Scene #6167: Two Dark Seas

Owner	Pose
Bloody Revelations	The Lintha are broken, and that calls for celebration. As they had met before the massive undertaking had begun, they are invited to the southernmost island in the Skullstone Archipelago, Cormorant, for a round of much deserved reward and honours as esteemed guests. The choice is for the fact that only half of the island exists into a permanent shadowland, with a sharp dividing line down the middle, and so it can accommodate both the living and the dead as a major trading hub and model city facing outwards to the rest of the world. Well-organized, constructed of fine materials, populous, built up, clean, and clearly very wealthy, it looks more like what one would expect from a rustic but modernizes community somewhere from the country in the 21st century, save for its different taste in white and black stone facades. The people are well-dressed and well-fed, with an extreme surplus of leisure centers here. They are also happy to see the visitors. In fact, they are immediately hailed as heroes right off the boat. Flat out everyone hates, or else fears, the Lintha, and those who struck the decisive blow that would make sure they'd never terrorize the seas again deserve praise. Jubilant throngs gather to praise their names, throwing white rose petals in their path and competing with each other to get the closest. Many of them attempt to present gifts, or shout that they should visit their place of business later, or a bar for free rounds, but they largely drown each other out. They're specifically invited to an extremely large and fancy-looking theatre, with a huge dome of glass overtop, and lead up the stairs by zombie concierges (to be specific, Skullstone's unique export zombies, which are less groaning rotting corpses and more medical-grade preserved bodies with dumb robot levels of intelligence, used as a humane alternative to slaves and hard labourers, as the story goes) to a VIP room on the fourth floor, quickly turning out to be basically soundproofed the second the door closes and the zombies can't be heard going back down the stairs. Though there is a panoramic view of the play going on down in the heavily populated amphitheatre below, the most immediate feature is the huge round table laid out with more food and spirits than could possibly be consumed by twice their number, clearly prepared minutes beforehand and still steaming. Their host definitely didn't half-ass it; every bottle is vintage, every cut of meat exquisite, all the fruits imported. Their host isn't technically here, but rather a body-length mirror, framed in ornate onyx, is stood at one end of the table, through which they can see the Silver Prince in his robes reclined on an even fancier chair somewhere else. The room is certainly warmer and relaxed without being in the direct presence of a Deathlord, and given he is constantly busy running a moderately sized nation, it's not terribly suspicious he wouldn't have come here in the flesh. "Sit, sit, and enjoy yourselves! I've always believed that business and pleasure can coexist, so there's no need to be so serious. You've won a great victory, all said and done, so it'd be unbecoming to offer anything less while calling you here at my pleasure." he says through the mirror, audible as if he were occupying its physical location.
All-Seeing Eye	All-Seeing Eye is in his element from the moment he steps off of the boat. His black silken changshan is embroidered with subtle grey lightning patterns that only reveal themselves when the light catches them just so. His long raven hair is adorned with a white lotus and pulled into a bun, held in place with two slender metal pins. He smiles wide, waiving his hand slowly to the crowd like a visiting head of state, going so far as to blow kisses to a chosen few clamoring members of the public. When he finally makes it to the theater, he is almost disappointed to be deprived of his due attention. The zombierges further take the wind out of his sails. Heresy, on display as innovation. He helps himself, both to a seat at the round table and to a pour of unfiltered rice wine. The Exalt makes a point of casting his golden eyes about the table. "Round," he observes, before taking a chaste sip. "Quaint." He offers this opinion loudly enough for the Silver Prince to hear. "Mm." He reaches up and rests his chin upon a hand. "I presume you've been informed about the little visit we received from the enemy of the state?" He arches a brow, taking another indolent sip of rice wine. "She threw quite the tantrum." This coming from the man who wouldn't even allow her to speak for all the various furniture, weaponry, vehicles, and carpentry he threw at her.
