505-08-20 Teenage Demon Fighting Club
From Crossroads Wiki
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| Players: | Tiege, Addison, Leon, Khalani, Mathis, Dorian, Joshua |
| Location: | Dining Room, Draught Tower |
| Crossroads Time and Weather | |
| IC Date: | Thursday, August 20, 505 A.G. |
| Season: | Summer |
| Tide: | High and Ebbing |
| Diuturnal: | Waxing Crescent |
| Minuet: | Last Quarter |
| Weather: | Dark clouds blot out the stars in patches overhead. It's hot and calm. A very light rain falls and the ground is wet. |
Dining Room - Draught Tower - Gateway Castle(#194RnJ)'
Hard wood floors of mahogany give the room a warm yet regal ambiance, a nice contrast to the light blue painted walls. The wall to the north has a large window that gives panoramic views of the ocean beyond, giving many a feeling of being on top of the world. The opposite wall has a fireplace with a mahogany mantle and a tapestry of the crest of Draught over it. The centerpiece of this room is a rectangular table of just one shade lighter than the floor with seating for twelve, silver candelabras ever the centerpiece. Each chair has an upholstered cushion that seems to match the sea beyond.
Obvious exits: Kitchen <K> Out <O>
Tiege is standing by the table, just unwrapping a platter with some sweets on it. There is a book by him, a journal really, and a few papers. The scent of fresh baked cookies spreads through the air as they are revealed, surely bait or temptation to lure in one of his cousins, at least.
Addison makes her way into the Draught tower, eyes a little wide with wonder. She's never actually been to any other towers aside from the Mists one, so this is a treat. After being shown into the dining room she smiles, "Hey.." Moving around the table until she's standing beside Tiege, "Looks like you made it to this meeting."
Tiege looks over at Addison with a smile just barely placed on his countenance. "I did. Nothing to waylay me, no trouble. Everything is peaceful," he declares, as if this is something to be proud of. "You too. You're early."
Sweets. No doubt it was the smell -- or even just the sense of them -- that draws Leon to the Draught tower dining room, for its there that his eyes go first. And they land sooner or later on the Tiege beside the platter, and there s a twist of his lips toward a smile as he edges up to the cookies to sneak the first one. "Tiege," he greets that cousin, "And Miss Addison. Good -- good evening."
"Good," Addison remarks as she eyes the plate of cookies thoughtfully. "Yes, I figured that I should come early just in case. Every time I leave with just enough time to get somewhere, something always happens, like when I tried to get to the lecture. If I leave early, something rarely happens, so I figured it was just better to come early and actually get here."
Tiege half-turns toward Leon with a look of welcome. "Milord," he says with a swift bow. "It's worked. I knew I had but to have goodies, and you would come." He gives a single chuckle at Addison's bit of wisdom. "I'm so honored that you would take such consideration for something like this. Though given the nature of everyone coming, I expect people to be late."
"...you had but to write an invitation," Leon points out around a bite of cookie, another already finding its way into his hand. They won't last long, if the others don't show up sooner than later. "The goodies were -- are just insurance."
Addison can't help but to giggle at both Leon and Tiege, turning to face the lord and lower into a respectful curtsy, "My lord, it's good to see you again." She glances up at Tiege, grinning, "Maybe you should have hidden a second plate for later too?"
"You both know each other al-- yes, yes you do," Tiege says as Addison curtsies to Leon. "And I'm all about hedging my bet in things like this, Milord. How have you been? Are you going to dinner with the Princess for the debate contest tonight?" He gestures to a chair, though it's a restrained motion. It isn't his dining room, per se, just one that's borrowed for the occasion.
Tiege gestures to the chairs, and Leon casts him a curious look but, with a reluctant sigh, draws himself away from the refreshments. He /does/ have a pair of cookies in his hand for later, along with the one around which he speaks as he nods, "Going when this is over. I've been--"
A pause. He swallows. And his ears take a slightly pinkish turn. "I've been better. Yourself? And -- and Miss Addison? It's been some time. You're well? I hope?"
"There's a dinner tonight?" Addison asks curiously, "Is it for the people who participated in the contest, or those that won?" She looks at the plate of cookies, leaning forward to pluck one from the plate before they're all gone, then faces Leon, "I've been well, thank you for asking, my lord. I hope that you've been so as well?"
