Emperor Melkor calls for Metus Summit [semi-secret] [Archive]

Wretchengard

14-06-2004, 07:05

Overlord Bradley Steelblood received the message in the heart of Blackstone Fortress, and summoned Bane (arguably Wretchengard's greatest assassin/bounty hunter) before him.

"I've asked you here today to make a proposal," the Overlord mused. "For years you've worked privately as an assassin, and we've turned a blind eye in exchange to your services rendered in the past. I would like to ask for your services again."

"What do you have in mind?" the dangerous Wretchan assassin asked.

"For some time now, I have been thinking of forming a ring of assassins," the Overlord continued. "My allies and I could surely use such a group, for there are many opponents to us and our vision. I have decided to go through with this idea, and will bring my proposal before my colleagues in the near future."

"And how do I figure into this?" the assassin questioned, meeting the Overlord's gaze with his grey eyes.

"I would like you to lead this organization, a ring of assassins for the greatest organization of military powers ever assembled," Steelblood stated. "You are experienced, and I know that you have been considering deviating from your standard jobs."

"Well..." Bane said, scratching the stubble on his face.

"I can assure you, you will be both well paid...and challenged," the Overlord cut him off, lips turning up in a wolfish smile.

"Can I have some time to think this over?" the assassin asked.

"You have one day," Steelblood stated. "You will, of course, keep this information only to yourself."

"Of course," the assassin replied. Bane bowed low, and departed the throne room of Bradley Steelblood.

* * *

Bane of Wretchengard thought long and hard about the oppurtunity that the Overlord had presented him with. He had worked for governments before, of course, but he had never been restricted to working for them exclusively, and never with a whole organization of hired killers. On the other hand, he had not been getting many challenging contracts in recent years, and as the Overlord had somehow guess, he had been considering organized crime and other avenues of work.

"Bah, why not?" he mused.

The next day, he returned to Blackstone Fortress with an answer for Overlord Steelblood.

"I'll do it," he declared.

"Excellent," Steelblood said with a predator's grin. "I will contact you with further details upon my return."

* * *

Later that night, Overlord Bradley Steelblood of the Eternal Dominion of Wretchengard prepared for departure, complete with his entourage of Honour Guards. They boarded the Overlord's transport, a modified military gravshuttle, and took off for the Kalessin's Shining City.

Crimmond

14-06-2004, 07:33

An agent in the interim headquarters of the Black Staff looked over information coming in from several nations. Metus was going to meet. He made a note of it in the database and marked it for future updates.

OOC: Nope. Didn't ask permission, but my intelligence is among the best in the world and this is just a glorified tag that has no real bearing on the conference.

Rezo

14-06-2004, 08:57

OOC: Nope. Didn't ask permission, but my intelligence is among the best in the world

ooc: And where did the rest of the world agree to that?

It didn´t?

Then your claim is invalid. Well, oocly invalid, since IC, you can claim whatever delusions suit your leadership...

And yes, I know that you pour billions upon billions (trillions, perhaps?) into your intelligence, and that they are all elites, trained from childhood... All this claims have been made by sooo many nations... (Yes, apparently, 90% of all NS nations have their intelligence 'among the best of the world'... At least according to their claims)

The only way to claim superior intelligence services is by, say, the rankings for police ratio, IT, or, as the best possible option, actually RPing it...

And your excellent RP (Just assuming you know it without asking for permission) proves nothing, 'cept that they suck...

ic:

Somewhat close to Kalessin

"Ahhh..." Rezo enjoyed the healing spell... Being undead may have advantages, but the constantly rotting bodies one uses were annoying. And the smell wasn´t too pleasent, either. Well, so far, his minions managed the process... He didn´t wnat to know how he would look like if they would forget doing it for, say, a day.

He kicked a maggot crawling along the flesh of his leg, idly cursing it. "I'm not dead y... well, ok, I am, but that doesn´t mean you can eat me. Now... Where was this thing..." He looked around, at his various minions. "Hey! The stone tablets!"

Once he got them, he continued reading, slightly intrigued by the vast variety of societies being Metus- members.

I wonder what Kalessin will look like... Lots and lots of Dragons... Was a good idea to take Valgaav with me...

He continued reading, Idly pondering if Zelgadis would flip... This old demon from Drakwald was still in him, only barely suppressed... Well, he would see.

Crimmond

14-06-2004, 18:06

Crimmond

14-06-2004, 18:10

Derscon

14-06-2004, 18:21

OOC: *stares*

I would, too. You STILL should ask permission, though. Just use that info as a basis for your asking.

Melkor Unchained

14-06-2004, 18:29

OOC: Nope. Didn't ask permission, but my intelligence is among the best in the world

And yes, I know that you pour billions upon billions (trillions, perhaps?) into your intelligence, and that they are all elites, trained from childhood... All this claims have been made by sooo many nations... (Yes, apparently, 90% of all NS nations have their intelligence 'among the best of the world'... At least according to their claims)OOC: Nope. Never did that. Created an intelligence group that is Big Brother, CIA, FBI and KGB on steroids, had them take out the current intelligence position, had them kill off almost every leader across my nation, dirty-nuke one of my cities, plan and execute an annexation of another nation, had them completely wipe out the imperial structure of my nation from inside, form their own government and successfully infiltrate nations such as AMF, The Steel Turtle and Roania and now controls the entire military and political structures of Crimmond. All through RP.

I'd call that at least above average...

[OC: I had a post lined up to address this: I'm not too particularly concerned with the matter, to be honest, so I didn't bother trying to repost it after it got eaten by our servers. I'll allow Crimmond to have a vague idea of what's going on: this should be limited to rumors and innuendo about the meeting--you know its happening but you don't know when or where. And no one knows anything of the agenda.

With that said, lets all do ourselves a favor and bugger off from all this Out of Character bickering nonsense. Essentially all Crimmond posted was a glorified tag, so don't freak out over it. :wink: ]

Derscon

14-06-2004, 19:00

OOC: Heh. Kinda agree.

Hey Melkor, what ever happened to the "senior" part of "senior game moderator?" I thought you were a "Senior?" Did they cancel that category or what? Just curious.

The Silver Turtle

14-06-2004, 20:30

OOC: The Steel Turtle? Is that a long-lost sister nation of mine?..
IC:
The Ineffable jet approached Kalessin airspace;
This is IA-003, carrying The Great Ineffable Bob to the summit, requesting permission to land in or near the Shining City.

Crimmond

14-06-2004, 22:23

OOC: The Steel Turtle? Is that a long-lost sister nation of mine?.. [/i]OOC: I was thinking about SB... sorry. :P And now I shall vanish from this thread.

Garrison II

14-06-2004, 22:27

Transmission to the World

<Transmission to the world>
<Diplomatic Corp>
{Encryption 3857}

Uploading now

Uploading Complete

Garrison II will send delegates imediately

{This has been a diplomatic service announcement}

End Message

http://www.gamespy.com/avatars/av/FN/fn650.gif
Lady Taylor
Lady of Garrison II
House of David
Lady of York

Addamous

15-06-2004, 02:43

Getting the information, late as usual, Sir Addamous was mad enough. Now he realizes that he may very well be expelled from Metus.

As he turned around, his trench coat flowing behind him, he said to the operator, "Get me to that meeting, NOW!"

OOC: Sorry, I might not be able to post for a while because of a bad internet connection. In fact, I'd be surprised if this one goes through. I'll sure as hell try to check the boards as often as I can though.

Kajal

15-06-2004, 03:04

Kajal

15-06-2004, 03:47

As the Imperial Dropship had set off to arrive in Kalessin, it... did. Rather uneventfully. The small four fighter escort had returned to base as soon as the dropship had neared Kalessin's airspace.

"This is IKD-442, requesting landing permission in the Shining City for the Summit."

Lord Marshal/Imperial Controller Leruul fidgeted as the small dropship hovered on repulsorlift waiting for clearance.

Assington

15-06-2004, 08:09

The Assingtonian jet roared through Kalessin airspace as it followed a path towards Shining City. Calis and the other passengers sat patiently, going over relevant information as the pilot called in.

"This is AJ1-88, carrying President Calis of Assington. Request permission to land so he can attend the summit."

Derscon

15-06-2004, 08:14

OOC:

*knock knock*

Kalessin, you there? Hello? :wink: :D

TheSwissGuard

15-06-2004, 08:19

imported_Ilek-Vaad

15-06-2004, 22:02

imported_Ilek-Vaad

15-06-2004, 22:03

OOC: When Melkor says jump................tag

Addamous

15-06-2004, 22:44

The flight was rather short and boring. Addamous was still mad because he got the news of the meeting late.

"This is the Operator of the Valge. Sir Addamous of The Icelands of Addamous is on board. Requesting Permission to enter the Shining City."

Ares Industries

16-06-2004, 00:35

Damien peered out the side-windows, looking upon the Shining City for the first time.

“This is ARES-1, requesting permission to land.”

Wretchengard

16-06-2004, 04:53

"This is Wretchan shuttle Superior, requesting landing vectors," the Overlord heard his pilot say.

Can they even receive our message down there? he wondered.

Steelblood knew that in Kalessin, they disdained modern technology, instead relying on powerful magic. Therefore he had instructed his pilots to simply set down in an open area near or in the city if they did not receive a response or some for of instruction. He gazed out as the mysterious island of Kalessin came into view.

Kajal

16-06-2004, 08:36

Leruul got a little bit impatient.

"Pilot, take us in, and land us by the Wretchan shuttle. I'm not going to sit here and wait any longer."

And so the dropship swooped down towards Kalessin.

imported_Kalessin

16-06-2004, 23:13

Message from the Kalessin Ministry of Peace to all Metus member nations:

"You may land your aircraft anywhere in the wasteland surrounding the city. We must request that you do not approach within half a mile of the city itself, or within three miles of the woods bordering the wasteland, for reasons of safety. We shall be sending escorts to each of you once you have landed. We have arranged for a small gap in the Northern mists to be opened. If you attempt to pass through the mists at any other point, or land outside the designated area, we will not be held responsible for the consequences."

As the message came through, high above the coast of Kalessin, the omnipresent mists which shrouded the entire island shifted, opening a tiny gap, only a few hundred metres in diameter.

imported_Kalessin

16-06-2004, 23:50

OOC: Sorry chaps - I've been a bit preoccupied of late, and haven't been checking the forums as regularly as usual. Thankfully, TGI Bob had the presence of mind to tell me about this on MSN. ;)

IC:

As they approached the mists, the crews of the various diplomatic craft were met by a strange sight indeed, for these mists were not merely static formations of suspended moisture. Rather, they shifted and turned constantly, ripples and swirls eddying through their substance. Within, faint half-tinges of colour flickered, from the barest suggestion of a malign crimson, to an almost imperceptable hint of a rich, royal purple. And to those who looked most carefully, for an instant, distinct faces could almost be seen peering out from the mists, before flowing back into the whole. Some were twisted with bitter hatred, their eyes wide and staring. Others smiled quizzically, as if surprised, or curious, while others had eyes that sparkled with outright mirth, as if they were laughing at these petty beings, that needed to harness the minerals of the earth in order to fly. And throughout, lighting, in bright, surreal shades of violet and rose crackled and arced, just feet away from the wings of the passing craft.

Passing through this strange and unnatural phenomema, which seemed to have a thickness and density which vastly exceeded its outside appearence, the craft emerged directly above the high, white cliffs of the south coast of Kalessin. Once past the cliffs, they found themselves flying over a vast, barren wasteland. vast, barren wasteland. The earth was scorched and no living things could be seen for miles around, with the only sign that life had ever existed in this place the occasional withered, stunted, burnt out tree. To the west, the wastes ended at the borders of a great forest, which continued on further than the eye could see, while to the north, a tall range of snow-capped mountains towered up, like a row of jagged teeth, tearing at the grey, cloudy sky.

At the eastern edge of the wasteland sprawled a vast city, which curled around a magnificent natural harbour. This city was of a size that matched even the greatest conurbations of mortal man, and over it, mighty Dragons of all colours, strident red and poisoness green, striking blue and shining gold, circled in a dance which was more graceful and noble than one ever devised by any mortal choreographer.

The outer slums which formed most of its area were composed of millions of squalid wooden huts and crude hovels of brick and stone, and were dominated by four gigantic concrete edifices, each surrounded by hundreds of meters of barbed wire and other such defences. Towards the centre of the city however, separated from the outer city by a vast wall, thousands of towers, in as many colours as the mind can imagine, spired upwards towards, or even through, the clouds, some shining like miniature suns, others bathing the area around them in pastel warmth, and others glowering with eerie menace. In the very centre of the city, a great golden palace shone like a beacon, its central tower dwarfing all the buildings clustered around it.

Derscon

17-06-2004, 02:25

PLane above Kalessin

"This looks fun," the Czar exclaimed. The Jet did a controlled nose-dive through the gap in the mists. Wow, the Czar thought as he was in the process of going through the mist. This place looks like the place I grew up. Shame that place was destroyed. The Alchemists and Jedi Masters were always very friendly. The plane leveled out and put on its off-road landing gear, which was really specially-designed tracks. The plane landed without incident, and everyone stepped out. "Amazing," the Czar said, looking at the city. "Great building in the center." He looked mostly at that building. Heh, he thought to himself. Kremlin Palace is bigger than that castle. He just leaned against the plane, waiting for the Kalessin escorts to come, and got on the phone with Sith Lord Adolf Hitler to get breifed on the Communist Uprising in his third-largest city.

Addamous

17-06-2004, 02:38

"Do it, land in the wastelands," Addamous commander the Operator.
"Couldn't we try to get through the mist?" said the Operator with a glazed look in his eyes.
"You could, and you could play russian roulette with a seven-clip semiautomatic handgun with a bullet in the chamber." Addamous slowly took out a Colt 45 cal.
"I'll land in the wastelands."

Kajal

17-06-2004, 04:31

"Follow the instructions. Put us down in the wastelands, preferably with repulsorlift only. It's nicer when you aren't going to scorch your feet."

The Kajali dropship deftly manuevered through the hole in the mists, before setting down in the wastelands on repulsorlift, as ordered.

It _was_ nice to not burn your feet on the ground.

Phyrric

17-06-2004, 07:17

OOC: When Melkor says jump................tag

God forbid I should agree with an enemy, but my thoughts exactly.

Assington

17-06-2004, 08:05

The pilot of the AJ1-88 wasn't quite sure what the mist was, and decided it best to keep clear and stay focused on landing in the wastelands. It wasn't long before he brought the jet down using the Harrier like thrusters in a vertical landing.

Within minutes of the landing President Calis was standing outside his jet, all necessary, the rest of his retinue not far behind.

The Brotherhood of Nod

17-06-2004, 09:16

OOC: I don't know how, but assume Oxanna landed in the wastelands :)

The Silver Turtle

17-06-2004, 21:31

Curse ye, Olde Godde Of Triple Postes!

The Silver Turtle

17-06-2004, 21:33

The Silver Turtle

17-06-2004, 21:34

The Ineffable Jet flew through the gap in the mists, TGI Bob occasionally looking out to the wondrous sights outside. As the wastelands approached, a suitable landing strip was looked for but not found.
"Sir, which vtol mechanism do you want to use? The old one, or our new one?"
"Well, they wouldn't have installed the new one if we shouldn't use it, would they?"
"Right. Activating heaters now..."

Beneath the jet, millions of filaments on the underside of the wings began to glow as megawatts of power began to course through them. Soon they were too bright for the unshielded human eye to look at, and as the jets main engines shut down, the craft began to hover on the convection currents from this intense heat. Ripples of blue and purple began to course through the air below the jet, as it slowly began turning to a plasma, shimmering almost as majestically as the magical mists surrounding Kalessin. Gradually the jet began descending, as the power was lessened and the filaments succumbed to the cooling mechanisms inside the wings. Gently, the craft lowered and then touched the ground, and the filaments were switched off altogether, the plasma fading as quickly as it had come.

"Well, I'd say that was a succesful test now, wouldn't you?"
Without another word to the pilot, The Great Ineffable Bob stepped out the aircraft.

Ares Industries

20-06-2004, 02:17

The pilot looked back at Damien, who nodded, then brought the helicopter through the gap in the mists. They landed a few minutes later, the bodyguards and diplomats piling out of the cramped passenger section of the helicopter. Damien was the last one out, as he stopped to talk to the pilot.

“Don’t go anywhere, I want to be able to leave quick, if need be.”

Anaguum

20-06-2004, 02:48

OOC: So sorry I haven't replyed until now. I haven't exactly been up to date and I just learned about it.

Stanislav Boricov, the Czar of Anaguum, set the message down on his desk and pushed the intercom. The voice of his secretary came through the speaker.
"Yes sir?"
"Send in the prime minister."
The door opened moments later and the prime minister, a bearded, barrel-chested man who seemed to barely fit into his suit stepped in. Boricov, who was looking down at his desk and pretending to be busy, motioned for the man to sit down. After several moments, he looked up.
"Good evening, Prime Minister."
The man smiled through his thick beard. "It is indeed, sir. A very fine evening. The weather has been-" He stopped abruptly at the look on Boricov's face.
"A meeting has been called for all Metus members. I am far too busy to go myself, so I shall be sending you in my place."
The prime minister nodded. "Very well. I will go prepare."
"No, you won't. You must leave now. The message reached me late and you need to be there as soon as possible."
The PM looked startled. "Now? But I had hoped to see my family before I leave."
The Czar shrugged. "We all have things we want to do. We also have things we need to do, and those thing override our wants. It is a dangerous thing to put your wants before your needs. Do you understand what I am saying?"
He nodded weakly.
"Good. Get going then."
The prime minister stood up, bowed, and left the office.

Several hours later, the Prime Minister's helicopter set down in the wastelands. He stepped off, awaiting further instructions.

Rezo

20-06-2004, 21:09

Rezo

20-06-2004, 21:19

The mist was... Impressive. Rezo looked at it, seemingly intrigued. Though, of course, his emotions weren't exactly... excessive, considering his status... Being undead.

However, as... intriguing as it was, he wasn't prepared for what he saw next, the 'Shining city'.

"Impressive... Very impressive..."

The blimp descended, slowly, Rezo was just hoping that they would evade the dragons... After all, such a tail could easily become a problem.

"You know, Zelgadis... I think I should have something similar..."

"Or not..."

"Oh, come on..."

The discussion continued, and eventually, they landed, heading towards their destination.

"One has to admit, Kalessin has style..."

Assington

19-07-2004, 08:41

Perhaps a bump is in order.

Melkor Unchained

19-07-2004, 09:31

More to come when Kalessin gets his monitor fixed.

Derscon

19-07-2004, 18:09

Kremlin Palace

The Czar used telekinetics to communicate with Otto von Bismarck, who was currently still in the wastelands in Kalessin.

Bismarck, has anything happened yet?

No, Andropov. Nothing yet. You can come back, I guess.

Okay. I'll be right there.

The Czar arranged things in the office and shook his head. "Well," he said to himself. "Back to Kalessin." The Czar's eyes glowed red and he disappeared in an array of fire.
=====================================
Kalessin -- Wastelands Outside Shining City: Dersconian Imperial Shuttle

Otto von Bismarck, Supreme Commander of the General Staff, paced up and down the shuttle. Suddenly, a fire broke out right in the middle of the shuttle. He ran and grabbed the fire extinguisher when he saw a sillouette of a human. He put the fire extinguisher back and shook his head. "Don't scare me like that, Andropov," Bismarck said to the fire. The fire disappeared, leaving Czar Rekjyavich Ivan Andropov III in the place of the sillouette. The Czar brushed himelf off and smiled.

"Sorry, but a transport ship would take too much time, and waste too much fuel. So, any response from the Kalessin athourities?"

"Nope," Bismarck stated.

"Damn."

Addamous

19-07-2004, 19:17

"Operator, call my secertary. Tell her to cancel all of my appointments for the next 3 days. I have a feeling that we're going to be here for a while," Addamous said, with little expression in his voice. "Where are the escorts?" Addamous asked himself.

Derscon

20-07-2004, 00:57

The czar paced back and forth continuously.

"Damnit!" the Czar said. "I'm getting bored out here doing nothing." He went to the lounge section of the shuttle and activated the Boisterous Ultra Machine of Playing, which was the long, unneeded term for a video game console, popped in Operation Red Storm: Invasion of Hutu, picked his save slot, and started playing.

Melkor Unchained

20-07-2004, 01:15

OC: OK, listen up ya buggers! I'm putting this thread on an OC hiatus [meaning we're not going to have your leaders sitting around for weeks ICly just because Kal's having some...troubles with his machine], meaning your characters are free of course via fluid time to do..well, whatever you need them to. When Kal comes back [which shouldn't be too long from what I've heard], we'll get this rolling. But for now... patience.

Polish Warriors

20-07-2004, 19:08

*Just beyond the mists, a Massive Aircraft appears with the royal Polish ensignia emblazoned on it's upper hull. It is Sir Stanislavski and he has not come to do too much talking as his entourage numbers 250 Royal Knight Raiders. An elite unit of dedicated soldiers outfited in blood red colored body armor reminiscent of late 15th century German gothic design but with obvious modifications such as the armor; which is made our of a lightweight titanium and bulletproof resin alloy. They are armed with M57 automatic rifles and all carry Long swords as a side arm.* Sir Stanislavski: (adressing his troops) "Well men I have no idea what to expect when we get to this summit. Apparently Metus has conveined a meeting to discuss our alliance and the possibility of future hostile actions by other nations. I just hope we can navigate through this damn mist! Be prepared for anything! As we are new comers to this region and are not yet fully briefed on it's history. Maintain yourselves with the utmost honor and dignity as we will be here in the presence of a most powerfull overlord. If anything should go awry remember, shoot first and ask questions later! Be fully aware of your surroundings and observant at all times. Well gentlemen, our time to look our best has come I will brief you further as we approach this place E.T.A. 20 minutes LOCK AND LOAD BOYS! General Dombrovski! radio ahead to The Czar of Derscon and let him know we are enroute and that he has suffeciante reinforcments!"

Polish Warriors

20-07-2004, 19:19

Bizump!

The Brotherhood of Nod

20-07-2004, 19:38

Maybe it's useful to start a new thread in which all leaders are already present when Kalessin gets back? This thread is a bit...inorderly by now :)

New Sigmisund

20-07-2004, 19:49

the current Tulinagwe Seif Davidus sat at his desk, there was relative calm and new sigmisund was going through a time of prosperity, then a comunique came through, he was shocked, the fax thingy worked. He read through, there was a note from the dersconian czar saying attendance was mandatory, as a relitivly new nation to greater prussia davidus decided he should go. He marched along the corridor, heading deep into bowls of his pallace, he searched for one person, Lord inquisitor Cadfael, he would need the expertise of an inquisitor for this, amd cadfael had strong links with the orders famulous and dialogous.

davidus, cadfael, 5 of the ordo sororitas, and 10 adeptus custodes including a centurion, and 3 inquisitors, ximinez, fang, and biggles. they borded the inquisitorial craft, launched into orbit and headed for gate 4.

the craft slowly neared the gate, it activated, they glided towards it and slided in, the gate closing seconds after.

the craft reapeared on earth atop the huge monolith lnown as lancre miliseconds later. fro there it flew to kalessin.

The Silver Turtle

20-07-2004, 20:56

OOC: I found it! Finally!
Edit: What's up with these new forums? "Galaxian Warrior"???
*wanders off shaking head*
[/threadjack]

Polish Warriors

20-07-2004, 22:03

Sir Stanislavski: " General Dombrovski, steady through this damndable mist!
*The massive ship lumbers it's way through the mist cautiously* Dombrovski: " Commander we have succesfully navigated through the mist! and the gates our within sight! Stanislavski: Excellent well done General! land us through those gates! *The ship slowly approaches the gate and the gates open slowly, the ship passes through and reverses it's thrusters to hover and then gracefully lands* Stanislavski: Well comrades! This is it. Troops to the ready! * A rear hatch opens on the ship and as the ramp lowers, the Royal Knight Raiders march out in formation with Stanislavski at the Helm* Stanislavski: Well men I'm not sure what we are supposed to do now Paaarade..REST! *the troops now grumble amongst themselves as they observe thier surroundings* Stanislavski: Men, we shall stand down until further instructions from The Czar this would be a good time to eat or get yourself some water.

Cav

20-07-2004, 23:27

"Metus? What the hell is that?" Emperor Cav asked as he was briefed on the new situation in Greater Prussia.

"Well, Your Exellency, from the little we know, it's an alliance of sorts. We were enrolled in the group when we moved to the new region."

Cav looked at the list of member nations, impressed at the roster. "Prepare the plane. It looks like we're going to the summit."

**************
Cav sat back, reading the backgrounds of the other Metus members. He didn't want to be the "new kid on the block," so Cav was going to try and make a name for himself at the summit. At least he could count on Derscon and Polish Warriors for support. The pilot came on the radio and informed The Emperor of the large mist covering the landing zone.

"Well, we've got the Archangel on board, we might as well use it." The Archangel is a small shuttle that ferries diplomats and other important people to obscure locations without regular airports (like the moon colony). In The Emperor's plane it served as a backup escape pod. "I'll just take it home when I'm done."

"But sir, you won't be able to get your entire security detail on the shuttle," General Frost protested. "Do you trust the men on the ground?"

"Not really, Greg. But I'll take two men and that should be plenty. I'll see you when I get back." Cav turned towards the staircase into the belly of the jumbo jet. He got settled in the Archangel and the pilot opened the bay doors and coasted them down through the mist. They spotted a large amount of craft in one area and decided to touch down in that area.

Parthenon

21-07-2004, 01:00

ooc: Never noticed this thread, im a member of the CoE.
Ill send my empress Amanda Valtreck, Ill edit this post when I read the previous pages.

Derscon

21-07-2004, 03:03

Transport ship

The Czar looked at the troops coming from the Polish Warrior ship. He just shook his head. God, it looks like he is preparing for an invasion! The seven Koeniglichersicherheitmannschaft (and the ONLY Imperial Guards present) came out, swords sheathed and to the side, relaxed. THe Czar shook his head again and dismissed the Koeniglichersicherheitmannschaft in to the shuttle. The Czar was walking back in when he heard someone walking behind him.

