"It seems you will have to make a choice, after all," it was Water Hornet who spoke, addressing Shining Peacock, "for I offer my aid with your mission, as well." He Looked at Dusk Rat and Frost Ferret. "As you know, I have sought information on Bhanar and - as you said yourself - the Deathstaff has the least potential to influence me," Hornet concluded matter-of-factly and then shrugged.

"But first we should perhaps indeed look into the matter with Valador," Hornet looked at Sabre and then at Snake.

OOC: Just like with Snake - Hornet feels like he should offer Peacock help with his mission against Sejanoz.

Lol, I wouldn't trust Snake knows what he's doing and can help Sun Fox if anything occurs. Better turn on the charm, Sabre! :)

Sun Snake shrugged. "It was utterly inconceivable he could have been the student. And yet there is no harm except looking foolish in asking the question to be sure, and every danger in not asking it should such things be possible." Sun Snake nodded. "So, you see, a simple mundane link is still the teasing sign of Kai. You are a political animal, you see things in Valador easily others would miss. You are, indeed, the perfect person to perhaps unravel some flaw or opening in Valador we may otherwise miss. Or spot political traps the rest of us would walk blindly in to with the man."

Sun Snake mused. "I have not much more to report than Dusk Rat, for she and the rest of Swift Fox's team were inflicted with him far longer than I. And they have seen first hand the dealings in the Darklands."

Sun Snake tried to recall the speech of an age ago. "I've talked only once, really, with the man one on one. No, I suppose twice. Sabre can tell you much of his general attitude but I presume he would not have hid it when you spoke with him. Valador's personality is as much a part of the war as the rest of us, forced to grow up too quickly with the world falling apart. He has put his faith fully in the Brotherhood though, and seems to have set his sights on a singular purpose to make what he experienced right. You cannot argue that the Kai are seen as the more proactive force in Sommerlund, the Brotherhood second. That does not sit well with Valador, I daresay he sees the Kai as unreasoning warriors more than anything, too focused on the fight against Naar. A war he does not think can be won. I will grant him I never expect Naar's influence in the world, Naar's part of the balance, to disappear. But Naar? We have to believe we can end the endless war and win. Still, Valador does not. So he has seen the suffering in the world, and decided it will only be alleviated through Toran's influence and ways spreading out in to the world. The Brotherhood growing powerful and leading everyone as a shining beacon against the darkness for...well, for an unspecified length of time, of course, if there is no true hope."

Sun Snake briefly looked backwards to Sun Fox, then looked with a flat face to Shining Peacock. "And so the man seeks to gain all the power there is, apparently, in pursuit of that purpose. One of the powers he seems to be looking for is a way to ressurect the Grandmaster. And if he hasthe powers of the Old and New magics, of Left and Right, and has also found a way to pull from Kai's gift? Who knows what he may do. But if it was right, if it was natural, it would not need the ways of the Nadziranim for him to have accomplished this. Valador has betrayed Sommerlund, allowed the monastery to be attacked, to further this. Those Kai who went missing and do dot stand here today were sacrificed for that goal. A way for Valador to unite our two orders, as he thinks."

Sun Snake concluded. "He had also formed an alliance with the Vakeros Haxadrom. That man's plan was to wipe out the division between darkspawn and man. Valador did not seem to agree with that plan, but still allied himself with it."

Sun Snake shrugged. "I am not sure what else to add. So, what do you think? Did he get the power from his dealing with the Nadziran? What do you think his means would be to achieve his goals, to manoeuver politically to gain such acceptance for this end? He tried to bargain with me, once, for Blue Snake's aid in the monastery. It is possible it is not the first time he has made such overtures. Currently he may or may not be giving us a week before he acts further, but likely not. He keeps reaching out to those he thinks will listen to him in insinuation to turn us to his cause."

"You forget something about Haaxadrom Snake........ He was honourable, unlike Valador"

Fox thought back to the fight they had which ended with him taking the life of the Valeros warrior

"He fought honourably, something unexpected of an enemy. And in the moment I claimed his life, I saw the look in his eyes that he was free from his burdon. Which is a reason I will now continue carrying his blade. To honour the memory of him, even of he was misguided, but saw his redemption in the end"

Sun Snake looked to Sabre Fox, an eyebrow raised regarding Haxadrom's honour. Still, if he disagreed he did not say it, and instead only nodded to the sentiment of carrying the sword to continue previous honour.