The scent of the fresh-baked cookies is a compelling one, a moderate-sized platter of them in the table's center. It looks as if it has been assaulted already by the Bottomless Pit (aka Leon Maritus), and as if people are headed to take chairs.
"It's just for the participants," Tiege informs Addison with a slight shrug. "A prize for being brave or stupid enough to argue in front of everyone. And Lord Leon, I heard exactly how good you are." He gives a bit of an amused look to his cousin.
Dorian makes his way into the room just in time for the meeting, looking quite cheerful, despite the fact that he's got a fading bruise on his left eye and his right hand's fingers are splinted, only his thumb protruding from tightly wound bandages.
"Dorian." Khalani turns to the marquis, and gives him a once over. "Marquis.. how are you healing?" She pauses not far from the entrance, looking tired if nothing else.
"It's my goal to heal completely from these injuries before I get another one," Dorian deadpans to Khalani. "And how are things with you?"
Pink? Leon's ears take a turn toward red at Tiege's comment, and he does not deign to answer -- or manages not to -- or simply avoids it, by taking a bite of his second (third? fourth?) cookie and offering a smile instead to the newcomers. He rises to offer a bow to Dorian, and Khalani in turn, and his brow furrows.
"...I've been well enough," is his answer for Addison, though it's a curious look he casts the Marquis's splinted fingers.
"Are you going too?" Addison asks Tiege curiously, then goes on to say, "You probably are, aren't you? You participated in it and you with for the Princess. It'd be strange if you didn't." She grins, then turns to Dorian to curtsy to him first and then Khalani next.
"Sorry I'm late." Mathis huffs as he comes into the dining room after sprinting the stairs. "Arianell gave me a list as long as my arm." he comments, bow offered quickly as it's the second bottomless pit attacks the cookies, grabbing a good half a dozen before he offers up a swift smile. "Marquis, M'lord, Tiege, Addison, m'love." he greets down the list before going to join the Baroness.
Tiege folds in a deep bow toward the arrival of Dorian and subsequently Khalani, and again to the silent Josh (who is idle for a bit still). "Marquis. Baroness. Milord. Master Mathis." He answers as an aside to Addison, almost an undertone, "I am. I'm sure we'll all have very erudite conversation at it." Then louder again, "Marquis, thank you very much for the use of your tower's dining room. It's quite grand, really." He lingers by a chair that's pulled out, a journal and some notes before it, but doesn't sit yet. There's a lot of people who outrank him yet.
"You could try that whole plan of not getting an injury at all." Khalani flashes a little smile for the marquis. "Although I know very well how difficult that sometimes is." She has her sketchbook with her, as she so often does. A smile for the others around the table and the room and then she heads to take a seat. Her hand offered out to Mathis as he arrives and starts in on the cookies.
"My pleasure," Dorian replies to Tiege, looking around with pleasure at the gathering. "It's nice having so many friends visiting," he chuckles as he looks around to the others. Khalani gets an answer, "Yes, that too. Before my mother insists I wrap myself in pillows before going anywhere."
Addison nods to Tiege a little and too remains on her feet standing beside him as she waits for those that outrank her to sit first. Which means almost everyone else.
Half a cookie stuck in his mouth, Mathis takes out a chair for Khalani, hand dropping into hers easily to hold it as he waits for others to be seated. He's low man on the totem pole, after all. "Doesn't look like I missed much." he manages to speak around the cookie in his maw before he takes his seat, effectively losing the musical chairs competition, but at the same time, there's still a seat for him. Yay.
Finally, Tiege claims his seat, reaching for a cookie himself to place the delicacy in front of him, not yet biting. "So," he begins with enthusiasm, maybe more of that than direction, as he continues, "Um. Good evening. Afternoon, really. I wanted to thank everyone for coming, given that I sent out some half-crazed missive to persuade you to do so. Miss Oksana would be here, but she's in the middle of some alchemical marvel that I don't quite understand, and Miss Valentine has a test this afternoon. Otherwise, I think everyone knows everyone else here, right?" Just in case, he names everyone and tips his head toward them in turn, makign short work of who's who.