The Czar swung around and pointed the tip of his rapier at the person's throat. The Czar's eyes went a bit wide when he saw who it was. "Oh! Sorry about that." He sheathed the sword and shook hands with the person. "You must be Sir Stanislavski of Polish Warriors. Sorry about the rapier." The Czar smiled a bit.

"Yes, I am," Sir Stanislavski said, shaking his hand. "You are the Czar of Derscon, I presume?"

"Yes, I am. Czar Rekjyavich Ivan Andropov the Third. Just call me "Ivan," though," he said.

"I see, Ivan," Sir Stanislavski said. The Czar took a glance at the soldiers.

"You know, Sir Stanislavski, those soldiers are not necessary. All of us here in Metus are friendly. You do not need them; it makes an impression that you do not trust us. You should send them back." (((OOC: HINT, HINT!!!)))

"I will think about that," Sir Stanislavski stated, and he left back to his shuttle. The Czar narrowed his eyes as Sir Stanislavski left. He is paranoid -- I don't think he fully trusts us. I'll have to get him to. A shuttle landed nearby and the Czar turned to look. He saw the seal on the ship, and smiled. I never thought I'd be on friendly terms with the Empire that I once fought. The Czar walked up to the landed shuttle to meet Emperor Cav.

"So, you must be Emperor Cav! I am Czar Rekjyavich Ivan Andropov the Third, Czar of Derscon. It i a pleasure to finally meet you."

Cav

21-07-2004, 07:15

Cav exited through the back of the shuttle and was almost immediately greeted by the Czar of Derscon. He's probably thinking the same thing I am-- how we once fought briefly and then became allies. How things change over the course of history...

He extended his hand to Andropov and was about to greet him when he looked into the distance. "I didn't know we were bringing our militaries. I guess some people are less trusting than others. Well, I'd be afraid of Melkor too, if I wasn't so experienced.

"Anyways, I am sorry for not properly introducing myself, Czar. It is truly a pleasure to meet you finally, after our many correspondences in the past. You may call me Cav."

Menelmacar

21-07-2004, 08:29

Elenpalantír 487, merely but one element of Menelmacar's global reconsat system, watched attentively as the impenetrable mists of Kalessin cracked open... it dutifully reported this interesting development just before passing out of the sector and handing off to Elenpalantír 834. 834, passing over the area on a perpendicular course, another part of the vast net of such satellites designed to keep a watch on the entire planet at any time, saw several small craft enter the opening in the mists... crossreferencing with the records of other Elenpalantíri would reveal from whence those craft had come.

It was perhaps an hour, an hour and a half before interest in the mists' breach led MISSION analysts along the logical investigative path, and perhaps half an hour after that that a preliminary report landed on the desk of Lady Serendis nos Fithurin, Prefect of Imperial Defense and Homeland Security.

"Interesting... very interesting indeed," she mused as she browsed through it before getting up to carry it upstairs to the Elentári. "Some sort of gathering... it will take some very careful investigation to determine what is being discussed..."

Derscon

22-07-2004, 01:30

AN OUT OF CHARACTER POST

I will be leaving for the beach tomorrow, and will not have access to the internet. All assets are protected by an impenitratable forcefield.

This forcefield is activated NOW.

Melkor Unchained

22-07-2004, 01:40

Did anyone actually read my post?! :headbang:

Russapovia

22-07-2004, 02:26

Due to my health I shall not be able to travel abroad. But I shall send a representative. Count Andre-Allistaire von Katrineburg, head of the House of Leipzig-Thompson will be in attendance.

Rev. Ian R.K. Paisley
Emperor of Greater Prussia

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Demonic Son of a..."

"Kyle, hold your tongue." Ian Paisley remonstrated his son. "I don't like the idea of an alliance with some so-called "Dark Lord" anymore than you do, but we are stuck. I told Viktor it wasn't a good idea. But sometimes he just doesn't listen to me...didn't listen to me."

"At least we are sending that Aristocratic weasel...it should have less impact on our image...I always thought he was a fag." Kyle said.

"What makes you think that?" Ian questioned.

"Well, just look at the way he dresses. All those frilly shirts and that long hair. And what a name! An-dre All-is-taire" he said, making a motion with his hand for each syllable.

"Son, everyone in the Royal Court dresses like that." Ian sighed.

"Well I've had suspicions about more than one of them."

The Brotherhood of Nod

22-07-2004, 10:49

Did anyone actually read my post?! :headbang:

:D

Anyway, there didn't happen much really concerning the summit, just that some people arrived rather late.

Menelmacar

24-07-2004, 09:17

OOC: And me posting about my satellites, which basically just means I know there's a meeting, and who's sent delegates there, but not what it's about. :confused: Essentially a glorified tag.

~Siri

Tarasovka

24-07-2004, 15:37

Did anyone actually read my post?! :headbang:

OOC: Nope.
And stop bashing that poor wall! It has done nothing to you! And you might break it.

The Brotherhood of Nod

24-07-2004, 18:40

OOC: And me posting about my satellites, which basically just means I know there's a meeting, and who's sent delegates there, but not what it's about. :confused: Essentially a glorified tag.

~Siri

Pretty much what I meant, yeah.

imported_Kalessin

15-08-2004, 02:33

OOC:

Sorry for this being so horribly late - I had a post written three weeks ago, just before I went away, but the forum ate it. Will set up the conference proper for you ASAP - but it's 2:30 AM now, so I need sleep! For now, welcome to Kalessin! Apologies for the crapness of the post - I hate doing rewrites.

IC:

As the shuttles arrived, landing one by one upon the cold, ashen surface of the lifeless plain, a group of tiny dots, which between them displayed all the countless gleaming colours of the rainbow, rose up from the city, and began to move toward the waiting delegations. They sped across the city, and then across the plain, with awe-inspiring speed, and as they grew closer, their shapes became steadily more recognisable.

The Dragons flew with an easy economy which seemed somewhat unnatural, given their huge, heavy-boned bodies and the sheer speed at which they were travelling. Although they must have been approaching at a rate not far below the speed of sound, the gigantic lizards flapped their great leathery wings back and forth in a slow, purposeful manner that almost seemed lazy, their long thin tails rippling in the airstream behind them.

Below the body of each of the scaly beasts hung a large wooden cage, crafted from good solid oak, around the inside walls of which were benches of the same wood, topped by fine satin cushions, the tassels of which rippled gently in the rushing wind.

Atop each Dragon rode a tall warrior, each clad from head to toe in ornate ceremonial armour fashioned from a dozen precious metals and studded with countless priceless gems, and draped in a long silk cloak. And each warrior carried in his hand an elegant rune-encrusted silver halberd, and wore upon his head a high-crested helm, fronted by a silken veil.

Then, as the Dragons came ever closer, until the waiting delegates could hear the steady flapping of the wings and the gentle creaking of the ropes binding cage to Dragon, and as the acrid odour of sulphur and potash that formed the distinctive scent of a Dragon wafted its way toward them, the lead Dragon raised its head in an ear-splitting bugle, which resonated in a strange, bubbling fashion, as if it came not through the clear air, but through deep, clouded seawater. And as the strange sound poured out from the creature's fanged mouth, the Dragons swept upward in unison, spreading their wings vertically, and stopped, yet there was no feeling of decceleration - merely a bizarre, disjointed feeling of change - such as one might feel when waking up from a dream.

As the Dragons slowly drifted down, the riders gazed down upon the waiting diplomats, their cold eyes staring out from above their veils.

Enter

And as the strange voice echoed in the back of the mind of each ambassador, the doors of the cages, each of which appeared to contain seating for some twenty men, silently drifted open.

Once all the visitors were seated in each cage, the Dragons slowly flapped their way up into the air, as the cage doors swung shut of their own accord. And then, darknessand a terrible cold which bit deep into the marrow of those who hung underneath the bellies of the great Kalessini beasts.

When light returned, the diplomats found themselves plunging down toward the base of a great wall, which rose up toward the sky as far as the eye could see. This wall was built of no material known to mortal man, for it was as black as the deepest night and so smooth that even the cold coastal winds of Kalessin could gain no purchase on it, unmarred by even the slightest imperfection of texture or of hue.

Eventually, the Dragons gracefully alighted in front of a large gate, which appeared to have been crafted from a metal even more alien than the substance that formed the wall itself. At first glance, the gate appeared to be black, but upon closer inspection, it was of a hue that the eyes of the visitors refused even to glimpse. Rather, its true colour hovered in the back of the mind, hiding in the deepest corners of the mortal consciousness, where madness and nightmares lurk. Upon its smooth surface were engraved countless strange and twisted runes, some of which were glowing gently with an eerie red light.

Then, as the ambassadors emerged from the cages, the gates swung silently open, and a short, wizened figure, draped in pitch-black robes, shuffled toward them. He stopped as he reached the threshold, and looked over the assembled guests, his expression hidden in the shadow of his cowl, before turning, and lifting a single withered hand to wave them forward after him.

"Come."

His voice was soft, but well modulated and clear, cutting easily through the ambient noice. It had a strange, alien musicality about it, which, for some reason, sent a shiver down the spine of some of those who heard it, and set others teeth on edge.

Silently, he led them through a seemingly endless maze of streets and alleys, winding around countless tall towers, over every shape, colour and size. Some shone so brightly that they eclipsed the weak light of the sun, searing the eyes of any who might look at them. Others bathed the area around them in pastel warmth, and others yet glowered with eerie menace. And then there were some that stood in a constant, random state of flux, images and patterns flashing over them in a series of bizzare and unnatural hues. But outnumbering these by far were the serried ranks of towers which had no glow at all, but sat, dead and silent, their walls crumbling slightly, covered in mildew and and lichen, an aura of terrible cold and loneliness surrounding them, as they spired up toward the uncaring sky. The streets seemed close to deserted, though occasionally an extravagantly attired figure would strut past, not even sparing the diplomats a glance, let alone a greeting, but from many of the tower windows above, screams and laughter, groans and cackles, often mixed and merged together, floated down constantly.

Eventually however, they came to another gate, this one of the purest gold, and also encrusted with complex runes, set into a marble wall. The figure waved his hand, and the runes glowed brightly for a moment, as the gates swung silently open.

The ambassadors followed their guide, stepped through the golden gate, and walked out of the shadowed courtyard into light. While most of Kalessin was completely shrouded in thick, dark clouds, here, the sun beamed down through clear blue skies, onto a garden that stretched for miles on every side. The lakes were pure and clean, the water still as the surface of a mirror, and the grassy lawns were bordered by thousands of different varieties of flower, some of which the delegates recognised from their own homelands or from their travels, some of which they had merely heard of, and some of which were not, and could not have been, from any land of men or machines. The landscape was broken up not only by undulating hills, but also by dense groves of trees, reaching out with their branches over the calm waters. The whole area was bounded by a single high wall of smooth white marble, unmarred by even the smallest scratch or imperfection, and in the centre rose a gigantic golden palace, connected to the gate by a single winding path of white gravel. Its gleaming spires, glowing as brightly as the sun, reached up towards the heavens, furthur than the eye could follow, clear though the sky was, and the area which it covered dwarfed that of any other such edifice in all the worlds inhabited by men or elves, and it was towards this palace that the hunch-backed figure shuffled, pulling his cowl down over his eyes as if to protect them from the warm, bright sunlight.

He led them through the golden doors of the palace, which stood open, an impressive marble gargoyle on either side, and entered a long, vaulted passageway, the golden walls of which were engraved with countless images of leaders of nations and races bringing tribute. The doors which ended the passage, in contrast with their surroundings, were black as deepest night, and upon each of them was carved the image of an eight-pointed star, glowing with a malevolent red light.

These doors swung open of their own accord at the robed figure's approach, to reveal a strange grey mist which he stepped through into, beckoning the diplomats onward.

OOC:

To be concluded after the commercial break! ;)

Derscon

15-08-2004, 03:10

The Czar (OOC: With his uberability to be in two places at once ;) ) looked around at the palace in awe. Damn, nice place. REALLY reminds me of what my dad used to tell me about his place of birth.

Presgreif

15-08-2004, 03:39

ooc: Oh shit......Melk, do you want me in on this?

Melkor Unchained

15-08-2004, 05:17

ooc: Oh shit......Melk, do you want me in on this?

You betcha.

incidentally, I'm probably just going to assume I've already got a delegate in Kalessin, since he has one in Ali'Staan. Gotta check with 'im first though.

Assington

15-08-2004, 05:51

President Calis and his men followed the guide in mute awe. Assington being a very modern nation with no remains of a magical history still intact, beasts such as dragons were a rare sight indeed.

Not sure of how things would proceed in such a place, Calis remained silent as and decided he's merely follow the others and catch on quickly enough.

OCC: I'm still here... :rolleyes:

Kamphstadt

15-08-2004, 06:02

This is Reichskamphen...how should I rp my entrance?

The Brotherhood of Nod

15-08-2004, 10:31

OOC: Best to assume you're already there, I think, since arrival has been RP's already and it's not necessary to have those dragons fly back to somewhere just to pick you up :p

IC: Oxanna Kristos walked around the garden a bit, then followed the Kallessinian into the castle, through the hallway (admiring the figures on the walls), into the mists.

Presgreif

15-08-2004, 10:50

The G.I.S. Valient hovered into Kalessin space, sending out the Metus Familiarity Frequency to whoever was listening. Natalya was less than pleased. She barely had time to stop at Greifsgrad to replenish supplies and switch ships before she once again departed for a long interstellar journey. She was so weary....all she wanted was rest. Years of constant anguish had taken their toll on the young Goddess. Natalya was exhausted, but she realized that her presence at the summit was imperative. She would not let her loyal allies down again. She stood up from the commander's chair of the Valient, and pressed a button conveniently placed under her left hand.

This is Natalya Tzeentch, formerly Natalya de Greif, Mistress of The Greifan Empire, identification code three, zero, three, six, five, seven, two, Malta, Bravo. Ground control, I am expected, I am late, I request express clearance for landing.

http://images.snapfish.com/33%3B5479523232%7Ffp64%3Dwp%3E232%3B%3D77%3A%3D893%3DXROQDF%3E23235%3A3%3A66%3A66wp1lsi

imported_Kalessin

15-08-2004, 12:35

OOC:

My posts describe what will happen to all the delegates (unless they disobey instructions). As such, feel free to post your arrivals at any point, and any reactions to the wierdness that is Kalessin!

Derscon

15-08-2004, 17:12

The Silver Turtle

15-08-2004, 21:13

The Great Ineffable Bob admired the surroundings as they were led through the palace.
A very impressive place indeed, and certainly more than a little magical. I wish my palace looked this fantastical...

OOC: Just letting ya know I'm still here too...

imported_Kalessin

16-08-2004, 00:38

OOC:
Just as a friendly warning to all of you.... Kalessin is not a nice, safe place. If your characters do what they're told, act with all due decorum in the conference, and show proper respect to any Kalessini that they might meet, all will be well. However, if they decide to be silly buggers, I don't expect any bitching about the consequences, which may prove fatal.

Presgrief (and any other latecomers): Just take a gander at my first few posts in this thread - they're still perfectly relevant to you.

Danneland

16-08-2004, 02:15

Veers overlooked the mist beneath the black dropship as it slowly began its landing procedure.
neat.. very.. neat

His bodyguard wich sat on the other side spoke. "Hah, cool mist, musta been one of 'them new toys they are sellin in B&R, you know, that toy-store. Im gettin on of them to my son when we come home. He'll have fun fun fun with that one, the miss's keep sayin that it will only result in that we cant find the livingroom. But hey.. my kid gotta have the best of the best"

Veers laughed at bit and then got out of the dropship. They were now in the middle of nowhere, also commonly called "wasteland". Veers scanned the surrounding area, the mist interfeered with his sensors (Veers has a load of bio-tech-fancy-gadgets. that can scan, fan and fry)
"Damnit, I get no readings at all, that damn mist"
His bodyguard nodded, "Same here.. the XOI-01 is totaly down and BURST wont do nothing. I asume we just have to sit tight and wait"
Veers nodded and the pair sat down on the ground.
Some hour later a dragon arrived, and ontop of the dragon was a tall rider. The rider said nothing but just looked at them. Veers and the bodyguard (wich name is Jhon btw) entered the wodden cage. Cold, black, strance voice, and then they foundthemselves outside a huge black wall with the other delegates.

Veers and Jhon followed the robed man through the large gate as it opened up, they followed throught the streets, through the golden gates. Not saying anything to anyone. Except to echother through BURST (sort of a telepth-gadget). They couldnt get any other gizmo working, there was something vary strange about this.

Without realy noticing it, since they were to buissy with trying to locate the problem of the tech-failure. The followed the robed man into the grey mist.

Presgreif

16-08-2004, 04:36

The Valient landed in the area designated by Kalessin Ground Control, but no one existed the shuttle. After a long moment, the crew thought it wise to investigate. To their dismay, they found their Empress in her command chair, asleep. They delicatly removed Natalya from the chair, and sat her down in a hoverchair. One of the crew directed the chair out of the shuttle and onto Kalessin soil, and there approached one of the guides who awaited fresh arrivals.

"You must forgive my Empress, good sir." he said to the guide.
"She has been through much, horrible things, and is in much need of rest. I think it would be best to not wake her at the moment. She is feverish, and I fear the exhaustion may well prove fatal. If you could please transport her to quarters, and care for her until the meeting, the Greifan Empire would be forever indebted to you."

Neo-Wu

16-08-2004, 05:48

Tag

Melkor i sent you a telegram regarding this.

imported_Kalessin

17-08-2004, 01:30

As the delegates passed between the stars into the fog, the air crackled, and red lightening leapt from the stars to wrap around their bodies. As the head of each delegate was encased in a glowing red halo, those who were passionate and emotional by nature, willing to act impulsively and instinctively, felt a slight heightening of their senses and emotions. Colours seemed brighter, somehow, odours more pungent, sounds sharper and clearer, while decisions seemed easier, less clouded by the endless tedious intricacies of logic.

But those delegates who were cool and calculating, calm, logical and emotionless, felt a sudden wrench in the back of their minds, as wave after wave of supressed feeling boiled forth, raging fury and all-consuming love, chilling fear and searing lust, towering joy and twisted self-hate, pouring over their repressed and vulnerable consciousnesses. They screamed and wept, laughed and gibbered, giving vent to their innermost feelings, their deepest desires flashing before their eyes in a vivid unrush of images.

Then, with a final flare of light, their feelings faded back their normal controlled state, as the air became still again. The delegates stepped on through the mist and emerged into a great whirlwind of sound. They stood at the entrance to a vast room, the walls of which were made of solid gold and covered in engravings of Kalessin warriors fighting, of slaves working, and of the thousands of bizzare and unnatural pleasures which whiled away the endless hours of boredom for the nobility of that ancient land. The floor was formed of a single great block of white marble, and in the centre was a single eight-pointed star, its red glow reflected throughout the room, and in the galleries above stood thousands of slaves, each specially trained and surgically operated on to sing but one perfect note each, creating music unlike any other that had been heard in all the realms of mortal and immortal alike.

On the far side of the room was a throne, also of solid gold, but this was no normal gold, for it glowed as brightly as a star, lighting the entire room, for there was no other source of illumination save the star on the floor, and upon it sat an armoured figure, all in black, a sheathed sword at his side. On his left stood a small, wizened figure draped in a sable robe, his face hidden with the cowl of his hood, and on his right was a being that the delegates could barely discern, for it seemed at first sight to be merely a shadow, but there was nothing in the room placed to cast it, and occasionally it leaned in the the enthroned being, as if conversing.

Thronging the sides of the room were dozens of colourfully attired courtiers, their bright and varied garments woven from the finest materials known to man or demon. Some wore clothing so studded with gems that they glittered like great jewels themselves, while others wore elegant, subtle garb, the material nearly as light as air, and thinner than the finest paper, and others still were as bedecked with frills and ruffs as constantly-preening birds.

Their guide led the delegates forward toward the throne, where he bowed low so that his nose almost touched the floor, and then shuffled off to the side to join the courtiers, who moved away from him as if he bore some terrible disease, even as their cold gazes looked down at the delegates with an expression of utter contempt and disgust, tempered with a certain level of curiousity, such as can be created only by the most extreme boredom.

Barbarosea

17-08-2004, 02:03

OOC: God people, i though we were starting this like, when Kass got back, not that long ago. Well, now I'm out of the loop...crap...

Reichskamphen

17-08-2004, 02:07

Count Andre Allistaire von Katrineburg, head of the Leipzig-Thompson Imperial Family was with the delegates as they experianced the above instance.

"Why are we allied with these people?" he thought to himself as he looked at the strange surroundings. "This looks like a bastion of Satan himself...."

After taking a moment of reflection he decided that his duties to the state overcame his own personal opinions.

Addamous

17-08-2004, 02:22

For one, brief moment, Addamous could see... everything. The dark room lit up like a solar flare. He could see the faces of the other delegates. Some were smiling, seeming to enjoy the experience. Some wore a painful look on their faces.
Addamous could hear the extremely low mumbles of the delegates, could feel the vibrations of their increased heartbeats, could taste the salty sweat in the air.
The sensation was gone just as fast as it has begun.
It couldn't have lasted most than 5 or 10 seconds, Addamous thought.
It felt like a lifetime.

As they walked on, Sir Addamous saw... something.

Barbarosea

17-08-2004, 02:48

Ok, I'm going to reply to this, just like I was there, but right now I'm working on my, entrance.

Derscon

17-08-2004, 02:48

The Czar felt a wave of something come over him. Since the Czar is not quite what would you would expect of him, he simply shook it off. Damnit, some kind of mind control mechanism, he thought. Those bastards. He then looked at the throne. Hmm...this place looks like the satanic equivilant to Saint Peter's Basilica!

((OOC: Reichskamphen, you should understand that ;) )

Rezo

17-08-2004, 09:05

Certainly an intriguing land... Rezo thought, being led by... Well, he wasn't exactly sure, but something was certainly there.

Being blind [ooc: Yes, I made a mistake in my previous posts <.<] he couldn't exactly see much of what Kalessin had to offer, all the magnificient things went unseen by his eyes. Yet, he could sense them, and yes, he was impressed. Even though he wasn't exactly incapable regarding such things... Kalessin was certainly the pinnacle.

Then, he felt... Something, playing with his mind... trying to make his mind, orderly as it was, explode.

However, his ability to control himself was good enough to keep the influence of said event at a minimum. Well, his mind. Zelgadis, on the other hand...

"Don't talk that much glibberish, you're embarrassing us..."

Though, on a second thought, he realised that this was not necessarily the case, since others seemed to have... Comparable problems.

But eventually, even this ended, and they entered the room, a golden chamber, beautiful, yet, again, Rezo was merely able to sense it rather than to feel it...

Well, we will see what comes next.

Ares Industries

17-08-2004, 09:20

Damien growled as he was forced to endure the cowering officials in the other end of the dragon's 'undercarriage'. He started at the sudden darkness, casting a glance to Rae, a competent shaman, who shrugged. A sigh of relief escaped his lips as the light returned, and he settled back in his seat. His hand crept up to his collar and he straightened his tie a bit.

Incognito exited the cage first, his right hand rested on the grip of his pistol. Oliver and his entourage followed, with Damien and Rae right behind them. After pausing for a moment to mutter instructions to his bodyguards, Damien continued on, stopping when the robed man approached. One of his eyebrows worked its way up at the cryptic instructions, but he took it in stride, following briskly deeper into the city.

The officials cast glances around, peering into the shadows of the towers and buildings, constantly bumping into each other and shooting looks at Damien. Incognito was ever-alert, as always, and his cybernetic implants glinted as the light fell on them. His eyes scanned for danger, passing over the towers with little interest.

Rae eyed the robed guide as he opened the next gate, trying to comprehend who, or what, he was.

The rest of the trip mattered little to Damien, he was too deep in thought to notice what he passed, until the red halo formed around his head. Immediately, he felt a rush of pain and emotions, causing him to skip a step, falling to his knees. Incognito instantly reacted, leaping to Damien's side.

“It's.. nothing,” Damien muttered, shaking his head and standing up, “I'm fine.”

Casting a glance at his master, Incognito nodded and returned to his vigil.

The sight of the last room, and the occupants, startled Oliver and his compatriots, to say the least. To Damien, Incognito, and Rae, it came up as little more than opulent, but the armoured figure and two.. things, beside him piqued their curiosities,

“I wonder who that it is,” whispered Rae to Incognito,

“Who knows..” Came the almost silent reply.

The group continued after the guide and to the throne. Incognito returned the looks the courtiers sent, looking everywhere at once without seeming to be.

Danneland

17-08-2004, 10:30

Veers felt, well, feelings. Though his emotional implant prevented him to burst into laughter, though, he wept and giggled a little. On the other hand, his half-man half-machine bodyguard didnt have the implant (simply becuase its concidered as a good thing when a fleshmachine goes into rage). He laughed so high that the ground shook, his tears never seemed to stop.

Veers walked out of the mist, helping his bodyguard up on his feet.
"I dont care who that is, it is an insult to be forced to cry like a baby and laugh like a madman infront of repected international representatives." he said outloud.
"I am here for a metus meeting, not a tour to see the greatest of things that Kalessin has to offer."

Veers knew that he was on forgein soil, that this was a land he'd never understand. magic... Though, he followed the guide.

