[F27 - PP] The Ronbaru Roundtable

[Plot Master 0]

The Ronbaru Roundtable

The theater was spectacular. It left no question as to why it was one of the city’s crown jewels, drawing crowds even when no shows performed on-stage. While the library attracted the scholars, the theater seduced the poets, the romantics, the artists, and those who simply felt “found” among the velvet-covered seats. Everything from comedy acts to operas marched across the marquee, and patrons always left feeling just a bit lighter than when they’d entered. Of course, some of that came from the beauty of the building itself. The space was magnificent, with lush carpet, ornate sconces, and wooden beams polished to gleaming. Though the grand foyer was decorated in the rich blues of Ronbaru, the hall itself represented the other four territories in beautiful harmony. That was what the theater was, of course - a testament to the melting pot that was the central city.

If Hugh appreciated the beauty that surrounded him, he gave no indication. He strode to the podium situated stage left, smoothing the nonexistent wrinkles from his suit coat as he went. He gave a dramatic clearing of his throat, demanding the attention of all who occupied the leaf-green seats. During his tenure as President of Ordsea, he’d perfected the art of keeping all eyes on him.

“Greetings all, and thank you for joining me for this roundtable event.” As he spoke, he motioned to the table (incidentally, not round) that stood at the center of the stage. Four individuals sat there, none looking especially at-ease, or happy to be participating. “For those of you who are not familiar, allow me to introduce them.” 

First, he pointed to a middle-aged man in plain clothing. Though the breeches and tunic were clean, they were worn, and clashed badly with the opulence surrounding him. The man himself appeared to clash with the theater, as he clearly wished that he were anywhere else. “This is Tiberius, a representative of Dagan’s farmers guild. Tiberius, is there anything that you’d like to say?”

“No.”

Not missing a beat, Hugh blazed on. “Next, we have Percival, Srona’s lead alchemist, and the-”

The scholarly man pounded a fist on the table top, silencing Hugh before crying out, “Someone set fire to our medicine! Why would they do that, if not to weaken us?” If he weren’t bound to a wheelchair, he likely would have leapt to his feet as he spoke.

“I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation for the fire.” The only woman at the table spoke with a practiced, even tone. “All we need to do is-”

“Do what, exactly?” Percival snapped, his voice like the crack of the whip, and carrying just as much sting.

The black-haired woman recoiled. “I beg your pardon?”

“When’s the last time you even came to Srona, huh? You talk a big talk about ‘unification,’ but you sit up there in your mansion and do nothing while valuable supplies burn. Did you do anything to help Dagan when their cave collapsed and their people were trapped?”

Percival jabbed a finger at Tiberius, who simply raised both hands in the universal symbol for ‘leave me out of this.’

“That’s enough, Percival,” boomed the deep, dark voice of the fourth and final panelist. The dwarf stood, and though that did not provide him much height, the bulk of his body and his armor commanded the attention of all in attendance. 

Silence fell, and Hugh recognized that as the perfect place for him to re-enter the conversation. “The final two individuals that we heard from were Brienne, current President of Ordsea, and Commander Fudral, of Braso. Destin, a librarian with the Lapis Society, has agreed to represent Ronbaru should the need arise. He also arranged the use of this theater.”

With a flourish, he finally pressed a hand to his chest. “And of course, my name is President Hugh. Though I served as Ordsea’s President until Miss Brienne took over, I will be representing only everyone’s best interests as we move forward with this meeting. The four leaders of their respective territories have agreed to take public questions, in hopes that they might spur discussion that leads to a peaceful conclusion to all this horrible unrest.”

He paused to gesture to a place just in front of the stage. “If you’d like to make a query, you are invited to move to this spot to do so. Or, if you speak loudly enough, you may call out from your seats. You may also step out into the foyer, where refreshments have been provided. All I ask is that you maintain a certain level of decorum while you are here. We are doing very, very important work.” He did not look at the gathered representatives, but surely he felt the negative energy rolling off them in waves.

Clapping his hands together, Hugh declared, “Let us begin!”

Tiberius Farmers Guild Dagan	Percival Lead Alchemist Srona	Brienne President Ordsea	Fudral Commander Braso	Hugh Past President Ordsea

Spoiler

INFORMATION

This activity is all about discussion, diplomacy, and bringing an end to the disputes between the territories. Your task is to find out what's actually going on the 27th floor through careful question asking, and interpretation of the answers given.

1. You are not required to ask a question every round. You are, however, required to post every round. You can describe your character talking with another person in the audience, wandering the theater, grabbing snacks, or simply internal monologue-ing about what they're seeing.
2. Discussion in the Event Discord channel is encouraged, but please do your best to also help your characters reach conclusions in the thread itself through roleplay.
3. There will be no combat, no threat of death, and no rolls (though please post your stats so appropriate rewards can be given).
4. Your actions will directly affect the fight taking place on the Frontlines. If you mess up badly enough, their fight will get more difficult. Please do not consider this a challenge to screw over your fellow Player. If you get this right, you'll make their path toward clearing the floor much easier.
5. What you do here will also have a direct effect on permanent site lore.
6. Be good. While a certain level of argument is expected, you should not be ruining the experience for others, nor should you be acting in a way that would annoy Hugh. He will have you thrown out. Again, this is not a challenge. Do not cross Hugh (or Lessa).
7. If you can't keep up with the thread, or you feel that your participation has run its course, that's okay! Your contributions will still be rewarded (in character, and out). We'll just write you out, and bring someone else in. Please note that you'll be removed automatically if you miss three rounds without warning.
8. Please don't hesitate to ask any questions that you may have!
9. Thank you for being my guinea pigs.

This round ends at 11:59 PM EDT on August 11th.
Countdown Timer

@Oji@Senno @Mishiro @Faerie @Pinball @Van

 

 

 

[Mishiro 0]

Finn, Boss event(?) @ F27, Ronbaru. Expecting a crowd. Will be back for dinner.  - R.

With no one left to view it, the display window idly lit up a small corner of the kitchen before it dismissed itself at the two-minute mark. A soft click from the turning of a key on the front door, and the house slumbered once again.