"So, I know this is probably a bit unorthodox, but I just invited all of you because I pretty much know each of you, and I figure that we are all going to be seeing each other as we age, some of us taking positions of authority, some of us floundering to figure out what we'll be doing with our lives," he glances at Addison with a look of teasing, "and as the note said, I thought it would be interesting to have sort of occasional get-togethers, but not just social, for a purpose. We live in an empire that's all on the remnants of demon lands, and we see troubles from them occasionally. So I figured that it would serve all of us well to.. well, study demons. Understand the dangers they possess, their characteristics, their culture-- as much as we can-- their physiology, powers, whatever. To be equipped, going forward to deal with whatever troubles may arise. Rather than waiting for trouble to happen and then scrambling to learn what we can." He glances around again to just sort of gauge reactions. "Good thing? Bad thing? Am I crazy and need to be locked up?"
Joshua coughs some. He must have gotten a cookie lodged in his throat or something. Looking a bit embarrassed as he waits for the coughing to subside. But yes, he's listening to Tiege from the seat he has claimed.
"Some of us floundering as we take positions of authority," Dorian jokes to Tiege. "And I think we all think it's a good thing, or we wouldn't be here?" He looks around to gague agreement.
"Wouldn't have been many cookies left if you'd waited much longer," Leon points out to Mathis as he leans over the table to grab another for himslef -- the platter is swiftly falling short -- ere settling in his own chair in turn. He chews quietly as he listens to Tiege.
He listens, and grows still and silent as his cousin speaks. "I think it's a grand idea, Tiege," he volunteers at the end, then. A pause. And a glance aside as he whispers to the coughing Joshua, "Do you think he'll give us /homework/?"
Addison pulls out the chair in front of her and slides into it now, turning a bit so that she can watch Tiege as he speaks. An amused smirk finds her lips at the teasing look from Tiege, nose wrinkling at him a bit, "Crazy? Probably, but I think it's still a good idea." Addison flashes a grin Dorian's way at his words, remarking quietly, "Good to know I'm not the only one doing a bit of floundering."
Josh looks like he wishes that Providence would swallow him whole. Leaning to the side to catch what Leon has said. There's a flash of a grin. "This is Tiege your talking about." He quips, "There's always a motive behind what he does after all." Giving a nod towards Dorian, "True that. If we didn't think it was a good thing we'd not be here. I'd not be here." Clarifying his stance on this.
Khalani pre-emptively snags herself a cookie before the boys make short work of them. Shorter work of them. "Good thing. And something.. well the social part of getting to know each other in our own age group.. is something I made an attempt at with the party.. although that seems like forever ago, and perhaps didn't go exactly as planned." She sets her cookie on the far side of her from where Mathis is mowing through his. "A more definative purpose is.. useful."
"Too late to vote for lock up?" Mathis asks, a small smile playing on his features as he glances towards Tiege and Dorian. "You have no idea." he says knowingly, before casting a smirk at Leon, waving a cookie at him threateningly with his free hand. "I would have had to battled you for the last cookie had you done that, m'lord." he points out. Lani's smart to keep the cookie out of the path of the Great Devourer as he comments, "Sure, noone's going to run off from here and get married." he points out.
"Anyway." he says, the former squire turning somewhat serious. "Considering the things that have come to past, necormancy, vampires, kidnappings by demons.. it's safe to say that we should start getting our stuff together before we end up in the very bad old days."
"I was afraid of that," is Leon's quiet reply to the Meritas lord, and a soft sigh escapes it. But good humor is not entirely lost: there's a glitter in his eyes as he breaks off a bit of cookie and -- with precision born of long practice -- flicks it in Mathis's direction.
"I agree," he adds, adding his two cents to the more serious conversation. "There's too much -- too much of Darkness these days, for us to go -- to be unprepared 'til the moment strikes."
Tiege seems somewhat relieved at the affirmatives for the purpose, nodding at a couple of the comments made. "Alright, everyone who said that I'm crazy or need to be locked up, I just want you to remember, you -came- here," he says with a trace of a smirk. "I really intended this get together to be sort of to chart our course for really -how- one learns about such things. I've a few ideas I'll share, and see if we can go from there. I don't know if you noticed, but there's no sort of definitive text I've found on them, so hopefully we can actually sort of make one as a part of this." He glances at Leon and Joshua and affirms, "That might mean homework, I suppose. But first... well, my rough plan." He takes a breath.
