Desert
"Well, only Keme and the lycans. It's not like they were contributing to the discussion in the first place."
"That is true."
"How do you think we should do things anyways?"
He takes closes his eyes for a moment, taking in and releasing a long breath before answering.
"My answer will be the least popular and will go unheeded - but we should do nothing. War...is a strange game. The only way to win is...not to play."
"If all sides state they will not fight each other, we show the Headmaster that we are truly united against whatever true threats are arrayed against this school and the world. That is how we win this 'game'. But I do not think that is possible," he continues, a disappointed tone creeping into his voice. "Too many people here revel in violence, or at least accept it too readily..."
He sighs.
"We should be evasive and stay mobile. Use the desert to our advantage and let the elements wear down those who would try to find us. We must be as a mirage - deceptive and deadly to the unwary."
Island
Ephebe shifted back into human form.
"Okay, this is getting nowhere. Tyrrin, even if we did pick one leader, which in this group is unlikely, you probably wouldn't be happy with who was chosen. So. You can join the council and have some say in what happens or you can just abide by the decisions of the rest of us. Alternately we can try using the system of government Artorius has described and appoint generals who would then lead. I think that might actually be the ideal compromise in this situation."
Desert
"Well, I would agree with you if this were a real war. Mostly. Sometimes war is an unfortunate necessity. But this is a practice war. Kind of like capture the flag only on a grander scale. So given that...I do think your strategy has merit. How many folks here can cast Create Water? Because as long as we have enough of that, we can definitely use the terrain to our advantage, let our opponents exhaust themselves trying to find us."
War...is a strange game. The only way to win is...not to play."
Desert
"War...is a strange game. The only way to win is...not to play."
"We should be evasive and stay mobile. Use the desert to our advantage and let the elements wear down those who would try to find us. We must be as a mirage - deceptive and deadly to the unwary."
Khassar walks up at this point. "Sir Fei, it is said to have something done right, you must do it yourself. Since your plan appears to have strong merit, I suggest that you take up the mantle of leadership to impliment it."
Forest
"But how can he be in charge? He's a dragon!" Bradley blurted out and then cringed away. He looked around at the blank stares he was getting and his shoulders slumped. "I said something stupid again, didn't I?" he asked, sounding defeated.
"Nothing I don't doubt others were thinking." Belyu tells him. "Look, yeah, he's a dragon. He's not the kind we all heard stories about, not the kind we were warned would come get us at night if we weren't good little boys and girls. If he can't do a good job, we elect a new leader."
in transit
Sadie and Morrigan headed down the road that Oneiro pointed out for them, on their way to the Forest kingdom.
Morrigan waved to Oneiro as they parted ways.
"You didn't have to come with me, you know," Sadie said evenly, eyes on the path ahead.
"Sure I did," Morrigan said cheerfully. "I couldn't let you go alone. Besides, I didn't know anyone else there. And some of them weren't very nice."
In Transit
Oneiro waves and heads back for the castle, enjoying the view as well as looking over everything again. There was a lake halfway up the weastern mountains, and the eastern mountains were packed with snow and right over several paths intot he Kingdom. That would prove useful.
Mountain
Oniero lands among everyone and looks around.
"So, a leader get picked while I was gone?"
Mountain
"That would involve us all talking to each other. Which is apparently not going to happen. The spiky girl is scared of everybody and runs away whenever anyone tries to talk to her. The lycans hate me and won't talk to me, so if I have anything to say to them I have to ask someone else to tell them. We managed to decide by committee that the fighting amongst ourselves could be put on hold until we at least had some idea of where we were. There's a fortress a little ways from here. And some people went out in scouting parties. If we're lucky they'll come back rather than following Sadie's example and defecting. Basically, we're a mess."
Forest
::Any objections?:: Jiminy asked, waiting to see if anyone had anything to say.
::Well, if not...::
He shifted back to his human appearance. "We have a lot of work to do. We have some people familiar with forest, and at least one skilled infiltrator, so we want to make use of that. To start let's survey the territory and see what we have to work with. I can fly up above and get a dragon's eye view while you guys explore on the ground. We'll meet up inside the fortress over there in an hour and solidify our plans."
Forest
"Fine." Oniero takes out several sheets of paper and proceeds to tear them up while ink scratches out words on the pieces. Once he's done, he tosses them into the air and watches as each piece finds a person to go to. Written on each is a very simple set of instructions.
"Say the name, or if you can't remember, the ability, or the person you want to be leader. Toss the paper back into the air after your done."