The Silver Turtle

17-08-2004, 11:05

As the light encircled him, The Great Ineffable Bob felt a boiling feeling inside of him. He couldn't identify the emotion, but he felt it to such a degree that it becane almost overwhelmingly difficult to resist. Before a single thought could assemble itself in his head, there suddenly emanated from deep within him a loud sound, like that of a hiccup, and he transformed; he seemed to turn into living metal, a shining being of mercury, his limbs then elongated and thickened, his body widened and his backed seemed to grow curved, until...
Where a second ago there had been what appeared to be a 6' 2" human, there was now a 7' 8" tall turtle, of the purest shining silver. It seemed almost to have an ethereal glow, and it's shell, far from being solid appeared to be rippling, fleeting shapes betraying the turmoil of emotions hidden beneath the impassive face, cruelly adorned with fangs and horns. Here and there there seemed to be other metals decorating the beast, white gold and platinum, and the shell was ringed with lapis lazuli and blue diamonds. A cold gaze looked out from two eyes as black and featureless as obsidian.
Then, after what could not have been more than two seconds, he transformed back to the form all recognised him in, feeling strange. Moments later the red light faded and The Great Ineffable Bob caught some people looking at him funny.
"S'cuse me, a slight lapse in concentration..."

Presgreif

17-08-2004, 11:45

Reichskamphen

19-08-2004, 03:20

OOC: Sorry, but due to personal issues, I am giving my Arch Chancellor, Derscon, permission to represent myself and the Greater Prussian Crown at this event. College and all..busy busy.

Wretchengard

19-08-2004, 08:41

Overlord Bradley Steelblood couldn't help but gaze in wonder at the sights of Kalessin, particularly the dragons arrived to transport himself and the other delegates. So different from home, he thought. It reminded him of the stories he had read as a youth, of strange lands and mystical beasts. He entered the passenger cage of a majestic red dragon, flanked by the two Honour Guards that had accompanied him from the shuttle. A sudden darkness and chill came over them as the dragon took to the air, startling the Wretchan sovereign for a brief moment.

“Relax,” he bid his guards, sensing their nervousness. “We are among allies.”

The darkness faded, and the dragon dropped them off in front of a massive wall, made of a very strange black material that the Overlord could not identify. Stranger still was the great gate they had been deposited at. Although he was an accomplished sorcerer, Bradley Steelblood was not familiar with Kalessin’s brand of magic. Even so, he could tell that the gate was heavily enchanted. The Overlord was so engrossed with the study of his surroundings that he barely noticed the black robed figure emerge from the gate.

“Come,” the figure spoke, and Steelblood snapped out of his trance.

The Wretchans followed the dark robed figure through the nearly deserted streets until they arrived at another gate. The robed figure opened the gate with a wave of his hand, leading them into what were possibly the largest and most beautiful gardens Steelblood had ever seen. He took it all in as they walked towards the huge golden palace that dominated the center of the area. Wondrous as it was, it still seemed impractical to the Overlord.

“Think of the fleets one could commission with that,” he muttered to himself.

Onward they walked, into the golden palace and down a long hallway, which ended with doors of the darkest black. The doors opened at their approach, revealing a strange grey mist. The robed figure entered the mist without hesitation, beckoning for everyone else to follow. Not wanting to appear frightened or hesitant, the Overlord strode into the mists, followed by his Honour Guard.

What happened next was possibly the strangest thing the Wretchans had experienced thus far. As they passed through the fog, waves of emotion assaulted their minds. One of the Honour Guard screamed with terrible rage, beating his chest like an ape for a moment before he began to cry like a baby. The other rambled off gibberish like a madman. The Overlord, caught in a vision of his desires, was laughing; booming, maniacal laughter to suit his visions (which were mostly of the conquest of hated enemies). He managed to regain control of himself quickly however, as he was much more resistant to the effects of magic than the guards that accompanied him. There was a flash of light, and all returned to normal again. The guards stopped what they were doing, thoroughly embarrassed and ashamed, although their Overlord said nothing.

Glancing around, Steelblood realized he was in the throne room; he could see a shining golden throne at the far side of the room, with a black armoured figure seated upon it. That must be the Emperor of Kalessin, he mused to himself. He also noted the figures to the Emperor’s left and right. He motioned for his guards to hang back as the black robed guide led himself and the other delegates toward the throne. He noticed a number of courtiers glaring at the group of delegates with a look of utter contempt. Though sorely tempted to yank his sword free and carve the insolence from their faces, he reminded himself that he was not in his domain, and would have to tolerate their rudeness for the time being.

The black robed figure bowed low before the throne before walking off to the side to join the courtiers, leaving Steelblood and a number of other delegates before the throne.

“Greetings, milord,” the Overlord said, bending at the waist and bowing. “I am Bradley Steelblood, son of Angelus Steelblood, Overlord of the Eternal Dominion of Wretchengard.”

The Overlord then waited, either for the other delegates to make their introductions, or for the Emperor to respond.

The Brotherhood of Nod

19-08-2004, 08:58

Now Oxanna stepped forward. "The Brotherhood greets the Lord of Kalessin and all other dignitaries assembled here. May we choose the best path for our glorious alliance."

The Silver Turtle

19-08-2004, 17:30

The Great Ineffable Bob followed suit, stepping forward and then bowing low.
"Greetings, my lord. I am The Great Ineffable Bob of The Silver Turtle."

Melkor Unchained

20-08-2004, 05:45

Imperial Emissary Ivaylo Lon bowed before the throne, clasping his hands behind his back as he rose. "If it pleases the Emperor, I believe the pieces are now in place for us to begin this meeting. Much has yet to be discussed, and for too long have I anticipated this day."

Stepping back from the throne, be bowed again, gesturing to the delegation. "This is your hall, my Lord," he began loudly. "When it pleases you, we may finally begin."

Assington

20-08-2004, 08:28

OOC: I'm really busy at the moment with tests and the sort, hence I'm finding it increasinly difficult to read and reply. Just assume Calis follows around and attends the meetings. I'll try slip in a post when I can. Sorry...

Assington

21-08-2004, 14:15

Calis stepped forward and made a quick but respectful bow towards the throne, announcing himself without trying to draw too much attention to himself as he was one of the younger METUS members and wasn't at all sure how he should go about himself at these occassions.

"Greetings Lord, I am Calis of Assington."

With those few words, Calis stepped back into the group and remained silent, waiting for something to happen.

Addamous

21-08-2004, 14:56

Sir Addamous stepped forward, forcing himself to bow. He did not like the idea much, but realizing that this was obviously one of his superiors, he bowed.

"Greetings, they call me 'Sir Addamous', for, as a prisoner of war, I have lost the memory of my first name and all memories that I have had before the event."

Addamous stepped back, not wishing to overstay his welcome.

Derscon

22-08-2004, 00:24

The Czar looked at the throne and bowed slightly to it, not liking the fact he had to bow to someone other than God. This person is not even my superior, the Czar thought. Oh well. He then rose and spoke to the person on the throne.

"Good day, and God Bless, your Majesty. I am Czar Rekjyavich Ivan Andropov III, Czar of Derscon, and Arch-Chancellor of Greater Prussia. I do hope that this summit goes well."

imported_Kalessin

24-08-2004, 02:10

The armoured figure leaned forward upon his throne, and looked down upon the assembled delegates, his eyes hidden behind the dark faceplate of his helm, as the robed figure that stood beside him whispered quietly into his ear.

Eventually, he relaxed against the backrest of the throne, waving his advisor away with a flippant gesture from one of his gauntleted hand, and addressed the ambassadors. His voice was smooth and musical, perfectly modulated to cut through the strange slave chorus, and while it was quiet and completely lacking in any noticeable emotion, it was still resonant and full of power, almost impercepibly tinged with an air of superiority which transcended mere pride or arrogance, so that to those trained and able to pick up on such things, he almost resembled a kind but stern father talking to a child, or even a pet cat or dog, and an air of faint amusement hung around his words.

"Welcome, lords of the Young Kingdoms, to the Shining City. I trust that you will find your visit a profitable one. Doctor Comedy here has spent much time studying your customs, why, I cannot understand, given their lack of any real antiquity or sophistication, but nevertheless, he finds your fledgling cultures amusing, and so has created a venue for your discussions which should prove eminently suitable to your needs."

He gestured casually across to the figure who had guided the delegates through the city;

"Doctor Probity here will lead you to the new Metus council chamber, and show you to your accomodation within the palace should you need to rest during the conference. He will answer any questions you may have, and if you wish to explore our beautiful island, will provide guides and transport."

He paused for a moment, and then chuckled softly before continuing;

"Oh, and if your discussions grow overly heated and tempers fray, do try to take any potentially bloody quarrels out into the gardens. Certain blood-types can give my Palace indigestion if you feed it more than a few drops. The garden is much less of a picky eater."

He looked straight at Bob for a moment, before waving Doctor Probity forward, and gesturing for the Kalessini courtiers to recommence their dancing.

What a fascinating reaction to our doorway! Are you some form of demon perhaps? Should you be interested in a short chat, you can usually find me here.

As Doctor Probity began to lead the delegates from the room, his eyes followed Bradley Steelblood.

An amateur sorcerer eh? How fascinating.

OOC:

Just one more post to go, and we can get started with the conference proper!

High Orcs

24-08-2004, 07:23

OOC:
http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=351284
I Hope I got it right Mist-Boy

IC:

Manus grafted his Skell Gauntlets across his fists and wrists. He tested the Skell protrusion, and it was still flawless. The Skells of the EnheilRas had been expected no less than such a performance. Still dressed in his perfectly fitted Orcish Splint, he put a thin cloth robe around it with his clan Sigil, the High Fist. He slowly slid on his rings and boots, all of which were les fruits des guerre of heightened combat against powerful dwarven and elven magi and would-be assassins. Attaching a quiver of arrows around him one way, he slung his leather belt around him, hanging a few potions and a longbow, unstrung, on his hip. He stepped outside of his chamber, seeing the others were quite ready.

Teel was looking extravagant in his full plated armor, sans helmet. It had been cleaned recently, and though brazen-colored, glittered under the right light spectrum. His skell gauntlets were of flawless design for the Father of the Knighthood, and though the armor weighed over 70 pounds, it rarely reduced Teel's speed, just his flexibility.

Dorin the Darkweaver carried his Staff, a rotted oaken cane with vines twirling around it to the apex, where a crystal glass orb sat, where darkness and lightning dwelled. Dorin's jet black hair, drastically different from the natural orange hair color of Orcs of Palladium, was enhanced by his navy robe, flowing around his massive frame covered with indecipherable runes and markings that were of obvious magical important. It is unknown of Dorin's flesh underneath his robe is the same, but it's believable that the fanatic would do as such. Dorin was an easy Fighter-Mage due to his Orcish Strength and Endurance never lessening, as though his mind and spirit were incredibly powerful, he was not above gripping the blade and going melee.

Trabian Riil, a Fire Warlock of the Golden Sky, was a transfer to the High Fist due to his incredible intelligence. He proved to be a brilliant military strategist, and was awarded High Council to the EnheilRas. His magical background clashes with Teel's Knight background often enough, and the two are the polar for which Manus finds the compromise. Trabian wore robes of alazarin and crimson hues. Trabian decorated himself with rings and amulets to show his Element and keep in contact with his 'Big Brother,' a Major Fire Elemental Fragment encompassing nearly 80% of the Elemental Intelligence of Fire, one of millions living in the Elemental Plane of Fire. Trabian's Elemental Ritual was always kept with him, and to ensure his memory, he carried the Tome of Fire, one given to every Warlock which chose the same path, as Trabian was extremely skilled, but that much further from mastering the ability.

These were the four whom locked themselves in the cage that the Dragon carried to Kalessin. These are the Orcs. They were dressed to expect anything, be it assassination or Intimidation. Coming from a culture that flourished at the birth of their existence, they do not act kindly to being talked down to, or being belitted due to their race. Kalessin had always seemed to be a strange land governed by the chaotic and daemon-infested. An island at the edge of the world preparing for the apocolypse. This was why they left it alone, besides of its separation from the mainland. It reeked of magical distortion and spatial rips, as well as unchecked Elemental infestation. It was too dangerous to worry themselves about, and now they were being forced to visit. They would remain unimpressed by such spectacles.

Dorin was quick to enchant a dispel as he sensed their minds to be invaded. Though the Palladium High Orcish race were all psychic voids, it really didn't matter. Psychic voids were completely immune to mind-affecting spells. In a sense, they could never tap into that power. It was a racial constriction, for it halted the evolution of an Orcish psychic. Telekinesis, however, proved to still affect them, as did most other psychic attacks.

-------------------------------

As the four stepped out of the cage, they all kept stern and lacked the will to desire perception of this otherworldly place. It was wormwood to them, and to be expected with short presence. They noticed, with some slight degree of pride, that it lacked their race in all degrees. In such a place, it was probably a good thing. This was a nation of everlasting trauma, and the minds of sentience had little patience for it in such a degree.

Teel only grinned when they entered the main room. It was filled with the presence of exuberence and lavish affairs. All things meant to shine and glitter are only as useful as you can throw them. Besides that, the decors on the courtiers were completely meretricious. It was laughable, but Teel just grinned. If it can't be made to work for some practical purpose, it shouldn't be made. Teel wasn't exactly the first person to design the Palace of the High Fist, but then again, that's the only building of its kind in the entirity of all the Orcish structures built.

They turned toward the Council room, ready to see why they were summoned from their homes.

Danneland

24-08-2004, 14:52

Lack of sophistication.. This is the core problem with Metus, everyone seems to think that they are better than the other. "My army is greater than yours!" "That dont matter, my shithouse is made of ivory" Veers thought as he folowed the robed man once again into the discussion chaimber.
look around in the garden.. explore his island.. I am here for discussions, not a vacation.
Veers walked up to Doctor Probity and cleared his throat.
"When are the discussions going to start? I dont not intend to be rude, but I do have other things to atend to and I dont have the time to wait forever.."
He looked at the doctor, Veers had never trused anyone who used magic. It was an odd form of energy, not logical but irrational. His implants came back online. A massive ammount of data passed by his eyes and then registered in his mind. Technology he trusted, machines could always do a mans job twise as good, and they were logical, predictable.
"Well?"

Derscon

24-08-2004, 18:32

That was the doorway? the Czar thought. Damn, this place is strange. The Czar closed his eyes and, just for fun, used his telepathic abilities to wander around to personal conversations being held with people. He reached Veers, the Danneland ambassador, and read his thoughts.

"Lack of sophistication.. This is the core problem with Metus, everyone seems to think that they are better than the other. "My army is greater than yours!" "That dont matter, my shithouse is made of ivory.."

He laughed to himself at that thought. How true, the Czar said to himself.

How true. He then thought about it some more. Hell, I guess it is just a part of being a supreme ruler. You feel you are the best, and have to prove it to everyone else. He shook his head and chuckled. Damn. an IVORY bathroom? That might cost more than a pretty penny.
====================================
OOC: Sorry, Danneland, but I HAD to respond to that...
:D

Addamous

25-08-2004, 03:39

Addamous followed the guide to the confrence hall, then to his room (I am assuming that the accomodation is a room.)
"Operator, be ready to move. If something happens here, and I seriously doubt that it will, I need to be able to contact the Icelands' HQ immediately. I will feed the highlights of the summit to the Icelands' HQ through a relay point in this room. I want the messages to have the highest encryption code possible."
He then walked back into the conference hall.

OOC: Kale: Are we allowed to bring small, handheld weapons to the summit? Addamous almost never goes anywhere without his .45 cal. I mean we have giant turtles here :p jk TST.
Danne: If machines are so much smarter than humans, why can't they spell "twice" correctly? :p Stupid nanomachines! :headbang:

Wretchengard

25-08-2004, 20:42

As Doctor Probity began to lead the delegates from the room, his eyes followed Bradley Steelblood.

An amateur sorcerer eh? How fascinating.

The Overlord met this Doctor Probity creature's eyes with his unnerving, cold gaze as he heard its voice in his mind.

Yes, I suppose my powers wouldn't seem terribly impressive to you or your people, he replied to the voice in his mind. However, I have but scratched the surface of my potential. In time, I will bend the very fabrics of reality to my control.

The Overlord's tone didn't come off arrogant or cocky; it sounded comparable to a statement of fact, such as "the sky is blue" or "2+2=4".

Not interested in further conversation with their guide at the moment, Steelblood broke eye contact with the creature and continued walking in silence.

Danneland

25-08-2004, 22:33

OOC: Kale: Are we allowed to bring small, handheld weapons to the summit? Addamous almost never goes anywhere without his .45 cal. I mean we have giant turtles here :p jk TST.
Danne: If machines are so much smarter than humans, why can't they spell "twice" correctly? :p Stupid nanomachines! :headbang:

I will indeed bring up that problem to my scientists, they will ensure that this problem never occurs again. I bring you my best apologies.. and bla..bla..bla..bla.. :P

OOC: Sorry, Danneland, but I HAD to respond to that...
:D

No problem, I liked your respond actually ^^

Derscon

26-08-2004, 03:10

No problem, I liked your respond actually ^^
Yay!! :D
<(^^<) (>^^)> (>^^<) <(^ ^)> : )

High Orcs

27-08-2004, 08:15

Manus Trebelium approached the Council Room and was the first to enter, with Trabian following to his left. As a military advisor, Trabian's presence was a prerequisite with the EnheilRas'. He was unboastfully much more intelligence than most of the other Orcs in the clans, perhaps universally. However, he had only mediocre experience, which was why Ignex Rex, the DanRas, was still the chief advisor to Manus. Ignex's age, however, made for difficulty when long journeys were afoot, and because he was still in Growing slumber, Manus left him to rest. There was no person Manus respected and loved more than Ignex, but that is not to demune Trabian's own ability. Though in his 30's, Trabian's proved himself over and over again as an excellant tactician, both politically and militarily. He quickly understood formations, flanking procedures, and logistics and knew how to direct assault, ranged, and infantry units. Due to his importance as an advisor, he lacked the Warlock experience most of his peers in the Golden Grove had, and his mastership over fire had been delayed.

Teel and Dorin waited until everyone else would enter before they went into the room. In the meantime, Teel checked the gear systems on the improved Skell gaultlets. Teel bent his elbows and pushed his arms back, and it triggered the Skell extension, launching a 6' long sharp, thin, and serrated blade from the gauntlets. Extending his arms and straightening, the blade slid back into the gauntlet. Teel enjoyed the innovation to make the blades extendable. He enjoys the stealth it allowed. The 8' tall High Orc grinned, and polished the left gauntlet with his right hand, his red eyes examining each person.

Dorin merely leaned on his Staff, dismissing the egos as they clashed. He, after all, served a much greater power; the greatest power. He couldn't be talked down to, and it would be major faux-pas to even think that a High Orc couldn't make a profitable caster. If Manus were to ever fall, it would be Dorin which would rule the Clans until Delgon would come to reign as EnheilRas, in which Dorin, in his infinite wisdom, would step by, or at least be expected to do so. The Darkweaver was never one to dismiss power.

Neo-Wu

29-08-2004, 00:39

OOC: Melkor, I got your TG and I am very interested in joining, so if you would have me join, that would be great. I will most unlikely to partake in this RP, obviously, yor to far into it. If you have any information i need to know, just tg me ore post it here. Once I know were to correctly IC join, I will do so. I don't know if you have a private forum, or a sign up thread. So there ya have it.

imported_Kalessin

04-09-2004, 01:11

OOC:

Bit of a rush job this one. Sorry for any typos, and the general lateness. Feel free to skip to the last few paragraphs. Neo Wu, you're welcome to join. Hmmm, let's rephrase that, join or else!

IC:

The Doctor wove through the dancing courtiers. He shuffled rather than walked, and every movement appeared strenous and painful. Yet he slipped through the crowd with ease, in time with the dance, beckoning for the ambassadors to follow.

Upon reaching the left wall of the throne-room, which appeared to have been hammered from a single gigantic sheet of gold, embossed with images so vivid and full of movement that they seemed about to leap out from the gleaming surface, Doctor Probity made a complex gesture with a single withered claw, and a large section of the wall seemed almost to melt away, flowing apart to either side of the opening which it created.

Beyond stretched a long corridor. Gold was the floor, and the ceiling and walls were gold. Bright, shining gold, that glowed with an inner light, providing the only illumination that this place needed, as the walls flowed together to close the opening after the last of the ambassadors had passed. This strange corridor wound on for what seemed like an eternity, sometimes they travelled upward, sometimes down, so that eventually all sense of depth and distance and time was lost, as the corridor looped and curled in on itself like the veins of some great beast.

Eventually, the corridor gave way to a sturdy steel walkway, which spanned a vast cavern. The walls and floor of this cavern were of natural grey limestone, rough and unpolished, yet the roof was of brilliant gold, and from this roof thin lines of that same hue crept down into the stone, like the roots of tree spreading through soil, or a virus slowly infiltrating its way through the circulation of a living being.

Below was a gigantic arena, carved from the living rock, filled with cheering Kalessini, who looked down with jaded eyes at some hundred creatures, each one of a different race, who fought with the blind ferocity of wild beasts, their minds broken by the whips and brands of the trainers. And the cheering was not passionate and eager, such as one might see in a human amphitheatre. Rather, it had a certain dead, listless quality to it, as if the cheers were the result of long habit and custom rather than any true emotion.

Upon leaving this cavern, the walkway crossed over another, near identical in form, but used for a very different purpose. Here, scores of Kalessini, all in various states of undress, writhed and cavorted, laughed and screamed, as they indulged fantasies and fears from the merely perverted, to the truly alien, all to the sound of cracking whips, unearthly cackles and gibbering moans, and over all of this, a translucent pink fog hung, reeking of idolent decadence and long-dead flowers.

At the end of the walkway, the Doctor once again led the delegates into a long, winding golden corridor, and the direction in which they travelled was no longer ambiguous, as they spiralled deep into the heart of the earth. Eventually though, the gold began to pale, as its glow softened, slowly bleeding into a tunnel of cold grey stone, and now the way was lit not by a supernatural luminescence, but by guttering torches, set into brackets on the walls. However, though the torches burned fiercely, acrid black smoke floating up from them to stain the rock, it did not seem that the wood was being consumed by the flames.

They continued to walk for some time in this way, their footsteps echoing loudly in the half-light, before finally turning a corner, to find that the rough stone of the tunnel gave way here to a straight, smooth-walled corridor, punctuated on both sides with solid oaken doors, each bound with black iron, and at the end of the corridor was a pair of great gates of the same wood, such as one might find barring the portal of a mighty fortress of men.

Here, Doctor Probity stopped and turned to face his guests;

"My lords, may I humbly bid you welcome to the inaugural Metus Conference. The Kalessin Ministry of Peace has generously provided what we hope shall prove a suitable venue, here below the Royal Palace. We shall begin proceedings at sunrise tomorrow, in the main council-chamber,"

he gestured toward the double-doors at the end of the corridor,

"In the meantime, we have attempted to prepare accomodation similar to what you would find in your home nations. The door of each apartment bears an engraving of the flag of the nation for the delegate of which it is intended. Each apartment contains one room for the delegate, and another large enough to sleep up to twenty attendants, though I regret to say that only delegates will be permitted to enter the council chamber. Suitable garb for the meetings as well as food and drink typical of your respective home nations has already been placed in each room. If any delegate should wish to walk in the gardens, there is a portal just through this door."

He pointed in the direction of a door which, instead of a flag, bore the engraving of a rose in full bloom.

"If anyone has any questions or requires any service that we can offer, you will be able to find me in the main council chamber. For now though, may I bid you all good night?"

With that, the Doctor bowed low, and shuffled toward the great double-doors, leaving the delegates to find their rooms. Said rooms were almost indistinguishable from an expensive hotel suite in the nation of the occupant, although the keen eyed would have noticed an unobtrusive serial number preceded by the word "Minipax" engraved in extremely small print on almost every item. On the bed of each delegate lay a long grey cowled robe of soft wool. All these robes fitted their intended wearers perfectly, and all were indentical in style, save for those of the representatives of the Metus Council, whose robes were trimmed with gold, and that of the Speaker's representative, whose robe was trimmed with silver.

The next morning, once all the delegates had gathered in the corridor, the mighty doors opened, and Doctor Probity led them into the Council Chamber. Carved straight out of the living rock, it resembled in many ways the hall of some great human monarch from the days when knights rode the lands, saving damsels and slaying dragons, or maybe some great church or monastery, having, as it did, a great vaulted roof, covered with intricate carvings of vines and flowers, supported by graceful flying buttresses, which jutted out from walls covered in fine carvings of scenes from throughout the wide lands encompassed by the nations which made up the alliance of Metus. In the centre of this hall was a perfectly circular table, crafted from pure silver, just like that round which Joseph and Alan the Rich Fisher had sat in the ancient stories of the holy grail. And in the centre of this table sat a ball of fine crystal, from which poured forth a pure white light, which did not sting the eyes, but caused the entire hall to be suffused with a soft white radiance. Around the table were set sturdy chairs of solid oak, their armrests carved into the shapes of the national animals of the various nations of Metus.

As the delegates looked around, Doctor Probity shuffled toward a rickety stool in a darkened corner of the hall, and pulled out a large sheaf of paper, as well as a quill and ink-pot, with which to record the proceedings, even as a tall figure, clad in a long, grey cowled robe edged with gold stepped from the shadows.

"I am Prince Drazyen al Vvishiak, Warden of the South Marches of Kalessin, and the appointed representative of the Empire for the purposes of this council."

He gestured, and lo! On all the seats placed around the round table, letters of gold began to appear, as if written by invisible fingers holding an invisible pen, and they grew brighter and brighter, until the watching delegates could read clearly the name of each nation written on the chair upon the armrests of which which had been carved its national animal.

"Please, take your seats. Shall we begin?"

OOC:

Ok, I'm buggering off to Italy for 3 weeks now, so you'll have to start without me. Wretchenguard may cast my vote as councillor for Arda should any Council votes come up.

If anyone wants to do some under-the-table dealings and private discussions, prefix your post with "In the garden", which will indicate that the discussion takes place in the garden, away from the other delegates, during a recess.

Anyone can join in, so long as you're a Metus member. If you wish to do an entrance post, I've already described what will happen. If not, who cares. I re-iterate. Any Metus member can join this thread at any time. There is no such thing as 'too late'.

The Crystal Orb can be used to illustrate points graphically - anyone seated around the table can cause it to show any image that s/he can visualise. Any mages in the group will realise this pretty quickly.