"There are some people out there who have fought demons, some on Mists who live in their ruins, or I've heard tell even the thieves guild does here. Healers who may have seen them and can talk about how they were destroyed. A few people who may know more about those that worship them, and some who have unique perspectives. We even have.." He takes a breath, "we even have the demon that's from the north, living here. I was thinking that we could arrange to have some one or two that fit these diverse categories join us at each meeting, and tell us what they know. I'm even hoping that maybe we can take a trip and see some of the ruins, try to gain perspective. Does anyone know any person in these categories? I was thinking of the First Knight, maybe Imperial Healer Iorwerth, someofthe mages who live in those lands, I had Master Maldis suggested recently as someone who seems to know a lot..." his nose wrinkles at the last, and he trails off again, letting that sit for a minute.
"I.." Addison seems a little hesitant, "Well.. I know some things about demons, you know.." Again there's some hesitation before she says, "Given my upbringing. I might be able to help in writing the book. I was also here during the conjuction and on Mists when they fought all those demons there." She looks down to the cookie trapped between her fingers, turning it over a couple of times, "And if we all wanted to take a trip to Mists, I could probably arrange it. I have a house where we could stay, might be sort of appropriate to stay there if we're studying demons too."
Dorian speaks up now. "I'd like to learn about that demon Lilith, and what her capabilities are. Seems even the Khelek ambassadors don't like her." He's rather brief, though, head turning around to listen to the others as they go through their various explanations.
Josh doesn't touch his cookie. Probably afraid he'd cough all over again. But he's listening to Tiege. He speaks up. "I have asked for a conference with the First Knight. On this topic actually. I'd be happy to share with you all any information I find when this conference occurs." Looking over at Addison when she speaks and her imput on things. Looking over at Dorian when he speaks to and than his eyes fall back on Tiege.
"You disgrace the cookie by wasting it in ammo." Mathis comments as the cookie bounces off of his shoulder. And oh so diplomatically, the young man negotiats by sticking his tongue out towards Leon. Moment over, he considers. "If we're going to consider mages, I suppose we should consider one of each of the elemental circles." the young man points out, taking a moment as yet another cookie valiantly sacrifices itself in the endless cycle of sugar-driven fuel that drives Mathis.
"Other than that, there's not much I can suggest. I'm a traveler, you know that. Any trips you want to toss around, I'm pretty much in.." he considers, pushing one of the cookies to Lani's poor lone cookie, so it has company. "But I'm pretty much the newcomer to all of this, admittedly."
Mathis's response to his projectile draws a mild smirk from Leon, but it doesn't last long in the face of the more salient discussion. "I don't know much," Leon tosses out, and for a moment he's not, in fact, chewing anything. "And I don't have -- don't have connectionns on Mists, or anything like that," he tilts his head to Addison's contribution. "But I can -- I can speak to -- to anyone who might be helpful. Even," there's mild distaste to match his cousin's, "Master Maldis."
"I'll speak to Master Maldis. I may not have a good first impression from him, but I can find common ground." Mathis finally volunteers. "Just tell me what you want to know."
"I can probably speak to Lord Iorwerth. He is, after all, one of mine." Khalani speaks up after rolling her eyes at Leon and Mathis' cookie fight. "Boys. Really. Please?" There's a sniff, as only a teen girl can really. "He and I generally get along well enough."
Dorian looks around. "Hey, no throwing food in my house," he objects playfully. "Or you'll get hired on as a maid." He finishes with a smirk and then looks to the others as they talk.
"Yeah, no throwing food, Master Mathis," Leon intones hard on the heels of Dorian's playful interjection, his own words solemn and perfectly serious. His words, at least; his blue eyes laugh.