Ryouma Sakamoto	Oryou will only accept gifts if they're frogs. Or reference frogs in any way. Somewhere along the line she seems to have acquired a frog-shaped hairpin, even, which may or may not even be green Jade. This is acceptable. Ryouma, for his own part, declines any and all gifts, because he's just not in it for the glory. He's just happy to have made the seas safer! Nevermind if it got any kind of secret agendas going, he just cares about the fact things are currently better for everyone involved. Ryouma does not have any idea who the Silver Prince is - he might have been given the TL;DR on the way, but any short version of the story would leave him woefully unequipped to really grasp the significance of him being or not being here. So of course, he's polite by default. "We're honored to be your guests, your majesty." Oryou's just scouring the tables, looking at what's being offered. Because of course she is. "Ah? Enemy of the state?" Ryouma asks, at All-Seeing Eye.
Tomoe	The Lintha are broken and Tomoe still doesn't feel much like celebrating on a personal level. She's just not felt right about a lot here in creation for a long time. Some small part of her wants her to run the hell away from this world and never look back, but she can't do that. Not with how she's fouled up here in the past. It's not right or responsible to just run the hell away from it. Still the Lintha being broken is good news for a lot of people, right? A lot of fishermen, sailors and people who live by the water might be able to sleep a little easier with what has happened, so here she is. Maybe she'll cheer up a bit as she gets into the swing of things for the party. She arrives dressed somewhat casually in loose light clothing from ALO rather than the armour she's almost always wearing when she's out and about in the multiverse. The only notable thing she's got on her is a pendant bearing the GU's logo, other than that she's not wearing anything fancy of note. Tomoe isn't rude about any of the offered gifts but generally unless it's forced into her hands more or less she'll not seek them out. She's just glad they may have fixed something for once. "Thank you for the invitation to this party." She'll move to sit when the Princes asks them to do so. "Thank You, and business as well? Sounds like you have more work then. Hopefully now the Lintha will never fully recover from what's happened to them."
Empty Tidings	Turns out that Tidings is perfectly happy to be a celebrated hero. It's actually kind of refreshingly normal for her. She engages with the crowds on their way in, all sunny smiles and thankful words. More than a few invitations are coyly accepted, making it clear she'll be staying around a while after all. The living side of this island isn't half bad! (badum-bum-pssh) Empty Tidings finds herself a seat at the table pretty much immediately. She's already picked out something extravagantly expensive and exceedingly rare to drink from the slew of offerings, and has made herself at home without more than the basest invitation. At the moment, she's dressed in black and red, with hints of floral patterns on her ever-fine silks. Her hair is down, and her mood is bright. "A great victory indeed. It would be a shame not to relish in it." Tidings eyes Oryou for a moment, but then addresses Ryouma. "The mastermind of our opposition. She wasn't pleased at the destruction of the Lintha, or our involvement in it."
Finna	Finna has chosen to visit Skullstone as the black-haired archer alter-ego she donned for much of the operation, lest these ghost-lovers get a good look at her Tell. But apart from that, she's steeled herself for a WEIRD and deathly time to the best of her ability. Apart from a few moments of SHOCK - like coming face to face with walking dead that aren't mauling things - and fighting down the disgust before it can destroy her victorious smile. That said, she's donned a fancy and glittery silvery qipao with midnight blue trim (no doubt shapeshifted on the fly) as if playing off of All-Seeing Eye's choice of clothes. "Eye, do you have to darken the dinner with that topic before I've even enjoyed a single bite?" Finna lightly scolds as she takes her seat as well. Her motions are smooth, refined, and dignified in a way one probably wouldn't expect from the wild girl. "Well, dear host, my thanks for calling us! It's so rare that a good deed leads to any kind of reward, let alone a feast. When news of the Lintha's downfall reaches throughout the whole West, I foresee plenty more celebrating. Sailors have one less reason to draw a weapon at sea."