Equally, the Orb will not permit any violence in the Council Chamber. Anyone striking a blow will any weapon, ranged or otherwise, will be thrown backward with equal force to the attack.

Doctor Probity will record the meeting, and will repeat any statement made in the Council Chamber on request.

I think that's about it. Have fun!

Assington

04-09-2004, 05:39

Calis had remained quiet and in the shadows throughout the briefing on what would be happening at the summit. This was the first time Assington had being represented in such a meeting and he didn't want to bother any of his allies, many of which whom seemed to be very strong willed about their importance over others.

Upon finding the robes within his room, Calis has slipped them on to find the garments a comfortable fit. All seemed in order and he didn't need to bother with requesting anything. His party of ten ASHVO agents setup within their room and remained there at most times.
________

Calis had wandered into the summit chamber the next morning along with most of the other delegates. Upon spotting Assington spelled out in gold letters, Calis had moved quietly to his seat and awaited the beginning of the METUS conference.

Derscon

04-09-2004, 05:41

The Czar looked at the robe that he had on. Very nice. I like the silver. He left the room to the council chamber with the Prussian Eagle in his chair. Very, very nice. He sat down in it to "test" it, in a matter of speaking. Wow. Fits perfectly. I like it. He stood up then thought. Wait a minute -- how the hell would KAlessin know my exact dimentions?!? If they are spying on my nation.... He had a look of anger on his face, but it went away with his next thought. Meh. He probably got the dimentions from me entering the palace.

Neo-Wu

04-09-2004, 05:55

OOC: Maybe you said it, i don't know, i didn't see it at least. Who would you like coming forward? Armien or a rep?

Melkor Unchained

06-09-2004, 04:55

Ivaylo Lon stood before the massive conference table, his hands clasped in front of him, hidden from view by the sleeves of his robe as he solemnly examined the delegation. With a nod to the Prince, he begins.

"Thank you, Prince Drazyen for your welcome; and please do not fail to convey my gratitude towards your Emperor for his hospitality. For too long have the dealings of the Metus Alliance been held solely in the Five Kingdoms, and I am sure the beauty and splendor of this hall is not lost on the delegation. While I myself am accustomed to the sighs and sounds of your wonderous isle, I realize that this is an altogether new and possibly baffling experience for most."

Ivaylo bows his head once more to the Prince and smiles. "Arda is well represented here, my Lord. You do our alliance much honor by inviting us to revel in the splendor of the Shining City."

Turning to the delegation, his demeanor changed visibly, his face becoming more grave. "My friends, I welcome you all to the Summit; but for the sake of redundancy I'll not harp on this at present, as Prince Drazyen has already welcomed you all. We must get down to business."

Placing his hands on the table about shoulder width apart, he leans forward slightly as his gaze passes from delegate to delegate. "As I'm sure all of you are aware, we live in trying times. The Elven Hegemony is growing great, as are the ranks of Arda's primary enemy, the Triumvirate of Yut. Though I know not what thoughts possess each of you on the matter, they are of utmost concern to us here in Arda, for their numerous crimes. Also troubling is the fact that Menelmacar after a time was able to stall and eventually repel an invasion by the Five Kingdoms. It was a war boasted by none and mourned by many on both sides: the toll was so great that we've effectively ruled out any sort of collective, direct action against the Elven Hegemony and Titan itself."

Standing upright, he pauses for a moment, gathering his thoughts and pondering how to best proceed. "I must confess I have seldom myself actually seen Lord Melkor, and have only on very rare occasion been afforded the honor to speak with him; indeed there are few in the Five Kingdoms who do so regularly. Despite this fact, his malcontent with the 'absentee' nations of Metus is fairly well known. Many--and some, in fact, living within our own region, do nothing but pay lip service to the alliance and have in no way shape or form committed themselves visibly to the Metus ideal. We must at this time seriously consider the possibility of ejecting them from the alliance, or at the very least instituting some sort of major change in their relationship with us."

Ivaylo sits down at last, clasping his hands in front of him on the table. "It is potentially very unwise to demand certain changes to their existing policies, especially since they appear to be at least nominally allied with us. By alienating these apparent isolationists, we risk turning them from dormant allies into active adversaries, which has obvious detriments. Furthermore, the GDODAD is apparently scorned rather than feared by many in the international community, and this sentiment reflects poorly on the remainder of Metus." He draws his jaw. "In the frankest of terms, Arda is feared, and the GDODAD is not. Greater Prussia is laregly absent, and it disturbs me to see so little activity there. The state of our alliance is deteriorating despite our growing military power, and something must be done."

Leaning back in his chair, the Easterling's eyes become slits. "Any ideas?"

[Neo Wu: send whoever you want]

Neo-Wu

06-09-2004, 05:20

OOC: I just say that I was there already, I know that bursting through the doors a little late, would seem, a little unprofessional. If I'm stepping over the line with this, just tell me. I know that i haven't been in the alliance that long. But im just trying to help

IC:
Naka Tankien, recently appointed delegate of Neo-Wu, suggested.
"I think the idea of revoking membership to some of the less present nations would definitely be a route to a better and more effective way of life for the members of this alliance, and the alliance itself. We have to many nations, well frankly, that just sit on their ass. So therefore I think that a non-activity law should be put into place, keeping the so called 'dormant' nations out of our way."

Naka looked around to see her fellow delegates, and leaders, murmuring, wondering what they were saying the continued.
"Another idea of mine would be, get our word out there. As far as I'm concerned, we just aren't known enough, like you said, not as feared as we would hope. We just aren't the alliance that people shit their pants when they hear our name. I think that a good thing to do is to hold some sort of announcement that would express our views, and allow the International Community to hear what we are, what damage we can do, and possibly recruit some more serious members, members that will remain loyal, that will not oppose our ways of life, nor members in any way. If such does happen, then we shall once again show the International Community, what we are made of and what we do."

Naka Tankien
Highest Delegate in Neo-Wu

Derscon

06-09-2004, 06:30

The Czar looked over at Ivaylo Lon as he spoke, and then to the Neo-Wu delegate. Finally, he stood up and spoke -- mainly to the Melkorian.

"The reason for the Greater Prussian inactivity is mostly because of the death of Emperor Viktor Leipzig Thompson I. When the death of the emperor occured, many felt that the region did not have stable leadership, and either left or went inactive. Some nations just slipped off the face of the earth. Eventually, Jedi Revolutionists, who unfortunately could not attend, and I worked together to try and hold the region together. Eventually, Dr. Ian K Paisley was crown Emperor of the Greater Prussian Empire, and I was named Arch-Chancellor. We have worked hard to mend the holes in Greater Prussia. A lot of the slack has been cut, but it is still hard.
Currently, Greater Prussia has a liberal immigration and acceptance policy, and many young, promising nations are joining the ranks of the Greater Prussian Empire.
Unfortunately, we still have a lot of work to do. We have not yet completely mended the wound inflicted upon us by the collapse of the Greater Prussian Empire with the death of Viktor.
We are currently working on expanding Greater Prussian borders, and working on readying some Greater Prussian Corporations on going international.
We are not yet at the state we were in before the collapse of the Greater Prussian Empire, but we are getting, granted, slowly, but we are still advancing. It is truely in God's hands right now."

The Czar then turned to Naka Tankien.

"Your ideas are good, but the international community KNOWS who we are, and spits upon us and treats us like rats. We must not only make our presense known, but we must show the enemies that WE ARE STILL ALIVE!" He then turned back to Ivaylo Lon.

"Sithiril is as powerful -- if not MORE powerful -- than we are right now. This is unacceptable. She has made a laughingstock of this alliance. She and her minions are slowly advancing past us." The Czar's eyes literally lit up with fire.

"I personally suggest we eliminate Sithiril. Not only will this make a lasting impression of METUS dominance, it would severely cripple the elven--" he snarled when he said that "--cause. We don't have to do it now, but Siri must be destroyed. She must pay for the damage she has done."

The Silver Turtle

06-09-2004, 19:51

The Great Ineffable Bob took his turn.
"We are aware of the problem of the GDODAD's lack of respect, and we are also aware of the need to reverse that. Unfortunatly we see as our only sufficient course of action annihilating several highly-visible nations. This presents a problem, as simulations suggest such action will only serve to rally support against us and cause what will escalate into a large war. Obviously, winning by a large margin in such a war would serve our goals, but it is doubtful that that is acheivable.
My current plans are to heavily increase, hopefully exponentially the space-forces of the GDODAD. If we can raise powerful enough a force, we could hope to stand against the Triumvate of Yut in space combat, and perhaps even defeat them.
That must be a goal of ours: to increase our starfleets. Too few of us have space forces, and thusly whenever a large scale war against the Triumvate is waged we are always on the defensive, being driven back by their forces. We need to be able to drive them back, to force their fleets into withdrawl.
That, however, is another problem. The WorldDisc has hyperspace capabilities, and is under the influence of AI. Whenever we have the capability to destroy it, it will be able to run from us. This could be countered by sowing FTL inhibitors, but again, it could run before they activate. This possible problem must be countered before an active war can be launched.
Only after we build our forces, and counter our shortcomings can we hope to begin launching an offensive."

HARU

06-09-2004, 20:00

I have no business joining in but I'd like to watch this unfold. In other words #tag#

High Orcs

06-09-2004, 20:42

Unlike the rest of the nations, whom only had one delegate per nation. All Four of the High Orcs entered. Manus was the one to sit down, with Trabian on his left and Teel on his right. Dorin just strolled around the room, analyzing each attendant to the council with a grim exterior on his face.

"Define," Trabian interjected. "If you will, the Metus Ideal. As I understand it, the forces of the Clans have been involved in.." Trabian checks his papers with a facetious grin, "none of the so-called alliance assaults. Would this in turn make you exclude our people from the region? Our culture is one of ancient otherworlds, far escaped from this time. Though we understand the mechanations most of the other nations around us fully apply, most of the Clan Chieftains refuse to use this technology, as it, to us, take other's culture and abandon our own. We won't lose ourselves to become like others. Our pace is our own. We are specialists in ground-combat, and I assure you that if such a thing still existed in your wars, our implication in such a thing would be dominant against any nation stacked against us."

"We have Clans of Magic, and Clans that are blessed by Pantheons not known to this dimension," Dorin spoke. "From what I know, no other nation stacked against us even remembers how to inhibit Ley Line energy and invoke supernatural powers. This is an edge that most will overlook. I suggest a funding of the Dark Circle wizardries to unearth the Time of a Thousand Magicks. We are missing so much in our endevors. Sorcery, Wizardry, Diabolism, Elementalism, Druidism, and Clericism are great, but I know of even better magicks that have existed but fell to the vanity of the Elves and Dwarves of Palladium. Golemancy, Shade Magic, Blood Magic, Blade Law, Rune Magic, Summoning and Shifting, and hundreds more can be at our disposal with the proper studying and excavation. This may require creating a Temporal Rift that binds a point in Arda with a point in Palladium.

"I also suggest that we are allowed to discover what Magic can accomplish in space. The introduction of Spatial Magi could be quite useful since so many of you don't seem so worried about a ground invasion, and your petty interests seem to be gaining more land than you need out in territories unbound in the Star System. I'd like to see what Elementalists can do in there personally. I imagine that a Star would seem like Paradise to a Fire Elemental. If such a thing like a Fire Elemental constructing itself from the body of a Star could be real, I imagine we'll have a sharper edge in space than any nation out there, true?"

"Such talk of Assassination," Teel remarked. "I feel I am betreyed by coming here. Knights and Warriors fight on the grounds of Honor. Perhaps the Dripping Fang should have come instead. At least then they could have assisted in the hundreds of ways they can take out a mark. They have those four changelings, if I recall, that were taken from Bilrik before the Jinto's demise. He was never as cunning as he thought."

Barbarosea

06-09-2004, 21:33

Fredrick sat and took the whole thing in stride. He thought about those that Ivaylo talked. It is true that the GDODAD isn't very feared...although, it would appear that the only reason Arda is feared is because of Melkor. Isn't that ironic... Neo-wu's delegate was now speaking. Interesting, havn't seen him before. Fredrick Barbarosea III had never been to one of these, "Metus Meetings", alas his predecessors had only been to 1 each, so he planned to make the best of it. The "Shining City" as the locals had called it, was quite impressive. Impressivy, his chair was one of the biggest around. Only suiting, we are one of the largest nations in Metus. Save Gulf Paridise, we are the biggest...amazing... Fredrick survaied the delegates that had gotten up in time to meet with Iva and co.

((I'll post more soon, that is just a "I'm here" post.

Melkor Unchained

06-09-2004, 23:39

Ivaylo can't help but crack a grin as he listens to the Orc speak, turning to him first. "The Metus ideal..." he begins, raising a brow, "is an interesting if not somewhat vague concept, admittedly. I was wondering if anyone would catch on to this seemingly empty metaphor. The Metus ideal, at present, seems to me to be nothing more than an extention of Lord Melkor's will. While we do have visible enemies our member states do next to nothing to hinder their progress. It is in part due to an utter lack of action on our part that the Triumvirate and Elven hegemonies have grown so great."

Gesturing to the Czar, he continued, not taking his gaze off the Orc. "His words, and those of The Great Ineffable Bob only prove my point: our alliance is too forward thinking, too direct in its estimations of the problem at hand and how to best deal with it. Assasinating Lady Sirithil is a lofty goal, but altogether infeasible. I'm certain he's forgetting she's quite a powerful sorceress; and there are few I can think of capable of committing such an act. If it was possible, the Five Kingdoms would have seen it done a long time ago. We've been barking up that tree for thousands of years."

Clearing his throat, he leans forward slightly, resting his elbows on the edge of the table. "A large war, while admittedly fun to watch, is just what everyone has come to expect of Metus. Such a conflict is likely to simply augment our repuation as unjustified warmongers and will likely afford us more scorn amidst the international community; spreading malcontent instead of fear. A large war is likely to increase our enemies, as like I said that's probably what they're expecting us to do. If we are to strengthen our position we must choose our conflicts, fight them on our terms, and engage in such conduct only when necessary. I like delegate Tankien's idea is pressing for more members, but at the same time I should hope these 'liberal admission policies' cease, lest our ranks become filled with liabilities and incompetents. In these times we must choose our allies carefully," he says, his gaze turning to the Czar. "For if they act in an unacceptable manner they become a liability to us all."

Neo-Wu

07-09-2004, 03:31

While agreeing and somewhat disagreeing slightly with various ideas that had been submitted throughout the room by the participants, in their rather 'ideal' chairs. She then rose to speak the following words.

"Although we are a nation of ground warfare, we are still in no sense a weak or ineligible nation in an event of a large scale war. The talk of increasing technology to advance our space tech, is a good idea to an extent. I don't think that each nation needs to advance their warfare systems through such a degree as that. I think that it would be more appropriate, for a community space fleet. The members of Metus could support a large defensive warfare system, and by everyone in the alliance needing to supply support, then we could then combine such a military, that power would be no problem, when it came to space warfare."

She then gestured to Manus.

"I like your idea of powers and other various forms of magick, although if we decided to take that route to a more powerful alliance, we would definitely be letting out a very sensitive subject. Just for an example, say a war broke out and we decided to use that sort of power against the enemy, what kind of question would it arise? Another thing is, that would put us under the microscope as nations would be worried about their safety. Or they could be interested in research, but most of all, what if a large group of nations opposed us due to the use of magick, they would possibly see it unfit for us to use it against them, rendering them unsafe, possibly creating a coalition. Although it is not an unfeasible idea, it would most certainly be a very sensitive way of power, and a most important, something that would need to be use in such a manner that we would not get carried away with it, and not expose it to nations that could possibly see it an opportunity to hinder us through those means."

She then takes her seat as an invitation for others comments and remarks.

Naka Tankien
Highest Delegate in Neo-Wu

High Orcs

07-09-2004, 06:01

She then gestured to Manus.

"I like your idea of powers and other various forms of magick, although if we decided to take that route to a more powerful alliance, we would definitely be letting out a very sensitive subject. Just for an example, say a war broke out and we decided to use that sort of power against the enemy, what kind of question would it arise? Another thing is, that would put us under the microscope as nations would be worried about their safety. Or they could be interested in research, but most of all, what if a large group of nations opposed us due to the use of magick, they would possibly see it unfit for us to use it against them, rendering them unsafe, possibly creating a coalition. Although it is not an unfeasible idea, it would most certainly be a very sensitive way of power, and a most important, something that would need to be use in such a manner that we would not get carried away with it, and not expose it to nations that could possibly see it an opportunity to hinder us through those means."

Manus grinned. He hadn't yet spoken. It was Dorin's ideals. Dorin was the one to reply:

"Obviously you haven't taken a look into what Arda has become human. Elementals soar the skies, intercepting electronic frequencies and controlling the rain and the storms. They are in the waters, calming the seas and purifying the drinking wells. They are under the ground, fertilizing the soil and melding the faults. They are in the flames, increasing the burn and forging the blades. The Trees are grown and fell are our command, and the land grows. The Planet is Alive with the veins of magic, tapped for our cause. Giants of 40-50 feet become familiars to the will of Summoners, and Golems of Blood, Steel, and Clay walk along with creatures of undead and spirits of Light to the beckoning of their Wards.

"Magic has always been here Human. You've just lost touch with the Planet. We've regained our foothold on this, "earth's", as you call it, Ley Line Energies. Nexus points have been discovered, and Rifts have been opened. It's too late to ignore it now. It is ours to command. For you to dissuade the mighty Darkweaver not to use such a thing would be me giving you a dagger and telling you to fight one of your flimsy tanks. I don't believe you've been trained with the dagger like the Tark guilds, so I really doubt you'd be able to use it proficiently. If you desire to see exhibitions of power, then it can be done. IF you wish to see them in the battlefield, you need only point the enemy. We've deployed our forces before, and they reigned in the sky and in the sea, and in the ground.

"If you've noticed, this land is primed with Supernatural Seepage. The Kalessin grounds are pouring with mystical energy, unbounded by space and time. Standing here, I am enriched with the chaotic energies that you can not see, nor can you feel. Just because 90% of all the sentient beings are unknowing or unbelieving of a force much more powerful than they doesn't mean they shouldn't be aware of it. Magic isn't something to fear. It's something to respect. It's the Magi that are to fear. It's me you should fear..."

Making his point, Dorin the Darkweaver grinned, leaning on his staff as his hands clutched around the Orb.

Manus nodded, "Yes, well then. Moving to other matters. Trabian has prepared some reports, which point out that the last major military effect on this planet, included not only the Elves, but several other nations pitched against a being named...Sauron..in a land called Mordor. It seems that it included some hostages. Many nations were involved, and though the hostages were rescued, it lead to a major invasion of a nation known as "All Elves," which were massacred, the land turned to charred ash. I believe that's what caused your master to be put into the spotlight: that very occurance."

Assington

07-09-2004, 07:49

Calis didn't know anything about these magiks the orcs spoke of. The closest thing to magic in his land was the growing psychic abilities within his nation. And the vampires of course, but he didn't consider them really magic, just different humans.

Something he was aware of was space technology. Assington had been in space for many years, but never really established a fleet. A few stations lay scattered around the solar system with some defensive ships, but nothing significant had ever been constructed. This was about to change.

Waiting for the right time, Calis finally made his voice heard.

"Although relatively new to GDODAD and METUS, do not doubt the willingness of Assington to aid its allies however it can. Over the past years of my reign, funds have been concentrated on the military, specifically space technology. Assington has never had a significant space force before, but that will change. Construction of an initial fleet is well underway and I can assure you that it will be at the ready for use against our enemies. All that I require is time to construct such a fleet, contributing to the collective METUS space forces."

Melkor Unchained

07-09-2004, 18:40

Ivaylo furrows a brow, his gaze lingering between Calis and Tankien. "While I applaud your ideas as sound and just; this line of conversation has precisely nothing to do with the matter at hand. Space fleets, while they are a growing necessity of our alliance, will not solve any of the problems which I have so far set forth. Space fleets will not make the GDODAD any less scorned, and it will not make Greater Prussia any more active in our machinations."

Shaking his head slowly, he continued. "If I may explain..." he began, clasping his hands in front of him. "The Triumvirate may, if they wish, endeavor to strike us, and in so doing they're likely to strike at the strongest faction, Arda. Any other move would simply exhaust their resources whilst the Ardan armies remained largely intact. They'd have a better chance of winning if they put us down first. While I'm sure the idea has been seriously considered amongst their brass, it's just about as difficult for them to take us down as it is for us to destroy them. What Titan is in space, Arda is on the ground. They may be able to cut through our fleets but or earthside defenses will annhilate their fleets should they get too close. If they got anything on the ground, the battle would be over before it began. This is why we're deadlocked; and why our war has never turned hot and likely never will. At any rate, our most recent engagement has shown the Titan fleets that the Five Kingdoms is not the joke it once was in the field of aerospace weaponry: we've at last achieved at least a glimmer of parity with them, whether through the quality of our vessels or the ingenuity of our commanders. It is probably largely irrelevant to them what strides we make in space, for they likely believe that there's no way we're stupid enough to stike directly at them, just as we believe they wouldn't dare to hit us. Furthermore, any advancements made by us in this field will simply be met with more advancements by them. The only way we could feasibly gain more power is to outpace them hopelessly, which is exceedingly unlikely given the lack of participation that we've been seeing thus far."

High Orcs

07-09-2004, 19:23

Trabian was quick to concur, "Even more the reason that Master Dorin's ideas of Spatial Magic be taken into extreme seriousness. Though the Dark Circle is our smallest clan, their placement is the most important, next to the Flaming Skulls'. If Dorin is allowed to see what he can manifest in the void of space, this alliance will have a second sword in their hands; one which the Elves no longer carry. Your enemies do not have such capabilities. They most likely never will. If it comes to the point that they attempt to re-develop their supernatural abilities, they will be so dormant it will be minute to the effort. We're centuries ahead in the study than anyone else. By allowing us a degree of freedom, you will see results. I assure you."

The Ctan

07-09-2004, 20:03

If it comes to the point that they attempt to re-develop their supernatural abilities,

OOC: Be aware that, for the most part, Tolkien magic is not the same kind of flashyness as seen in your nation. The chances of seeing an elf shoot a lightning bolt or summon an elemental are next to zero. Low key is the order of the day. It's unlikely that they have lost any abilities, it is just that they're not to be seen nearly as much as they are in... your context.

High Orcs

07-09-2004, 23:12

OOC: Be aware that, for the most part, Tolkien magic is not the same kind of flashyness as seen in your nation. The chances of seeing an elf shoot a lightning bolt or summon an elemental are next to zero. Low key is the order of the day. It's unlikely that they have lost any abilities, it is just that they're not to be seen nearly as much as they are in... your context.

OOC: There is such a thing as Magical Atrophy. Those whom aren't keen to use their powers in exercise and exhibition see them flutter away. It's a simple matter of stretching one's magical muscle. It's more than book reading. It's more than wand waving. It's more than meditation.

If you can't show it on an almost daily basis, then you can't really pull something powerful out of your ass (hence why I am constantly mentioning their works, even though they are such a small part in the High Orcish Civilization and culture). The Dark Circle and Golden Sky are so centered around magic that they are probably much more advanced in terms of spellpower, magical knowledge, and creation and innovation of such tools than pretty much any nation in space right now.

However, their small numbers are their only inhibitors. Tolkien's magic is null to compare to what the Palladium Source has taught. For the Monk Scholars believe all magic is a gift from the Great Old Ones whom wrought it from their twisted dimentia. This alone serves as reason for the massive destruction it can cause for those wanting to accomplish such things.

Barbarosea

08-09-2004, 02:03

Fredrick looked up from his PDA (Quantum PDA at that ;)) and surveyed the crowd. They were saying the normal, Alliance wide military, internal strengthen, ECT. He was quite bored at the fact that everything was same-old, same-old. Iva was knocking the GDODAD, as it seems the Five Kingdoms always had at meetings such as these, or so the notes of Fredrick Jr. and Sr. had noted. Fredrick didn’t think this was without reason, though. The GDODAD hadn’t been very active, save Bob and himself. Naytala de Greif had been active, but her recent period of isolation didn’t help. When he had been just a boy, he remembered dealings with a nation bigger than his own, Gulf Paradise, but they too were quite inactive. This left Fredrick in quite an awkward position. Not only did he not deserve the criticism that the GDODAD was receiving, but also, for him and Bob, it was irrelevant. No one could expect 2 nations, with maybe 1 or 2 more nations’ help, to take on any nation, besides those that are pitifully small. This conjured up an idea. Although the idea was good, he had no way to deliver the idea. Finally, it hit him, the code.

Iva,
As you might know, The Silver Turtle and myself are quite active members in
the GDODAD. Unfortunately, not many others are, save the Brotherhood,
and occasionally Assignton. Now, this puts myself in an awkward position.
Granted, I am very loyal to the GDODAD, and will never let it die again,
even if it is just TST and I. Yet, I am afraid that your criticism of the
GDODAD casts a dark shadow over my nation, and it seems that you are
trying to make the GDODAD feel inferior. This leaves us at a position of not-
wanted criticism. Now, one solution would be to join Arda, but we have
already explained reasons against that. Another solution would be for
criticism to subside, but I don’t expect you to do that. So, what does that
leave us with, save leaving Metus?

Fredrick Barbarosea III

As he finished, he folded the letter, and rose, “Iva, not to interrupt, but I have a letter for you…”

Derscon

08-09-2004, 03:06

The Czar looked at the Melkorian. "I understand your concern about our liberal immigration policy, but do not worry. If the nation becomes a liability, it will be removed. Most affairs are handled regionally."

"I understand your concern to attack Siri. Any battle can be won with proper planning, though." He then turned to the Orc.

"I also know of your magic, but I will have none of it. Your sorcery is santanic. You are free to practice it as you wish, but my nation, and I, will not. I also understand you are not human, and might not follow the same God as I do, but regardless, I will take part in no magic.

Also, technology is essential for today's warfare. I do not want to venture far into space -- earth is just fine for me, right here."