Tiege listens with great interest to everyone's responses, and actually pauses to make a note or two. "Alright. What I'd like, if we can, is to get each of them to tell us what they know about demons. It's pretty open, I'd say. Would they be willing to come and just expound on them with us, and answer any questions on the topic. I'm not even worried that all of us be able to be here, but at least a few, so that we can get a wide array of questions, right? So Miss Addison, you can talk to Miss Addison and see if she'd be willing to speak of her experiences." His lips quirk. "And Lord Joshua, I'm glad you're talking to the First Knight. After you're done, ask if maybe he'd come talk to us? Baroness, if you'll talk to the Imperial Healer, you're a brave woman and I commend you on it." He glances between Leon and Mathis. "Maybe both of you should go so that he can't lose a body so easily, if something goes wrong," he quips, dryly. "Marquis, maybe an alchemist who has made things with demonic parts? Do you have that sort of resource, maybe? And should we seek the Mogur Imperius, too? I'm sure that she's busy, but we could try. Do you think it appropriate to put up some flyers asking for anyone with demon knowledge to contact us? Flyers are so in fashion lately." He wrinkles his nose in amusement at the food byplay.
"I'm sure Lord Martius would impress Lady Barca in a maid's outfit, Marquis." Mathis shoots smoothly, a toothy grin given at Leon, before Khalani reigns him in. "Yes, m'love." he teases as he settles back.
"If we want to talk to necromancer, there might be someone else," Addison says, finally just setting her cookie down. "I'll have to talk to this person first though, see if they are willing to come and talk to us." She considers Tiege for a moment, "That might not be wise to put up flyers, it's probably better to ask around instead. I think flyers might invite trouble."
"I'm not sure flyers are the best option," Dorian observes. "Let's see what we can do just by asking around, first? I don't think I know of any alchemists... I'd ask Miss Oksana before I did anything else. If I can go first, though, in answering the question? I do know that Demons, at least the ones we deal with, are supposed to keep their word when they promise things. They just might do things in a different way than you might think if you aren't specific about it."
For once Josh does not pull out his note pad and immediatly take notes as he often does. He did do that at the debate after all. But this time he does when Tiege speaks up. Probably a reminder to himself so he does not flub up. He gives a nod towards Tiege, "I certainly can do that. Once I am in conversation with the man I'll tell him of this group and get his imput in how he feels in being a speaker here." Writing something else down and pushing his glasses back to his nose. His own cookie forgotten as the more serious Lord has fallen more into the serious conversation than the byplay of cookie massacare. When Dorian says that he has to ask, "Do you speak of personal experience, Marquis?" Interest seen in his features as he looks that way. Quill in hand of course.
"Even when you are specific.. they find a way around it." Khalani comments dryly as she finally picks up her cookie to nibble on. "Fliers might be popular.. but they feel very.. crass. Like having a shouting match across the plaza."
"I'm sure you would impress Her Excellency dead, Master Mathis," Leon points out at the very suggestion, though there's a hint of pink in his ears -- but that comes as his eyes shoot aside to Khalani, and he settles back into his own chair with an acquiescing tilt of his head.
"I'm with the Marquis and Miss Addison," he adds. "Let's -- let's start talking to people first. Probably more effective than flyers, in the long run."
There's a nod seen in the direction of Josh as he gives his quiet two cents about no flyers. Talking is best.
Tiege nods to Dorian's note about demons and their word, his quill moving across the parchment of the journal before him. "Alright, no flyers, and we know that demons have to keep their word. I know that there are a couple of different hierarchies of demons, and those from different places. Does anyone know if they have a written language that anyone can study?" He looks around the table. "And is that something to ask a mage, or a historian? Anyone? It might be interesting to get some information from Miss Niamh on how demons are seen outside of the Barrier, too. If Master Mathis is talking to Master Maldis, do you want to seek her out, Lord Leon?"
"We have a good number of ambassadors here, Tiege." Mathis points out. "Perhaps the Marquis or Her Excellency would like the chance to practice their outer isles diplomacy by speaking with them?"
"They do have a written language," Addison answers quietly, "As for whether we can study it.. I think that might be doubtful." She glances over at Tiege for a moment, then around at the rest of them. "I can see what I can find out."
Dorian turns to address Josh. "I speak of what I've heard spoken amongst the highest nobles," he answers, "And I should clarify. I know many alchemists, but none that I have asked about, or would ask about, using demonic components."