Bloody Revelations	Not only is there a green jade frog pin, but there are in fact frogs legs served as a delicacy, both raw and cooked versions. Whether that's coincidental or an intentional mind paid to Oryou; it could be either. The Silver Prince does not seem offended by All-Seeing Eye's opinion. He never seems offended by anything, to any real extent. That's just good politics, after all; something the Alchemical might appreciate. "No, I expect they won't. Without their 'sister', they have no way to contact their patron Yozi, no way to directly call upon their champion, and they've lost the primary source of their supplies that aren't stolen. Without the Family at home to organize their funds, and with so much wealth pillaged over centuries obliterated, there is no way to organize or fund fleets of significant size. With almost every trace of them destroyed in Creation, the ghosts of the Lintha dead will lose most of their power and quickly dissipate when destroyed, as all their tethers to the living -everything keeping them bound to their old lives- has been thoroughly destroyed. All that is left for them from now on is for straggling ships and tiny fleets to dilute their blood into nothing as their culture crumbles, if they aren't hunted down by the Realm for sport first. I applaud your creative efforts during the voyage. The blow you struck was absolutely decisive." It might be more apparent that Captain Darktide isn't anywhere to be seen, despite being their guide and captain and fighting in every battle himself as well. "I have indeed been informed. While the loss of control of the Manse is mildly regrettable, destroying it is the next best thing as far as concern our plans anyways. It is of no real consequence. In fact, it only tips her hand to some of her assets I have yet to obtain information on. It's entirely in-character from what my spies have gathered some time ago; completely unable to control her temper, debauchery, obsessions, or pride to even the slightest degree; of course I've already planned around that. Psychological weaknesses are the kind that every enemy has." "While it yet remains unknown why exactly her pawns arrived so late if she had them for this length of time, I did correctly predict her first move to be to attempt to rope in the Lintha, didn't I? This cuts out the liability of hundreds of armed ships filled with rapacious pirates swarming the shores of Skullstone the moment they smell blood in the water and losses amongst the Black Fleet. It's a considerable turn of the tide. After spending extensive time simulating our little proxy war, I've planned three more moves ahead. Two of them should be perfectly suited to your talents. I would like you to discuss them, and decide on a course of action. It will be a trivial matter to ensure you get to them at the same time; getting to them too quickly is inadvisable, since it leaves her and her minions to acquire the second unmolested." The food and drink is absolutely incredible, but that much should be obvious; even the stuff that at first looks like lobster or crab, but turns out to be some kind of giant red spider. "Of course, I've already seen that you'll be suitably compensated. A lavish meal and entertainment is hardly adequate pay for what you've done for the people of Skullstone, and indeed the West as a whole. I've opened an account in your names in Skullstone's treasury and granted you a healthy war chest in jade, as well as a bonus on the top. You'll also be given status equivalent to officiates of the New Order to go where you please and demand almost any service of Skullstone's people, provided it is in the archipelago's best interests."
All-Seeing Eye	Eye nods in agreement with Tidings. "The Deathknight, Bloody Revelations," explains All-Seeing Eye. The distaste of having to utter her name is evident in his tone. "I'm sure her full name is just as..." He gestures vaguely with his cup. "Typically flowery, presumptuous, and inefficient as any other's, but." He lazily shrugs, pursing his lips. Another sip, and his cup is empty, clinked against the table thereafter. "She came by and... howled, like a stuck rat. About games, and rules, and being taken seriously. It seems having her schemes ruined from under her struck a nerve!" The Exalt giggles indulgently at that, flashing a coy look Tidings' way. He helps himself to a serving of leafy greens and various other fruits and vegetables, assembling a petite, but healthy salad. "You look wonderful, by the way, darling. Red is /certainly/ your color." His soft lips curl into a smile, at that. Even Finna's light scolding can't dim that expression, though he does offer a retort. "I'm a Soulsteel Caste, dear. A polite, and beautiful one--but a Soulsteel nonetheless, hm? I want results. Certainly, the Lintha were scum, and we're all cleaner for having purged them from this place--but there is a difference between a parasite and a cancer." He spears rather pointedly into his salad. "I want to know what our next move against the cancer will be. When we cut out the tumors--the woman and her master? Mm!" He giggles, shrugging briskly. "Then I'll feel a little more like celebrating." The Alchemical wrinkles his nose playfully at the Silver Prince. "...but I /did/ enjoy the warm welcome." He takes a moment to lift a little bit to his mouth, chewing chastely. When their host mentions having planned moves ahead, he nods delightedly, smiling wide after he swallows. "Good to know that your mind's on strategy. But... ah, what's the saying... is your own house in order, mm?" "Are you protected against the inevitable reprisal her temper will demand?"