"I have seen that look often enough now to know what it means" Fox spoke to Snake. "So whatever you think I advise you to say it, for it may actually help your understanding of my words"

Provocation much? ;)

Lol, Snake's maybe just a little offended that Haxadrom targeted him to be killed during the battle :D

"To me Haxadrom tried to get Rain Feather to betray us when he captured her first. His intention was to kill one of us when he first engaged us for no reason other than to further his plan. When I spoke against his plan he decided to kill me instead, and when there was resistance from us all he very quickly decided to kill all of us. He was certain of his abilities, I do not see it as an honourable nor risky fight he thought he engaged in. And I will not forget this is the man that, with his Gourgaz, took the lives of the five journeymen. Hardly a fair fight."

Sun Snake seemed to curse himself regarding bringing that up, and moved swiftly on. "I cannot see his relief at death as being anything other than the relief of one no longer tormented by the conscience he ignored and the purpose he arrogantly set himself upon."

Sun Snake realised he was getting riled up, and sighed. "If you can make me see something better in the man at the end than that, you are right, I need to hear it. I cannot reconcile the hero he was with the man we faced. It is probably best to try."

"Farewell, My Lord Rhimoa; I accept your judgement. Thank you." Fox said almost in a whisper

He allowed a few seconds before he spoke

"Those were his last words ... I felt in his voice he spoke of Lord Rimoah as if it were Kai himself. Those are not the words of a man who did not seek repentance for his actions. I believe he found it when I took his life in his own penance, which is why I know honour him"

Sun Snake's face seemed to be a mask of consternation that faded slowly. He looked to his hand briefly. "Perhaps it is not wise to carry ill will against a man who let his own darkness go at the end."

Sun Snake gave a small bow of thanks and respect to Sabre Fox.

"That was all I asked" fox said softly before excusing himself back to Sun Fox

He looked at her for a moment before continuing

"It is something I wanted to ask you for a while, but during our fight. How did you know I hadn't turned rogue? I knew you knew over what you said about the fight with Masfer Starfire, but tell me, how did you know?"

OOC: If Sabre is going to get angry at Sun Snake here, I'll just say that he's welcome to join Swift and Raven in their little hideaway.  Maybe we can all plot everyone else's downfall together...  ;)

Sun Fox watched Sabre Fox as if he'd just grown a second head.

"Because you wouldn't, there's just no way you'd ever leave the Order. Everybody who's ever spent more than five minutes with you would know that you're fully committed to being a Kai, that you would never betray us. That'd be even more true after seeing the manner you went about it. Honestly, I'm surprised the Drakkarim even buyed it at all - I didn't thought their leader would, he seemed truly smart up until that point."

She looked in Sun Snake's direction, trying to share her puzzlement with him as she asked:

"You didn't believe it for a second either, right Snake?"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:29, Wed 11 June 2014.

Fox couldn't help but chuckle at Sun Fox's response

"Glad to know the Drakkar were slightly more gullible! Then again, the task Vyctar gave me was enough to alleviate his doubts, as he was not fully convinced"

Fox then gave her a serious look without waiting Snakes anwser

"I ask, because what you said prior to your code indicated you didn't know. I did assume you would work it out, but your rage in our fight, was it genuine? Or an act?"

Fox's demeanour indicates he was very interested in the answer

Sun Snake looked around, clearing having heard the conversation behind him with only half an ear. Still, he understood and shook his head. "I thought it a joke if I recall. Then a trick. Then possession by whatever had assaulted you, Sun Fox. I was a little slow to realise the reason for the distortions of the truth. I'm embarrassed to say the Sommerswerd had to help me fully understand." Sun Snake looked to Sabre Fox. "But believe you had betrayed us, of your own volition? Not for a single moment."

Sun Snake briefly addressed Sun Fox again. "Dawn Blade allowed me to use her name as Sabre's. I had speculatively spoken to Vyctar before, to feel out of she would be in danger were her identity suspected. It also sowed the seeds for allowing Sabre Fox to be 'Alyne', and for the Colonel to have reason to doubt a trick."

Sun Snake looked around to Sabre Fox, just as surprised by the question as Sun Fox.

Edit: Sorry, was looking over old posts and took a while to respond! Double post...
This message was last edited by the player at 23:11, Wed 11 June 2014.

Sun Fox shrugged.