"I can ask her," Leon glances aside to Tiege with a nod, though his brow furrows. "Though -- though I've not seen her since the debate. If she's at the dinner, I'll ask for a word."
Mathis adds, "To include Mistress Niamh, of course, but it would help to get it from the source?"
This time Josh takes a turn to just be silent. He does glance at Dorian when he answers the inquiry he gave. Nodding to show he heard the response back. Just listening as the others share and brainstorm. He has no offer at the moment. Doesn't mean he won't later on in the conversation.
Tiege snaps his fingers and points at Mathis. "Nice. Yes. Baroness or Marquis, you're more positioned to have those conversations. Who is in right now? The Pais de Leuvrian ambassador, I know, and the Tyrean. Aquilarco? Tolek? Can we just dump that on your shoulders to find out?" He glances at Addison and nods, quietly making another note. "Any samples even, so we could recognize it, that might be nice. Now, Marquis, you mentioned a particular one, Lilith. I don't know that everyone here even knows about her. I know by virtue of my cousins. Would you share what you already are aware of?"
"I could speak with the Pais de Leuvrian ambassador.. he's an artiste. We have quite a bit in common." Khalani offers thoughtfully. "And I need to speak with the Tyrean ambassador on othe rmatters as well. I could combine the visits."
"I'd be happy to address the Leuvrian ambassador," Dorian volunteers. "And any of the others you think might have knowledge." He pushes back in his chair. "Some of you may recall when the Khelek ambassador relocated us to entertain the Emperor a few months back. Moved at the whim of one demon. One day while we were there, another demon showed up.... Lilith. We all played a game at her behest, and the prizes all came at a cost to the losers." He frowns. "Ambassador Rosier chided us for agreeing to it in the first place. So clearly they're not quite working together. And I would trust the one further than I trust the other, not that either one I could trust as far as I could throw a feather."
"On the same page, Marquis.." Mathis responds, his right hand resting flat on the table for a moment. "Lilith is the one that convinced the Ambassador to restore my fingers, even.. temporarily... and.." the young man's fingers flinch and grip the table at the memory. He glances towards Leon and Joshua for a moment, before he continues. "She claims to be the Lady to the Lord of the Abyss. And if she can make the Ambassador do such.. I think she may be far more influential than any of us thought."
Tiege makes notes from Dorian's retelling, and of the words of Mathis, with deliberate attention to detail. "The lady of the Lord of the Abyss," he repeats quietly. "Outside of the Gateway. Does anyone know -how- that could happen? How we'd have a demon outside of the Gateway?"
Leon listens, silent, to the exchange of ambassadors, and to the description of the demon called Lilith. His lips press at the latter. "I know we're seeking knowledge to -- to help combat this sort of thing, but I think," he spekas up with a glance especially toward that cousin of his who leads the discussion, "We do need to be careful, and watch how -- how close to the edge we find ourselves treading to -- to pursue it."
Addison nods in agreement with Leon, "Yes. We should. The thing about studying this stuff is that it's easy to find yourself pulled in a lot further than you realized."
"I.. do have that fear." Khalani admits to the group. "That we're going to find ourselves with a lot.. any really.. unwanted demonic attention for investigating. Which is not to say don't do it.. but I think it's a valid fear to admit to."
Joshua looks over at Mathis when he speaks. His attention was on Dorian when he said his piece also. There may even be a flinch seen in his features at the retelling. Looking to Leon now he nods, "This could be a temptation for us. We may find ourselves going towards darkness instead of light. I am sure they have ways in making this appealing after all." Josh offers, "I can pray for our group if no one has an issue with it. I'm not trying to press my belief but I would think Providence would watch us in this."
There's a rueful quality to Tiege's words as he comments, "I don't think anyone can claim more experience at the reality of walking too close to the edge and getting drawn in than I can. I strongly, strongly advocate that we keep ourselves from pursuing too much separately, and work as a group to keep that from happening. It's why I don't want to have too much delving done apart from at least having a few of us together. This is something where it really -is- very important to be our brother's and sister's keepers."