Ryouma Sakamoto	"Ah, I see," Ryouma nods to Empty Tidings and All-Seeing Eye both. So this all spreads much further than just pirates on the sea? Seems he's stumbled into a big play. That's fine with him, really! He'll just need to do more homework and study harder. Nothing he isn't used to. That's what he has a desk for. Oryou, of course, is immensely more concerned with the frogs on offer than anything else. And so it should come as no surprise when she sits down, disregarding eyes cast upon her, with a plate containing as much frog meat as could feasibly be stacked without falling, and two bits sticking out of her mouth too. Just because they don't need to eat, doesn't mean they don't like to. Or Oryou, anyway. Ryouma is more conservative about it. "This Bloody Revelations, is she that dangerous? She sounds like she possesses the resources and or means to be a major problem despite the size of the alliance gathered here. I take it she's been a recurring problem?"
Tomoe	Tomoe listens as their host lays out the effect of the attack on the Lintha. They hit them harder than even she could have guessed the Lintha are broken and unlikely to ever rise again. That is good news, very good news to her. "So death by the Relamm or by time? I can live with that, it seems the seas will be somewhat calmer now for all those upon the water." She knows there are other troubles for this world, there's so many but there seems to be one less one now. She'll get to eating the food soon. Given her love of seafood she will likely be pleased with the food tonight. "Her name is so large one could use it to sword fight with I suspect." Tomoe notes to All-Seeing Eye while attacking some of the local seafood. Then comes mention of the reward, she's often done work for the means to support herself and the G.U. at large. She almost double takes given she has an idea of how much that is worth. "Yes she is, Ryouma, she very much is that dangerous. Given what she pulled with the soul breaker orb..."
Finna	Finna is much, much more interested in the MEATS on display than the greens, but she does grab a few of the more interesting-looking fruits for balance! One has to wonder how she keeps a lean figure with the way she'll set about eating, though... because she goes about it with GUSTO. As if she hadn't eaten in a week! ... Honestly, who knows if she has? "Honestly, from what I've heard of her talking, that DEATHKNIGHT strikes me as a whiny brat who happened upon great power, and has decided to fancy herself an empress of some sort. She's ever so furious that the world still isn't all about her and doesn't bow when she tells it to!" Perhaps a mild exaggeration, but is the foxgirl far off? She scarfs down another hunk of meat.
Empty Tidings	"They always sound better in High Realm," Tidings opines, smiling. "It's too bad about her temper; she has a knack for the dramatic. If she were on the right side, maybe..." She trails off, sighing theatrically. Empty Tidings beams at Eye. "Thank you! I always thought so, but it's so hard to find the right occasion for it. My work mostly keeps me in something a bit more subdued. Practicality..." She sighs. "You'll have to introduce me to your tailor when next we visit your part of the world, though~" Tidings has been meaning to go back, anyway. It's a good excuse! She helps herself to the food as much as the drink. Despite putting on a properly civilized demeanor, she sure can act the hedonist when allowed to do that very thing. At least she's neat about it all. No need to be a Northerner about it. "I expect she had some other task to have them perform before they went to the Lintha. Or maybe she had just as much trouble finding the city as we did. Hopefully whatever the next step is isn't quite so reliant on /sleuthing/."