Neo-Wu

08-09-2004, 04:26

Naka then rose to agree with Derscon. "After close evaluation, I agree with Derscon and think that the magic, although your choice to exercise, is not something suitable of the nation of Neo-Wu. Although at this time consideration has been extinguished but may be considered at a later date."

Naka Tankien
Highest Delegate in Neo-Wu

High Orcs

08-09-2004, 05:01

"I also know of your magic, but I will have none of it. Your sorcery is santanic. You are free to practice it as you wish, but my nation, and I, will not. I also understand you are not human, and might not follow the same God as I do, but regardless, I will take part in no magic."

"After close evaluation, I agree with Derscon and think that the magic, although your choice to exercise, is not something suitable of the nation of Neo-Wu. Although at this time consideration has been extinguished but may be considered at a later date."

Dorin laughed out loud, "You think I was ever going to share the secrets of the Dark Circle with humans? That's a ridiculous assumption. Frankly, I don't trust your species with such power. I've read a bit into your history and I know what your kind does with such things. These would be the powers of our civilization, to be used and implimented as we are able. Honestly, your peoples do not have the capacity to take charge of such forces. Letting your civilizations attempt to try to control these would endanger your own nations and make a laughing stock of your people without our strict supervision. The Law of the Dark Circle forbids any Non-Orc entrance within the Clan. So I'm afraid that option is out."

Trabian raised an eyebrow, "Who is Satan?"

Manus, Dorin, and Teel shrugged upon observation by Trabian. They had never heard of the name before. It seemed weird, and slightly uncommon to human names.

The Ctan

08-09-2004, 07:19

OOC: There is such a thing as Magical Atrophy. Those whom aren't keen to use their powers in exercise and exhibition see them flutter away. It's a simple matter of stretching one's magical muscle. It's more than book reading. It's more than wand waving. It's more than meditation.

OOC: Err... The entire point is, they do use it. Quite a lot. It's a false assumption to think there are no practicing magicians in the general populance of Menelmacar and so on ((given that I know for a fact that there are, quite a number actually. There are for example, things like magical warding (as in, against magic, not magical armour) on their ships, and so on.)) because you don't see "elementals" soaring above Tareldanorë.

Assington

08-09-2004, 07:45

After the Melkorian made his point, Calis felt slightly embarassed at leading the discussion off track but didn't let it show. For now he would simply listen and only speak when he felt it would contribute something significant to the summit.

High Orcs

08-09-2004, 08:02

OOC: Err... The entire point is, they do use it. Quite a lot. It's a false assumption to think there are no practicing magicians in the general populance of Menelmacar and so on ((given that I know for a fact that there are, quite a number actually. There are for example, things like magical warding (as in, against magic, not magical armour) on their ships, and so on.)) because you don't see "elementals" soaring above Tareldanorë.

OOC:

In Tolkien's books? Probably some were mentioned, true. However, once the nation is started, it's out of J.R.R.'s hands and to the responsibility of the owner of the nation in this world. They are able to completely reverse the direction he took if that is to their will to do so.

If, in the almost three years that we've been playing this (give or take 6 months), they've never once been mentioned in all the On-Board replies and Out-Of-Board (invision boards, emerald, blah) and not once have they ever been utilized, what chance is there that it's anything else than a senile fool who once thought he was a great wizard? What use is he if the government doesn't vocally fund this special interest and apply it to all that is practical?

How is it tangible if never roleplayed out? It's just that simple.
If you want it, you need to offer more than a book citation.

The Ctan

08-09-2004, 08:08

High Orcs

08-09-2004, 08:10

OOC: Err... The thing about the magical warding as an example is from roleplay with Menelmacar. I have no idea if it's possible in Tolkien's version. As for it getting no government recognition - hahaha - and no funding - bwahahahah.

OOC:

I didn't mean the Warding. I also wasn't singling that nation out. There are plenty of other fantasy-based nations as well that fit that mold perfectly.

High Orcs

08-09-2004, 08:15

OOC: Not the thread to do such a thing. This conversation is over.

The Ctan

08-09-2004, 08:15

There are plenty of other fantasy-based nations as well that fit that mold perfectly.

OOC: Oh? Can we get a list?

Wretchengard

08-09-2004, 19:52

OOC: Hey guys. I've been away for a little while and I'll likely be away for a couple more days yet, so just assume that Steelblood is at the conference hall listening along or something.

Tor Yvresse

08-09-2004, 21:01

((OOC Hay I object High Orcs I'm a part of the Elven Hedgemony (reluctently at times I admit) and I practice Magic... A LOT.(Hell my ruling body is chosen due to their Magical ability) My use of it has not atrophied or anything else. Me thinks you are wrong to think it would be a second sword not used by the Elven alliance. Thought I would point this out as I am sure someone here would remember... *Looks at Melkor* You know what with certain Balrogs being banished from the Web due to Magic ;) Anyway I shall be silent now.))

Melkor Unchained

09-09-2004, 20:47

[NO. MORE. OOC.]

Ivaylo nodds to Frederick as he hands him the letter, and looks over its contents intently. Once finished, he heaves a sigh and tucks it back into its envelope, dropping it on the table. "Am I to assume by the fact that you've taken pains to conceal this information that I too should do so in my response, or is this a matter with which you would be comfortable discussing with the delegation? It seems to me there is at least one main option which you're omitting from your synopsis of the situation, and it is to this end that I am endeavoring to push the GDODAD."

Taking up his stylus, he waits for a response, addressing the Czar in turn. "While I do not doubt that your intentions are in Greater Prussia's best interests; and by extention the best interests of Metus, simply removing a liability or 'problem' nation from your ranks after the fact is in most cases a horrible idea. When a problem such as that arises from the detrimental activity of these member state is present, it is difficult to detect on the outset but at the same time very easy to remedy; whereas the opposite is true once such a problem progresses to the point where you should have been able to do something about it. Subversive intent in this context is much like cancer; easy to stop in the early stages but hard to see--once it progresses, however, most find the problem altogether unstoppable. What would happen, then, if a subversive state were to gain entry into Greater Prussia, and turn the majority of your subjects against you before you had cause or suspicion to believe anything unusual was going on? How, then, does simply 'removing' the problem state solve your problems? We must think around these corners in order to acheive stability and growth; for there are simply too many nations out there itching for the opportunity to exert themselves to our detriment. I implore Greater Prussia to more carefully examine their potential member states, for these states ultimately become members of our alliance by extension; and thus we have a vested interest in Greater Prussia's continued stability and loyalty."

Derscon

09-09-2004, 22:39

"I shall take your advice in to consideration, and pass it on to the Emperor of the Greater Prussian Empire," the Czar said. "Small background checks are done on incoming nations, so don't think we are just letting them flow in -- just wwe are not as strict as to who comes.

Some things are being done to rid the Empire of those that would be blemishes to Greater Prussia, though," the Czar said, hoping the Melkorian knew what he meant. (OOC: ;) )

He then turned to the High Orc. "I really don't care what you do with your magic -- I will have none of it."

Neo-Wu

10-09-2004, 04:20

When Naka had heard from High Orcs that they wished no humans are to be privy to such information, she soon realized that she had mistaken the previous message as a preposition, or a suggestion. She then stood and stated, "I do agree with making it harder to achieve membership. Through more thorough background checks, we would greatly decrease the possibility of nations going against our cause. Also I think another idea is no longer allow nations to apply for membership, but make membership a thing of invitational means. That would even further carry the means of decreasing betrayal and treachery."

Naka Tankien
Highest Delegate in Neo-Wu

Barbarosea

11-09-2004, 20:32

Fredrick hears Iva and thinks for just a bit. He then says, "For now, anyways, I would request you to keep the information concealed. Possibably at a later point in time, I will feel comfortable with the information going public. As for what end you are pushing the GDODAD I am afraid I do not see."

((Sorry about the shortness, I have to go))

Melkor Unchained

12-09-2004, 02:20

Ivaylo arches a brow at the Czar, looking down to scribble a few notes on his datapad. Dropping the stylus, he turns back to Frederick. "The end of which I speak is the way of strength, the way of hope; and the way of love for your country and the furthering of its ideals. The GDODAD must become what it was meant to be; a gathering of the strong. Its policies must be refined, and the weak must be excised. First off; the organization could use a few more members. If the other factions are willing to do the same, I would also reccommend meaningful policy changes with regards to isolationist nations; either ejecting them outright or demanding some form of activity or compensation for a lack thereof. Also we must deal with those of our number who embody incompetence and weakness; for the strength of an alliance is not to be judged by its numbers alone but by the quality of these member states. Forming new bureaucracies within the GDODAD or Metus will not solve this problem for us, as it will all essentially boil down to the conviction of our core of leaders anyway."

He frowns a bit, more to punctuate the gravity of his point than out of malcontent. "We've got to get our shit together."

High Orcs

12-09-2004, 08:44

Manus grins at this. "So you claim sloth to be a basis of their lack of strict organizational methods?

"It seems that you've lost touch of who you are, or at least you're so absorbed in what you are that you've forgotten how you've got to be where you are. We have all once drank from the Chalice of Might. We've gripped it's golden handle and held it's fine amber liquids to our lips and created societies based on our Law. That chalice makes whomever drinks from it right in all things. It's time for a second helping. We must gather our mettle and reach for the Might that made you strong once more. No more laziness. You can't be satisfied that your name is in some history book. You need to write that book and make sure that book doesn't just cite you, it's about you.

"The First Law all Orcs of the Clans are taught is Chuma Tuncha, which in our native Palladium language means: "Might makes right." So many humans and elves may look upon us as evil beings, they influence other worlds to do the same. THey are weak and simple-minded to hold onto such primitive concepts. Those who have evolved minds understand that there's no such thing as good or evil, nor was there ever. There is but the Will of the Strong dominating that of the Weak. This is how it's ever and always been. Do not let others exert themselves over you. Stand proud and announce your re-awakening with action. There is no better time than now."

Melkor Unchained

12-09-2004, 17:45

Ivaylo rolls his eyes. "You're making too much of a generalization. 'Strict organizational methods,' as you term it, is a means to an end; not the end itself. It's something that must be judged on a case-by-case basis, for you'll note that while Arda may lack any sort of conventional organization, we're still rather strong. Granted, there are some things I would like to change there as well, but for the most part I continue to view us as the strongest faction. I would hazard to guess that Metus would operate more effectively as a larger extention of the Arda Alliance; that is to say that we've flourished without a charter, as apoint of fact. I've always been a proponent of this idea but the GDODAD and Greater Prussia would never allow it, for perfectly valid reasons. By this estimation, in fact, one can venture to say that an utter lack of strict organizational methods might be indeed be a virtue. It all depends on the strength of character and conviction of your leader. Melkor, I belive, has the strength to do so."

Reichskamphen

12-09-2004, 21:19

Arch Duke Dietrich von Oberhausen (OOC: We will just say he was there the whole time for easier RPing) replied to the Melkorian.

"The Crown of the Greater Prussian Empire is directly opposed to the establishment of the Metus Alliance as an extension of Arda, as well as establishing a formal charter regulating positions. As you said, lack of organization can be a good thing if we have strong leaders. I will not place the responsibility for that solely on Melkor though. All leaders within the alliance must have strength. All leaders must display characteristics fitting of their positions. The success or failure of this alliance, as well as the direction in which it goes does not rest solely upon Melkor...it rests on Melkor, the Greater Prussian Crown, and the GDODAD infrastructure. Combined, our efforts will be blessed with success. But if we operate under the assumption that one faction is stronger than the other, or that one leader has more pull than the other, we are doomed to failure.

It is for this reason, that I intend to propose some majour changes to the existing Metus Charter. This Charter was contrived in very differant circumstances than are currently applicable. We were much stronger then, and our enemies much weaker. Now, whether we would like to admitt it or not, the reverse is now the case. In order to gain strength...we must work together. In order to best facilitate this, I propose to keep Melkor's office the same, but bring the other councillor positions into more of a semblace of parity with it. We must be careful not to bring them into absolute parity, lest we have too many issues with the command structure...but we need to make some improvements on the charter nonetheless. I will make more concrete proposals at a later date, but I also have another issue to raise....recruitment.

The Metus Alliance is stagnating on a large level. One step to reviving activitity in the alliance, is reviving activity in its respective parts. Greater Prussia has been steadily growing and becoming more and more active. It's strength increases at a daily rate. This is due, I contend, to less strict immigration policies. Many nations who would otherwise be friendly to Metus, and be willing to join have not done so due to restrictive obligations through the charter, or through not being able to qualify for membership in ARDA or GDODAD. Granted, many of those nations have come to Greater Prussia...but why should the Empire be the only part of the alliance to benefit from growth? It should be spread to all! For this reason, I propose that we loosen restrictions on immigration. The Empire needs to do some work on immigration poicly...namely more extensive checks on incoming nations...but overall...the immigration policies have been successful and the Crown is stronger now than it ever was under Viktor Leipzig.

I would like to see some discussion of this atleast."

The Arch Duke then sat down.

Melkor Unchained

12-09-2004, 23:48

Ivaylo looks terribly intrigued by this latest comment, and quickly takes up his sytylus again to jot down a few more notes. "If Greater Prussia is growing more active on the international scene," he begins, finishing up his note, "then we have yet to see it. I see only two of you here today, but I can find issue with all three factions as it pertains to the participation level of this summit. Perhaps you're referring to inter-regional politics, which are largely useless to us as a whole. A region that is very active internally but not so much so externally will only earn the mistrust of her compatriots, rightly or wrongly. I've not seen the Greater Prussian Crown debate or discuss any Metus affairs with myself or TST, and more disturbingly I see likewise little effort on their part to mobilize for the war Lord Melkor ordered against the Imperium of Kajal; noting of course that your participation is mandated by the Metus Charter, at least to the extent to which you are able."

He runs a hand through his hair, surveying the delegation again. After a brief pause, he addresses Dietrich's second point. "I believe I had already expressed my inherent distrust for Greater Prussia's recruitment policies, and not but ten minutes ago suggested a major overhaul in the process thereof. I must again stress the importance of quality over quantity in this sense. Though not a universal absolute, this presumption will serve us in reforming and managing a superior alliance.

"I also do not agree with the notion that our enemies are more powerful than us; it is simply a matter of where that power lies. Triumvirate markets are stronger and more versatile, whereas our armed forces as a general rule posess a greater share of strength, overall. Our primary function is that of war, which is a virtue at times, and a liability at others. Given that we're not directly at war with our primary enemies, this skill is ultimately lost upon us; and will do nothing but generate more expenses. Then, we must assume that it is prudent to either one," he holds up a finger, "more frequently capitalize on this advantage--as a collective, dividing the spoils of war amongst ourselves, or," another finger pops up, "expanding our expertise into other areas. The problem with the first idea is that we can seldom if ever hope to achieve a profit from war; and where it exists it will never be enough to carry over into all of our treasuries. The problem with the second idea is that we may compromise our power as a military alliance, at least in part. Ideally we should be able to acheive an absolute balance, but such things seldom happen in practice. Prudence consists of knowing how to recognize the nature of different dangers and accepting the least bad as good. It is with this take on the situation in mind that we must strive to make our judgement, as the future of the alliance hangs in the balance. I feel that an expanded economic presence would do wonders for us, provided of course we have the membership to back it up," he finishes with a nod to Dietrich, perhaps validating his points about recruitment. "But with quality members," he adds perhaps as an afterthought. "We don't want to go around taking in any yahoo that knock on our door."

High Orcs

13-09-2004, 00:31

"The Clans have little to contribute in terms of modern goods and services that can be of use to anyone else besides the Clans. Our economy does not offer currency, as you may see it fit. As our society is, and always has been, and always will be, geared towards war and conquest for the ChumRas Orka, our entire market rests on a barter system. This serves to eliminate the possibility that the foul human sin of Greed does not overtake us.

"However, I am pleased to announce that due to the grand climate generated in the Heart of Arda, we are usually more than overstocked with grain and foodstuffs. The High Step agricultural fields are large and bountiful, and they are shipped everywhere they can. Hunger is no problem within the Clans. If you feel that the excess can be used to benefit yourselves, than by all means take what you want that we do not need.

"The same can be said of the Blazing Hammer Clan, whom have filled the armories of every Orcish city and a shield and sword in every Orc's hand, and a suit of chain mail in the closet. As such, our mining is quite industrious, and Ores such as steel, coal, iron, and raw Mithril Ore. However, there are many Mines that the Blazing Hammer has filed as useless. They seem to be quite older in comparison to the Coal Mines, deeper into the tunnel systems, and filled with these:"

Trabian opened a small satchel, and spilled it on the table. Outwith came forth flawed Diamond rocks, picked straight from the wall. Sapphires and Amythysts glimmered around the diamonds, and precious ruby stones rolled along the table.

"These rocks are of no use to us. Perhaps there are comments on what we should do with these?"

Reichskamphen

13-09-2004, 00:45

"The Empire," began Dietrich, more than a little offended at the Melkorians implications about the Crown, "has in the past, not been very externally active. But now, we are launching a campaign to involve ourselves internationally. (OOC: part of what we are doing you are ignoring, Allanea et al.) Much of our international activity is not done in quite a strident fashion as yours is, so perhaps you wouldn't recognize it." he said, still somewhat indignant.

"As far as the war with Kajal goes, we are unable to participate in this war as we are only now creating a space fleet. It is in response to this war that we have opted to purchase ships and begin training crews and indeed building ships. Our lack of response comes not from an unwillingness, but an inability to respond. Greater Prussian Conventional forces can whip any force thrown against them, but it has been a grave oversight of the Crown to ignore space for as long as it has. Only with the vision and inspiration of Emperor Paisley have we now begun to look towards the future instead of towards past laurels." He paused for a second, realizing he had addressed the points out of order.

"If you will allow, I will return to a point you made before the previous one I spoke of: the small representation of the Empire at the summit." he took a sip from the glass of water infront of him. "In the past, it would have been out of place for so few nations to attend. But times have changed and the Empire's policies have as well. We are no longer a Holy Roman Empire. The Crown has centralized power and is the only entity able to speak for the Empire. The other nations have no need to attend as their pronouncements without approval from the Crown will have no effect on any part of policy. What we have done, has been to speak with representatives from each of the nations before each day of debate in a conference with the Emperor himself. The Emperor decides what is best, and what is to be said, and then we go the next day and say what needs to be said."

"I would also tend to disagree with you that regional politics are not of any value." Dietrich continued. "Without the strength and unity of the individual parts of our alliance, the alliance as a whole will collapse. If we ignore internal issues for the sake of external ones, we go nowhere."

OOC: Also, Melkor, I have spoken with you about several Metus issues. Granted, not ICly, but I have spoken with you.

"To address immigration policies, it is a falacy that just because someone has a low population, means they are not valuable. I am unsure if you hold that position or not, but it is a misconception I intend to address in any case. The intelligence of the government can be a great help to the overall affairs of the organization, even if the population is not large. In Greater Prussia, we don't let any whacko in. There have been a number of people ejected for various reasons, but we do give everyone that looks promising a chance. We are careful and entrust them with no sensitive information, but give them a chance to prove themselves valuable, if only for cannonfodder and expansion of economy. If they are not, or if they will be a pain in general, they are disposed of. The Empire is growing stronger by the day. One cannot argue with results."

Dietrich sat down again.

New Sigmisund

14-09-2004, 19:28

*applause from nowhere in particular*

Melkor Unchained

14-09-2004, 20:39

Ivaylo frowns and shakes his head. "You're missing my point. I did not mean to insinuate that regional politics were utterly usesless. They have their place, yes, but with an alliance such as Metus an equal presence is also required abroad. Like I said earlier, a region that is active within itself but not so much so within the alliance as a whole will only earn suspicion and doubt from her comrades. That's not to say that a certain amount of activity therein is productive, but when you abhor outside contact with your other allies it becomes a problem. The Five Kingdoms has yet to achieve dialogue with the vast majority of Greater Prussia, and it is our sincerest hope that they have not forgotten where they stand."

Leaning forward again, Ivaylo takes up his stylus and taps it on the table. "And if the reason for this is due to centralization of power to the Crown, then I suppose that's understandable. Arda has a similar policy, yet we encourage our members to make themselves active on the world scene as well," he says, with a nod to the High Orcish delegation. "Admittedly, this has met with mixed results."

He clears his throat. "But Greater Prussia's failure to mobilize for the assault against Kajal is still a thorn in our side. If you have not mobilized for lack of space assets, why were we not informed sooner? Why did the Crown make no effort to explain to us that it didn't possess the means to participate in such an assault? If you inform us of these shortcomings in a timely fashion, then it is easier for us to work with you to find a way around these deficiencies. Just because you lack space vessels does not mean you still can't be a valuable part of the assault. We have... other means of reaching the battlefield which can be put to use in nations lacking space assets. Between the Five Kingdoms and the GDODAD, the space threat should be adequately dealt with anyway. Granted, in war there are always variables which one does not percieve until the last minute, so overconfidence in this regard would be self destructive."

Tucking the stylus behind his ear, he folds his hands over one another and levels his gaze at Dietrich. "I hope you do not misconstrue my comments here to mean that we do not value the Greater Prussian Empire as a worthy and just ally. But at the same time we all must realize that this summit would be altogether pointless if we did not raise issues that perhaps some of us might not want to hear. We must be honest and forthcoming with each other, for if we are not, mistrust will fester in the hearts of us all, and internal strife will be our ruin. In solidifying our position and growing stronger as a whole we must at times be brutally frank with each other, and I encourage you all," he says with a broad gesture to the delegation, "to do the same. Only in this manner will we acheive the confidence and trust in each other to maintain our solidarity."

Rezo

15-09-2004, 08:54

Rezo, still wearing the robe he had come with, was peeling a little bit of skin from his left arm. Mhm... I must have forgotten about that spell... Well, later. Indeed. Being undead had its advantages. Unfortunately, the constant rotting was not one of them.

Listening to the various delegates, he was somewhat amused. Granted, He had never really interferred with the politics of Arda, or Metus for that matter, but then... He was here for a reason, and who knew? Perhaps, some more interaction could further his own goals, too.

"If I may..." He begun, at an opportune moment. "I will grant you that my knowledge regarding the overall situation is somewhat limited, but from what I could gather... When looking at the results of Greater Prussia's centralization in the past... I'm explicitly referring to its disaster during Greater Prussia's attempt to 'revitalize' the Reich, which failed not only due to Greater Prussias complete failure of understanding the mindset of The Reich, but also due to its extreme centralization. Once this centralization vanished, due to whatever reason, minor Greater Prussia members... Well, ran rampant, and ruined the operation." He hesitated, for a second or two. "Of course, one could argue that the plan was doomed to fail from the very beginning... Nonetheless... As far as I can see, Greater Prussias organisation as one empire, rather than a loose coalition of likeminded, sovereign nations with a leadership being capable of delegating issues to its members, like Arda is, works excellent when it comes to boost the King's ego, unfortunately, for all practical purposes, it is a failure."

He hesitated again, peeling another bit of skin from his left arm.

"Now, one couldn't care less. If it satisfies the king... Let him go with it. Unfortunately, this... [i]structural weakness doesn't only affect Greater Prussia. It affects Metus as a whole. And I am reasonably certain that to... To tap into the vast potential that is Greater Prussia, a strict reorganisation into a more... Liberal entity would be a useful step."

Is this my foot going to fall off? Hmmm... no. Thank Shabranigdo.

"As for Metus as a whole... I would assume that it would be reasonably effective to offer our potential ressorces to those undecided, with potential, to slowly gather the ressources that will one day result in our inevitable success. Please keep this in mind: I'm not talking about open warfare. This is futile ina world as vast as ours. I'm talking about significant timeframes to slowly, slowly tip the balance of power."

He chuckled a little, softly... though it sounded a bit like croacking, his throat being in a somewhat bad state. "Of course, I'm reasonably certain that this things are what Ivaylo meant during the previous... Exchanges, and I'm agreeing with them. As for now... If you would excuse me, I need to take care of a few things, for a few minutes. Being undead has its disadvantages..."

Reichskamphen

15-09-2004, 12:11

OOC: We decided to erase that from the record events, pretend it never happened ICly, but if you want to address it, fine, it shall be addressed.

IC: "I disagree most wholeheartedly." Arch Duke von Oberhausen began. "The reason for the failure of the revitalization was a failure to delegate properly, not a case of extreme centralization. The leaders in charge were simply not capable of handling the situation. This has been taken care of. Those who are incapable to handle any positions of power have been removed from them and there have been sweeping changes within the Imperial Government to directly define lawcodes and succession to the Throne as well as a strict military chain of command to prevent this from ever happening again. The failure was due to a lack of centralization. With the extreme autonomy granted these nations, they were able to act independantly and ruin the overall mission. Now, this fiasco would be impossible to repeat with the new laws put in place regulating the military command and structure as well as with the new commanders. The Empire was at a unique position at that point in time as a second in command had not been officially appointed before departure, so naturally this created confusion. Now, the command chain is strong and, (as we have seen from the continued activity and functioning of Greater Prussia on all levels during my three week absence to get College straightened out) the laws that have been put in place are effective.

We did not misunderstand the mindset of the Reich. The operation was not doomed from the beginning. The issue lay solely within the weak power structure and the extreme autonomy and risks resultant in the weak military structure at the time. Now that these errors have been corrected and there is now a viable successor and leader able to take the reigns in my absence, the continued success and existance of Greater Prussia is now a definate thing."

OOC: Yea, at the point where I left for like two months and returned to see half of Greater Prussia gone, I realized that I had left no command structure for it to operate on, no centralized power for it to rely on, etc. etc. When I returned, I set about centralizing power and setting in place concrete reforms to ensure that this would not be repeated. During my three week absence...Greater Prussia grew, not declined. Those in charge of controlling it in my absence performed spectacularly. Also, the main reason for that failure, when I refer to incapable commanders was Diminix. This has been an epiphany for me. At some point, keeping a nation like that around even as cannon fodder becomes a risk and a problem if they seek to aspire to be what they cannot...that is a competant military force. He had no grasp of military command and effectiveness and was a liability to the Empire...luckily he left and I didn't have to kick him out. I would be glad to list out my reforms and the reasons for them at length if that would ICly satisy everyone haha.