"Agreed..." Mathis murmurs, his right hand reaching to rub at his neck. "It will have be done with trepedation and caution. The Marquis and Her Excellency can speak to the Leuvian Ambassador together - and I can accompany her for other Ambassadorial discussions, since they'll probably see me as needing the practice." he admits with a shrug of his shoulders.
Addison turns around to look at Tiege, just look at him, and then rights herself. The cookie is picked up and bitten into, giving her something to do while she's got nothing to add.
Tiege glances at Addison, hesitates a moment, and then just gives a quiet, "Well, maybe."
The agreement draws a steady nod from Leon, who then proceeds to polish off another cookie before -- or as -- he adds, "Just -- just let's be careful. And know what we're about."
"I have no problems being prayed for." Khalani opens with and then considers her words. "Nor.. hrm. How do I phrase this wihtout sounding offended or offensive." She considers the group. "I have no desire to go to the darkness. However, as a group.. we are not all on the same page of .. degree of lightness. I am not a Purist, and I will never be. It was Joshua's mention of pressing belief that made me think of this passing thought.. combined with a mention of being each others keepers. Keepers yes, but recognize individual differences as well."
Tiege levels a look at Khalani and says deadpan, "No. You will submit to our morals, because they are the morals of everyone, and we are seeking positions of power to enforce them upon you, so you have to believe exactly as we do or it's Heresy." Then he wrinkles is nose and his faint smile surfaces. "I think that there are things you would do which I would not, but while I may try to convince you to think otherwise, I relish that we all have the freedom from bondage to choose, Baroness."
"I may have been a Purist once." Mathis smiles a little. "But Khalani's right.. I've had changes in the past.. I could not be a Purist now, even if I wanted to. We'll watch out for each other's back as best we can. Speaking of.. while I am not on the best of terms with most of the Knights.. I am on well enough terms with the Sheriff, should it be needed."
Joshua smiles at Khalani. He's not offended at all by her words. Giving a nod in understanding as he eyes Tiege for a moment or two. He'll pray for the group as he offered and no pressing of belief will come from this one.
"I'm still young and innocent enough to pretend to be a Purist," Dorian smirks. "Or at least all you impure people haven't gotten to me yet," he adds with a wink. "I think we're all in enough agreement on this point."
Tiege looks over his notes and glances about. "Alright. Everyone has something to do, some task to follow up, right? And we're all in accord that nobody should have extensive conversations alone, so everyone here is committed to finding someone else from here, having a partner along?"
"I think we're agreed, yes," Dorian nods, as the rest of the group seems to have lapsed into thoughtful consideration of their tasks.
Tiege's words draw a nod from the youngest Maritus -- a firm, committed nod. He doesn't speak, though silence means nothing on account of he has most of a cookie in his mouth at the moment.
Mathis nods. "Agreed." the young man says, a faint smile coming to his features.
"Oh sure." Josh agrees. "Anyone who wishes to talk with the First Knight with me is welcomed to it. And I'll be happy to go along with anyone that may need a partner in their own endeavors." He smiles to himself at a thought and than shakes his head. Josh just finally hands Leon his cookie. "You look like you need this more than me."
"Talk with people. Share your information with the group. Bring a friend so no one is alone on this conversations." Khalani muses. "Lord Iorwerth is going to be.. challenging unless I speak with him alone."
"And it definetly won't help if I'm with her." Mathis admits. "That's a challenge to deal with.. after betrothment." he's more than willing to table Iorwerth for now.
Tiege glances about with a bit of a smile turning up on his features. "Alright, I was at first thinking of having each person mentioned give a group address, but let's do this.. if you find that the person you're talking to has information that you think everyone would want to know, -then- ask that person if they'd be willing to speak to a group of young adults who will not be throwing cookies if we have a guest. Agreed?"
"Why not leave your friend in the waiting room or something? Just in case?" Josh offers towards Khalani. "That's a compromise so your not totally alone?" Giving a nod towards Tiege.
Joshua's offer draws a quirk of a smile from Leon, and he tilts his head in gracious acceptance as he takes the offered cookie. He swallows. "I'd be glad to go with you to speak with Sir--"
He breaks off, though, as Tiege begins to speak again, and that cousin's words draw a grin. "Best behavior, Tiege. Honest."