"That should get the descision at least done."
Forest
"Come on, Anthony, we're taking the high roads." Michael says as he makes the ground under both of them rise up into the trees. "We'll be harder to spot up here, so if anyone's already trying to sneak in, we'll be able to see them before they see us." He calls down to Jiminy before they both take off across the tree limbs and into the forest.
"Well, I would agree with you if this were a real war. Mostly. Sometimes war is an unfortunate necessity. But this is a practice war. Kind of like capture the flag only on a grander scale. So given that...I do think your strategy has merit. How many folks here can cast Create Water? Because as long as we have enough of that, we can definitely use the terrain to our advantage, let our opponents exhaust themselves trying to find us."
Desert
Dylen hesitantly raises his hand. "I can create all the food and water we will ever need." He informs Fieri. "I can also make us invisible or cloak our doings in illusions if you like."
Forest
::Any objections?:: Jiminy asked, waiting to see if anyone had anything to say.
::Well, if not...::
He shifted back to his human appearance. "We have a lot of work to do. We have some people familiar with forest, and at least one skilled infiltrator, so we want to make use of that. To start let's survey the territory and see what we have to work with. I can fly up above and get a dragon's eye view while you guys explore on the ground. We'll meet up inside the fortress over there in an hour and solidify our plans."
Knowing his warning against the potential enemy within would likely be ignored Roland just lets it go, despite how wary he knew one must be of that in a real war. If there was a traitor in their midst it would be a decent lesson for his teammates to learn now, as opposed to in a real conflict where doppelgangers and shadowmancers could assume the form of even trusted friends.
“I vote for Jiminy myself.” He says, then: “I can fly quite quickly and I have a true seeing ability, let me join you in scouting Jiminy.”
Forest
"Glad to have the company, Roland. Alright, people, let's get moving. We don't want to fall behind!"
He waits to see that people are actually moving to leave to scout things out before shifting back into a dragon.
::Ready when you are,:: he says to Roland.
Desert
"Really? Sweet! That's great! And I agree with Khassar, Fei. I think you should be in charge. At least we all know you won't lose your temper. And you have enough patience to deal with the annoyance of having Keme on the team." ^.^
Forest
"Glad to have the company, Roland. Alright, people, let's get moving. We don't want to fall behind!"
He waits to see that people are actually moving to leave to scout things out before shifting back into a dragon.
::Ready when you are,:: he says to Roland.
Roland nods in affirmation of his new leader then spreads his wings and takes to the air.
Desert
Dylen nods. "I don't think my talents are as powerful as any of yours but they are versatile, just think of my abilities as a multipurpose tool for our needs." He says, smiling faintly.
Forest
Jiminy quickly takes to the air, feeling relieved that that was over with and he didn't have to worry about people finding out now. Telling them in an unfamiliar and potentially dangerous environment was a good call after all. They had other things to worry about and couldn't spare as much energy on hating and fearing him. He wasn't naive. He knew there would be consequences later and that once folks were back in a safe and familiar environment he'd have to deal with a lot of the same crap that Kam did after he told everyone what he was. But they were through the worst of it. He really hoped that things had gone as smoothly for his sisters and his brother-in-law.
He circled higher, trying to get a good look at all of the terrain below so he could plan.
::Thanks for the back-up back there,:: he said to Roland. ::It helped.::
"Why wouldn't we put the dragon in charge?" Ghalen says abruptly
"Because I do not wish to lead. Fei is the better leader."
"Ah, as you say M'lord." Ghalen acquiesces.
Krays looks at Ghalen oddly, but says nothing.
"Umm. You need things of a duplicitous nature done?" Ryuzo asks.
"Once we figure out where the other kingdoms are I might be able to help with that..."
"Umm. You need things of a duplicitous nature done?" Ryuzo asks.
"Once we figure out where the other kingdoms are I might be able to help with that..."
Forest
::That's exactly what I have in mind for you, Ryuzo. For now let's scout out the borders, see if you can get any info on what the other teams are up to.:: Jiminy agreed.
Desert
Fieri laughed. "M'lord?! Geez, no wonder James likes you if that's how you talk to dragons. Do me a favor and cut it out, would you? He's got enough of a swelled head already." She winked.
Forest
He circled higher, trying to get a good look at all of the terrain below so he could plan.
::Thanks for the back-up back there,:: he said to Roland. ::It helped.::
::No problem.:: Roland replies. ::You seem to know what you are about and the faster we pull together the better this will go. We are all individually strong but how well we can organize ourselves will play a big role in how well we do:: He says as his eagle sharp eyes survey the terrain.