Bloody Revelations	"Cancer implies something constructive, misguided and deleterious as it is. I think of that one and her master as more of a wasting plague, or perhaps a necrotic wound." the Silver Prince drawls dispassionately, cheek in hand and elbow on armrest. "Protected indeed, by better than just swords and sails. As 'uncooperative' as my so-called peers are, the Neverborn recognize that allowing thirteen individuals of our power to war against each other would lead nowhere. Nothing would get done; they would keep going and going until only one were left, weakened and lessened, and with most useable resources destroyed. In order to make certain progress is made, we are all bound not to make war on each other. Directly, at least. Spying, indirect sabotage, pitting one's allies against the others' allies, are unfortunately common. It is a complicated web." "Nevertheless, I could not have marched into Thorns to declare the Mask of Winters an imbecile and struck him down any more than that witch could have, for the Deathknights are bound by the same oaths of death. The Neverborn watch weaker Exalted less carefully and less frequently in their slumber, but those of power equivalent to a Deathlord are punished strictly for doing little but weakening our own side by killing our own number. Proxies capable of defeating one of us are almost non-existent within Creation, and would certainly not ally with one of the Abyssal Exalted under ordinary circumstances, and so it is some cleverness on her part that I will give due credit to immediately see the worth of those from elsewhere and put them to work against enemies that she couldn't otherwise lay a finger on." "The witch cannot assault the shores of Skullstone herself; that would constitute an act of war and of high treason. The fact that she apparently has yet to be punished for orchestrating the deaths of the Mask of Winters and Eye and Seven Despairs is most likely to the Neverborn's existing displeasure with them; an acceptable loss in cutting off a gangrenous limb, and motivating the others to hurry along their plans. She requires allies to deal the actual blows against Skullstone, and fortunately, I have come across many powerful and reasonable individuals sourced from outside of Creation myself." The Silver Prince smirks a little at that, equal parts self-satisfaction and condescension at the other two Deathlords for being too arrogant or crazy to consider the idea. "Of course that also means I cannot simply get off my throne and smite her unless she were to attack me first, unfortunately, and as mad as she is, she is at least that cunning. There are few potential allies in Creation or the Underworld willing to take her place in assaulting Skullstone, and powerful enough to be worth considering. Considering her inexplicable hatred for all Deathlords but her own, allying with one of my rivals is ruled out, as is her standing 'history' with the Realm. After the stunt she pulled with Lookshy, not even the most cynical of Yu-Shan's Exalted will ally with her, and any of the Solar or Lunar Exalted old enough to be worth my notice are also too experienced to try. The Lintha were in her very small pool of forces to potentially use against me, easily encouraged, seaworthy, unconcerned with causing massive death, and powerful. Dukantha would have been a tedious battle especially."
Bloody Revelations	"Two of of these three potential tools, as I've said, I have identified, and am prepared to feed information regarding. Taking none of them off the table would be a serious error, and removing all of them would completely cripple her efforts. Even with her gaggle of stooges, they alone cannot siege Skullstone. I'd hardly think they compare to myself, perish the thought of you as well. No sense in waiting, correct?" "The third avenue of attack I will have my own Exalted pursue. The two that I will concern you with will both require ventures to the Underworld, one to the Sea of Shadows, and unfortunately, one to the Labyrinth itself." "The latter concerns the Ocean of Endless Night --pretentiously named, for being only something of a giant grotto, but host to the powerful hekatonkhire Orcinus Rex, the First Whale, and the fleet of nephwrack that serve him. Fortunately, this bunch are nominally allied with myself. They are loyal enough to occasionally send sacrifices and soulsteel this way, and will likely sortie were I to give the word. Orcinus Rex himself is a city at sea, and hosts a fleet of considerable size in his mouth, making his allegiance a handy tool. The witch seems to have a certain fascination with hekatonkhire, as my intelligence indicates; I have confirmed reports of no fewer than three bound to her service, with rumours of a fourth. After seeing her handle Vodak so swiftly at the battle of Whitewall, I would assume that she possesses some individual affinity for it. Even if Orcinus Rex declines her word however, she is capable of raping the minds of every nephwrack in the Ocean of Endless Night to forcibly change their allegiance if necessary." "The other regards Haggard's keep. Though it is little more than a lighthouse owned and operated by the Dual Monarchy of Stygia, it is the only lighthouse important to the Sea of Shadows, with certain special powers that render it an invaluable asset to all navies in the entire western direction of the Underworld. It is also, theoretically, a powerful anti-naval weapon. I plan on seizing control of it with a sleeper agent in the crew when the time is right, but losing it would be a serious issue for the Black Fleet, as you no doubt understand." That rather lengthy and thorough explanation of the situation done, the Silver Prince folds his fingers with a hint of amusement. "Neither will require you to be particularly subtle, don't worry. As for the witch herself, well, the Abyssal Exalted are a unique sort. After they meet their true masters, something always goes a little funny with them. I suspect her more than most. She was a rather boring and unassuming one, as I understand, during her initial indoctrination. It was only coming back from her catechism that she began claiming she could hear them in her head at all times; that she knew the mind of the Neverborn in ways we do not, and could even converse with one in particular." "Of course she is completely deluded, however underestimating someone for being insane is a grave error. Insanity frequently makes a foe more difficult to deal with, as they can't be trusted to make the rational move you anticipate. It's a simple matter for my agents to spread select information about my operations in a way that will inevitably draw her attention, but it will be up to you to deal with any surprises, and her henchmen. Her absurd relationship with Sixteenth Night's Silence ensures that she is never short for being lavished in potent gifts and trinkets, as poorly supervised as she is, so I expect you to make adequate preparations for the unexpected."