"I'd welcome it." Josh says towards Leon. "I mean it to. I'll go with you when you go to speak to your people to." He grins a bit when Leon speaks of being on his best behavior. At least the more serious of the purists knows how to smile at least.
"A good suggestion." Khalani nods to Joshua, with a softly thoughtful mmm. "If one of my Lords is doing damage to me, however, I have bigger problems."
"I'm sure it would just be in order to experiment on healing techniques, Baroness," Tiege says solemnly to Khalani before smiling a bit again. "When do we want to meet again? Once a month? I know we're all likely busy with the crazy double eclipse coming up and other things."
Leon salutes his cousin of Meritas with that last and final cookie before it disappears for good. "Might depend on how many we find useful and willing," he replies to Tiege's question. "But to start? Once a month is fine with me."
"Sounds workable to me, yes." Mathis responds to Tiege, grinning. "One month, and we'll come back together and compare notes. I'll try to stay out of the infirmary in the meantime."
"I think a month is a good amount of time to make some progress," Dorian nods, looking around and nodding agreement with everyone else saying the same thing. Like lemmings, they are.
Joshua chuckles and there's just a nod seen for Leon and than for Tiege. Obviously he's agreeing to that once a month thing.
Tiege gives a short nod again. "We're meeting in this tower to accommodate the Marquis. Perhaps in that timeframe we'll find other options, like the Food for Thought or something else." He glances about. "Who is going after Mage Maldis, by the way? Master Cardiff? Miss Valentine apparently knows him and talks to him quite a bit, can I persuade you to take her along, since it was her idea? And.. we were writing down things about Lilith. Does anyone have any idea who might know more about her? Some of the higher nobles? Duke Regent Raziel?"
Mathis nods. "Sure, Miss Valentine can handle the introductions and such." the young man agrees.
"I don't know anything about Lilith, other than what little I remember. I was feeling so unwell, I'm uncertain that I remember anything useful from that night of word puzzles." Khalani sighs softly. "I am to speak with Iorwerth, and the Tyrian ambassador.. and Pais? Yes?"
"Maybe the Marquis can take one of the ambassadors, so you don't have too many?" Tiege suggests to Khalani.
There's a momentary look of confusion from Mathis towards Tiege. " I was under the impression that the Marquis and Excellency were to speak to the Leuvian, and Lani and I can talk to the Tyrean one." Mathis comments with a shrug as he starts to glance around for a clock.
Dorian nods. "Right... what he said." He gestures to Mathis.
Tiege looks at his paper, looks at Mathis, looks at his paper again, and scribbles. "Right. That's what I meant," he says, but obviously in a joking fashion.
"Is there anything else, Tiege? Marquis? Excellency?" Leon's eyes flicker around the table as he rests his hands on it, in preparation to stand. "If not -- will you forgive me? I -- we're to dine with the Princess tonight, and I -- I need to -- to get ready."
Tiege looks his stuff over and shakes his head. "No, really, I have to get ready for that too, so thanks for coming, milord." He does rise and bow toward Leon. "I really appreciate it. I'll send out notes if we're in the same venue, and all that, in a month."
"I can't think of anything." Khalani nods her agreement to the correction in who is speaking to who. "Enjoy your dinner. Give the Princess my best." She starts to stand as well, reaching a hand out for Mathis. "A month. Wonderful."
Joshua rises from his seat to stuffing his notepad back in his pocket. Nodding his head to those here and a bow for the marquis and baroness telling Leon and Tiege, "Enjoy your meal. You guys were great at the debate."
Accepting the hand, Mathis grins. "I'll see you back to the museum, m'love, but I have another meeting to get to." he comments to her quietly as he twins his fingers with Khalani's. "It was good seeing you all, and I look forward to comparing notes."
"Thanks," Leon offers a twitch of a smile to Joshua, and a bow to those appropriate, and then he slips from the room.
Tiege gives a deep bow for Joshua. "Thanks, Milord. I'm really glad you came," he says seriously. Then he glances about the room. "And thank you, Marquis. I'm glad we could meet here. Maybe we can persuade your mother to let the guards stand outside a classroom at the university or something, next time." He sweeps a second bow. "Enjoy the rest of the cookies!"