 

 

So she was going mad and none of the mechanisms she had thoroughly built up over the last eight years were soothing her. In fact, upon her own assessment, she was just adding fuel to a fire that was growing uncontrollable by the minute. What better way to deaden it than to break her routine in a way that even she had not expected just hours prior?

She was in Floor 27, Ronbaru, and the greater part of its residents had their interest pointed in one direction. She followed it, briskly taking in the anxiety that pervaded the non-living persons in her surroundings, until the crowds thickened and she beheld the sight of the magnificent crown jewel of the central region: a theater currently housing a forum with all four representatives of the surrounding territories in attendance. Any other day, securing permission to enter would be an issue, especially as an outsider, but today she walked past the gates and claimed an aisle seat a few rows down from the back unhassled. 

Her source would make a killing as an information broker. News traveled to her fast. Mishiro had arrived just in time to hear the latter half of the introductions (and the immediate break in decorum), enough to guess what the discussion was all about. The first speaker stepped back and offered the floor to the public, and she remained seated in her chair, in deep thought. The stars of the show were all lined up on the stage but really, she had her eye on the audience, searching for the next lines in the script, the next movement toward the podium. What was this anyway -- a scene true to its setting, just a play meant to unfold before the eyes?

Лишь дай мне посмотреть в последний раз В твои глаза Я солнцем обернусь, и в них Останусь навсегда

Spoiler // staying in her seat. playing cautious and observing for now. STATS: Spoiler LEVEL 17: HP 340 | EN 52 | DMG 7 -- -- COMBAT MASTERY: DAMAGE III EXTRA 1 + 2: FIRST AID V + ADD-ON: FIELD MEDIC (total sp: 85 | used: 49 / unused: 36)

Edited August 10, 2023 by Mishiro

[Pinball 1]

He was a light sleeper. The soft click of the front door locking was more than enough to pull him from unpleasant dreams. He laid there for a moment, blinking the weariness from his eyes. His head lolled to one side, then back to the ceiling. She was gone. Another moment passed as the silence settled and then he rolled out of bed. 

Pinball didn't concern himself with the affairs of the frontlines anymore. Not really. There had been a time where he'd longed to be there more than anything, then a time after where he'd despised everyone who took part in it. Nowadays he'd rather just forget it existed altogether. Some would call that complacency, ignorance, or apathy. To him, it was peace of mind. Suffice to say, he hadn't spent much time on Floor 27. But he could tell he didn't like Ronbaru. With a distaste for crowds and guards alike, Pinball stuck to the alleyways and the side streets, following the traffic from afar. 

By the time he'd arrived, the introductions would be complete. Pinball realized quickly that he was missing context, but he wasn't sure how much he actually cared. Bickering NPCs didn't really tickle him like they used to. He lowered the hood of his cloak, ending the use of his Tracking skill, and slid easily into the seat beside Mishiro. He'd share a quick glance with her before silently turning his attention to the stage, and, in his peripherals, the attendees around them. If she was right, and this was an event pertinent to the boss fight, he was going to remain on high alert. 

                                                                                                                    

Stats and Buffs and Such: 

Spoiler

Level: 32 (Paragon Level 36)
Health: 780 | Energy: 116
DMG: 5  | ACC: 3  | EVA: 3  | BH: 39 

Skills:

Combat Skills:
► Battle Healing [30/30]
► Energist [8/8]
► Combat Mastery: Evasion [13/13]

Weapon Skills:
► Straight Sword [14/30] 

Utility Skills:
► Searching [30/30]
► Lockpicking [15/15]
► Extended Mod Limit [10/10]
► Quick Change [8/8] 

Extra Skills:
► Disguise
► Survival
► Hiding [22/30]

Familiar Skill: 
► Scouting Familiar [10/10]

Armor Skills:
►N/A

Modifiers:
► Dismantling
► Detect
► Tracking
► Reveal
► Untraceable
► Vanish
► Emergency Recovery 

Miscellaneous: 
► +1 LD to Searching, Lockpicking, Treasure Chests (Paragon) 
► Earn Col Equivalent to 15% of player’s EXP earned in a thread (Paragon) 

Inventory:
»[Equipped] [Demonic] Cold Fervor: +2 Freeze, Phase, Cursed 
»[Equipped] [Perfect] Warrior’s Focus: +3 ACC
»[Equipped] [Perfect] Cloak of the Harbingers: +3 LD 

Battle Ready: 
» [2x] Teleportation Crystal 
» [x5] Lacrimosa - HP Recovery III Crystal {Instant}
» [Demonic SS] Jack’s Hellfire: Burn, Bleed, Blight, Cursed
» [Demonic SS] Astral Blade: Holy, Fallen, Phase, Damage

Housing Buffs: 
Squeaky Clean: The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 25% (rounded down)
Well Rested: -1 energy cost for the first three expenditures of each combat
Filling: Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps. Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30.
Relaxed: Increases out of combatHP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.
Item Stash: +1 BR Slot 

 

[Oji 0]

Politics, things always ended up with politics. When Oji had heard that some sort of big event was happening on the Twenty Seventh floor, he had no idea what it could be about. He was told from some info brokers that this event had something to do with the questline that was on the same floor, and he looked into it for some background information. He was nowhere near strong enough to go on it himself, but by travelling around the floor he had learned enough to get by and understand what they were talking about.

He had been there since the initial start of the meeting, in one of the middle seats. He saw a few other players filing in close by, but he did not recognize them, and thought it best to let them get in without a guy hassling them. He listened to the people up top bicker about something that intrigued him, a fire of some kind. His eyebrows perked up. Maybe that's a good starting point. Oji looked to where he could stand to speak, and he scooted though, muttering a few "Excuse me, pardon me, passing by" from the multiple NPC's and players alike, all of which grumbled in complaint.

Once he made it up to the podium, he cleared his throat. "Hi, nice to meet all of you, my name is Oji." He said with a smile and a polite bow. "One of the things i'd like to initially ask Mr. Percival." He thought for a moment of how to form the question. "Do you have any idea how the fires started? And how were they fueled? I feel like supplies on fire seems important to discuss first and foremost, since that affects a wide population, and could impact all of the areas on this flo- I mean, this country."