"I have not spoken to Jiminy that way. I doubt anyone in the Empire would refer to him as 'M'lord'. But, as you wish."
Desert
"Like I don't know that." she scoffed. "It's called a joke. You have heard of them right? I mean, is there some sort of ritual in inquisitor school where they surgically remove your sense of humor?"
Forest
"Alright."
He returns to human form and spawns 2 clones, each following a road, quickly.
Desert
"Not that I am aware of. Unless you mean the enhanced aggresive interrogation techniques course..."
Desert
"Not that I am aware of. Unless you mean the enhanced aggresive interrogation techniques course..."
"Yep, that would be the one. There's no interrogation technique better than having a personality so unpleasant that people will tell you stuff just to make you go away...or at least that's how Professor Relkav explained it...I think. I wasn't really paying much attention in that class," she teased.
"Ghalen, try to loosen up. For right now, you're off the grid. You won't even remember this when you go back to your life. We're not so bad you know."
As soon as she begins her response, he smirks.
"That was a joke. I don't think anyone here is bad, per se. Unlawful, yes. Bad, no. Loosening up won't change that. As far as what I will or will not remember, that remains to be seen. Magic is anything but infallable..."
He sighs
"But, when life throws you lemons you make lemonade, right?"
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Avalon
A portal opens up outside the school, and uncerimoniously deposits a lanky red skinned person on his ass, and then closes. The teen gives the previous location of the portal the finger and spouts a few epithets regarding someone's immediate ancestry, mainly on the maternal side. He dusts his leather duster coat off, and looks around. He pulls a cigar out of an inside pocket, bites the end off of it and spits it out, then lights it with a zippo. He takes a few puffs, and leaves it in his mouth while he moves to check out his surroundings. He sees the large building with it's inviting doors.
"'Avalon School for the Gifted', huh?" he says in a gruff voice.
He goes up and knocks on the door.
As soon as she begins her response, he smirks.
"That was a joke. I don't think anyone here is bad, per se. Unlawful, yes. Bad, no. Loosening up won't change that. As far as what I will or will not remember, that remains to be seen. Magic is anything but infallable..."
He sighs
"But, when life throws you lemons you make lemonade, right?"
Desert
"Well, for some of us they say existing is unlawful. I say there's something wrong with laws like that."
"But what do you do when life gives you brussel sprouts? I mean, everyone likes lemonade, but nobody likes brussel sprouts. What are you supposed to do with that?" she joked.
"Feed them to your pet under the table..."
"Feed them to your pet under the table..."
"Righht. Well, that's something tp add to the to-do list. Find a pet that likes brussel sprouts."
"Yes, well. I believe we have enough people here with magical skill that food and water won't be a problem. Now, all in favor of Fei being our leader, raise your hand and say aye."
Ghalen raises his hand...
"Aye."
Desert
Raises hand. "Aye."
Desert
Dylen raises his hand.
"Aye."
Desert
Dylen hesitantly raises his hand. "I can create all the food and water we will ever need." He informs Fieri. "I can also make us invisible or cloak our doings in illusions if you like."
"Then the concept is achievable," the young monk replies, bowing respectfully to Dylen.
[Throws Fei under the proverbial bus]
[Blink, Blink]
"...You all realize that I do not necessarily make decisions with the rapidity this position requires, correct?"
"I've seen you act immediately, without hesitation when it was required. I do not think you will suddenly cease to do so."
"And we all agree that your calm thinking is what's best to lead this team. We're going with your strategy and I think you're the best person to make sure we follow it through."
Desert
"That does not mean such action was always correct...but we also do not have the luxury of time to debate such things, I know," Fei answers, putting up his hands.
"Very well. We must begin now if we are going to succeed at this. We need to get to our stronghold and determine what assets we have...and how much of it can be taken with us. The oasis is a resource we should try to cloak with illusion magic as best we can - or duplicate it and keep the other kingdoms guessing as to its true location."
"If Keme and the lycans are going to run around chasing each other, they can also be productive and scout the surrounding area for likely entry points from the other kingdoms. The lycans' natural empathy with animals may also be the key to utilizing the local fauna, as the Headmaster hinted at during his speech."
"We also need to be mindful of students assigned to the other kingdoms who would not be hindered by this terrain and climate. They will be the greatest obstacles to overcome...and the ones that must be dealt with first."
Desert
"I'm ready to do my part." Dylen declares softly.