"Both? I knew you wouldn't betray us, but I was annoyed because I thought you were acting like a stupid - and I still think it was a bad idea, for the record. And since you needed our help to sell the ruse, and I needed to vent, I let my annoyance show through, and playeddd it up as rage. That's all."

Fox chuckled once again

"Wielding the Sommerswerd against whatever had assaulted us taught me it was a double edged sword. That it drew any psychics to my mind. The Drakkar we're not to know that, so I took advantage to allow you to realised rouse. Despite my harsh words of not allowing you in my mind using the blade as my shield, I hope you realised it was infanct my key to assisting you "

Fox the smiled at Sun Fox

"I appreciate your reason. Then I hope you were in no way sour to my win" Fox said "I classed it as a victory to my improvement against my rival. Yes that is you Sun Fox" he said humbly. "I know you did not fight me at full strength, but I meant what I said. We have to do it again someday. Agreed?" He said offering a hand in friendship.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:17, Wed 11 June 2014.

"Sadly my mind was tired from the fight with Haxadrom, if I recall. I could only sense you did not wish to betray us, hence the thoughts on possession. But the Sommerswerd was powerful enough to let me get a better sense of your full intentions. A little delayed, but it seemed to work." Sun Snake's concerned face showed he still was not fully happy with Sabre Fox risking himself amongst the Drakkar.

Sun Snake still seemed unsure of something else. "I still don't quite understand why you asked." Sun Snake looked back and forth between Sun Fox and Sabre Fox. "You spoke of honour before. And there is much to admire regarding Vyctar. You are not troubled by the oaths you have sworn to him, are you?"


Lol, let's start with the softballs, shall we :)
This message was last edited by the player at 23:24, Wed 11 June 2014.

As the discussion is clearly not quite as complete as it previously seemed, and as none of it seems to be directly aimed at herself, Dusk Rat returns to her previous spot and sits back down again, leaning against the wall.

At this point Dusk Rat's thoughts could perhaps best be expressed via the term "/sigh" and the rolly-eyes emoticon ;).

To be fair we have until sunrise many hours from now before we can leave the area, so what else were we gunna do? :D

Lol I dunno...sleep? ;) And you might have to wait for the magical flying boat of magicalness, but there are plenty fo flappy monsters in the area which could give Peacock and I a lift out whenever we want. So nurrh ;).

Didn't think this strain could see in the dark?

Pretty sure we flew by night to the Darklands place. And what's lighting these tunnels? We flew through them pretty well, and we're still in them, aren't we? Just at the edge of the big chasm thingy and presumably now quite near the surface if the flying boat thingy can get down here. Plus Shining Peacock. He can probably give everyone glowy-eyes-of-seeing-in-the-dark or something because it seems like he can do pretty much anything anyway :D.

OOC: Swift already has glowy-eyes-of-seeing-in-the-dark.  Although they don't glow, except under certain circumstances :)
Also I can't believe you don't want to go on the magical flying boat of magicalness!! :D
Also sneaky PM ;)

Shining Peacock would be happy to know that he managed to convey that impression! ^_^

Of course, he cannot really do anything - he merely has a truly wide bag of tricks to pick from - but, as he would say, if you can make people belive that you can do anything, then it becomes true to them, and that's basically the same thing, isn't it?

Just another explanation of how appearance makes reality, this is.

:D

Also, you all are going to places that will take a good bit of flying to reach - so, on the matter of sleeping, you'll be able to do it on the journey. Talking with Peacock, on the other hand, might not be something you'll get another chance at...

Shining Peacock seemed content to let the others speak, merelty listening attentively to the conversation, having settled himself with his back resting against the rock wall that separed them from the chasm, right next to where Dusk Rat was doing close to the same thing.

Meanwhile, Sun Fox was quick to answer to Sabre Fox, with an amused grin:

"Well, I'm chalking you win up to a lucky strike - if you want me to believe you're really better than me, you'll need to win that rematch you spoke of first, Sabre Fox, so you better be truly ready when you call it in!"

OOC: I doubt we will see him again, given that he seems blindly determined to go off on a suicide mission...

"Oh count on it I will be" fox smirked with a wink before looking around the group

"I'm pretty tired. I think I'm gonna get some sleep" fox said

Unless there is anything pressing, I'm gonna use the sleep time to bow out until I come back off my holiday. I'll keep checking in, but unless we are moved forward I won't post