Stats:

Spoiler

Oji, The Uncle of Aincrad
Level: 22
Paragon Level: 0
HP: 440/440
EN: 62/62

Stats:
Damage: 1
Mitigation: 15
Evasion: 3
Loot Dice: 4
MENDING: 2
REC: 6

Equipped Gear:
Weapon:
Armor: Field Medic Camoflage [LM 1, REC 2]
Misc: Kerykeion Kit [LD 1, LM 1]

Custom Skill:


Skills:
Searching R3
Cloth Armor R4


Active Mods:
Energize

Inactive Mods:

Addons:
Field Medic
Hyperactive

Active Extra Skills:
First Aid R5

Inactive Extra Skills:
Survival
Assault Mode

Battle Ready Inventory:

Housing Buffs:
Hard Working: +2 EXP per crafting attempt and +1 crafting attempt per day
Relaxed: Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts.
Skylight (Searching): +1 Rank to the Searching skill.
Angler: +1 material gained when fishing
Advanced Training: +10% Exp to a thread. Limit one use per month [1/1]
Multipurpose: Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll

 

[Mishiro 0]

The shadow of the 25th floor that swallowed up all of Aincrad. The revolution in the 26th whose success directly impacted the battle at the frontlines.

What was in the books for the 27th?

A group of rogue apprentice knights from Braso, motives unknown, set out to cause chaos. In the north, a cave collapse. In the east, the aforementioned fire. In the south, the most daring: an attack on the presidential estate as well as attempted theft of classified documents. All three received considerable aid from players who happened to be there on account of a request from the Lapis Society to unearth phrases -- words of power -- that they believed related to the division of the 27th floor's regions. Now, the representatives were gathered under one roof. The strained ties between them were present. Where were the other elements? The terrorist remnants? The phrases, the supernatural divide? Which part of the puzzle was the frontliners', and what was left to the rest?

She stopped, setting her thoughts aside as the angle of her glance changed. On the seat to her left, Pinball shrugged down his hood.

...Oh.

Surprise momentarily overtook her expression, then followed the half-turn to hide her face, the shift of her skirts. She scooted closer to their shared armrest, but not so much that her posture was affected; and her hand pressed gently on the juncture of his shoulder and collarbone, fingers bent inward, urging him to tilt his head down to her level. "The people on the stage, from left to right..."

It was easy to guess the introductions she had missed, furthermore she knew them all by physical description. As quickly and accurately as possible, and a pause somewhere in the middle in time with Oji's question, she recounted everything that had happened before Pinball took his seat. And then the bits of lore she thought was relevant. When she was done, she pulled back, hands folded on her lap.

Sometimes he had that weary look in his eyes whenever they came across a reminder of the frontlines. Now they were in the thick of it, even if it wasn't involvement in the traditional sense. She wanted to know if something within him had also changed, but this wasn't the time and place for that conversation so she couldn't point him towards the way out if she could not count on herself to leave either. The most she could do was respect his decision and untangle some of the complexity for him so he wasn't going in blind.

Her thoughts turned back to the shadow. Ladonia. She'd hit a roadblock with her thoughts if she kept flipflopping between them. Attack from the one perspective. Assume the scenario mirrored the latter. Assume they had agency. How was this meant to affect the frontlines? "If we consider that this is the whole of it," she started, tilting her head toward Pinball, though her full attention was on the stage, waiting for the representatives' first answers. "Then what could be the end goal?"

//
skeptical. was considering the worst case scenario. pinball came in late -- gave him relevant info. still observing.

Edited August 15, 2023 by Mishiro

[Van 0]

Vanessa took her seat at the Ronbaru Roundtable, impressed by the grandeur of the theater. Everything here felt like it should have only been preserved for the elite, well beyond her status both here and in the real world. It really was a beautiful sight, though it was disappointingly rare that such luxuries were appointed for moments of glory. The civil unrest could be felt in the air, members of the audience angrily conversing about the reasons they had all gathered here. Vanessa wasn’t too happy about it either, even if she had yet to be directly involved with any side.

The man began introducing himself and his fellow representatives, stirring up some hushed conversations around her with the audience. Vanessa had learned each of their names prior to the roundtable and doubted that their introduction was anything more than a formality for the rest of the crowd. It didn’t take long for their snark and spiel to end before opening the floor for questions, an opportunity that a player would seize rather quickly.

‘Good questions, Oji… The fires in Srona are what started it all.’ She kept her thoughts to herself for now.

With Tiberius leading the conference, it should be quickly addressed. The mummering in the audience around her had certainly picked up with people placing support in Oji’s question as well. She knew there was a chance for the atmosphere to get heated, but she felt like it was already catching fire. There was a lot to unpack considering the sequence of events that had occurred on floor 27, but Vanessa had yet to remotely connect the dots on her own. Many were still pointing fingers at Braso, though their willing participation here was a clear sign it wasn’t of their own volition. Perhaps a rogue group or maybe something as wild as a conspiracy within multiple nations, could they even whittle down the options?

‘What evil would have sabotaged all of these nations at once?’

[Plot Master 0]

"It was arson," Percival replied simply.

Brienne lifted a hand, as if she might pat down the alchemist's mounting anger. "Percival," she said, "you can't throw an accusation around like that without proof."

Percival's brown eyes flashed behind his half-moon spectacles. "Accusation? Proof? I have proof. The entire place reeked of lamp oil."

"Could one of your people accidentally knocked a lamp over? The oil is so flammable, and-"

"My people are careful." Percival's red-hot fury had cooled into something hard and cold - somehow, that was far scarier. "My people don't just sprinkle lamp oil around. MY PEOPLE know how valuable our Ushiame Flowers are, considering they risk their lives every day to collect them from the Grove Guardian."

President Brienne prided herself on her ability to read people, but it didn't take much skill to pick up on the Sronian's rage. "I meant no disrespect," she began slowly, now selecting each word carefully. "I just want to ensure that we're not pinning blame on anyone when all we're dealing with is a terrible, tragic accident. Like the cave-in in Dagan."

At the mention of his territory, Tiberius glanced up from the scuff on the tabletop he'd been staring at. His gaze came to rest on Brienne. His dwarfish face remained bereft of emotion, but when he spoke, traces of disdain swam just beneath the surface. "You're pretty damn sure that fire was an accident, aren't you?"