Reichskamphen

15-09-2004, 17:54

"I appologize," Dietrich responded to the Melkorian, "for our failure to communicate our intentions. If you must know however, the Greater Prussian Military was being mobilized as per your request, however, granted, it was not mobilized solely due to your request."

Dietrich removed several thick folders full of official documentation, radio transcripts, etc. etc. Detailing the mobilization, and handed them out to all present.

"At the time the Empire learned of Melkor's request to mobilize, the Imperial Guard stood at 100,000 men. It was already stretched to its limits and deployed exclusively within the Empire." Dietrich opened up the folder to the first document, a detailed pre-mobilization order of battle for the Imperial Guard, showing only two divisions, Sola Fide, and Soli Deo Gloria being battle ready and several others being entirely devoid of men and vehicles. "If you will turn to the next document, you will notice the personal seal of Emperor Paisley on it , and that it is dated four days after your call to arms. This document is the official mobilization and levee en masse order to shore up the Guard. You can observe the Emperor's signature at the bottom, and the co-signature of the Head of the Armies, Count von Herzenstein."

He then took a 3/4 inch thick stack of paper from the folder, and separated it from the rest of the documents with his fingers. "These are selected commanders logs from the various division headquarters, noting the growth from 100,000 to over 6,000,000 and detailing the process as a whole as well as official division strength reports from every division in the Guard to Count von Herzenstein. These reports were presented to the Emperor and the situation was approved." if you should, for some reason wish to go through these to verify what I am saying, you are welcome to at your own leisure, this is why I have provided them...in the sense of full disclosure.

He turned the next page of the packet and paused for a moment. Pressing his lips together pensively, he then began with a slight lagging in his first word, "Now...you will notice again the stationary of the Crown, the Emperor's personal seal, and his signature, co-signed by von Herzenstein. This is the first Order of Action Decree passed from a Greater Prussian Emperor to the Guard, acting alone without the assistance of other armies. In this it details the order to prepare to leave on 24 hours notice to liberate ST. Berchman's Isle at Cherry Ridge. 17 hours after the Guard was put on notice, the enemy withdrew in haste and the Guard was placed on the isle to controll the situation and establish a defensive outpost. The division in question is the Sola Fide Division, if anyone is concerned...which I doubt is the case."

He flipped to the next piece of paper. "This is another Order of Action Decree from the Emperor to the Guard. It now orders them to be prepared to leave within 72 hours notice to assist in the liberation/destruction of the Islamo-Fascist nation of North Star, which has been an enemy of the Kingdom for years. Just before the Guard was about to ship out, word was recieved that the Sultan had passed away and that the assaults on North Star were grinding to a hault." he turned the page. "A Stand Down Order was issued, available here on the next page."

"You will now see another Order of Action Decree if you turn the page," he paused realizing how monotonous and repetitive this was. "I understand how this is rather boring, but with the insinuations that have been flying around about the Empire, I believe it is necessary to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Military of the Empire was mobilized and active...and most importantly, that the armies were available to be called upon at any time...though they were slighty bogged down by other threats." he took a deep breath, preparing to dive in again. "Now you will see here another Order of Action Decree ordering the guard to travel to the border that Allanea shares with the Empire and be on three hours notice to liberate her people from the Meta-Human, Elven, Siriesque Filth that are oppressing her. The Emperor issued an ultimatum to the Federation of Sentient Peoples to withdraw. The Guard has been recently ordered to only officially, but not actually, lower alertness levels to help facilitate the discussions that the Emperor is now engaged in on the matter of the Federation's departure from Allanean soil."

He closed the large folder. "Now you will notice that the Military has been mobilized and active, ready and awaiting Melkor's request to move in. During the entire time, the Empire has been supporting the Metus alliance by standing in direct opposition to her enemies in the Triumvirate of Yut and Tareldanore. We have been expanding alliances to extend the influence of Metus and further strenghten in. If this is not activity, I do not know what is."

Then he turned to the gentleman who he had addressed earlier about the issue with centralization. "I am terribly sorry to bring this up again," he began dipolomatically, "but I forgot an extremely important point. This centralization of which you speak has only taken place under the leadership of Dr. Paisley. Under the leadership of the first Emperor, wherein this operation in the Reich was conducted, it still operated as a semi autonomous conglomeration of states as does Arda and as did historical organizations like the Holy Roman Empire. As you said, it is a mixed bag. We were tired of the mix, we were tired of the weakness! We decided to throw out the bad nuts, and to centralize power so these situations may never occur again."

The Brotherhood of Nod

15-09-2004, 19:16

Oxanna Kristos raised from her seat. "I'm afraid the Brotherhood has to side with Lord Melkor on the issue of new admissions, and that quality is indeed better than quantity. Other alliances, like the Triumvirate, aren't all that large either, but like Metus, they rely on a core group of incredibly powerful member states." she paused and sipped of her glass of water, then continued. "However, we are also under the impression that Metus need some new members. What we could do is actively approach nations we feel possess the qualities to join Metus. Suitable candidates should ofcourse be proposed to a Councillor or the Speaker, maybe even before they are offered membership, but this may get us a new member or two. Inviting new nations instead of waiting for people to join may also decrease the risk of espionage, for obvious reasons."

She sat down, with a disturbed look on her face as her eyes followed the trail of rotting skin leading from Rezo's delegate's chair to one of the bathrooms.

Melkor Unchained

16-09-2004, 05:32

Ivaylo nodded as he was handed the documents, reaching into his sleeve to fetch a pair of reading glasses, which he promptly put on, He examined the documents carefully, nodding at various points in Dietrich's speech. "Very good," he said at length, after Dietrich was done talking. "We were aware of a Greater Prussian mobilization, but were unaware of the extent of this action, and furthermore for what purpose." Taking off his glasses, he looks back to Dietrich. "However we must remind you that it is not within Greater Prussia's pervue to unilaterally declare war on anyone without first seeking the counsel of Lord Melkor. As far as I can tell, this was not done; and its a trend that seems to be proliferating. Granted, provisions exist for responding to unprovoked, direct attacks, but there is a timeframe which has to be considered. The Allanea situation is exempt from this on virtue of the fact that Greater Prussia apparently failed to respond to FSP's initial occupation. If a war were to be declared against them for this, it would have had to happen within the first 24 hours of the attack."

He drops the papers, and clasps his hands over them. "But such as it is, I do not feel that Allanea is worth losing troops over, frankly. If, for some reason, you feel that they're a worthy part of the alliance, fine, but we will not allow Metus to be sapped for Allanea's benefit. Therefore, with the power invested in me by Lord Melkor, Speaker of the Metus alliance, I henceforth eject Allanea from Metus, and she will cease to enjoy the benefits and protection thereof. Allanea's history as a state with absolutely no redeeming or sensible foreign policy will only serve to weaken our position if forces are permitted to be allocated to her defense. Therefore, if Allanea does not have the strength to stand alone against her oppressors--which she obviously doesn't-- then she is not worthy of support from Metus, and by extension the Greater Prussian Empire." Ivaylo clears his throat. "While it is perfectly within my power to eject them from Metus, I cannot do anything to alienate her from the Greater Prussian Empire: this I assume is only within Emperor Paisley's pervue. But bear in mind that it would reflect rather poorly on the region were you to ignore this edict, and hasten to Allanea's defense. I will not disallow diplomacy with FSP on the matter, but a war with them is simply out of the question. Metus will not be destroyed or weakened because of Allanea." He frowns. "Not on my watch. They're simply not worth it."

"Cherry Ridge, on the other hand, is a state with which we've had little or no contact. Despite the charter stipulations that also forbid you to go to war for Cherry Ridge at this time, I will trust Emperor Paisley's best judgement in this regard, for it's a conflict much more easily won. Be aware, however, that we are not in the habit of handing out charter violation exemptions. In the future, you'll kindly notify us of these situations."

[ooc: Alright, as some of you may know, I tend to ignore Allanea. Such as it is, I don't ignore FSP. So I got to thinking about it, and essentially it would ICly boil down to FSP and GP going to war for absolutley no reason, which is sort of hard for me to justify ICly. So, I reneged on my ignore for this post, and probably for the next few, since I imagine Dietrich will have something to say about this. Please note this does not constitute a willingness to RP with Allanea ever again.]

Reichskamphen

16-09-2004, 19:47

"Melkor may choose to eject Allanea from Metus, but Greater Prussia shall not eject Allanea." Dietrich stated confidently. "Allanea has learned from his mistakes and has reformed. If this is not the case, and Allanea persists in idiotic undertakings, he shall be ejected from Greater Prussia as well. Allanea has contributed greatly to the various causes of the Empire and has done what was necessary when it was necessary. Allanea will shortly be a personal Protectorate of the Emperor himself once FSP forces have departed. Will this ejection also extend to the Empire?" Dietrich paused to give his point more piercing power.

"Also, as a sovreign Empire, Greater Prussia maintains the right to act in her own defense and best interests at all times. It is always better if this comes along with Metus approval, but the Empire will act for its own preservation and defense with or without Metus consent. Allanea, a part of the Greater Prussian Empire, under the Crown...was INVADED by a filthy Yuttie and you are saying we can do NOTHING? This is not only insane, it is absolutely unacceptable and counter to every goal of Metus...to simply let Siri and her heathens go unopposed and to allow part of OUR SOVREIGN LAND be invaded and occupied!" He thought about what he had just said, realizing how this would certainly be upsetting to the Melkorian. "I value Metus. Greater Prussia is an active contributing member of Metus. However, this unilateral ejection of a member nation is a slap in the face against the Empire, as is the assertion that we cannot act in our own best interests without you holding our hand!"

Dietrich heard himself getting to passionate, and decided to tone it down for diplomatic purposes. "We are loyal to Metus. That is not to be questioned. My question is....is Metus loyal to US? I have seen nothing but attacks against the Empire in all aspects...its policies...its leaders...its actions. I have seen NO support whatsoever for the Empire from Metus. We are proud members of the Metus alliance...and I highly suggest that if Melkor values our contributions and continued action in this alliance, that he cease these unwarranted and unsubstantiated attacks against the Crown."

As Dietrich began to sit down, he noticed some of the others present pulling out the Metus Charter, when he saw this he returned to his feet and said, "One more issue. The Emperor's first obligation is to his people. Any other obligation comes second. If anything at all were to prevent his defense of his people...whatever it is becomes null and void in his eyes. You can write that Greater Prussia cannot act in its own defense without Metus approval. You can write that the Emperor has to abdicate the throne as far as that goes...but whatever you write...if it interferes with His Highness's FOREMOST obligation. Then it would be just as effective if you didn't write it at all." Taking a brief pause, he began again.

"I would again assure you, that we will uphold the Metus Charter. We are a region of honour and morals. We don't like breaking any obligations. But the requests and demands that the Melkorian Ambassador seems to be making...that we run any action that we take by Melkor first...these demands are ludicrous...and I say that with the utmost respect."

Dietrich took his seat and awaited the inevitable firestorm that was sure to be forthcoming.

Melkor Unchained

16-09-2004, 22:43

Ivaylo schooled his expression to one of calm neutrality, pulling his hands apart and laying them flat on the desk as he drew in a few deep breaths. "Very well. If you feel that strongly about it, we will permit you to waste men and resources for Allanea's benefit. But even if you attain victory you will only be sealing for yourselves a much larger defeat, as Allanea will discredit and shame the Crown as she has done to countless others, and to herself. Bear in mind that my change of heart is not borne out of any newfound love for Allanea, nor does it indicate a change in my opinions thereof. Reichkamphen's insistence to this end shall be recorded, and will quite possibly be reflected in the way Lord Melkor views his allies. Despite what I've said so far--which you seem to be regarding as "attacks" on the Crown--these problems mentioned earlier are all relatively minor in nature and do not constitute the slightest dislike for the Crown or her policies. Disapproval? Perhaps."

Reaching up, he rests his chin on his hand, his index and forefinger tapping idly on his cheek as he spoke. "But you must realize that to us this constitutes a case of misplaced loyalties. Of course Metus is loyal to the Crown, and it is for this very reason that we're endeavoring to deliver you from the massive liability that is attendant in allying with Allanea. However in this instance it probably remains to be seen that experience is the best teacher, for by the Third or Fourth Allanean war you'll start to realize the error of your ways," he explains matter-of-factly, lowering his hand. "Therefore I will amend my previous edict to the effect that Allanea is the Crown's responsibility and the Crown's responsibility alone. Metus will not intervene for Allanea or if Allanea is involved. We will not consider Allanea to be a part of the Empire for the purposes of Metus matters, not being in the alliance itself. That is to say, the Greater Prussian Empire will not be able to request aid from Metus to defend this particular territory. We will also not accept 'we're busy in Allanea' as an excuse for not becoming involved with Metus affairs. Also, we will not permit Allanea to operate in tandem with Metus in any sort of offensive capacity.

"Incidentally--dealing with the larger issue of regional sovereignty--I feel that perhaps our good friend Dietrich is misunderstanding the Charter. Clause IX states: No nation within Metus may declare war on any nation, region or alliance without first gaining permission from the Speaker or a Councillor. This affords the Emperor the same amount of authority over Greater Prussia as he already enjoys. We would never prevent a member region or alliance from defending itself."

Neo-Wu

17-09-2004, 15:58

Naka, not saying much in the discussion thus far, nods in aggreement to the conversing delegates, and reps. in the room.

Naka Tankien
Highest Delegate in Neo-Wu

OOC: Just basically letting you know, that im am still following this thread. I just don't have much to say being as im new.

High Orcs

17-09-2004, 19:49

Dorin snuck over to Manus, grabbing his ear, and muttered something very softly in Orcish (A language that is unknown outside of the clans, and only about 15% of those are fluent), motioning to the animated corpse that was Rezo. Dorin then stood back up from his leaning position, his clutches around the black orb upon his cane. Manus grinned and smiled, stifling a laugh. Trabian seemed inquisitive, but ignored it as some type of joke made at the zombie's expense. Dorin was never much for Necromancy, and left it to Uthract's little clan of Tark worshippers.

Assington

18-09-2004, 10:24

Calis continued to pay attention quietly, allowing the more senior members of METUS to direct the meeting. He didn't have anything of real importance to contribute anyway.

Ares Industries

19-09-2004, 08:04

Damien watched on quietly as delegates from the larger nations bandied words, listening carefully. Although his eyes stayed focused on whomever was talking at the moment, his mind was flying. Ideas, information, plans, they all sped through at one moment or another. He assessed and dismissed most, remembering some for later, although always making sure not to miss any of what the other delegates may say.

After Ivaylo's latest statement, he cleared his throat loudly, casting a glance at the other delegates.

“I believe we all are missing the point here. Why continue this cold war? Is victory within our 'sights'? This Elven Hegemony, these.. 'yutties', as Dietrich so eloquently put it, is their defeat within grasping distance?”

He paused to sit up taller, gathering his thoughts.

“Is this not a waste of effort? Why not call for peace, cut our losses? Attempting to strengthen our separate alliances, and Metus as a whole, is only hampered by the pursuit of our 'enemies'.”

Damien paused again, this time to take a sip of water and judge the expressions of the others at the table.

“Well?”

Reichskamphen

20-09-2004, 01:09

High Orcs

20-09-2004, 03:04

"Many powerful human nations whom would declare themselves neutral in the eyes of this conflict do so more or less out of a fear of what these Space-Elves would do to them without the protection of the Hordes. There is a major discrimination against those self-serving nations whom act in obsequious behavior towards this 'hegemony,'" Trabian informed.

"We find that we have an invisible line of support that is more emotional than physical. This is a moral backing. They would rather see the Elven Empire crumble than gain more of a footing and shadow them in fear. They have figured that there is much less to be afraid of than our Might than theirs.

"For the most part, there is a sense of abandonment on this planet from their reach. If we were to make this world our dominion, it could easily be done. However, the initial response would turn this entire planet to a fortress to defend."

imported_Berserker

20-09-2004, 05:02

OOC: You do realize that elves AREN'T the predominant race of Yut.
We've got much more than elves.
Humans
Elves
Reploids
EI's
Sakkrans (Lizard peoples)
K'zin
And various metahumans

And no, Siri is not the controling body.
Sorry, but it's a tad annoying to be refered to as "Elvish hordes"

'Sides, one would hope that you knew this all IC. (considering it's knowledge readily available over 'NS net') Then again, perhaps its just the slang you choose to use.

Derscon

20-09-2004, 22:49

imported_Berserker

20-09-2004, 22:59

OOC: Propoganda could be a thing.

And give me three good reasons I should believe you that Siri is not the controlling body.
OOC: Scolopendra, Karmabaijan, And myself. The founders of the alliance, and members of the First Among Equals council.(Well, Suunto predated me, but I picked up their F.A.E. spot.) Again, this is easily known IC.
http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=278371. The charter is public knowledge.

High Orcs

21-09-2004, 06:15

OOC:

I believe the order was, "NO MORE OOC!" So...keep your little PC comments to yourself because no one in this meeting cares. Really, no one does. Stop commenting.

IC:

"It is also of note," Trabian further conjectured. "That extraplanar holdings would be in jeopardy, if they're really *that* important to those of you whom would have them, if such a military engagement were to happen.

"As it is, it's an idea to think about, but the response may not be worth the price of victory."

Melkor Unchained

21-09-2004, 22:22

"Their defeat is closer than one might expect. We merely have not been approaching it in the right way. More of this shall be discussed later at a Councillors meeting, but we need not abandon the war. Without the conflict, the reason for our alliance is removed. The only time it needs to be disolved is upon the defeat of the Elven hordes. I am sure this is probably the kindest and least wrathful response you will get." Dietrich smiled coyly. He felt sorry for the other delegate.

"Tell me.." began Ivaylo, tapping his stylus on the table, his brows knotted. "Have the forces of Greater Prussia ever stood in the field of battle opposite the Triumvirate of Yut? Or Menelmacar? Or, even, say any of Menelmacar's so called 'vassal' states? Aelosia, perhaps? What about Tor Yvresse?" He frowns. "The Five Kingdoms has met these opponents. Some we bested and some bested us, but they are a far more worthy set of adversaries than you're giving them credit for, apparently. I agree that we're going about it in the wrong way, and this is part of the reason the summit was called. I do not, however, agree with the estimation that their defeat is in any way within our grasp at present. Much still needs to happen. Suing for peace is not an option, as it implies weakness. If they want to admit they've lost the war, then fine. But The Five Kingdoms will not."

Reichskamphen

23-09-2004, 07:55

Dietrich's right eyebrow raised high in a look of skeptecism at best, and disgust more than likely. He recognized that arrogant Melkorian smirk and the condescending tone. He hated it with all his soul. He did his best to only seem a bit indignant though. "I never said that defeat was within our grasp...I merely said closer than one might think. Forces of the Empire have not fought against Siri. But on brief occasions, troops from Reichskamphen have fought WITH her and gained quite a great deal of information. This was during the days when Reichskamphen was in the Reich." Dietrich picked up a glass of water and took a sip. Releasing a small sound of satisfaction he continued. "They are indeed formidable adversaries. To engage them in open war would be at best mutual destruction. It is something not reccomended. I ask you to merely wait until the closed session Councillors meeting. There shall the plan be discussed in Greater detail, but Melkor, as you seem to think we are overestimating our abilities...I urge you not to underestimate them."

The Silver Turtle

24-09-2004, 17:46

An underestimation of ourselves is far better than an overestimation.
The Great Ineffable Bob smiled knowingly and let this comment drift across the room.

Wretchengard

25-09-2004, 08:23

"Indeed," added Steelblood, who had been quiet since the discussions had begun. "Overestimating one's might can result in terrible consequences..."

He trailed off as if lost in thought for a few seconds. He took a drink from his own glass before he continued again.

"As I see it, abandoning our current stance against the Yutties and the elves is not an option," he stated. "Do you really think they would really just let us be? That we could simply bury the proverbial hatchet? Perhaps. But how long before said hatchet was unearthed and planted firmly in our backs?"

He paused for a moment to let his words sink in.

"They will always hate us for what we are. They see our governments and our very ways of life as wrong, and would gladly tear them down if they were given the chance," the Overlord continued, utter contempt clear in his voice. "Tear them down, and replace them with the very social abortions that they hold so dear. I can't speak for the rest of you, but I would sooner burn dear Wretchengard to ash-timber by timber-than see it reduced to an elf-worshipping democracy, where it's common for tigermen to hold office and for a man's best friend to be a walking, talking toaster!"

The large Wretchan sovereign realized that his fists were clenched in rage-in fact, his hands were shaking-and he sat back and calmed himself for a moment before taking another drink from his glass.

"Victory may not be within reach-nay, it is likely many, many battles-and more subtle maneuverings-away from us at this point," he continued softly. "I don't doubt that every battle will likely be very bloody and hard fought."

"It has been my experience, however, that most things of worth don't come easy," he concluded with a wry smile.

With that he sat back and let the others digest the words that he had said.

Reichskamphen

26-09-2004, 00:39

Melkor Unchained

26-09-2004, 01:18

Dietrich gained the distinct feeling he was unwelcome. Every delegation had been assailing every comment he had made. Under the table his hands were shaking with rage. His face, however, was completely calm, and his mind was clear and uninhibited.

With not a hint of stress in his voice he began to speak, "Instead of attacking me, why don't you wait until the meeting to learn of what I have to say? I am not a man who says things without a good basis in truth."

Ivaylo wouldn't be a very good envoy if he couldn't notice Dietrich's tensions. "You don't seem to be understanding the spirit of genuine debate. We're not attacking you, we're debating and discussing the ideas put forth as any worthwhile gathering would. As I said earlier, we must be brutally frank with one another, for it is remarkably difficult to make progress within the status quo. Unfortunately the relative..." he clears his throat and eyes the other delegates, "lack of other responses has given us almost nothing to work with in that regard."

Reichskamphen

26-09-2004, 08:48

Von Oberhausen was old, very old. He was 98 infact, but looked as if he was in his 60's. Some Menelmacari miracle of Medicine had kept him alive and essentially looking the same for the last 30 something years. He had worked for King Will II in the Reich, for High Lord Protector Joseph, King Marcus II, Viktor Leipzig, and now Dr. Paisley. He was no stranger to diplomacy, or even to Melkor as he had been dealing with them diplomatically for the last 80 years of his life. (He had been instated at the age of 28 by King Will II when he was around the same age.)

Ivaylo was not the type of Melkorian he was used to. He was one that talked eloquently and used a stylus instead of a broadsword. But differant as he was, he was just the same. Oberhausen hated them all. He hated every Orc, and he hated every Melkorian. It may have been bigoted, but then he was a bigot.

Despite the fact that he loathed Metus and he liked Melkor even less, he knew it was in the best interests of Greater Prussia to be in the alliance, so he maintained a calm face, a kind word here and there, and kept his wits about him. But if he had his way, he would love to see Prussian Banners streaming accross Melkor and their cities in ashes.

Everynow and then however, his true feelings would peek through in a sarcastic comment or a glossed over jab.

"Perhaps the other delegates aren't speaking up because they don't want to be treated in the horrendous way that you have treated me. Discussion is discussion, and discussion is fine. But the only thing I have seen here are verbal assaults against Prussia, and now when the Prussian issue is off of the table, every comment I make is shot down. Perhaps I am over reacting, but I think not. Regardless, I don't care anymore, let us merely move on. I am tired of talking with you about this."

Derscon

26-09-2004, 19:23

The Czar looked around the room and stayed quiet during most of the speaking. These people -- like children. My grandchildren are more civil than these people -- throwing insults back and forth. He spoke while sitting down.

"I think we all need to calm down right now. I can feel the tension in this room -- I could cut it with a sword. No pun intended, of course," he added with a smile.

"Anyways, let us get to something of use, shall we? It is clear no one wants to go full force against Siri or her minions -- I didn't think you would want to. Now, I personally think that we need to create some sort of Metus special operations team. Under-the-radar work to slowly cut the legs out from under our enemies. Of course, we would need a head for this department -- and, as loyalty to the Crown, I propose a member of Greater Prussia to head it."

OOC: There ya go, Wretch.

The Brotherhood of Nod

27-09-2004, 22:39

Oxanna woke from her thoughts. "That sounds most interesting" she said, grasping most what was implied. "and it sounds like something the Brotherhood could actually contribute to, in contrary to all this space-talk. Does anyone has any concrete ideas?"

Wretchengard

28-09-2004, 00:22

"Interesting that you should mention that, Czar Andropov," Overlord Steelblood said with a slight smile, "for I came to this summit with a very similar proposal to share with all of you. I was going to make this proposal a little later, but since the topic has come up, I suppose now is as good a time as ever."

He paused for a moment before speaking again.

"No doubt most of us present here keep a stable of assassins and other operatives, or have at least made use of them on occasion," the Overlord continued. "For some time now, I have been entertaining the idea of a Metus-wide ring of assassins. As strong as we are, so too are our enemies, and they are many. If we faced them directly, our battles would be very hardfought. However, as Czar Andropov suggested, what if we worked in secret, chipping away at the enemy? Removal of an enemy commander before launching an attack, removal of a politician for speaking out against us. Possibly even the assassination of world leaders! Ahh, the chaos we would sow! Think of it; the best assassins the nations of Metus have to offer, with access to the combined intelligence of Metus. To my knowledge, there are no other organizations out there that could match its potential."

He paused to let his words sink in.

"I think that we could accomplish much," he said, waiting for feedback.

Derscon

28-09-2004, 01:51

OOC: You're welcome! :D

Melkor Unchained

28-09-2004, 19:54

Ivaylo arches a brow, quite content to drop this pointless line of debate with von Oberhausen. "A promising idea," he admits with a nod. "Quite promising indeed. If this works it would be quite the proverbial political 'backdoor' to get what we want, albeit indirectly."