All-Seeing Eye	"She's defective," says Eye, seemingly both to Finna and Ryouma. "Of course she's dangerous." He scoffs, shaking his head. "Of course, darling, of course." He nods and lets his hand rest upon Tidings' for a brief, but meaningful moment. He'd love to have such an enlightened mind as a guest in his native lands again! "But, you know, if our next step /is/ sleuthing, you have the perfect man for the job.~" There is a certain, quiet bit of sardonic amusement at the Prince's use of the word 'progress.' Their ideas of the word couldn't be more different. There are... certain Exalted within Autochthonia which might ally with her. Certain defective Exalted. But bringing them up to the Prince would be an egregious error in judgment. "If we're to enter the Underworld, I can pass for one of you, as long as I have something to cover my... caste mark," says the Exalt to the Prince. "That is, provided no one remembers me from last time." He helps himself to another pour of unfiltered rice wine. Sip. "Perhaps I could pose as one of Sixteen Nights'. Conduct a false flag operation? Nothing to lose and everything to gain, as they say. If it doesn't work, then you still get what you want. If it does, in the way we hope, then eyes of suspicion, or, dare I say it... maybe even hands of discipline, will be on him for a time." "As for potent gifts and trinkets, I assure you, my nation can equip me with tools far more powerful than whatever forgotten First Age dregs she manages to pry from the Solars' trash. I've already made arrangements to receive them, in fact."
Tomoe	It was all about what was the current threat, wasn't it? Bloody Revelations and anyone who might still be helping her. She learned a bit more from the Prince about how the Death Lords operate and just how much of a loose cannon Bloody Revelations is too. The Prince speaks of their next targets and the words Underworld and the Labyrinth come up. She's not looking forward to either but leaving Bloody Revelations with tools to make use of is not a healthy idea for anyone. She hears about the Ocean of Endless Night and the topic of Whitewall is brought up once more. She listens intently here it's not going to be an enjoyable bit of work, he can tell but it is important. "If she's still getting off world help, then she's convinced others to work with her." The lighthouse also comes up too and she muses for a moment over her food. "So both jobs would be direct affairs for the most part. "It would be rather hard to hide wouldn't it unless you have some ideas All-seeing Eye?"
Ryouma Sakamoto	The thorough breakdown of the witch's exploits serves to inform Ryouma and get him up to speed on the threat she posts. That's a good use of time right there. And then there's the task ahead laid out. The sea! Two naval missions, in fact. Ryouma's forte, as it were. He won't complain. "Ah, that Ocean of the Endless Night sounds pretty interesting!" he says. "Is the First Whale actually the first whale that ever was, or is that a cool title?" Ryouma is curious, Oryou is mostly stuffing her face. "As for the Underworld, I do not quite grasp what it seems to be, but I believe neither of us will be affected too bad by it, being what we are, so it should pose no problem." Being a ghost and a divine shadow dragon respectively has to have its advantages sometimes. "Besides, I've never tried negotiating with a whale, it should be fun," he muses. Fun is relative. Ryouma is optimistic.