 

Spoiler

 

This round ends at 11:59 PM EDT on August 14th.
Countdown Timer

@Oji@Senno@Mishiro@Faerie@Pinball@Van

 

 

[Senno 0]

Senno had been amongst the crowd, she funneled in alongside the NPCs that made their rounds of entry initially.  She caught wind of an event happening on an upper floor.  Twenty-seven was a surprisingly tame one, despite it being the highest one currently go.  This element of safety was what eventually drove Senno to drop by one of the events which she typically missed due to her fragility.  Senno was a piece of glass; easily shattered, clear in her presentation, and yet incredibly sharp.  Right from the onset, it was apparent what conclusion Percival had already come to.  Something of interest was that they didn't feel it necessary to have Ronbaru apart of the conversation.  Senno was unsure what to make of it as she only read synopses of the regions and their duties, not their relations.  The follow up from the first question illuminated how the alchemist felt of his people and the possibility of misconduct within his domain.  Right now, Srona's reputation was at threat and that was more important than the truth.  It was tricky because many things could be spun to be a fault of the Srona. Even if someone were to break in, Percival could just get his back up and go 'How dare you question our security?` Wait, that was it.

Senno waited for a moment squeeze in and caught a break after the farmer spoke.  She rose her hand slightly above her collarbone and spoke firmly.

"Pardon my intervention, but I'm of the understanding that the Srona populace are much to vigilant to let a supposed known threat breach their ranks.  However, a foreign instigator would be impossible to predict of even the most brilliant of minds.  I myself am no denizen of the realm and yet I've managed to make my way so deeply into Ronbaru. I ensure you I have no ill-intent, yet not all foreigners come from backgrounds such as I."

Nothing unifies a divided people more than a common foreign enemy.  She looked to Percival with quiet eyes as right now he seemed to be the most riled up of the panel.

Edited August 12, 2023 by Senno
Typo

[Pinball 1]

Pinball watched with quiet eyes as Mishiro pointed out each individual on the podium, and gave a bit of context as to what he'd walked into. He felt like he knew enough about the floor to follow what was going on. Contribution, though? He wasn't so sure yet. 

"Thank you," he whispered to Mishiro. His eyes didn't leave the stage. He was still half-expecting a dragon or something to rip off the roof and burn everyone alive. 

His perpetual discontentment aside, Pinball was lucky, still, that the other players in attendence were keen on listening to their own voices and acting like what they were talking about was going to matter in any way. No, no, that wasn't fair. He caught himself, exhaled through his nose, and leaned back in his chair, trying to keep an open mind. Trying to stay reasonable. He had an incorrigible bias and he knew that. He'd steal a glance at Mishiro before returning his attention to the stage, this time in earnest. If all he could do was watch and fight to keep his own cynicism at bay, he would do it. 

Alright. Now, something about a fire... 

Edited August 14, 2023 by Pinball

[Mishiro 0]

Not that it required an answer. Neither of them had anything better than a guess at this point, and she was just wanting to see if Pinball had something for her to pick at.

And with the first question out of the way, she already had plenty.

First of all, Alchemist Percival was rather getting on her nerves. Having taken perhaps the worst loss out of all the affected territories, his frustrations only seemed to have grown since his part of the questline ended, and he had brought them all to the table, airing out accusations like a common rabble-rouser. For them, the safety of Floor 27, their respective territories, was on the line. There was no other time that required composure and a willingness to listen and cooperate more than the present.

She ran through the dialogue in her head, partly tuned into Dagan's representative. (Oh, that didn't sound very helpful either.) What did they have to work with? A rehash of old info -- likely for the benefit of the players in the audience who had never learned of the questline. But the response had gotten derailed. Would anything change if the panelists were pressed to speak specifically of new developments on the case? Not the Sronian, not at the moment, but if another one of the attacks were brought up.

Pause the thought. She reexamined her emotional state, feeling out the irritation.

It was just data.

They could manipulate it, if Cardinal let them. Returning to her earlier suspicions, a breakdown of the relations between any of the regions in Floor 27 could not be good for the player population. (Though she still could not say what the opposite may lead to. It distressed her, somewhat). You'd think more non-living persons would be lining up to speak out of pure morbid curiosity, if not concern for their lands. Once, she passed that stretch just before the intersection where an accident had taken place. The smaller vehicle had crashed into an empty building that no one was renting and utterly destroyed its façade. No one had gotten to fixing it up yet. She had asked her aide to take her to the restaurant across the street instead. Six months and a story long faded from the public eye, and she could still see the curious glances, the questions and all the tall tales. They never seemed to stop talking.

 

 

The floor was open to players. She parsed through the last question's words -- a 'foreign' instigator? She would have hesitated to put that term to use, especially when players themselves could be so easily lumped in with that qualifier. Suspicion was the last thing they wanted, as mediators. Still, the fact that it was posed as a suggestion more than a query piqued her interest. If they wanted to nudge this meeting a certain direction, it would be worthwhile to see what they were accommodating of.

Eyes on the stage, she mentally sifted through a list of questions. One at a time.

//
more thoughts. white space intentional. observing.

Edited August 15, 2023 by Mishiro

[Oji 0]

Oji listened to the qualms and squabbles of the people on the bench. Things were heated, far more heated than he had anticipated. He looked around to see angry eyes glaring at one another, and the one who he hoped would stay calm about it was throwing accusations left and right. He let them speak their minds, and as he was about to say something, another player stood and said what he was thinking. He smile and nodded towards the young lady.

"Thank you, took the words right out of my mouth." He spoke politely. Then, his smile faded and he turned back to the council. He locked eyes with Percival. "Mr. Percival, if I may." He spoke. "This is not an area to blindly throw out accusations with so little evidence. As a man of standing, you need to not let your emotions cloud your judgement." He spoke, then his face softened. "Your people are hurting, and I can understand your anger and frustration. But if you continue to let your anger guide you, you risk the chance of only hurting them more, instead of giving them justice." He then turned to the rest of the council. "And it seems that there are differing sides on how the fire started. I would love to hear everyone's input, but lets try to keep it civil, emotions are important, but they cloud facts and turn theories into truths."

