them knowingly and did willfully cooperate with a demon for the advancement of their machinations. And in those schemes did the demon already betray one. I believe this of paramount importance, and further reduces those in the group who can be labeled as sensible." If he wanted this to go quickly, efficiently, he would have held back. But this was the time to be against demons. "Of the remaining, the Wind Mage Helios is trurtworthy, the Thunder Mage Arrain is young and has no grand plans, and the bow-wielder Chase is indoctrinated with the Shamness Morgan."

"It's always something," Mendozza hung his head and shook it. "Well, we're just gonna have to deal with that at the big table." Richtor chuckled in response. "What?" Mendozza asked a tad annoyed.

"Ive already set things regarding that in motion."

"Of course you did."


Fargo stuff which was the reason I closed those tabs because those tabs were to keep previous posts relating to Luc open and I didn't need them anymore since Fargo-time requires no thought.

Fargo and his spytastic escort left the safety of the Septimus Embassy for the not-safety of the whatever-this-place's streets. Fargo, of course, wouldn't know it was not-safe if his escorts weren't inclined to point it out every second to harass him.

"Look, that one's writing notes on us."

"Three pairs of eyes following."

"We got a stalker~"

"That guy has a lotta knives!"

"I love it when they think we don't notice their tricks."

So by the time they reached the Halton Embassy, Fargo was more tired then the one times he had actually done work. Which was when he couldn't remember. So this was the most tired he had ever been. Which didn't help his thoughts as he tried to think of why he was even sent on this mission. Or what excuse he was supposed to use to get back inside. "Ummm," he stuck his hand up like one would do in a school class. "Hi. Can I go in?"


CHASE!

He sneezed. Luckily he caught it with his elbow so no one got a load, but still, ewww.