He paused. "What should we call it?"

The Silver Turtle

28-09-2004, 22:35

"A promising proposal. Perhaps Shadows of the Aurora would be an effective name? But I'm sure I'm not the only person with an idea...Gentlemen?"

High Orcs

28-09-2004, 22:57

"Perhaps we really should have brought Uthracht and his little minions," Teel said, laughing at the rediculous statement.

Manus glanced at Teel, before focusing back on the table, "Allow me to enlighten. The second smallest clan under our Flag is known as the Dripping Fang. This Clan, lead by the Necromancer Uthracht, is devoted to a Goddess known as Tark, whom is symbolized as the Spider. In her," he pauses for a second, "teachings . . the Clan has formed into a society of assassins, thieves, and rogues, and other professions. They are all quite made, epitomizing the hatred of all other races," Manus informed.

"You shouldn't speak badly of them," Dorin defended, grinning. "Isn't Arana, your darling concubine, one of the highest members of the Clan?"

Manus coughed a bit. Indeed, Arana of the Deadly Kiss was one of the best Orcish Assassins in the Clans. He had used her on several occassions to seduce and murder officials before. Few realized her potential, however. "Indeed. The Clan also has a very special creature within it. In the Siege of Aieer, we joined allies with a Jinto named Bilrik the Cunning due to his enormous amount of siege engines. Bilrik owned the Black Four, which were extremely skilled martial artists that were employed as Court Assassins. What made these four so deadly was that they were apart of a near extinct race known as Changelings. Changelings have the ability to transform into any humanoid being, regardless of size. I believe Uthracht reports that a dozen changelings are involved in the clan, but keep in Orcish forms so all but the Chieftains are aware."

"They were driven to extinction due to an obscure passage in the Tristine Chronciles," Trabian informed. "That and the xenophobic fear of all other races for the sheer power that beings that could morph into any person, when employed with the most diabolic of means, could accomplish. A pity. Such an amazing race, driven to the edge of the world."

Reichskamphen

30-09-2004, 03:46

Oberhausen, also glad to be rid of the discussion with Ivaylo, turned his attention to the next question at hand. "Yes, they may be quite capable. But wouldn't an Orc....I don't know....stick out a great deal in human or elvish societies. The entire concept of this organization must be stealth. I am unfamiliar with procedures, perhaps you can disquise yourselves...I don't know...but either way, that would be an extreme hassle."

Dietrich poured himself another glass of water.

"This organization, must take as its example, the Jesuits. Their ruthlessness, secrecy, and political prowess enabled them to woo huge chunks of Protestantism back to Rome and the inquity still works! They infiltrated Protestant seminaries and churches, preaching false doctrines and through the years, have undermined the very base of Protestantism. My suggestion for their name, as Metus is latin, let us pick another latin name for this, perhaps Occasus, meaning downfall, or Vexillari(us){sing.}(i){pl.} meaning standard bearers. Personally I would favour to name them the Vexilarii."

High Orcs

30-09-2004, 05:54

Reichskamphen

30-09-2004, 09:31

OOC: I actually don't know much about Orcs, so I was just making an assumption. I would like it if my assumption was wrong, for you to set me right because I would like to know for informational value.

High Orcs

30-09-2004, 11:21

OOC:

Teel remarked how you totally missed the part about the changelings, beings who can PHYSICALLY TRANSFORM into any humanoid creature they see. This includes clothing, voice, mode of walking, talking, and the best are masters of linguistics, so they can easily speak their targets language.

Then Teel made fun of your ears and smaller brain.

The Brotherhood of Nod

30-09-2004, 16:27

"This organization, must take as its example, the Jesuits. Their ruthlessness, secrecy, and political prowess enabled them to woo huge chunks of Protestantism back to Rome and the inquity still works! They infiltrated Protestant seminaries and churches, preaching false doctrines and through the years, have undermined the very base of Protestantism. My suggestion for their name, as Metus is latin, let us pick another latin name for this, perhaps Occasus, meaning downfall, or Vexillari(us){sing.}(i){pl.} meaning standard bearers. Personally I would favour to name them the Vexilarii."

"Naming an organisation so dangerous "downfall" would not be good PR in my eyes" Oxanna Kristor remarked. "Vexillarius sounds better, but has a bit of a touch to it of a regular army, in my eyes. If this is to be an elite ring of assassins, Praetorians would be a logical name."

Wretchengard

30-09-2004, 17:08

"PR shouldn't be an issue," Steelblood spoke. "No one outside of Metus should know anything about this organization at all. It is much harder to defend against a threat if you don't realize it is there, afterall. Also, if our enemies don't realize that it is us having them killed, we should be much safer from retaliation by their assassins."

"As for the name, I was thinking of 'the Order of the Black Rose'," he continued, "but choose what you wish. I'm not picky."

High Orcs

30-09-2004, 22:45

"You humans are getting a bit ahead of yourself. I believe that the construction of such an underhanded union should be first voted upon, then you can bicker about things that don't really matter, like nomenclature," Trabian said, with a mixed tone of seriousness and humor at the jumping of the assassin guild.

"So they want to make something almost entirely identical to the Dripping Fang Clan? Really...that's quasi-amazing. I bet they'll tell us how to do it too, since they know all the best ways of killing," Teel remarked sarcastically.

Wretchengard

30-09-2004, 23:14

"Does this 'Dripping Fang Clan' have access to the intelligence of all Metus nations?" Overlord Steelblood responded sharply to the orc call Teel. "No, I didn't think so."

He then addressed the other orc that had spoken, Trabian.

"Of course the name of the organization is relatively unimportant in comparison to the other details, but now that the topic has been brought up it should be seen through to its conclusion," the big Wretchan spoke. "It shouldn't take long, if we could get some input from everyone else here..."

He scanned the room pointedly, waiting for some of the silent delegates to speak up.

Garrison II

30-09-2004, 23:21

Can someone give me a summary of whats happening? I haven't been playing ns due to school right now.

Knootoss

01-10-2004, 16:38

The Hague
A Knootian whose face was covered in shadows reclined in his chair and began reading... (#tag#)

Derscon

02-10-2004, 15:19

High Orcs

04-10-2004, 15:49

"Does this 'Dripping Fang Clan' have access to the intelligence of all Metus nations?" Overlord Steelblood responded sharply to the orc call Teel. "No, I didn't think so."

Teel went wide-eyed and stepped forward aggessively, his tone becoming extremely serious, "Don't get smart with me you degraded excuse for a monkey. I'll cleave you into so many pieces that the only way to get you home will have to be in envelopes." Teel was not one with whom to fuck around with. He didn't pay any hospitality to anyone when it came to try to talk down or belittle. He was an a strong, proud warrior whom proved himself on the battlefield, in the fight. His scars and wounds showed it. "Know your place and respect it," the High Orc Commander, Father of the Knighthood, growled.

He then addressed the other orc that had spoken, Trabian.

"Of course the name of the organization is relatively unimportant in comparison to the other details, but now that the topic has been brought up it should be seen through to its conclusion," the big Wretchan spoke. "It shouldn't take long, if we could get some input from everyone else here..."

He scanned the room pointedly, waiting for some of the silent delegates to speak up.

"Case in point, it would all be moot without the desired process of even officiating such a tribe. I personally think it would be a fine idea, but then again, our society worked with assassins. They were the backbone of power structure. There were guilds dedicated to its innermost workings. Rune Weapons had been forged with the souls of great assassins to empower others. Every ruling member carried a court assassin. It was just unwritten law to check your power and calm threats," Trabian explained. "Which is why we officiated the Dripping Fang Clan, I think. Though you'd have to ask Ignex the true reason."

The Brotherhood of Nod

04-10-2004, 18:59

"Order of the Black Rose sounds fine to me. The Brotherhood supports this name. For the rest I agree that we should move on to the more important issues concerning this Order." Oxanna said.

Derscon

04-10-2004, 22:53

"Teel, there is no need to be offensive or hostile," the Czar said. He then turned to the rest of the delegates.

"Any nake sounds fine with me. As long, of course, it is not the "Metus Peace And Harmony Group," he added, with a slight smile. "Well, then again, why not?" he said, his smile changing to a sly grin.

Wretchengard

05-10-2004, 04:57

Teel went wide-eyed and stepped forward aggessively, his tone becoming extremely serious, "Don't get smart with me you degraded excuse for a monkey. I'll cleave you into so many pieces that the only way to get you home will have to be in envelopes." Teel was not one with whom to fuck around with. He didn't pay any hospitality to anyone when it came to try to talk down or belittle. He was an a strong, proud warrior whom proved himself on the battlefield, in the fight. His scars and wounds showed it. "Know your place and respect it," the High Orc Commander, Father of the Knighthood, growled.

If intimidating the Overlord of Wretchengard had been the High Orc's intent, it failed. Miserably. The Overlord's lips turned up in a mirthless smirk, and he met the orc's gaze with the cold stare of his blue eyes. If looks could kill, the orc's blood would have been frozen in his veins. Ever so slowly, he drew himself up to his full height of well over six and a half feet.

"I know my place," he replied with steel in his voice. "I am Bradley Steelblood, son of Angelus. I am the widowmaker of thousands, and the undefeated, undisputed Overlord of the Eternal Dominion of Wretchengard. The lack of respect would seem to be on your part."

It seemed then as if the icy blue of his irises spread to fill the entirety of his eyes, and they blazed with energy.

"Out of respect for our host and our gathered allies, I would rather not spill blood on the first day of discussions. I will pardon your gross lack of respect just this once. Speak to me like that again however, and your time on this world will be done," he warned. "If you cannot be civil throughout these discussions, I suggest you leave the talking to your master, for your own sake. I'm sure that there are others here who are not as merciful as I."

The Overlord remained standing, waiting for Teel to sit down again. The mighty sword of his ancestors was at his side as always, and he was prepared to yank it free if the orc showed any further signs of aggression...

Melkor Unchained

05-10-2004, 05:41

Ivaylo knots his brows, his frustration eclipsing his anger. "Gentlemen, he starts, standing slowly. "Now is neither the time or the place for two such important members of the Arda Alliance to display hostilities." His glance shoots first to Overlord Steelblood.

"Lord Steelblood, I believe that Teel and Trabian here have the best interests of Metus at heart when they speak, and are thusly undeserving of your scorn. The High Orcs are a proud race--and rightly so--for they wield many forces that few can harness. They keep our region in relative order and have shown nothing but a willingness to better Arda and protect it from her enemies. Please, apologize."

Then, he turns swiftly to face the Orcish delegation. "But by the same token Overlord Steelblood should be acknowledged as a strong and valiant ally, whether you value the merits of the human race or not. His words may have been harsh but Overlord Steelblood is striving with us all towards the same goal. I believe it would be prudent to allow cool heads to prevail, for to escalate upon these threats would be most unwise, concerning the company we share. Arda's a warlike lot one and all, but so far we've done a pretty good job of avoiding infighting. Let's not start now."

High Orcs

05-10-2004, 08:15

If intimidating the Overlord of Wretchengard had been the High Orc's intent, it failed. Miserably. The Overlord's lips turned up in a mirthless smirk, and he met the orc's gaze with the cold stare of his blue eyes. If looks could kill, the orc's blood would have been frozen in his veins. Ever so slowly, he drew himself up to his full height of well over six and a half feet.

"I know my place," he replied with steel in his voice. "I am Bradley Steelblood, son of Angelus. I am the widowmaker of thousands, and the undefeated, undisputed Overlord of the Eternal Dominion of Wretchengard. The lack of respect would seem to be on your part."

It seemed then as if the icy blue of his irises spread to fill the entirety of his eyes, and they blazed with energy.

"Out of respect for our host and our gathered allies, I would rather not spill blood on the first day of discussions. I will pardon your gross lack of respect just this once. Speak to me like that again however, and your time on this world will be done," he warned. "If you cannot be civil throughout these discussions, I suggest you leave the talking to your master, for your own sake. I'm sure that there are others here who are not as merciful as I."

The Overlord remained standing, waiting for Teel to sit down again. The mighty sword of his ancestors was at his side as always, and he was prepared to yank it free if the orc showed any further signs of aggression...

It was just another puny human to Teel, whom stood 8'6" and bulged with natural muscle, extremely tall for even his species, and wore thick plated armor of a steel-mithril annoy from head to toe, and the thick Skell Gauntlets, imbued and masterfully created. The eyes of the human, whom would dare try to make him turn cold, only turned him to humor. The man's full height was, even if tall for a human, barely average for a High Orc. The only Orc that could even attempt to stare down was Riga, and if the fool would have dared try to talk down Riga, he'd have already been laughed out of the nation. The human had balls, that was certain. However, he lacked the knowledge and the ability to fight knowledgeably. Teel, however, would not back down when provoked.

"You dare talk down to your superior. Humans like you are so pathetic. Perhaps you are suffering from a loss of short-term memory? You snapped at me, unprovoked, and if try that again, and your tongue may be forfeit," and that was all. He snorted once, steam and dust flaring from his crooked nostrils. Teel didn't have a seat to begin with, and took great pride, as his arms crossed, as the Father of the Orcish Knights glared when Steelblood would sit down. This gave him slight satisfaction. If the human would dare assault the night, he'd have all four High Orcs on him, and be almost instantly atomized without fear of retribution.

Trabian just coughed. Teel was a PR nightmare... Almost as bad as Riga.
...almost...
Trabian was just glad the little bugger didn't come.
"I advise we vote on whether or not such a regional guild of assassins be created. I for one will put this into motion to be voted upon, anyone second it?"

Dorin just shook his head. Animals..., He thought.

Wretchengard

05-10-2004, 10:46

The Overlord was silent for a moment, slowly letting go of his desire to stab the arrogant orc through the face. He realized that the conference would be disrupted and the alliance shaken if he was to do such a thing, but he was a proud man, and pride can make men foolish. Would that the situation were different and I could relieve the cur of his innards, he thought to himself. Ivalyo's suggestion to apologize didn't help; it was the high orc that had begun to throw the verbal jabs, after all, and now it was threatening him? Absurd, he thought. At last however, he swallowed his pride and put loyalty to the alliance first.

"Perhaps my words were somewhat...harsh," was all he offered. Not a real apology, but the most anyone was going to get out of an angry tyrant under the circumstances.

Fortunately, the more civilized orc Trabian broke the awkward silence. At least this one has some things of worth to say, the Wretchan thought to himself.

"I will second the motion," he said.

Assington

05-10-2004, 12:39

Calis had remained silent throughout the heated debate, merely watching and listening intently. He was rather intimidated by the hulking orcs, especially since he had never encountered one personally before, it was slightly unnerving.

The President of Assington admired the courage displayed by the Overlord. He couldn't imagine standing up to the orcs in such a matter, especially when they appeared to want to gut him and strangle the life out of him with his inards.

Finally getting back to business, Calis decided he would also second the motion. He liked the idea of a highly trained assassination force within METUS. Besides the training and methods his allies could offer to such an organisation, Assington also had its own to put forward. It would be an oppurtunity for Assingtonians to get to know their allies.

The Overlord voiced his support of the motion and Calis chimed in directly afterwards.

"As will I. You have my full support."

OOC: I'm still here...

High Orcs

05-10-2004, 16:43

Trabian nodded. "Very Well, the motion had been seconded, and thirded. Thus, let the voting begin. All those in favor of the creation of a Guild to be associated covertly with the Metus Alliance say Yay; those opposed, Nay."

Leda colony

05-10-2004, 17:14

Much as he despised any form of voting, The Great Ineffable Bob recognised that it is occasionally necessary. At least most of the delegates present he didn't consider to be utter fools, he was pretty sure they knew what they were doing...
"Yay." he said with a sigh.

Reichskamphen

05-10-2004, 19:12

Arch Duke von Oberhausen wondered at the spectacle before him. "These idiots." he thought to himself. If it came down to fists, no one would have his support. He hated them all, God help him, and he'd just as soon pull out his service revolver and plow down everyone in the room. But he was a gentleman.

'These Orcs are rather brutish...and ugly...and smell like death.' he again thought. 'Yet that ugly Wretchan isn't much better.'

"The Crown of Greater Prussia casts its vote as 'Yes'." Oberhausen stood to say the line and promptly retook his seat. It was quite visible that he was annoyed with the whole undertaking. How he hated being diplomatic with these curs...these "allies".

Melkor Unchained

05-10-2004, 19:58

Ivaylo snorts. "I don't think a vote will be necessary. It's my understanding that this has been a well received idea as it is; I've not yet heard any complaints, so the consensus seems to be 'lets do it.' Besdies, voting is a cornerstone of democracy. While not strictly prohibited by the Charter, democracies fail to advocate the absolute rule of the strong over the weak, which is central in our thought. I'd suggest if anyone has issue with this to speak now, so you can be heard."

He stifles a cough and takes his seat again. "However, I think the issue that needs to be more closely discussed here is the issue of structure and leadership. Who will train these men? Who will lead them? Where will they be stationed, or will they function like reserves when not in the field?"

Derscon

05-10-2004, 21:15

High Orcs

05-10-2004, 23:23

He stifles a cough and takes his seat again. "However, I think the issue that needs to be more closely discussed here is the issue of structure and leadership. Who will train these men? Who will lead them? Where will they be stationed, or will they function like reserves when not in the field?"

Manus spoke up, "As previously said, within the Swamp of Deception, a bit Southwest of Orca, the Cavern of Tark resides. Ulthracht has lead the Dripping Fang Clan for 30 Palladium Annuals. I believe that circulates to about 150 Years in this planet, right?" He turned to Trabian, whom gave an nod with his palm vibrating up & down to signify more or less. Manus turned his head again, "The Dripping Fang Clan has studied and advanced the arts of stealth, espionage, infiltration, and covert death beyond limits. It's such an obscure tribe, with an even more obscure location, that Ulthracht's minions and methods regularly go unchecked and unwatched.

"I believe that, to allow us to take this on a much more serious affair, that he should be a prime counsel in raising such a guild. However, he certainly won't host anything, because he is the most racist and prejudice person I have ever met, and his Necromantic studies have left his sanity but a shard of what it used to be. I believe the exlusion of his talents could very well compromise an edge of it, especially in training. After all, he commands the 15 Changelings, and they are quite fiercely loyal to him for their Liberation from the Jinto."

Manus took in a deep breath, "Personally, we do not use the Clan members of the Dripping Fang for anything but what they were meant to be: specialists. This is both because the rogues have proven to be exceptionally weak as front-line units, due to their lack of heavy armor and more focus on hiding and killing with a single attack. This, and also due to the clan's size. It's extremely small, with only Dorin's own cadre being less in number. This, we see, as being both due to their uniting force, not the ability to kill without moral obligations, as they have none, as a divine worship to the Goddess of Deception.

"I believe their methods should match the Regional Guilds' as well."

OOC: And no, they don't stink. These High Orcs smell crescent fresh. You think they're ugly? They think humans are ugly. At least they have more creative facial features. Consider yourselves lucky Manus' son Delgon isn't here, else a lot of you would be in major trouble.

Melkor Unchained

06-10-2004, 00:50

Stupid Orcs. Their arrogance is not going to make this summit go well.

"I will gladly host this...ring...in my nation. We have enough places in Derscon that everyone will think it is just another Dersconi Schutzstaffel base and think nothing of it. Or, we can have an entirely subterranian base, depending. Regardless, I will gladly hold headquarters to this assassin ring.

Also, I will gladly train and fund them, too. Whatever -- I'll host them, train them -- or both."

Ivaylo sighs. "After Emperor Paisley's shall we say... rather impassioned speech against our alliance and Mister Oberhausen's refusal to accept criticism, I do not think that it would be wise to allow Greater Prussia complete control of this new sect. It's already been suggested now that Greater Prussia both house the facilities and command them.However, It might just turn into a wonderful opportunity for the Greater Prussian military staff to prove their devotion to Metus, and to this end I'm willing to reccommend nominal Greater Prussian control over the Sect, at least to the extent to which they are able. However, as an extention of Metus, any force commissioned to further its ends should be ultimately controlled and sanctioned by the Speaker. Obviously, we're all going to have different ideas about how it should be best used, and possibilites for dissent will abound. It is my belief that the best way to stem this would be to create an advisory council, staffed by various Metus nations--excepting those already in the council or the Speaker. While the Speaker will have theorietical control over it's deployment and operation, he will be obliged to entertain the will of the advisory board."

Wretchengard

06-10-2004, 04:37

Overlord Steelblood had been hoping to have control of the group for himself, but he had expected that it would never work out that way. In any case, getting the group established had been his main goal coming into the conference, even if he wasn't in charge of it. It would serve the needs of Metus, and thus his as well.

"I think that you have the right idea," Steelblood remarked to the Melkorian delegate. "Allowing one group complete control of the sect would result in the goals of said group being put before the goals of Metus as a whole."

Reichskamphen

06-10-2004, 05:22

"I agree." Count von Oberhausen said, standing up. "I can understand your consternation, while I may not agree with your comments about myself, I will not address them at this time. I think the more pressing issue is about this organization. The Empire had this as a proposal to detail at the closed high command meeting, but from the best I can tell, It may be fine...or rather more necessary to address it here. We have come prepared with a plan and have had experiance in this situation. Greater Prussia has an international reputation and in most minds is not as associated with Metus. This can be used to our advantage. We can use the Empire's "good guy" image to slip under the radar. Forces based either in Derscon or Reichskamphen would be less likely to be examined or have an eyebrow raised at than forces that come out of some secret jungle of deception." his voice sounded almost condescending as he uttered the last few words.

"Here is the plan we would like to present. This force does not need to be covert." he knew there would be objections so he didn't give them time to make them, but simply plowed along. "I will refer you to the organization of the Jesuits. Today, they are viewed as an exceptional organization moving towards the education and strengthening of the 'church'. Their sworn purpose is the reversal of the reformation. They infiltrated Protestant seminaries, murdered enemies of the Pope, and infiltrated essentially every organization that didnt have the plessing of 'Papa'. They were brutal, they were ruthless, and they have no morals. But they opened schools. Protestants sent their children to the Jesuit schools for a better education, and tehre they were indoctrinated. Today, ecumenism is the ruling voice in many of the Protestant Churches. The Catholic Church is winning the war against Protestantism...not because they are right and good...but because of the Jesuits who have fought for hundreds of years to make it so. The perfect example of what we should use is the example of the Catholic Church. They gloss over their evil past and false doctrines with the big brush of unity and tolerance. We must use the liberals weapons AGAINST them. This organization must be an apparantly good organization...and as such would appear much more believable emminating from Greater Prussia. However, this cannot be a religious organization as the Free Pres church will not sanction anything involving Metus. It must be a charity organization. We did this when we were in the Reich. We got other states to donate wheat and other food, and of course skimmed alot off of the top. We must promote charity, education, and other such good things. But through this effort, we shall make considerable profit which will, of course be pumped into the military. Through all of these efforts will infect the people, the broad base. We will shift the entire paradigm into our favour. Now, we will get lobbying organizations in place in the democratic governments...bribe and otherwise coerse(sp?) other candidates.

Now, that is just the surface. Behind the scenes, we will have entire an entire paramilitary organization and society of assasins...as the Jesuits had. We will also have a huge organization which will bolster us economically and work behind the scenes. We will expand our economy through as many dirty and covert means as we can. We will seek to become one of the largest landowners in the world. We must begin purchasing land in enemy nations...begin to subvert their society. If we make the progress the Catholic Church has made...it will be a complete success.

The only differance is, I advocate an even more harsh approach than the Jesuits took. We need to expand the paramilitary and assasin operations. The aggressiveness the Jesuits took in the beginning dissipated...it cannot dissipate for us. Not only can it not dissipate, but it must be racheted up. We cannot have it known that these people are tied to us...but we must work to keep them fighting.

Now, as to structure and organization. We must organize not in terms of national forces. I would reccomend that Orcs be left out of the non covert portion. This is not an offense to the Orcs, for they are valuable contributers, but this is an area that can be better handled by the Greater Prussians and the other human sections. I would not be opposed to having them in, but I merely think it would run more smoothly with human operatives as the Orcs are already on our side. Now, what the Orcs will do well is covert paramilitary actions, especially with their disguises. We will need to do assasinations, terrorist attacks etc. and the Orcs would do well with this...as would the GP Elite SpecOps.

We should organize it in terms of the nations we are operating in. let us say we are operating in Menelmacar. We will have a Menelmacar Bureau with all the necessary structures inside so it can operate autonomously. We will also have a central Bureau for the overt portion in Magdeburg, Scotta, or Reichsburg. I think we should have the covert base of operations perhaps in Derscon or Reichskamphen. I would personally like to have some Orcs based in my country. We will keep them well, but we need to actually more actively associate ourselves with our allies and that means in physical proximity as well.

This opportunity will give Greater Prussia a chance to, as Ivaylo said, show it is loyal to Metus...but what we need, as an Empire, is an assurance that Metus is loyal to us. This has been lacking in the past, and though I don't wish to discuss the issue anew, I would ask Melkor to reconsider this idea of an advisory board as advisory boards are almost next to democracy. They do nothing and stop progress. They will create policies that are unneccesary...and frankly the board itself is unnecessary. If you are going to give us an ability to work this thing...give us a chance to succeed and remove impediments from the beginning. Give us the power to win this war, and we shall blaze a path of victory ne'er before seen! But what we need is a solidified chain of command!

We cannot have GPs goals ahead of Metus. Therefore, that is why my belief is there should be a shared system between the speaker and the designated head. For the head of this organization. I would like to designate in the name of the Crown, Duc Guillaume de Centreville for the overt section and Arch Duke Napoleon Charles Francois Joseph de Sanglant...the current Imperial Governor of Allanea. Centreville is a known humanitarian and a more furtive supporter of Metus than Sanglant who has always vocally supported Melkor. Centreville will not be questioned, and Sanglant is an effective and brilliant ground commander who, in his younger years, actually led specOps missions. Now, the head of the organization nominally shall be Centreville, but the actual head of the organization will be Sanglant...he will be the one that will call the shots and share authority with the speaker on these issues."