[Faerie 0]

Fae nade her way quickly through the streets of the unfamiliar town, she had been walking through the streets of Ronbaru for over an hour running in circles as she tried to make her way to the theater that the information brokers told her about. Through the brief conversation she had had with the man, she had learned of a meeting taking place in this town with all of the leaders on this floor to talk about some recent developments in regards to the floors stability.

Clutching a piece of paper tightly Fae made her way into the theater, sitting down quietly she caught the ending of a speech asking for the members at the table to keep conversations civil. The tension on the air was palpable as Fae read through the paper she received from the broker, detailing a quest chain that dealt with the divide of this floor into five separate countries and information on the floor itself. Deciding that she would first collect herself and listen to those around her Fae sat silently, listening intently to the murmers around her.

Faerie,
Level: 7
Paragon Level: 0
HP: 140/140
EN: 32/32

Stats:
Damage: 4
Mitigation: 15
Loot Dice: 4

Consumables Used:

Sword Arts:
[x4] ST-I (4 EN) | A single-target sword art.
[x3] AOE-I (1 + [2 * targets] EN) | AOE | A sword art that strikes multiple targets at once.
[x4] TECH-A (5 EN) | STUN | A single-target sword art that stuns an enemy.

Equipped Gear:
Weapon: Verdant Watcher [T1 | Polearm | DMG 3]
Armor: Fairy's Dance [T1 | Cloth Armor | LD 3]
Misc:

Custom Skill


Skills:
Polearm R2
Cloth Armor R4
Searching R1

Active Mods:

Inactive Mods:

Addons:

Active Extra Skills:

Inactive Extra Skills:

Battle Ready Inventory:
Starter Health pots | Heals 50 HP x2
An Mhaighdean Mhara | Familiars Sight x1
Spyglass x3
gelato. | TIERLESS DESSERT | LD III x1
The Stars Collide | TIER 1 PERFECT SALVE | PHERMONES x1
3/4ths of an apple cobbler T1 Desert LD 1 x

Housing Buffs:

Guild Hall Buffs:

Scents of the Wild:

Wedding Ring:

Loot Dice Breakdown:
Gathering: 4
Looting: 4
Finding Chests: 4
Looting Chests: 0
Finding Dungeons: 4
Finding Labyrinths: 4
Stealth Detection: 11

[Van 0]

Van listened as the hosts bickered upon an answer for Oji, neither content with simply disagreeing on their opinions of the matter. She was glad her seat was as far away as it was, the distance between them made their voices much more reasonable in volume. Hopefully this conference would generate something positive as it currently gave the impression it would be nothing more than a bunch of grown adults throwing insults at one another and their nations. However, another player would soon take stand and suggest a more likely alternative, one that would have a reason to attack all of the nations present. Vanessa nodded in agreement, though such a hunch would require significantly more resources and time to investigate.

Oji redirected the anger boiling at the table, reminding them all of their stature and the people they were representing. Hopefully his constructive message would help them begin forming some coherent discussion on what they each believe happened and perhaps it would bear some evidence that has yet to be presented to the public. Vanessa would keep an eye closest on dwarf to await his input, anticipating something that could be bounced off of for the question that was on the front of her mind. She would wait until the time was right to address her question towards Fudral, the only host to have kept quiet during the bustle so far. The topic was too far off and she didn't want to disrupt the tempo of the discussion, directly accusing any of these people would result in a fruitless response.

[Plot Master 0]

Percival studied the woman with the flaming red hair, allowing Senno to finish her thought before he interjected with one of his own. “We‘re not soldiers,” he stated matter-of-factly. Though his tone suggested that response alone was sufficient, he did eventually continue. “We’re scientists, and carpenters, and smiths, and healers, and we’re not soldiers. We don’t have guards.” He paused, then blew out a long breath. “We’ve never needed them before. Before now, I guess.” Silence filled the massive space for a few seconds, and then Percival added, “Of course I’m upset that it happened, but I don’t blame my people for not predicting it. There was no way that we could have. All I want is justice, or at the very least, for it to be labeled what it is - a deliberate attempt to sabotage Srona.”

In the moment, it looked like some of the fire had begun to leave the NPC. Oji’s words might as well have been soft breath on the dying embers, sparking the flames back to life. “A man of standing?” he echoed, his voice dangerously measured as he glared at the Player. “I’ll overlook your incredibly insensitive phrasing,” he began, thumping a fist on the arm of his wheelchair, “only because I find the rest of your statement far more egregious. I am not up here raging blindly like some crazed bull. I’m demanding that my people get that justice. Maybe I’m passionate, but that’s because I actually care. I wish the rest of these representatives would do the same.” With that, he shoved back from the table, and began to cross the stage toward the ramp in the back.

“Mister Percival, please come back,” Hugh called after him, but the words were spoken with very little conviction. 

“Wait,” came Fudral’s deep voice, the simple command booming like a thunderclap. Percival listened, and though he turned, he did not return to the table. Fudral stood, regarding the alchemist over the heads of the other two at the table. “Do you think I don’t know what it is to be angry? A group of men under my charge armed themselves and stormed the presidential estate. If they’d taken lives, that blood would be on my hands.” As if to emphasize, he lifted his dinner-plate sized hands, then dropped them again. “So yes, I am angry. I will remain that way until we’ve solved this.” He sat, then gestured to the empty space at the table. “I will not outright dismiss your claims of arson if you return and discuss them with us in a way that our audience finds agreeable.” His dark eyes slanted toward Oji before returning to his fellow representative. “Can you agree to that?”

While he said nothing, Percival wheeled his chair back to the table.

“Now that we are all together again,” Hugh observed with a clap of his hands, “let us address this man’s question. What does everyone think of the accident in Srona?”

Percival’s jaw tightened at the word ‘accident,’ but he simply replied, “I’ve said my bit. The building was doused in lamp oil. That doesn’t happen by accident.”

All eyes shifted to Tiberius, who shrugged. “All I know is that the medicine wasn’t there when my people needed it, and that was a damn shame.”

As the attention shifted again, Brienne clasped her hands together on top of the table. “I just can’t think of a reason why someone would burn the supply. That medicine is vital to all of us, not only those in Srona.” Pausing to nod to Tiberius, she added, “As demonstrated by Dagan.”