Bloody Revelations	"Orcinus Rex is indeed the father of all whales. The template from which all cetacean life was derived. Three miles long, an entire population lives inside him, with his creator's blessing." The Silver Prince examines the two through the mirror; though there is no doubt he has no ability to magically assess them from the glass, he seems to draw a conclusion regardless. "The Underworld is Creation's dark mirror; an inverted shadow of the world around you, where ghosts live out their afterlives. You should, indeed, be fine. I understand you are a skilled captain as well." "I look forward to it!" the Silver Prince says, clapping his hands together at All-Seeing Eye, the robes slipping to reveal his gauntlets. "The Lady Tomoe's concerns are valid however. Regardless of your opinion of the relics scattered about Creation, there's currently no guarantee she hasn't managed to repair the soulbreaker orb she used previously, or else find something equivalent. Either that, or leave it to her master to do it. If you intend to attempt a false flag, be certain you account for the fact that she doesn't . . . particularly care, for her peers in his court. Or much of his court in general. I doubt he is directly backing her ludicrous bid for whatever it is she hopes to gain from attempting to slaughter the rest of her betters. With one possible exception, the others are no fools like the Mask of Winters. That one simply can't control his mad dog. He let her slip the leash, and now there's no certainty as to when it is appropriate to reel it back, and when the Neverborn have indeed commander her to do something, thus risking their ire." "If you've set your sights on the Ocean of Endless Night first, I'll have a trusted Labyrinth Guide show you there, once I've arranged for our adversary to show up at a perfectly opportune time. Prepare for . . . swamp would be a misnomer, but a certainly unpleasant set of waters, a few hundred miles wide, though the most unique properly of that place is when one sails from its edges just right, they can end up anywhere in the Underworld or Creation on the water. Try to make sure it isn't somehow destroyed, and ideally, a minimum number of casualties. My agent there is a spectre named Never Ending Silence, and his business is valuable to me."
Tomoe	Tomoe says "That is one of my biggest concerns if she somehow replicates the infernal thing." She's not talking about the exalted but more in the Earth context of the term than anything not that some folk here might know that. "I'm not thinking to false flag that would blow up in our faces in the long run I think." She hears about the Ocean for a moment longer about the Ocean target. "So we need to take it intact as possible and to keep the casualties low." As swampy as the ocean is it's sounding like a target she'd be better suited for and she notes this. "As far I'm thinking I'd like to make a go for the Ocean and see what we can do about the whale. I was concerned about the fact I'm alive, not local and don't have any of the local magic? Might cause some unwanted notice to be garnered and you seem keen on this Ryouma? I'm down for this."
All-Seeing Eye	"I've done it before," Eye cryptically responds to Tomoe, on the topic of concealing his 'caste mark.' "It simply requires the proper application restraint." That should be concerning for anyone here who knows him. It's brought up that a false flag wouldn't be as useful as he'd like, however. The Exalt nods. "I should have known," he sourly remarks. A woman known for flaunting an already extremely malleable set of rules doesn't care for her peers? Who'd have thought? "You say you'll seize the lighthouse 'when the time is right,'" begins the Exalt after downing the rest of his wine in one gulp. He presses the small cup against the table with a clink. "What needs to happen between then and now?"
Ryouma Sakamoto	It IS a massive, progenital whale! That's incredible. Ryouma is giddy. "Ah, well, a captain of a certain skill, certainly, but I must admit I've never sailed an Underworld, so a map would be greatly appreciated in the event I came to need one." You know, better safe than sorry, especially with magical waters that can take you anywhere. A pause, as Ryouma looks between Tomoe and All-Seeing Eye. "My apologies, but what is this orb? It sounds troublesome."
Empty Tidings	"Having a means to respire Essence during long trips into the Underworld wouldn't hurt, if you happen to have a means of doing that," Tidings asides, for Some Reason. "I'm afraid we're not all properly attuned to... death." She looks to Eye. "I'm sure we could come up with something. Maybe a bit of headwear. Simple, but often effective enough..." Tidings gives him a closer look over, thoughtful. "Actually, I'd been meaning to ask... is it difficult for you to act near your full power while looking so... human? I notice that you undergo something of a change when you're really cutting loose. It's impressive! Not terribly useful for disguise, though." Empty Tidings looks to the mirror. "Are your agents capable of locating Revelations' supporters' holdings? I'm admittedly more interested in cutting her legs out at the knees more directly than advancing plans that may be able to slow her down."