High Orcs

06-10-2004, 05:52

Manus shook his head, "I shan't risk any of those under the Flag of ChumRas Orka left under the care of any other species than our own. It's against our law." Manus caught the petty statements from the human, such as calling the Swamp of Deception, a name given by the Dripping Fang Clan to a large swampland to the Southwest of Angband, a 'secret jungle' and advising the exclusion of his people in regional matters. These were multi-level offenses, and his stare made sure that they did not go unnoticed.

"Before you would dare tell us off," Trabian interjected. "I advise you let Uthracht and his coterie show you their ways. I've not even kept tabs on his ways, but I assure you that they can do things that you will never be able to do. Things you shan't ever conceive."

Teel just chortled, kneeled toward Manus, and said quietly, "I wonder if he believed that we would actually let any of our clansmen in his country out of our sight and contact?" He then rose and stepped back. That was truly a rediculous concept.

Dorin rose his head, "If the humans want to take the long road, let them. It's their resources and their manpower. I say we back out and continue with our own operations. Uthracht needn't even be mentioned. They seem to have things under control and never asked for our help in the first place. After all, they have guns and bombs and grenades and kevlar and rocket launchers. All we have are swords, sharpened sticks, and metal. Why offer what isn't obviously needed?"

Assington

06-10-2004, 07:54

Calis reaffirmed his position by saying

"Yay."

Wretchengard

06-10-2004, 23:24

a bunch of stuff

"Hmm," the Overlord pondered aloud. "You may be onto something there, although I disagree with your leadership scheme. So the choice, as I see it, is between maintaining total secrecy, or hiding the group's true purpose, a wolf in sheep's clothing as it were. The real question is, which would be most effective, sustainable, and easiest to conceal?"

Reichskamphen

06-10-2004, 23:38

"I again turn you to the Jesuits." Oberhausen replied. "There are people who know their true intention...but they are spat upon and called biggots for saying it, no one takes them seriously. The Jesuits have kept themselves concealed and sustained the operation since the mid 1500s.

Let me elaborate on the structure.

Lets say we have three nations we are operating in...Knootoss, Menelmacar, and Thelas. Now each country would have its own version of the front organization which I want to title People for a Better Tommorrow. So there woudl be the menelmacari chapter, knootian chapter, and thelas chapter. But there will be a central hub as well. It will work much like the Catholic Chuch infact, the vehicle upon which the Jesuits rode and the structure they fight for.

The main failing of the Church is their Pope. We need to get rid of that. If we begin to contradict ourselves...our enemies will smell blood. This is why I propose that this organization operate much as the Jesuits actually did originally...an order separate the Church in general...to which the Pope just looked the other way. Give us a blank check to run amuck...and we will bring the world to its knees in a few years...we will excelerate the process through analysis and correction of the errors that the Jesuits made while adopting the successful principles."

High Orcs

07-10-2004, 10:09

"A nice concept," Trabian commended. "But I do believe that falls in the category of subterfuge, does it not? That's more along the lines of espionage than it is sabotage and assassination. It's an indirect path to a means that the idea of the Guild is motivated to take a more direct path. Perhaps you should follow it up on your own, though there are some basic flaws, such as if in all three unions, to go along with your hypothetic example, one were to be found out through reverse infiltration, for example, it would destroy the other two as well. Even if they have unity in ldeals, you should be careful how such a thing is orchestrated. You're setting up dominos to fall."

Reichskamphen

07-10-2004, 19:01

"Interesting point you make." Oberhausen commented. "However the People for a Better Tommorrow is merely a front. It will house terrorists and assasins in the real organization behind it, that called Oscura...or obscure. This organization will be the one in which I would like Orcish assistance. This will be assasination and destruction. There were Jesuits who did that too and when it was found out, the order supposedly condemned it and punished them...at least in modern times...and kept on doing things the same way. The entire reason we have separate departments is so the dominoes cannot fall. Consider the scandal within the Roman Church now of the pedophilia. People are looking square at America while it is occurring worldwide. Rome has shirked its responsibilty off on a couple corrupt Cardinals here and gives them the blame, remaining spotless in itself supposedly. True Protestants know better...but the world at large is none the wiser."

The Silver Turtle

07-10-2004, 20:21

OOC: You're arguing a point ICly using Real World examples? That's a bit mental, to say the least...
IC:
The Great Ineffable Bob continued to watch the proceedings...

The Ctan

07-10-2004, 22:29

OOC: There is an established Vatican nation, the Holy Vatican See that many nations acknowledge.

Derscon

08-10-2004, 00:26

OOC: Dang, Reichskamphen. I was hoping to have a decent bit of say in the thing -- which is why I mentioned myself in the first place. Oh well.
===============
IC
- - - - -
The Czar thought about the proceedings. Orcs. Only Metus has orcs. Everyone will know it was Metus if we send an Orc. Unless.... He thought to himself. Unless it runs like a Mafia hit. Hit the guy covertly, and with an Orc, people will know it was an Orc. That would make a statement. "Metus' arm is far-reaching, you cannot escape." He sipped some of his Mountain Dew he brought along to keep himself awake during the proceedings. Lord -- boring as hell. He looked at a few documents and thought. I have connections with elven nations. They are too stupid to understand. I wonder what the world would think -- Siri being attacked by an eliete group of elves. The Czar smiled at the thought. He sat back and kept his thoughts to himself, waiting for the right time to say them.

Reichskamphen

08-10-2004, 04:58

OOC: Sorry Dersc for stepping on your toes, not my intent. By all means continue.

Derscon

09-10-2004, 01:41

OOC: Sorry Dersc for stepping on your toes, not my intent. By all means continue.

OOC: Or, you could post saying that you might appoint a Dersconi......

and just because I can... :fluffle:
:)
:p

High Orcs

12-10-2004, 20:00

"I would ask," Trabian began, "that the Kalessin Administration send one of their big lizards over to the Swamp of Deception and fetch Uthracht for us. If your Dragons can communicate, tell him to bring the Black Four. You'll know the swamp when you see it. It's a bit southwest of Orca. I believe his words are in deep need."

Dorin snorted. "Unnecessary."

Addamous

14-10-2004, 04:29

I have a trained assassin ready to be deployed into the ring.
She will arrive when and where she is needed.

I believe that my enviornment would be one of the most hostile, very good for training. They would have to survive the cold and the predators.

OOC1: I was thinking that a name that has something to do with the Illumanati would fit perfectly.

OOC2: Sorry that I wasn't here for a month or so, I've been going through a lot in the past few months.

High Orcs

14-10-2004, 08:04

OOC: I am going go to ahead and fast forward to Uthracht's entrance. This is starting to bog down and I believe that the Lord Deceiver should be heard. Know that he *is* a half-insane necromancer.

IC:

The Lord Deceiver Uthracht Palduin stepped into the meeting room, dressed in a black shroud. Four Orcs, also draped in pitch black robes, followed him, silently. Uthracht had a tattoo of a skull over his face, and, though not seen due to his clothing, a huge tattoo of a spider on his chest, branching to his limbs and around his ribs in the darkest of inks. All the others carried the same spider, differently shaped and sized in other parts of their bodies as the mark of the Dripping Fang. An 8 inch long tarantula rested on Uthracht's right shoulder, and jewelry, bound in bones, covered his ears, fingers, neck, and belt. Shrunken skulls dangled from his waist, and he carried a long staff made of wrinkled and dead, rotting ash bark that extended like a clasping hand around a cleanly polished shrunken Ba'al-Rog's Skull that was forever dark inside, saved for the random flaring of Hellfire, and oozed with shadow. The four minions of the Lord Deceiver held their hoods over their faces, but what they held were their identical physical appearances, as if Orcish quadruplets.

Uthracht circled the table once, growling and snorting as he noticed all the inferior humans that encompassed the majority of the Metus Council. He gave a breif nod to Dorin and Manus before stopping, his robe flaring open once.

". . . and mightyu Osiris fell to the ground
His body limp and broken.
Over him loomed the treacherous Set,
Once brother to the fallen god.
Mighty Set grinned with the teeth of the Hyena,
And in his hand, dripping with blood,
he held a blade.
Behold... it was the assassin's blade!"

It was a quote from the Third Canticle of the Tale of the Wanderer, a somewhat obscure text in the Egyptian Pantheon, known as Scripture to the Church of Light and Dark, perhaps one of the oldest religions in Palladium. It was a passage Uthracht knew well.

"It is the oldest crime and the oldest profession. Murder and assassination. Among every civilized culture they have long been banned as illegal, and the consequences for performing such actions are grave indeed. Those caught seldom escape with their lives. But that obstacle has not stopped the assassin. It never has, and never will.

"Assassins are a special breed of warrior. They have sacrificed their skills of open and varied combat for those specializing in strictly close quarters and death. THe blade of the assassin is regarded universally as the deadliest blade of all. They are killers in the purest, most base form, and they are killers for hire, willing to do the job that no one else will perform. All for a price.

"The skills that an assassin must learn are a special and arcane art. They have been passed down from assassin to assassin for centuries. Rarely are these abilities seen by anyone else in the world, and when they are, those who witness them usually don't live to tell about it. Speed, subterfuge, and power. Every assassin lives by them, and to complement them, the assassin has his own brand of special skills and equipment.

"I shall detail just a sampling of the assassin's many surprises, as well as a few considerations for those who may plan to bear assassination in mind as a future occupation. But, as just stated, this is but a sample. The art of the assassin is a mysterious one, and even among assassins those secrets are guarded vigilantly.

"One of the most interesting things about assassins is the bizarre code of personal honor that a great many of them adhere to. This is no code like that which knights and Paladins call chivalry, nor is it any code of justice that no ordinary citizens may abide by. The code of the assassin is unique. The simple fact that professionals who perform an act so vile could hold to any sort of code is amazing, yet it is done.

"In many senses this code is necessary. When you're in a profession so risky, there need to be certain ground rules. These rules do a lot of things. They give the assassins' clientele a sense of security that makes business possible. The code also helps to keep things under control. Murder can be a messy business, and without limitations, the assassins would quickly find local governments clamping down and stomping them out. The code also helps to keep assassins from actively competing against each other. Without limitations, competition in this business would get quite messy.

"In short, murder is a tricky business, and without an unspoken set of limitations things would simply get out of hand. The code of the assassin thus becomes not a thing of choice, like the code of chivalry taken by knights, but of necessity. The assassin is a predator in a dangerous world, and his honor is all he truly has to protect himself.

"The aspect of this code being unspoken is very important to mention. In no part of the world is this code openly talked of or even acknowledged. Like the assassin himself, the code is never seen nor heard. It is simply obeyed.

"Of course, enforcing a code that is never acknowledged of spoken of becomes something of a mysterious business. Simply put, a professional assassin knows how to carry himself. Those assassins who trot about violating the code excessively tend to disappear. What exactly happens to them, no one knows.

"Tis being as it is, there is still a lot of variance as to how this code is carried out. It varies upon the specific type of assassin. Military, court, and religious assassins will all have their own special additions to the code that must be followed. Regional variances occur a great deal as well, as taboos vary from place to place and culture to culture. And, of course, a lot of it will depend on the individual assassin. Those of a more aberrancy might follow a very intricate and elaborate code, while selfish characters might follow little code whatsoever.

"As it is my order, I shall give you a general list of provisions commonly covered by an assassin's code. I am allowed to do this, and only myself, as I am the Chieftain of the Dripping Fang, and no one is more attuned to death in the Clans than I:

The Killer

Never reveal your identity.
Never reveal the identity of another assassin.
Never turn in a fellow assassin.
Never attack a fellow assassin, unless he is a contracted target.

The Client

Never reveal who you work for.
Never reveal anything about who you work for.
Never ask why.
Clients who fail to pay their dues will be killed, tortured, or worse.

The Mark

Show no mercy
Never take a bribe.
Never take a mark that is beyond your ability.

The Kill

Never get caught.
Exercise discretion at all times.
Never harm bystanders.
Leave no incriminating evidence.
Never do that beyond which your client pays you to do

The Lord Deceiver took a moment to wet his mouth. "Assassins are renowned for working on credit. The simple reason for this is because they can. If their client later decides that he doesn't want to pay, then he'll be killed. It's that simple, and the clients know it. This credit can be cashed in at any time and in any fashion. Sometimes it may mean fronting the full payment for a kill at the drop of a hat, or it might mean harboring a person or an item for a night, lending the assassin an important item, or bestowing a simple favor.

"Although assassins in this position have the ability to extort quite a bit from their clients, they never do. A professional assassin will never abuse his credit. In fact, most favors and odd payments taken by assassin will seem deceptively cheap. A foolish client will think he is getting a great deal, while a wise one will realize his simple action has most likely played an important part in a much grander scheme.

"There are five known sub-classes that have been identified by the Dripping Fang Clan. Each has its own known strengths and weaknesses in how they operate business:

"Although it is never acknowledged openly, most notable politicians, rulers, and persons of power keep assassins in their permanent employ. These individuals find themselves manipulating powerful forces on a daily basis, and they frequently run into powerful problems. One of the ways to fix those problems is through murder. Most often, the targets of these assassins are less notable individuals than might normally be imagined. World leaders don't often assassinate each other, but they do each assassinate each other's hirelings and other lesser folk foolish enough to stand in their way.

"Even with such a workload, these types of assassins usually fund themselves less busy than most others. For that reason, their duties are sometimes extended to include things such as kidnapping, robbery, spying, and other dark, shady types of duties, which gives the court assassin a much more rounded-oiut base of abilities. In addition, due to the usually large budgets of their employers, court assassins tend to sport very fine equipment.

"In most places of the world, freelance assassins are the most common. These assassins are those bold enough to strike out on their own, selling their services to the highest bidder. The going is usually a lot rougher for a freelance assassin, but the payoffs can be much higher. They have no permanent employers to answer to or guilds to pay tithes to. Being that they are usually less tied down, freelance assassins make the best type for missions. Their motives for murder are as varied as their techniques of killing.

"Assassins are also employed by armies all over the world. In some areas these soldiers are regarded with high honor, while in others they are shunned and kept secret. During peacetime their duties are rather limited, and most will usually have another profession or function that they perform. During wartime, however, the military assassin always has his hands full. These assassins are often times deployed as special forces fighters. Their duties may vary from time to time, but their primary function is always the same --- murder. These assassins also tend to be equipped with very good weaponry.

"Assassin's guilds are not your typical type of guild. For one, they tend to be very small. The reasoning behind this is very simple. If the guild were large, then they would constantly need to be finding things for their members to do, and by that we mean people to kill. In a brutal world murder is common, but not that common. Just as a predatory animal's population will be determined by the population of its prey, so will the size of an assassin's guild be determined by the size of the city it inhabits.

"In practice these tend to be more like professional alliances than guilds. In a given city their will usually be two or three top assassins. These assassins and their apprentices might gather together and operate for each other's betterment under a formal agreement. The advantages of joining an assassin's guild can be great. The member has instant access to the resources of the guild as well as the experience of his superiors, which is not to mention the steady stream of work that the guild fetches. The negatives are that the member must now answer to the guild for everything. For everything he does he will get paid, but he must also pay his dues. In addition, most assassin's guilds don't have an open door policy on leaving the guild. Like the human Mafia, there's only one way out of a guild.

"In a world where there's a god for nearly every occassion, it's no surprise that there's a god for assassination. Of course, the next logical step will be that this world will also have individuals who worship not only the god of assassination, but assassination itself as well. Religious assassins are renown as the most deadly in the world. They do not kill for profit or personal gain. They kill because they believe in killing. These assassins will always be willing to lay everything down to score the kill, and absolutely nothing will stop them short of death, and sometimes not even that. And of course that's not to mention the fact that most of these killers will have the blessing of a god on their side.

"These sort of assassins vary a great deal, even within individual religions. Among those notable as our own worshipers of Tark. Individual assassins may be lone killers, acting out by themselves for the will of their god, or they might be a member of a church or cult. Many of these individuals and organizations sell their services out for hire, while others kill strictly for religious purposes. Most do a bit of both."

Uthracht sighed, swallowing deeply. He glanced at the Black Four, whom gave him a simultaneous nod.

Derscon

15-10-2004, 00:28

I never thought of that, the Czar thought. Assassins from the Church. Perfect. That is what the SPARTAN project can be used for -- grow assassins. Impliment God upon them so radicall even I would find it repulsive. They would do anything for God. the Czar smiled.

"I think you hit the nail right on the head," the Czar told Uthracht. "They will not be freelance, obviously. They would be Metus controlled."

High Orcs

15-10-2004, 09:39

"Indeed," replied the Lord Deceiver. The High Orc Necromancer placed his hand on the meeting table, and the large tarantula crawled down his arm, and walked along the table (It's slightly bigger than a dinner plate in length, and about the size of a cat. These are special arachnid familiars given to the Priests of Darkness in service to Tark). Uthracht grinned, and turned his arm to bare his wrist. His mouth was dry and parched. He would have to solve this dilemma. His finger slid along his wrist, his nail, like a sharpened blade, severing the veins, with a black cauldron of ichor leaking forth. He rose his cut wrist to his mouth, and suckled his own fluids into his mouth to wetten his tongue. Once satisfied, he held his wrist with his other hand, and his hand glowed with a blue energy, sealing the wound as if it never happened.

"One of the most fascinating things about the world of the assassin it the mysterious and deadly array of weapons, skills, and items that they use to kill their targets. The skills and items that the tribesmen of the Dripping Fang have are deadly and powerful, and I have brought some trinkets for you all to play with. To most of the world, these things remain completely unknown. The only person an assassin shares his secrets with is his mark, and they seldom live to tell of them. However, the items I have here are only a small sampling of the vast armory that assassins around the world use to complete their tasks.

"It is very important to note that this equipment is nor normally availiable to non-assassins. An assassin will never sell of give away his equipment, and he will furthermore never reveal where he got it. The only way a normal person could ever hop;e to get their hands on some of this stuff would be to kill the assassin and take it, a task much easier said than done. The same will go for the techniques and skills. The world's assassins have not spent hundreds of years keeping this knowledge secret just to pass it off to any old person that comes along. They are simply never taught to those not of the trade."

Uthracht reached under his robe to take out six small vials. All the containers were the size of a nail polish bottle and contained eyedrop lids. "Of all people, assassins are the most knowledgeable of and the most deadly with poison. For them it is a natural means to an end. Being that they use it so widely, the assassin has access to a wider variety of poisons than the common individual. The following poisons display a varied array of effects for the assassin's varied needs. It must be noted that these poisons are for assassinations only. Individuals without proper contacts and credentials have absolutely no access to these substances."

The first vial was labeled Somnibus in several languages, most unknown to all the members of the council, the others were labeled, respectively Twister, Vertigo, XX, Greaser, and Pauser. "This poison, for instance," Uthracht motioned towards Somnibus, "causes victims to enter a coma-like state for half an hour in which no means can they be woken. After the duration, they are drowsy and groggy for a few hours and will not be able to perform at their maximum efficiency. It is an ingestive poison, though a blood injected dose is availiable, though it is a weaker brand." He poined to Greaser and Pauser, "These two are specialized, and when used in conjunction to ingestive or injected poisons, can increase their overall effectiveness by dumbing down the resistance to their insertion into the victim's body. Twister," he informed, "is a fun little ingestive disease that causes intense nausea and diarrhea in its victims. It is so intense that the mark will go into powerful vomitting for nearly an hour, and will have dry heaves after they've spat all their fluids out. It's been known to kill by effect of dehydration due to its potence. I've seen it personally work. The heaving is so intense that they're all but incapacitated by doing it." The wicked Orc grinned, "The other is called Vertigo, and it is a powerful tranquilizer. And this," Uthracht grinned, raising the bottle labeled XX, "Is the most powerful and deadliest poison in creation. It can kill any being when injected in a single dose. However, this bottle is all we have, and our Alchemists do not have the formula to recreate it. As it is, its use is purely at my discretion."

The Black Four emptied their pockets, and two Knives, three Rings, five Grenades, two cloaks, and an amulet were placed on the meeting table. It seemed that demonstrations were in order, and Uthracht's legacy was far more than any would have guessed.

High Orcs

19-10-2004, 22:08

The Black Four emptied their pockets, and two Knives, three Rings, five Grenades, two cloaks, and an amulet were placed on the meeting table. It seemed that demonstrations were in order, and Uthracht's legacy was far more than any would have guessed.

"I do so love my toys," Uthracht said, almost giddy. "I know you all must enjoy toys too. They make life ever so much fun, especially if your life consists of viciously murdering people for money and power." He seemed to grin almost. His fanged teeth, like all other Orcs, bearing.

Uthracht picked up the dagger. "These are fairly simple weapons, and easy to manufacture, but arre quite powerful in the right hands." He flipped the dagger in his hand a couple times, always catching it by the pommel. Perhaps this was a hobby of tossing blades in boredom of his? "These sort of daggers, called Venom Daggers, are availiable in a wide variety of styles and forms, yet the basic function remains the same. They are daggers which carry a secret store of venom somewhere within the blade that is injected into anyone stabbed by it. They are an excellant means of poisoning the target. Many are magical and contain small magical compartments which open up upon entertain a wound to spill their contents, but there are also a wide array of non-magical models, such as this one. These varry from daggers with a simple grove, such as a blood-groove, they will hold a sappy poison, to those, such as this one, that actually carry a loaded syring impedded inside the dagger." Uthracht slid his finger along the solid edge of the knife, and exposed a small trigger that would be set off in the stabbing motion. He pressed it back, and a needle ejected from the top. It was the perfect weapon. He smiled, almost reminiscing on memories he had had with the blade.

He placed it down, and picked up one of the rings. "These are fairly simple creations. Some of you might even have them. They're poison rings. They're similar to the dagger, but its not used to poison wounded fictims, but to stealthily drop poison into an open receptacle, and it can be used by assassins to drop lethal doses of poison into an unsuspecting person's drink or food. These rings come in three prime varieties. The first are simple mechanical rings, which has a small container with a top that flips open manually to deliver it. The second is the same as the first one, except that it is enchanted to flip open upon mental command. The third is a powerful version of the same ring that doesn't need to even flip open. It is able to teleport the contents of the ring into a nearby container. All you need to do is touch it." Uthracht placed the ring on. "I wonder which type this is, Hmm..?" He reached for the glass of water in front of Archduke Oberhausen and brought it to his lips, not drinking. He smelled it once, and smiled at the human, before placing it back down by him. He just grinned. "Dare you drink from it and live? I wonder. . ." (OOC Note: It's the third type of ring, which is extremely rare [Only a few are believed to exist. Only upon the Divine Intervention of the Goddess Tark was Uthracht allowed to come into possession of two]. Uthracht just planted Somnibus into the water. However, it doesn't look any different than it had and there's no way to tell the poison is in there aside from a clinical test on the water. It's just that dangerous)

Uthracht placed the ring back to the two others, and picked up one of the grenade canisters. "I'm sure you humans are familiar with these. Explosive devices. Pull pin and throw, right? Easy enough. We're not so technologically debased not to have such things either, only ours work a bit differently. We don't have explosive ones. We use grenades as tools of the trade. Grenades are very useful items to assassins. With them the assassin can accomplish all manor of powerful subterufge tactics, all with a simple one-shot, disposable device. These we have here are magical creations. They are designed to be thrown to the ground and activated upon impact. As such, they can be very sensitive devices, going off if the carrier suffers any large impacts. However, we have failsafe devices to prevent there, whereby they are activated by a spoken key word and then detonated by impact. I believe you also have Smoke Grenade and Flash Grenades, and so do we, but what you don't have, are Grenades that are able to do things like Stun mass groups of people in the radius of a man, or can prevent people from talking, or are able to construct stasis fields to immobilize attackers. As you can see, our own technology can surpass even yours, and we don't even have to use firearms."

He kept the canister in hand, and reached for a second ring. He glanced at it a bit, before smiling devilishly. "Oooh, I enjoy these. This is a Darkness Ring. By wearing it, one can summon a globe of darkness and be completely invisible within it. It's great to use, especially during the night when attempting to hide from attackers, as it all but prevents anyone from hitting an assassin successfully, as they are covered in pure dark. Unpierced by all forms of light."

He placed it down, to pick up the first Cloak. It was long, and stitched of Navy Blue with a single line of yellow along the bottom hem. It had a flared collar, which was folded down. "This, my living friends, is a Cloak of Cold Shadows. Wearing it allows one to meld within any shadow and be completely invisible, it also hides any heat that emanates from the wearer's body, making them completely invisible to all forms of heat and infra-vision. If used with the Darkness Ring, a single assassin could very well be invincible."

He identified the amulet as an Blinding Flash Amulet, a device that acted like a magnesium flash grenade upon mental command and blind anyone in front of the person using it. The third ring, he called the Silent Stalker, as it enabled the user to create an aura of pure silence around them, allowing them to do, say, or perform any act without making a single sound. Even things near them would make no sound. However, they would still be able to hear everything outside that radius of silence. Uthracht placed everything down, until the final object was the only thing left to be described. It was the final cloak. It just seemed to be a normal blue cloak.

"This, this is very special indeed," Uthracht said, almost excited. "In fact, we only have one, and you're all quite priviledged to see it. It is an artifact of Legend, and bestowed upon the Chieftain of the Dripping Fang twice before myself by our Goddess Tark in her Glory for his assassination of a Dwarven King and his entire council, one-by-one, during their daily war council. It was a masterpiece, and worthy of Tark. After their 13 Deaths, he bathed himself in their blood and called out her name. It is said that the Kingdom itself was invaded by Spiders and enveloped him. They spun a cocoon around his body, and when he emerged, he found himself blessed with wearing this cape. It is believed by most that it was forged from the skin of 13 Changelings by a skilled assassin and mage during the Climax of the Changeling Inquisition." Upon saying that, the expressions of the Black Four seemed rather Grim. "It's a wondrous, beautiful items, but to inform you all of its incredible power, I just need a single volunteer."

The Lord Deceiver smiled. "Any willing that aren't afraid to die?"

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