From his spot at the end of the table, Fudral spoke. Though a man of his stature could never be called soft, his voice came quieter than before. “Aye, I suppose in that sense, you're right. It was not merely an attack on Srona. It was an attack on us all.”

Spoiler

This round ends at 11:59 PM EDT on August 19th.
Countdown Timer

@Oji@Senno@Mishiro@Faerie@Pinball@Van

 

[Mishiro 0]

“--if I may, this is not an area to blindly throw out accusations--”

Mishiro stood up. Wordlessly, she left her seat and made her way down the aisle.

“--only because I find the rest of your statement far more--"

The theater was not dark because they were not watching a play. There were movements among the audience but very few towards the podium. But she wasn’t in a hurry, and if she happened to catch a few onlookers’ eyes, they would sooner return to being enraptured by the spectacle unfolding onstage. This, they could do.

“--because I actually care. I wish the rest of these representatives would do the same.”

Mishiro's steps slowed to an almost-stop, her thoughts lagging even further behind – she could see the back of the player who had never left the allotted space in front of the stage since he first walked up to it, and she didn't want to get caught in the line of fire. 

Really. 

At least something decent came of it. The leaders' dialogue ran its natural course. It put her in an awkward position, watching them reassemble themselves and come to a conclusion – or at least Fudral did. That was the immediate problem solved: they weren't pointing fingers at each other anymore. How to hammer down on Fudral's point? She lingered, standing by the fourth row as she mentally ran through the script, line by line. 

Braso's rogue knights were only spoken of in conjunction with the attack on Brienne. Then what of the first two? She realized, a touch too late, that there was really nothing concrete tying them to the cave-in and the fires. 

But they were the only suspicious element…

She was missing some information herself. Before anyone else can speak up, she briskly walked up to the designated point before the stage, passing Oji without a glance. "I would like to ask a few questions," Mishiro began, modulating her voice to a level above her usual soft tone. "Mr. Percival characterized Srona's fires as sabotage. Have the other regions suffered these same attacks as of late? And what could you recount to the public about these events?"

Raining down too many questions at once would be detrimental. She would pause, listening carefully as she had been right from the very start. Following that, if it hadn't already been answered, she would raise her hand and continue as soon as she was called upon again. "Just a follow-up. When did this all take place? Did they all– occur on the same day?"

//
sit down srona. she's fishing for answers. asking for a recap to put other territories in the spotlight. asking for a timeline also. might be useful in general. working theory is still that the bandits from braso are the perpetrators of everything. she's trying to find a way to link them to the cave-in and the fires.

Edited August 21, 2023 by Mishiro

[Oji 0]

Oji's words did not come across the way that he had hoped and intended. Far too late did he realize that 'Man of Standing' was quite insulting and he took the yelling from Percival as he probably deserved it. He only nodded and watched the scene unfold as the gentlemen who had stayed silent spoke, and was able to keep Percival here, and he asked him if he could agree, and he simply nodded to him, letting his voice no be head for this moment. He listened intently to the group agree that these attacks were for all of them.

He heard a quieter voice appear in front of him, and he looked to see a girl had passed by him, asking the questions that were within his own mind. He kept silent and respectful, and nodded to her about said questions. They were good, and maybe they would help this whole kerfuffle unfold. "I have to agree with these, and also add on." He said, not wanting to talk too much, since his moments of talking haven't seemed to help much. Questions were the way forward. "Are there any neighboring countries, or groups that maybe aren't happy with the council that could have coordinated these attacks?"

[Shin Kagami 0]

Kagami already decided to attend the summit on the 27th floor the moment they caught wind of it, but it would be a lie if they claimed some grand reason behind their decision. Helping with an investigation? Potentially unifying the territories towards a common cause? Maybe even a full reunification if it all went well? All great causes but they weren’t the reason why Kagami wanted to attend. No. It was far more selfish. The only thing that mattered was that the free food alone was good enough to pop their head in. But free food with a show? What more could you possibly want? Kagami fully intended to take full advantage of being trapped in a virtual world and live a life of indulgence by kicking back and enjoying the summit with some food in hand.

At least, that’s what Kagami planned after reaching the theater and taking a seat. The beginning announcement was certainly beginning to bore the player. If the summit was just going to be a slew of “speak nice, do nothing” politics, they’d rather just pack up some food and leave. No show was better than a bad show. Then, Percival’s shouts rang across the theater and changed everything. Even when bound to a wheelchair, Kagami felt the lead alchemist’s passion towering above the representatives and shrouding the entire room with a gloom. In contrast, Kagami couldn’t stop a devilish grin from forming across their face. Things were finally getting exciting. They decided to root for Percival and his passionate anger, as if the entire summit was just a play unfolding in front of them and Percival was nothing more than the vehicle for conflict. If Percival’s initial outburst was any indication, everyone at the summit was in for a wild ride. And Kagami was all for it.

After the announcement ended, Kagami quickly rushed to the foyer and grabbed their first round of refreshments, not wanting to miss out any discussions. They were disappointed after returning with a plate full of food and a cup in hand. By the time they reached their seat, the meeting had already calmed down and the representatives were waiting politely for inquiries from the crowd. Even Percival laid silent and waiting despite the fire behind his eyes. But Kagami was patient. As long as Percival didn’t give up, neither would they.

Kagami let out a quick scoff when some older man named Oji stepped up to the plate and asked a simple question and an honest chuckle when hearing Percival’s question. Sure, it might’ve been nice to play detective, but Kagami couldn’t see the point. “What else did you think? I can’t be the only one to have heard Percival yelling out ‘Someone set fire! It was a direct attack on us!’ as if it was happening right now and in front of his eyes,” Kagami thought aloud and to no one in particular. Though if any good came of Oji’s question, it was that Tiberius finally speaking up.

In the few short exchanges that’s occurred. Kagami could gather just a few things. The two major incidents were in Srona and Dagan. Percival and Tiberius. Some fire, some cave-in. Things that you could write off as mere accidents. Reasonably so, or that’s what the President Brienne wanted everyone to consider at least. Ordsea. No clue what happened over there, but nothing enough to stoke the flames. But just like President Brienne was entitled to her own thoughts, so was Tiberius. Kagami couldn’t read minds, but they definitely smelled the distrust between the representatives of the territories that were impacted and the territories that were not impacted amongst the panel. A few conspiracy theories swirled in their mind as the summit continued onwards.