Bloody Revelations	The Silver Prince snaps his fingers at the mention of a map, but it's not the kind where someone comes and brings something to him; it'd be sort of useless if it were, given he's on the other side of a mirror and all. "Labyrinth maps are difficult to acquire, and the regions outside these amphiskopaloi -that is, stable, named regions within the maze- are mutable enough that a map is typically only good for one day. I will arrange to have an astrologer prepare one for you at the proper time." He goes on to explain. "A soulbreaker orb is a rare and highly feared artifact from the First Age, where the Solar Kings of old studied the Labyrinth and its Essence and devised a sort of single-use weapon that could wipe out populations over miles, without damaging anything else. I understood Lookshy used one against the Realm in a costly battle in past that secured their independence, but nobody actually knows if they have another one. Very few in this current time know how to build or repair one, but I wouldn't discount Sixteenth Night's Silence; he was an artificer of some significant skill in life." "I'm afraid I can't help you with the fundamental realities of the Underworld, however." he says to Empty Tidings, shrugging slowly. "I must also inform you that, for all of my information gathered on his court, I haven't identified any particular supporters of hers besides he. It's quite possible she doesn't have any concrete support base. She's vaguely popular amongst the general populace of Stygia, and with various minor cults of Nephwrack, but is an obnoxious one to track. She spends almost all her available time in the Labyrinth, associates with almost nobody unless required, and then rarely more than once. She shuns the usual resources levied to Deathknights, so there are no flows of soldiers, soulsteel, necrotech, corpses, or grave goods to track." "For all intents and purposes, she practically lives in that demented realm, permitted to by her master for how valuable her maps and discoveries frequently are, and the fact that even other Deathknights can seldom handle that place for more than a few days at a time. It is difficult to ascertain the full height and breadth of her abilities and accoutrements for that reason, but it also means she commands almost nothing in the way of allies or infrastructure, and she works with no Abyssal Circle that could make your lives more complicated. For being unusually powerful for a mere knight, it seems she's assembled all of it on her own, from what corners of that hell I dare not guess, save for that foisted on her by an incompetent master trying to ensure her dubious loyalty." "As for Haggard's Keep, it should be obvious enough. The minute any allies she may have are stupid enough to sail by it. They wouldn't go by day under the light of Creation, and they'd immediately draw the wrong kind of attention were they to go by night. Only the Sea of Shadows can guarantee them any kind of secrecy or uninterrupted passage. I have only to give the command, and the lighthouse would be mine in minutes. Rest assured, I am thorough." "I will have the documents to identify you as allies of the New Order ready by tomorrow. They should be more than enough to repel any unwanted trouble you find on your way there. An astrologer will be set to work on mapping a route one day in advance, and you will be alerted as early as possible to squeeze in as much planning as you can. Never Ending Silence should be cooperative once he knows who you are; I will dispatch word. Allow at least a week or so for the rumours I intend to release to make their way to our target. If you have no further concerns or requests, I will leave you to enjoy your meal!"
Tomoe	Tomoe listens as the conversation goes on then Ryouma asks about the Soul Breaker Orb, she goes to open her mouth to answer but The Prince explain most of it. "It ripped the soul from almost everyone in the era of effect's range body." She notes filling in the last bit about it. Her tone is polite she's just adding a bit more information for Ryouma. She then focuses on the matter of their missions. She hears as the Princes will give them what intel he can get for them and adds some other important details. "It seems like everything should be in order then." Well as far as they can go at the very least, she's not got much more to say on this for the moment still she's feels fairly well informed for what they have to do.
All-Seeing Eye	"Mm." Eye nods at Tidings. Is it hard to cut loose and keep his human disguise? "Not with the right Charms--but stealth and disguise were never my function. I'm angling for something a little more... overt, this Christmas." He gives a single, throaty chuckle. "Oh, do keep an eye out for my album this year," he says to everyone at the table. "I'll make sure anyone who wants a copy gets one!~" His amusement gradually fades as his mind goes back into Business Mode. "I'm familiar with the concept," he says with a nod when the Silver Prince explains shifting geography. The following explanation of the plan in place at Haggard's Keep also seems understood, as evidenced by a just-attentive-enough nod. "I have no requests or concerns," he sedately opines. "None which you can address, anyway." That seems to be all from him. Just one slightly snippy comment in the presence of a man who represents everything he hates and stands against? You know what that is? Growth.