A girl with red hair tried to redirect anger to some unknown, foreign entity. Oji once again tried to calm down Percival. Kagami didn’t even notice Oji’s wording until Percival commented on it, though it did bring a wry smile to their face. Kagami understood Oji’s desire to keep discussion civil to keep things progressing. If anything, it would help the storylines that Kagami formed in her head. They wanted nothing more than Percival and Tiberius to rise above the occasion and start taking some decisive action. Kagami just didn’t expect Percival to threaten leaving the summit.

Like a bullet, Kagami shot out of their seat. Ready to storm the front of the stage. Yell out that Percival can’t just give up yet. Not until he knows what Srona must do. But the dwarf Fudral beat Kagami to the punch. And frankly, in a much calmer manner than Kagami felt like they would ever be able to. Probably for the best too.

But Kagami couldn’t ignore all that they heard. Sure enough, it made sense with how the territories on this floor seemed reliant on each other. That an attack on one was an attack on all. There was just something missing… and the cogs continued to spin. Fudral. Braso. Some kerfuffle with some warriors and attacking the Ordsea’s presidential estate. Brienne. No further incidents. There was just one thing that was lacking here. Why was Ronbaru not involved at all? If anything, wouldn’t Ronbaru be the greatest suspect? And even more, where was Destin? “Surely, something that mattered to all territories should have Ronbaru’s representative here," Kagami thought.

Kagami, still standing, began to walk down the aisle to the front of the stage. Their heart began to thump out of their chest. Their legs were numb, and Kagami could barely register the ground beneath their feet. The moment they spoke to the representatives, they’d no longer be a passive watcher of this play. Though, that wasn’t why Kagami was excited. Kagami was excited to see everyone on the stage solve this mystery or, at least, decide on a path towards this floor’s future. It would no longer just be a play. It would be an amazing story to experience.

Kagami wasn’t sure if the girl ahead of them had the same idea with their question about the other regions and a timeline, but Kagami would patiently wait their turn before iterating upon the previous girl’s question. “And what of Ronbaru? Did nothing occur to them?” If allowed, Kagami would also monologue in hopes of bringing things closer to an end. Possibly the end that Kagami desperately wanted to see. An end with the representatives at their peak. “And even if we find the culprits? What of it? They’ll get punished. And then what? I am as upset as all of you, but does it matter who caused the incidents? Do we close off this chapter of our lives and write it off as a mere incident to be recorded in a single line of history?”

Kagami fought back a smile. This wasn’t the time to look happy with how serious the summit has been and the implications of what they were about to say. But if there was any time to be dramatic, it was now. Kagami clutched at their chest and made sure to look at each representative before finally turning back towards the crowd while speaking. “If an attack on one is an attack on all, if the territories are so damned interconnected and reliant, why do we still act separate? There may be an answer from the past but if truly no one knows, what does it matter? Call me overly pragmatic, but I can’t see that as an excuse for how to act in the future!”

Spoiler

Level: 8
Health: 160 | Energy: 34
DMG: 6 | EVA: 1

Skills:

Combat Skills:
►N/A

Weapon Skills:
► Saber [14/30] 

Utility Skills:
►N/A

Extra Skills:
► Disguise

Familiar Skill: 
►N/A

Armor Skills:
►N/A

Modifiers:
►N/A

Miscellaneous: 
►N/A

Inventory:
»[Equipped] [Vanity] Rapier
»[Equipped] [Rare] Starter Light Armor: Recovery 1; Evasion 1

Battle Ready:
» [2x] Starter Healing Potions (Heals 50 HP)

Housing Buffs: 
N/A

 

[Pinball 1]

Pinball found his head buried in his hand. A man of standing? He might as well have called the dwarf a man of great stature. It might have had about the same effect. It still might, if he doubled down and hurried up with it. How embarrassing. The longer he spent the more he questioned if he really should have even came. He looked again towards Mishiro, only to find her seat empty. 

He shot up in surprise, catching the top of her head moving through the crowd down the aisle. 

For a second he considered following, and then he decided against it. She knew what she was doing. He could get there quickly if he needed to, so long as his fear of a dragon ripping the ceiling off didn't come to pass. He sat back in his seat, a little - no, a lot - more on edge than he was when he'd first accompanied her here. Pinball still wasn't sure what to make of all this discussion, but he still followed. For now, he kept his mouth shut and he bided his time. 

[Plot Master 0]

All four representatives nodded in unison as the dark-haired Player asked her questions. When no one jumped to answer, Brienne finally leaned forward. “Well, Ordsea had the unfortunate incident at the Presidential Estate, where a group of bandits attempted to steal important documents. Most ran off after their attempts were thwarted.” Her expression hardened, and she spoke the last bit as if each word pained her. “However, one man was killed by my bodyguard.”

Perhaps due to the mention of the bandits, all gazes tracked next to Fudral. He heaved a small sigh. “Those bandits trained under me at Targok.” He hesitated, unsure if the audience knew what that was, then added, “That’s our main training camp, in Braso. The men who attacked President Brienne had been disciplined for dishonorable behavior. They robbed an armory. To my knowledge, nothing else has happened to us.” The discomfort on his weathered face suggested that alone was more than enough trouble for one man to handle.

Percival raised a hand. “The fire,” he stated simply, before turning to face Tiberius.

Shifting beneath the collective gaze, the half-dwarf crossed his arms tightly across his chest. “We had that cave-in.”

“As for the day,” Brienne mused aloud, “I believe the bandits came five days ago.”

Fudral thought for a moment. “That does sound about right, actually.” Both Percival and Tiberius nodded their agreements, prompting the commander to speak again. “I did not realize that it all happened at the same time.”

Brienne lifted a finger, pointing at Fudral as she said, “It does give some credibility to your idea that it’s all connected. But I can’t for the life of me figure out how, or why.” Addressing the man at the podium now, she continued, “I had my opposition while running for President; President Hugh literally ran against me, and I didn’t win by much. But I’m not sure what that would have to do with the other territories. And there really aren’t any neighboring countries to speak of.”

“I can understand why the bandits would be angry with me, and perhaps all of Braso,” Fudral stated. “I do not know what possessed them to go to Ordsea.”

Percival shrugged. “Before the fire, I’d have said we had no enemies. We build things for all the territories, and provide medicine to anyone who needs it. Though with our limited supplies, we may have to be more selective.”

“Aye,” Tiberius agreed. “Those caves provided the best soil for our crops. Without them, we won’t be able to feed everyone anymore. Gonna have to do some prioritizing.” A shadow crossed Brienne’s face, and she opened her mouth to say something, but Tiberius spoke again. “Not sure about Ronbaru though. It is kinda odd that they’re not here.”

Brienne shifted in her chair, attempting to call to her aid without drawing attention to herself. “Please go locate Destin,” she murmured. “He really needs to be here.” When she turned back to the discussion, Tiberius was still talking.

“Can’t say I know anything about them. Not really my type.”

“What do you mean by ‘your type?’” Brienne countered.

“You know.” Tiberius shrugged lazily. “The artsy kind. Lot of reading and writing and being sad or something. Never really understood it. Not actually out there working, putting in an honest day’s like the rest of us.” He gestured toward Percival. “You get it.”

Clearly uncomfortable, Percival shook his head. “I-I’m afraid I don’t. I have no problem with the people of Ronbaru.”

“Oh I don’t have a problem with them, exactly,” Tiberius corrected, though he didn’t appear overly bothered by the misunderstanding. “I just don’t think they contribute as much as the other territories do. Not like Srona or Braso.”

Brienne blinked, then leaned forward to peer around Percival. Each word she spoke cut like a knife, and carried undeniable annoyance. “Is there a reason that you might have excluded Ordsea from your list?”

“Well yes,” Tiberius replied plainly. “You lot don’t contribute either.”

Silence fell, broken seconds later by the scrape of Brienne’s chair as she found her feet. Her body, and her voice, trembled with barely contained rage. “Would you mind elaborating on that?”

With another shrug, Tiberius obliged. “Dagan feeds everyone. Srona makes the medicine, and builds things. Braso trains the soldiers.” He twirled a hand in the air, as if searching for the words. “Ronbaru just has their art thing, which no one really needs. And since you asked, I don’t know what Ordsea’s purpose is at all.”

This time, it was Percival who took up the mediator role. “Tiberius,” he cautioned, but Tiberius rounded on him.

“Don’t play dumb. You have hardly any medicine left. Who are you giving it to? The nobles in Ordsea, or your own people?”

“My own people,” came Percival’s honest answer, and he dropped his gaze to his lap.

Tiberius jabbed a finger toward the alchemist, then stood, squaring off against Brienne across the table. “And those nobles sure as hell aren’t getting any of our food. It’ll go to the tradesmen, the farmers, and the soldiers - those who have actually earned it.”

“And what of Ordsea? And Ronbaru?” Brienne clasped her hand into a fist, pounding it on the tabletop. “You’ll sit by while they starve?”

“If they get hungry enough, they’ll take off their fancy shoes and get in the dirt, just like the rest of us.”

“We’re in this together!” She tried once more. “We must look out for each other!”

Tiberius’ face lit with a dark pleasure, as if he’d been waiting for her to say just that. “Look out for each other?” he snarled. “The same way you looked out for us after the cave-in? Where was that aid, President Brienne?” He practically spit her title before continuing, “And where were you after Srona’s fire? Too busy arguing semantics to actually offer help. You’re so damn sure it was an accident. Or do you know that it wasn’t, and you’re trying to avoid blame? Maybe you’re not so innocent. Maybe you arranged the bandit attack to appear a victim like the rest of us. Hell, maybe you worked with Fudral to set it all up!”

The commander surged to his feet. “I will not allow you to drag me into this.”

Brienne’s face flushed, and betrayal washed over her as she turned to Fudral. “That’s what you took from his words?” she asked the man she’d considered an ally. “You don’t feel it necessary to defend me, or Ordsea?”

Fudral hesitated only a beat, then answered simply, “I cannot speak to those accusations.”

Victorious, Tiberius sneered at Brienne. “Looks like we’re all in agreement. No more taking what you haven’t earned. Adapt or die. It’s your choice, and I don’t really care one way or the other. It’s every man for himself now.”

Spoiler

This round ends at 11:59 PM EDT on August 22nd.
Countdown Timer

@Oji@Senno@Mishiro@Pinball @Van @Shin Kagami

 

[Mishiro 0]

"--but I can't for the life of me figure out how or why."

Mishiro nodded. "Thank you."

They were getting there. Ideally, they would have spoken amongst themselves more the moment they realized there was a solid case for the attacks being connected, but this wouldn't be so much of a game if it solved itself at the slightest hint of player input. She already had an inkling as to the attackers' motives, and possibly a way to nudge the leaders in that direction, but she wasn't going to monopolize the floor any further.

She hung around near the front of the stage, just long enough to hear oji's question. Then back up the aisle she went.

"--and even if we find the culprits? What of it? They'll--"

Was that acceptable…? 

She sent a dubious glance at the outspoken player's back. But she wouldn’t stop again, not for them or anything else -- not until she’d returned to her seat and was twisting around to peer at something behind them, in the general direction of the entry gates leading to the foyer. There were now two concerns in her mind, quarreling for attention. She snatched one up to silence it and moved to sit properly, smoothing out her skirts. 

“--and what of Ordsea? and Ronbaru? You’ll sit by--"

They were still talking. More and more, she was starting to reconsider the angle of her next line of questioning. Fact: the first time yielded a good result. She was not sure if she could replicate that if she continued to hammer down her theory further. Because, in line with that outspoken player’s words, it suddenly stopped being about that theory. It didn’t matter whether the attacks were connected, for Dagan, Srona, and Braso were dealing with supply shortages in the aftermath, and they believed they could cut off the other two that they harbored a latent distrust in and be left none the worse. The burden now fell on Ordsea and Ronbaru to justify their part of the share, that their worth equaled the rest.

And she wasn’t sure if this was something outsiders could even have a say in.

//
no questions. back to observing. looks like an internal matter to her. reluctant to intervene.

Edited August 22, 2023 by Mishiro